The series was cancelled after six episodes due to poor ratings.
The series earned the dubious distinction of being named by the British newspaper Metro as one of the "10 sitcoms even worse than The Wright Way (2013)".
The Daily Mirror's TV critic Jim Shelley wrote, "The Royal Bodyguard was, the BBC trumpeted, Sir David Jason's first Beeb comedy since Only Fools and Horses.... (1981) finished in 2002 - that was nine years ago. This fact alone should have alerted all involved to the fatal flaw at the heart of this debacle - namely that it was relying on the viewer's fondness for Del Boy. It was a classic example of blind faith in the production's star name. The prospect of seeing the 71-year-old star playing a former guardsman who had seen action in Northern Ireland and had now been appointed to the presumably prestigious position of royal bodyguard after saving the Queen's life stretched this fondness to breaking point. After about two minutes. Never mind that the plot's entire premise was stupid - that he was the incompetent former head of security at Buckingham Palace car park. The standard of the comedy was excruciating. It was blatantly designed to cash in on the appeal of characters like Inspector Clouseau and Johnny English. But the idea that Jason could play a clown as well as Peter Sellers or Rowan Atkinson was the only funny thing about it."
The series had an armorer who looked after all the weaponry. He along with his platoon in Afghanistan watched the Only Fools and Horses.... (1981) episode The Jolly Boys Outing to cheer themselves up, and it did. David Jason was staggered and moved.