Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was instituted 500 years ago by King Henry VIII in 1509. Although the Yeomen of the Guard, which was founded in 1485 is older, the Gentlemen at Arms are more senior, due to their being classed as 'gentlemen' rather than 'yeomen', and because they are classed as the 'nearest guard', i.e. the personal guard to the Sovereign.
The uniform is that of a Heavy Dragoon Guards officer of the 1840s. It has a skirted red coat with Garter blue velvet cuffs and facings embroidered with the Tudor royal badge of the Portcullis. Helmets with white swan feather plumes are worn when on duty, even in church. Officers wear gold aiguillettes and carry sticks of office which they receive from the Sovereign on appointment. Cavalry swords are worn, and long ceremonial battle-axes, over 300 years old, are carried by all the Gentlemen.
The Queen sits for an official photograph with Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, 4 June 2009. The Queen's ‘Nearest Guard’ commemorated the 500th anniversary of their founding with a parade and luncheon at St James's Palace. © Press Association
The Queen inspects Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms at St James's Palace during a parade to celebrate their 500th anniversary, 4 June 2009. In a speech to mark the occasion, Her Majesty remarked that, 'As individuals, you have all given long and distinguished military service to the nation. As members of the ‘Nearest Guard’, your service to the Crown continues in a distinctive way'.
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Aiguillettes
sword knot
lanyard
Shoulder cord
Cap Cord