The two regiments of the Household Cavalry, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, are visually distinctive on parade, particularly in the coming months when they are a focal point of the summer pageantry on Horse Guards Parade. 

But what is the significance of their vibrant and ornate uniforms? Why do some members of the Household Cavalry differ from the typical red and blue regimental uniforms, forming up on parade in black tunics or even gold coats?

The Life Guards

The Life Guards, the senior regiment of the Household Cavalry, were formed in 1660, predominantly from veterans of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War, as a personal guard to King Charles II. They are identified by their scarlet tunics, white helmet plumes, and white sheepskin saddlecloths while mounted on horseback. 

The Blues and Royals

The Blues and Royals - previously the ‘Blues’ or Royal Horse Guards, and the ‘Royals’ or Royal Dragoons prior to their amalgamation in 1969, wear dark blue tunics with scarlet helmet plumes, along with black sheepskin saddlecloths while mounted. 

Cuirasses

Both regiments wear stainless steel cuirasses which were adopted in the 1820s after the effectiveness of French heavy cavalry (‘cuirassiers’) during the Napoleonic Wars. This forms part of their Summer Review Order also known as Mounted Review Order (from April until October).  The white crossbelt, worn with a black cartouche box at the back, was originally intended to hold gunpowder and musket balls when the regiments still fought using black powder firearms. The red cord worn around the crossbelt allowed troopers to carry additional powder charges for quicker reloading in battle. The white crossbelt could be used, should the saddle girth snap in battle, as a makeshift replacement.

Jack Boots

The Household Cavalry soldiers wear thigh-high jackboots and elbow-length gauntlets which were originally designed to give the limbs greater protection in battle. Both are made of extremely tough leather so enemy swords would either glance off, rather than pierce it. The helmet chin strap is worn loosely across the chin by the Life Guards, and loosely under the chin by the Blues and Royals; both styles intended to allow a trooper to quickly discard the helmet if it became dislodged or was seized during combat.

Helmets

The helmets - and, in the case of officers, the collars and sleeves - are engraved with oak and laurel leaves. The oak leaves commemorate Charles II’s escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651, when he famously hid in the branches of an oak tree to evade capture, while the laurel leaves evoke both victory and Charles’ inspiration from the Praetorian Guard, the personal bodyguard of the Roman Emperors, in the creation of the Household Cavalry.

The helmets - and in the case of officers’, the collar and sleeves – are engraved with oak and laurel leaves. The oak leaves commemorate Charles II’s narrow escape from enemy pursuers after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 by hiding in the branches of an oak tree, while the laurel leaves evoke both victory and Charles’ inspiration from the Praetorian Guard, the personal bodyguard of the Roman Emperors, in the creation of the Household Cavalry.

Farriers

Uniform of a Life Guards Farrier, on display in the Household Cavalry Museum

The Farriers of the Household Cavalry are immediately recognisable on parade by their distinctive black tunics and helmet plumes, and by the ceremonial poleaxe they carry in place of the sword borne by troopers and officers. Two farriers typically appear during major ceremonies such as the King's Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour). 

Their sombre uniform is steeped in history. Farriers have long been responsible for the care of the regiment's horses, but on the battlefield this role extended to treating wounded animals and, when necessary, humanely destroying those too badly injured to recover. The black colouring of their tunics was no mere aesthetic choice. It served the practical purpose of concealing bloodstains in the course of these grim but essential duties. 

The poleaxe they carry was similarly used in their duties. The pole part of the axe was designed to put a mortally wounded horse out of its misery through a single blow to the skull. The poll (often spelled pole) is the highest point on a horse's head, located immediately behind the ears. This is where the name poleaxe comes from. While the axehead could be used to sever a horse’s forehoof, branded with its regimental number, to be shown as proof to the quartermaster that said horse had been lost in battle before a new one would be issued. This helped prevent Officers from selling off their horses to pay off debts and then trying to claim the animal was slain to acquire a new one for free.

Farrier’s axe on display at the Household Cavalry Museum.

Musicians

The musicians of the Household Cavalry Band are immediately identifiable at ceremonial events owing to the beautifully elaborate state coats they wear. Made of cloth of gold, crimson velvet and lace, accompanied by a blue jockey cap, ‘State Dress’ is only worn in the presence of senior royalty, such as the King, Queen or Prince of Wales: otherwise, the musicians perform in their regimental uniforms.

The State Dress is the oldest continually worn uniform in the British Army, purchased by the Lord Mayor of London as part of the Restoration of King Charles II. The King had wanted 10,000 made for his escorts to wear along the route to Westminster Abbey during his coronation. After Parliament and the Treasury refused to provide the amount of money needed to make that many, the Lord Mayor of London paid for 5000 out of his own pocket. In commemoration of this original generosity, the sole time the Household Cavalry Band wear their State Dress outside the presence of senior royalty is at the Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London.

Musician’s State Dress bearing the Royal Cipher of Queen Elizabeth II, on display in the Household Cavalry Museum

The State Dress has remained largely unchanged since the seventeenth century, aside from the addition of a new royal cipher for each monarch. One notable Victorian alteration is the black cuff band with three gold toggles. Queen Victoria ordered the black band to commemorate Prince Albert after his death, while the gold toggles were reportedly added after she observed a musician wiping his nose on the sleeve of his State Coat and sought to prevent a repeat of the indignity.