In the summer of 1779 the Queen's Royal was one of the regiments of the line and militia assembled in the camp of exercise on Warley Common, after which it was quartered in Rumford, Ongar, and Epping.
1780
On the breaking out of the riots in London in 1780, the Queen's Regiment was among the troops ordered to the metropolis, and encamped in Hyde Park on the 7th of June, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Dalrymple, on which occasion it received the thanks of Major-General Rainsford for its regularity and good conduct. On the breaking up of the camp in Hyde Park in August following, the Queen's Regiment, with a large portion of the troops proceeded to Finchley Common.
1783
1790
The regiment remained in England until the autumn of 1783, when it again embarked for Gibraltar; and during the time of its service in that garrison, his Royal Highness Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent) having arrived, was appointed to the command of the Queen's, as appears from the following order, dated the 26th of February, 1790:—'His Royal Highness Prince Edward is posted to the Queen's Royal Regiment, of which he is to take command until further orders.' In the ensuing August the command of the regiment was resumed by Lieutenant-Colonel Woollicombe.
1792
The regiment embarked from Gibraltar on the 25th of March, 1792, and landed at Portsmouth on the 24th of April following, where it went into barracks. On the 22nd of July it was encamped at Wickham Bushes, near Bagshot, under the Duke of Richmond, with two battalions of Royal Artillery, the 3rd, 14th, and 29th regiments, where it was reviewed by his Majesty; after the breaking up of the camp it returned to Portsmouth.
The repose granted to England by the peace of 1763 was, a few years after that period, interrupted by legislative differences with the North American Colonies, and at length by measures, which led to a desperate and sanguinary war. Hostilities were commenced in 1775, and terminated in 1783, with the loss to Great Britain of that large portion of territory, the United States of America. During this important struggle, France had afforded active assistance in promoting the disunion of England and her American subjects. A spirit of republicanism soon afterwards began to spread in France. Anarchy, revolution, and bloodshed, and the execution of their king, followed in rapid succession. The latter act took place in 1793, and was the immediate cause of a war on the part of Great Britain and of Europe, against France.
1793
1794
In February, 1793, the Queen's Regiment was ordered to Dover and Folkstone to do duty over French prisoners of war. While on this duty, two of the newly-raised independent companies were added to the regiment, and a brigade of six-pounders attached to it. In August following it was embarked, with the exception of the staff, to serve as marines in the fleet under Admiral Earl Howe, and shared in the glorious victory over the French fleet on the 1st of June, 1794, which Earl Howe completely defeated, and seven of the enemy's ships were captured. Lieutenant John Neville, of the Queen's Royals, was killed on board the Charlotte, and Ensign Boycott was wounded on board the Defence. The gallant Admiral, in his public dispatch of the 2nd of June, expressed his thanks to the crews and military corps for the highly distinguished examples of resolution, perseverance, and spirit testified by them in the actions of the 28th and 29th of May, and the 1st of June.