Foot guards are senior infantry regiments within the British Army and the Canadian Army whose primary role includes military and combat operations, while its secondary role include public duties responsibilities which reflect their senior status. Foot guards regiments were historically infantry soldiers who fought on foot who also performed public duties like mounting a guard.

The British foot guards were established in the 17th century, and served as an infantry unit and royal guards for the monarchy. In the 19th century, the Canadian foot guard were formed, modelled after their British counterparts as a reflection of Canada’s relationship with the monarchy and to undertake ceremonial duties in Ottawa. Historically, other countries have also maintained units called "foot guards," though not all of these were the senior infantry regiments of their forces or were units that were tasked with both military combat responsibilities and ceremonial public duties.

As of 2025^[update], the British Army maintains five regiments of foot guards, while the Canadian Army Reserve maintains two regiments of foot guards. While most foot guard units continue to serve in light infantry or infantry roles, two of the five British foot guards regiments have transitioned to mechanised infantry roles.

The British Army maintains five regiments of foot guards. The Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Irish Guards specialise in infantry and light infantry roles, while the Scots Guards and Welsh Guards specialise in mechanised and light mechanised infantry roles. The five foot guard regiments form the infantry component of the Household Division.

The oldest foot guards regiment dates back to 1642. Foot guards units have historically been front-line troops, with their ceremonial public duties always being a secondary function. As royal guards to the British monarch, the foot guards have accumulated unique privileges and traditions over its existence. The reigning British monarch traditionally serves as the colonel-in-chief of the regiments within the Household Division.

The three oldest regiments—the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Guards—were formed during the English Civil War, while the Irish Guards and Welsh Guards were established in the 20th century. The Irish Guards were created in 1900 after Queen Victoria was impressed by the actions of Irish units during the Second Boer War. The Welsh Guards were formed in 1915 by King George V, after it was pointed out that the Household Division lacked representation from Wales. A sixth regiment of foot guards briefly existed after the First World War, the Guards Machine Gun Regiment.

The regiments of the foot guards are responsible for performing public duties, most notably mounting the King's Guard at St. James's Palace and Buckingham Palace, as well as mounting the Windsor Castle Guard, and the Tower of London Guard, all key locations of significance to the monarchy. Although the regiments of foot guards perform the majority of these public duties, they occasionally are supported by other units in the British Armed Forces and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Historically, the foot guards also manned ten other sentry posts around London, including Horse Guards, Savoy Prison, and Montagu House.