Soldiers serving as guards at Buckingham Palace have been instructed to avoid wearing perms and mullets, following a recent trend among members of the Grenadier Guards’ Inkerman Company. The unit, which is responsible for performing ceremonial duties including the Changing the Guard, saw several soldiers adopting curly hairstyles reminiscent of 1970s footballer Kevin Keegan and mullets, prompting intervention from senior military leadership.

A Sergeant Major, upon noticing the unconventional styles, issued a directive emphasizing that “mullets are not accepted” and that “curly hair is not accepted,” reinforcing the requirement to maintain traditional grooming standards. According to a source familiar with the matter, the soldiers were engaging in lighthearted behavior typical of younger troops but ultimately contravened established appearance regulations.

British Army rules mandate that personnel maintain “neatly groomed” hair that fits inside their headdress, whether a beret or the distinctive 18-inch bearskin helmet. Hair must not be visible on the forehead beneath the brow band or cover the ears, ensuring a uniform and disciplined appearance. The Army underscored that, despite evolving fashion trends, those performing “highly visible public duties” are held to the “highest standards of military bearing and personal appearance.”

This action highlights the military’s ongoing emphasis on uniformity and professionalism, particularly for units frequently in the public eye during ceremonial events at historic sites such as Buckingham Palace.