The first female Beefeater has made history by officially going on duty at the Tower of London.

Moira Cameron, 42, from Argyll, beat five men to the £20,000-a-year job as Yeoman Warder.

She said it was a "great privilege" to work and live at the Tower as she donned the famous blue and scarlet uniform for her first duties on Monday.

Miss Cameron joined the Army aged 16 and served the required 22 years in the Forces to become eligible for the post.

While posing for a barrage of cameras she admitted carrying a mirror and lip gloss in the "wonderful big pockets" of the blue uniform dress.

She described the Tower as "magical" saying: "It's just a wonderful job and I'm very, very lucky to have it.

"You wake up in the morning and you know you're going to have a good day."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6975559.stm

Spoken like a true Beefeater.

Thank you Moira for giving this old joke a new set of legs.

or kneepads.