The members of the British guard designated for sentry duty over the royal residences reach their posts before noon. By that time, the public has already begun to gather, so they can watch the troops march in formation on parade towards Buckingham Palace. While this may be their primary destination, the palace is not the only vital location the guardsmen both ceremonially, and literally, protect if necessary. Jack Davies told the Londonist, “I also have duties at Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. My first Trooping the Color was a highlight for me — marching down the Mall in front of the huge crowds was an amazing experience.” Those who would dislike the prospect of having a mass of strangers stare in their direction all day would probably find the position far from ideal, as Davies added, “It’s a great job if you like people watching. I was taken aback by how many people there were at first.”
Tourists and other onlookers can be extremely difficult to deal with at times. When talking with Stars and Stripes, guardsmen described some of the harassment and abuse they face, from those who tug on the bearskin caps to others place banana peels on the ground to try to trip them. In 1959, the abuse got so bad that there was a railing put up to separate the royal sentries from the public. More recently, in a Reddit Q&A, a member of the guard with the username, nibs123, talked about his worst experience when drunken fools tried to get past him and climb the fence of the royal residence before he was forced to confront them.
