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|current_commander =
|garrison = London
|ceremonial_chief = [[Charles III
|ceremonial_chief_label = Colonel in Chief
|colonel_of_the_regiment =
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|anniversaries =
}}
The '''Yeomen Warders of His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary''', popularly known as the '''Beefeaters''', are ceremonial guardians of the [[Tower of London]]. In principle they are the palace guard, responsible for looking after any prisoners in the Tower, and safeguarding the British [[Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom|crown jewels]]. They have also conducted guided tours of the Tower since the [[Victorian era]].
All warders are retired from the [[British Armed Forces]] and must be former [[warrant officers]] with at least 22 years of service. They must also hold the [[Long Service and Good Conduct Medal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Yeoman Warder (Job specification 2018) |url=https://hrp.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/appcentre-1/brand-3/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/4/opp/94-Yeoman-Warder/en-GB |website=Historic Royal Palaces |access-date=18 December 2021}}</ref> The garrison consists of 32 (formerly 37) Yeomen Warders and one Chief Warder.<ref name="wantto">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jul/04/beefeaters-history-research-notes |title=Want to be a Beefeater? |author-first=Louise |author-last=Tickle |date=4 July 2011 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=21 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=
[[File:Beefeater-New-Uniform-2023.webp|thumb|upright=1.4|A Yeoman Warder in his newly produced dress showing [[Charles III]]'s Cypher. Photographed at the gates of
Although the Yeomen Warders are often referred to as [[Yeomen of the Guard]], a distinct corps of Royal Bodyguards of the British monarch, the Yeomen Warders are in fact a separate entity.
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==Etymology of Beefeater==
{{Wiktionary|Beefeater}}
The name ''Beefeater'' is of uncertain origin, with various proposed derivations. The term was common as early as the 17th century as a slang term for the English in general.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.bartleby.com/81/1595.html |author-first=E. Cobham |author-last=Brewer |
While this is the most-cited etymology, including by the Corps themselves,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/yeomanwarder |title=Yeoman Warders | Tower of London |website=Historic Royal Palaces |year=2012 |access-date=1 April 2016}}</ref> some etymologists have noted the term's similarity to ''{{lang|ags|hláf-æta}}'', the [[Old English]] term for a menial servant, lit. "loaf-eater", the counterpart of [[wiktionary:hlaford|hlaford]] "loaf-warden" and [[wiktionary:hlæfdige|hlæfdige]], which became "[[lord]]" and "[[lady]]" respectively.<ref>{{cite book |title=More Words Ancient and Modern |author-first=Ernest |author-last=Weekley
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==History==
===The Tudor Yeomen===
[[File:A Tower Warder (Beef Eater), W. Brooks, The British journal of photography, Vol XL, No 1726, June 2, 1893, p 338 supp.jpg|thumb|A Tower Warder (Beef Eater) 1893]]
The Yeomen Warders were formed in 1485 by the new King [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]], the first monarch of the [[Tudor dynasty]]. The [[Tudor rose]], a heraldic badge of the dynasty, is part of the badge of the Yeomen Warders to this day. Founded after the [[Battle of Bosworth]], it is the UK's oldest existing military corps and the oldest of the royal bodyguards.<ref name=":0" />
In 1509, [[Henry VIII]] moved his official residence from the [[Tower of London]]. The Tower retained the formal status of a royal palace and to mark this a party of twelve Yeomen of the Guard was left in place as a token [[garrison]]. The title of this detachment was subsequently changed to that of Tower warders as a more accurate reflection of their duties. As warders without any ceremonial state functions they forfeited the right to wear the scarlet royal livery of the now separate Yeoman of the Guard. This was, however, restored to them during the reign of [[Edward VI]] (1547–1553), reportedly at the request of a high court official who had been briefly imprisoned in the Tower and was impressed by the behaviour of the warders.<ref name="Hennell 1911"/>
The original Tudor guard was split into two categories: the ordinary (i.e., permanent) guard and the additional troops of the extraordinary. In 1550, for example, the ordinary mustered 105 men, with an additional 300 extraordinary yeomen. Until 1549, the guards at the Tower were numbered among the extraordinary but in that year were raised to the status of ordinary yeomen. There was a considerable wage difference between the two groups. In 1562, a yeoman of the ordinary received 16d per day, whereas an extraordinary yeoman was paid the same as a common infantryman (4d or 6d). In 1551, the ordinary was expanded to 200 men, of whom 100 were to be archers and 100 halberdiers, but these numbers were not maintained. Uniform at this time was a velvet coat trimmed with silver gilt, worn over armour.<ref>{{cite book |author-last1=Hale |author-first1=John Rigby |author-link1=J.R. Hale |editor-first1=J.R. |editor-last1=Hale |title=Renaissance War Studies |series=History series |volume=11 |year=1983 |publisher=Hambledon Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-9076-2802-6 |pages=252–4 |url-access=subscription |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WaTrAAAAMAAJ&q=tudor+guard |chapter=On a Tudor Parade Ground: The Captain's handbook of Henry Barrett 1562}}</ref>
