New Beefeaters at the Tower of London

Alex Macdonald and Daniel Partridge are the latest recruits to join the ranks as the Tower of London’s latest ‘Beefeaters.’ Alex and Dan will live and work alongside their fellow Yeoman Warders and their families, joining 35 existing members who safeguard the historic fortress and help bring its stories to life for millions of visitors every year.

YW Alex Macdonald from Wirral, Merseyside joins the Yeoman Body after a distinguished 34-year career in the Royal Air Force Regiment, including multiple operational deployments in the UK and overseas. Early in his career, he served with the Queen’s Colour Squadron and later worked with the RAF UK Youth and STEM team, helping to build capability, confidence, and connections among young people across the country.

Alex is a proud father to his grown-up daughter Abby and husband to Sara. Together, they enjoy exploring in their VW camper van and have recently taken up paddleboarding. Sara, who is graduating as a Squadron Leader from RAF College Cranwell, will soon begin a posting in Washington DC as a Liaison Officer. A keen historian with a love of meeting new people, YW Macdonald looks forward to welcoming visitors to the Tower and sharing its unique history.

YW Daniel Partridge joins the Yeoman Body after 23 years in the British Army with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Trained as an Electronics Technician at the School of Electronic and Aeronautical Engineering before postings with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, and the King’s Royal Hussars. Selected for Artificer training, he served in roles across procurement, training, and equipment support, finishing his career leading a Land Equipment Assurance Team covering Southeast England and overseas operations.

Born into a military family — his father was an Ammunition Technician with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps— Dan grew up moving frequently, spending time in southern England, the Outer Hebrides, Berlin, and Canada. A highlight of his time in Canada was playing ice hockey and coaching children’s teams. He continues to enjoy running, hiking, and golfing. Daniel was inspired to become a Yeoman Warder after watching the Channel 5 series Inside the Tower and seeing how the Yeoman Body bring the Tower’s remarkable history to life. Dan and his wife Nina have three children: a son, Calum, and identical twin daughters, Sophia and Hannah.

The role of Yeoman Warder, popularly 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 officially created in 1485 by Henry VIII 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, 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.

Alex Macdonald says, “It is a tremendous honour to join the ranks of the Yeoman Body and be selected in continuing a tradition that stretches back centuries. Helping to bring the Tower’s history to life for visitors is incredibly exciting and I am proud to serve alongside my fellow Yeoman Warders and contribute to this unique and historic institution.”

Daniel Partridge says, “Joining the Tower of London as a Yeoman Warder is a privilege I will never take for granted. It still feels surreal to think that I once watched the Yeoman Warders on television, and now I am here, living it every day. I look forward to welcoming visitors and sharing the Tower’s extraordinary history with people from around the world.”

Over the coming months, YWs Alex Macdonald and Dan Partridge will learn the 21 separate duties conducted by the Yeoman Warders each day, including the ancient Ceremony of the Keys which has taken place every night without fail for at least 700 years. They will also devote much of their time to learning ‘the Story’, the 8,000 word script of the famous Yeoman Warder tour which must be learned verbatim before they will be permitted to lead their own tours of the Tower of London. 

Yeoman Warder Facts

• As of September 2025, there are currently 37 Yeoman Warders at the Tower including the Chief Yeoman Warder and Yeoman Gaoler. 
• There are two uniforms for the Yeoman Body.  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 famous scarlet and gold Ceremonial Uniform with red stockings and white ruff is only worn for state occasions; for example, when the monarch visits the Tower or for any state occasion that the Body attends.
• 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”, 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!