YEOMEN OF THE GUARD

Dressed in their distinctive Tudor uniforms of red, white and yellow, The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard has a ceremonial role in many Royal events.

Yeomen of the Guard take part in the annual Royal Maundy Service; the State Opening of Parliament; the Epiphany Service in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace; all investitures and summer Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace; the installation of Knights of the Garter at Buckingham Palace; the investiture of The Prince of Wales; and at the coronations, lying-in-state, and funeral of the Sovereign.

There are 73 Yeomen of the Guard, all of whom are former officers and sergeants of the British Services.

Yeomen of the Guard are not the same as the Yeomen Warders who guard the Tower of London, although their uniforms are almost identical. The Yeomen of the Guard can be distinguished by their cross belts, worn from the left shoulder. They carry a sword, which is not drawn, and a halberd known as a 'partisan'.

The Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard was created by Henry VII in 1485 at the battle of Bosworth.

It is the oldest of the Royal bodyguards and the oldest military corps in existence in Britain.