Lifeguard, Wooden Lifeguard, The Queen's Lifeguard, The Household Cavalry Regiment

The Queen's Lifeguard.
Depicted is a limited edition soldier depicting the Lifeguards who are the senior regiment of the British Army

Lifeguard - Household Cavalry

The Queen's Life Guard is provided by men of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, This Regiment also provides the Sovereign's Escort on all state occasions.

Before the Restoration of King Charles II, a Royal Mounted Bodyguard was formed in Holland from Royalists who had gone into exile with The King after the Battle of Worcester in 1652. On the Kings return to England the Lifeguards came into being. The Regiment first saw action at the Battle of Sedgemoor (the Monmouth Rebellion) in 1665. Troops of Horse Grenadier Guards (Mounted Infantry) were added to the Horse Guards in 1678. seeing action in both the Jacobite Wars and during the War of Austrian Succession (1742 -46).

In 1778 the Troops of Horse Guards were disbanded and re-formed as the 1st Lifeguards and 2nd Life Guards, They formed the front charging line of The Heavy Brigade at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, staging the famous charge against the French Cuirassiers. In the reign of Queen Victoria The Life Guards served in Egypt, the Sudan and South Africa and during the First World War The Life Guards saw action at Mons, The Marne, Le Cateau, Loos, Ypres,Loos, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele and Zandvoorde. In 1918 they gave up their horses and were converted to Machine Gun Battalions, becoming the 1st and 2nd Guards Machine Gun Battalions.

During the Second World War the Life Guards contributed men to both Household Cavalry Regiments at Normandy in July 1944 they fronted the Guards Armoured Brigade advance through France to liberate Brussels and become the only forces to make contact with the Polish Free Forces during the advance to take the bridge at Arnhem.

Horse Guards is named after the troops who have mounted the Queen's Life Guard on this spot since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Horse Guards remains the official entrance to St James's and Buckingham Palace and this is why The Queen's Life Guard is still mounted here. Apart from members of the Royal Family or cavalrymen on duty, everyone needs the Sovereign's permission in the form of an Ivory Pass to either drive or ride through Horse Guards.

The changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place each weekday at 11 o'clock and at 10 o'clock on Sundays. At the time of changing of the Guard, the Old Guard forms up on the north side of the enclosure on Horse Guards Parade and the New Guard on the south side. As the New Guard arrives, each Guard carries the Standard and the Trumpeters of both Old and New Guards sound the Royal Salute on the arrival of the New Guard and on the departure of the Old Guard. When both Guards have formed up in the enclosure, the Corporal Major, Senior NCO and the sentries of the first relief of the New Guard leave for the Guard Room which is then handed over. The sentries of the Old Guard, after being relieved, rejoin the remainder of the Old Guard on the north side of the enclosure. The Standard and Trumpeters are only on parade with a Long Guard.

Lifeguard - Household Cavalry

Limited Edition Wooden Lifeguard

Wooden Soldier Regimental Histories

Wooden Soldier Regimental Histories