History Main / BritishRoyalGuards

* In ''VideoGame/WatchDogsLegion'', five to six members of the Queen's Guard, also called Royal Guards, can be found in front of Buckingham Palace and are all recruitable, albeit only with an upgrade that grants the ability to change enemy disposition towards [=DedSec=] since the Guard, like members of the enemy factions Albion and Clan Kelley, will always be initially distrusting of the hacker group due to [=DedSec=] being considered a terrorist organization. Befitting their RealLife status as professionally trained soldiers, an operative recruited from the Guard typically comes equipped with a high-powered assault rifle and a great chance of gaining the "Physically Fit" perk to have more health.

This is a {{British Media Trope|s}} about the '''King's Guard''' as it appears in '''fiction'''.

Whenever our ensemble cast goes on an adventure touring UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} (and by "Britain" we mean, of course, [[BritainIsOnlyLondon "London"]]), there's always going to come a point where one or all of our characters wind up at Buckingham Palace where they will, no doubt, encounter these oddly-dressed [[TheStoic emotionless]] soldiers in giant, furry hats and red jackets who appear to be extremely disciplined and dedicated to following a strict code that seems to entail only two things:

[[folder:Real Life]]
* In an incident [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQCSWPFnjbU caught on video]], an annoying tourist demonstrated exactly why you don't mess with the King's Guard: He stupidly grabs the guard by the shoulder, only to find himself immediately at the business end of a [=SA80=] rifle with mounted bayonet in the hands of a very angry trained soldier yelling in his face. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said that the guard had an entirely appropriate reaction.
* On a lighter note, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSoJqdPi4Iw this guy]] posed for a photo with a royal guard at Buckingham Palace and engaged in some good-natured comic riffing, proving that it ''is'' possible to succeed in [[{{corpsing}} getting a guard to break up laughing]].
* Sometimes human nature takes its course and even the King's Guard aren't immune from [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11534602/Buckingham-Palace-guard-slips-in-front-of-tourists.html slipping and falling]].
* In 2012, a particularly brainless tourist decided that he would try to climb the gate to Buckingham Palace, an event that was caught on camera. The Coldstream Guard stationed inside the courtyard beyond [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bW4bRcEVEk was carrying a loaded SA80 rifle]], and had carried out the full procedure prior to firing the gun before the tourist relented. Had the moron been any slower, he may well have been shot for his idiocy.
* During the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in 1981, an unhinged assailant fired what turned out to be blank rounds at Queen Elizabeth II, causing her horse to bolt and gallop away, giving her an uncomfortable minute or so in the saddle until she was able to calm and control her mount. The first two people to confront and capture the attacker were soldiers of the Scots Guards who were lining the parade route. Even though their rifles were unloaded for ceremonial duty, and they were confronting a clearly armed man, neither hesitated in literally defending the monarch's life. It is believed that both men were formally admonished for breaking ranks without permission - but their commanding officer apologised afterwards and shook both by the hand, then promoted them.
* In one video [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_wNqxOxB44 a guardsman posed in a photo for a child's birthday]] and in another video, a guard in Sweden played with a child. It's still not the best idea to test them or mock them, as they will give strong responses to people who cause too many problems or break too many rules.
* [[UsefulNotes/CanucksWithChinooks Canada]] has those too, which makes sense since it's a [[UsefulNotes/TheCommonwealthOfNations Commonwealth]] nation. They are also more ceremonial in nature, with many of them not being issued live ammunition outside of heightened security risks. They're active at the [[http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-443/Citadel_of_Quebec.html Citadel of Québec]], the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Soldier Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rideau_Hall Rideau Hall]]. [[https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/10/19/canadian-troops-once-again-guard-buckingham-palace/ Some have also crossed the pond to serve at Buckingham Palace.]]
* [[UsefulNotes/SouthKoreansWithMarines South Korean soldiers]] in the Joint Security Area at Panmunjeon, the demilitarised zone that straddles both Koreas, are in sunglasses, short sleeves and at a tense alert. Like the bearskin-wearing Guards, they will not move or react to visitors but they are still working soldiers in an active warzone. Any attempt to interfere or, heaven help you, get passed them to the northern side will be met with resistance.
* The Presidential Guard in Greece is very similar to the King's Guard. Ceremony purposes? Check. Historical outfit that is wildly out of place in the modern era? Check. Complete refusal to leave their post until relieved even when their guard post is on fire and their [[ManOnFire uniform is currently smoldering and burning from the heat?]] Check.
* Vatican City has the famous Pontifical Swiss Guards, protectors of the Pope. While their colourful uniforms and old weaponry can make the tourists laugh, it is one of the oldest military units in the world and every one is a professional trained soldier (specifically having served the [[{{Conscription}} mandatory term]] in the [[UsefulNotes/SwissWithArmyKnives Swiss Army]] and then received further training) and sworn to defend the Pope. They have been extra serious about their job since the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II in 1981.
* If the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guards in at the Arlington National Cemetery has to confront rowdy tourists, they will interrupt their routine and shout at the crowd in an intimidating manner. While the guards are there for ceremonial purposes and won't leave their post until relieved, they take their duties very seriously.
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* If the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard in at the Arlington National Cemetery has to confront rowdy tourists, they will interrupt their routine and yell at the crowd in an intimidating manner. While the guards are there for ceremonial purposes and won't leave their post until relieved, they take their duties very seriously.

