Every day at 11.55
am, a changing of the guard ceremony takes place on the Palace Square, a solemn
military ritual performed with perfect coordination.
Since their creation
on 8 December 1817, the Palace Guards have ensured the security of the Palace,
His Serene Highness the Sovereign Prince and the Princely Family, as well as
His properties and residences and their immediate surroundings. The Guards’
other duties include providing the Prince with a guard of honour, enforcing
laws and maintaining public order.
The motto of the
Palace Guards is “Honour, Loyalty and Devotion”. The Guard is currently
composed of 124 soldiers: three officers, twenty-five non-commissioned officers
and ninety-six ordinary soldiers.