Task 1. Read the text.

Ceremonies in London attract many tourists. Guards of the Guards Division, stand watch at Buckingham Palace. Each morning, the famous changing-of-the- guard ceremony takes place in the palace’s courtyard. The royal Household Cavalry holds a daily changing of the guard at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.

Another ceremony takes place at the Tower of London, which is guarded by Beefeaters. Each night at ten o’clock, the chief warder locks the tower gates and presents the keys to the tower governor. The custom is 700 years old.

Two of London’s most spectacular ceremonies are Trooping the Colour and the Lord Mayor’s Show. Trooping the Colour forms part of the queen’s official birthday celebration each June. It begins at 11.15 a.m. Riding in a horse-drawn carnage, the queen leads the guards Division and Household Cavalry past cheering crowds along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade. There, the queen inspects the troops, and the ceremonial flag is carried in review. For 20 minutes the parade stands rigidly. Then comes the March Past to the music of bands. The Queen takes the salute. The ceremony ends with the Queen returning to Buck­ingham Palace.

Electing London’s Lord Mayor takes place on Michaelmas Day /September 29/ at 12 noon. The public are admitted to the ceremony. It provides an impressive and colourful spectacle. The reigning Lord Mayor and Sheriffs walk in procession to the Guildhall and take their places. The recorder announces the selection. Usually the choice is unanimous. All hold up their hands and shout “All!” The bells of the City ring out as the Mayor and the Mayor Elect leave the Guildhall in the state coach for the Mansion House.

The Lord Mayor ’s Show takes place in the City on the second Saturday in November to celebrate the election of a new lord-mayor. The new major, dressed in traditional robes and riding in a horse-drawn red and gold coach, leads a parade through the streets of the City. The new Mayor travels to the Law Courts in the Strand to be sworn in. On the journey he is guarded by the Honourable Artillery Company of Pikemen and Musketeers, who wear Cromwellian Civil War Uniform. Many carnival floats follow.

Mayors are chosen from members of City Guilds. The Guilds were groups set up by craftsmen to look after their trades. They controlled all City business, but now they work for charity. The Guildhall is the center of the City. You can visit its clock museum and hall where Company banners are hung. In the hall there are two huge models of Gog and Magog, legendary British giants. During the evening at Guildhall the traditional Banquet takes place according to an old custom. The Banquet is attended by the most prominent people of the country. It is usually televised. The Prime Minister delivers a major political speech. The cost of the Show and Banquet is met by the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs.

Дата добавления: 2014-11-08