“His Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify His Commands, that, in consideration of the very meritorious services of the Marines during the late War, the Corps shall in future be styled ‘The Royal Marines.’
“By Command of their Lordships.
(Signed) “Evan Nepean.”
On acquiring the title of Royal, the facings of the Marines, which had been White, were changed to Blue, as in other Royal corps of Infantry.[48]
1827
On the 26th of September, 1827, New Colours were presented to the Division of Royal Marines at Chatham, on the part of His Majesty King George IV., by His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, then Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, and General of Marines, afterwards King William IV.
After alluding to the services of Marine regiments from the period of their formation to the present time, His Royal Highness caused the New Colours to be unfurled, and concluded his address in the following terms:
“His Majesty has selected for the Royal Marines a Device, to which their achievements have entitled them, and which, by his permission, I this day present to you;—a Badge which you have so hardly and honorably earned:—From the difficulty of selecting any particular places to inscribe on these Standards, your Sovereign has been pleased to adopt ‘The Great Globe itself,’ as the most proper and distinctive badge. He has also directed, that his own name (George IV.) shall be added to that peculiar badge, The Anchor, which is your distinctive bearing, in order that it may be known hereafter, that George the Fourth had conferred on you the honorable and well-earned badge this day presented to you.
“The motto, peculiarly your own, ‘Per Mare; Per Terram,’ has been allowed to remain; and surmounting the entire is the word Gibraltar, in commemoration of the important national services you performed there. In presenting these Colours, the gift of your Sovereign, into your hands, I trust,—I am confident,—you will defend them with the same intrepidity, loyalty, and regard for the interests of the country, that have marked your preservation of your old ones; and if you do, your Sovereign, and your Country, will have equal reason to be satisfied.”
THE ROYAL MARINES