A guard of honour, honor guard or ceremonial guard, is a group of people, typically drawn from the military, appointed to perform ceremonial duties – for example, to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, especially funerals. In military weddings, especially those of commissioned officers, a guard, composed usually of service members of the same branch, form the sabre arch. In principle, any military unit could act as a guard of honour. However, in some countries, certain units are specially assigned to undertake guard of honour postings or other public duties. Republican guards, royal guards and foot guards frequently have ceremonial duties assigned to them.
Soldiers from the Hungarian Defence Forces form a guard of honour at a welcome ceremony for US president George W. Bush's visit to Hungary, 2006
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton inspects a guard of honour formed by the Algerian Republican Guard, 2012
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev inspects a guard of honour formed by the 21 Ceremonial Guard Battalion of the Namibian Defence Force, 2009
U.S. president Barack Obama inspects a guard of honour formed by the Red Guard of Senegal, 2013.
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.
A member of the Household Cavalry standing watch in London
Two Governor General's Foot Guardsmen standing watch at Rideau Hall, an official residence for the Monarch, and the Governor General.
Sentries during the changing of the guard at the Citadelle of Quebec.
The Danish Royal Life Guard provide permanent guards to Amalienborg Palace.
