Horse Guard Parade

History  Built in 1745 to house the Buckingham Palace personal guards, known as the Queen’s Life Guard

Old Horse Guard Building  1663 First Horse Guard Building constructed  Cost 4,000 pounds  Over 100 horses we stabled on the ground floor

About Face!  1698 Palace of Whitehall was almost destroyed by fire  Royal Court moved to St. James’s Palace in the park behind Horse Guards  Overnight the old Horse Guard transferred to its rear

The New Building  Became overcrowded and cramped  1745 King George agreed to replace it  Designed by William Kent which died a year before starting the project in 1748  Took over by Kent assistant John Vardy  Completed in ten years  Cost 65,000 pounds

Changing of the Guard  Takes place on Buckingham palace  Foot Guards display colorful red tunic along with a band  Free to watch

Trooping of the Colour  Takes place each year in June on Horse Guard Parade  Celebration of Queen’s Birthday  Only one color can be carried along the ranks  Procession starts at 11a.m exactly

Olympic Venue  2012 Olympic beach volleyball competition