The attraction of the title 'The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment' is that it has historic roots over many centuries with the sovereign, with military skill and achievement, and with the recruiting areas of the three predecessor regiments. No other title more fittingly embraces the Royal regiment status of the three predecessor regiments, at the same time linking them to their homes in the North West of England. The Duchy of Lancaster is the one of only two royal duchies in the United Kingdom. The other is the Duchy of Cornwall. The Duke of Lancaster has been the reigning sovereign, the King or Queen, since 1399. The first Duke of Lancaster was Henry Grosmont who was created Duke in 1351 'in recognition of astonishing deeds of prowess and feats of arms'. In the same charter, King Edward III raised Lancaster to the status of County Palatine for Henry's lifetime, effectively giving the Duke sovereign rights in the County. From 1351 to 1399 the title Duke of Lancaster passed from one to another of the King's relatives. It should have gone to Henry Bolingbroke but he was exiled by King Richard II. On return from exile in 1399, Henry imprisoned the King and was himself crowned King Henry IV. Ever since then the reigning sovereign has also been Duke of Lancaster. The special rights, privileges but also duties of the Duke of Lancaster are exercised by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the sovereign's behalf.

Mr Paul Clarke, Clerk to the Duchy of Lancaster, shows the Colonel-in-Chief the silver centre piece presented to the Regiment by the Duchy when the Regiment formed.

The Local Government Act of 1972 altered the administrative boundaries of Lancashire by creating the Metropolitan Counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester. These three administrative counties now form the area for which the Chancellor of the Duchy has magisterial responsibilities. However the historic County Palatine boundaries are not altered by this administrative change and the County Palatine embraces the major recruiting areas of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, the King's Regiment and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment. The property of the Duchy was increased over the centuries and now includes lands all over England, in particular including the foreshore from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria to the River Mersey. The most valuable property is in London between the Strand and the Embankment. In 1556 an Act of Parliament described the Duchy as 'one of the most famous, princeliest and stateliest of the Queen's inheritance'. For more information go to the Duchy's own website.