1) Read the text and fill in the gaps with the words.

ceremonies / military / on duty / residence / months / modern / uniform / husband / palace
Buckingham Palace is the official London 1_________ of the kings and queens of the United Kingdom. It is the home of Queen Elizabeth the Second. She lives here with her 2______________, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Changing of the Guard is one of the most famous 3_______________ in London. It happens at Buckingham Palace. The ceremony takes place regularly throughout the year, and every day during some of the summer 4__________. The Queen’s guards protect the 5___________ and the Queen.
The guards get ready at the army barracks, near Buckingham Palace at ten o’clock in the morning. They get dressed into their 6____________. They wear black shoes, black trousers, a red jacket and a black hat, or ‘Bearskin’.
The ceremony begins at about half past eleven in the morning. The guards in the 7____________ band play traditional music as well as more 8____________ pop songs. The ceremony takes about thirty minutes.
At the end of the ceremony, the guard 9___________ leaves his post, and the new guard takes the post.

2) Answer the questions to the text.

1. What is the official London residence of the kings and queens of the United Kingdom?
2. Who is the Duke of Edinburgh’s wife?
3. Where does the Changing of the Guard happen?
4. Who and what do the guards protect?
5. What time do the guards get ready?
6. What is a ‘Bearskin’?
7. What time does the ceremony begin?
8. How long does the ceremony usually take?