Household Cavalry

Trusted Guardians of the monarch

The Household Cavalry is made up of the two most senior regiments in the British Army: The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals. It's divided into the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

ITV1

Tuesday 4th June - 8.30pm

This six-part-series follows one of the oldest and most recognisable regiment of the British Army, The Household Cavalry, in a year of dramatic change. From riding horses at the Royal Wedding, to riding armoured fighting vehicles across the Middle East, cameras were allowed inside to see what life is really like for the soldiers, from the newest recruits to the most decorated officers.

ACTIVE FROM

19 October 1992

ROLE

Armoured and ceremonial cavalry

SPECIALISM

Armoured reconnaissance and state ceremonial

The Household Cavalry has a longstanding reputation as an elite battlefield reconnaissance force. Its soldiers also act in a ceremonial capacity as the public face of the British Army, and as mounted escort to Her Majesty The Queen.

Reconnaissance
Guarding the monarch
Crafting and repairing horse saddles
Shoeing horses
Tailoring
Carrying out ceremonial duties
Providing security at national events
Battlefield duties

The Household Cavalry is helping to develop exciting new armoured cavalry tactics.

Past Deployments:

Operation Herrick (Afghanistan)
Ex Ulu Rajah 17 (Brunei)

The soldiers of the Household Cavalry are custodians of a reputation built upon centuries of proud service. Whether they’re shoeing horses or guarding Her Majesty The Queen, the Household Cavalry work together with courage and humility.

Life Guards

Blues and Royals

Farrier

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is based at Hyde Park Barracks in Central London, while the Household Cavalry Regiment resides at Combermere Barracks, Windsor.

We serve together as one team Jacob, 22

Our Role

For more than 300 years, the soldiers of Household Cavalry have acted as the monarch’s trusted guardians, as well as being the public face of the British Army both at home and abroad.

The Household Cavalry has also earned a formidable reputation on the battlefield, having served in iconic conflicts from Waterloo to Afghanistan. At home, its duties have ranged from providing security for the 2012 Olympic Games in London to assisting flood victims.

Whether they’re riding a horse or driving an armoured vehicle, all Household Cavalry soldiers have one thing in common: excellence.

Past to Present

The Household Cavalry is one of the oldest regiments in the British Army, with roots dating back to 1660. Up until the beginning of World War II, it acted as a heavy cavalry unit. Today, it functions as an armoured reconnaissance regiment, as well as carrying out its ceremonial duties.

1660

The Life Guards formed to escort and guard the monarch.
1743

The Life Guards and The Royal Dragoons defeat the French Cavalry at the Battle of Dettingen.
1815

Both regiments distinguish themselves at Waterloo, capturing Napoleon’s 105th Regiment Eagle.
1982

The Blues and Royals support 2 Para at the Battle of Wireless Ridge, Falkland Islands.
1990

The Life Guards deploys to the Gulf to support the land war in Kuwait City.
2003-13

The Regiments deploy to Iraq on Operation Telic and Afghanistan on Operation Herrick.

Our Locations

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Address: Hyde Park barracks, Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1SE Contact: 0207 41 42501
Household Cavalry Regiment

Address: Combermere Barracks, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 3DN Contact: 01753 755231

Holkham Beach

List of Equipment used

Agile The Scimitar armoured fighting vehicle's exceptionally low ground pressure and small size make it useful where the terrain is hostile and movement is difficult

Reconnaissance vehicles

Up in the air Weighing 7-tonnes, the Panther is air transportable and can be underslung beneath a Chinook helicopter.

Protected patrol vehicles

TSV This heavy-armoured truck is part of the Tactical Support Vehicles (TSV) group along with the Husky and the Coyote.

Protected patrol vehicles

600 metres They are designed to achieve a first-round hit at 600 metres and harassing fire out to 1,100 metres.

Small arms and support weapons

Tests On its introduction, it proved so accurate that the Army marksmanship tests had to be redesigned.

Small arms and support weapons