Household Cavalry at Horse Guards, London

The sentries/soldiers at Horseguards, Whitehall wear a traditional Napoleonic uniform which is immaculately clean and polished. I photographed two regiments of the Household Calvary - The Blues and Royals (red plumes & Life Guards. (white plumes) several days before the Royal Wedding in April 2011 At the entrance two mounted sentries remain on either side of the entrance while two other sentries are on foot duty. The sentries are popular with the tourists who just love getting their photo taken with them because its an opportunity to get up close to them. While carrying out their duty theywill not interact with the public. The sentry will not speak to you, answer you, smile or laugh. Nor will they communicate with one another (except to give orders) - and that's the rules these young men have to abide by. WARNING - a sentry holding a raised sword in one hand who has been standing perfectly still can suddenly come to life, stamp his foot, turn round and march to the other side of the yard. The sudden movement can come as a surprise. To avoid a colliison, dont get too close!

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[pyro999maniac]

The noly time they interact with you is to prevent you going anywhere you shouldn't....in which case they will verbally challenge you and if you fail to respond they will advance and challenge with sword.

[elenwashere]

@pyro999maniac

I've never seen them challenging anyone with their sword although recently one individual tried to grab the soldier's sword (probably for a joke) and that soldier swiftly prevented it getting into his hands. 

[pyro999maniac]

@elenwashere yeah a fair few tourists will try that one! if you fail to comply with orders they give you then they advance on you with sword-tip slightly down as a clear warning.

[elenwashere]

@pyro999maniac

well lets hope I never fail to comply with orders then....

[pyro999maniac]

@elenwashere yeh probs best to just do as they say really!