London, July 29 - Britain's reigning monarch has her first Sikh bodyguards, a newspaper reported.

Queen Elizabeth II will be guarded by Signaler Simranjit Singh, 26, and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh, 28, the paper said.

Simranjit Singh, who serves with the 21st Signal Regiment based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, took over his royal duties in May.

He was joined later by Sarvjit Singh, who serves with the 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps based in Wattisham, Suffolk.

Turbans, long hair and beards are considered a mandatory religious uniform for all Sikhs.

The Daily Mail splashed pictures of the two turbaned and armed Sikhs in two suitably combative poses inside Buckingham Palace, the Queen's London residence.

Jagjit Singh Taunque, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of West Midlands, said: 'History has been made. They are great role models for the younger generations.'