The first changing of the guard ceremony in 40 years was held this morning at Palace Square, before the President and hundreds of people.

The AFM said the ceremony will be held twice a month and two sentries in ceremonial uniform will guard the Palace every day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

The changing of the guard ceremony starts near City Gate, where the AFM band and the new guard march down to Palace Square. The old guard then marches out of the Palace and after the two guards form up on the square, the sergeant of the old guard ceremonially hands over the 'keys' of the Palace to his counterpart leading the new guard. The band then marches out of the square with the old guard.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco said the ceremony dates back to the time of the knights, when Palace Square was actually known as Piazza della Guardia and the grandmaster's personal guard lived in the buildings around the square.

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