** [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS15E4TheReginaMonologues "The Regina Monologues"]] sees the family vacation in London, where Homer crashes their car through the front gate at Buckingham Palace and into the Queen's carriage. Royal guards beat Homer senselessly but stop half-way through to observe the Changing of the Guard. Homer's beating continues at the hands of the next group of guards on duty.
** In [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E16BartVsAustralia Bart vs. Australia]] Homer mistakes a U.S. Marine posted outside the American Embassy for one of these guards:
--->'''Homer:''' Hey! Are you like one of those English guards who can't laugh or smile or anything? [makes noises and faces at him and gets punched in the face] Ow!

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "One If By Clam, Two If By See", where Peter tries to get aboard a British ship carrying bear, believing the guard won't move. Much to his surprise, the guard kicks him, to which Peter says "Hey, I thought you guys weren't suppose to move!" and the guard responds "Nope, that's [[LieBackAndThinkOfEngland only our women]]."

* In ''Film/{{Paddington}}'', while searching across London for the explorer that visited his uncle and aunt in Peru, Paddington finds himself at Buckingham Palace, where he meets a guard who allows the bear to take shelter from the rain in his booth. The guard even reveals he keeps a sandwich, a flask of tea and a few small cakes under his hat, which he shares with Paddington.

* Averted on ''Series/DowntonAbbey'': Lord Grantham and Mr Bates served together in the Grenadier Guards, but by the time the series starts (in 1912) their service (in UsefulNotes/TheSecondBoerWar) is long past, and we never see them in the Guards' public duties role.

* In ''Film/ShanghaiKnights'' Roy plays the part of the annoying tourist. After failing to provoke a reaction, he gives the guard a friendly pat on the shoulder, and receives a GroinAttack with the butt of the guard's rifle in return. Apparently, at least in that universe, [[SubvertedTrope the guards are allowed to react if you touch them]].

* Played mostly straight on an episode of ''Series/MarriedWithChildren''. Blonde, nubile Kelly literally wraps herself around the guard and gets no response, even after telling him, "I'm stupid, too!" Peggy gets nothing after telling him "My husband sells women's shoes for a living." (Though the surrounding crowd finds it hilarious) She then realizes that the best way to get the guard to smile is to take one of Al's shoes and let the guard get a good whiff of the odor. Of course, he doesn't smile until she takes the shoe ''away''. He then passes out.

* In an incident [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQCSWPFnjbU caught on video]], an annoying tourist demonstrated exactly why you don't mess with the Queen's Guard: He stupidly grabs the guard by the shoulder, only to find himself immediately at the business end of a [=SA80=] rifle with mounted bayonet in the hands of a very angry trained soldier yelling in his face. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said that the guard had an entirely appropriate reaction.

* Sometimes human nature takes its course and even the Queen's Guard aren't immune from [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11534602/Buckingham-Palace-guard-slips-in-front-of-tourists.html slipping and falling]].

* The Presidential Guard in Greece is very similar to the Queen's Guard. Ceremony purposes? Check. Historical outfit that is wildly out of place in the modern era? Check. Complete refusal to leave their post until relieved even when their guard post is on fire and their [[ManOnFire uniform is currently smoldering and burning from the heat?]] Check.

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[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]

[[folder: Other Media]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

* In ''Film/Paddington'', while searching across London for the explorer that visited his uncle and aunt in Peru, Paddington finds himself at Buckingham Palace, where he meets a guard who allows him to take shelter from the rain in his booth. The guard even reveals he keeps a sandwich, a flask of tea and a few small cakes under his hat, which he shares with Paddington.

However, this becomes more and more of a DiscreditedTrope as time goes by and can now effectively be considered a DeadHorseTrope. Silly hats and clothes aside, these guys take their jobs ''[[SeriousBusiness very]]'' [[SeriousBusiness seriously]]; guard duty at Buckingham Palace isn't a purely ceremonial posting like Arlington National Cemetery (and even they can intervene when a crowd gets unruly or disruptive), but part of the security arrangements for the UK's head of state, and while the rifles aren't usually loaded (but can be at any time), the [[BayonetYa bayonets]] certainly are functional. These guards are soldiers who were picked out because they were the best of the best, not because they were picked out at random. They are legally allowed to kill people who they deem as a threat to the royal family and they will violently barge past you if you don't step out of their way during marches. While they are supposed to remain at their posts, they are allowed to move if they have to change guards or they have to confront someone who's interfering with their duties. In addition, while they typically stand like silent statues while on guard duty at the palace, and rarely say a word while marching, the King's guard is well within their rights to bark orders to civilians that may interfere in their duties: expect a pointed stamp of the foot and a [[SuddenlyShouting sudden shout]] of "'''''STAND BACK FROM THE KING'S GUARD!'''''" if you decide to try and fool around with them (and that's if you're lucky to get a warning first!).

