Lego Minifigures Royal Guard Review

The Lego Minifigures line already contains a large number of unique and eye-catching figures, and this Royal Guard figure from Series 5 is another solid figure to add to that list. This minifigure is based on the Queen's Guard which famously stand outside Buckingham Palace, stoic and unresponsive to all onlookers. This figure makes for a great addition to any desk or display, standing just as stoically as the real thing, with a rifle on his shoulder and a fluffy hat worn proudly.

As a figure, the Royal Guard is a typical minfigure in that he's extremely well-made and looks fantastic. The figure is somewhat basic compared to others in the line, and his accessory is the same boring gun Lego has been using for a long time.

Despite that, the fact that he is an "army-building" figure makes him perfect for the blind-bagged way the Lego Minifigures line is sold. Getting multiples of this figure will only increase the play value. Overall he's another strong entry in a great line, and sure to please any Lego fan.

• Name: Royal Gaurd
• Line: Lego Minifigures
• Manufacturer: Lego
• Scale: 1.5-inch
• Acccessories: Stand, hat, and gun

Practically every Lego minifigure has the same basic form, and you won't find any surprises with the Royal Guard. He has a standard body and head, with no pieces to modify the normal minifigure shape. The simplicity works well for this figure, as there is nothing unusual about the Queen's Guard upon which he's based.

The most defining element of the Queen's Guard is of course the giant black fluffy hats they wear. The Royal Guard figure's hat is appropriately large, and definitely gives the figure something by which to stand out. The hat is much more wavy and textured than the real life version, but still gets the point across effectively and looks great on the figure.

The figure's gun is the same generic rifle accessory that Lego has used for years. Although it's not particularly accurate to the real life royal guards, I do think it works for the figure, giving it a classic minifigure style, while maintaining the cute look and feel of Lego.

The color design on the Royal Guard is extremely well done, in typical Lego fashion. There are no stray marks or messes, and every single piece of the deco is crisp and perfect. The colors are just right, and the figure's bold red shirt really makes him stand out.

The markings of the Royal Guard's costume look fantastic, and match up to real life rather well too. As is standard for Lego minifigures, there is no paint design on the figures arms, back, or legs. It affects this figure less than many, so either way, he still looks good. It's also worth noting that if the hat is removed, the chin-strap included on the figure's head looks very out of place.

One simple thing I wish had been changed is the color of his gun. It's molded in brown, when black or gray would have made more sense to both match the figure's color scheme, and make the Royal Guard look more like the real thing.

The Royal Guard has standard Lego minifigure articulation. This means he has swivel joints at the hips, shoulders, wrists, and neck. That's more than enough to get fun and creative poses out of a figure this small. None of his accessories get in the way of his articulation, and his large hat doesn't create any balance issues. It's even possible to rest his rifle on his shoulder, the pose for which the Queen's Guard is famous.

Overall Thoughts

The Lego Minifigures line has produced a lot of good figures, and the Royal Guard is another one. He may have a few small flaws, but he's fun to play with and perfect for "army building". That makes him a figure that a lot of collectors and kids will enjoy.