A Changing the Guard ceremony at Windsor Castle has been scrapped because of concerns that tourists could be a target for jihadists carrying out a truck attack.
The popular 45-minute guard ceremony at Windsor Castle, in which troops dressed in a bearskin hat and a red tunic are replaced by fresh sentries led by a regimental band, will no longer take place on Saturdays. It will continue on Mondays, Wednesdays Fridays and Sundays, but only with extra police officers on duty and more streets surrounding the castle blocked to traffic.
The decision to scale back the event is a result of the two atrocities involving trucks in mainland Europe last year – first in Nice and then in Berlin.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “Security measures were increased in December and throughout January in relation to the Changing of the Guard in Windsor. These measures have been put in place as part of a review of the operation in order to reassure and increase the safety of the public and military while the events take place. The number of officers at the events has been increased along with reinforced road closures.”
An Army spokesman said: “We are co-operating with the police as they implement this trial as part of their security measures aimed at keeping the public safe. The ceremony, with troops in red tunics, will now only take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”
Last month Tunisian terrorist Anis Amri killed 12 people when he drove into a Christmas market in Germany. And last July 86 people were killed and another 434 were hurt when Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove a 19-ton lorry into crowds in Nice.
