Royal Marines enact historic Tower of London ceremony with helicopter and landing craft

In a scene reminiscent of centuries past, the Royal Marines upheld a longstanding tradition at the historic Tower of London, albeit with a modern twist.

The Ceremony of the Constable’s Dues traces its origins to the 14th Century when the Constable of the Tower had the right to extract tolls from ships going past the Tower of London.

This year, the 'dues' – a barrel of port – was delivered by Royal Marines by landing craft, with a Merlin helicopter circling the Thames – ensuring air cover for the delivery.

• Four-star Royal Marines officer makes history with new appointment
• Who are the Yeoman Warders?
• Royal Marine gets Tower of London keys in thousand-year first

Nowadays the task of paying the dues is normally carried out by Royal Navy sailors, but this year the Royal Marines were given the honour, marking the beginning of their 360th anniversary celebrations.

In 1381 King Richard II mandated that every ship that came upstream to the city presented 'two roundlets of wyne' to the Constable.

In return, the Constable would ensure the safety of the ship. While berthed in the city the vessel was under the protection of the Tower's Guns.

"A bit like paying car parking charges with protection," explained Debra Whittingham, Deputy Governor at HM Tower of London.

"And that's what we've continued since the early 1300s.

"It's really important to keep these traditions and these ceremonies alive for future generations to understand the history of the Tower.

"Is it something meaningful that only happens when a visiting ship arrives at the Pool of London and whether or not they are then prepared to pay their dues to the Constable."

For the past seven centuries, the toll was paid in anything from oysters and mussels to wine and rum.

Not only has the Royal Navy upheld this tradition, but foreign navies passing through the Tower of London have also had the privilege, with notable instances like the Brazilian navy paying their toll with their national liqueur – Cachaça.

This year saw the second time the task of paying the toll fell on the Royal Marines, who last conducted the ceremony in 2014 as part of the Corps' 360th-anniversary celebrations.

"They did it 10 years ago, but doing it again 10 years later, I'm just so pleased I've been part of it. It was very special today and had a totally different feel to it because it was very much a lot of moving parts and a lot more to it," the Deputy Governor said.

Three Royal Marine Raiding Craft delivered the barrel of port carried on a spar by two Royal Marines from HMS President which was moored under Tower Bridge.

A low-flying Commando Merlin helicopter flown by 845 Naval Air Squadron did a flypast across, hovering over the Pool of London to guard the delivery of the dues.

At Tower Pier, as per tradition the contingent bearing the dues was met with the solemn challenge of the Yeoman Gaoler and two Yeoman Warders, affectionately known as Beefeaters, garbed in full state dress.

Only after passing this ceremonial checkpoint did the barrel enter the Tower to the delight of tourists and accompanied by music provided by Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, Collingwood and a ceremonial guard of reserve and regular Commandos.

The Chief Yeoman Warder paraded the dues through to Tower Green, where they were formally presented to the Constable of the Tower, General Sir Gordon Messenger, a retired senior Royal Marine.

This year the Constable was gifted a barrel twice the normal size according to Captain James Paul, Parade Commander for the Ceremony of the Constable’s Dues.

The bespoke barrel made specifically for the event contains 18 bottles of reserve port.

"So, this should be a good little gift for the Tower and the Yeomen to have at the bar tonight," Captain Paul said.