Sovereign's Bodyguard
Sovereign's Bodyguard is the name given to three ceremonial units in the
Sovereign
. These units are:
- His Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms – formed 1509
- King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard – formed 1485
- Royal Company of Archers, the King's Body Guard for Scotland – formed 1676; entered royal service 1822
Although the Yeomen of the Guard is older, the Gentlemen at Arms are more senior, due to their being classed as '
yeomen', and because they are classed as the 'nearest guard', i.e. the personal guard to the Sovereign. The Royal Company of Archers performs this role when the Sovereign is in Scotland
.
Other Royal Bodyguards
- Yeomen Warders were originally a detachment of the Yeoman of the Guard, appointed by Henry VIII to guard the Royal Palace of the Tower of London in 1509
- High Constables and Guard of Honour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse created in the early sixteenth century to guard the Palace and Abbey of Holyroodhouse, and enforce law and order within the precincts of the Palace and the Holyrood Abbey Sanctuary.