In an Historic ceremony marking 81 years since the Welsh Guards liberated Brussels from Nazi occupation, a new handmade uniform was presented by the Welsh Guards to the City of Brussels, on 3 September 2025 , to be worn annually by the iconic Manneken Pis fountain statue on Liberation Day.
The Manneken Pis’ new uniform laid out, ready to be presented.
Brussels Mayor, Philippe Close, speaks at the ceremony.
The Band of the Welsh Guards quintet pose in front of the Manneken Pis in his new uniform.
The Welsh Guards Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class One Chris Greaves presents the Manneken Pis’ new uniform to Brussels Mayor Philippe Close.
The event strengthened the enduring UK-Belgium military partnership and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance bonds - from major operations to cultural military traditions - we are ‘stronger together’.
In 1945, after five years of tyranny and war, the surreal and rather cheeky sight of a urinating cherub dressed as a Regimental Sergeant Major of The British King’s Brigade of Guards brought genuine joy to newly liberated citizens who had suffered so much. Importantly it was an all too human symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of the troops who had crossed the channel to liberate the Belgians and the freedom fighters who supported them.
In 2025, Welsh Guards Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Chris Greaves, from Porthmadog, recreated the historic moment a year after the liberation of Brussels, in 1945, when his predecessor first unveiled the iconic pissing boy statue wearing a mini Welsh Guards uniform. Sadly, time has taken its toll on the original Second World War uniform, and it has been retired to the Manneken Museum, as it is now too fragile to be used on the annual Liberation Day celebrations.
"To be able to present this new Welsh Guards uniform to the City of Brussels is a great honour for me and the Regiment, particularly following my predecessor 80 years on. It further reinforces the strong relationship between the City of Brussels and my Regiment."
On 3 September 2025, a brand new and improved uniform was officially presented by the Welsh Guards to the city of Brussels, in the Town Hall in Brussels Grand Place, in a special ceremony and reception.
Every piece of the new uniform has been painstakingly handmade by First Battalion Welsh Guards tailors, with no detail overlooked. The buttons are in rows of five to denote the brigade order of the Welsh Guards, the miniature bearskin cap’s kerb chain is made from the links from an officer’s spur, and the cap has a mini green and white plume – the colours of Welsh patron saint St David’s flag. He has a brilliant white belt with a belt buckle inscribed with the symbol of a leek, just like all the Welsh Guards soldiers.
The uniform project has been the brainchild of British Army Master Tailor Sergeant Chris Watson, and represents the skilled craftsmanship tradition behind all British Army ceremonial uniforms. Many items have been apprenticeship pieces, assessed to the highest standards of tailoring.
Dressing a statue is considerably more difficult than dressing a living Guardsman and the soldiers had to borrow a plaster copy of the Manneken from the Museum in Brussels to ensure a perfect fit.
Only the miniature sword was sourced externally, crafted by specialist military suppliers Pooley and Sons as an exact replica of a Warrant Officer’s sword. Only Regimental Sergeant Majors in the Guards are allowed to wear swords and they are only ever drawn during the ceremony of the King’s Birthday Parade, so this is a very special item, symbolising loyalty and unwavering willingness to protect.
Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Greaves said: "To be able to present this new Welsh Guards uniform to the City of Brussels is a great honour for me and the Regiment, particularly following my predecessor 80 years on. It further reinforces the strong relationship between the City of Brussels and my Regiment.'
"The Welsh Guards have a long and proud battle history and their historic role in the liberation of Brussels is something all of Wales should be proud of. Their courage and sacrifice helped towards the liberation of Europe and laid the foundations for peace and the end of the Second World War."
The UK and Belgian partnership transcends centuries of trade and defence agreements. Just as Bruges sheltered Britain’s Monarchy in exile in the 1650s, the UK offered safe harbour for the Belgian Government during the Second World War. The Belgians have remained our staunchest allies and economic partners for centuries. Such is the closeness of our relationship, Belgium is the only non-Commonwealth country permitted to commemorate its war dead at the London Cenotaph each year.
The Mayor of Brussels Philippe Close, the British Ambassador, NATO representatives, and senior members of the Welsh Guards Regimental Headquarters, accompanied by music from a Brass Ensemble of the Band of the Welsh Guards, left the Town Hall and crossed the Grand Place, with due ceremony, continuing through Brussels’ narrow streets to the site of the Manneken Pis fountain.
On arrival at the fountain, the VIPs including the Mayor of Brussels, performed the formal unveiling as the Band played a fanfare, and the Manneken Pis was revealed in all his Regimental Sergeant Major Welsh Guards uniformed glory.
The original uniform presentation ceremony took place on 29 July 1945 when the 1st and 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards marched from Brussels' Royal Gardens to honour the liberation of the city cheered on by thousands of grateful citizens.
80 years on, the numbers of Welsh Guardsmen attending the unveiling may have been considerably fewer than in 1945, but only because the Welsh Guards are currently committed to an overseas operational warfighting exercise. Sadly, maintaining the peace hard won in Europe in the Second World War remains a constant concern. Our troops continue to work together around the world through NATO to maintain an alliance strength which provides a trusted and effective deterrent.
This quirky, but charming, 80th anniversary ceremony uniquely demonstrated the UK's UK-Belgium military cooperation and uniquely showcases how historical bonds translate into contemporary NATO alliance strength - from major operations to cultural military traditions - we are ‘stronger together’. It also affirmed the warm and enduring friendship that continues to blossom between Wales and the people of Brussels.
"Brussels is somewhere close to my heart, so I’m very pleased that the tradition of the Mannekin Pis is continuing, helping us remember the enduring links between Wales and the Welsh Guards, and Brussels and the Belgian people."
The First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, said: “The Welsh Guards have a long and proud battle history and their historic role in the liberation of Brussels is something all of Wales should be proud of. Their courage and sacrifice helped towards the liberation of Europe and laid the foundations for peace and the end of the Second World War.
“Brussels is somewhere close to my heart, so I’m very pleased that the tradition of the Mannekin Pis is continuing, helping us remember the enduring links between Wales and the Welsh Guards, and Brussels and the Belgian people.”