[[caption-width-right:300:[[NoInsideVoice MAKE WAY FOR]] [[MemeticMutation THE QUEEN'S GUARD!]]]]

This is a {{British Media Trope|s}} about the '''Queen's Guard''' as it appears in '''fiction'''.

However, this becomes more and more of a DiscreditedTrope as time goes by and can now effectively be considered a DeadHorseTrope. Silly hats and clothes aside, these guys take their jobs ''[[SeriousBusiness very]]'' [[SeriousBusiness seriously]]; guard duty at Buckingham Palace isn't a purely ceremonial posting like Arlington National Cemetery (and even they can intervene when a crowd gets unruly or disruptive), but part of the security arrangements for the UK's head of state, and while the rifles aren't usually loaded (but can be at any time), the [[BayonetYa bayonets]] certainly are functional. These guards are soldiers who were picked out because they were the best of the best, not because they were picked out at random. They are legally allowed to kill people who they deem as a threat to the royal family and they will violently barge past you if you don't step out of their way during marches. While they are supposed to remain at their posts, they are allowed to move if they have to change guards or they have to confront someone who's interfering with their duties. In addition, while they typically stand like silent statues while on guard duty at the palace, and rarely say a word while marching, the Queen's guard is well within their rights to bark orders to civilians that may interfere in their duties: expect a pointed stamp of the foot and a [[SuddenlyShouting sudden shout]] of "'''''STAND BACK FROM THE QUEEN'S GUARD!'''''" if you decide to try and fool around with them (and that's if you're lucky to get a warning first!).

As Wiki/TheOtherWiki will tell you, guards at Buckingham Palace haven't even been posted outside the Palace's gate since the late 1950s ''because'' of the annoying tourists (likely trying to imitate a scene from ''Series/ILoveLucy'', below) as a measure to prevent any bad incidents for the good of the guards and the safety of the tourists. However, the guards posted at St. James's Palace are still stationed in areas open to the public.

Whenever our ensemble cast goes on an adventure touring UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} (and by "Britain" we mean, of course, [[BritainIsOnlyLondon "London"]]), there's always going to come a point where one or all of our characters wind up at Buckingham Palace where they will, no doubt, encounter these oddly-dressed [[TheStoic emotionless]] soldiers in [[NiceHat giant, furry hats]] and red jackets who appear to be extremely disciplined and dedicated to following a strict code that seems to entail only two things:

* The video for Fergie's "London Bridge", Fergie touches, caresses, flirts with and in general appears to be trying to get another sort of "rise" out of one of the Royal Guards.

* The above picture comes from a ''Series/MrBean'' skit where the title character would do an assortment of increasingly pesky things to a guard in preparation for a posed photograph, all while the guard remains perfectly still. It all basically amounts to one hell of a MotionlessMakeover. Among the things Bean does to the guard, he polishes the trigger of his gun, trims the guard's mustache to resemble [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler's]], and decorates him with flowers. [[spoiler:At the end, the guard receives his orders to march to his next post, just before the picture could be taken.]]

* In the Hallmark Channel movie ''A Royal Christmas'', the prince and his girlfriend do everything they can to get a reaction out of the royal guards, who of course, stand impassively no matter what. They do break into huge grins at the end, when the couple marry.

Whenever our ensemble cast goes on an adventure touring UsefulNotes/{{Britain}} (and by "Britain" we mean, of course, [[BritainIsOnlyLondon "London"]]), there's always going to come a point where one or all of our characters wind up at Buckingham Palace where he/she/they will, no doubt, encounter these oddly-dressed [[TheStoic emotionless]] soldiers in [[NiceHat giant, furry hats]] and red jackets who appear to be extremely disciplined and dedicated to following a strict code that seems to entail only two things:

* In ''VideoGame/WatchDogsLegion'', you can recruit the guards to join your team of operatives by visiting Buckingham Palace.

* In ''VideoGame/WatchDogsLegion'', you can recruit the guards to join your team of operatives by visiting Buckingham Palace.

* The Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen direct-to-video release ''Winning London'' includes a scene where the twins and their friends attempt to make the guards laugh. It doesn't work. (Though the blooper reel does show that the guys playing the guards did break a few times.)