A new Beefeater joins the Tower of London

The newest Beefeater to join the Tower of London’s 540-year-old tradition of having special guards has been named, as Andy Harris, a former Weapons Technician and Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force.

Yeoman Warder Andy Harris is the latest recruit to this historic role, which dates back to 1485, and will join 34 other Yeoman Warders who live and work at the Tower of London.

As with all Beefeaters, the newest recruit is a military veteran, having served for over 36 years in the Royal Air Force (RAF), with operational deployments and experience across the UK.

The role of Yeoman Warder, often known by the nickname ‘Beefeater’, originates from the band of warders who guarded the Tower of London and its prisoners from the reign of William the Conqueror in the 11th century. The Yeoman Warders as they exist today were created in 1485 by Henry VII as an extension of his personal protection, and to this day continue to hold a traditional ceremonial role as Extraordinary Members of The King’s Bodyguard.

Today they help to bring the Tower’s history alive for millions of visitors each year, sharing stories, carrying out ceremonial duties and leading their famous Yeoman Warder tours.

Applicants for the role of Yeoman Warder of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, must have served at least 22 years in the armed forces, hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal, and have reached the rank of Warrant Officer or equivalent, before being selected for interview and a rigorous selection process.

Over the coming months, YW Andy Harris will learn ‘the Story’ – the script of the famous Yeoman Warder tour which must be learned verbatim before he will be permitted to lead his own tours of the Tower of London. He will also learn the 21 separate duties conducted by the Yeoman Body each day, including the ancient Ceremony of the Keys; the closing ceremony that has taken place every single night for at least 700 years.

Yeoman Warder facts

As of June 2025, there are currently 35 Yeoman Warders at the Tower including the Chief Yeoman Warder and Yeoman Gaoler.

There are two uniforms for the Yeoman Body.  The famous scarlet and gold Ceremonial Uniform with red stockings and white ruff is worn for state occasions; for example, when the monarch visits the Tower or for any state occasion that the Body attends. On a typical day, visitors to the Tower will see the Yeoman Warders wearing their Blue Undress uniform, of different weights for summer and winter.

The sovereign’s initials have appeared on uniforms worn by Yeoman Warders since 1570, and the Blue Undress uniform was updated just before the Coronation in 2023 to bear the new cypher of King Charles III, as a continuation of this tradition.

The full job title is “Yeoman Warder of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Yeoman of the Guard in Extraordinary”, but they are often known by the nickname ‘Beefeater’, the origins of which are lost to myth and legend. The most likely explanation is that Yeoman Warders were given a daily ration of meat for their duties. Records show that in 1813 the daily ration for the thirty men on duty was 24lbs of beef, 18lbs mutton and 16lbs of veal.