-The Tower of London.

It's 2022, and this will be one of the most extraordinary times in its 1,000-year history.

-Hip, hip!

-Hooray!

-Torture -- go down the stairs to the left.

-It's already seen more famous events than anywhere else in Britain... -Anne Boleyn got her head cut off.

-Guy Fawkes.

-...and 42 monarchs... -William the Conqueror.

-King Henry VIII.

-Bloody Mary!

-...come and go.

-[ Squawks ] -Now, with exclusive access, we meet the men and women keeping the tower running during an incredible 12 months... -Someone asked if the Tower of London was a new build.

No, it's 1,000 years old.

-...as the tower marks its first-ever Platinum Jubilee.

-We will never see a Platinum Jubilee again in our lifetime.

-...one of the saddest moments in its history... -The passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

-...and the proclamation of a new king.

-God preserve King Charles III!

-In this episode, this royal palace goes into mourning.

-Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

-An uninvited guest muscles in on the ravens' supper.

-That's Bertie the Seagull.

-Bertie, what are you doing?

-[ Bird squawks ] -And the fortress prepares to welcome the new monarch, King Charles III.

-It's a particularly special thing to sense that we were making history.

-Welcome to the secret world of the Tower of London.

♪♪ It's August, and Britain is roasting in a heat wave.

At the tower, the first visitors of the day are sweltering as they listen to the fortress' gruesome history.

-In the five years that Queen Mary Tudor is in charge, 312 people were recorded to have died as heretics.

Almost 300 of those were burned alive.

-This summer has seen the UK's hottest recorded temperature, and the heat is showing no signs of letting up.

-28.1 at 25 past 9:00 this morning.

Now, that's warm.

-The sunshine has been drawing in huge crowds, but with the temperatures today expected to reach over 35 degrees, visitor safety is a key concern.

Deputy Governor Debbie Whittingham is preparing to put the tower's hot-weather protocols into action.

-When we get into the high 30s, that's when we start to get nervous, especially when the sun's beating down quite heavily on the Jewel House queue, which will get quite busy as the morning moves on.

So, when it reaches around the 35-degree mark, we'll change the queue positioning so that we can take them 'round the back of the Jewel House and queue them there so they're completely in the shade.

-The Tower's Yeomen Warders are also feeling the heat.

-Come on in, folks.

Come on in.

-Their woolen, blue undress uniform is great for a winter's night, but less than ideal for today's soaring heat wave.

-I'm just keeping in the shade.

If you're forced out into the sunlight for a photograph or something, you could literally instantly feel the sweat.

-Ice packs underneath the bonnets, lots of cold water, lots of drinking really is about all you can do, and just grin and bear it and wait till the day's finished.

-Even in one of the coolest places in the fortress, the moat, visitors are finding it a struggle.

-I think you're hot, aren't you?

-I am a bit.

-I think it's a bit warm.

-It's a very warm.

But I do get to stand in the garden all day for work.

-The moat has been transformed into a living floral installation, celebrating the queen's Platinum Jubilee.

At least the millions of flowers planted here are enjoying today's sunshine.

-Smile.

-Thank you.

-Alright.

Okay.

Smashing.

Have a lovely day.

-Keen gardeners, like Yeoman Warder Spike Abbott, are enjoying the view from their tower homes.

-The flower display now is absolutely fantastic.

Much more fabulous view than I normally see out of my three windows, which are here on the east casemates wall.

-And for Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran, it's a triumph.

-We were worried in the early days, but it's been a great success.

It's more than what I expected.

And every day I come out of the office, you know, I'm seeing changes all the time, you know, different flowers coming up, different colors coming up.

-As well as the queen's Platinum Jubilee, the tower has another significant event taking place this year.

Its most senior official, the constable, General the Lord Nicholas Houghton, is retiring from his post.

A former head of the British Armed Forces, Lord Nicholas has lived at the tower for six years.

He's made the most of his exclusive home in the Queen's House, with its terrace overlooking one of the most historic views in the country.

-So, it's a beautiful setting here and is remarkably tranquil of an evening.

You can peacefully reflect over the White Tower and you can have a gin and tonic and smoke a decent Cuban cigar.

Literally, you could be hundreds of years ago.

You feel very authentically part of the past.

-As boss of the whole tower complex, the powerful job of the constable used to involve defending the City of London and taking charge of the fortress' most high-profile prisoners.

-Evening, sir.

-Good evening.

Are we well?

-We are.

Ready for -- -Are we ready for it?

-We are.

