The weapon the royal guards carry is called a force pike. They are not lightsabers like many people would like to think.
A force pike operates much in the same manner as vibro weapons.
Quote:
http://www.starwars.com/databank/technology/vibroax/eu.html
A vibro-ax is a type of bladed weapon that uses a compact ultrasonic generator to create vibrations along the cutting edge's surface. This drastically increases the weapons lethality, allowing it to lacerate with minimal exertion from the wielder. Similar vibration-based technology can be found in vibroblades, bayonets, and force pikes.
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One thing that is obvious it that it is used in conjunction with the martial art
echani that the royal guards master.
I imagine that while force pikes are not lightsabers, they are most likely used in much of the same manner. Even more so, I would be willing to bet that they could use force pikes and lightsabers interchangably, both effectively lethal.
Jedispy