Cap badge of the Household Cavalry, 1919-1936.
NAM. 1963-12-104-1Introduction
The Household Cavalry is an unusual corps of the British Army, since it is made up of only two regiments - the Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR).
The corps was formed in 1991 by linking together the British Army’s two guards cavalry units, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. However, both the HCR and HCMR are only operational units, with no traditions, uniform or headquarters of its own. This is because the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals both retain their own regimental uniforms, traditions, headquarters and colonels.
A Scimitar tank of the Household Cavalry in Now Zad, Afghanistan, 2006.
NAM. 2006-10-3-199. Crown copyrightThe Household Cavalry Regiment is the corps’ operational wing of four squadrons, two from each of the guards cavalry regiments. It fights as part of the Royal Armoured Corps, though in terms of precedence the Household Cavalry is a corps of its own.
The horse guards’ ceremonial duties are carried out from Hyde Park Barracks by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, with one squadron from the Life Guards, one from the Blues and Royals and one joint Headquarters Squadron, in all totalling 75 men.
Key facts
Motto:
- 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense ' (meaning 'Shame on Him Who Thinks This Evil')
Titles to date:
- Household Cavalry
- Household Cavalry Regiment
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
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