THE QUEEN'S GUARDS
No. 1 The Life Guards
Trooper: Front Yard Order.
Trumpeter: State Dress.
Background: Horse Guards.
From a watercolour painting by Douglas N. Anderson.
Postcard No. 1 THE LIFE GUARDS
In 1660 the Cavalier bodyguard which accompanied Charles II back from
exile became a regiment of Life Guards of Horse. Other elite troops of
cavalry were subsequently raised and then reduced and in 1788 all were
reorganised as the 1st and 2nd Life Guards. In 1922 these were combined as
one regiment. The Life Guards with the Blues and Royals comprise the
Household Cavalry Regiment, the personal body guard of the Sovereign.
The Trooper is shown in Front Yard order of dress. This is similar to
Mounted Review Order but without the cuirass. The white plume has the
distinctive onion-shaped top achieved by binding while damp. The red cord
on his white buff cartouche belt commemorates the flash-powder flask once
carried. The jack boots are stout leather with the extension above the
knee which originally served as a protection against crushing in the close
order charge. All ranks possess a state sword and a service sword. The
former is shown here.
The State Dress worn by the Trumpeter remains virtually unchanged from the
time of Charles II. It is a Royal Livery rather than a military uniform
and is worn in the presence of Royalty. The riding cap has a cork base and
is covered in dark blue velvet. The coat is crimson velvet and is almost
completely covered with gold lace and gimp. All Household Cavalry troop
horses are black with the exception of the Trumpeters' which are grey and
the drum horses which are either piebald or skewbald. The Queen's Life
Guard is mounted daily at the Horse Guards which is seen here from
Whitehall.
Published 1986.
Copyright © 1995 Published by Geoff White Ltd.
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