English military corps, popularly known as
Beefeaters, the sovereign's bodyguard since
the corps was founded by Henry VII in 1485.
Its duties are now purely ceremonial. There
are Yeomen warders at the Tower of London,
and the uniform and weapons are much as they
were in Tudor times. The nickname
`Beefeaters' is supposed to have originated
in 1669 when the Grand Duke of Tuscany
ascribed their fine appearance to beef.