ROYAL HORSE GUARDS (The Blues)
The Royal Horse Guards is the only cavalry regiment now in existence that formed part of the Parliamentary Army during the reign of Charles I. In the autumn of 1660, after the Restoration, its disbandment was ordered but not carried out, and King Charles "gave orders for raising a regiment of horse of eight troops, of which the Earl of Oxforde was to be Collonel, and also of a troop of horse guards." This was done under a Royal Warrant of 26th of January, 1661. In 1690 the regiment was called "The Oxford Blues" to distinguish it from the Earl of Portland's (Dutch) "Horse Guards." During the campaign in Flanders (1742-1745) it was known as "The Blue Guards," and is now popularly called "The Blues."
See [Note "A,"] 1st Life Guards.
The Standard and Uniforms of the 3rd Dragoon Guards
The Drum Horse of the 7th Dragoon Guards—Review Order
(Depot, Dunbar.)
On Standard, The Royal Cypher within the Garter.
"Blenheim," "Ramillies," "Oudenarde," "Malplaquet," "Dettingen," "Warburg," "Beaumont," "Waterloo," "Sevastopol," "Taku Forts," "Pekin, 1860," "South Africa, 1879, 1901-02."
Uniform, Scarlet.
Facings, Blue.
Head-dress, Brass helmet with red plume; band, white plume.
Forage cap, Blue, with blue band.
Linked Regiment, 5th Dragoon Guards.
The Sergeants are entitled to wear the Regimental badge on their chevrons.