6-455: A royal guard or the palace guard , is a group of military bodyguards , soldiers or armed retainers responsible for the protection of a royal family member , such as a king or queen , or prince or princess . They often are an elite unit of the regular armed forces , or are designated as such, and may maintain special rights or privileges. Royal guards have historically comprised both purely ceremonial units serving in close proximity to
12-454: A political role beyond their intended military and social ones. In times of revolution, the continued loyalty or defection of such units has often played a key part in the outcome of wider unrest. Historical examples were England in 1688 , Spain in 1808 , Sweden in 1809 , France in 1789 and again in 1814-15 , Russia in 1917 and Persia in 1906 and again in 1953 . Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative )
18-414: A team of bodyguards from a government agency, security forces, or police forces. Less-important public figures, or those with lower risk profiles, may be accompanied by a single bodyguard who doubles as a driver . The work of a bodyguard consists mainly of planning routes, pre-searching rooms and buildings where the client will be visiting, researching the backgrounds of people that will have contact with
24-487: Is a type of security guard , government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an important person or group of people , such as high-ranking public officials, wealthy businesspeople, and celebrities, from harm. The personnel team that protects a VIP is often referred to as the VIP's security detail . Most important public figures, such as heads of state , heads of government , and governors are protected by
30-755: The monarch, as well as regiments from all arms, forming a designated substantial elite and intended for active service as part of the army. An example of the first category would include the Tropas de la Casa Real of the Spanish monarchy prior to 1930, comprising halberderos and a mounted escort. Examples of the second would include the Imperial Guards of the Russian and German Empires prior to 1917–18. Monarchs frequently modelled their royal guards upon those of fellow rulers. Thus, Napoleon I 's Garde Imperiale
36-560: Was imitated by his opponent Alexander I of Russia , his Bourbon successor Louis XVIII , and his nephew Napoleon III . The modern Garderegiment Grenadiers en Jagers regiment of the Netherlands and the Escorte Royale of Belgium retain features of uniform and other distinctions that can be traced back to Napoleonic influences. Because of their location, status, role and nature, royal guards have frequently been able to play
#580419