The Royal Welsh

Her Majesty visited one of the newest regiments of the British Army today. The Royal Welsh were formed on Saint David's Day in March 2006 as a result of the previous government's amalgamation of older regiments, the oldest of them being the Royal Welch Fusiliers (you read that correctly, Welch not Welsh) which can trace their history back to the "Glorious Revolution".

The Queen and soldiers of 1st Battalion Royal Welsh, during the Drumhead Service of Thanksgiving to mark their return from operations in Afghanistan, Chester, 10 June 2010. © Press Association

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Pikemen and Musketeers

The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers are veteran members of the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment in the British Army. The HAC can trace its history as far back as 1296, and received a Royal Charter from Henry VIII on 25 August 1537.

The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers welcomed the monarch and Duke of Edinburgh to their headquarters today. The Queen reviewed her pikemen and musketeers at Armoury House, London, 12 May 2010.


The pikemen and musketeers wear the uniform of the period of Charles I and can be seen at state and civic occasions and serve as the Lord Mayor of London's bodyguard. The company is made up of military veterans (many of which are of flag rank) who have served with the Honourable Artillery Company, a Territorial Army unit, that has the Queen as its Captain-General.


© Press Association

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The Grenadier Guards

The Grenadier Guards is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. Originally raised in 1656 by the exiled king, Charles II, they are the only regiment in the British Army to win its name in battle, having defeated the Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The Queen inspects 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards before presenting them with their new colours (regimental flags) in the gardens at Buckingham Palace, 11 May 2010. In her speech at the event, Her Majesty spoke of the 'immense debt of gratitude and sympathy' owed by the country to soldiers who had been injured or lost their lives in conflict.
© Press Association

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Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Parade

The Combined Cavalry Old Comrades Association Parade and Memorial Service was held in Hyde Park, 9 May 2010.

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YOUR HELP NEEDED URGENTLY TO RESTORE THE TITLE "ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY"

The Government of Canada reinstates the Elliott's Eye. Now restore the RCN!


What is known as the executive curl, the ring above an officers' gold lace or braid, is said to date from the Crimean War when it was called 'Elliott's Eye' in commemoration of a Captain Elliot who carried his wounded arm in a sling under heroic circumstances. The term also refers to an eye in a hemp rope, said to be a memento of the Honourable William Elliot, a member of the Board of Admiralty 1800-1801. It is worthy of note that of almost all of the seagoing nations of the world the French and American and Canadian are the only navies whose officers do not wear 'Elliott's Eye'.

Onto the next campaign: the restoration of the Royal designation to the Canadian Navy in time for the naval centennial and the Queen's visit next month. The Monarchist League of Canada has finally and enthusiastically taken up the cause that we have been pushing for the last two years:

The restoration of the proud and historic title “Royal Canadian Navy” to the maritime element of the Canadian Forces has long been a goal of a number of serving officers and other ranks, as well as of many of our veterans, whose valour gives them a unique standing to advocate for this cause.

Until now, however, there has not been the political will - or a body of opinion deemed significant enough by Ottawa's decision-makers - to make the restoration of this nomenclature a real possibility.

However, the League has good reason to believe that the climate has changed. Given both the positive attitude towards the Crown frequently manifested by the Harper Government and the forthcoming presence of The Queen in Nova Scotia during her Canadian Homecoming in the summer, there is a distinct possibility that the "Royal Canadian Navy" could again become a reality.

Your immediate action will help show the government that a grass-roots sentiment in favour of this revival exists.

No matter how loyal, politicians like to see a concrete manifestation of public opinion when they consider any change to existing policy, which in this case would involve making a recommendation to The Sovereign.

May I ask that you as soon as possible email the Prime Minister to urge him to restore the Royal Canadian Navy as the official title of the sea element of our Forces. And that you circulate this email to your friends, work colleagues, members of your faith community. social club, Legion Branch and so forth - to anyone who might be sympathetic to this very special Canadian terminology being restored.

Emails should go to pm@pm.gc.ca - obviously it is of particular interest to the Prime Minister's staff to know if the writer has a Naval association of some sort, but of course the views of every member of the public is significant in this campaign.

