King Charles presents the Coldstream Guards with new colours at Windsor Castle
King Charles has presented new colours to the 1st and 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards in a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The new colours are due to be carried at the King's official birthday parade in London on Saturday 14 June.
The Windsor parade started at Victoria Barracks, with troops marching to Windsor Castle through the historic town centre.
The traditional ceremony of prayers and blessings to hand over the colours was then held in the Castle Quadrangle.
"Being presented new colours by His Majesty the King on the occasion of the regiment's 375th birthday is an enormous privilege for the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and every person on parade feels pride at the unique opportunity that they are part of," said Lieutenant Colonel Ed Michell, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.
"It also represents a return to the battalion operating together, as our companies have been deployed on operations in Iraq, supporting the effort to train the Armed Forces of Ukraine and delivering training in West Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East over the last 18 months," he added.
The new silk flags are decorated with 44 of the Guards' 133 battle honours and, for the first time in 70 years, the King's crown.
The design reflects the long history of the Coldstream Guards and symbolises the sacrifices of all those who died fighting in their name.
Historically, colours acted as a rallying point during battle, so that soldiers could easily spot their unit.
New colours were last presented to the regiment by the late Queen in 2012.
King Charles, who is now Colonel-in-Chief of the Coldstream Guards, addressed the 400 personnel on parade, thanking them for their service at home, overseas and for their training of Ukrainian forces.
"I bestow these colours into your safe-keeping in the knowledge that you will continue to uphold the very highest standards of military prowess and the indomitable spirit that your regiment has shown over the last 375 years," he said.
"No matter what lies ahead."
The next step for the Coldstream Guards is to take part in Saturday's Trooping the Colour in London.
The Coldstream Guards are the Army's oldest continuously serving regiment, this year celebrating their 375th anniversary.
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