# Screwing around with Buckingham Palace guards **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448 "2003-08-25T03:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/1 "2003-08-25T03:46:26Z")
I’ve just watched a “Mr Bean” routine where he just did this; it seens to be a staple for television. Where did this start, why do comedians do it, and what would if you **really** tried to mess with a Palace guard? ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/2 "2003-08-25T03:52:07Z")
I’ve a feeling if you truly “messed with them,” you could be arrested for harrassment, and I think if they feel they’re being harrassed, they will indeed move. Keep in mind I’ve no real grasp of laws over there, but I imagine there would be circumstances in which they may move. 'Twould be fun to mock them, though. Perhaps stand in front of them and have a staring contest they aren’t aware of? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/3 "2003-08-25T04:01:35Z")
Is it true they can’t move at all? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/4 "2003-08-25T04:12:15Z")
I’ve wondered about this, too. ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/5 "2003-08-25T04:34:07Z")
next time i’m in london, i’m flashing them 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Armilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@Armilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Armilla)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/6 "2003-08-25T10:51:27Z")
I believe most of the guard posts also have a short patol route that is walked at the guardsman’s discretion. It serves to keep their circulation going since standing still for a couple of hours at a time is tough even for fit soldiers. If you screw with a guard a little too much I think there’s every chance he’ll come rapidly stepping forwards with a crash of boots, turn and march off on his patrol route. I hear this usually scares the kids off, especially since nobody _expects_ them to move. Besides, why pick on the guards? I try not to annoy them for the same reason I don’t moon the police snipers - they carry loaded assault weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/7 "2003-08-25T12:23:13Z")
In America we don’t stand for that type of crap, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screwing-around-with-buckingham-palace-guards/197448/8 "2003-08-25T12:41:21Z")
Blublblublblub I just sold an Isuzu I-Mark to the Queen. It’s roomy enough for a king. or a queen if that’s _all you got_ There’s AIR CONDITIONING so her highness won’t _sweat_! and a stereo to drown out the cries of the peasants. Prices start at 7 pounds, 9 ounces but I traded one to WHAT’S HER NAME for THIS hat! _Joe Isuzu, rattling a Buckhingham Palace Guard_