The Scots Guards' annual Black Sunday parade witnessed His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent's final day as Colonel of the Regiment after a remarkable 50 years of devoted service. The Regimental family gathered in their hundreds to bid farewell with music, marching, memories, mementos and a heartfelt thank you, cheered by all.
The Scots Guards’ Black Sunday is a key event of the year for this dual-role regiment, which cherishes a glorious history dating back to 1642. It is their annual remembrance Sunday service and parade, when they pay tribute to all that have gone before, and enjoy reconnecting with the Scots Guards family, old and new.
This year was particularly poignant as it marked the final visit to the regiment of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent in his role as their Colonel.
The Duke of Kent has given selfless service and loyalty to the Regiment and, while they were sad to say goodbye, the Scots Guards were determined to give their Colonel the send-off he so richly deserved.
The Duke of Kent has been at the helm of the Scots Guards for fifty years. He is the only Colonel most of us have known. He has been a constant in a rapidly changing world. His loyalty to the Regiment and selfless commitment to the country is an example to us all. Colonel James Leask, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, The Scots Guards
Colonel James Leask, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, The Scots Guards said:
"The serving and retired elements of the Scots Guards Regimental Family came together in the Guards’ Chapel, on our Regimental Remembrance Sunday, to show their huge appreciation to His Royal Highness and to salute him one final time.
“The Duke of Kent has been at the helm of the Scots Guards for fifty years. He is the only Colonel most of us have known. He has been a constant in a rapidly changing world. His loyalty to the Regiment and selfless commitment to the country is an example to us all."
A memorable day
When The Duke arrived at Wellington Barracks, he was met by senior representatives of the Scots Guards and Associations before joining a service of remembrance in the Guards Chapel. The Scots Guards then marched down Birdcage Walk to the Guards Memorial on Horse Guards Parade for a wreath laying service. HRH laid a wreath while the Band of the Scots Guards performed a lament.
The Duke then took his place on a dais in Birdcage Walk as the marching contingent of the Scots Guards Band, the Pipes and marching troops made up of serving soldiers from F Company and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, reservists from G Company London Guards, and veterans from both battalions, delivered the final march past of the Regiment for their long serving Colonel.
Pipe Major John Mitchell performed his own composition “The Colonel” written especially for The Duke of Kent, as a fitting tribute during the parade.
Back in barracks, HRH joined soldiers and their families in the Junior Ranks Diner where he was presented with a framed pipe banner, and thanked for all his support over half a century.
To my fellow Scots Guardsmen, I am immensely proud to have served you all. As your new Colonel, I am delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will continue to champion all that you do and work towards preserving your great legacy. His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent
His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent said:
“Serving as Colonel of the Scots Guards since 1974, the longest anyone has spent in this role, has been a true honour and one which will forever fill me with great joy. Through those years, I have seen the work of the Scots Guards during peacetime and war and witnessed their bravery, selfless courage and devotion to duty.
“To my fellow Scots Guardsmen, I am immensely proud to have served you all. As your new Colonel, I am delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will continue to champion all that you do and work towards preserving your great legacy.”
As The Duke said his final farewells, his route was lined by members of the regiment from the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, F Company Scots Guards, G Company London Guards, the Band of the Scots Guards, and association veterans, all loudly cheering their Colonel. Their cheers and the sound of the Pipe Major performing “Highlan’ Laddie” – the Scots Guards' regimental march – followed for long after he was gone.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent handed over Colonelcy of the Regiment to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh immediately following the parade.
Colonel James Leask commented at the event that "The Regiment is delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will shortly become the twenty-seventh Colonel Scots Guards. This is a seminal moment for us. It marks the end of a remarkable era and the start of a new and exciting chapter in our long and distinguished history."
It is a distinct honour to be asked and entrusted by His Majesty to serve as the next Colonel. However, I accept with a degree of trepidation as I will undoubtedly be measured against the formidable record and reputation of my predecessor. I can only promise to do my best His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards
As the new Colonel of the Scots Guards, The Duke of Edinburgh said:
“The Duke of Kent has been an extraordinary Colonel of the Scots Guards. Quite apart from his depth of knowledge and keen understanding of the Regiment and all those who serve, past and present, he has been a tireless and passionate advocate.
“It is a distinct honour to be asked and entrusted by His Majesty to serve as the next Colonel. However, I accept with a degree of trepidation as I will undoubtedly be measured against the formidable record and reputation of my predecessor. I can only promise to do my best.”
A lifetime of service
At 18, His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys. His Royal Highness’ military career included a regimental tour in Hong Kong before commanding a squadron of his regiment serving in Cyprus as part of the United Nations Force. He retired from the Army after 21 years’ service in 1976 having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
His Royal Highness was appointed Colonel of the Scots Guards Regiment on 9th September 1974 – the Regiment’s 26th Colonel.
