The familiar sight of mounted cavalry standing guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to the Royal Palaces, will look a little different for the next ten days, as the Household Cavalry hands over to Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians).
The epaulettes of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) uniforms.
Corporal of Horse William Morrison of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment tailors the Canadian uniforms.
One Canadian Cavalryman checks over his ceremonial helmet as another moves his horse through the stables.
Cavalrymen from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians).
Cavalrymen from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians).
Cavalrymen from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians).
Cavalrymen from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) parade.
Cavalryman from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) takes up the iconic mounted duty outside Horse Guards.
Cavalryman from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) takes up the iconic mounted duty outside Horse Guards.
Following express approval from His Majesty The King, on Friday 11th July, the Household Cavalry will hand over duties to Lord Strathcona’s Horse at Horse Guards in time honoured fashion, and the Canadians will take up their positions in the iconic Mounted Dutyman Boxes in Whitehall, performing daily ceremonies.
It is a unique occasion to see our soldiers represent Canada with honour and distinction in one of the world’s most iconic ceremonial duties.
It is a huge and rare honour for the esteemed tank regiment, which this year is celebrating its 125th anniversary. This marks only the third time in history, and the first in over a decade, that a non-UK unit has been granted this honour.
Captain Tom Lauterbacher, Strathcona Mounted Troop Leader, said “This rare and prestigious opportunity to stand guard abroad is a profound source of pride for all Canadians and the Canadian Army. It is a unique occasion to see our soldiers represent Canada with honour and distinction in one of the world’s most iconic ceremonial duties.”
Resplendent in their scarlet and green uniforms, red and white plumed helmets, and bearing lances, they will present an impressive novelty while delivering the ancient ceremony at Horse Guards. These Canadian soldiers are not only honouring tradition, but they are also representing Canada’s values, identity, and steadfast commitment to international partnerships.
In preparation for their duties as the King’s Life Guard, Lord Strathcona’s Horse has spent the last few days at Hyde Park Barracks being mentored by The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. They will ride the Cavalry’s chargers while in the UK. This close collaboration has also reinforced the enduring bond between Canada and the United Kingdom as close allies and long-standing partners.
A professional, highly experienced, armoured regiment with a ceremonial dual role, Lord Strathcona’s Horse continues its mission to provide tank and reconnaissance forces to the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Western Canada in keeping with its motto "Perseverance".
The UK’s Household Cavalry is similarly a dual role regiment where soldiers transition from ceremonial duties to operational deployments. The operational regiment is currently training with the new Ajax variants (armoured, tracked vehicles with phenomenal reconnaissance and firepower capabilities) for future commitments overseas.
Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) was formed in January 1900, primarily from Western Canadian cowboys, frontiersmen, and Northwest Mounted Police. Renowned for their tracking and combat skills, they earned three Victoria Crosses across the Boer War, World War One and World War Two.
After distinguished service in the Boer War, the Regiment received the King’s Colours, an honour typically reserved for infantry and was briefly disbanded before being reformed in 1909.
During the First World War, the Regiment served as infantry in France before returning to cavalry duties. Notably, Lieutenant Frederick Harvey and Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew earned Victoria Crosses for acts of exceptional bravery.
Post-war, the Regiment was stationed in Calgary and transitioned from horses to vehicles. In the Second World War, it became an armoured unit, fighting in Italy and Northwest Europe. The Melfa River Crossing was a defining battle, showcasing the Regiment’s resilience and tactical skill.
After returning to Canada in 1946, the Regiment served in Korea (1951–1954), and later in peacekeeping missions in Egypt, Cyprus, and Bosnia. In 1994, it led the Strathcona Battle Group during a critical UN mission in Bosnia.
They were called upon in 1997 to lead a Battle Group as part of the NATO Stabilisation Force, and individual members of the Strathconas have served on virtually all of the Canada's peacekeeping missions. The Strathconas also provided several Tank Squadrons to the Canadian Task Forces that served in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2014.
More recently the Regiment has deployed on several domestic operations in response to national disasters and led army security for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Internationally, Strathconas have provided soldiers to missions in the Middle East and led the NATO battle group in Latvia in 2020.