The Ceremony of the Keys

The Ceremony of the Keys is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London each night.

Set admist the mighty battlements of this ancient historic fortress, it is one of the oldest and most colourful surviving ceremonies of it's kind, having been enacted every night without fail for approximately seven hundred years, in much the same form as we know it today.

The exact origin of the Ceremony is somewhat obscure, though it probably dates from the time of the White Tower - the great Norman fortress commenced by William the Conqueror and completed in about 1080 AD - become regularly used as a Royal stronghold in the capital city.

As the fortifications around the Tower were increased from time to time so it became used not only as Royal residence, but also as the Mint and State Prison. The Country's gold was stored at the Tower, as were the Royal Records and Royal Regalia, and numerous historical figures were imprisoned within it's walls for political reasons, many of whom were never to emerge to freedom, dying either from natural causes or by execution on Tower Green or Tower Hill.

The surrounding populace were not always in sympathy with activities inside the Tower, and as enemies of the King might attempt to rescue prisoners or to steal the Crown Jewels, the need for security was very great. Thus it was in olden times that every night at dusk the Gentlemen Porter - now known as the Chief Yeoman Warder - would collect an armed escort, and would Lock and secure all the gates and doors leading into the Tower, thereby making it proof against hostile attack or intrigue, This done, the Keys would be handed over to the Tower Governor for safe keeping during the night.

In 1826, the Duke of Wellington (then Constable of the Tower) ordered that the time of the Ceremony be fixed at ten o'clock each night, so as to ensure that his soldiers were all inside the Tower before the gates were locked.

Accordingly, every night at exactly 7 minutes to ten, the Chief Warder emerges from the Byward Tower, carrying the traditional lantern - still lighted with a piece of candle - and in the other the Queen's Keys. He proceeds at a dignified pace to the Bloody Tower, where an escort consisting of two sentries, - a Sergeant and a representative Drummer are marched to the outer gate. En route, all guards and sentries present arms as the Queen's Keys pass.

As the Chief Warder shuts and locks the great oak doors of first the Middle Tower and then the Byward Tower, the escort halt and present arms.

They now return along Water Lane towards the Wakefield Tower, where in the deep shadows of the Bloody Tower Archway a sentry waits and watches.

As the Chief Warder and escort approach, the sentry's challenge rings out.

"Halt!" the escort is halted.
"Who comes there?"
"The Keys" replies the Chief Warder.
"Who's Keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's Keys" is the answer.
"Pass Queen Elizabeth's Keys - All's well".

Whereupon the Chief Warder and escort proceed through the archway towards the steps by the 13th century wall, where the Guard for the night is drawn up under an officer with drawn sword, The Chief Warder and escort halt at the foot of the steps.

The Officer gives the command, Guard and Escort - present arms. The Chief Warder takes two paces forward, raises his Tudor bonnet high in the air and calls out God preserve Queen Elizabeth.

The Whole Guard reply Amen, and as the parade ground clock chimes ten, the Drummer (bugler) sounds the Last Post.*

The Chief Warder takes the Keys to the house of the Resident Governor, and the Guard is dismissed.

Footnote: The sentry's challenge (above) is Who comes there and not Who goes there as is generally used in movies and television.

The Bugle Call "Last Post"

Its origin dates back as far as 1544, when it was used for posting guards.

The first official War Office version appeared in 1798, as part of a sequence of calls known as Setting the Watch.

The Last Post was sounded at 10:00pm, to end the day's work. Originally it was a cavalry call sounded on trumpets but was later adapted for bugles.

Footnote:The Last Post (left) is played (sounded) on the bugle by a drummer and not a bugler.
The Ceremony of the Keys is the oldest surviving military ceremony in the world. It has taken place every night for over 700 years. It is not just a colourful bit of British pageantry performed for the benefit of a handful of visitors, but has continued over the centuries because it serves an important and useful security purpose.

Looking back into history you should remember that the Tower was a symbol of foreign conquest until the conquerors merged with the conquered.