Yep.

-Come on, then.

-Although, nowadays, it's a more ceremonial post, which includes hosting the highest dignitaries in the realm.

And the chief here in the morn -- unusually for the Royal Air Force.

-Each constable's post usually lasts five years, but the pandemic has extended Lord Nicholas' to six.

♪♪ And with his last day at the tower approaching, Chief Yeoman Warder Pete and his second-in-command, Yeoman Gaoler Rob Fuller, are putting the final touches to his grand sendoff.

-I'll be at the top of the stairs with the constable as the guests arrive.

I think there's about 250, 300 guests.

And then, once that's done, then I'll be watching the clock, ready for the start of the band marching on, which should be dead on 7:00.

-The constable is personally appointed by the monarch.

In his 13 years at the tower, Pete has served under three.

-I arrived here, there was -- General Wheeler was in the seat.

I got on great with him.

Real, real good guy.

And then Lord Dannatt came.

Great with the community.

And we got Lord Houghton, as well.

So, all great characters in their own right and, you know, certainly are all selected by Her Majesty the Queen.

-Although the constables come and go, the Beefeaters' jobs are permanent.

-We're here for life, basically, here till we retire.

We are the constant here at the tower.

-Coming up, the constable gets a special tower send-off.

-Does actually feel now like the end of the military chapter, as it were.

-And the fortress receives some dreaded news, as the death of Queen Elizabeth II is announced.

-When I got the news, it was one of shock and sadness, and there were a few tears.

There's a lot of people like me who thought the queen would never die.

-It's closing time at the tower.

-Two minutes to go.

Keep going.

He's going around for another lap.

[ Chuckles ] Make the most of it.

-This evening, the tower's most senior official, the constable, will be retiring with a grand send-off.

But first, there's the small matter of persuading the public to leave the fortress.

-Take care, now.

Bye-bye.

See you later, folks.

Escape where you can.

-Finally, with the last visitors gone, it's time to put the tower's most famous residents to bed.

-[ Whistles ] -During the summer, the tower's ravens like to sleep on top of the ancient walls.

-In the wild... -[ Whistles ] -...ravens tend to roost in high places -- on the edges of cliffs and the topmost branches of trees.

-[ Ravens squawking ] -Georgie.

Georgie!

[ Whistles ] Come on, then.

-The ravens have a choice of 21 different buildings full of ancient nooks and crannies.

Normally, Ravenmaster Chris Skaife would give his flock their evening meal inside their enclosure.

-Come on, then.

Come on, then.

-[ Raven squawks ] -Come on, then.

-But tonight, they don't seem too keen on dinnertime.

-What's this, then?

They're a little bit shy to come down this evening.

But, you know, we like a bit of patience.

Come on, then.

[ Whistles ] Come on, then.

What's this, then?

There goes Georgie now.

So, she's just taken her food, and there she goes.

She lands on the Bloody Tower roof, and that's where she'll roost up for the night, just up there now.

So, you've got Branwen and Edgar that like to sleep up there, roost up at nighttime.

You've got Erin and Jubilee, who spend their night actually sleeping over on the Jewel House roof.

Good girl, Poppy.

Good girl.

[ Grunts ] There's one.

There's two.

I think they've all got their food.

Yeah, yeah.

-There's a problem feeding the birds outside their enclosure -- hungry passersby.

-Bertie, what are you doing?

That's Bertie the Seagull.

He's here every single night, without fail, hunting around for food.

He actually flew into the enclosure last night and went in there and he couldn't find his way out.

And he was actually stuck in there.

-Being a big softy, Chris throws Bertie some supper, as well.

-I've just put some food down there for you.

Come on, go and get it.

It's that way.

[ Seagull squawks ] Right.

See you later.

-It may be bedtime for the ravens, but the day is far from over for the tower community.

Tonight, the fortress is holding a very special farewell for its most senior official.

The tower's constable, General the Lord Nicholas Houghton, is leaving after six years in the post.

There's a grand send-off, including a performance from the constable's favorite marching band, the Royal Marines, and a chance to share memories.

It's also an evening off for most of the Yeomen Warders, including Matt Pryme, who has just nipped back to his house in the casemates to get dressed up in his off-duty bib and tucker.

-It's nice for us to be able to go to a tower event in civvies.

We're having a reception afterwards.

We can relax a little bit.

This is quite sad to see the constable go, and his lovely wife.

Yeah, the Yeomen Warders and the constable -- we live here, so we are -- we are a family.

