Active 18th century - present Allegiance King and Fatherland Headquarters Patrimonio Nacional | ||
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Type Infantry, Cavalry and Horse artillery Size 1,900 Troops (1 Regiment) Notable commanders Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos, Francisco Javier Castaños, 1st Duke of Bailén Similar Spanish Armed Forces, Spanish Army, Military Emergencies Unit, Spanish Air Force, Spanish Navy Marines | ||
Spanish royal guard honors group
The Royal Guard (Guardia Real) is an independent unit of the Spanish Armed Forces dedicated to the military protection of H.M. the King of Spain and the members of the Spanish Royal Family. It currently has a strength of 1,900 troops. While the guard does participate in parades and other ceremonial events, it is a fully functional combat unit. Its members are recruited from the ranks of all three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces and receive the same combat training as regular soldiers. The guard contains a diverse mix of units; a Royal Marines company from the Navy, a Paratroop company from the Air Force and an infantry company from the Army among others. Some units have served recently in Afghanistan and Bosnia
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The history of the Royal Guard dates back to medieval times. The senior unit and one of the oldest body guards in the world is the Corps of Gentlemen of the Chamber, the "Monteros de Espinosa", dating to 1006 and created by Sancho Garcia of the House of Castile. In addition to the protection of the members of Spanish Royal Family, the present functions of the unit include protection of foreign Heads of State visiting to Spain and of royal palaces such as the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Palace of El Pardo, the Palacio de la Zarzuela.
Organization
