Sikh soldier parades outside Buckingham palace in a turban

London: Britain's Ministry of Defence says a Sikh soldier has become the first guardsman to parade outside Buckingham Palace while wearing his traditional turban. Fifty family members were on hand on Tuesday as Guardsman Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar as he took part in the changing of the guard at the London home of Queen Elizabeth II.

Bhullar, a 25-year-old soldier with the Scots Guards regiment, was quoted by Britain's Press Association as saying: "Conducting public duties while being a practicing Sikh and wearing my turban is a great honor for me."

Other Sikhs have taken part in guarding the queen's palace, but they wore traditional bearskin hats rather than turbans.