THE ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST

The Queen’s Year

Ceremonial Bodies

The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms Gentlemen at Arms are in attendance of The Queen on most State occasions in their position as senior royal Body Guard. The Honourable Corps was created by Henry VIII in 1509 to provide a mounted escort to protect the Sovereign in times of war and peace. Their duties are purely ceremonial. At a coronation they will be ‘on guard’ at Westminster Abbey, where they will escort the royal procession. They also attend The Queen’s Garden

Parties. The Honourable Corps today consists of five Officers and 27 Gentlemen.

The uniform has a skirted red coat with Garter-blue velvet cuffs and is embroidered with the Tudor royal badge of the Portcullis, the badge of the Corps. The helmets, with their distinctive white feathers, are worn at all times when on duty. Officers carry sticks of office, which are presented personally by The Queen and returned in person when the holder is promoted or retires. Swords and distinctive long ceremonial battle-axes, some of which are over 300 years old, are carried. The axes are kept at St James’s Palace, where they are looked after by the ‘Axe-keeper’.

Yeomen of the Guard

Yeomen of the Guard are the oldest of royal Body Guards and the oldest military corps still active in the United Kingdom. There are 81 Yeomen, all of whom are retired warrant officers or non-commissioned officers of the Regular Army and Royal Air Force. Today the Yeomen act as a royal bodyguard to the Sovereign at most State functions, including the State Opening of Parliament, the Royal Maundy Service, Investitures and Garden Parties at Buckingham

Palace, and at the installation of Knights of the Garter at Windsor.

Created by Henry VII in 1485 after his victory at the battle of Bosworth Field, the Yeomen have a unique Tudor uniform, consisting of a scarlet doublet embroidered with a Tudor crown and the roses of York and Lancaster. Black buckled shoes are worn with red stockings, and red, white and blue rosettes are fastened just below the knee. A ruff and a black velvet hat with red, white and blue ribbons are also worn. They carry a seven-foot halberd, known as a ‘partisan’ – a weapon consisting of a long shaft with an axe blade, topped by a spearhead.

Royal Company of Archers Appointed as the Sovereign’s ‘Body Guard in Scotland’ in 1822, the Royal Company of Archers is available for duty anywhere in Scotland at the request of The Queen on any State and ceremonial occasion. The duties carried out by the Royal Company tend to centre on the annual Royal Visit to Scotland in June, when they

attend the Royal Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Installation of new Knights of the Thistle and Investitures. The Royal Company has 400 active members.

The Royal Company was originally formed as an Archery Club in 1676, and the longbow is still its principal weapon. Shooting remains an important activity, and the Archers compete for The Queen's Prize each year before the Royal Garden Party at Holyroodhouse. The Archers wear their field uniform to the Garden Party – tunic and trousers of green with black braid and crimson velvet stripes.

High Constables of Holyroodhouse The duties of the High Constables consist of guarding the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the arrival and departure of The Queen and foreign dignitaries. They are always in attendance at dinners and important functions, such as the Garden Party given by The Queen in June. There have been Constables at the Palace of

Holyroodhouse from the early 18th century. They were originally appointed to keep order among residents in the precincts. Today there are 30 in number. In 1910 King George V proposed a uniform of blue cloth with silver buttons and a distinctive blue hat turned up at one side, which is worn today.

College of Arms or Heralds’ College Thirteen members of the Royal Household are appointed by The Queen to be her Officers of Arms-in-Ordinary with special responsibility for armorial, genealogical and ceremonial matters. They constitute the Sovereign’s heraldic department. Heralds have existed since at least 1170. They conduct State ceremonials, such as the State Opening of Parliament

and State funerals, and ceremonials associated with the Order of the Garter.

The Band of the Life Guards – State Trumpeter The Band of the Life Guards is part of the Household Cavalry and one of two mounted bands that provide music for State occasions and military events, including Investitures, Palace banquets and the State Opening of Parliament. The Band today has up to 35 musicians within its ranks.

The Band tours extensively, performing as a concert band, marching band, orchestra and mounted band. Most of its members play two instruments. They have a varied repertoire, from Bach to the latest West End shows. The State Trumpeter of the Life Guards Blue wears a velvet hard hat, jockey-style cap and gold livery, and holds a decorative banner attached to the trumpet.

The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps The Marshal acts as the link between The Queen and the foreign diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom. The appointment is held by either a senior retired service officer or diplomat. The Marshal’s duties include arranging the presentation of credentials, which involves escorting Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Buckingham Palace by State carriage for the ceremony. He also supervises the attendance of diplomats at the State Opening of Parliament, the Diplomatic Reception, State Visit receptions, Garden Parties and Royal Ascot. The Marshal wears court dress at all such events.

Pages of Honour Pages of Honour are primarily responsible for carrying The Queen’s train on ceremonial occasions. There are four Pages of Honour at one time. All are on duty at the State Opening of Parliament, as four pairs of hands are needed to carry the long, heavy train of The Queen’s Robe of State. Some are also on duty at the annual Garter service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

The Pages are selected from among the sons of The Queen’s friends and members of her Household. Between the ages of 12 and 15, they hold office for two or three years. A Page of Honour wears a knee-length scarlet coat over a white lace jabot and waistcoat, white breeches, white stockings and black shoes with buckles. He also wears a small ceremonial sword.