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==Current duties==
[[File:Moira Cameron.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|[[Moira Cameron]], the first female Yeoman Warder]]
In 2018, there were 37 Yeomen Warders and one Chief Warder.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://vinepair.com/articles/tower-of-london-secret-pub/ |title=There's a Secret Pub in the Tower of London, and Only 37 People Are on the Guest List |journal=Vinepair |date=9 May 2018 |author-first=Emily |author-last=Saladino |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref> At one time
All Yeoman Warders are retired members of the [[British Armed Forces|armed services]]. To be appointed, one must be "a former Warrant Officer, class 1 or 2, (or the equivalent rank in other services) and in exceptional circumstances, a Staff Sergeant" from the [[Royal Navy]], [[British Army]], [[Royal Air Force]], or [[Royal Marines]]; must have earned the [[Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military)|Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct]] (or the [[Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848)|Naval]] or [[Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal|RAF equivalent]]); and must have served for 22 years in the regular armed services.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Are The Yeoman Warders |url=https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/yeoman-warders-at-the-tower-of-london/#gs.hce9jm |website=[[Historic Royal Palaces]] |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref> Until 2009, sailors were ineligible to become Yeomen Warders. This was because sailors of the [[Royal Navy]]—unlike soldiers, marines, and airmen—swear an oath of allegiance to the [[British Admiralty|
[[File:Residential housing in the outer portion of the Tower Of London.jpg|thumb|left | Tower of London, residential house.]]The Yeomen Warders and their families live in [[tied accommodation]] inside the fortress, paying [[council tax]]es and rent. Most also have a home outside the grounds in order to have a break from their work environment. The [[Yeoman Warders Club]] is a pub exclusively for the Warders and for their invited guests.<ref name="The Secret Life of Beefeaters"/> They must own a home outside the fortress to occupy when they retire. Some of the accommodation dates back to the 13th century. The community of the Tower of London is made up of Yeoman Warders and their families, the Resident Governor and officers, a chaplain and a doctor.
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In July 2020, [[Historic Royal Palaces]] (HRP), the charity that looks after the Tower of London, announced a compulsory redundancy order following losses in tourist revenue from the [[COVID-19]] lockdown. This included the first ever Yeomen Warder redundancies.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|author-first=Jack |author-last=Guy |title=The Tower of London's famous Beefeaters are facing redundancy due to the pandemic |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/beefeaters-job-losses-london-scli-intl-gbr/index.html |date=20 July 2020 |access-date=29 November 2021 |work=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref> Compulsory redundancies were avoided, but five warders took voluntary redundancy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beefeaters avoid chop as jobs are cut at Tower of London |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/beefeaters-jobs-tower-of-london-a4572132.html |author-first=Anthony |author-last=France |date=19 October 2020 |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]] |location=London |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref>
As of July 2023, the Chief Yeoman Warder is former Royal Navy serviceman Rob Fuller and the Yeoman Gaoler is Clive Towell a former British Army Sergeant Major.<ref>{{cite web |title=New era for the Tower of London with new Chief Yeoman Warder and Yeoman Gaoler appointed |url=https://www.forces.net/heritage/history/new-era-tower-london-new-chief-yeoman-warder-and-yeoman-gaoler-appointed |website=Forces Net |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref>
==Uniforms==
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=== Differences between the Yeoman Warders and the Yeoman of the Guard===
[[File:2023-05-06 Coronation JPP-2002 (52877228693).jpg|thumb|left|Yeoman Warders wearing their Tudor State Dress in the [[Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla|Coronation Procession of King Charles III and Queen Camilla]], 6 May 2023.]]
