They've chatted with Queen Elizabeth II “When I was on guard at Windsor Castle, she came up to me with her husband and the dogs and asked me some questions. She's really nice.” If it were us, we'd be gushing over the dogs just as much as the queen.
Channel 5 go behind-the-scenes with the guards as they protect the monarch, at the prestigious barracks next to Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle. Alongside their role in some of the biggest royal events of the last decade, you can witness the relentless training that keeps them at the top of their game.
Although guards are not permitted to speak, they can yell at people who impede their progress. They are limited to turning to the left, walking around about ten times, turning around, and returning to standing still as far as they can.
The royal guard took to Reddit to clear up 'a lot of false info and myths about what we do'. And this included the infamous no laughing or smiling while on duty rule - turns out that the guard cracking a smile in the video would not get him fired, though he might get a 'telling off'.
Getting a photo with one of the royal guards is part of the tradition of visiting London but there are certain rules such as no touching, which some tourists often attempt to push it to the limit.
They won't be fined, as some rumours suggest, but it is frowned upon for guards to smile for a selfie with tourists.
If a Queen's Guard needs the toilet, they must leave the area to use it. Royal Protocol does not allow for Guards to take toilet breaks while still on duty. Their primary role is to protect the Royal Family, so any request for a break is out of the question.
As of Jul 22, 2023, the average hourly pay for a Royal Guard in the United States is $19.36 an hour.
The Guard's intimidating weapons only have ammo in them when they are aware of a potential serious security threat. The guard on Reddit, who uses the username 'nibs123,' says that he has never carried a loaded gun as a Guardsman. Check out these ways Queen Elizabeth II sends her staff secret messages.
Orders for sentry duty read out before each two-hour 'tour of duty', make it clear that sentries "may not eat, sleep, smoke, stand easy, sit or lie down during [their] tour of duty".
As some of the best soldiers in the British Army guardsmen have fought in virtually every major area of conflict with great distinction since the 17th Century. The guards do not just perform ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace, they also take an active role in protecting their Sovereign.
In this role, their primary function is the protection duty for the royal residence. They stand guard outside the palace in order to protect the royal residents from any harm. Although the role has evolved into mostly a ceremonial one, almost a tourist attraction, these guards are still first and foremost soldiers.
While the Queen was lying at rest in Scotland she was guarded by the Royal Company of Archers. How long do the guards stand watch? The continuous 24-hour vigil will be broken into four six-hour shifts. These shifts will rotate, with the guards standing vigil switching places every 20 minutes.
The soldiers come from active regiments in the British Army, and any action deemed threatening, regardless of how minor, can cause them to react forcefully. If a member of the public touches them or their horse or invades their space, they are allowed to shout clear verbal commands at them to back off.
During that time a Guardsman will have 2 hours on sentry duty and then 4 hours off. A sentry will come to attention, every 10 minutes, slope arms and march across their post, normally about 20 paces in total, having repeated this four-five times the guard halts, shoulders arms and returns to standing at ease.
The first black man to join an elite regiment that guarded the late Queen says writing a book about his experiences was "a coping mechanism" for the racism he faced. Bristolian Richard Stokes joined the Grenadier Guards in 1986 after encouragement from his adoptive father.
They get bored
Yes, standing there for hours on end does get tedious.
While there is some debate about this topic, the answer is that in general, Buckingham Palace guards are not allowed to smile while on duty. This is due to the fact that their role is to be stoic and serious and to give off an air of authority, which smiling would detract from.
Yes, the Queens Guard can use the bathroom. Bathroom breaks are designated times that they must take while they are on duty.
In recent years, the Queen's yearly income amassed from this estate has amounted to roughly $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The Sovereign Grant is a taxpayer fund paid annually to the British royal family.
How many guards are there for Buckingham Palace? How many are on duty at one time? When The Queen is in residence, there are four Foot Guards at the front of the building; when she is away there are two. Altogether the Guard consists of three officers and 36 soldiers.
The sovereign grant was set at £86.3m for 2021-22, according to the royal household's annual financial statement, which it said represented £1.29 per person in the UK. Prior to 2017, the Queen received 15% of the crown estate profits from the two previous years, while the remainder was kept by the government.
As London aficionados know by now, one should never touch a member of the Queen's Guard. If this is the case, they are actually allowed to shout warnings at you to make you go away. If people start acting aggressively, the soldiers can even present their bayonets to them.
The Queen's Guard is a special regiment of the British Army and touching them could land you in a world of trouble. The Queen's Guard is responsible for the safety and security of the royal family and the palace, and they take their job very seriously.
You can't. They are professional soldiers on duty, a smile is probably the best you will get. I have smiled for tourists when asked sometimes, not often though. If they do laugh they will face disciplinary action (conduct unbecoming) not be terminated from position as suggested in another answer.