THE TOWER OF LONDON

A DRILL MANUAL FOR

CEREMONIAL DUTIES AT THE TOWER OF
LONDON

CHAPTER 1

2022
INTRODUCTION 1.
Ceremonial Duties at the Tower of London

The Tower of London has been guarded for over 900 years and through all this history,
many traditions have been installed and are kept in practice in today's times.
The official name of the Tower is: His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, the Tower of
London, meaning that this historic place is still a royal palace, but what make the Tower of London
different than any other palace is that it is in there that the Crown Jewels and Royal Regalia is kept
safe and is guarded by UK or Commonwealth military personnel and a entrusted body of
experienced soldiers, known as Yeoman Warders.

From ancient times to the modern era, we do keep traditions alive.

Three important daily ceremonies happen in the Tower, bringing us back hundreds and hundreds of
years: the Ceremony of the Keys, the Ceremony for the Word and the Opening Ceremony.

The Tower’s Guard

Tower’s Guard is the name given for the military detachment stationed in the Crown Jewels
building for ceremonial duties, these are serving military personnel from UK or Commonwealth
Forces.

Usually, the Tower is guarded by regiments of the Household Brigade and at the Tower’s HQ
invitation, other British Forces regiments and Commonwealth Forces can play that important role.
The Tower’s Guard is directly involved in all three daily ceremonies that happen in the Tower.

The Ceremonies

The most important and famous ceremony is the Ceremony of the Keys, which takes place at the
end of the day. This ceremony doesn’t happen in the public eye. It just happens when the Tower is
already closed, but the Tower’s HQ can invite some guests to watch this fantastic ceremony.
The story goes that the only time the ceremony has ever been disrupted was when a bomb fell on
the Tower on 29 December 1940. The Chief Yeoman Warder was blown off his feet, but otherwise
unhurt. The ritual on that day continued, although slightly later than usual

The Ceremony of the Word takes place every day marking the changing of the password for after
hours entry in the Tower. The ceremony takes place in the Water Lane in Summer season and in
front of the King’s House in Winter season.

And finally, the Opening Ceremony of the Tower happens optionally at the Tower’s Guard
Commander's desire before the start of mounting guard.
THE OPENING CEREMONY 2.
Preparation
2.1 The Senior NCO will march out the Guardsroom towards the Parade Ground and will shout:
Senior NCO: OUTSIDE - THE EXCORT
2.2 The Escort for the Key will leave the Guardsroom and form a squad outside the Waterloo Block.
Having taken up their position on parade, the Senior NCO will join the escort and command the
escort to march towards the Bloody Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE RIGHT - QUICK - MARCH
2.3 The Senior NCO will command the escort to halt as they arrive at the Bloody Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT
2.4 The Senior NCO will bring the escort to shoulder arms, and then, to stand easy. At this moment,
they will wait until the Key arrives.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SHOULDER - ARMS; STAND AT - EASE; STAND EASY
2.5 As the Key approaches the Bloody Tower, the Senior NCO will slope arms and will bring the
escort for the key to slope arms and then, will command present arms
Senior NCO: EXCORT - EXCORT SHUN; EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS; PRESENT - ARMS
2.6 The Key will join the escort. If the Yeoman Warder is alone, he may fall in the middle of the
escort. If the Yeoman Warder is accompanied by the lamp holder, the Key will fall in at the front and
the lamp holder will fall in at the rear.
2.7 The Senior NCO will bring the escort to slope arms and prepare to march towards Byward
Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS

Opening the Gates

2.8 The Escort for the Key will march towards the Byward Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE RIGHT - QUICK - MARCH
2.9 As the Escort approaches the Byward Tower, the Senior NCO will halt the Escort.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT
2.10 The Key will fall out of the escort with the lamp holder to open the Byward Tower’s gate.
2.11 The Escort for the Key will inward turn and will present arms.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - INWARDS - TURN; PRESENT - ARMS
2.12 After the opening of the gate, the Senior NCO will bring the escort to slope arms and will
outwards turn facing the Middle Tower. The Key and the lamp holder will join the escort again.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS; OUTWARDS - TURN
2.13 The Escort for the Key will march toward the Middle Tower to continue the opening of the
Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE CENTRE - QUICK - MARCH
2.14 As the Escort approaches the Middle Tower, the Senior NCO will halt the Escort.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT
2.15 The Key will fall out of the escort with the lamp holder to open the Middle Tower’s gate.
2.16 The Escort for the Key will inward turn and will present arms.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - INWARDS - TURN; PRESENT - ARMS
2.17 After the opening of the gate, the Senior NCO will bring the escort to slope arms and will
outwards turn facing the Byward Tower. The Key and the lamp holder will join the escort again.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS; OUTWARDS - TURN
2.18 The Senior NCO will command the Escort to march. The route of the march will terminate at
the Bloody Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE CENTRE - QUICK - MARCH
2.19 As the Escort for the Key arrives at the Bloody Tower, the Senior NCO will command to halt.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT

Falling Out
2.20 The Escort will present arms.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - PRESENT - ARMS
2.21 The Key and the lamp holder will fall out of the escort and return to the Tower Gaoler’s Office.
2.22 The Senior NCO will bring the Escort to slope arms and then will dismiss the Escort to the
Guardsroom.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS; TO THE GUARDSROOM - FALL - OUT
2.23 The Escort will turn to the right and march in line to the Guardsroom.