The Yeomen Warders are often confused with
The item of uniform that distinguishes The Yeomen of the Guard from the Tower Warders is the red [[Shoulder belt (military)|cross-belt]] or [[baldric]], worn from the left shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yeomen of the Guard |url=https://www.royal.uk/yeomen-guard |access-date=18 September 2022 |website=royal.uk}}</ref> This is a relic from the time when the Guard, and not the Warders, carried the [[
==Ranks, appointments and insignia==
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==Ravenmaster==<!-- This section is linked from [[Tower of London]] -->
{{Main article|Ravens of the Tower of London}}
[[File:Ravenmaster.jpg|thumb|left|Chris Skaife – the
'''Yeoman Warder Ravenmaster''' (also known as the '''Ravenmaster''' for short) is an appointment, not a rank, of that Yeomen Warder responsible for the welfare of the Tower of London [[common raven|raven]]s. The official title has been in use since the 1960s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/south-uist-raven-which-served-the-tower-of-london-dies-aged-22-1-4713511 |title=South Uist raven which served the Tower of London dies aged 22 |newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |location=[[Edinburgh]] |date=27 March 2018 |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref>
It is not known how long the ravens have been living in the Tower of London, but they were resident by the time of King [[Charles II of England|
As of
To prevent the ravens flying away, their flight feathers have traditionally been trimmed so that they are unable to fly in a straight line for any appreciable distance. The ravens are free, however, to roam the Tower grounds.<ref name="visit"/> More recently, the Ravenmaster has been clipping less of the wings and feathers, to allow them to fly, instead of merely hopping or gliding, and they can reach the top of the buildings.<ref name="theatlantic.com"/> One of the birds, Merlina, was allowed to fly to the wharf on the Thames but she always returned due to the bonding with her keeper.<ref name="theatlantic.com"/><ref name=rudgard>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/15/could-legend-come-true-tower-london-ravens-can-fly-warden-reduces/ |title=Exclusive: Could the legend come true? Tower of London raven allowed to fly free| newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |author-first=Olivia |author-last=Rudgard |date=15 May 2017 |access-date=29 November 2021 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> During Skaife's tenure to date, only one raven, Munin, escaped but was captured by a member of the public.<ref name="National Post"/>
[[File:Yeomen Warders in art - Advertentie voor het tijdschrift Harper's New Monthly Magazine Les Maîtres de l'Affiche (serietitel op object), RP-P-2015-26-1514 (cropped).jpg|thumb|322x322px|Art from [[Harper's Magazine]] in the 1890's ]]
The Ravenmaster releases the birds from their cages and prepares breakfast for them at dawn each day. The warders have commented that the "real beefeaters" at the Tower are the ravens. Traditionally, they were fed raw beef bought at [[Smithfield, London#Market|Smithfield Meat Market]] by the Ravenmaster.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://spitalfieldslife.com/2013/03/03/chris-skaife-master-raven-keeper-at-the-tower-of-london-merlin-the-raven/ |title=Chris Skaife, Master Raven Keeper at the Tower of London, & Merlin the Raven |magazine=Spitalfields Life |date=3 March 2013 |access-date=29 November 2021}}</ref> Recently, other foods have been introduced to their diet, such as chicks, [[Lamb and mutton|lamb]], mice and pig hearts, as well as peanuts and dog biscuits soaked in blood and fish, in hope that this tactic would reduce the amount of scavenging from the rubbish bins.<ref name="theatlantic.com"/><ref name=rudgard/><ref name="National Post"/>
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