Expert: Lauren Gilkey - 3/30/2005

Question
Who are imperial royal guards,(theese tall soldiers in red, with red helmets seen in ROTJ). How do they fight? Do they use force? Are they some kind of jedi? I heard they have force spears? What are force spears? I think that I saw them without helmet in epV or epVI. Pale, skinny faces, similiar to Palps with tall red hats on their heads. Were they imperial royal guards?

Answer
The Royal Guards are the  Special Forces of the Imperial military.  They are chosen for their loyalty and ability to protect.  They are not Jedi and they do not have force abilities.

No, they do not use force spears - they are force pikes.  They are "force" because they are powerful in repelling people away from whoever the guards are protecting.  The pikes can make a Wookie unconscious and dismember smaller beings.

I doubt that the guards were without their masks.  I believe what you saw were Royal Advisors, not guards.

Hope this helps,
Lauren