Click to play videoLondon: Two Sikh soldiers have made history by getting inducted into the Queen's special guards.
Signaller Sim Singh and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh’s ceremonial duty involves not just guarding the monarch and the crown jewels, but also standing still for long hours and posing for pictures.
“It makes me proud. It’s making history now. No one has done this before. We are going along the path and motivating people,” says Sarvjit.
“Personally it’s something to be proud of, tell your kids about. It's a turning point for Indians, Sikhs to be proud of,” says Sim Singh.
The Queen Guards normally belong to a special Household Division and wear the bright red uniforms and bear skin caps- a common sight when you visit Buckingham Palace.
However, at times other Army regiments step in for guard duty. Both Sim and Sarvjit wear their regimental uniforms and will return to their regiments after their rather different and memorable stint the Palace.
“There have been embarrassing moments. Standing still in this weather, someone offered me chips. People make you laugh. Hard job is standing still in this weather but soldiers got to do his duty!” says Sin Singh.
Sarvjit agrees, “Tourists come and want pictures, they want memories. So people ask me for pictures. They are happy, we are happy”.
There are around 90 Sikhs in the British Armed forces of which 60 are in the Army.
There has been a long tradition of Sikhs in the British army, especially in the pre-independence era.
But never before have they been part of the Queen guards. While this is far from any 'action' for a soldier, both Sim and Sarvjit say this has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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