Royal Guard

The Queen's Guard, existing since 1650, has protected British monarchs and fought in major wars. They now safeguard Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London while also serving ceremonial duties and combat missions. The division comprises two cavalry regiments and five infantry regiments.

Cavalry: The Life Guards - its soldiers wear red coats and red capes in winter. The Royal Horse Guards - guardsmen are dressed in blue coats and blue capes. Infantry: Grenadier Regiment Coldstream Regiment Scottish Regiment Irish Regiment Welsh Regiment Although they all wear red coats and the famous bearskin caps, they can be distinguished by the arrangement of the buttons on the coats and the color of the cap badge.

Bearskin caps are a symbol of the Royal Guard The tall caps of the Guards are made from the fur of the North American grizzly:

Officers' caps are made from the fur of the males, which is taller and shinier. Private and non-commissioned officers' caps are made from the fur of the females, which makes them less spectacular. Each cap serves for about 100 years, being passed down from one guard to another. The UK Ministry of Defence tried to replace them with synthetic fur, but it failed the tests – after rain, the fake fur either hangs in tatters or bristles, giving the guardsmen a ridiculous look.

Canada, where the grizzly population is measured in hundreds of thousands, is against giving up natural fur, since 25 thousand bears are licensed to be shot every year, and the manufacture of hats is an important source of income for indigenous peoples.

Weapons and protection Although the Queen's Guard performs mainly ceremonial functions, it remains a combat-ready unit of the British Army. At different times, the guardsmen used:

Muskets, bayonets, swords Rifles and pistols Modern weapons – L85A2 assault rifles and SIG Sauer P226 pistols During combat operations, they wear camouflage uniforms, helmets and body armour.

Service in the Royal Guard There is no compulsory conscription in the UK, and all servicemen are contract soldiers. Despite the fact that a private guardsman receives 750 pounds a month (about 1000 dollars), it is not easy to get into the elite units - the selection is very strict. In recent years, representatives of national minorities (from India, Pakistan, Africa) have increasingly been accepted into the guards regiments, and women are accepted into the guards orchestras.

Ceremonies and changing of the guard The guards perform honorary guard duty in front of Buckingham Palace, the Tower and other royal residences.

Foot guards guard the facilities around the clock, and horse guards are on duty only during the day in front of the barracks on Whitehall Street. Horse guards change the guard every hour, as horses cannot stand still for longer. At night, the guards take off their red coats and bearskin caps, changing into standard military uniform. The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous tourist ceremonies. It is held every day in the summer, and every other day in the winter.

The process is accompanied by a march, ceremonial commands and musical accompaniment (sometimes even the tunes of "The Beatles" are played). The guards "march" 1,600 kilometers per week, and every few years the parade ground has to be completely replaced. The largest ceremony of the year is the celebration of the monarch's official birthday in mid-June. Both foot and horse guards take part in it.

Conclusion The Royal Guard of Great Britain is not just a symbol of the monarchy, but also a combat-ready unit with a centuries-old history. The Guards serve with pride and their famous red coats and bearskin caps remain an integral part of British tradition.