Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard is the ceremony where the Old Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace to the New Guard.

Immaculately turned out guards, precision drill and bands playing stirring music all combine to make Changing of the Guard one of London's most popular attractions that epitomises the pomp and military ceremony for which Britain is famous.

When the Royal Standard is flying, from the roof of Buckingham Palace, Her Majesty The Queen is in residence and the 'Queen's Guard' will consist of 3 officers and 40 men otherwise if will comprise of 3 officers and 31 men.

There are five regiments of Foot Guards in the Household Division, the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards ,the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards, who normally provide the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace.

The Foot Guard Regiment, have two roles in the British Army. First and foremost they are elite infantry soldiers who carry out operational duties worldwide. Secondly the Foot Guards train as ceremonial troops who are trained to be involved in any state or royal ceremonial tasks.

At first sight the scarlet uniforms and bearskin hats of the troops you see Changing the guard at Buckingham Place may appear the same. But, there subtle differences that let you distinguish the different Foot Guard Regiment. 

Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, and Welsh Guards

London Planner March 2015

Royal Albert Hall Virtual Tour

The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable the world over. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage.

We can have a virtual tour thanks to Spherical Images.

The History of the English Language

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Love, Love, Love....

15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly

Via Copyblogger.

The History of St Valentine's Day

If you want me to get your marks, remember to add my name code at the end of the quizz: begonals.

London Trip 2015

As you are so excited about our trip, enter these pages to get into touch our stay there:

Weather in London
10 London Attractions
British Museum
Natural History Museum
The London Eye
The Tower of London

Buckingham Palace
Changing the Guard
Westminster Abbey
Houses of Parliament
Madame Tussaud Museum: Lesson Plans and the Blog
Hyde Park
Oxford Street web and Street Sensation
London Attractions Map
Visit London Guide
Candem Town Market

Stamford Bridge,  Chelsea FC museum

London tube map

All the links in Check This

Trip planning leaflet

Valentine Jokes

To my one and only love

Roger, who was 19 years old, was buying an expensive bracelet, to surprise his girlfriend on Valentine's Day, at a very smart jeweller's shop in Hatton Garden, London.

The jeweller inquired, 'Would you like your girlfriend's name engraved on it?'

Roger thought for a moment, grinned, then answered, 'No, instead engrave "To my one and only love".'
The jeweller smiled and said, 'Yes, sir; how very romantic of you.'

Roger retorted with a glint in his eye, 'Not exactly romantic, but very practical. This way, if we break up, I can use it again.'

Short Valentine's Day Jokes

Q. What do you call a very small valentine?
A. A valentiny!

Q. What did the stamp say to the envelope on Valentine's Day?
A. I'm stuck on you!

Q. What did the boy snake say to the girl snake on Valentine's Day?
A. Give me a hug and a hiss, honey!

Q. What did the boy sheep say to the girl sheep on Valentine's Day?
A. I love ewe!

Q. What two words have a thousand letters in them?
A. Post Office!

Q. Why did the boy jump up and down on his valentine card?
A. He heard he had to stamp letters!

The Science of Love

Did you know that over 40% of Americans live single lives? But how do we all really feel about it? This season on The Science of Love, we'll be using real people and real couples to investigate popular myths about the ever-confusing, always changing L-word. 

If you watch it on youtube and press the ... buttons you can follow the tapescript!

A Shocking Super Bowl

The New England Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX with a dramatic ending.

NFL fans are still trying to make sense of Super Bowl XLIX’s shocking ending. The championship game finished with a dramatic end-zone interception that made for one of the most exciting endings in Super Bowl history. The New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24.

With just seconds to go until the end of the game, the Seahawks reached the half-yard line. But in a shocking call, Seahawks’ quarterback Russel Wilson threw the ball instead of having their powerful and reliable running back Marshawn Lynch run it in for a touchdown. The game-ending pass was intercepted by Patriots rookie Malcolm Butler.

"When they passed the ball, I was kind of surprised by it," Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. Some of the Seahawks were bewildered, too. "I don't understand how you don't give it to the best back in the league," linebacker Bruce Irvin said.

Many fans are calling it the worst call in Super Bowl history and blaming Seahawk’s Coach Pete Carroll for the loss. “There is nobody to blame but me,” Carroll said. “They busted their tails and unfortunately it didn’t work out … It’s a very, very hard lesson.”

COntinue reading in The Times for Kids.

British vs. American

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