So, what's the point of those guards if their guns aren't loaded and they have to be protected by the police, except to look quaint?
Btw, I didn't know the rifles of those guards weren't loaded.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11314981/Royal-Guards-withdrawn-behind-metal-gates-at-London-palaces.html
QuoteRoyal Guards withdrawn behind metal gates at London palaces
Soldiers withdrawn from posts in front of Clarence House and St James's Palace, while guards at other landmarks are now protected by armed police
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Royal Guards have been withdrawn from their traditional posts outside the country's palaces amid fears Islamist fanatics plan to target them.
The instantly recognisable Queen's Guards have been moved from their sentry boxes in front of the various royal premises and now stand guard behind locked gates or fences.
The decision was taken by Buckingham Palace and the police amid fears that Isil-inspired lone wolf attackers see them as a high-profile target.
Although the ceremonial guards are carrying weapons fitted with a bayonet, the guns are not loaded.
Armed police already provide additional security for the soldiers following the murder of a soldier on ceremonial duty at Canada's national war memorial in a suspected terror attack in October.
Guards have also been told not to take sentry duty alone – for the first time since the height of the IRA threat.
Although they had already been moved behind the gates at Buckingham Palace, the same has now happened at Clarence House, St James's Palace and Windsor Castle.
But the move was criticised by former guards as a "retreat" against terrorism.
Retired officer Major Iain Dalzel-Job of the Scots Guards told The Mail on Sunday: "I think this is a big shame.
"The reason people know we're around is because they can see us. But I suppose the changes are necessary as there is a significant threat.
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Guards being watched over by armed police at Horse Guards on Whitehall.
Former Welsh guardsman Terry O'Shea added: "Moving the Guardsmen back to a more secure area seems an honourable retreat given the danger posed by the terrorists.
"'Unfortunately this is a sign of the times and how unpredictable the current situation is. We've seen horrific incidents across the world and in our capital city, so some action had to be taken to reduce the risk, even if it can never be eliminated.
"You could argue that there should be a defiant stand but how do you protect the soldiers on parade in a bright suit, shiny boots and a furry hat?"
Security around soldiers has been heightened since the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby outside Woolwich barracks in 2013 by two Islamist fanatics.
Isil has also called on its followers to launch attacks on home soil and the police and intelligence services said last month that they foiled a plot by Islamists to mount a terrorist attack, amid fears of a possible attack on serviceman and civilians on Remembrance Sunday.
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Guards boxes used to stand on Cleveland Row at James's Palace (left) but have recently been moved to the court yard (right) (Alamy; Paul Grover/The Telegraph)
A month earlier Cpl Nathan Cirillo a 24-year-old reservist serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed guarding war memorial outside Canada's federal parliament.
Scotland Yard and Buckingham Palace both declined to comment on the arrangements, saying they did not discuss security matters.
Not loaded? But do they carry ammunition?
Quote from: Syt on December 29, 2014, 08:44:39 AM
So, what's the point of those guards if their guns aren't loaded and they have to be protected by the police, except to look quaint?
Btw, I didn't know the rifles of those guards weren't loaded.
You've just described 30% of British public life.
They are there for the tourists.
I presume there is a proper guard at the ready somewhere else in the palace.
Quote from: mongers on December 29, 2014, 08:54:37 AM
You've just described 30% of British public life.
"She's lived for 400 years & hardly aged a day; but, because this is England, everyone pretends not to notice."
So that's who watches the watchmen.
Who watches the watchmen watchmen?
If all they do is watch men, I presume homosexuals are preferred?
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 29, 2014, 08:56:42 AM
They are there for the tourists.
I presume there is a proper guard at the ready somewhere else in the palace.
Yeah. The clue is in their role as 'ceremonial guard' :lol:
Of course the regiments that provide those ceremonial guards are actual soldiers, though given the way we're going that seems to be largely ceremonial too <_<
I think a while after 7/7 or around that time I would have thought this was a bit over the top. Given the murder in Canada and of Lee Rigby, and the various car-attacks in France it's probably the right decision :(
Quote from: frunk on December 29, 2014, 10:13:49 AM
Who watches the watchmen watchmen?
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QuoteOut west near Hawtch-Hawtch there's a Hawtch-Hawtcher bee watcher, his job is to watch. Is to keep both his eyes on the lazy town bee, a bee that is watched will work harder you see. So he watched and he watched, but in spite of his watch that bee didn't work any harder not mawtch. So then somebody said "Our old bee-watching man just isn't bee watching as hard as he can, he ought to be watched by another Hawtch-Hawtcher! The thing that we need is a bee-watcher-watcher!". Well, the bee-watcher-watcher watched the bee-watcher. He didn't watch well so another Hawtch-Hawtcher had to come in as a watch-watcher-watcher! And now all the Hawtchers who live in Hawtch-Hawtch are watching on watch watcher watchering watch, watch watching the watcher who's watching that bee. You're not a Hawtch-Watcher you're lucky you see!
Beewatched = overrated.
The guards are military. Armed soldiers do not belong on the streets. It makes sense really.
Plus bayonets are pretty scary.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 29, 2014, 11:54:35 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 29, 2014, 08:56:42 AM
They are there for the tourists.
I presume there is a proper guard at the ready somewhere else in the palace.
Yeah. The clue is in their role as 'ceremonial guard' :lol:
Of course the regiments that provide those ceremonial guards are actual soldiers, though given the way we're going that seems to be largely ceremonial too <_<
You have Trident. What need have you of soldiers?
The job of the soldier in the UK is not to do what the police are for. You do not see soldiers wandering around with sidearms either, even when walking around Whitehall in uniform.
As Sheilbh says, the clue is in the name - ceremonial guard.
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 29, 2014, 11:54:35 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on December 29, 2014, 08:56:42 AM
They are there for the tourists.
