Kingsguard

The Kingsguard, also known poetically as the White Swords or white cloaks, are the royal bodyguards of the Iron Throne. Regarded as the finest knights in the Seven Kingdoms, they are sworn to protect their king and the royal family with their own lives, to obey his commands, and to keep his secrets. The Kingsugard are sworn for life and are forbidden from owning land, taking a wife, or fathering children, although they can have non-hereditary commands, such as being warden or Hand of the King.

Duties
The Kingsguard is composed of seven men, all of them sworn knights. A Kingsguard knight serves for life, regardless of age or any physical or mental ailments. When an invalid Kingsguard knight is incapable of performing his duties, they are taken up by his sworn brothers. The knights of the Kingsguard are forbidden to marry, father children, and to hold land. Regardless, the White Swords may retain or be granted certain titles.

The first duty of the Kingsguard is defending the king from harm. Sworn to obey the king's commands, to keep his secrets, to counsel him when requested and to keep silent when not, and to defend his name and honour. The king can decide to extend the protection offered by the Kingsguard to others. Some kings have chosen to extend this protection to their wives, children, and other relatives, and some have even chosen to grant this protection to their lovers, mistresses, and bastards

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard serves on the king's small council. When the small council is in session, one of the Kingsguard always stands guard outside the council chambers, while another is usually posted at the end of the bridge into Maegor's Holdfast.

Equiptment
The Kingsguard wear all white cloaks and intricate suits of white enamelled scales, their fastenings for breastplate and other pieces made of silver. They alone bear the right to carry a pure white unemblazoned shield. Their white armour has little decoration, although some members wear decorative brooches or gaudy helms. According to a semi-canon source, the Kingsguard's standard depicts seven silver swords encircling a golden crown.

Appointments
The rite for making a new member of the White Swords can vary. In common, there seems to be the fact that it is a solemn and formal event, in which the knight kneels as he makes his vows before the king, and he receives the white cloak of the Kingsguard from the Hand of the King or the Lord Commander himself. The Lord Commander is always chosen by the king, with seniority and ability only playing parts in the decision. Also, the Lord Commander is generally chosen from the existing pool of the Kingsguard.