THE WORD CEREMONY 3.

Preparation
3.1 The Senior NCO will march out the Guardsroom towards the Parade Ground and will shout:
Senior NCO: OUTSIDE - THE EXCORT
3.2 The Escort will leave the Guardsroom and form up a squad outside the Waterloo Block.
a) The escort will march inside the Royal Armories cannons sentries area to reach the Parade
Ground;
b) As they reach the Parade Ground, the guardsman no. 1 and 2 will halt on the right and the
guardsman no. 3 and 4 will halt on the left.
c) The escort will automatically dress as they are in their positions. They shall not use C to
right dress.
3.3 The Senior NCO will bring the Escort to shoulder arms and stand easy until the Captain of the
Tower’s Guard leaves his office.
a) It is optional for the Senior NCO to come to stand easy, he may consider how much time the
Captain of the Guard will take to be on parade.
Senior NCO: EXCORT – SHOULDER - ARMS; STAND AT - EASE; STAND EASY

Captain’s Inspection
3.4 The sentry guard will come to slope arms as the Captain leaves the guardsroom and will salute
the officer.
3.5 As the Captain of the Guard leaves the guardsroom, the Senior NCO will bring the Escort to
shoulder arms. The Senior NCO will slope arms and await for the Captain’s arrival.
Senior NCO: EXCORT – EXCORT SHUN;
3.6 The Captain of the Guard will march to the front of the Senior NCO. The Senior NCO will salute
the officer and present the escort.
a) Senior NCO will present the escort using this format: “Escort for the Word ready and
present, sir/ma’am”.
3.7 The Senior NCO will fall out and accompany the Captain’s inspection.
a) The Senior NCO will be taking notes of anything that the Captain notices is wrong with a
guardsman.
b) The Senior NCO shall not block the way the Captain is inspecting.
3.8 The Captain of the Guard will inspect the Escort, checking if they got the correct uniform.
a) If the guard is being performed by the British Army, once the officer gets in front of a
guardsman, the guardsman will present himself: “[RANK NAME, SIR/MA’AM]”.
3.9 Once the Escort is inspected, the Senior NCO will salute the Captain and pass the Escort’s
command to the officer. After that, the Senior NCO will take post in the middle left of the Escort and
shoulder arms.
3.10 The Captain of the Guard march to the front of the Escort and will draw his sword and take
command of the Escort.

Collecting the Word

3.11 The Captain will bring the escort to slope arms and will command them to turn to the right.
Captain of the Guard: EXCORT FOR THE WORD - SLOPE - ARMS; EXCORT FOR THE WORD - WILL MOVE TO THE
RIGHT - RIGHT - TURN
3.12 The Captain will march to the front of the Escort and will capture the Escort with the marching
tool.
a) It is recommended for the Captain to set 3 columns and 4 rows.
b) The Escort shall unequip their rifles before being captured to avoid getting glitched by it.
c) After the Escort has been captured, they can equip their rifles and slope arms.
3.13 The Captain will command the escort to march heading the Byward Tower via Water Lane.
Captain of the Guard: EXCORT FOR THE WORD - BY THE CENTRE - QUICK - MARCH
3.14 A Yeoman Warder will be waiting for the Escort outside the Byward Tower with the Word in his
hands.
3.15 As the Escort approaches the Yeoman Warder, the Captain will command the Escort to halt.
Captain of the Guard: EXCORT FOR THE WORD - HALT
3.16 The Captain will fall out of the Escort and will march towards the Yeoman Warder to collect the
Word.
3.17 The Captain will salute the Yeoman with the Word and then will collect the Word.
3.18 While the Word is being collected, the Senior NCO will about turn the Escort. The Senior NCO
will stand still until the Captain march to take position.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - WILL RETIRE - ABOUT - TURN
3.19 The Captain will salute the Yeoman and will return to the Escort. The Senior NCO will march to
the back of the Escort. The Captain and the Senior NCO may halt together.
Falling Out
3.20 The Captain will command the Escort to march heading to the Parade Ground.
Captain of the Guard: EXCORT FOR THE WORD - BY THE CENTRE - QUICK - MARCH
3.21 The Escort will halt in front of the Crown Jewels sentries.
Captain of the Guard: EXCORT FOR THE WORD - HALT
3.22 The Captain of the Guard will take 5 paces forward and will about turn. Then, the Captain will
command the Escort to fall out.
Captain of the Guard: EXCORT FOR THE WORD - TO YOUR DUTIES - FALL - OUT
3.23 The Escort will turn to the right.
a) If the King’s Guard is being performed by the Royal Air Force, they may incline 45º to the
right.
3.24 The Senior NCO will shout: “UP” meaning salute, “DOWN”, to down the arms and “AWAY” to
start marching outside the Parade Grounds.
Senior NCO: UP, DOWN, AWAY!
3.25 The Captain will return the salute and then, return his sword and fall out of the parade
grounds.

