French soldiers involved in Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard for first time
It's to mark 120 years of an historic agreement between Britain and France
France has become the first non-Commonwealth country to take part in the traditional Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
The ceremony was organised to mark the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale - the historic diplomatic agreement between Britain and France which laid the groundwork for their collaboration in both world wars.
It saw a group of soldiers traditionally relieved by a new detachment of troops in front of an audience of 40 VIPs.
They were then inspected by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the UK Chief of General Staff (CGS), General Sir Patrick Sanders, the French Chief of the Army Staff, General Pierre Schill, and the French ambassador to the UK Helene Duchene.
The Gendarmerie were then marched on and off the Buckingham Palace forecourt by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, while both countries' national anthems and a programme of Anglo-French music were performed.
While the Gendarmerie participated in the ancient ceremony, they will not take the place of their British counterparts in guarding the King.
This responsibility is only afforded to members of the British Armed Forces and Commonwealth troops.
A similar guard change was attended by President Macron in Paris.
Sixteen soldiers from Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards will join troops from 1er Regiment de la Garde Republicaine to provide the Presidential Guard outside the Elysee Palace, in what will be the first ever example of a foreign state guarding the French Presidential Residence.
The Ministry of Defence said the appearance by French personnel at Buckingham Palace forms part of a longer-term programme of joint UK-French activity that celebrates the two nations' historic military and diplomatic ties in 2024.
This will include military sporting events, participation in each other's air shows, and major events in Normandy this June to commemorate the heroic service of Allied veterans who fought to liberate France from Nazi occupation.
The Ministry Of Defence said these will serve to further strengthen the long-standing military and security partnership between Britain and France.