Tourists poke fun at 'nuts' Changing of the Guard ceremonies: 'This is the most unserious, serious thing I've ever witnessed'

The Changing of the Guard in London and Windsor is an event that attracts hundreds of tourists, who flock from around the world to see the military spectacle unfold.

Taking place four times a week, it sees The King's Guard handing over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace to the New Guard, usually involving soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats parading with an army band through central London.

However, England isn't the only place that has a distinctive Changing of the Guard ceremony - different kinds of these events take place at many important institutions around the world.

Videos of the choreographed displays of military drills often find their way to social media, sometimes evoking mixed reactions.

As more clips than usual have been circulating online recently, tourists are beginning to poke fun at the 'nuts' and 'unserious' protocol.

One clip that's doing the rounds online, shows the Attari-Wagah border ceremony which sees the security forces of India and Pakistan put on a show of unionship every day by performing drills in an exaggerated fashion

One clip that's doing the rounds online, shows the Attari-Wagah border ceremony which sees the security forces of India and Pakistan put on a show of unionship every day by performing drills in an exaggerated fashion.

Sporting colourful clothing at sunset, the soldiers do some impressively high leg kicks and manoeuvres, before the two flags are lowered at the same time and the gates are closed.

The clip, shared by X (formerly Twitter) account @TheFigen_, has already been seen by a whopping 32 million people, some of whom rushed to the comments to poke fun at the bizarre ceremony.

One user joked: 'This is the most unserious, serious thing I've ever witnessed'.

A second and third penned:'They look like complete idiots' and 'They look just like two peacocks prancing at each other!'

Someone else joked: 'Looks like it turned into a dance off' with another adding: ''This looks like a comedy show'.

Meanwhile, another social media user claimed: 'That has to be one of the silliest things I've seen in a while'.

A tourist who had seen the dramatic event in person added their own video and wrote: 'When we were there earlier this year, we had to come see this. It was nuts. Two countries with a lot of tension having a March off. Those dudes are like 6’7 massive towers'.

The clip, shared by X (formerly Twitter) account @TheFigen_ , has already been seen by a whopping 32 million people, some of whom rushed to the comments to poke fun at the bizarre ceremony

The video also encouraged another user to share a snippet of the Greek Changing of Guards ceremony, which shares a similar level of flamboyance

However, one user defended the border ceremony and explained its significance, quipping: 'This is a moment of pride for either of the nationalities. You literally get goosebumps if you're witnessing this on the spot there'. 

The security forces of India (Border Security Force, BSF) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have been taking part in the daily military practice since 1959 and thousands of people flock to see it on either side of the border.

It represents the complex relationship between the nations and is a symbol of both division and peace and cooperation.

The video also encouraged another user to share a snippet of the Greek Changing of Guards ceremony, which shares a similar level of flamboyance. 

The X account @floridanow1 penned: 'The Greek Guards get bonus points for their flair, their attire and symmetry,' alongside a shocked emoji.

Donning white jackets, wide skirts, and Albanian-type slipper clogs, the video sees two of the guards performing their routine in unity, lifting their legs and arms up high.

The guards are known as the Greek Evzones and they guard the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier around the clock. 

They raise the Greek flag at the Acropolis right after sunrise every Sunday and lower it at sundown. 

Joining the conversation, another X user ( @Taner_Firtina ) shared a video of the Changing of Turkish Guards of Anitkabir

Every Sunday, at 11am, the Grand Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place and the evzones, accompanied by a military band, march from the Presidential Guard's barracks to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and backward.

As the video began racking up views online, one user joked: 'They are also very flexible'.

But, a second angrily penned: 'Why do they make them do things like this. It's stupid and humiliating'.

'Looks more like a humiliation ritual,' quipped another, with someone else adding: 'I won't be able to stop laughing if I'm there'.  

One fan of the ceremony added: 'This is a tradition, so much is lost in our society just because 'times change'. It's refreshing to see that these have stood the test of time'.

Another wrote: 'Loved witnessing this in Athens! But the shoes kill me every time!' 

Joining the conversation, another X user (@Taner_Firtina) shared a video of the Changing of Turkish Guards of Anitkabir.

'Power rangers' and 'toy soldiers' joked some commenters, with a third questioning: 'Why does it look like they're dressed as henchmen in an Evil Genius game?'

The military ceremony takes place at certain times of day, attracting the attention of tourists and locals alike.

Social media users poked fun at the flamboyant Changing of the Guard ceremonies across the world

In the clip, soldiers are seen marching in sync in black, white blue uniforms as crowds watch on.

The videos come just after last month, for the first time in history Buckingham Palace was guarded by French troops in a drill approved by King Charles to mark 120 years of friendly relations.

In April of 1904 an agreement known as the Entente Cordiale was decided between the United Kingdom and the French Republic that settled a number of controversial matters and improved Anglo-French relations.

To mark this anniversary French troops guarded Buckingham Palace at Monday's Changing the Guard ceremony.

The forecourt of Buckingham Palace saw 32 French soldiers from the Republican Guard of the National Gendarmerie join 40 Guardsmen from F Company Scots Guards to parade the grounds together. 

A similar guard change, attended by President Macron, was also held in Paris earlier that day.