They are not just for show – they are actual soldiers.

THE King’s Guard is known for their sentry duty outside Buckingham Palace, where they protect the monarch.

The King’s Guard, formerly known as the Queen’s Guard, have long been a subject of intrigue and fascination for tourists worldwide, who visit Buckingham Palace just to witness them firsthand.

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The King’s Guards are known for their expressionless facesCredit: PA

How much do the King’s Guard get paid?

To become a member of the King’s Guard, recruits must pass the British Army Recruit Battery (BARB) test.

As of 2024, the average salary for a UK soldier is £23,496.

I’m always aware that people are looking at us closely and taking lots of photos, so I put a lot of work into looking after the uniform

Jack Davies (Guardsman In 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards)

However pay can vary, with an infantryman’s annual salary being £18,687 compared to the average Army Officer salary of £37,425.

According to the Royal Army website, guards can get benefits including subsidised meals and low cost accommodation as well as free medical and dental care.

In addition, when deployed on exercise or on operations, normally they would not pay for either food or accommodation.

As a member of the King’s Guard, there are strict rules to adhere to such as not grinning or laughing – an infraction of which could result in a £200 fine.

Guards are not generally allowed to talk to members of the public.

However, in certain circumstances, such as when people obstruct their way they can shout a warning to get them to move.

They can yell ‘Make way for the King’s Guard!’ or ‘Stand clear’ to scare away distracting tourists.

What does the King’s Guard do?

The King’s Guard is the name given to a collection of infantry and cavalry soldiers who guard the official royal residences in the UK – though many only associate them with Buckingham Palace.

The troupe are not just ceremonial, they are all actual soldiers.

Adorable moment King’s Guard breaks protocol to nod at little boy who dreams of becoming a beefeater
They consist of soldiers from The Grenadier Guards, The Coldstream Guards, The Scots Guards, The Irish Guards and The Welsh Guards.

Commonly known for wearing bright red tunics and bearskins, their uniform is one of the most recognisable symbols of London.

According to TikToker @howmuchthough, in order to get in, “you have to be older than 16 and younger than 35 and a half years old and be physically fit.”

However, there are apparently “no stated education requirements”.

Every infantry soldier begins with the Combat Infantry Course at The Infantry Training Centre Catterick (ITC Catterick).

This 28-week course encompasses both their basic training and specialised infantry training.

At this point, soldiers are expected to master “firing weapons, survival, first aid and map reading while building stamina and fitness.”

New recruits under 17 years and 6 months will undergo Basic Training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate for 49 weeks.

Following this, they will proceed to Catterick to finish their Infantry Initial Trade Training, which lasts 12 weeks.

How long is a King’s Guard shift?

The King’s Guard soldiers will typically be on duty for 24 or 48 hours.

They work in shifts of two hours on sentry duty (standing guard stationed in a particular place), before having a four hour rest.

Thereafter, new guards arrive and take over – but they can be on their feet for six hours at a time.

Speaking about a typical day in the life of a member of the King’s Guard, Jack Davies — a Guardsman in 1st Battalion the Welsh Guards told the Londonist: “Mounting the guard at Buckingham Palace always means an early start. Most of the work is done before we even get to the palace.

“I wake up around 5am and we’re expected to be on parade at the barracks by half-past.

“Senior officers check that we’re in position and looking smart enough to represent the Army and the United Kingdom to thousands of visitors to London.

“We then have a rehearsal at our barracks in London before heading out to mount the guard for the rest of the day.”

Jack added: “I’m always aware that people are looking at us closely and taking lots of photos, so I put a lot of work into looking after the uniform.”

Guards must continue regardless of the weather, with rain causing their bearskins to become significantly heavier and hot weather resulting in a higher risk of heat stroke.

Huge crowds gather to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony in London.

You can see the Changing of the Guard on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between August and May.

 

In June and July the ceremony occurs everyday.

The official change usually starts at 11am, but guards will begin to leave the Royal Barracks and St. James’ Palace by 10.30am.