The striped p x root 3 reconstruction of Au(111) is a textbook example of how electrode surfaces reorganise in response to an applied potential. Using in situ high-energy surface X-ray diffraction, we track the surface reconstruction in 0.1 M HClO4 electrolyte while the potential is cycled at both 5 mV s-1 and 2 mV s-1 between 0.06 V and 0.86 V versus RHE. Reciprocal-space maps, collected every similar to 10 s, show that the unit cell of the well-known herringbone reconstruction increases in length progressively as the potential is swept positively; the diffraction spots coalesce with the spot from the (111) surface and the reconstruction lifts completely above approximate to 0.7 V. The lifting and reformation dynamics of the surface reconstruction are seen to be relatively slow and continuous, when the potential is swept at 5 mV s-1 we observe the reconstruction lifting at more positive potentials than when swept at 2 mV s-1. Conversely the reforming of the reconstruction is also slow and is present at more positive potentials when the sweep rate is slower.