-Deputy Governor Debbie Whittingham has worked alongside the constable and his wife for years.

-They might be our senior leaders and staff, but they're friends, as well.

I've been here for the full time with them and I've grown to love them.

-On the broadwalk, the constable's guests join the Yeoman Warders for tonight's sunset reception.

[ Bell tolling ] As you'd expect at a military gathering, proceedings begin precisely on time with the world-class Royal Marine Band.

♪♪ ♪♪ This will be the very last parade Lord Houghton will experience as constable of this most extraordinary palace and fortress.

♪♪ ♪♪ -We wanted tonight to be a farewell for Maggie and I as we leave the tower at the end of six memorable years.

When I stepped down as Chief of Defence Staff, I determined that I fully intended to spend the rest of my life doing enjoyable things in the company of people I liked.

You have made that very easy to accomplish, so thank you.

And, if you forgive me, a special thank-you to the Yeoman Warder body for all the fun and the friendship that you have given Maggie and I over the last six years.

♪♪ ♪♪ -It's a beautiful evening to see him off, but it's all so sad.

♪♪ So I hope you didn't get too many of the tears and the mascara running.

[ Laughs ] But it was -- No, it's super, wonderful night, and the Royal Marines always do us proud, which is wonderful.

♪♪ -Does actually feel now like the end of the military chapter, as it were.

My occasions to get dressed up in uniform with the swan feathers on will now be very remote, indeed.

♪♪ ♪♪ -Apart from the special ceremonies held throughout the year, the rhythm of life at the tower is much the same every day.

-Come on, keep going.

It might get better, but I doubt it.

-But there are some days that will always be remembered.

It's Thursday, the 8th of September, 2022, and the fortress is winding down for the evening.

As the gates are closed, news arrives that will change the tower's history and that of the whole nation forever.

-Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

-As the news sinks in... around the country, people come out to pay their respects.

As a royal palace with special links to the royal household, the tower immediately enters a two-week official period of mourning.

♪♪ -When the monarch dies, it can't be just reactive.

We have to have a plan, and that plan is in place many years before.

And the minute the awful occasion occurs, that plan kicks in.

-Deputy Governor Debbie Whittingham has been involved in preparing the fortress for this very sad day.

The plan is designed to help tower staff undertake special duties that are required in the days following a monarch's death.

♪♪ -Everyone at the tower is aware of the plan.

It is very easy to implement, because everyone knows what their role is, what's expected of them, and so there's no questions.

There's turn right sharply and get on with it.

-Within 10 minutes of the announcement of the queen's death, The fortress performs a visible signal of respect to the capital and beyond.

-The first thing is, we lower our flag at half-mast, as do many other organizations, government buildings, and palaces across the nation.

-The tower's Union standard, at half-mast, joins those on Tower Bridge, Westminster and Buckingham Palace in mourning.

The flag is only lowered a third of the way to ensure that it can still be seen.

A tradition that dates back four centuries to ships signaling to each other at sea.

As night falls on an historic day, the public brave the rain and continue to hold vigil.

And the tower prepares to play its role in marking the nation's grief... at the end of this great Elizabethan age.

[ Bell tolling ] ♪♪ It's Friday, the 9th of September.

Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, people continue to make their way to Buckingham Palace to pay tribute.

[ Bell tolling ] At the tower, a strict plan of action is followed the day after a monarch's passing.

The fortress is closed, the chapel bell is rung in mourning... [ Tolling continues ] ...and the tower prepares to carry out its formal duty, a solemn gun salute.

-Halt!

♪♪ -The tower will lead the entire country in marking the queen's passing.

♪♪ Three howitzer guns are positioned by the Honourable Artillery Company.

They are usually greeted by applause from the crowds, but today, they arrive in silence.

♪♪ As a royal palace, the tower is at the heart of national mourning, so the gates are opened briefly to allow the public to share in this saddest of events.

The first of 96 rounds, one for each year of Her Majesty's life, pierces the silence.

For Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran, this is the most important and the most poignant gun salute of his life in service.

[ Howitzer fires ] -When I got the news about the passing of Her Majesty, it was -- it was one of shock and sadness.

And there -- Yeah, there were a few tears.

-Fire!

-Fire!

♪♪ [ Howitzer fires ] ♪♪ -It was important that the whole body wanted to be out there at that gun salute to pay respect.

The guys would not want to be away from here while this was happening.

♪♪ -Fire!

-Fire!

[ Howitzer fires ] -Fire!

-Fire!

