ORION COSTUMES Men's Beefeater Royal Palace Guard British Fancy Dress Costume

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While their role is usually confined to the Tower of London, the Yeomen Warders do take part in one State ceremony. At Coronations, they form a guard of honour inside the annexe at Westminster Abbey. Differences between the Yeoman Warders and the Yeoman of the Guard [ edit ] Yeoman Warders wearing their Tudor State Dress in the Coronation Procession of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, 6 May 2023. Hale, John Rigby (1983). "On a Tudor Parade Ground: The Captain's handbook of Henry Barrett 1562". In Hale, J.R. (ed.). Renaissance War Studies. History series. Vol.11. London: Hambledon Press. pp.252–4. ISBN 978-0-9076-2802-6.

Sherman, Jonathan (1 November 2011). "Take him to the tower! Gosport sailor is now a Beefeater". Portsmouth News. While this is the most-cited etymology, including by the Corps themselves, [8] some etymologists have noted the term's similarity to hláf-æta, the Old English term for a menial servant, lit. "loaf-eater", the counterpart of hlaford "loaf-warden" and hlæfdige, which became " lord" and " lady" respectively. [9] Claims that the name derives from buffetier (an Old French term meaning "a waiter or servant" at a sideboard) are often mentioned, since one role of Beefeaters was to attend the king at meals. However, Skeat in An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language (published 1879–1882), concludes that there is "not the faintest tittle of evidence" for this conjecture. [10] Other reliable sources also indicate that buffetier is unlikely to have been the source of the word. [6] [11] [12] History [ edit ] The Tudor Yeomen [ edit ]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 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] A Yeoman Warder in his newly produced dress showing Charles III's Cypher. Photographed at the gates of The Tower of London 24th April 2023

In 2018, there were 37 Yeomen Warders and one Chief Warder. [16] At one time, they were primarily guards but more recently, their role is mainly ceremonial; they have become greeters and guides for visitors, as part of their 21 duties. [17] [18] Yeoman Warder Ravenmaster (also known as the Ravenmaster for short) is an appointment, not a rank, of that Yeomen Warder responsible for the welfare of the Tower of London ravens. The official title has been in use since the 1960s. [28] The name Beefeaters is often thought to come from the French word - 'buffetier'. (Buffetiers were guards in the palace of French kings. They protected the king's food.) However, the name Beefeater is more likely to have originated from the time when the Yeomen Warders at the Tower were paid part of their salary with chunks of beef. This took place right up until the 1800s. As of July 2023, the Chief Yeoman Warder is former Royal Navy serviceman Rob Fuller and the Yeoman Gaoler is Clive Towell a former British Army Sergeant Major. [26] Uniforms [ edit ] Yeoman Warder wearing a cloak with red collar and red inner lining A Yeoman Warder, also known as a Beefeater, in their new uniform for King Charles III's coronation Credit: PAThe initials ER on the their uniforms stand for Elizabetha Regina (Regina is latin for queen). The initials refer to Elizabeth the Second, who is the present Queen Davies, Caroline (21 December 2018). "Beefeaters at Tower of London strike for first time in 55 years". The Guardian. London . Retrieved 29 November 2021. South Uist raven which served the Tower of London dies aged 22". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 27 March 2018 . Retrieved 29 November 2021.