Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Major Tim Cooper, Director of Music of The Blues and Royals conducting the Mounted Band of The Blues and Royals
Active 19 October 1992-Present (roots dating back to 1660)
Country  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Horse Guards
Role Public duties/ceremonial
Size One regiment
Part of Household Cavalry
Garrison/HQ Hyde Park Barracks, London
Motto(s) Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense
(Evil be to Him who Evil Thinks)
March Life Guards: Quick - Millanollo
Slow - Life Guards Slow March
Trot Past - Keel Row
Blues and Royals: Quick - Quick March of the Blues and Royals
Slow - Slow March of the Blues and Royals
Trot Past - Keel Row
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief HM The Queen

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army tasked primarily with ceremonial duties. Part of the Household Division, it is classed as a regiment of guards, and carries out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions. The HCMR is one of two operational units that form the Household Cavalry, the other being the Household Cavalry Regiment. That unit is a formation reconnaissance regiment, with front-line combat duties.

Establishment

It consists of one sabre squadron from each regiment of the Household Cavalry (the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals) plus a Headquarters Squadron, and the Household Cavalry Training Wing. Each of the Squadrons consists of two divisions of one officer and 24 men.[1] This has been based (in various forms) at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, since 1795. This is three-quarters of a mile from Buckingham Palace, close enough for the officers and men of the Household Cavalry to be available to respond speedily to any emergency at the Palace and also to conduct their ceremonial duties.[2]

Public duties

A sentry of the Life Guards outside Horse Guards Parade

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment carries out regular ceremonial duties throughout the year. As the Sovereign's bodyguard and part of the Household Division, the HCMR mounts a daily guard (called Queen's Life Guard) at Horse Guards, which is the historical and ceremonial entrance to Buckingham Palace. This ceremony can be viewed daily by members of the public. The HCMR is responsible for the provision of the Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the monarch's annual Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) in June each year. The escort is also seen at other occasions, including during state visits by visiting heads of state, or whenever required by the British monarch. The regiment provides a staircase party inside Buckingham Palace at state Investitures, and inside the Palace of Westminster at the annual State Opening of Parliament. They are also present at the annual Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle.[3]

Musical ride

The Household Cavalry Musical Ride has been performed at agricultural shows, military tattoos since the 1880s. The display is often accompanied by the Mounted Band of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). The Musical Ride demonstrates the skills that were required by cavalry in times of war. The display was a firm favourite at the Royal Tournament where it was first performed in 1882, the Musical Ride was performed at the last Royal Tournament in 1999. Since 2010, it has also performed at the British Military Tournament.[4]

Alliances and twinnings

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "House Cavalry - Mounted Regiment". Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Palace reins in sale of cavalry barracks". The Sunday Times. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "The Household Cavalry Musical Ride 2012 at Earls Court, London". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
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