Palace attendants in olde worlde horror film? (6)

I believe the answer is:

yeomen

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'palace attendants' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for yeomen that I've seen before include "... of the Guard (Gilbert and Sullivan)" , "- - of the Guard (G&S)" , "Freeholders (hist.)" , "Freeholders (historical)" , "Royal servants (hist.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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