Army

Life Guards and Blues & Royals receive new Standards from the King at Windsor Castle

The Standards symbolise the history, achievements and identity of the two regiments

New Standards have been presented to the Life Guards and the Blues & Royals in a ceremony at Windsor Castle attended by the King and the Princess Royal.

The King was received by a Royal Salute and the National Anthem on the Quadrangle dais, before inspecting a parade while a military band played.

The Standards, which symbolise the history, achievements and identity of the two regiments, were consecrated by the Chaplain General before being presented to the King, who in turn formally handed them over to the Commanding Officers.

Charles is Colonel-in-Chief of the Household Division, while Princess Anne is Colonel of the Blues & Royals.

The King said: "These Union Standards remain a physical reminder of that very personal bond between the Sovereign and the regiments of The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals.

"They have lasted the test of time in various guises since before the Restoration to the present day. The one-time physical rallying point for your forebears, although they are now more often seen on parade, they remain a golden thread that connects the present to an illustrious past."

He pointed out how In every decade following the Second World War that the regiments had received a new Standard, the soldiers had also been deployed on operations including Malaysia, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Gulf, the Balkans and Afghanistan, as well as on duty with the United Nations in Cyprus and with Nato in Kosovo.

"You now field modern armour and train not with swords and axes, but with snipers and drones," he added. "Such substantive historic and recent experience underpins everything which makes the Household Division so special, and credible, in the United Kingdom, among our Allies and around the world.

"At such a time of global uncertainty, it is of crucial importance to preserve the attributes of excellence and achievement for which you are famous, and which are symbolised by these Standards.

"Emblazoned as they are with the battle honours earned by the blood, toil, tears and sweat of soldiers past, they are the embodied soul of the regiment."

Members of Household Cavalry on parade at Windsor Castle where they were presented with new Standards by King Charles — Members of the Household Cavalry during the ceremony

The new Standards, made from silk with gold and silver embroidery, were displayed on silver kettle drums. The Sovereign's Standards were also on show during the parade.

Household Cavalry Standards are routinely used by regiments wherever they are based, whereas the Sovereign's Standards are displayed for royal duties and state processions.

The Household Cavalry received its Sovereign's Standards from the King shortly before the Coronation in April 2023.

The Band of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiments performs at the recent parade — The Band of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiments performed at a recent VE Day 80 parade (Picture: MOD)

Household Cavalry soldiers have acted as the monarch's trusted guardians since 1660, as well as being the public face of the British Army both at home and abroad.

The Household Cavalry is made up of the two most senior regiments in the British Army - the Life Guards and the Blues & Royals - and is divided into the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The Household Cavalry Regiment is the operational unit, providing an armoured reconnaissance capability, and has taken part in every major conflict, while the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment mainly carries out ceremonial duties.

The Band of the Household Cavalry was recently seen performing at the VE Day 80 anniversary event in central London.