The Queen’s Guard has been charged with protecting the British monarch for centuries, but Megan Couto made history yesterday when she became the first female infantry officer to lead the unit.

The Queen’s Guard protects the official residences of the Royal Family, including Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London.

“I'm just focusing on doing my job as best I can and staying humble," Couto told The Canadian Press before the ceremony. "Any of my peers would be absolutely delighted to be Captain of the Queen's Guard and I'm equally honoured."

Watch as Canadian Soldier Captain Megan Couto becomes the first female ever to Captain The Queen's Guard during Changing the Guard. pic.twitter.com/iSjgX98Eaz

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 26, 2017

Couto and her unit, the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, were invited to mount the Queen’s Guard in honour of the 150th anniversary of Canada’s confederation.

"A lot of the things that I do, I am the first," Couto told CBC News, "But that's kind of the blessing that in Canada, it's not that huge of a deal."

Canadian women have been able to serve in almost all military roles since 1989, with the exception being submarine service, which was opened to women in 2000.

Female British soldiers were unable to take on frontline combat roles until July 2016. Other female officers have led the Queen’s Guard before, but Couto is the first female infantry officer to do so.

The British Army says they look forward to “seeing a British Army female infantry Captain of the Queen’s Guard when roles are opened up to women by the end of next year,” according to their press release.

Couto and her soldiers were accompanied by the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, who played Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and the theme song to "Hockey Night in Canada" as they marched along the Mall.