Staffordshire soldiers join King's Guard

Soldiers based in Stafford will join the King's Guard in London from January.

Troops from the Signal Regiment at Beacon Barracks will be guarding Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London.

Their duties involve protecting the landmarks and their occupants, as well as liaising with the Royal Police and keeping the public areas secure for visitors.

Staff Sergeant Steven Durham from the regiment said the role would vary from what the squadron - specialists in army communications - was used to.

The troops have been completing bespoke training for five hours a day, in order to prepare.

Jake, acting as the junior drill sergeant at the Stafford base, where he is responsible for organising part of the training and soldiers' welfare, said: "There was a lot of nerves at the start but day by day, people are a lot more confident. There's pride there, people are wanting to do this job and are pleased and looking forward to doing it."

Jack, who is one of the soldiers who will be based at St James's Palace, said the opportunity was "unique and exciting".

He added he had been "mentally rehearsing" to fulfil his duties of standing still for two hours at a time.

Jack, who comes from the county, said: "The city life in itself is going to be different and exciting."

Staff Sgt Durham said: "Normally we don't get to do things like this, so this is a huge opportunity."

He explained the duties went beyond "the public show" and there was a "deeper meaning to provide security and protection".

"There's a real need for it," he said.

The soldiers will move to London on 5 January, where they will complete two more weeks of training with guards to become "palace ready", before they carry out their first duties on 17 January.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.