Captain Megan Couto led about 40 Canadian soldiers through the changing of the guard ceremony at the palace yesterday morning, watched by the usual throng of tourists who saw history being made.
Before the ceremony, Couto said: “I’m just focusing on doing my job as best I can and staying humble. Any of my peers would be absolutely delighted to be captain of the Queen’s Guard and I’m equally honoured.”
As captain of the guard, she took up a position at nearby St James’s Palace after the ceremony.
Couto’s Canadian unit, the Second Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI) – known as the Patricia’s – has been invited to the UK to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary this year.
They are serving as the Queen’s Guard on select dates until July 3, keeping watch as sentries at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. During the changing of the guard ceremony, they have been accompanied by the 35-piece Royal Canadian Artillery Band.
The role of mounting the Queen’s Guard usually falls to the British army’s household division, which is largely made up of male troops.
Women in the British army have served on frontline duties in a variety of roles but until July last year they were banned from close-combat ground roles, so no female officer has previously served as captain of the Queen’s Guard. By contrast, Canada’s military has allowed women to serve in nearly all roles since 1989.
Couto is second in command in the Patricia’s to Maj Jay Hudson but, having commanded the guard last week, he has stepped aside to allow her the chance to lead in the ceremonial role.
She told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation she did not know that Canadian soldiers could guard the Queen: “It is a big deal because of the tradition and the importance of the ceremony.”