-There's a lot of people like me who thought the queen would never die because it was so much ingrained in our life.

But God bless her, she's gone.

-Fire!

-Fire!

-In her lifetime, over 280 gun salutes were held to honor the queen's coronation, birthdays, and jubilees.

This will be her very last.

-Fire!

-Fire!

-I think 96 rounds that were fired -- it gave you time to stand there and reflect of what it's all about.

And it was so important to realize that this is a sad occasion, a massive occasion in history.

And because we're all about history at the Tower of London and keeping history going, it did make you think that, you know, this yeoman body stood here at such a pinnacle in the life of the tower.

Hopefully she's looking down now and saying, "Well done, you lot."

[ Howitzer fires ] -It's Saturday, the 10th of September, and after yesterday's closure as a mark of respect, the tower is open to the public once again.

The yeoman body wear black mourning bands in honor of Her Majesty.

It's quieter than usual at the fortress as people across the country come to terms with the news.

While the Yeoman Warders put on a brave face for the public, their tours are canceled and a solemn atmosphere fills the fortress.

At the gift shop, customer-service assistant Alan Jones is reflecting on the last few days.

-The loss of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II was absolutely devastating for me.

I absolutely love the lady.

She's all I've ever known.

She's all the lot of us have ever known.

Just knowing she was there, her presence made you feel safe even in this country's darkest hours.

I had so many e-mails come through from our American visitors and customers wishing us condolences.

From all over the world, people were incredibly kind and sorry for the loss of "your queen," which is a lovely thing for them to say.

I mean, she was all of our queen, but you do have that personal sense of she was ours.

She made one proud to be British.

-The tower has provided a sense of continuity through its whole 1,000-year history.

Like, no other building in the world, it's witnessed the reigns of 42 monarchs.

And as it says farewell to the queen, it must also be ready to welcome the new king.

-The transition of one monarch to the next has to be seamless.

There is then a sense that we have to respect the fact that we've just lost our queen, but we also have to respect the fact we're now serving the king from the minute that she passed.

There's some practical things that have to happen.

So we wait for the proclamation from the center, from the establishment, and then we, as a royal palace, are expected to proclaim the new king.

-The Tower of London will be one of the first places to issue the proclamation.

In a special ceremonial procession, the proclamation is read to the public in a number of locations in and around the tower.

-This has never happened before in living memory.

No one at the tower -- working at the Tower of London has ever proclaimed a new monarch.

So it's vital that we get it right.

-The job of planning this ceremony falls to Tower Operations Manager James Murly-Gotto, but he's already run into a few problems.

-We've had to go back to the archives to actually look through what happened the last proclamation, which took place in 1952, proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II, and use that as a basis for creating our own proclamation ceremony here at the tower this time 'round.

-James has discovered photos from the tower's 1952 procession, which is helping him to decide where the proclamation should be read.

But changes to the tower and its surrounding area in the past 70 years are already causing issues.

-Unfortunately, one of the locations that we were looking at, where they did it in 1952, is now the site of the ticket office.

So it was impossible to actually do that in the same spot.

It can't be exactly the same as '52, but we'll use it as a bit of a model.

-James has also uncovered an extraordinary book called "The Yeoman Warders' Hail."

Written by the Chief Yeoman Warders over the decades, it's a journal of all the significant events that have happened at the tower.

-Absolutely fascinating and done in very beautiful handwriting.

It has a very vivid description of what took place for the last proclamation ceremony, in February 1952, detailing who was involved and what they did, where they went, which has been absolutely vital.

-As well as giving him ideas for the ceremony, James has noticed a special detail he is keen to include.

-The final part of the ceremony is described, "While on conclusion, the Chief Yeoman Warder doffed his Tudor bonnet and, in a loud voice, said, 'God preserve Queen Elizabeth II.'

The Yeoman Warders answering, 'Amen.'"

And this is what we're going to be doing this time around, as well, obviously, with King Charles III.

[ Fanfare ] -The tower's proclamation is due to take place tomorrow, but the very first proclamation of the new king is happening today at exactly 10:00 a.m.

at Saint James's Palace.

-The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our late sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege lord Charles III.

-Arms!

-God save the King!

-God save the King!

-[ Fanfare ] -With the official announcement made, the tower hails King Charles with a 62-gun salute.

♪♪ -We're putting our heart into making sure we're also doing the new monarch proud.

And I think we did that today.

♪♪ -It's Sunday morning, and later today, the tower will be issuing its special proclamation to announce the new King Charles III.

