新冠病毒危机暴发后，作为伦敦塔削减成本的"令人心碎"的措施的一部分，历史悠久的伦敦塔护卫队面临500年来首次的裁员危机。

The historic Beefeater guards are facing layoffs¹ for what is believed to be the first time in their 500-year history as part of "heartbreaking" measures to cut costs at the Tower of London following the coronavirus crisis. 

 

The pandemic has seen the temporary closure of six sites run by Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), which all rely heavily on visitor income. 

 

A spokesperson for HRP confirmed that a voluntary redundancy scheme had been introduced last month and that staff had been warned that a compulsory² redundancy scheme was likely to follow. 

 

At least two of the 37 Yeoman Warders, nicknamed Beefeaters, who guard the Crown Jewels, have reportedly taken voluntary redundancy already. 

 

HRP chief executive John Barnes said the organization had "simply had no choice" but to make the cuts.

 

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