Constable hands back keys to Tower of London as Lord Dannatt steps down

It was finally time to hand back the keys to Britain’s most iconic landmark, the Tower of London.

Time to hand back the keys... the 159th Constable of the Tower of London, General Lord Dannatt, bids farewell as he retires [photos: Richard Lea-Hair/Historic Royal Palaces] - Credit: Royal Palaces

General Lord Dannatt was saying farewell as the 159th Constable of the Tower on his retirement.

The public ceremony was attended by the famous Beefeaters and the Queen’s Colour Squadron of the RAF.

Lord Dannatt, as the Queen’s representative at The Tower, championed the poppies art installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ in 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

Time to hand back the keys... the 159th Constable of the Tower of London, General Lord Dannatt, bids farewell as he retires [photos: Richard Lea-Hair/Historic Royal Palaces] - Credit: Royal Palaces

He also helped raise millions of pounds for service charities, campaigned for the conservation of the Tower chapels and was on the board of trustees for Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for The Tower.

He stepped down from the post on Friday after almost seven years. General Sir Nicholas Houghton takes over when he is installed as the new Constable later this year.