CEREMONY OF THE KEYS 4.

Preparation
4.1 The Senior NCO will march out the Guardsroom towards the Parade Ground and will shout:
Senior NCO: OUTSIDE - THE EXCORT
4.2 The Escort for the Key will leave the Guardsroom and form a squad outside the Waterloo Block.
Having taken up their position on parade, the Senior NCO will join the escort and command the
escort to march towards the Bloody Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE RIGHT - QUICK - MARCH
4.3 The Senior NCO will command the escort to halt as they arrive at the Bloody Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT
4.4 The Senior NCO will bring the escort to shoulder arms, and then, to stand easy. At this moment,
they will wait until the Key arrives.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SHOULDER - ARMS; STAND AT - EASE; STAND EASY
4.5 As the Key approaches the Bloody Tower, the Senior NCO will slope arms and will bring the
escort for the key to slope arms and then, will command present arms
4.6 The Key will join the escort. If the Yeoman Warder is alone, he may fall in the middle of the
escort. If the Yeoman Warder is accompanied by the lamp holder, the Key will fall in at the front and
the lamp holder will fall in at the rear.
4.7 The Senior NCO will bring the escort to slope arms and prepare to march towards Byward
Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS

Closing the Gates

4.8 The Escort for the Key will march towards the Byward Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE RIGHT - QUICK - MARCH
4.9 As the Escort approaches the Byward Tower, the Senior NCO will halt the Escort.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT
4.10 The Key will fall out of the escort with the lamp holder to open the Byward Tower’s gate.
4.11 The Escort for the Key will inward turn and will present arms.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - INWARDS - TURN; PRESENT - ARMS
2.17 After the closing of the gate, the Senior NCO will bring the escort to slope arms and will
outwards turn facing the Bloody Tower way. The Key and the lamp holder will join the escort again.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - SLOPE - ARMS; OUTWARDS - TURN
2.18 The Senior NCO will command the Escort to march. The route of the march will terminate at
the Bloody Tower.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE CENTRE - QUICK - MARCH
2.19 A guardsman will be on sentry near the Bloody Tower and Traitor’s Gate.

Challenging
2.20 The sentry on duty will turn his rifle to En Garde position and will challenge the incoming
escort by shouting.
Sentry: “HALT!”
2.21 The Senior NCO will immediately halt the escort for the key.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT
2.22 The sentry on duty will continue his challenging
Sentry: “WHO COMES THERE?”
2.23 The Yeoman Warder will reply.
Yeoman Warder: “THE KEYS”
Sentry: “WHOSE KEYS?”
Yeoman Warder: “KING GEORGE’S KEYS”
2.24 At this moment, the sentry will slope arms and will grant passage to the escort.
Sentry: “PASS, KING GEORGE’S KEYS AND ALL AS WELL”
2.25 The Senior NCO will command the escort to continue marching.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - BY THE LEFT - QUICK - MARCH
2.26 The Escort will head to inside the inner ward, where the Tower Guard will be stationated and
awaiting for the arrival of the keys.
a) The Tower’s Guard will be formed in two ranks in the staircase.
b) The Captain of the Guard will be at the front.
c) The bugler will be behind the Tower’s Guard.
2.27 The Escort will halt.
Senior NCO: EXCORT - HALT

Bugle Call
2.28 The Captain of the Guard will command the escort and the Tower’s Guard to present arms.
Captain of the Guard: TOWER GUARD - PRESENT - ARMS
2.29 The bugler will play “The Last Post”. Music ID: 1839902731
2.30 As the music finished, the Yeoman Warder will shout:
Yeoman Warder: “GOD BLESS KING GEORGE!”
2.31 The Tower Guard and all present at the ceremony will respond “Amen”.
Falling Out
2.32 The Captain of the Guard will bring the Tower Guard and the Escort to slope arms and will
dismiss the guardsmen on parade to march back to the guardsroom.
Captain of the Guard: TOWER GUARD - SLOPE - ARMS; TOWER GUARD - WITH AN OFFICER ON PARADE - DIS-
MISSED
2.32 The Keys will return to the Tower Gaoler’s Office at the Byward Tower and the Escort will fall
out to the guardsroom.

FINAL 5.

This document is relevant to all guard mounts happening at the Tower of London.
Members of the Public may join the game for a virtual tour at important places of the Tower
of London and to watch the military ceremonies.

The Yeoman Warders shall make sure that no member of public trespass or get in front of a
marching troop. The Members of Public may respect the instructions given out by the staff of
the Tower at all times to enjoy it as much as possible.

The Keys are saluted because it is the representation of His Majesty The King as it has been
for hundreds of years. The Keys are held only by Senior Guardsmens of the Sovereign’s
Bodyguard or by the Constable of the Tower.

This drill manual may be changed in the course of time to receive updates.
Any inquiries about it, you may contact the Tower of London HQ.