Royal bodyguards - at Her Majesty's service

Bodyguards protect Prince Charles in Sydney in 1994

The bodyguard who accidentally fired two shots while on board the Royal Train is a member of the crack team of police officers charged with protecting the monarchy.

Known as the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, members are responsible for personal safety and guarding royal residences.

The operation comes under the command of Scotland Yard and is thought to be in the process of a governmental shake-up.

RPD responsibilities

Personal protection of Royal Family

Protection of London royal palaces, residences and Windsor Castle

Protect certain members of royal families visiting UK

Although officers tend to be background figures, their heavy responsibility means occasionally they are thrust into the limelight.

In 1994, they came to the rescue of Prince Charles when a protester rushed at him, firing a starting pistol, during a visit to Sydney.

But their biggest challenge was in 1974 when a gunman tried to kidnap Princess Anne as she returned to Buckingham Palace from a charity film show with her then husband Captain Phillips.

The princess was unhurt as her bodyguards managed to overpower the gunman. But her personal protection officer was shot and wounded during the incident and he later was awarded the George Cross for his bravery.

Princess Alexandra, daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent

Recently efforts have been made to scale down Special Operations 14 (SO14), as the department is known internally.

Sir John Chilcot, the former permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, was appointed by Home Secretary Jack Straw to review existing arrangements.

The Queen herself had asked Mr Straw to examine how savings might be made to the £30m annual protection bill, which covers 185 bodyguards.

In March, the Daily Telegraph reported that Sir David Spedding, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service, had been asked to implement the Chilcot report.

Secret findings

The contents of the report are confidential, but among its highest profile targets are the protection afforded Princess Margaret and the Duke of York and his daughters.

The Mall shortly after a gunman tried to kidnap Princess Anne

The Earl and Countess of Wessex are said to have been unhappy at efforts to cut the £1m annual cost of guarding their home, Bagshot Park.

The report is thought to suggest a greater dependence on cheaper, outside security staff, and a reduction in the use of police escorts for royal occasions.

Some cuts have already been implemented. Since the last IRA ceasefire in July 1997, the number of detectives protecting Princess Alexandra has been cut from two to one.

Protection halved

The eight-man operation to protect her London home is also thought to have been halved.

Thanks to the opportunity for global travel, the work of protecting the top royals is varied. But it is not always well paid.

One former bodyguard, Paul Brown, who spent eight years working for the Royal Family, says he received about £18,000 per year. His pay shot up when he left the Royalty Protection Department and went to work for clients like Sir Elton John.

But there may be a great deal of goodwill. Last year, when Colin Trimming hung up his holster after almost 20 years as Prince Charles's personal bodyguard, the Princess Royal and Camilla Parker Bowles attended his champagne sent off.