The traditional changing of the guard ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace was canceled this Wednesday (24) due to the strong heat wave hitting London.
The decision, which is very rare, comes at a time when .
In London, thermometers are expected to reach more than 35 °C this Wednesday.
British authorities have issued a red alert due to the heat, warning the population to take precautions against health risks until at least the end of the week.
The changing of the guard is one of the main tourist attractions in the British capital, attracting thousands of tourists on the busiest days.
It takes place four times a week and its cancellation is extremely rare, occurring mainly in cases of heavy rain, storms or operational and safety issues.
Outages due to extreme heat, however, are very infrequent.
In an official statement, the Household Division, the British Army unit responsible for ceremonial functions and the protection of the royal family, reported that the measure was taken “in view of exceptional weather conditions”.
A statement from the military confirmed that “due to the , daily ceremonial operations will be adjusted to take into account the heat.”
The statement also highlights that the well-being of the soldiers and horses involved in the ceremonies was decisive in the decision. “We take the well-being of our soldiers and military horses very seriously,” the text says.
According to the Household Division, in some cases, such as the mounted guard in Horse Guards, the replacement took place without ceremony and at early times to reduce the military’s exposure to heat.
The Army also reported that, even when soldiers remain at their posts, additional measures are adopted on days of high temperatures. Among them are staying in shady areas and more frequent changes of soldiers on duty.
British authorities have been recommending the reduction of outdoor activities during the heat wave, which is already affecting transport, services and events in several European cities.
Despite the suspension, he highlighted that the measure is temporary and necessary given the exceptional conditions.