On Tower Green, Chief Yeoman Warder Pete and Operations Manager James are running through the plans for the procession.

-Pete, you've had a look back through the photographs from the archive, and it all starts up here on Tower Green.

And the image that we've got, the photo, we know exactly where people are going to be standing.

So we've got a crescent of Yeoman Warders surrounding the resident governor.

So I think we should be doing the same sort of thing.

And we've got a bugler, as well, just directly behind the... -Yes.

Yeah.

-...the resident governor.

-The tower's governor, Brigadier Andrew Jackson, will be at the heart of the ceremony.

He's tasked with reading the proclamation.

-Following on from the proclamation, you raise your Tudor bonnet and you say, "God preserve King Charles III."

-I'll be doing that.

No problem with the bugler.

He's booked.

We kick off at 12:00, so there's not much time.

I know the troops are looking forward to this and a massive part of history.

I mean, you know, there's obviously a lot of sadness.

-Well, we'll put on a good one.

♪♪ -When this morning's tourists arrived at the tower, they had no idea they were about to see such a significant event taking place.

As midday approaches, the crowds sense something is about to happen and start to gather near Tower Green.

To the sound of the bugler... [ Fanfare ] The yeoman body, with Deputy Governor Debbie Whittingham and Governor Andrew Jackson, perform a duty last seen 70 years ago.

-We come together this afternoon following the passing of our late sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II.

-The proclamation of a new monarch has an ancient pedigree.

Before the 1600s, the king or queen would make the proclamation themselves.

This changed when James I was the first sovereign to be proclaimed king by an official council, in 1603.

Andrew is continuing that tradition.

-It is my duty as resident governor of His Majesty's Tower of London to cause the proclamation to be read within my jurisdiction.

Ladies and gentlemen, the proclamation of the accession.

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to his mercy our late sovereign, Lady Queen Elizabeth II, the crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George.

-The wording of the proclamation has changed very little to this day.

It's always been designed to be heard across the land so everyone knows there is a new monarch on the throne.

-Beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us.

Given at Saint James's Palace this 10th day of September in the year of our Lord 2022.

-God preserve King Charles III!

-Amen!

-With the first proclamation issued, Chief Yeoman Warder Pete leads off the procession.

Governor Andrew will make the announcement in five key locations surrounding the tower.

For centuries, this area, known as the Tower Liberties, would have been under the control of the fortress.

-Head of the Commonwealth, defender of the Faith, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection.

Yesterday, the proclamation was made at the Palace of Saint James's, and today, it is being made all around the nation.

So in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, a proclamation has been read out.

So it's a particularly special thing to be able to do that as part of a nationwide proclamation of our new king.

-God preserve King Charles III!

-Amen!

♪♪ -...to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection.

-The procession returns to the tower.

-Body, prepare to remove headdress!

Remove headdress!

Three cheers for His Majesty, King Charles III!

Hip, hip!

-Hooray!

-Hip, hip!

-Hooray!

-Hip, hip!

-Hooray!

-Replace headdress!

-And with proceedings now over, Andrew has a chance to reflect.

-When I heard the news of our late queen's death, I was in my office.

I was fortunately on my own, because I have to admit, I shed a tear when the national anthem was played on the BBC.

And it will take a long time to get over the passing of such a great queen.

But we're also looking to the future.

So as we walked around the Liberties today and made the proclamation, it was impossible to do that without a sense of that we were making history.

The tower has stood for 1,000 years and has seen many sovereigns proclaimed, and this won't be the last one.

So that sense of doing something within the 1,000-year time span of the tower was quite a heavy burden, but also a real honor.

-Hip, hip!

-Hooray!

-Coming up, the public queue for hours to pay their respects to the queen.

-This is just extraordinary to see.

-And the tower staff remember their life of service with their commander in chief.

-She's so warm and welcoming that it was a most wonderful moment I shall never, ever forget.

♪♪ -It's September the 14th, and there is a new monarch on the throne, King Charles III.

-Good morning, everybody!

-Good morning!

-Welcome to His Majesty's royal palace and fortress, the Tower of London.

-Queen Elizabeth's funeral will take place in five days' time.

But before then, the late queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four days, allowing the public to pay their final respects.

♪♪ The royal tradition of lying in state in Britain dates back to the death of James I, in 1625, when the public were allowed to take part in the mourning of a monarch for the first time.

In 1910, Queen Elizabeth II's great-grandfather, Edward VII, was the first monarch to lie in state in Westminster Hall.

