7ft Officer Arrives at The Four O'clock Parade - Punishment Parade

End of the Day | The Four O'clock Parade - Punishment Parade

It's known as the Punishment Parade, also the Dismount Parade, which started in 1894 when Queen Victoria found the entire guard drinking and gambling while on duty and as a punishment, ordered that they had to be inspected every day at 4pm by an officer for the next 100 years! When that period was up Queen Elizabeth II decreed that the parade should continue as a tradition.

The Dismount Parade which takes place daily on the courtyard in front of Horse Guards when the mounted sentries who have been guarding the official entrance to Buckingham Palace are relieved by dismounted sentries.
Also known as 'The Four 'O' Clock Parade' and 'Punishment Parade' it takes place at 16:00 daily when following an inspection by an Officer the mounted guards dismount, then take their horses back to the stables for the night.
Two dismounted sentries will then guard the entrance until 20:00 when the gates to Horse Guards are closed and then one sentry will remain on duty until 07:00 when the gates re-open.