They're Changing the Guard Again at Buckingham Palace after 18 Months

Members of the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards take part in the Changing of the Guard, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain, August 23, 2021. (Reuters)
Members of the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards take part in the Changing of the Guard, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain, August 23, 2021. (Reuters)
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They're Changing the Guard Again at Buckingham Palace after 18 Months

Members of the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards take part in the Changing of the Guard, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain, August 23, 2021. (Reuters)
Members of the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards take part in the Changing of the Guard, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain, August 23, 2021. (Reuters)

The famous "Changing the Guard" ceremony at Queen Elizabeth's Buckingham Palace in London returned on Monday after an 18-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The colorful ceremony sees The Queen's Guard handing over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace to the New Guard, usually involving soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats parading with an army band through central London.

Members of 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards carried out the first guard change since March 2020 when the tradition, which usually attracts large numbers of tourists, was stopped to prevent crowds gathering as part of measures to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Among the songs blasted out by the army band to entertain those watching was the song "Gold" by Spandau Ballet, one of a number of tunes played in tribute to Britain's successful Olympic competitors.

The queen, however, was not at the palace to see it as she is on her traditional summer vacation at her Scottish home, Balmoral.

Monday's return comes after a similar ceremony staged at Windsor Castle, the queen's home to the west of London also restarted last month.



Many US Ice Cream Producers to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes by 2028

Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Many US Ice Cream Producers to Phase Out Artificial Food Dyes by 2028

Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)
Volunteers scoop ice cream before a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images/AFP)

Dozens of US ice cream producers are planning to remove artificial colors from their products by 2028, a dairy industry group and government officials said on Monday.

The producers, which together represent more than 90% of ice cream sold in the US, are the latest food companies to take voluntary steps to remove dyes since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in April said the US aimed to phase out many synthetic dyes from the country's food supply.

Several major food manufacturers, including General Mills, Kraft Heinz, J.M. Smucker, Hershey and Nestle USA, have previously announced their plans to phase out synthetic food coloring.

The 40 ice cream companies will remove Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from their retail products, excluding non-dairy products, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.

The IDFA announced the plan at an event at the US Department of Agriculture headquarters on Monday with Kennedy, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

"We know that our current health outcomes, especially for our children, are unsustainable and that American agriculture is at the heart of the solution to make America healthy again," Rollins said at the event, referencing a slogan aligned with Kennedy.

Rollins and Kennedy have worked closely together on food sector efforts like encouraging states to ban soda from the nation's largest food aid program.

Kennedy has blamed food dyes for rising rates of ADHD and cancer, an area many scientists say requires more research.

The IDFA said artificial dyes are safe, but that ice cream makers are taking the step in part to avoid disruption to sales from state efforts to phase out dyes from school foods and West Virginia's recent food dye ban.