Keeping watch over the sovereign's coffin is now the most important duty in the kingdom.

Members of the sovereign's official bodyguard, which includes the Tower's Yeoman Warders, are stationed at each corner of the coffin, on duty 24 hours a day.

♪♪ The doors to Westminster Hall are due to open at 5:00 p.m., and already, the public turnout is staggering.

-This is just extraordinary to see.

-Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator Tracy Borman has come down to the River Thames to witness an astonishing event.

-There are hundreds of people along this stretch alone.

I'm right opposite the tower, and the front of the queue is 2 1/2 miles west that way.

Apparently, the queue as a whole is now almost 5 miles long.

And goodness knows how long these people right next to me here have been waiting.

These are just such remarkable times.

-The death of a monarch has been a rare occurrence in modern British history, happening only three times in the last century.

The scale of the public reaction to the queen's passing echoes the huge turnout of mourners for the last royal lying in state, the queen's father, King George VI, in 1952.

-King George VI became king upon the abdication of his brother, and by the time of his death, he was a much-beloved figure, even though he'd been very reluctant to become king.

Incredibly, more than 300,000 people queued up to pay their respects to George VI, and apparently, it became nicknamed as "The Great Queue" because of just how far it stretched.

And I have a few photos of those queues here.

You see the queue snaking along the Thames past Lambeth Palace there.

What really strikes me is how cold people must have been.

This was February, not like the fairly warm September days we have now.

But, apparently, they thought nothing of standing out in the cold and rain to pay their respects to the king.

-Inside Westminster Hall, some familiar figures stood watch over the king's coffin.

-You see the king's coffin there in the center.

And look here.

You can see a Beefeater at every corner of that raised platform there, with the king's coffin and the queues filing past it on either side.

-For historian Tracy, this is an incredible moment.

-It's absolutely extraordinary to see scenes that I've only read about actually being played out here and on a greater scale than ever before.

And what really strikes me is, this is an age of mass media.

People could just sit at home and watch all of this, but instead, they want to be here.

They want to be part of this historic moment.

And, undoubtedly, it also speaks to how they felt about the late queen, our longest-reigning monarch and clearly one who inspired enormous affection.

-As the queue of mourners to see the queen lying in state grows and grows, snaking its way along 10 miles of the capital's streets towards Westminster Hall, the transition to a new royal era is already under way at the tower.

-Come around, folks.

Squeeze in this way.

-As life at the tower begins to re-establish its familiar rhythms, the Yeomen Warders have time to reflect on the queen's passing and the impact that she had on their lives and careers.

-As our monarch, she was somebody that we served under for all of our lives.

Most of our parents, if they served in the military, they served under Her Majesty the Queen.

So it's all we've ever known.

-It literally was like somebody in your family passing away, like a very close relative or your grandmother, and I had the privilege of being in her presence many times.

-She will always hold, you know, a very special place in our hearts.

-Deputy Governor Debbie Whittingham has her own precious memory of the queen.

-I only ever met Her Majesty once.

It was very unexpected.

I was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace after the jubilee concert, only to be invited, within sort of 10 minutes of arriving, to move into a different room.

Why?

Well, "We would like to present you to Her Majesty."

Well, that is one of those things that you weren't -- When you're not expecting it, is quite unnerving.

But she's so warm and welcoming that it was a most wonderful moment I shall never, ever forget.

-For Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran, it's a bittersweet moment saying goodbye to a monarch he has served for more than five decades.

-I remember when Her Majesty came to the tower in 2014 to lay some ceramic poppies in the moat, obviously commemorating the beginning of the First World War.

And as the chapel clerk, it's my job to escort Her Majesty and her husband around the chapel.

And then we had a photograph as a yeoman body after.

But someone actually captured a photo of myself and Her Majesty and her husband as I'm escorting them out of the chapel, and I've even got that as my screen saver on my phone.

It's a great shot.

Really, really proud of it.

Yeah, but great memories.

Absolutely great memories.

♪♪ -Next time, it's all change at the tower with the arrival of the new constable.

-It's an incredible honor and privilege.

I'm still coming to terms with it, to be honest.

-His grand swearing-in ceremony is the largest event the tower brass has ever arranged.

-Last-minute nerves for this.

You're never sure it's worked until it's over.

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

-Process, if you please.

-And Yeoman Warder Pete reflects on an extraordinary 12 months.

-Your Majesty, the Commonwealth of Nations Globe.

If someone was to say to me, "Pete, if there's any year you'd want to be the Chief Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London," my God, this is the year.

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