The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will take over as the Windsor Castle Guard from next Tuesday.

They replace the Foot Guards.

It is the first time the unit has been tasked with the role since 2008.

They have been rehearsing the hundreds of complex ceremonial moves and orders of command since Christmas, aided by those ceremonial icons of the palace forecourts, Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards.

But the Woolwich Gunners had to pass a rigorous inspection by senior staff of the Household Division including the Brigade Major, Lieutenant Colonel Guy Stone.

It is a major change of responsibilities but huge honour for the unit more used to delivering ceremonial gun salutes for royal anniversaries and state events as their Commanding Officer Major Victoria Flood explained.

She said: “We are extremely privileged and honoured to have this opportunity of providing the Guard for Windsor Castle. This not being the soldiers’ primary job, they have worked incredibly hard preparing themselves for this public duty while still training for their normal equestrian ceremonial role.”

Photos by Sergeant Donald Todd (RLC) / ©MoD Crown Copyright 2020