Hundreds of tourists and Praguers gathered to watch the ceremony by Matyáš Gate. All the units of the Castle Guard were presented. After the act of decoration, the Band of the Castle Guard played the National anthem and the units marched through Hradčany Square. On 14th November 1918, the Castle Guard was founded after the return of Tomáše Garrigue Masaryk, who was the first elected Czechoslovakian President,

Legionaries at Castle

On 7th December 1918, the Headquarters of Czechoslovakian Military Forces established an infantry unit which was in charge of Prague Castle’s security. The unit is part of the 28th Infantry Regiment and was deployed to its barracks in Prague – Smíchov. This was the first unit dedicated to guard Prague Castle. For the whole duration of the First Republic, the Castle Guard composed of legionaries who had fought on the side of the Triple Entente in Russia, Italy and France.

The ceremony was designed by Dr. J. Guth-Jarkovský, and has changed only slightly since. After the German occupation on 15th March1939, the Castle Guard stayed at the Castle until 29th June when its duties were taken over by the 1st Government Army Battalion. In May 1945, the Government Army was dissolved and the security of the Castle and Presided Edvard Beneš was temporarily taken over by the members of his own security team from the UK. Later on, the First Republic’s Castle Guard was re-established.

Compulsory Military Service Soldiers at Castle

After Klement Gottwald was elected President in 1948, the Castle Guard was no longer responsible for the President’s security and it was changed into a symbolic and representative unit. Professionals were replaced by the soldiers of compulsory military service; the selection was based on their height.

In December 1952, the Castle Guard ceased to be part of the army and fell under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Karel Svoboda was the longest standing commander of the Castle Guard; he served in the office from 1st January 1963 to 30th April 1987.

New uniforms

On 8th January 1990, President Václav Havel visited the Castle Guard barracks in Loretánska Street. Three weeks later, the Federal Assembly passed an act to establish the Administration of Presidential Protection and the Castle Guard.

For the first time in history, the Band of the Castle Guard and motorbike units were established. New uniforms were designed by the film designer and the Oscar winner, Tehodor Pištěk. At the end of 2003, compulsory military service soldiers were replaced by professional soldiers.