From today for the first time the Tower of London will be bringing two historic ceremonies out from behind closed doors into the full view of its visitors. The aim is to help visitors discover more about the role of the Tower as a modern day working royal palace and fortress as the two ceremonies, the Opening of the Tower and the Word, are an integral part of daily life and work at the Tower of London.

The Opening of the Tower – 9.00am every day
As the Ceremony of the Keys secures the Tower of London for the night, so the Opening of the Tower will be the ceremonial opening of the Tower for the day’s business. The ceremonial opening of the Middle Tower and Byward Tower gates will take place at 9.00am each day in full view of waiting visitors rather than at 6.00am as previously.  A military escort will meet the Duty Supervisor with the Keys at the Bloody Tower arch shortly before 9.00am and then provide an escort to the Keys as the two gates are opened by the Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) on duty.

The Word – 3.00pm every day
The 'Word' is the daily changing password for after-hours entry to the Tower of London, used by Tower staff, residents and the soldiers on duty. In times gone by the 'Word' was issued to all Royal Palaces, the order being signed in person by the Sovereign. 'Swipe' cards, radios and CCTV have replaced a password in most palaces, but at the Tower the tradition is kept alive. The Word changes every 24 hours and the new word, still issued to the Governor by the Ministry of Defence, is collected every day from the Byward Tower by the Officer of the Guard at 3.00pm. The Byward Tower is the oldest continually manned guardroom in the realm. The collection takes place ceremonially, beginning at 2.50pm with the military guard parading outside the Waterloo Block, being inspected and then marching to the Byward Tower.  Once there, the Officer collects the Word, on a sheet of paper carried in a leather pouch, from the Beefeater on duty. The guard then retrace their route back to the Waterloo Block where they fall out to continue their primary task of providing protection to the Crown Jewels.