Beefeaters in their distinctive scarlet and gold outfits with ruffs and hats have played an important part in royal occasions for centuries.

Here is what we know about them.

What do beefeaters do?

Their official title is “The Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary”.

Yeomen Warders were formed in 1485 by King Henry VII. Their original role in Tudor times was to guard prisoners in the Tower of London and protect the crown jewels.

Nowadays, the Beefeaters’ role is largely ceremonial. They are a tourist attraction in their own right and since Victorian times they have acted as tour guides.

The Yeoman Warder Ravenmaster (also known as the Ravenmaster for short) is responsible for the welfare of the Tower of London’s famous ravens. This official title has been in use since the 60s. Legend has it that should the ravens ever leave the Tower, the White Tower will fall and disaster will befall the kingdom.

Beefeaters attend the State Opening of Parliament as well as other state occasions.

The Yeomen Warders normally wear an “undress” uniform of dark blue with red trimmings.

However, when the sovereign visits the Tower or the warder are on duty at a state occasion they will wear their distinctive red and gold uniforms.

As well as their formal responsibilities, Beefeaters have their own quirky rituals, one of which sees them take part in the Ceremony of Keys every night at precisely 9.53pm.

During this “ceremony” in which they utter the famous phrase “Halt! Who comes there?”, the Queen’s keys are examined and put away safely.

The Tower is like a self-contained community in the heart of London. Yeoman Warders have living quarters on-site, a church, a doctor’s surgery and there’s even a pub, aptly named The Keys.

How do you become a Beefeater?

All warders are retired from the British Armed Forces.

They need to have at least 22 years of military service and have reached the rank of warrant officer.

They will also need to have been awarded the long service and good conduct medal.

In 2007 Moira Cameron made history when she became the first female Beefeater at the Tower of London. In November 2009, two male yeomen who were accused of a campaign of bullying against her, were sacked.

Why are they called beefeaters?

Although no one knows for sure, one theory is that it originated from an old agreement where beefeaters could eat as much meat as they liked when they were having a meal with the king.

According to Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable as early as the 17th century, the word “beefeater” was used as a slang term for the English.

Another, albeit contested, theory was that the name derives from buffetier (an Old French term meaning “a waiter or servant” at a sideboard) as Beefeaters would serve the king at meals.

It was thought the word was anglicised into buffeters or buffeteers and this was then corrupted into Beefeaters. But the jury’s out on this.