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00:0015 Fascinating Things You Never Knew About The Queen's Guard
00:06Robots in human flesh, statues, lizard people with an unnatural skill for staying still,
00:12experimental creatures created in secret labs to surveil the people and gather intel.
00:18These are some of the crazy conspiracy theories about Britain's iconic Royal Guard, a guard
00:23that has thousands of people waiting expectantly to uncover whether they're truly human.
00:28The Royal Guards are highly commended for strictly following protocol, despite attempts
00:33from citizens and tourists to make them break their statue-like decorum.
00:37Number 1.
00:39The Guns Are Mostly For Display
00:41Never to be caught unarmed, the Queen's Guard is always seen wielding the standard
00:46bullpup assault rifle light support, L86 LSW Carbine L22, which is held on the shoulder.
00:54Mixed with designed-to-kill bayonets at the tip, these guns are designed to be as intimidating
00:59as possible, rightfully so as they're mostly unloaded.
01:03Yes, as surprising as it may be, those scary-looking assault rifles are entirely void of bullets.
01:10There are many reasons for this, but the most likely is to prevent accidental fire at a
01:14civilian or someone of high importance.
01:18Despite the guns being unloaded, the mounted bayonets can do severe body damage at close
01:23range.
01:24Most retired Queen's Guard officials have even admitted that they had completely unloaded
01:29weapons during most of their shifts, the only exception being when they had reason to believe
01:34there could be an attack on a person of high interest.
01:37Only under these circumstances were the Guards issued live weapons, and placed on high alert
01:43for potential assassins and possible threats to the Queen and the Royal Family.
01:48Keep in mind that while the Queen's Guard may be content with their unloaded weapons,
01:52the Royal Protection Guards' RPGs do not follow the same rules that make the Queen's
01:57Guard statue-like in nature, and the RPGs will use their weapons if necessary.
02:03Number 2.
02:04They Follow an Extremely Strict Set of Rules
02:08Some things may not necessarily cause harm to the human body, but they can be very irritable
02:14and annoying.
02:15For example, think of a slow and steady trickle of sweat rolling down your face.
02:21The mysterious itch you get when you haven't moved for a while, slight cramps in your legs
02:26from standing all day, and so on.
02:29For normal humans, these are easily solved with a swipe, tap, scratch or movement.
02:34But for the robot-like officers of the Queen's Guard, these sensations are a simulation of
02:39hell on earth.
02:41Without being able to move or interact with passersby, they must endure all sorts of uncomfortable
02:46sensations, taunts, and quite frankly, the invasion of personal space that occurs when
02:51passersby stop to take pictures, crack jokes, and perform a list of other actions, all in
02:56a bid to get a reaction from them.
02:59They may tolerate actions like taking pictures of and with them so long as you do not get
03:03too close or make physical contact.
03:07If you wanted to play the role of a good Samaritan, you could think of little entertaining things
03:11to do that might make their shift fun.
03:14Number 3.
03:15The Hats Have a Unique History
03:17The 18-inch tall hats belonging to the Queen's Guard are sort of a national treasure, dating
03:22back to the Napoleonic Wars of 1815, where the British infantry, made up exclusively
03:28of the Queen's Guard, defeated the invading French army in the Battle of Waterloo.
03:33At this time, Napoleon's French army wore 18-inch black hats to appear taller, and therefore
03:39seemed more intimidating than they were.
03:42With the British Empire's overwhelming victory, the surviving French soldiers hastily retreated,
03:47yelling,
03:48La Garde Recule!
03:51which was an order to retreat, and threw their heavy hats off their heads in the process.
03:56The British soldiers collected the 18-inch French hats as trophies to symbolize their
04:01triumph, and they've worn them up until this day in ceremonial gatherings to honor
04:05their victory.
04:07As you can tell, the Queen's Guard are still proud of defeating France in the Napoleonic
04:11Wars, and this is evidenced by the way in which they proudly display their 18-inch hats.
04:17Number 4.
04:18The Hats Came at the Price of Bears
04:21The 18-inch black fur hats are made of high-quality fur, which comes from bears.
04:26Contrary to what we may like to believe, the French used bearskin and bear fur in making
04:31their 18-inch black hats.
04:34Continuing the practice has become a tradition since the British claimed ownership of the
04:38hats.
04:39Fortunately, these hats are not easily damaged, as most are still functional despite being
04:44made in the early 1900s.
04:47Synthetic methods have been tried and tested to replicate the fur of the hats for more
04:50humane reasons, but sadly, the color and quality did not last.
04:56The hats are also quite heavy, coming in at about 2 to 4 kilograms, or 4.5 to 9 pounds
05:01in weight.
05:02Surprisingly, the hats become even heavier when wet.
05:07Based on the incredible weight of these hats, the strap of the hat has always been fixed
05:11at the chin, as opposed to below the jaw for fear that a guard's neck could be snapped
05:15if an attack were to forcefully slip the hat backwards.
05:19As barbaric as it may sound, bears are hunted and used to make these hats, and while there
05:24have been efforts to use synthetic material in place of bear fur, the synthetic material
05:29simply did not do the job.
