๐
Guard
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Definitions
1
People ยท Military
Common
A ceremonial guard, typically representing a British royal guard with a tall bearskin hat. Most commonly associated with the Queen's/King's Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Used to reference British culture, tourism, or ceremonial duties. Often used in travel contexts or discussions about London.
Just saw the changing of the ๐ at Buckingham Palace! So cool!
Tourist social media post
London trip checklist: Big Ben โ London Eye โ Selfie with a ๐ โ
Instagram caption
Strongly associated with British identity and tourism. The iconic bearskin hat is a recognizable symbol of London and royal tradition.
2
People ยท Occupations
Uncommon
Used more broadly to represent security personnel, guards, or anyone in a protective or sentinel role, regardless of nationality or specific uniform.
In this context, it's used metaphorically to indicate protection, vigilance, or standing watch.
I'll be the ๐ watching over the snack table at the party tonight!
Group chat message
While the emoji depicts a specific British royal guard, it's sometimes used generically to represent guarding concepts.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Introduced as part of Unicode 8.0, representing the British royal guard.
Growing emoji set expanding to include more cultural and occupational symbols.
2022
Increased usage following Queen Elizabeth II's death and funeral ceremonies.
Global media coverage of ceremonial guards during royal events.
Cultural Context
The bearskin hat depicted in the emoji is worn by the King's/Queen's Guard, a ceremonial guard unit that protects royal residences. The tall bearskin caps date back to the Battle of Waterloo (1815).
Despite their ceremonial appearance, these are active-duty soldiers with real military responsibilities, a fact often misunderstood by tourists who view them primarily as photo opportunities.
The guard emoji is available in gender variations (male, female, and gender-neutral) on most platforms, reflecting efforts to make emoji representations more inclusive.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Used with national pride and specific knowledge of different guard regiments. Often references specific locations like Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London.
United States
Primarily used to reference British tourism or culture. Often used when discussing travel to London or British stereotypes.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Straightforward usage in travel contexts or when discussing British culture. Less likely to use in humorous contexts.
Gen_Z: Used ironically or in travel content. Often appears in TikTok videos about tourists trying to make guards laugh or react.
Older: Limited usage, primarily in travel-related contexts when sharing photos or experiences from London visits.
Millennials: Used in travel photos and London tourism posts. Common in Instagram travel stories and bucket list posts.
Common Combinations
๐๐ฌ๐ง
British royal guard or reference to British tourism/culture.
Used when specifically emphasizing the British connection of the guard.
๐โโ๏ธ๐
Female royal guard or reference to guarding the monarchy.
Often used in discussions about royal ceremonies or changing gender roles in military.
๐๐ซ๐ท
No photos of guards or guards remaining stoic despite tourist attempts to distract them.
References the popular tourist activity of trying to make royal guards react or smile.