The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London has taken place every night for 700 years. The ceremony lasts just seven minutes. At precisely 21.53 the Chief Yeoman Warder, carrying the Keys of the Tower in one hand and a brass lantern in the other, collects his escort from the main body of the guard on duty within the Tower and proceeds to the Middle and Byward Towers to secure the gates. On return he is challenged by a sentry who reassured that all is well, allows him to proceed to the Broadwalk where the Tower Guard salute the Keys which are then delivered to the Resident Governor and declares the Tower is secure for the night.