King Charles has brought in a major change at Buckingham Palace to help people cope with the hot weather.
The traditional Changing of the Guard ceremonies, which typically take place daily outside the royal family's London residences, have been cancelled for the rest of the week.
The official ceremony sees the swapping of the soldiers, dressed in heavy bearskin hats and red tunics, at Buckingham Palace, Wellington Barracks, St James's Palace, and Windsor Castle. The event, which includes horses, is very popular with tourists, but the heavy clothing means it could be sweltering in a heatwave.
As a result, the ceremonies on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday have been cancelled.
The Household Division, which organises the guard change, said in a statement: "Due to forecasted excessive temperatures this week, including a red heat alert mid-week, there will be some important changes to Ceremonial Operations across London and Windsor.
"The well-being of our soldiers, military working horses, and the public who gather in large numbers to watch these events is always our priority.
© Getty Images"In line with advice from the Met Office and other Government agencies, who are recommending a reduction in travel and outdoor activities, the following changes are in place this week: There will be no ceremonial Guard Changes in Windsor or London on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday."
In addition, the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards is set to change without ceremony at 8 am to avoid heat stress to the horses.
Other soldiers have been moved to shaded positions and will change more frequently than usual to adjust to the heat.
Record-breaking heatwave
On Wednesday, a Met Office red weather warning for extreme heat covering parts of England and Wales came into force for just the second time, as temperatures could reach close to 40C.
© Getty ImagesThe original heat record for June was set at 35.6C in Hampshire during the infamous heatwave of 1976, in which there were 15 consecutive days of temperatures rising above 32C.
The UK's all-time hottest temperature is 40.3C, measured in July 2022.
Despite the heat, the King is undertaking three engagements on Wednesday, hosting a reception for the Afghan Women's Refugee Cricket Team at Clarence House, before attending London Climate Week. He also joined a discussion with the REORG charity at the Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy.
What is the Changing of the Guard?
The guards have protected kings, queens and royal palaces since 1656.
The Changing the Guard ceremony originally took place at the Palace of Whitehall, which was the sovereign's official residence in London until 1689. Thereafter, when the Court moved to St James's Palace, the ceremony took place there.
© AFP via Getty ImagesAfter Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding Buckingham Palace, as it still does today.
The ceremony was postponed during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 "in line with Government advice to avoid mass gatherings".
While Buckingham Palace remains the King's official and administrative headquarters, he and Queen Camilla spend most of their time at the nearby Clarence House.
