The regiments of Foot Guards, known as the Brigade of Guards, have many
privileges and duties reserved to them alone. They claim the privilege
of guarding the Royal Palaces and form part of the Household Troops
of the Sovereign. The First Company of the 1st Battalion Grenadier
Guards is known as the King's Company and is comprised of picked men
of particularly fine physique, none under 6 feet in height being
admitted to it. This company has the right to carry on parade on state
and ceremonial occasions a colour of crimson silk, the gift of the
Sovereign, being the only company in the Army so privileged. The First
Company of the Welsh Guards, formed in 1915, is known as The Prince of
Wales's Company, and is also composed of picked men. The Scots Guards
is the only regular Scottish regiment to have drum and fife bands. The
Quartermasters of the Brigade of Guards wear cocked hats with plumes,
the Grenadier and Scots Guards, white; the Coldstream Guards, red; and
the Irish Guards, blue. The sergeant-majors of the Foot Guards wear an
elaborate Royal Coat of Arms on their right sleeves above the elbow.
No chevrons or badges are worn by staff-sergeants of the Foot Guards in
undress uniform.
The Royal or King's Colour in regiments of Foot Guards is of crimson
silk, and bears the distinctions conferred by Royal authority. The
regimental colour of Foot Guards is the Union Jack, and battle honours
are borne on both colours. The King's Colour of the Infantry of the
Line is the Union Jack, with the regimental badge superimposed, but
the regimental colour is distinctive in each regiment and the battle
honours are borne on these alone.