The Queen's Foot Guards 2007

[Musicgutbucket]

Oh My goodness, the last platoon company to go past...they were very shoddy in their drill, terrible.

[electricslipper]

What a bleeding waste of money.

[KoleBesteQ]

I like this and I'd love to see it. Question. Im American and Im wondering why the big hats? I've always wondered

[markwadeza]

@KoleBesteQ , Following the Battle of Waterloo and the action in which they gained their name, the Guards were permitted to wear the bearskin , i would assume in honour of the defeat of the French Imperial Guard who used them as headgear.

[emptyangel]

@KoleBesteQ

Back in its day, the 'bearskin cap' was a functional piece of headgear.

It broke the silhouette of the the soldier wearing it. Thus, lancers who aimed for the head would hit the bearskin instead.

The curb chain, the brass strap you see resting on the soldiers chin, protected the face from sabre slashes.

Bearskins were costly but added height to a soldier, and since tall soldiers were extremely desirable in European armies, it was only awarded to the most elite regiments.

[emptyangel]

@KoleBesteQ

There are different types of bearskin, but the kind you see the Guards wear here were first awarded to the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards after the defeat of Napoleon's French Imperial Guard.

The British then adopted the new type bearskin cap and issued them to the Foot Guards, the most elite of the British Army.

[ElvisGraceland1]

whats the name of the march plz?

[mouchel1995]

@ElvisGraceland1 Children of the Regiment - Julius Fucik

[Gary7Gann]

Good Men Of the WORLD be like BRITISH Royal Guards And Save you Self,!!!

[Villerembert]

I am full of admiration for the British and their Royals. They really set an example in these difficult times. But than again, they always did!

[specialbari09]

How much training does one have to go through to be a Foot Guard?

[str34twizeII]

@specialbari09 28 weeks I do believe

[fhcool]

@specialbari09 Well as it's one of the best infantry regiments in the British army, you have to sign up for the army, go through the basic training then go through the training to join one of the guards regiments. Once you pass that, then it will be plenty of drill and ceremonial before starting battle training.

[itcheyoakham]

No one does it quite like the British.

[skullcrusher301]

what kind of rifles are they carrying

[AJK72]

The SA80.

[TheSirRoberto]

@AJK72 L85 a2 proper name :)

[pcjoel999]

@skullcrusher301 SA80 A1 in this video but they now have the SA80 A2

[emptyangel]

@pcjoel999 I have it on good authority that the variant of the SA80 they are carrying in this video is the, "L85A2," or as you wrongly refer to as the, "SA80 A2."

[lonestar2779]

@skullcrusher301 SA80MK2

[Dorni2405]

goes back many years...should save the head, because you can not really see the heads position. protection against sword attaks

[Iisainfidel]

i never understood why they where those big furry hats anyone?

[bealaneel]

it was an honor bestowed to them after waterloo, grenedier guards

[ElvisGraceland1]

and so they also appear taller to to enemy.

the red jacket is coz of that so u dont see the blood so directly.

[padvergoldeter]

because it hide their eye in 18 century the grenadier were supposed to be invincible and couragoeus. That why the hat hide their eye from the enemi and the soldier advance without knowing how much soldier was in front of them they just drop the hat before charging :P

[SR71ABCD]

Nice red uniforms but I wouldn't be in a Bull pit wearing it.

[youvegotmoobs]

the uniform looks realy smart untill you get to those big furry hats i just cant take them seriously it looks like cousin it

thank god i wont have to wear that in the mercian reg

[RTWXilef]

I believe these guys are the Coldstream Guards. Buttons are in groups of two.

[AJK72]

Yes No. 7 Company, Coldstream Guards trooped their colours in 2007.

[mahen333]

i have incredible respect for these soldiers, some of the best and highly trained military units in the world..

[Geemakun]

Where do u get one of these uniforms? Except for joining the army?

[Professsor]

I hope your not thinking of wearing the uniform when your not entitled, because that really winds me up when people do that....

[youvegotmoobs]

you dont.... to get youre regimental uniforms/berets etc it has to be earned with months of hard work sweat blood and tears a uniform means something its not just for show

but yeh it dose look cool :)

[kingbleah]

there is a gaurds man with his top tunic button undone!!! @ 5.35!!!!

[ronsiris]

i just love it...very impressive,and this is just the ceremonial side,,,they are also some of the best soldiers in the world.

[webly17]

2:30 awesome sight to see coming towards you.

[bubbles867]

no one really has no idea how much hard work the guards put into the trooping of the colour and the stress it puts on your body , i should know done this parade 3 times

[DRAGLORD11]

brilliant...it makes me proud to be british

[Channelify]

Wonderful video.

GOD SAVE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN YOUR FABULOUS FAMILY AND YOUR PEOPLE.

[DeAdKiD019]

It Is Too Buautifull (Sad)

[total9day]

god save the queen

[fordsonic26]

god save the queen. And eian paisley.

[yabi6425]

my husband is an ex guard and the guns are not loaded, ammunition is close by which they can get to within minutes however the police are fully loaded and the first line of defence as this is a civilian area not a military area

[talpore]

yes but they have a nice shiney pointy obect on the end of the rifle.

they dont like it up them mr Mannering

[yabi6425]

my husband is an ex guardsman the ammunition is kept close by the guns themselves are not loaded but police surrounding the area have loaded weapons they are the first line of defence as it is a civilian area not a military

[Barfrainbows]

You guys rock!

