a ceremony in which a group of soldiers replaces the soldiers who have finished their time on duty standing outside an important public building, such as a palace (= a building where a king or queen lives)

The band played the national anthem during the changing of the guard.

I hope to get to Buckingham Palace in time to see the changing of the guard.

There was a special changing of the guard ceremony today to honour victims of the attacks.

Synonym: guard mount

See also: guard noun (PERSON WHO PROTECTS)