The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual, held every evening at the Tower of London, when the main gates are locked for the night.

[3] At exactly 9.52 pm,[4] the Chief Yeoman Warder, dressed in Tudor watchcoat and bonnet, and carrying a candle lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the Escort to the Keys, a military escort made up of armed members of the Tower of London Guard.

All's well".The Warder and escort march down to the foot of Broadwalk Steps where the main Tower Guard is drawn up to meet them.

On the answering "Amen", the clock of the Waterloo Barracks strikes 10pm and the Last Post is sounded, marking the end of the ceremony.

[1] In its current form the ceremony is likely to date to the 19th century when the institution of the Yeomen Warders was reformed by the then Constable of the Tower, the Duke of Wellington.

[6][5] During much of the First World War, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) provided the Tower garrison but in 1919 after handing back the Tower Guard to the Foot Guards, the HAC's 3rd Battalion presented a lantern to the Yeomen Warders on the 12 May 1919 as a mark of friendship during their time on duty.