Thank you for your loyalty and quick action on this.

I would of course echo the Dominion Chairman's words. It is now or never. Based on the results of the online petition that this little blog here established some time ago, there are presently four thousand, two hundred and eighty-four reasons why the Government should immediately do this! Sign the petition and call the Prime Minister today!

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The Royal Newfoundland Regiment

Princess Anne, the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, inspects the troops on the occasion of the regiment's 215th anniversary on Saturday, April 24, 2010 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Daly)
Several hundred people gathered to see Princess Anne present the new Battle Honours or Colours that are replaced about every 25 years due to wear and tear. The Princess Royal is colonel-in-chief of the regiment - the only unit from North America to fight at Gallipoli starting in 1915.

It traces its history back to 1795 and is marking its 215th anniversary this year. King George V added the extraordinary prefix Royal to the regiment's title in 1917, in part for its valour at Ypres and Cambrai.

The pageantry and parade Saturday were part of Anne's two-day trip to the province with a special focus on those who served in the Great War. She made special reference to the carnage of Beaumont Hamel on July 1, 1916 when much of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was killed or wounded.

Families across the province are still profoundly marked by the staggering losses of that day. "The 801 men who went over the top that morning earned the glorious title of 'Better than the Best'," Princess Anne said. "Only 68 of them were able to answer the roll call the next morning. We all live in hope that that sacrifice will never happen again."

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The Prince of Wales in Montréal

It didn't go as swimmingly as it did in Toronto, even though this is supposed to be Montréal — you know, Mont Réal as it was spelled in Middle French or Mont Royal if you prefer the present day vernacular, which takes its name after Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city.

Two hundred rabidly anti-monarchist separatists tried to ruin the Royal Visit to this royalist city, as dutifully reported in The Guardian and the BBC, but the old Black Watch of Montreal would not be denied a regimental visit from their Godfather, the Prince of Wales.



The Black Watch is the oldest highland regiment in Canada. It takes its name from the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Scotland, which was raised in 1725 as independent companies to police the Highlands. The name originated from the dark colour of the tartan and the role of watching the Highland clans. The companies were formed into a Regiment in 1740 and were to become the 42nd Royal Highlanders after receiving the Royal Warrant in 1751. A second battalion was raised which became a separate regiment, the 73rd - but in 1881 it reverted to become the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment again. The distinctive Red Hackle was issued in 1795 a privilege exclusive to The Black Watch.

Volunteers to the Canadian version have served since the regiment's inception in Montreal on January 31st, 1862 as the 5th Battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada. The rise of American military strength during the Civil War concerned Canada. The government authorized formation of militia regiments. Each of six Montreal Scottish chieftains responded by raising an infantry company for the 5th Battalion. Eventually, eight companies were raised for border service. Since then, thousands of Canadian citizens have served in the Black Watch.

The Prince of Wales is the Colonel in Chief of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, and attended a presentation at the Black Watch Armoury. Currently the Regiment is a modern infantry battalion that provides trained soldiers to augment regular force units and aid civil authorities in times of crisis. In August 1992, the Regiment was granted the Freedom of the City of Montreal. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother presented the Regiment with The Queen’s Colour in 1974 (currently in use by the Black Watch) as well as the Regimental Colour in 1962.

The Prince took the dais before inspecting the Guard of Honour and presenting the Regiment with new Colours. After the ceremony, The Prince and The Duchess joined a Regimental Reception where they met soldiers and their families.

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The Prince of Wales in Toronto

Prince Charles, the future King of Canada, inspects the Toronto Scottish Regiment before a Presentation of Colours Ceremony in Toronto November 5, 2009. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are currently on a 11-day cross-country tour of the country. Below, His Royal Highness inspects the Royal Regiment of Canada, of which his is also Colonel-in-Chief.

