Why do some royal guards wear GREY?

The red tunics are called 'Home Service dress tunics'. These are worn in the summer months – April until October. During autumn and winter they change into great coats – long grey coats – much more practical for the weather they have to endure while standing guard outside Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.

Do royal guards get fired for smiling?

They Won't Smile for a Selfie

Visitors to Buckingham Palace love provoking the royal guards in a bid to get them to smile. But their attempts are in vain. No matter how many jokes you make or photos you take the royal guards' somber expression won't crack.

Why do Queens guards wear red?

"The reason British soldiers traditionally wore red is because it was the cheapest and most readily available dye," Fitzwilliams said.

Can Queens Guard be black?

Mr O'Brien, who served in the Falklands, added: “If you look at any pictorial or documentary evidence of the Queen's Body Guard then you cannot find anyone black or female. "It's all white men, mostly with beards.

Why do Royal Guards dress like that?

Answer: The origins are that every gunner in the British military and the French military wore bearskin caps to make them taller and more intimidating because they were the ones that did the hand to hand fighting. In Napoleon's imperial guard everybody wore them, and they were supposed to be his elite troops.

11 Secrets the Queen's Guard Don't Like to Speak About

What happens if you touch a Queen's Guard?

If idiots act threateningly towards the Royal Family, the Queen's Guard, or the general public around them, they will stop you. If you touch their bear-skin hat, they'll probably ignore you or shout at you. If you grab their rifle, the next thing you'll see is the end of their barrel.

Why do royal guards stomp their feet?

According to a report by DailyMail, the Queen's Guards are given specific orders to deal with obstacles that may come on their marching route. They are allowed to shout 'Make way for the Queen's Guards' and also stomp their feet.

Are royal guards guns loaded?

Those guns aren't loaded…

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.

Do royal guards get paid?

Royal Guard Salary. 6% of jobs $25,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. 20% of jobs $39,000 is the 75th percentile.

Can the Queen's guards be female?

Captain Megan Couto has become the first female ever to lead the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace.

What is the British queen guard fur cap called?

A bearskin is a tall fur cap, usually worn as part of a ceremonial military uniform. Traditionally, the bearskin was the headgear of grenadiers, and remains in use by grenadier and guards regiments in various armies.

Why are they called Beefeaters?

Henry VII's personal guards were the first 'Beefeaters', so named as they were permitted to eat as much beef as they wanted from the King's table, and Henry VIII decreed that some of them would stay and guard the Tower permanently.

How heavy are the Queen's guards hats?

The standard bearskin cap of the Foot Guards is 18 inches, yet weighs just 1.5 pounds. That's because the bearskin is stretched over a basket-like framework to which an adjustable leather skullcap and chin strap are attached for a secure fit.

How long do the Queen's guards have to stand for?

Typically, a Guardsman spends two hours on duty and four off. He is not expected to stand still for any more than ten minutes at a time. Every so often, he will march up and down in front of his sentry box, rather like a policeman "walking the beat".

Can you take pictures with royal guards?

You're definitely welcome to have your picture taken with the Guards. They're used to it and it won't be an issue.

Why can't guards move UK?

While on duty, Queen's Guards are not supposed to move or respond to anything that the tourists may throw at them. However, the rules indicate that after being still for at least 10 minutes, they can march up and down the street in order to stretch their legs and avoid passing out.

Do the SAS protect the royal family?

Britain's royals are guarded by the best London's Metropolitan Police have to offer — a special unit known as Protection Command.

Do the Queen's guards go to war?

If you've ever been to Buckingham Palace, you've probably noticed the armed guards wearing the bearskin caps standing sentry. These aren't your average security guards roaming through shopping malls. They are Queen's Guards and are fully-trained operational soldiers — and most have been deployed to combat zones.

How long is a Royal Guard shift?

The guards at Buckingham Palace and St James Palace are on duty for 24 or 48 hours. During that time a Guardsman will have 2 hours on sentry duty and then 4 hours off.

How Much Do queen's guards get paid?

After getting an acceptable score on the BARB test, a soldier is ready to join the Queen's Guard. The salary for this job is paid based on a list defined by the British army, with values starting at £20,400 (or around $28,266).

Are royal guards real soldiers?

The British Army has regiments of both Horse Guards and Foot Guards predating the English Restoration (1660), and since the reign of King Charles II these regiments have been responsible for guarding the Sovereign's palaces. The Guards are fully operational soldiers.

How much do royal housekeepers make?

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is hiring a live-in housekeeper. Max Mumby/ Indigo/ Getty Images. Queen Elizabeth II is hiring a housekeeping assistant to live and work at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The starting salary is £19,140.09 ($25,000) and the successful applicant will work full-time for five days per week.

What happens if a Buckingham Palace guard smiles?

The Queen's Guard are punished if they smile

If they are caught laughing or smiling by a superior officer they are fined around ₤200 (approximately $260) from their pay.

Can the Queens guards stop?

On the official website, a notice reads: Please don't stand in the way of the Guards as they will not stop or march around people who are impeding their progress. The usual warning they shout out if someone is in the way is 'Make way for the Queen's Guard'.