A Changing Of The Guard

(CBS)  Tourists watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace on Saturday saw history being made by a sentry named Cynthia.

Capt. Cynthia Anderson became the first woman to stand guard at Buckingham Palace when she led a unit in the morning parade Saturday, part of a company of Australian soldiers who have temporarily taken over protection duties from the usual all-male British guard.

CBS News Correspondent Kimberly Dozier reports four women are part of the contingent of 150 Australians, who are taking a rare turn at the palace to mark Australia Week, the centenary of the nation joining the Commonwealth.

The band of the Royal Military College of Australia played "Waltzing Matilda" and the theme tune of "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" as the guard changed.

The Australians will be on duty every other day until July 20.

The palace guard has been a tradition since 1660. Normally, the daily changing of the guard involves regiments like the Life Guard, the Blues and Royals, the Grenadier Guards of the Coldstream Guards.

Australians last stood guard in 1988, to mark Australia's bicentennial. Australians also joined in guard duty in 1953 as part of celebrations of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.