Take a Tour of the Tower of London with the Yeoman Warders or "Beefeaters"

One of the first sights you're likely to see when you visit the Tower of London is a 'Beefeater' or a Yeoman Warder. The Beefeaters are a British icon, and, if you so choose, he or she will guide you around the Tower of London.

The Historic Royal Palace website cautions against calling them "Beefeaters," although it acknowledges the nickname, and says it may have originated from the Yeoman Warders' position in the Royal Bodyguard, which allowed them to eat all the beef they wanted from the King's table.

The Yeoman Warders know all the stories contained within the walls of the tower, and will show you the spot where Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded. They will direct your attention to the resident ravens, that, as legend has it, must remain in the fortress to prevent the Tower of London and the entire kingdom from falling. They will point you in the direction of the Crown Jewels, which are watched over by armed guards--all 23,000 gems, including diamonds, pearls, and rubies.

Who are these Yeoman Warders, you might ask. Well, they are folks who've served honorably in the armed forces for at least 22 years. The Yeoman Warders you'll see at the Tower of London these days have served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the Falklands War, the Gulf War, and in Afghanistan.

The year 2007 introduced the first female Yeoman Warder, Moria Cameron, who joined the Army when she was just 20 years old in 1985. She served in England, Northern Ireland, and Cyprus, and trained as a Data Telegraphist with the Royal Signals in the Womens Royal Army Corp (WRAC).

The role, however, is steeped in history. Their origins date back to the reign of Edward IV (1461-83), and since at least 1509, they've formed the Royal Bodyguard; today the 35-member team of Yeoman Warders are not hard to miss, dressed in traditional scarlet and blue uniforms as they are, hat and all. In addition to leading tours at the Tower of London, their responsibilities include security patrol, night watches, and giving talks, whether at home or overseas.

The Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, take part in the Ceremony of the Keys, a 700-year nightly tradition of locking the fortress. If you want to witness this ceremony yourself, in which the question, "Halt! Who comes there?" is asked, you'll need to plan ahead and make a written request two or three months in advance for the free tickets. Write to Ceremony of the Keys Office, Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB Great Britain.

Sources:

www.hrp.org.uk
www.icons.org.uk