Latest news with #CeremonyOfTheKeys
The Sun
13-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Historic moment female Beefeater locks Tower of London for first time in 700 years in ‘fabulous honour'
A FEMALE Beefeater has led the Ceremony of the Keys, the locking of the Tower of London, for the first time in the ritual's 700-year history. AJ Clark, 50, can perform the task after becoming the first female yeoman warder promoted to sergeant. 5 5 5 Other women have played a role in past ceremonies. But only sergeants carry the King's Keys. AJ told The Sun: 'I still pinch myself. 'It's just fabulous. 'There is so much history and it is such an honour to be part of it.' The ritual dates to 1340 after King Edward III arrived unannounced and was furious he could enter unchallenged. The ceremony lasts from 9.53pm to 10pm. We watched as AJ emerged from the Byward Tower — where Anne Boleyn lived before her 1536 execution — with a lantern and the keys. She walked alone to the Bloody Tower to meet her escort of four Irish Guards. They marched to the Middle Gate then the Byward Gate, where AJ closed and locked the huge wooden doors. Back at the Bloody Tower — where King Edward V, 12, and brother Richard, nine, were murdered — a sentry challenged AJ: 'Halt! Who goes there?' Adorable moment King's Guard breaks protocol to nod at little boy who dreams of becoming a beefeater AJ replied she had 'King Charles' keys' and her group was allowed to pass. She gave the keys to the King's representative, before the playing of the Last Post. AJ, of Burnley, spent 24 years in the Army before becoming a Beefeater in 2017. She lives in the Tower with her husband and three dogs. She added: 'It is the shortest military ceremony in history, but for us the most important. 'Being a yeoman warder is magical.' 5
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
King Charles III arrives to cheering crowds in Lancaster
King Charles III has arrived in Lancaster to cheering crowds for his first official visit as King, who is also the Duke of Lancaster, was greeted at the railway station from the royal train by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Amanda is visiting Lancaster Castle to be handed the keys to the castle in front of the John O'Gaunt gateway as part of an ancient ceremonial monarch has taken part in the Ceremony of the Keys when visiting the castle since 1851, when keys were first presented to Queen Victoria, with Queen Elizabeth II taking part in 2015. Pupils from Willow Lane Primary School were chosen to go to the ceremony and greet his from local secondary schools including Ripley St Thomas and Lancaster Girls' Grammar School lined the route outside the castle accompanied by a performance from a military band. The castle was built by Henry IV in the 15th Century as part of the castle defences and includes a statue of his father John of Gaunt, a key figure in the history of the Duchy of the ceremony, the King will meet with local business representatives and attend a reception with a wide range of community the crowds outside, Steve Chester, from Washington DC, said it he was "loving the experience", of his first time seeing a British monarch in the flesh. "Lancaster is a quaint, gorgeous town, I love it here," he University students, and "very proud Royalists" Matthew Lamb and Daniel Kirk, said they had come to "share their pride" at the Royal Family during the historic visit. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
