High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Royal Guards are soldiers who protect Emperor Palpatine in the fictional Star Wars universe. They appear in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) and in the third prequel film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). Royal Guards have been merchandised into action figures and miniatures, and their backstory expanded upon in such works as Dark Horse Comics` Crimson Empire series.