William the Conqueror chose the site - which had formerly been a Roman settlement and was already flanked on two sides by the city walls erected by the Romans - because it dominated the city and commanded the river. He, like his immediate successors, was European ruler rather than an English King and he needed a fortress in London where he and his administration could have a secure base from which the increasingly prosperous and assertive Londoners could be curbed. The defences were enlarged and completed in the reign of Edward I (1275 -1285). The tower, as the centre of administration and local government, continued to be the focus for discontent, but the only time it was seriously threatened was during Watt Tyler's peasant revolt in 1381.

As the years went by it lost its primary military role because of the changes in the nature of warfare but it continued to be of the utmost importance as the most secure place in the realm. Not only was it used as the principal Royal Residence until Henry VIII's time but it also housed:-

The Mint 1240-1812
The Ordnance (Armouries and Arsenal)
The Jewels and Treasure
The Courts of Justice
The Public Records 13th Century -1851

and the Royal menagerie, started by Henry III and here until 1834 (polar bear 1251 and elephant 1255 etc.) and Royal Observatory in 1675.

The security of the Tower continued to be of paramount importance not just because of its contents but also because of the power struggles which were taking place; the War of the Roses (1377-1486) then those between the Tudors and Stuarts, and finally the Reformation - all of which threatened the King's position to a greater or lesser extent.

Castles have always had a subsidiary role as a place of detention as they are as difficult to get out of as to get into, and the Tower is no exception. The Tower provided suitably dignified accommodation for high ranking prisoners and the defensive towers which were used for this purpose and the Yeoman Warders' houses were five star hotels in comparison to the ordinary prisons and indeed the houses of the majority of citizens. It is this aspect of the Tower's history which best remembered, but again it explains the continuing need for tight security. The populace was not always in sympathy with its rulers and enemies of the King were all too likely to make rescue attempts or to try to steal weapons, treasure etc.

The Lantern

The following is the exact wording of the original Tower of London diary entry dated 12th May 1919 regarding the presentation of the Lantern as used during the Ceremony of the Keys. The lantern has remained an integral feature of the Ceremony.

Tower of London

12th May 1919

At 10:20 a.m. this day, a deputation consisting of Lt. Cartwright, R.S.M. Blount, 1 Coy, Sgt. Major, 1 Sgt. & 2 Privates of the 1st Reserve Battn. The Honourable Artillery Company, attended at the Kings House for the purpose of making a presentation. There were present to receive them General Sir Ian Homilton G.C.B.D.S.O. Lieutenant of the Tower, Major General Henry Pipon C.B. Resident Governor of the Tower, Chief Warder Alex Smoker, Yeoman Gaoler Chas Gurney,, and 18 Yeoman Warders,

After apologising for the unavoidable absence of Col Treffry C.M.G. O.B.E., Lt. Cartwright in a great speech, referred to the pleasant time they has spent during their period of occupation of the Tower as its Garrison, and of the spirit of good fellowship which existed between the staff of the Tower and all ranks of the Regiment.

He then presented a lantern which it was hoped would be carried at the Ceremony of the Keys General Sir Ian Hamilton received the present and returned thanks on behalf of the Constable, and all the staff.

An inkstand for use in the Warders Hall was then presented by Lt. Cartwright, and received by Chief Warder A Smoker who returned thanks on behalf of the Yeoman Warders.

The lamp was carried at the Keys Ceremony for the first time this day.

Tickets to see the Ceremony of the Keys

It is possible to see the Ceremony of the keys but you must obtain tickets in advance, due to security restrictions they can't let just anyone into the Tower after dark.

You can get tickets by writing to the Tower of London in person and simply asking for them. You should give several alternative dates as numbers are restricted and the ceremony is very popular. You should also mark the envelope of your letter "Tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys". You must include the name and address of every member of your party - again for security reasons - and you should receive notification within a month and a half.

We are not the Tower of London and we cannot sort out tickets for you. Any queries should be directed at the Tower of London directly by telephone, fax or mail. No they don't have an E-mail address and we can't smuggle you into the ceremony if you send us lots of money. Well okay we might give it a go but no honestly as much we would love to help we can't - they have guns!