Ceremony of the Keys
The Tower of London recently received a visit from the Provincial Prior of Northampton, Huntingdon and Bedford, R.E.Kt. Stephen Churchill, accompanied by his Sub Prior, E.Kt. Russell Laxton, along with Knight members of the Province, their partners and friends. In total, forty-six people made the journey to the nation’s capital, all looking forward to witnessing the historic “Ceremony of the Keys.”
The Ceremony of the Keys is a 700-year-old nightly ritual at the Tower of London in which the Yeoman Warders—the oldest existing British military corps, who also serve as the monarch’s ceremonial bodyguard—lock up the fortress. Remarkably, this tradition has never been broken.
Our party first gathered at a local hostelry under the auspices of Knight Reece Pitts, who had organised the visit to London. He had been planning the trip for many months, and at last the day had arrived.
From the hostelry, the group made their way to the Tower of London, where they were greeted by Yeoman Garry McCornel. He outlined the requirements for the visit within the Tower grounds and explained what we were and were not permitted to do—guidance that was, of course, entirely necessary.
The tour began with a series of hilarious anecdotes about the construction of the Tower, its long history, and the ways in which it has developed over the centuries. This humorous and informative commentary continued throughout the grounds, bringing the Tower’s rich history vividly to life. The lives—and often tragic deaths—of many of its occupants were recounted by the Yeoman with great wit and engaging storytelling.
Following the tour, we entered the Yeomen’s Bar, where we had some time to relax. During our visit we were again treated to an explanation of the history behind the relics that line the walls of the room, some of which date back many years.
At 21:30 we gathered outside the White Tower, where we were given our final instructions before moving to Traitors’ Gate, close to where the Ceremony of the Keys takes place. At 22:00 the gates were secured and the keys formally returned to the custodian of the Tower, the Resident Governor.
It was a very moving and emotional ceremony, concluding with one of the soldiers sounding the Last Post on the bugle. The personnel carried out their duties with remarkable military precision, creating a powerful and memorable experience for all who witnessed it.
Aside from the monarch’s name, the exchange of words during the ceremony remains exactly as it has been spoken for centuries, forming part of the traditional nightly “locking up” of the Tower of London.
All Knights Templar members of the Province of Northampton, Huntingdon and Bedford had a memorable visit which will reman with them for many a day and we now look forward to the next adventure.