| Yeomen Warders of His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress The Tower of London | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the Yeomen Warders | |
| Active | 1485 (1509: see History) – present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Role | Palace and Fortress Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | London |
| Motto(s) | Dieu et mon droit |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel in Chief | The King |
| Insignia | |
| Collar Badge | Rose, Thistle and Shamrock |
The Yeomen Warders of His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary, popularly known as the Beefeaters, are ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. In principle they are the palace guard, responsible for looking after any prisoners in the Tower, and safeguarding the British crown jewels. They have also conducted guided tours of the Tower since the Victorian era.
All warders are retired from the British Armed Forces and must be former warrant officers with at least 22 years of service. They must also hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.[1] The garrison consists of 32 (formerly 37) Yeomen Warders and one Chief Warder.[2][3][4]
Although the Yeomen Warders are often referred to as Yeomen of the Guard, a distinct corps of Royal Bodyguards of the British monarch, the Yeomen Warders are in fact a separate entity.
- ^ "Yeoman Warder (Job specification 2018)". Historic Royal Palaces. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ Tickle, Louise (4 July 2011). "Want to be a Beefeater?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- ^ Tickle, Louise (31 July 2017). "One of the world's most exclusive pubs is hidden within the Tower of London — take a look inside". Business Insider. New York. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "YEOMAN WARDERS AT THE TOWER OF LONDON". Historic Royal Palaces. Retrieved 18 December 2021.