| Coldstream Guards | |
|---|---|
 Regimental badge of the Coldstream Guards[a] | |
| Active | 1650–present |
| Country |  Commonwealth of England (1650–1660) England(1660–1707)  Great Britain (1707–1800) United Kingdom(1801–present) |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | 1st Battalion and No 17 Company – Light Role Infantry No 7 Company – Public Duties |
| Size | One battalion – 559 personnel[1] One independent incremental company One reserve company |
| Part of | Guards and Parachute Division |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ – London 1st Battalion—Windsor No 7 Company—London No 17 Company Hammersmith |
| Nickname(s) | The Lilywhites |
| Motto(s) | Nulli Secundus (Latin for 'Second to None') |
| March | Quick: "Milanollo" Slow: "Figaro" ("Non più andrai" from The Marriage of Figaro) |
| Anniversaries | St George's Day (23 April) |
| Engagements |
|
| Commanders | |
| Colonel-in-Chief | King Charles III |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Lt Gen Sir James Bucknall |
| Regimental Lieutenant Colonel | Col. Toby P. O. Till |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Plume | Red Right side of Bearskin cap |
| Abbreviation | COLDM GDS |
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular[b] regiment in the British Army.[2] As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonial occasions. The Regiment has consistently provided formations on deployments around the world and has fought in the majority of the major conflicts in which the British Army has been engaged.[3]
The Regiment has been in continuous service and has never been amalgamated. It was formed in 1650 as 'Monck's Regiment of Foot' and was then renamed 'The Lord General's Regiment of Foot Guards' after the Restoration in 1660.[4] With George Monck's death in 1670 it was again renamed 'The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards' after the location in Scotland from which it marched to help restore the monarchy in 1660.[4] Its name was again changed to the 'Coldstream Guards' in 1855 and this is still its present title.[5]
Today, the Regiment consists of: Regimental Headquarters, a single battalion (the 1st Battalion), an independent incremental company (Number 7 Company, maintaining the customs and traditions, as well as carrying the Colours of 2nd Battalion), a Regimental Band, a reserve company (Number 17 Company) and individuals at training establishments and other extra regimental employment.[6]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Coldstream Guards". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "The Coldstream Guards Official Charity Website". Coldstream Guards. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ a b Davies, Godfrey (1924). The early history of the Coldstream guards. Oxford: The Clarendon press.
- ^ The Coldstream Guards.
- ^ "Regimental Headquarters". Coldstream Guards. Retrieved 10 March 2021.