The Duke of Kent has devoted a record 50 years of service to the regiment – the longest of any Royal Colonel that has gone before. His Royal Highness has attended every Trooping of The Colour as Colonel Scots Guards since 1975. His Royal Highness has long supported the work of the Scots Guards and visited the regiment on a regular basis. This included travelling to Afghanistan and Iraq to meet members of the regiment on operational duties in 2008.
Remembrance and reunion
Whilst the 11th of November marks a national day of Remembrance for everyone in the Armed Forces, the Scots Guards’ regimental day of remembrance stands, as always, in April, on the only Sunday that isn’t Palm Sunday, Easter Day, or the London Marathon. It is a personal day to remember all Scots Guardsmen who have given their lives in service to their regiment and country since 1642. Everyone in the Regimental Family does their best to attend.
Scots Guards Captain George Hopkins said:
“Black Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the friendships that are so fundamental to our regimental ethos and identity. The Scots Guards continue to be at the heart of operational commitments across the globe. So occasions such as this offer a precious opportunity to reunite and reconnect across the generations.”
Black Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the friendships that are so fundamental to our regimental ethos and identity. The Scots Guards continue to be at the heart of operational commitments across the globe so occasions such as this offer a precious opportunity to reunite and reconnect across the generations Captain George Hopkins, The Scots Guards
“It is an incredibly poignant and sombre, yet family orientated, day. We make no distinction on the day between officers and soldiers, and this is due to the underlying fact that it is a religious day of remembrance and therefore hierarchy isn’t observed in the normal sense throughout the day.”
An unrivalled history
The Scots Guards were first raised as a regiment of Foot Guards by King Charles I in 1642 during the English Civil War. They were originally known as the Marquis of Argyll’s Royal Regiment of Foot, and their primary role was to protect the Scottish borders. However, they soon became involved in the wider conflicts of the time, including the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
During the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the Scots Guards played a crucial role in supporting William of Orange’s claim to the throne. They fought in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and the Battle of Landen in 1693, both of which were decisive victories for William’s forces.
In the 18th Century, the Scots Guards saw action in various European conflicts including the War of the Spanish succession and the War of the Austrian Succession. They also played a significant role in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where they fought alongside the British and Allied forces against Napoleon Bonaparte’s army.
During World War I, the Scots Guards fought on the Western Front, taking part in major battles such as the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Passchendaele. They also served in the Middle East in the campaigns against Mesopotamia and Palestine.
In World War II, the Scots Guards fought in North Africa, Italy and Northwest Europe. They were involved in the famous Battle of Monte Cassino and played a crucial role in the liberation of Brussels in 1944.
Since then, the Scots Guards have been deployed to various conflict zones around the world, including the Falklands War in 1982 where the 2nd Battalion seized Mount Tumbledown. More recently, the Scots Guards have been deployed to Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Persistently engaged across the globe
Currently based in Somme Barracks, Catterick in Yorkshire, the Regiment has recently returned from deployment to Estonia as well as exercises in Oman, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.
The Regiment is currently preparing for Exercise Wessex Storm in anticipation of future deployments as well as being part of NATO’s High Readiness Force.
The Regiment is known, beyond its distinguished reputation in combat, for its distinctive uniform which includes the scarlet tunic and bearskin of the five regiments of Foot Guards. The Scots Guards’ buttons are in threes denoting its seniority as well as wearing no plume in the bearskin.
Today they maintain, on top of their excellence on parade, a fearsome combat capability as a Light Mechanised Infantry Battalion ready to deploy anywhere around the world.
The Regiment’s motto is ‘Nemo Me Impune Lacessit’ which means ‘No one may strike me with impunity’ reflecting a hard-earned pride in their history.
The Regiment is delighted that His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will shortly become the twenty-seventh Colonel Scots Guards. This is a seminal moment for us. It marks the end of a remarkable era and the start of a new and exciting chapter in our long and distinguished history Colonel James Leask, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, The Scots Guards
A new era dawns
The Duke of Edinburgh is proud to support the work of the Armed Forces both in the United Kingdom and overseas and meets service personnel and their families whenever possible.His Royal Highness is Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and, in 2007, became Royal Colonel of 2nd Battalion The Rifles following the reorganisation of the Infantry. His Royal Highness regularly visits the Battalion at their base in Northern Ireland and while on operational duties, including in Afghanistan with the then Countess of Wessex in 2009 and most recently in Estonia.
In 2023, His Royal Highness became Colonel of The Royal Dragoon Guards and The Queen’s Royal Hussars.