The Ceremony of the Keys – Britain’s 700‑Year‑Old Nightly Lock‑Up

This episode unpacks the long‑standing ritual at the Tower of London that sees a chief yeoman warder lock and unlock the royal gates every night, tracing its origins from medieval security measures to modern ceremonial practice. We examine what the surviving keys, lanterns and records tell us about how this tradition has survived wars, regime changes and technological shifts while still echoing an ancient sense of duty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices