The State Opening of Parliament is one of the most magnificent ceremonial occasions in the British calendar - and at its heart, the Household Cavalry play a central and historic role. Each year, as Parliament begins its new session, the Monarch travels in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. It is the Household Cavalry who lead the way: over one...

Every artefact displayed in the Household Cavalry Museum comes with a unique story attached, some far stranger than others - from a phenomenally expensive officer’s breastplate worn only once, to a sword wielded in combat at the Battle of Waterloo, to a campaign medal awarded to a cavalry horse for bravery. It is the Museum’s responsibility to preserve this historical...

Horses more likely come to mind than bears when one mentions the Household Cavalry, but strange as it sounds, a bear has a unique claim to fame in the Household Cavalry’s regimental history, a fitting story for World Bear Day today… Phillip was a brown bear, possibly imported from Canada where they are a native species, owned as a pet...

International War Animal Day commemorates the animals of all shapes and sizes that have served, suffered and died in human conflicts throughout history: from cavalry horses and military service dogs to carrier pigeons and camels. The occasion holds particular significance for the Household Cavalry. Across centuries of military service, the Cavalry Blacks have taken part in some of the bloodiest...

On 17 January 1885, the Household Cavalry lost one of its most legendary figures when Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby was killed in action at the Battle of Abu Klea in present-day Sudan, fighting beside old comrades and dying as he had lived - with daring and courage. When General the Lord Wolseley was ordered to lead the Nile Expedition to...

Towering, disciplined and steeped in centuries of tradition, the Horses of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) are as much a part of Britain’s ceremonial heritage as the soldiers who ride them. At full strength, the Regiment cares for more than 280 horses, including those fully trained and in training. To help visitors better understand these remarkable animals and the...

It was a pleasure to welcome Amin and his father Esmail to the museum yesterday (10/04/2024) for a very special visit. Amin, a keen fan of the Household Cavalry, had the chance to get up close with the uniforms, history, and traditions he admires so much at our museum. It was a joy to see his enthusiasm and curiosity come...

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,...

The story of the Household Cavalry is not just a tale of ceremonial pomp - it's a living timeline of royal service, military tradition, and national history. From the battlefields of Europe to the heart of London’s ceremonial life, the regiments that make up today’s Household Cavalry have played a continuous and evolving role since the 17th century. 1660 –...

John Edwards was born on the 4 October 1799 in Westminster, London and joined the 1st Life Guards (1st LG) in 1809 aged just 9 years old and under 4 feet tall....