A disgruntled ex Royal Bodyguard has been spilling a few team secrets. Among plenty of  tales of gambling and blue movie watching by the team. “Prince Andrew has been accused of abusing his position by ordering Royal security officers to collect stray golf balls while he practised his strokes in the garden of Buckingham Palace”

I suppose if a prince asks you to collect his golf ball then you fetch it. But even a prince is ultimately responsible for his own security. If he is stupid enough to use his close protection officers for menial tasks then what can a lowly BG do? It’s not like the grounds of the Palace are sterile, nutters of all descriptions are often found wandering in the gardens!  This type of misuse of close protection officers is widespread.

I have witnessed situations where the Principal decides to ‘“get his money’s worth’” from the team and starts putting them to work in other areas such as in the garden. This is very short- sighted on the part of the Principal and it makes no sense to employ a well- trained professional bodyguard to do anything other than bodyguard. At this point, the bodyguard has to make some decisions. It’s not an issue of dignity (I don’t weed gardens.), rather it is one of function. A bodyguard is employed on the calculated assumption that his services as a bodyguard will be at some time needed. Sod’s law will again dictate that when you are needed you will be walking the dog or collecting some groceries, instead of being alongside the person you have been paid all this time to protect. Do you want this job or not?

If you are being used as regular hired help then your employer must be left in no doubt that whilst you are prepared to help this will impair your function. Your employer must be made acutely aware of your function; to him it may appear that you are doing very little when in fact you are working hard.  You must educate the Principal as to what your function is and that you are never “doing nothing” you are always working.  To do your job properly you must have the trust and complete co-operation of your principal or you may as well not be there.