05:31Number 5.
05:33There are very strict conditions to be met before joining their ranks, as would be expected
05:38of any security agency tasked with protecting one of the most famous, loved, and equally
05:43hated families in the world.
05:45There are strict qualifications for being a Queen's Guard.
05:49To be considered a suitable candidate to join the ranks of the Guard, you must be of British
05:54descent, and being of noble birth is also an added advantage, although not a prerequisite.
06:00Since the Queen's Guard is also a military organization, candidates must pass the British
06:05Army Recruit Battery Test, or BARB, to ensure their mental and physical fitness is above
06:11average.
06:13Another condition that simply cannot be avoided is that candidates must meet a certain height
06:17requirement.
06:19Just a few decades ago, only individuals who were at least 6 feet, or the ideal 6'2",
06:24were considered suitable for the role.
06:27However, the rule's been changed to allow individuals to join the Queen's Guard if
06:30they're a minimum of 5'10".
06:33This change was enacted after many complaints arose from displeased civilians, who wanted
06:38to serve their country by joining the Royal Infantry, but failed the height test.
06:43Aspirants are also expected to pass a series of writing, health, and physical tests before
06:48they're accepted into this noble rank, and paid based on a list of defined salaries by
06:52the British Army.
06:54Number 6.
06:55Sometimes, a Guard will speak or act.
06:58The Queen's Guard are not very well known for their oratory skills.
07:02Rather, silence, even in scenes of uproarious laughter, is the mark of a Queen's Guard.
07:07However, the Guards are allowed to bark out orders and warnings at citizens and passersby
07:12who interfere, father, disrupt, or act offensively towards them, especially when citizens hinder
07:19them from performing their designated duties.
07:22Although the Queen's Guard has a limited range of vocabulary, the commands they're
07:26allowed to use are distinct and give a clear command to the intended individual.
07:31In cases where an individual gets in the way of their match, they're expected to shout
07:35in a clear, loud voice,
07:36"'Make way for the Queen's Guard!'
07:39If anyone gets too close, they're to say, "'Step away from the Queen's Guard!'
07:44Further, if an individual were to touch them, they're permitted to step forward and yell,
07:48"'Do not touch the Queen's Guard!'
07:51These are some of the most heard orders issued by members of the Queen's Guard from time
07:55to time.
07:56Failure to comply with orders given by the Queen's Guard could result in retaliation
08:00or a show of force.
08:027.
08:03They Definitely Get Bored
08:05Unsurprisingly, standing motionless for six hours at a time with an occasional movement
08:10every 15 to 20 minutes is not a fun way to spend your day.
08:15This boredom could be a slow form of mental torture that can lead to officers snapping
08:19in frustration.
08:21This has led to many guards coming up with unique ways to entertain themselves.
08:26Some have admitted to singing songs in their head, recalling whole movies from start to
08:30finish, deliberately getting lost in thoughts, and quietly enjoying attempts made by people
08:34to make them laugh.
08:37Some are content with simply people watching the citizens around them.
08:41Their boredom is often so intense that they must undergo special training on how to keep
08:45their minds engaged during their long shifts.
08:48Six hours of doing nothing but standing doesn't just bore the body, but it also bores the
08:53mind.
08:54Although they likely won't offer you a thank you, I'm sure they may appreciate your efforts
08:58to keep them entertained.
09:008.
09:02They Don't Like Being Intimidated
09:04Picture a random stranger making fun of you because of how you dress, look, walk, talk,
09:09and respond to your surroundings.
09:12Now imagine a random stranger making fun of something that took you countless, sleepless
09:16nights and an incredible amount of time to master.
09:20It doesn't feel nice, does it?
09:21Well, this and more are what the members of the Queens Guard face daily during their royal
09:26duties of protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace in London.
09:31All sorts of individuals approach them each day, from good-natured comedians to rude,
09:35annoying, and outright violent pranksters, who come in different ages, sizes, sexes,
09:40and races.
09:41Regardless of how much these people may piss them off, the guards often have no choice
09:46but to avert their focus and remain steadfast in performing their duties.
09:509.
09:51They're Exposed to Serious Health Risks
09:54Terrifying diseases and health problems like Ebola, COVID-19, malaria, and so on, ravage
10:00the world at large.
10:02Who would have thought that the simple act of standing still for hours could be so risky
10:06for the human body in the face of such diseases?
10:09While this is a risk the Queens Guard constantly face amidst the potential of getting heat
10:14stroke from standing in the sun, their legs cramping due to poor circulation, and getting
10:19sick when standing out in the cold, rain, or snow.
10:23To combat the health risks they may face, guards are allowed to step out, turn left,
10:28walk 10 paces, and then return to their position every 10 to 15 minutes.
10:34This is mostly done to prevent their legs from cramping due to poor blood circulation
10:38and relaxation of muscles.
10:41Prolonged exposure to harsh weather is another health hazard they suffer.
10:45Dressed in thick clothing both in the dreadfully hot weather or freezing cold, they must mount
10:50their posts as true soldiers of the crown.
10:5310.
