Imperial Royal Guard
Red robes, no lines, total menace.
Crimson robes flanking the Emperor's throne, with almost no dialogue and no fight scene.
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Imperial Royal Guard on VeVe: the official art
2 images from VeVe's official partner feed · tap to enlargeMost releases come in several rarities, from Common up to Secret Rare, each with its own edition size. VeVe shows every tier and what is still available: see Imperial Royal Guard on VeVe (opens in a new tab).
Why Imperial Royal Guard matters to collectors
The Royal Guards do nothing in Return of the Jedi. They stand there, they leave the room when told, and they are still one of the most requested designs in the franchise. That is pure costume design doing the work: the red against the Death Star's grey, the face hidden completely, the implication that these are the best and you will never find out why.
Key issues and milestones
- Return of the Jedi (1983) - Their only original-trilogy appearance, mostly standing silently beside the throne.
- Kenner Emperor's Royal Guard action figure (1983) - A soft-goods robe over a simple body, and one of the most striking figures in the vintage line.
- Shadows of the Empire (1996) - The multimedia project that expanded the guard's backstory and gave the design a second life in the 1990s.
- The Force Awakens era Praetorian Guards (2017) - The sequel trilogy's red-armoured redesign, a direct descendant that fights where the originals never did.
The helmets under the hoods were built with almost no visibility, and the actors were reportedly positioned and then left standing, since moving around the set in them was close to impossible.
Collecting Imperial Royal Guard through the years
The Royal Guard is a soft-goods figure, which changes everything about how it is collected. Cloth robes age differently from plastic: they stain, they fade, and reproduction robes circulate widely enough that identifying an original is a skill. Carded examples are judged on the bubble and the card as usual, but loose collectors care mostly about the fabric. The costume itself has appeared in touring Star Wars exhibitions, and the design has stayed in print across almost every modern Hasbro line because the colour sells the shelf.
Imperial Royal Guard on VeVe
VeVe's Edo Imperial Royal Guard series brings the design into the wider Star Wars catalogue alongside the trooper collections. A full-length robe is an unusual sculpting challenge next to armoured figures, and the colour makes it stand out in a collection built mostly from white and black armour. Officially licensed drops with tiered rarities.
The Edo Imperial Royal Guard series. Check the drop calendar for upcoming Star Wars releases - drops sell out in minutes, and reminders keep you ahead of them.
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Before you collect Imperial Royal Guard
- Claim your free US$10 - new collectors start with credit toward a first piece, no card required.
- Is VeVe legit? - our honest review, including the parts VeVe would rather we skipped.
- How to start on VeVe - signup through first drop, step by step.
- Are VeVe collectibles worth it? - who genuinely enjoys this hobby, and who should pass.
Imperial Royal Guard collector FAQ
Where can I buy Imperial Royal Guard digital collectibles?
Imperial Royal Guard digital collectibles release on VeVe through scheduled drops and the in-app marketplace. The Edo Imperial Royal Guard series.
What is Imperial Royal Guard's first appearance?
Imperial Royal Guard first appeared in Return of the Jedi (1983). Crimson robes flanking the Emperor's throne, with almost no dialogue and no fight scene.
Are Imperial Royal Guard collectibles on VeVe officially licensed?
Yes. Every Star Wars collectible on VeVe is produced under official license with the rights holder - that licensing is the core difference between VeVe and unlicensed NFT projects. More on licensed vs unlicensed.
Are Imperial Royal Guard digital collectibles NFTs?
Technically yes - VeVe collectibles are NFTs recorded on blockchain for provenance. In practice they work like licensed digital collectibles: bought in-app with a custodial wallet, no crypto knowledge needed. How VeVe NFTs actually work.