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Smoking Story about Queen Mary

Her Majesty the Queen Mary, Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's Own Rifles
with Officers of the 1st Bn, Mandora Barracks, Aldershot, 10 September 1941.
This wonderful anecdotal story involving Queen Mary illustrates the close bond that the monarchy has maintained throughout history with Commonwealth regiments:

Queen Mary, widow of George V, was colonel-in-chief of the Queen's Own Rifles, and, immediately before the regiment's departure from England for the beaches of Normandy in June 1944, attended a dinner in their honour.

Steve Harris, chief historian at National Defence, remembers his father, Jack, an officer in the regiment at the time, telling him of the Queen's post-dinner cigarette.

"Queen Mary smoked," Harris says, "and there were the typical stamped metal 'Drink Moosehead Ale' ashtrays in the officers' mess.

"So there's this kind of tawdry blue-and-gold, metal ashtray," he continues. "It's after the dinner, they're going to have a cigarette, and that's the nearest ashtray. She begins to use it, and somebody — because they had one crystal ashtray — very quickly tried to replace the 'Drink Moosehead Ale' ashtray with the crystal one, and her answer was — and my father heard her say it:

'No ... if it's good enough for my soldiers, it's good enough for me.'"

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First female Beefeater bullied from protecting Crown Jewels?

No longer a strictly male military bastion, it was only inevitable this would happen. No doubt traditionally minded men of the ancient corps despise the intrusion, and a couple are now paying the price - with their jobs.

Yeoman Warder Moira Cameron, left, poses with male colleagues, at the Tower of London, Monday Sept. 3, 2007. Cameron, 42, was the first female protector of the Crown Jewels, famously known as Beefeaters of the Tower of London, since the corps of Tower guards was created in 1485. It is revealed Monday Nov. 2, 2009, that Two male Beefeaters at the Tower of London have been suspended for allegedly bullying their female colleague, Cameron, and a third is subject to an internal investigation over alleged harassment.

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The Queen's Royal Lancers

The Queen's Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, which can trace its lineage back 250 years to the death of General Wolfe. The Queen's visit marked the 250th anniversary of the raising of the 17th Light Dragoons. The 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a cavalry regiment most famous for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.

The Queen inspects the Lance Guard after being received with a Royal Salute on her arrival at the base of The Queen's Royal Lancers in Catterick, North Yorkshire, 12 September 2009. Her Majesty is the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief. © Press Association

In 1759 Colonel John Hale of the 47th Foot was ordered home by General James Wolfe just prior to the General's death, with the final dispatches and news of Wolfe's victory in the Battle of Quebec. For bringing news of the victory, Hale was rewarded with land in Canada and permission to raise a regiment of light dragoons.

The new regiment was known as the 17th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons and was also known as Hale's Light Horse after its founder. The admiration of his men for General Wolfe was evident in the cap badge Colonel Hale chose for the regiment: the Death's Head with the motto "Or Glory". Death or Glory is the motto of the regiment to this day.

Various amalgamations have resulted in its absorption into the Queen's Royal Lancers (which also incorporates the 5th Lancers, 16th Lancers and 21st Lancers).

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The Blues and Royals

Troops from The Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and their horses enjoy a break from their crimson armour and their ceremonial duties on Holkham Beach, Norfolk, 3 August 2009.

The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal. Both HRH Prince William of Wales and HRH Prince Harry of Wales joined the regiment as cornets in 2006.

The regiment was formed in 1969 from the merger of The Royal Horse Guards, which was known as "The Oxford Blues", and The Royal Dragoons, which was known as "The Royals". The Blues and Royals can trace their lineage all the way back to the New Model Army. The regiment is nicknamed The Tin Bellies, which is a good humoured reference to the fact that they are the only troops wearing armour in the Queen's service.

Photo © Press Association

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1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

The Regiment is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year

Although the senior cavalry regiment of the British Army officially turned 50 this year, it is actually much, much older than that. It's formation in 1959 was but an amalgamation of the 1st King's Dragoon Guards and the Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), both of which were raised in 1685 by James II of England in reaction to the Monmouth Rebellion. Its most notable Battle Honours are Blenheim, Waterloo, Tobruk and El Alamein.

Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales as well as the bordering English counties. The regiment's cap badge is the Habsburg double headed eagle, which Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria allowed the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards to wear when he become their Colonel-in-Chief in 1896. The current Colonel-in-Chief is naturally Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.

The Prince of Wales, in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, inspects the ranks at Cardiff Castle where the regiment celebrated its 50th anniversary, 31 July 2009. Pro rege et patria!

Photo © Press Association

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The Devil's Brigade

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"Gentlemen: The Queen"

The 78th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment R.A., 1953.
Photographer: Ralph Crane. Hat tip, Dr. David Flint, ACM

Officers Dress Night at the mess of the 78th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment R.A. toasting the Queen. (Click photo to enlarge)

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The Gentlemen at Arms

The ancient Corps celebrated their 500th anniversary on June 4th

Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was instituted 500 years ago by King Henry VIII in 1509. Although the Yeomen of the Guard, which was founded in 1485 is older, the Gentlemen at Arms are more senior, due to their being classed as 'gentlemen' rather than 'yeomen', and because they are classed as the 'nearest guard', i.e. the personal guard to the Sovereign.


The uniform is that of a Heavy Dragoon Guards officer of the 1840s. It has a skirted red coat with Garter blue velvet cuffs and facings embroidered with the Tudor royal badge of the Portcullis. Helmets with white swan feather plumes are worn when on duty, even in church. Officers wear gold aiguillettes and carry sticks of office which they receive from the Sovereign on appointment. Cavalry swords are worn, and long ceremonial battle-axes, over 300 years old, are carried by all the Gentlemen.


The Queen sits for an official photograph with Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, 4 June 2009. The Queen's ‘Nearest Guard’ commemorated the 500th anniversary of their founding with a parade and luncheon at St James's Palace. © Press Association


The Queen inspects Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms at St James's Palace during a parade to celebrate their 500th anniversary, 4 June 2009. In a speech to mark the occasion, Her Majesty remarked that, 'As individuals, you have all given long and distinguished military service to the nation. As members of the ‘Nearest Guard’, your service to the Crown continues in a distinctive way'.

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New Colours for the Micks

In a speech during a colourful ceremony full of pomp and pageantry at Windsor Castle this afternoon, the Queen heaped praise on "The Micks" - the affectionate name for Irish Guardsmen - for the brave service they have given to the United Kingdom since Her Majesty gave them their last colours, in 1997. Her Majesty then presented a new crimson Queen’s Colour and a Regimental Flag. The Irish Guards, a regiment of the Royal Household, had recently returned from Iraq.

Queen Elizabeth II presents new colours to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at Windsor Castle, Berkshire © Press Association

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Queen commemorates Yeomen of the Guard on 500th anniversary of Henry VII's death

The oldest British military corps still in existence, the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard are a bodyguard of the British Monarch. King Henry VII who died 500 years ago today, created the Yeoman of the Guard in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As a token of the Guard's venerability, the Yeomen still wear red and gold uniforms of Tudor style.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh sit for an official photograph at the Service to Commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Founder of The Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard in Westminster Abbey. The Queen laid a posy of red and white roses near the tomb of Henry VII in the Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey, 28 April 2009. © Westminster Abbey

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The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery

The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery leave London's Green Park after firing a Royal salute of 41 rounds to mark the anniversary of The Queen's accession to the throne in 1952, 6 February 2009. © Press Association

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The Household Cavalry

Members of The Household Cavalry, The Life Guards regiment, and their horses enjoy a break from ceremonial duties with a gallop in the surf along Holkham Beach, Holkham, Norfolk, 22 July 2008. The regiment is currently on a three week summer training camp at Bodney Camp.

Following the gallop along the beach, members of The Household Cavalry take their horses for a swim. The Household Cavalry, which consists of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st The Royal Dragoons) in Britain (the Governor-General Horse Guards in Canada is the only other Household Cavalry regiment), provides The Queen's Life Guard daily and Sovereign's Escort on State occasions, mounted on horseback. The King's Troops, Royal Horse Artillery, whilst a mounted and ceremonial regiment of the Household Division, is strictly speaking an artillery formation, not a cavalry one.

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