10:55They Have a Higher Chance of Talking to the Queen Than Most People
10:59Constantly being around trained military personnel in uniforms made of red tunics and black bearskin
11:04hats are bound to make anyone try to start a conversation with them.
11:08Although having a conversation with them may not be as exciting as you think.
11:13They all look alike from a distance and must respond to the Queen with dictated, formal
11:17speech in reverence of Her Majesty.
11:20Nonetheless, it does tend to happen now and then, and one lucky guard admitted to having
11:25spoken to the Queen as she approached him with her husband and their dogs to ask him
11:29some questions about himself.
11:31In his words, she's nice.
11:34It's been the case that occasionally the Queen will randomly speak to a guard to know more
11:37about them, ask for directions, or simply boost morale.
11:4111.
11:42There Are Five Regiments
11:44These regiments generally perform the same task, but are made up of recruits from different
11:49parts of Britain with specializations in unique, independent skills, which would be useful
11:54in an emergency.
11:56These five units are the Regiment of the Grenadier Guards, the Regiment of the Coldstream Guards,
12:02the Regiment of the Scots Guard, the Regiment of the Irish Guards, and the Regiment of the
12:08Welsh Guards.
12:09To the uninformed eye, these regiments look the same, as they're not easily distinguished
12:14from another due to their matching uniforms.
12:16However, there are slight changes in the design of each uniform as follows.
12:21The Grenadier Guards have single buttons evenly spaced and a grenade on the collar badge with
12:26no plume on their hats.
12:28The Coldstream Guards have pairs of buttons with a plume on their hats.
12:32The Scots Guards are identified with buttons in threes, no plume on their cap, and a thistle
12:37on their collar badge.
12:39The Irish Guards are decorated with buttons in fours, a blue plume on their cap, and a
12:43shamrock on their collar badges.
12:45And the Welsh Guards have as many as buttons in fives, green plumes on caps, and leeks
12:50on their collar badges.
12:5212.
12:53It Takes A Long Time To Become A Member Of The Queen's Guard
12:56All members of the Queen's Guard are highly trained personnel in the British Army, and
13:01undergo an extensive 30 weeks of training for fitness before being accepted into one
13:06of five regiments.
13:07The training includes composure, protocols, security, combat, and maintenance.
13:12Hence, it should not come as a surprise that the comic-looking Queen's Guard is comprised
13:17of extremely well-trained soldiers fit for an international war.
13:21Training like this takes time, and only the best are designated to defend Her Majesty.
13:26The strict nature of the training is one reason guards are reprimanded and punished for
13:31failing to comply with protocol, as their actions soil the guard's reputation.
13:3613.
13:38They Can Only Faint In A Certain Way
13:40Standing still is no easy feat.
13:43It's not uncommon for guards to pass out on duty.
13:46Interestingly, there's a specific way in which they're permitted to faint.
13:50Falling either face-flat or backwards is deemed a noble fall.
13:54Judging from the gruesome experience, this guard's face passing out does seem to be
13:58a welcome escape.
14:00Still, it must be done appropriately, or else the unconscious soldier is frowned upon.
14:05This does not mean the order is made of inhumane leaders.
14:08It's quite the contrary, in fact.
14:10On especially hot days, waiters assigned to the guards are given the responsibility to
14:14tend to them, and give them something cool to drink when it's hot or a warm drink when
14:19it's cold.
14:2014.
14:21They're Allowed To Resort To Violence Under Certain Conditions
14:25Members of the Queen's Guard are allowed to resort to violence by slapping, punching,
14:29shooting, restraining, or stabbing anyone they consider dangerous to the Queen or other
14:34royal persons.
14:36This is only permitted in cases where an individual is caught taking aggressive actions against
14:40the royal family.
14:42While not seen often, if an individual ignores their warnings, you wouldn't want to be
14:46on the receiving end of their assault.
14:4815.
14:49No Toilet Breaks Allowed
14:51As mortifying as it sounds, the Queen's Guard may have to have a go while standing there,
14:56as there are no toilet breaks allowed during work hours.
14:59This requires strict dietary discipline before their shifts begin, or else they risk embarrassing
15:04not just themselves, but the image of the royal family when the usual selfie-hunting
15:08passerby comes close for a picture only to perceive a foul stench.
15:13This action was surprisingly well accounted for, as the guards are given thick uniforms
15:17that absorb moisture, along with black pants that don't reveal stains.
15:21Some even go on to argue that this is why they don't like people getting close or touching
15:25them.
15:26From the late 1700s till date, there have been several attacks on the royal family,
15:31either due to political motives, a hunger for power, or mental illness.
15:35Most of these attacks were aimed at the monarch herself or his immediate successor.
15:40For instance, the anti-royalist attack on Prince Charles by one Kataliv Brackenov in
15:451994, and the attempted murder of the same Prince Charles by gunshot at the hands of
15:50David Kang, which happened in the same year.
15:53The Queen herself has been subject to several attacks, both during meetings with public
15:57and in her personal time.
15:59With a stunning number of assassination attempts against the Queen, the British government
16:04needs to form new agencies and empower already existing security agencies dedicated to protecting
16:09the royal family.