The Beefeaters at the Tower of London, 1826-1914: Icons of Englishness or Britishness?

In the nineteenth century, a new icon was added to the British national gallery. The distinctive costume of the Yeomen Warders, known as Beefeaters, and their highly visible role at the Tower of London made them colourful symbols of the nation. This chapter examines nineteenth century as an epoch of crisis to which the monarchy responded by creating a narrative of historical continuity based on loyalty to the Crown and constitution. The Beefeaters at the Tower played an important part in this response. In the United Kingdom, made up of at least four nations, the Beefeaters needed to prove themselves to be national symbols able to cope with the complexities of being British.