The 'Beefeaters' Blue Undress: the most iconic uniform in London

The Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London, known colloquially as ‘Beefeaters’, are the Sovereign's Bodyguard. Their 'Blue Undress' uniform was designed during the reign of Queen Victoria.

The uniform bears the cypher of the monarch: today, the Yeoman Warders proudly wear uniforms with the cypher of His Majesty King Charles III. Previously, 'EIIR' denoted the reign of Elizabeth II.

'Beefeaters' Blue Undress uniform facts

What is the Blue Undress uniform?

• The 'Blue Undress' is the Yeoman Warders' daily uniform at the Tower of London.
• It is a mixed blend uniform of cotton and wool, originally designed to be worn under armour.
• The Blue Undress uniform was created during the reign of Queen Victoria, as the original heavy, red wool Red State Dress uniform was expensive to produce. The Red State Dress uniform is still worn at special occasions such as gun salutes.

What can you tell me about the Tudor bonnet?

• The Tudor bonnet has a replica of the 'Tudor rose' at the front.
• The bonnet itself was redesigned by Prince Albert, on the model of a Victorian police officer.

What features should I look out for on the Blue Undress uniform?

• On the front, watch out for the cypher of the monarch. This uniform was worn during the reign of Elizabeth II, so you can see 'EIIR' on the front.
• The buttons on the top and to the sides have the cypher of the monarch.
• The Yeoman Warders have a Victorian police whistle attached to their uniforms, because their role as special constables was only ended in 1991.
• The ribbons on the uniform represent AJ's service medals from her time in the Army. To be a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, you have to have served at least 22 years in His Majesty's Armed Forces.
• On the name badge, you'll see a warrant. As warrant officers, Yeoman Warders are given the warrant of the Crown, which makes them one of the highest non-commissioned ranks in the British armed forces.

Hear from Yeoman Warder AJ Clark on her Blue Undress uniform

"My name is Amanda Jayne (AJ) Clark and I am a Yeoman Warder, also known as a Beefeater. I live and work inside the Tower of London as the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, ensuring the safety of the Crown Jewels and visitors to this royal palace.

"I joined the Yeoman Body in 2017 after finishing 25 years of military service in the Army. All of the Yeoman Warders are veterans, having served at least 22 years in the Armed Forces. We have all reached the rank of Warrant Officer or their service equivalent in the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. We've all been decorated with the Long Service and Good Conduct medal for meritorious service.

"I am the second female in history to hold this prestigious position and I am very proud that four more wonderful women have joined me at the Tower of London.

"Even today it is still very exciting being one of very few women to hold this position. When I applied for the vacancy, I didn’t realise the impact it would have on me being the second female, after 10 years of Moira Cameron being here. There was a lot of media attention and even today people are still shocked when they see a female dressed in the uniform! But it’s a nice shock!

"I was very humbled and proud to have my uniform represented in the Dress Codes exhibition at Kensington Palace. It shows how women have come an extraordinarily long way in representing our society through the years at the court of kings and queens.

"To have my uniform preserved as part of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection is a very proud moment for me and my colleagues in the Yeoman Body. Our uniform represents the symbol of the Sovereign’s Bodyguard. Being able to showcase this version to the public now and to future generations fills me with pride. Not only does it reflect my service to the crown, it shows how far women have come in a male-dominated environment. It proves we are made of stern stuff!"

Watch: How the Beefeaters got their uniforms

In this video, AJ Clark introduces us to her EIIR uniform, worn during the reign of Elizabeth II.

Video transcript

Follow along with an interactive transcript of this video on YouTube. A link to the transcript can be found in the description.