# What's a Royal Guard supposed to do if you push him and then stand in his spot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659 "2004-11-25T18:04:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/1 "2004-11-25T18:04:02Z")
This is too silly for GQ so I putted it heer. What would the rulebook say about being pushed off your guarding spot and then having it occupied by the pusher. Are you supposed to push him out of it or just stand guard somewhere else? Or even shoot him!? I am refering to those red-coated guards with the big fluffy hats that stand outside royal properties. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/2 "2004-11-25T18:05:55Z")
Don’t those guys carryin M-16’s? :eek: I wouldn’t want to push anyone who was packing that kind of heat! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/3 "2004-11-25T18:07:51Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Don’t those guys carryin M-16’s? :eek: > > I wouldn’t want to push anyone who was packing that kind of heat! :eek: Not M-16s. I used to know the name of the gun they do carry (nearly bought a replica once), but it escapes me now. It’s the same one the brits in Iraq are using. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/4 "2004-11-25T18:12:09Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Not M-16s. I used to know the name of the gun they do carry (nearly bought a replica once), but it escapes me now. It’s the same one the brits in Iraq are using. It’s an SA-80 (L85 in service). I imagine if you pushed one of them you’d find yourself face down on the ground with a couple of them pointing said rifles at you until the police arrived to take you away. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/5 "2004-11-25T18:12:21Z")
“Putted”? “Carryin”? Are some of us in the holiday spirit(s) this early in the day? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/6 "2004-11-25T18:12:54Z")
[SA-80](http://store1.yimg.com/I/opsgear_1818_1706975) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/7 "2004-11-25T18:14:50Z")
[_real_ SA-80](http://www.waffenhq.de/infanterie/enfield-sa-80-2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/8 "2004-11-25T18:28:50Z")
I was a little bit let down by my Royal Guard viewing experience. You always see them standing perfectly still, statuesque and noble. One of the ones I saw (admittedly from a distance) kept making strange facial contortions, much like a person who is trying not to sneeze. Didn’t seem very statuesque to me. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/9 "2004-11-25T18:30:00Z")
You think that trying to push a British solider with an automatic weapon around is going to result in merriment and frivolity? I think you need to talk with the Agentines to see how these things generally pan out. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/10 "2004-11-25T18:33:43Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You think that trying to push a British solider with an automatic weapon around is going to result in merriment and frivolity? I think you need to talk with the Agentines to see how these things generally pan out. I’m sure he won’t see the funny side and may want to hit you with the butt of the gun, but I wonder if there’s an actual rule on this. It’s a bit of a tradition to try and make them react by pulling faces, I wonder what happens if this goes as far as physical contact. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/11 "2004-11-25T18:33:44Z")
hmm… Would any of our Brit dopers or any from Ottawa like to give that a try? A long time ago I gave one bunny ears for a photo (the hat wasn’t as tall as I thought it was) but I decided to leave the poor guy alone so I left… That and he had a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/12 "2004-11-25T18:45:16Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I’m sure he won’t see the funny side and may want to hit you with the butt of the gun, but I wonder if there’s an actual rule on this. It’s a bit of a tradition to try and make them react by pulling faces, I wonder what happens if this goes as far as physical contact. Don’t know for sure about the U.K., but 'round these parts that’d be called “assault.” As in, “on a police officer…” Generally frowned upon. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/13 "2004-11-25T18:48:26Z")
The “ceremonial guards” are normal combat troops posted in rotation. The Household Division includes troops from five regiments of Foot Guards, and two regiments of the Household Cavalry. In reality the regiments of Foot Guards are administrative homes for regular infantry battalions (each ‘regiment’ consists of one or more battalions). The ceremonial guards are posted from these battalions on rotation. For example, [today’s guard](http://www.army.mod.uk/ceremonialandheritage/household/queens_guard.htm) is provided by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, a mechanised infantry battalion. The mounted guards on horseback are provided by the Household Cavalry, which consists of two squadrons (companies) on rotation from two regiments, The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals (Royal Horse Guards & 1st Royal Dragoons). Both are distinguished armoured reconnaissance units (similar to US Armoured Cavalry Regiments) that fought in the Falklands, Iraq and Bosnia, using light tanks. When on guard duty these are soldiers are known as the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. _PS: the long names of some of the regiments are the result of years of cutbacks and long-established regiments being amalgamated. Retaining the names is a sop to some critics._ ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/14 "2004-11-25T18:50:05Z")
Sorry - completed missed my point: How would you expect a normal infantryman or armoured cavalryman, on duty, armed with a loaded assault rifle, to react if you pushed them? I imagine it would be a fairly similar reaction… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/15 "2004-11-25T18:54:21Z")
I think _everyone_ is missing the point (no offence). I don’t dispute that it’s an idiotic thing to do. I’m not asking what a soldier _might_ do, I am asking what he’s been told to do if such a situation should arise. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/16 "2004-11-25T19:33:50Z")
> [@clayton\_e](#): > > hmm… Would any of our Brit dopers or any from Ottawa like to give that a try? As far as I know, in Ottawa, we don’t have the Fuzzy-Hats. 😉 Try to push a Mountie around however, and I believe you get the same results. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/17 "2004-11-25T19:38:58Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I think _everyone_ is missing the point (no offence). I don’t dispute that it’s an idiotic thing to do. I’m not asking what a soldier _might_ do, I am asking what he’s been told to do if such a situation should arise. [I think this poem by A.A. Milne was made with you in mind](http://ingeb.org/songs/theyrech.html) They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice. Alice is marrying one of the guard. “A soldier’s life is terrible hard,” Says Alice. They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice. We saw a guard in a sentry-box. “One of the sergeants looks after their socks,” Says Alice. They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice. We looked for the King, but he never came. “Well, God take care of him, all the same,” Says Alice. They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice. They’ve great big parties inside the grounds. “I wouldn’t be King for a hundred pounds,” Says Alice. They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice. A face looked out, but it wasn’t the King’s. “He’s much too busy a-signing things,” Says Alice. They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace - Christopher Robin went down with Alice. “Do you think the King knows all about me?” “Sure to, dear, but it’s time for tea,” Says Alice. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/18 "2004-11-25T20:26:24Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > As far as I know, in Ottawa, we don’t have the Fuzzy-Hats. 😉 > > Try to push a Mountie around however, and I believe you get the same results. We do have them. The [Ceremonial Guard](http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/cere_guard/web/CG_e.htm) provides the guards for the Governor General’s residence at Rideau Hall and does the daily (in summer) Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill. On the OP subject, a poster in a previous thread pointed out for the Danish royal guards that the weapons they carry are loaded and they have a real guard function as well as a ceremonial one. I would expect that this holds true for the ones in front of Buck House as well. They will probably put up with a fair amount of foolishness, but not anything that actually interferes with their guard duties. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/19 "2004-11-25T20:27:15Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#): > > We do have them. The [Ceremonial Guard](http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/cere_guard/web/CG_e.htm) provides the guards for the Governor General’s residence at Rideau Hall and does the daily (in summer) Changing of the Guard ceremony on Parliament Hill. No kidding? I stand corrected. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659/20 "2004-11-25T20:31:50Z")
Since you’re familiar with ‘The Changing of the Guards’, then you should mess with one, at which point they will familiarize you with ‘The Kicking of Your Arse.’ 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-royal-guard-supposed-to-do-if-you-push-him-and-then-stand-in-his-spot/276659.md?page=2)