Visit guardians of the Tower of LondonYeoman Warders, have always existed.
More commonly known as the Beefeaters, the Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower of London since Tudor times.
Today, I'd like to take a closer look at these rather special guards.
Tower of London Guardian: article summary
Who are the Yeoman Warders?
The Yeoman Warders were formed after the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 by order of King Henry VII, making them the oldest existing military corps in the UK.
The Yeoman Warders are descended from the former Yeomans of the Guard, the monarch's personal guards, who traveled everywhere with him.
Henry VIII decided that the Tower would be protected by part of the royal bodyguard.
The Yeoman Warders wear a splendid red uniform, known today as the state uniform and worn on state occasions such as the monarch's birthday.
Experienced soldiers
A Yeoman Warder must have at least 22 years' service in the British armed forces. They have attained the rank of Warrant Officer and received seniority and good conduct medals.
Their official title is The Yeomans Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of Londonand members of the sovereign's bodyguard, the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary.
Tower of London guards: what do they do?
Modern Yeomans Warders are still extraordinary members of the Queen's bodyguards, combining their traditional ceremonial role with their love of history to tell the story of the Tower's past.
You can see them organizing tours and welcoming the three million tourists who visit the Tower of London every year.
They have been performing ceremonial functions since 1485.
Yeoman Warders perform 21 separate tasks each day, including the key ceremony, a closing ceremony which has taken place every night at the Tower of London for at least 700 years.
This happens when the outer doors are locked for the night and the keys handed over to the monarch's representative in the tower.
New Yeoman Warders take their oaths in a centuries-old ceremony, with each new recruit swearing an oath. an oath of royal allegiance dating back to 1337.
Why are they called Beefeaters?
The true origins of the "Beefeater" nickname are unclear, and no one knows exactly how they got their name.
A popular theory is based on an old agreement according to which they had the right to eat as much beef as they wanted at the king's table.
Tower of London Guardian: who is the Ravenmaster?
The Ravenmaster is one of 37 Yeoman Warders who look after the Tower's famous ravens, with the help of the other guardians.
Crows are the subject of a superstition dating back to Charles II. Legend has it that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six ravens ever leave the fortress.
At present, seven crows live in the Tower, one more than the six described in superstition.
It is thought that Charles II was the first to insist that the Tower's ravens be protected after being warned that the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left.
A superstition taken very seriously
The Ravenmaster occasionally trims the feathers of some crows to encourage them to stay in the Tower.
However, in the past, some crows left without authorization.
The Ravenmaster feeds the birds twice a day with a special diet consisting of :
- Of mice
- Chicks
- Of rats
- Assorted raw meats
A special treat, consisting of blood-soaked cookies, is also part of their diet.
When can you see these guards?
You can see the guards during the Tower of London's opening hours. You'll need to visit the site:
- Sunday and Monday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The guardians of the Tower of London are an important part of the building. On site for hundreds of years, they look after the Tower's to protect this royal building.
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