Friary Court

Friary Court is a quiet, ceremonial centerpiece tucked within the red-brick walls of St James's Palace. It draws its name from a community of Capuchin friars who resided here in the seventeenth century after arriving to support the Catholic devotional needs of Catherine of Braganza, the consort of King Charles the Second. The space remains an active part of the British monarchy, serving as the assembly point where the Old Guard gathers for inspection before beginning their march to Buckingham Palace during the Changing of the Guard.