Royal Guard (Star Wars)

Royal Guards, also called Imperial Royal Guards, were the personal guardsmen of Emperor Palpatine. Each guard would carry a force pike as a weapon, and they were all dressed in red. They were trained as great warriors, and were known as the best, being suitable for guarding important Imperial figures.
==Background==
The crimson-clad Royal Guards were some of the most elite of the Galactic Empire's forces, handpicked from the very best the Stormtrooper Corps had to offer to undergo intensive training. Failure to meet expectations usually resulted in death. Out of a class of 40 cadets, only 5-7 survived training. 
Their main purpose was to protect Emperor Palpatine from any and all threats, which often required them to stand by their sovereign ruler at the Imperial Palace or accompany him off-world. However, the Emperor did not make exclusive use of the Royal Guards, with high-placed figures such as Supreme Commander Darth Vader, the Grand Vizier and Grand Admiral Thrawn apparently being given command of them. 
==Description==
===Original variant===
Royal Guards have red arms, legs and hands (latter black hands). The red torso piece has red cloak details. They also have black minifigure heads and a red cloak helmet. They wear red capes. Royal Guards come with black spears which are supposed to be force pikes.
===2014 variant===
The 2014 variant is much the same as the original in torso and headgear. However, the arms and hands appear to have been changed to a complete dark red. The Royal Guards now wield as an accessory a black handle with a grey rod on top, known as a force pike instead of a spear. The capes that they wear are a light red on the outside and a dark red on the inside.
==Appearances==
* Celebration IV Set
* 6211 Imperial Star Destroyer
* 7166 Imperial Shuttle
* 7264 Imperial Inspection
* 10188 Death Star
* 75034 Death Star Troopers
* 75093 Death Star Final Duel
* 852085 LEGO Star Wars Magnet Set
* 852552 Magnet Set Royal Guard 2009
* 853450 LEGO Star Wars Emperor's Royal Guard Key Chain
* 75159 The Death Star
* 75251 Darth Vader's Castle
===Video Game Appearances===
* LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
* LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
* LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
* LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
===TV Appearances===
* LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace
* The Yoda Chronicles
* LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales
* LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures 
==LEGO.com Description==
==Gallery of Variants==
==Gallery==
emporer guuard padawan menace.png|From LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace.
Emperor-guard-III.jpg|Imperial Guard from LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
TSS Royal Guard.png|In LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Category:Star Wars minifigures
Category:Minifigures introduced in 2001
Category:Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Category:Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Category:Star Wars Rebels minifigures