For over 350 years, the Household Cavalry has stood as a living link between the British Monarchy and its armed forces. From its origins under Charles II to its modern ceremonial duties, the Household Cavalry’s story is woven tightly into the fabric of royal history.

Charles II: The Founding Monarch

The story begins in the reign of Charles II, who, inspired by the grandeur of Louis XIV’s cuirassed bodyguards, established both the Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards (later the Blues and Royals). The foundation of the Tangier Horse -what would become part of the Blues and Royals – was tied to the marriage of Catherine of Braganza, whose dowry included Tangier. The Household Cavalry has since maintained an unbroken tradition of guarding the official entrance to royal residences, including the iconic Horse Guards Parade.

The oak leaf motif still adorning the Life Guards’ uniforms is a direct tribute to this early period, rooted in the symbolism of the English Civil War and the monarchy’s restoration.

James II to Anne: From Rebellion to Loyalty

James II saw the Household Cavalry play a decisive role in crushing Monmouth’s Rebellion at Sedgemoor, Monmouth being Charles II’s illegitimate but favoured son.

Under William and Mary and then Queen Anne, the regiments were deployed to Flanders and Spain. 

Anne, in particular, was known to keep the Life Guards close, with a fondness for the troops who represented her power and protection.

Hanoverian Ties: From the Battlefield to the Royal Court

During the Hanoverian era, the Cavalry’s battlefield presence remained strong. George II’s trusted commander, General Hawley, was also colonel of the Royals and led at Culloden. Under George III, the regiments fought in the Peninsular War and all took part at Waterloo. 

The Household Cavalry’s iconic Windsor dress dates back to this era, and the King donated kettle drums to the regiments – an honour also repeated later by William IV.

George IV, never shy of pomp, appointed himself Commander of the Household Brigade, further cementing the Cavalry’s royal association.

Victorian Reforms and Romanticism

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert left their mark as well. Albert redesigned the helmet “à la prusse”, a style still recognisable today. In 1894, the Punishment Parade was established, reflecting a new era of discipline. 

One notable officer, Burnaby – whose presence “took the Queen’s breath away” – became something of a legend in his own right. Victoria’s relationship with the regiment was personal and proud.

Edwardian Elegance and War

Under Edward VII, connections with European royalty continued – he gifted a Fabergé box and received personal tokens like a cigarette case from Kaiser Wilhelm. His son, George V, served in the regiments and inspected them at Windsor just before World War I. 

Within a year, half of the troopers he had reviewed were killed in action, a stark reminder of the Cavalry’s dual ceremonial and combat roles.

A New Era of Service

George VI maintained these traditions. Valerian Wellesley, reflecting on his time in Palestine, once noted the poignancy of horses shot in war that had earlier walked in the King’s coronation parade.

Queen Elizabeth II saw the 1969 amalgamation of regiments originally founded by Charles II. She remained Colonel-in-Chief, with Princess Anne serving as Gold Stick in Waiting, a ceremonial protector of the monarch. 

The next generation followed suit: Prince William and Prince Harry were both commissioned officers in the Blues and Royals, with Harry even serving in Afghanistan.

Today: A Living Tradition

The Household Cavalry continues its role as the monarch’s mounted bodyguard, present at all major State and ceremonial occasions. Though the intimacy of earlier centuries has faded, the symbolism remains powerful.

Today, as in centuries past, troopers stand guard at the coffins of monarchs, one on each corner of the catafalque during lying-in-state, offering a silent and powerful tribute.

Whether on horseback at ceremonial events or mounted at Horse Guards Parade, the Household Cavalry remains a striking emblem of royal tradition, continuity, and honour.