I presume there is a proper guard at the ready somewhere else in the palace.
Yeah. The clue is in their role as 'ceremonial guard' :lol:
Of course the regiments that provide those ceremonial guards are actual soldiers, though given the way we're going that seems to be largely ceremonial too <_<
I think a while after 7/7 or around that time I would have thought this was a bit over the top. Given the murder in Canada and of Lee Rigby, and the various car-attacks in France it's probably the right decision :(
Why can't they carry loaded guns rather than wasting manpower and money by having it "guarded" twice?
If you're gonna do something do it for real. Having guards that aren't really guards is poor aesthetics.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 30, 2014, 06:47:48 AM
Why can't they carry loaded guns rather than wasting manpower and money by having it "guarded" twice?
Don't be stupid. You don't see The USMC Color Guard walking around locked and loaded at the White House, either.
What kind of piple volunteer to be a royal guard?
Puss in boots.
Quote from: Siege on December 30, 2014, 02:21:22 PM
What kind of piple volunteer to be a royal guard?
Puss in boots.
As I said they're actually an elite regiment. Just like say the marines who also guard the White House :P
That's not really addressing Seeb's question though.
Unless all guardsmen rotate through palace-do.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 30, 2014, 03:40:29 PM
That's not really addressing Seeb's question though.
Unless all guardsmen rotate through palace-do.
There seems to be some confusion here:
Most soldiers found guarding royal palaces are not guardsmen, who are the ones with the nifty bearskins and from the four royal regiments of foot soldiers. Most British army infantry battalions will at some stage find themselves doing guard duty for the royals. Some other non-infantry regiments and corps will also do duty, I think, in addition to others like the RAF regiment who might well, haven't googled to confirm that.
The soldier pictured above with the cavalry sabre (probably blunt for historical accuracy) is from the Blues and Royals, an amalgamated regiment of the two royal cavalry regiments. They provide most of the horsey guard and touristy stuff in London. IIRC where he is at Horseguards, is now just that a place were a guard is mounted solely for the benefit of tourists, there's no royal presence there and now no military barracks or HQ, just a small museum. It's also the place on Whitehall tourists stop to get there photo/selfie taken with the guards on horseback.
I didn't realise. I thought they were all either Household Cavalry or one of the Guards regiments :blush:
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 30, 2014, 03:57:55 PM
I didn't realise. I thought they were all either Household Cavalry or one of the Guards regiments :blush:
It seems a bit more complicated than my guestimate and in your defences it's a relatively recent event, having only changed in the last 15-20 years.
Just found a whole wiki page explaining it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Guard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Guard)
Some of those parade ground uniforms make them look like postal employees.
Our postmen aren't that smart (shorts optional) :lol:
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"Just in case someone doesn't notice the sidewalk is not part of the street, safety orange."
Quote from: Ideologue on December 30, 2014, 09:28:10 PM
"Just in case someone doesn't notice the sidewalk is not part of the street, safety orange."
Gotta love the Brits use of safety orange for all manner of emergency vehicles, though. MAH ASS END
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Thing is, all their First Responder vehicles are all Benzes, Beemers and Land Rovers. Pretentious 1%ers. :glare:
I always have people telling me I need to put out orange safety cones when I have ladders set up in public areas of buildings when I am working.
I have never gotten a good answer when I ask why someone would see a 1' tall orange cone but not see the 8' tall red ladder next to it.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 30, 2014, 09:32:30 PM
Thing is, all their First Responder vehicles are all Benzes, Beemers and Land Rovers. Pretentious 1%ers. :glare:
The Mercedes Sprinter in the picture is the most common transporter of that size in Europe. You can get it with a Freightliner badge in the US as well. Hardly pretentious, just the government buying the best available car.
Quote from: Zanza on January 02, 2015, 12:18:44 PM
The Mercedes Sprinter in the picture is the most common transporter of that size in Europe. You can get it with a Freightliner badge in the US as well. Hardly pretentious, just the government buying the best available car.
You don't see Freightliners in Wall Street parking garages or rappers wearing Freightliner badges around their necks, though. Pretentious! :mad:
Quote from: Zanza on January 02, 2015, 12:18:44 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 30, 2014, 09:32:30 PM
Thing is, all their First Responder vehicles are all Benzes, Beemers and Land Rovers. Pretentious 1%ers. :glare:
The Mercedes Sprinter in the picture is the most common transporter of that size in Europe. You can get it with a Freightliner badge in the US as well. Hardly pretentious, just the government buying the best available car.
Well I'll be. I did not know that Daimler owned Freightliner.
For 30 years or so.
Quote from: mongers on December 30, 2014, 04:02:49 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on December 30, 2014, 03:57:55 PM
I didn't realise. I thought they were all either Household Cavalry or one of the Guards regiments :blush:
It seems a bit more complicated than my guestimate and in your defences it's a relatively recent event, having only changed in the last 15-20 years.
Just found a whole wiki page explaining it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Guard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Guard)
I walk through Horse Guards (across the parade ground and through the arch) every day on my way to work; it's fun to watch the regiments cycle through so for example sometimes you have the full cuirass and helmet, and then the next week hussar dress, depending on which unit is on ceremonial duties.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 02, 2015, 12:21:56 PM
Quote from: Zanza on January 02, 2015, 12:18:44 PM
The Mercedes Sprinter in the picture is the most common transporter of that size in Europe. You can get it with a Freightliner badge in the US as well. Hardly pretentious, just the government buying the best available car.
You don't see Freightliners in Wall Street parking garages or rappers wearing Freightliner badges around their necks, though. Pretentious! :mad:
In Amerika, government buys cheapest available car (that meets federal regulations for acquisitions, such rules on Green production, minority/women-owned small businesses, and availability from federal prison industries).