Beefeaters, or Yeoman Warders, are ceremonial guards at the Tower of London. They require 22 years of military service and oversee the Crown Jewels and prisoners. The origin of their nickname is unclear, but they are not actually paid in meat. They are often confused with the Yeoman of the Guard, who protect the monarch. The first female Beefeater joined in 2007.
A beefeater is a member of the Yeoman Warders, a ceremonial guard that oversees the Tower of London in England. Technically, the polite term is “Yeoman Warder,” although most people know the members of the iconic guard by their nickname. To serve as a Yeoman Warder, an applicant must have 22 years service in the British Armed Forces, along with awards for distinction and good conduct. Positions within this historic body are highly coveted and competition for open positions can be fierce.
The Meat Eaters were founded in 1485 under the reign of Henry VII. They are tasked with protecting prisoners in the Tower of London, as well as overseeing the security of the Crown Jewels. The modern Yeoman Warders also offer information and tours to visitors and look after the crows which are housed at the Tower of London. Tourists readily identify the carnivores by their distinctive uniforms, which are modeled on those used by Yeoman Warders in the Tudor era.
The origins of the term “beefeater” are somewhat obscure. Some historians believe the original Keepers may have been partially paid in meat, while others suggest they are privileged to eat meat from the Royal Kitchens and that the nickname may have been a pejorative term applied by jealous locals. In fact, the only creatures in the Tower with a steady diet of meat are ravens, which serve as a symbol of the British monarchy. According to superstition, if the ravens leave the tower, the monarchy will collapse; a Yeoman Warder, the Ravenmaster, is charged with their care.
It’s easy to confuse Yeoman Warders with the Yeoman of the Guard, a ceremonial bodyguard who protects the British monarch. Both corps wear similar uniforms, require ex-military service and perform a variety of annual and daily ceremonies that are steeped in British history. The Yeoman Warders, for example, perform a nightly ‘Key Ceremony’ when they lock the Tower each night, while the Yeoman of the Guard search Parliament House for threats each year before the opening ceremony.
Every meat-eater has lodgings in the Tower of London as long as he needs; in 2007, the first female carnivore, Moira Cameron, joined the elite team of 35 guardians. The job as a meat eater can be challenging, but also very rewarding, as Guardians are part of living history.
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