11 Facts About The Household Cavalry Ahead Of Its Starring Role In Royal Wedding

Soldiers from Prince Harry's former regiment, the Household Cavalry, have said they are proud to be playing a pivotal role in his wedding to Meghan Markle.

Based at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London, the Cavalry's ceremonial regiment will have an important part in the wedding on May 19 in Windsor.

24 dismounted soldiers and two officers will line the staircase into St George's Chapel at the castle ahead of the ceremony.

After the service, another 24 soldiers and two officers will escort the bride and groom as part of the carriage procession through the town.

11 Facts About The Household Cavalry

- It is one of the oldest regiments in the British Army and has taken part in every major campaign since 1660.

- Harry joined The Blues and Royals in April 2006 and served with the Household Cavalry Regiment - undertaking two tours of Afghanistan and rising to the rank of Captain.

- The Duke of Cambridge's white horse called Wellesley is kept at the Hyde Park Barracks.

- During recent operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq, the Household Cavalry was one of the most deployed regiments in the British Army.

- The cleaning and maintenance of the uniform and horses black kit can take up to 10 hours, more than four hours for what the soldier or officer would wear, and five hours for the items worn by the horse.

- The regiment gets through 200 tins of black polish every month, or 2,400 every year.

- The jackboots which are worn by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment take seven hours per boot to polish up to their patent shine, and 18 hours when new out of the box.

- Each jackboot requires two to three kilograms of beeswax to achieve the famous shine.

- The process of cleaning and maintaining the kit and uniform elements have remained unchanged since the Life Guards were formed in 1660.

- During the mounted wedding procession after the ceremony, the horses in the escort will be wearing ear defence to help with the loud noises from the crowds.

- Per year the horses which make up the mounted regiment get through 12,000 horseshoes, which are changed every four to six weeks due to riding on London's roads.