Queen Elizabeth II marks 500th anniversary of royal bodyguards

Queen marks 500th anniversary of royal guards

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II has marked the 500th anniversary of a troop of royal bodyguards.

The monarch was honoring the Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms. The unit provides a ceremonial bodyguard for the queen at state events.

The 32 men are easy to spot during royal occasions in their scarlet coats and gold helmets, which are decorated with flowing swan feathers.

The queen said Thursday that while their role has changed since 1509 — when they were created by King Henry VIII — the unit’s loyalty has not.

He founded the troop to act as royal bodyguards, which they last did in the 17th century. The sovereign’s security is now mainly handled by British police.