![]() New troopers and officers are generally first assigned to London upon completion of horsemanship training and remain there for up to three years. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is horsed and carries out mounted, and some dismounted, ceremonial duties on State and royal occasions, including the provision of a Sovereign’s Escort, most commonly seen on The Queen’s Birthday Parade, or Trooping the Colour in June each year. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment line the entry steps at the opening of Parliament. Their Colonel is Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall, the only non-royal colonel of the guards. Their motto is ‘Nulli Secundus’ (Second to None). When parading with the other four regiments, the Coldstreamers always parade on the extreme left of the line, with the Grenadiers on the extreme right. The Coldstream Guards can be recognised by their tunic buttons being arranged in pairs, a red plume worn on the right, a garter star on the collar badge, and a rose shoulder badge. ![]() The regiment is second in precedence behind the Grenadier Guards this is because the Grenadiers have served the crown for longer as an English and royalist regiment. Established by General Monck in Scotland during the English Civil War, they fought against Charles I in Cromwell’s New Model Army, and helped defeat the Royalists at the Battle of Dunbar shortly after their formation. The Coldstream Guards were founded in 1650 and are the oldest regiment in the British Army in continuous active service. The Grenadiers have a grenade on their collar, equally spaced buttons and a white plume (Mick Bakerrooster) An animal-free alternative has been sought for a number of years, but no material has met the requirements. Officers’ bearskins are made from the fur of the female Canadian brown bear as it has thicker, fuller fur and is dyed black. These furs come from culled bears – the animals are not hunted for sport, but under licence by native Inuit hunters in a Canadian government programme to keep numbers under control – and is used for its warmth, water-resistance nature, and ability to retain its shape. 18 inches tall (45cm), weighs 1.5 pounds (680g) and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear. The standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards is approx. They wear a bearskin, not to be mistaken for the smaller busby which is worn by the Royal Horse Artillery when on ceremonial duties. The foot guards – bearskin not busby!Ī mistake often made is the name given to the foot guards famous tall fur hats, or caps. This does not stop the guards stepping in when there has been a breach of security, most famously at the Trooping the Colour parade in 1981: a man shot six blank rounds as Her Majesty passed by on horseback on the Mall, and a foot guards corporal, who was nearest to the man, grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground. For security reasons, it is never confirmed whether or not the rifles are loaded, but it is generally thought that they are not loaded with live ammunition. Each June, one of the five foot guards regiments is selected to troop their colour at the Trooping the Colour parade, held to commemorate the Sovereign’s official birthday.Īlthough their role is largely ceremonial, and the police provide the bulk of actual security protection for The Queen and other members of the Royal Family, guards do carry rifles fitted with a bayonet. The Queen is Colonel-in-Chief of all the regiments of the division. The primary role of all the regiments of the Household Division is as combat forces all have fought with distinction and won many battle honours during their history. The first thing to be aware of when admiring the smartly turned out guards, is that they are all operational soldiers, and that standing guard at a palace is only a ceremonial duty. ![]() she receives the royal salute at Trooping the Colour (MoD) The Queen is Colonel-in-chief of the Household Division here.
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