Everyday heros. I could never keep a straight face and on top of it all you protect HRH.

[jerichok]

that marching band is like an army all in itself!!!

[chocolatcats]

Hay DrPullmeov, YES THEIR ARMED. Theres no such thing as a guard without ammunition.

I Love them guys

[7658967584]

Mkes me very proud to British this does :)

[menace1987]

with the pointy thing on the end of their gun

[emptyangel]

It's a bayonet, to maybe stab a potential attacker.

[AlHillATC]

Bayonets

[mutley38]

coldstream guards legends

[partybiscuit]

She is guarded by 'grey men', or the Royal protection squad also known as Special Operations 14 or SO14. This consists of elite met police, SAS soldiers ect; my brother was in diplomatic protection which are linked to the team. You don't always see them but they see you.

[blahonyou123]

What happens if you actually touch one? I've hard people say differnet things.

[AJK72]

I suppose it depends where you touch them and how firmly.

[invicta1983]

If its literally just a gentle touch you'll just get a bollocking off the near-by police officer but if you prod him or anything like that he will defend himself and then youll probably spend the night in the cells!

Dont be surprised if you find yourself confronted by a screaming guardsmen pointing his bayonet at you.

[Kentuckyhorse1]

cold steel, they love they do!

[directorjulian]

there guns are fully loaded and still have full right to shoot as long as they are protecting the queen from a direct attack on the queen or the direct family.

[jeremy101111]

really?

[Jacada123]

Yes, every guard you see has an armed rifle. They are the elite of the elite.

You have to go through a hell of a lot of training.

[DrPullmeov]

the rifles are not armed

[ownlearning]

god save the queen

[SeksiieBiatch95]

The only height restrictions are now based on operational performance, however the companies (1, 2, and 3) will be based on height so as to look uniform. The shorter blokes such as myself will be the streetliners (3 company).

[grae707]

Great vid ,have they droped the hight for enlistment into the footguards. Seems to me that their are to many shorty's, in my day you had to be over 6' to join

[01MarchHare]

I think they did relax the rules on height a bit but I believe I read somewhere they have recently been reinstated to 5'10/11. I can't back that up though.

Also females are allowed to join the band now. Although I have no problem explicitly with them joining the band down to gender, I feel they should be discriminated against on the grounds of height (and of course - talent).

[ltaylor03]

Superb package and detail. One question - some of the guards carry their weapons on the left shoulder and other on the right shoulder. What determines which shoulder to carry it on.

westie49

[AJK72]

I'm no expert but as far as I know they switch their rifles from one shoulder to the other during parade when ordered so it just depends when you see them.

[01MarchHare]

I believe that it is because, with the shorter rifle now, when at ease they can not rest it on the ground, so they are allowed to switch arms, so it does not become too heavy. When they are marching back down the Mall each officer of each company respectively tend to give the order to switch arms, one after the other. Or so I have seen.

[jpee1965]

Absolutely the weapons are loaded. H.M Guards have the permission of the Sovereign to carry loaded weapons with bayonets fixed and march with Colours flying.

[2danny9]

ah forgot to ask why is he fixing him up?

[AJK72]

I presume you're asking why is the officer adjusting the uniforms. Well the guards just had done their little walkabouts to stretch their legs while the main parade is taking place so the officers go along making minor adjustments before the Queen returns along The Mall. Those hats aren't easy to keep straight, especially on a blustery day.

[2danny9]

cheers for the vid mate

[kayjo92]

wow. they are way more impressive than the army fatigue american soldiers

[flaghassiden]

well done! especially like the shot at 1:47 as coldstream officer turns away...nicley timed to the music!

[BensoftMedia]

Do the Foot guards actually carry loaded weapons or are they just for show?

[MDKShoot]

yed the Rilfes are Hot [Loaded]

[tammooney]

Sorry mate, you are wrong. Having done a number of these parades, the weapons are NOT leaded. Yes there is a magazine on the weapon but there are no rounds (bullets) loaded.

[iceboundmartel]

With all due respect, and you probably know more than any having done this, but, how are the Guards supposed to protect Her Majesty without ammunition.

[partybiscuit]

She is protected by the elite Royal Protection Squad. Mostly 'Grey men' because you don't see them but they do see you. The elite Royal Protection Squad is made up of senior met police who work with SAS operatives also known as Special Operations 14or SO14. Can you imagine what a trophy the queen would make for a terrorist organisation. They would be foolish to try.

[cessna152addict]

i bet those pictures were amazing in full quality! loving ytour work. keep it up!

[dramaboyz2007]

OMG !!!!!!

ILove this band!

they are the greatest!

the whole band is huge!

[choccy1979]

nearly every single horse on that parade ground is currently trained by my brother, he is a member of the irish gaurds and is currently based at horsegaurds parade, london.

[xXNicoleXxyrhryrh]

cool. my brother is a grenadier guard

irish guards blue ploomage on there bearskin arnt they?

[custard24]

Yes, and Grens have a white one.

[custard24]

What is the name of this march the massed band are playing?

[cumberlandgap]

Die Regimentskinder (Children Of The Regiment), by Julius Fucik.

[Matt007b]

Thanks for responding to that question I was wondering too what that was :)