King confident soldiers will guard new company colour well, Duke of Edinburgh says
The Duke of Edinburgh has presented a new company colour to troops responsible for training future generations of Guardsmen and says the King is "confident" they will "guard it well".
Helles Barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire, is home to the Guards Training Company and is responsible for training all new Guardsmen wishing to join one of the five regiments of foot guards.
More than 200 military personnel were on parade at the Infantry Training Centre, ranging from soldiers on day four of their training and those due to 'pass out' or complete their 30-week Combat Infantry Course.
Prince Edward, who is the current Colonel of the Scots Guards and the London Guards, said: "On behalf of His Majesty, I hand over this colour in the confidence that you will guard it well."
He went on to say that the new colour "would be a symbol of the guards training company's enduring spirit and devotion to duty" and that it "will inspire you in the face of uncertainty and that as an emblem of your achievements, it will be an embodiment of your company's traditions, heritage and ethos".
Soldiers were led onto the parade by the Scots Guards Pipe Band – who provided military music throughout the parade.
After the parade, the Duke of Edinburgh spent time speaking with several trainee guardsmen, asking them about their time at the base.
Guardsmen have been training at Catterick since 1993 when the Guards Depot in Pirbright closed.
On his ascension to the throne, the King agreed the changing of the Household Division crest by taking on the Tudor crown to reflect a King on the throne.
It is the first time since 2003, when the King, then Prince of Wales, presented them with a company colour to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Guards Training Company.
'Colours' is the name given to the flags or banners representing different regiments or units within the Armed Forces.
Historically, colours were used by troops as a rallying point during battle and were held in very high regard.
Soldiers would regularly conduct 'trooping the colour' – when the ensign or officer and colour party would pass through the ranks carrying the colour, providing an opportunity for soldiers to recognise their particular regimental or unit colour and would therefore know where to rally, even during the fog of war.
Today they hold the same reverence and are locked away in vaults or regimental armouries and only brought out under armed guard during high-profile parades or ceremonial events.
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