KING’S THRONE GUARD
♦ » » The Gentlemen at Arms who are privileged bo be the nearest persons to the King and form his Throne Guard are all retired officers of distinguished service. The corps was founded by Henry VIII., who named them “Gentlemen Spears,” because they carried a spear when mounted as well as a battleaxe for service in the Royal Chamber. They attended Henry VIII. on the Field of the Cloth of Gold and saw active service in 1553 during Sir
Thomas Wyatt’s Rebellion, when they defended the Palace of Westminster. On the occasion of his coronation George IV. provided each member of the corps forming his bodyguard with a sumptuous Tudor costume costing £2OO. Their present uniform is one of the most picturesque seen on Royal occasions: white-plumed helmet, scarlet coatee with blue velvet facings and gold lace, blue overalls, and white gauntlets. A tall axe or halbert, as well as a sword, is still carried.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 69, 15 December 1931, Page 34 (Supplement)
Word Count
156KING’S THRONE GUARD Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 69, 15 December 1931, Page 34 (Supplement)
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