Definition of the word guardsman

The word "guardsman" originates from the early 19th century, during the time when the British Army's Foot Guards regiments were established. The Foot Guards were created as a result of the reforms carried out by Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, who served as the British Army's commander-in-chief in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When the Foot Guards were formed, they were intended to serve as the Sovereign's personal bodyguard. As such, they were assigned to protect Buckingham Palace and other royal residences in London. The soldiers in these regiments were known as "guardsmen," a term that reflected their role of guarding the king or queen. The guardsmen were elite soldiers, chosen from the ranks of the army due to their impressive physical appearance, disciplined behavior, and combat experience. They were trained in close-quarter combat and could be quickly deployed to any place where the sovereign's safety was at risk. The term "guardsman" eventually extended to include not just the soldiers serving in the Foot Guards but also those in the Household Cavalry, a light cavalry regiment responsible for providing ceremonial functions, cordoning off events, and protecting the sovereign's state coaches. Today, the word "guardsman" is still commonly used to refer to the members of the British Army's Foot Guards and Household Cavalry, who continue to serve as the monarch's ceremonial bodyguard.