Changing of the Guard in the Rain

 

The incoming and the outgoing guards prepared for the relief (Photo:Sergeant Vargas/1st Immemorial Regiment)
 

The members of the King’s Immemorial 1st Infantry Regiment again wore their period uniforms for the extraordinary changing of the guard held on 25th March at “Buenavista” Palace, while respecting the voices, movements and uses in force during the reign of Charles III. 

Along with numerous spectators who were situated in the vicinity of the Alcalá Street entrance to Army Headquarters, through which the Force paraded, to view the ceremony, there was an unexpected guest in attendance:  rain, which unrepentantly accompanied each of the key moments in the changing of he guard, which were marked by the sound of the fifes and drums of the Regiment’s War Band.

One of the most striking aspects of this manner of carrying out the changing of the guard, besides the blue and white fusilier uniforms, and the grenadier uniform with the typical Morion helmet or tall cap, in which the protagonists are attired, is the slow pace at which the shouldered arm and order arms movements are carried out, which is typical of the 18th century.

On this occasion, the first in 2011, it was the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Martín Villalaín, who was in charge of presiding over the ceremony.

Music Dampened by Rain

Previously, the King’s Immemorial 1st Regiment Band offered a concert on the Palace’s central parade ground which had to be cut short due to the rain.

Among other themes, they performed a march dedicated to the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, titled “With a Firm Pace”, an Aragonese “jota” folk song called “La Dolores” and the famous legionnaire song “The Bridegroom of Death”.