An unprecedented changing of the guard between the Elysée and Buckingham for the 120th anniversary of Entente Cordiale
Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
Bear hair caps, swords and cadenced steps… With an unprecedented changing of the cross guard, France and the United Kingdom celebrated the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale on Monday April 8. Grenadiers from the British royal house were involved in the ceremonial changing of the guard in the main courtyard of the Elysée Palace, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to France, Menna Rawlings. The 16 members of the British Embassy’s Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, wearing their traditional bearskinthe high fur hat, took part in the relief of their French counterparts from two sections of the 1st infantry regiment.
The French army choir then sang the two anthems. “This is the first time in the history of the Elysée that a foreign troop has been invited to participate in this military ritual”, underlines the French presidency. In Buckingham, it is also the first time that a country not a member of the Commonwealth, an organization which mainly includes former English-speaking British colonies and possessions, took part in the changing of the guard.
In front of the palace of King Charles III, the two anthems rang out. The grenadiers of the royal house also played Entente Cordialea march composed more than 100 years ago by Gabriel Allier to celebrate the agreement between the two countries.
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