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Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.

Contents 1 United Kingdom 1.1 London 1.1.1 Line Infantry Battalions on Public Duties since 1996 1.2 Edinburgh 1.2.1 Edinburgh Military Tattoo sentries 1.3 Arms Plot 2 Canada

Three infantry battalions of the British army are currently tasked with the provision of Public Duties. Two of these are from the Foot Guards of the Household Division, and one (since 1996) is a line infantry battalion. The former are normally based at Wellington Barracks in central London, within a short distance of Buckingham Palace, and at Victoria Barracks in Windsor Castle, while the latter is at the Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow. Permanent Public Duties companies of the Foot Guards also supplement these men.

• 1st Bn, Royal Regiment of Wales 1996-1998
• 1st Bn, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1998-2000
• 1st Bn, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment 2000-2002
• 1st Bn, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment 2002-2005
• 1st Bn, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment¹ 2005-

The 1st Bn, 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment served in this role 1986-1988, stationed at Caterham, the first to do so. The 1st Bn, King's Own Fusiliers in the series Soldier Soldier served for a period on public duties during the run of the series.

Apart from providing the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace, and the Tower of London Guard, the Public Duties battalions occasionally also provide the Windsor Castle Guard, which is otherwise provided by the battalion based at Windsor. All ceremonial events in London involve the Public Duties battalions. They are also available, should this be necessary, to fulfil the primary role of a royal bodyguard, that of providing armed troops for the defence of the Sovereign and the capital, and of providing military assistance to the civilian authorities as and when needed (such as the firefighters strike).

• Note 1: The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters will be amalgamated in 2007 while they are stationed in London. The 1st Battalion will be renamed as the 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment.

Public duties are also carried out in Edinburgh, although not as frequently as London. Prior to 2002, sentries were permanently stationed at the entrance to Edinburgh Castle, but these were withdrawn due to cost-cutting measures. Today, sentries are posted during the evenings between 6 pm and 9 am, and throughout the week that HM The Queen spends in Edinburgh at both the castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Sentries are also posted at the castle during the month of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo prior to each performance.

Unlike in London, there is no permanently based foot guards battalion stationed in Edinburgh, so public duties are performed by one of the resident line infantry/rifles battalions. These are currently: 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, based at Redford Barracks, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, based at Dreghorn Barracks and The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland at Glencorse Barracks, Penicuik.

• 1998: 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers
• 1999: 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
• 2000: 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
• 2001: 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry
• 2002: 1st Battalion, The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
• 2003: 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
• 2004: The Royal Gibraltar Regiment
• 2005: Royal Naval Reserve
• 2006: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Battalions on public duties are part of the regular arms plot; this is where infantry battalions are periodically rotated to various locations and different roles. From approximately 2006, the arms plot system will cease - battalions will be given fixed roles and locations. In theory, this will include public duties in London, which will retain its two guards and one line infantry battalion. However, for unpopular postings (including public duties), light role infantry battalions will continue to rotate. Under this scheme, several battalions have been earmarked to rotate public duties in London:

• 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
• 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
• 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
• 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
• 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
• 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)
• 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
• 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) (Green Howards)
• 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers)
• 3rd Battalion, The Rifles

Two battalions of foot guards will be assigned to operational formations while the other two are on public duties. These four battalions will rotate with each other. The line infantry and rifles battalions will rotate between public duties as part of London District, service as a resident battalion in Cyprus and serving as part of 52 Infantry Brigade, which holds infantry battalions at high readiness for independent deployment.

Public duties are performed in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The primary ceremonial duties involve mounting guard at the Canadian Parliament and at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General. These are performed primarily by the two Canadian regiments of foot guards, detachments of which are formed into the Ceremonial Guard. However, as in London, it would be possible for any Canadian regiment to serve in this capacity. The guard at Parliament Hill and Rideau Hall are mounted daily from early June until late August, with the first parade usually on the Friday before Canada Day. Since 1989, the Governor General's Foot Guards have performed additional public duties in Ottawa during the autumn and winter months.