British Royal Guards withdrawn to safer positions to protect them from attacks

[Syt]

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11314981/Royal-Guards-withdrawn-behind-metal-gates-at-London-palaces.html

Royal Guards withdrawn behind metal gates at London palaces

Soldiers withdrawn from posts in front of Clarence House and St James's Palace, while guards at other landmarks are now protected by armed police



Royal Guards have been withdrawn from their traditional posts outside the country's palaces amid fears Islamist fanatics plan to target them.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.


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.


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.

[The Brain]

Not loaded? But do they carry ammunition?

[mongers]

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.

[Richard Hakluyt]

They are there for the tourists.

I presume there is a proper guard at the ready somewhere else in the palace.

[Syt]

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."

[Kleves]

So that's who watches the watchmen.

[frunk]

Who watches the watchmen watchmen?

[Syt]

If all they do is watch men, I presume homosexuals are preferred?

[Sheilbh]

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'

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

[Eddie Teach]

Who watches the watchmen watchmen?

Out 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!

[The Brain]

Beewatched = overrated.

[Josquius]

The guards are military. Armed soldiers do not belong on the streets. It makes sense really.
Plus bayonets are pretty scary.

[Ideologue]

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'

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?

[Warspite]

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.

[jimmy olsen]

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'

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?