The Queen’s Guards are certified icons in their own right.
But although they are a common fixture in all our Buckingham Palace selfies, and despite
a number of tourists trying to test their patience, there are a lot of things we still
don’t know about this British Army regiment.
Behind those sleek red uniforms and stoic faces are these 12 Secrets the Queen’s Guards
Don’t Like to Speak About.
What’s up, fact-natics!
This is Discovery Amuse, serving up your daily dose of the most outrageous, outlandish, and
out-of-this-world fun facts!
If you’re wondering how the royal guards relieve themselves when nature calls, then
stick around ‘til the end!
Let’s get marching!
#12: Faint to Attention Just like the Royal family, the Queen’s
Guards also have rules to follow.
But for these men, they take protocols to a whole other level.
They have to stick to it even when they’re about to faint!
The men of this elite force have been trained to “faint to attention,” which means they
have to keep their position even as they fall to the ground!
And that usually means they go down face first!
Ouch!
Special contempts await those who will fall over on their backs.
Imagine still being able to maintain your discipline in a moment of weakness?
That’s certainly a tough act to follow.
Keep watching because you won’t look at the Queen’s guards the same way again after
hearing our top one entry.
#11: Wet Hot British Summers The heat can definitely drain all your energy.
How much more if your job is to stand under the sun for hours on end, dressed up in woolen
clothes and a heavy fur hat?
The Queen’s Guards are not allowed to move.
Period.
They have to stay at attention throughout their shift, with sweat dripping down their
faces and bodies!
But other than the humidity, the Royal Guards also have another reason for their particular
dislike for hot days.
When their boots get exposed to the heat for too long, the polish starts melting.
That means that they have to polish it again after their tiring shift!
#10: Hats Off!
Category is: Marge Simpson realness!
Their iconic tall black hats, also called bearskins, are not there to hide some snacks
over their heads.
Dating back to the 17th century, these fur hats were intended to make the soldiers look
taller, and therefore, more intimidating in enemies’ eyes.
However, these headgears can be a heavy burden for the guards as one can weigh between 2
and 4 kilos!
You might also notice that their straps are not placed under the chin, unlike the usual
military helmets.
This is because the weight could break their neck if they get shot on their bearskins during
combat, hence the under-lip strap.
#9: Why Red Though?
Another thing that has become the signature of the Queen’s Guards are their red tunics.
The bold color choice is a bit peculiar given that most military forces opt to wear inconspicuous
colors.
It is believed that they started wearing red so that any blood spilled from injuries won’t
be visible to other soldiers, hence not losing their morale while in combat.
But the real reason for the hue is that it was the most available pigment during the
time they designed the uniforms.
Plus, it was the most cost-efficient, as it only requires a single stage in the dying
process.
During colder seasons though, expect to see them in long grey coats that serve as their
protection from the harsh weather.
#8: First Female Captain Did you know that until July 2016, women weren’t
allowed to be in a close-combat role in the British Army?
Not so progressive of them, I know.
But for the first time ever, in June 2017, a female captain led the Changing the Guard
ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Canadian solider Megan Couto made history when she led about 40 soldiers through the
traditional ceremony, witnessed by locals and tourists alike.
Over the next few years, we can also expect to see more women assigned as the Queen’s
foot guards too!
About damn time!
#7: Expensive Smile If you think it’s funny to make a Queen’s
Guard smile with your crazy antics, then I’ll have you know that breaking character for
them is no laughing matter.
You see, their smiles are quite pricey—literally, expensive.
If one of their superiors catch them smiling, they’ll have to face a fine that can run
up to a week’s worth of wage, which is estimated to be around 260 dollars!
However, this specific guard wasn’t able to help but crack a smile when one of his
old pals paid him a visit while on duty.
The guard tried to keep his composure but ultimately gave up the fight when his friend
revealed one of his deep, dark secrets!
Guy: By recess, this guy we’re hanging out, his mom would always pick him up from school,
until he was 20, his mom would pick him up from school.
#6: Deafening Silence If you’re trying to find your way around
London, don’t bother asking for directions from the Queen’s guards stationed outside
Buckingham Palace.
They won’t even bat an eyelash for you because they are bound to keep their lips sealed,
literally.
The only time they are allowed to speak is to shout out warnings when they see a potential
threat, or when tourists get in their way.
And of course when the queen herself talks to them directly.
They also have to follow strict protocols, even when marching.
So when they scream, “make way for the Queen’s guards!”, you better scamper out of the
way because they might not hesitate to knock you over.
#5: Oddball Humor Despite their intimidating façade, these
Guardsmen are human too, and while they mean business most days, in some rare occasions
they also show their lighter side!
Some of the guards like to play tricks on tourists just when they’re about to snap
that picture-perfect selfie.
Consider yourself lucky too when you chance upon the regimental band playing some familiar
tunes during the changing of the guards.
Let’s see if you can name that royal tune!
#4: Pass the Test To make sure that they could handle the job
demands, aspiring guards must take a computer-based test called the British Army Recruit Battery
Test, also known as BARB.
The half-hour-long exam is designed to gauge their analytical, logical, and problem-solving
skills.
But acing it is still not a guarantee that you’ll be part of the elite force.
You need to be at least 5 foot 10 to qualify for the position.
Aww shucks, I’m an inch short of the height requirement.
Or maybe 2.
#3: No Live Ammo It’s an age-old enigma whether or not the
Queen’s Guards’s rifles are actually loaded.
But one Redditor who claims to be a former guardsman revealed that they usually don’t
carry live ammunition on a normal day, and only do so if there’s a high-level threat
of an attack.
However, they are legally allowed to attack or kill a person—even pesky visitors—who
pose a threat to someone else’s life.
And also, a word to the wise, keep your smelly paws off of them, if you don’t wanna end
up like this fool.
#2: Calculated Moves Part of the protocol of the Queen’s Guards
is that they need to stand still and keep their position all throughout their shift.
Their movements are so limited that they can’t even stretch out their arms, pick their nose,
or wipe off their sweat!
And yes, scratching their butt is out of the question too.
However, it can be a health hazard to stay still for too long without moving a muscle,
so the guards are allowed short breaks to loosen their joints.
Every 10 minutes, the soldier is allowed to leave his spot –– turn left, march 10
paces forward, turn again, go back and stand still for another 10 minutes.
It’s a bit short, but better than nothing I guess.
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#1: When Nature Calls You might be curious about what the Queen’s
Guards do when they need to pee.
Well, it’s perhaps the least thing guardsmen want you to know about.
No, they don’t have bathroom breaks.
They can try holding it in, but they need to drink lots of water before their shift,
especially during warmer days.
So what do they do, you ask?
They relieve themselves on the spot!
They have strict instructions to just pee while maintaining their position throughout
their shift, which usually lasts up to 2 hours.
Thankfully, their heavy woolen pants are dark enough to hide any evidence.
And there you have it, our list of the 12 Secrets the Queen’s Guards Don’t Like
to Speak About.
Which do you think is the hardest part of being a Royal Guard?
Tell us about it in the comments below.
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‘Til then, stay courageous, fact-natics, and see you in the next video!