In January last year, the first Gurkha unit to be formed in more than a decade was announced - The King's Gurkha Artillery

The unit drew its initial batch of personnel from existing Gurkha units to undertake an intensive conversion course that would retrain them as gunners

The KGA soldiers have been trained to operate the L118 Light Gun, a weapon that entered service in the British Army around half a century ago

The new unit formed up in Larkhill, the home of the Royal Artillery, and will grow to form further batteries over the next three to four years

Having the monarch's title in The King's Gurkha Artillery is a prestigious honour for all those now serving and who will serve in future with the KGA

The KGA is now recognised as the seventh cap badge within the Brigade of Gurkhas and represents a vital component of The Royal Artillery's evolving operational capability

The L118 Light Gun can be towed by a medium-weight vehicle or carried around the battlefield underslung by a Chinook helicopter

A new Gurkha cap badge was created - the first in 14 years - to represent the new unit and the expanded breadth of specialisms that the Brigade of Gurkhas delivers

It features the standard Royal Artillery badge of the Tudor crown, cannon, rammer and motto – Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt – superimposed by crossed kukris

The KGA soldiers have had to learn a variety of new skills such as the positions on the gun, their roles and responsibilities, ammunition types and how to carry out a fire mission

As he walked onto the red carpet, the monarch was presented with a special garland in the colours of the KGA

For these men, English is their second language so another challenge they face is to learn the correct voice procedures on the net - a challenge they will overcome with typical Gurkha gusto

Army

Jai Gurkha! King Charles hails formation of Army's new close support artillery unit

Rosie Laydon

5th June 2026 at 10:45am

The King has attended a parade to celebrate the creation of the Army's first dedicated Gurkha artillery unit.

Charles, who is Captain General of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, met the soldiers of The King's Gurkha Artillery at their Formation Parade at Larkhill.

The KGA was formally established in April last year, but the Formation Parade was the first ceremonial opportunity to honour the new unit.

A Light Gun salute

As the King arrived on camp a royal salute rang out, fired from six L118 Light Guns on the parade square.

As he walked onto the red carpet, the monarch was presented with a special garland in the colours of the KGA.

Nine miniature posies were also handed to King Charles by daughters of the soldiers on parade dressed in traditional Nepalese costume.

With around 150 soldiers lined up for their official formation parade, the King inspected the troops, stopping to chat along the way.

He then gave a speech thanking them for their service and saying he was proud to see them on parade.

Charles also thanked their families for their support, ending the speech with a rousing cry of "Jai Gurkha!" – "Hail Gurkha!".

Soldiers from the KGA put the new skills they'd learned with the L118 Light Gun into practice on an exercise in Brecon (Picture: BFBS) — Soldiers from the KGA put the new skills they'd learned with the L118 Light Gun into practice on this exercise in Brecon (Picture: BFBS)

New unit, new cap badge

The establishment of The King's Gurkha Artillery offers fresh opportunities for the soldiers of the Brigade of Gurkhas, while adding greater depth and diversity to the Royal Artillery.

The formation was announced on 20 January 2025 and marked by His Majesty's approval of the Corps badge on 30 April 2025.

Following the cap badging of the first tranche on 2 June 2025 and the redesignation of 34 (Seringapatam) Battery, Royal Artillery, as 34 (Seringapatam) Battery, The King's Gurkha Artillery on 12 June 2025, the regiment has continued to grow.

In the years ahead, Gurkha gunners will serve across a number of Royal Artillery regiments in support of 1st Division, 3rd Division and 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team.

The regiment is expected to grow to more than 500 personnel by 2029 in support of the Army's future requirements.

A new Gurkha cap badge was created – the first in 14 years – to represent the new unit and the expanded breadth of specialisms that the Brigade of Gurkhas deliver, continuing their proud tradition of military service to the UK.

It features the standard Royal Artillery badge of the Tudor crown, cannon, rammer and motto – Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt – Everywhere Where Right and Glory Lead. But this time, the badge has been superimposed by the Gurkhas' crossed kukris.