Royal Horse Guards

Royal Horse Guards
Cap badge of the regiment
(with royal cypher of George V)
Active1650–1660
1661–1969
Country Commonwealth of England (1650–1660)
 Kingdom of England (1660–1707)
 Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800)
 United Kingdom (1801–1969)
Branch British Army
TypeCavalry
RoleExploitation and armoured assault
SizeDivisional
Garrison/HQWindsor
Nickname(s)"The Oxford Blues"[1]
"The Blue Guards"[1]
"The Blues"[1]
Motto(s)Honi soit qui mal y pense
MarchQuick March: Grand March
Slow March: Regimental Slow March of the Royal Horse Guards
Mascot(s)Newfoundland dog
EngagementsSee Battle honours list
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Maj Gen Richard Howard-Vyse
The Earl of Oxford
Lt Col Sir Robert Hill
Lt Gen The Marquess of Granby
General The Duke of Marlborough

The Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, also known as the Blues, or abbreviated as RHG, was one of the Cavalry regiments of the British Army, and part of the Household Cavalry. In 1969, it was amalgamated with the 1st The Royal Dragoons to form the Blues and Royals.

Raised in August 1650 by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell, following the 1660 Stuart Restoration, it became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment in 1660. Based on the colour of their uniform, the regiment was nicknamed "the Oxford Blues", or simply the "Blues." In 1750, it became the Royal Horse Guards Blue and eventually, in 1877, the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues).

  1. ^ a b c Farmer, John S. (1984). The Regimental Records of the British Army. Bristol: Crecy Books. p. 5. ISBN 0-947554-03-3.