The Royal Horse Guards is the only cavalry regiment now in existence
that formed part of the Parliamentary Army during the reign of Charles
I. In the autumn of 1660, after the Restoration, its disbandment was
ordered but not carried out, and King Charles "gave orders for raising
a regiment of horse of eight troops, of which the Earl of Oxforde was
to be Collonel, and also of a troop of horse guards." This was done
under a Royal Warrant of 26th of January, 1661. In 1690 the regiment
was called "The Oxford Blues" to distinguish it from the Earl of
Portland's (Dutch) "Horse Guards." During the campaign in Flanders
(1742-1745) it was known as "The Blue Guards," and is now popularly
called "The Blues."
See Note "A," 1st Life Guards.
[Illustration: The Standard and Uniforms of the 3rd Dragoon Guards]
[Illustration: The Drum Horse of the 7th Dragoon Guards--Review Order]
[Illustration]
(_Depot_, Dunbar.)
On Standard, The Royal Cypher within the Garter.
"Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," "Malplaquet," "Dettingen,"
"Warburg," "Beaumont," "Waterloo," "Sevastopol," "Taku Forts,"
"Pekin, 1860," "South Africa, 1879, 1901-02."
_Uniform_, Scarlet.
_Facings_, Blue.
_Head-dress_, Brass helmet with red plume; band, white plume.
_Forage cap_, Blue, with blue band.
Linked Regiment, 5th Dragoon Guards.
The Sergeants are entitled to wear the Regimental badge on their
chevrons.