Coldstream Guards

Coldstream Guards
Regimental badge of the Coldstream Guards[a]
Active1650–present
Country Commonwealth of England (1650–1660)
 England
(1660–1707)
 Great Britain (1707–1800)
 United Kingdom
(1801–present)
Branch British Army
TypeInfantry
Role1st Battalion and No 17 Company – Light Role Infantry
No 7 Company – Public Duties
SizeOne battalion – 559 personnel[1]
One independent incremental company
One reserve company
Part ofGuards and Parachute Division
Garrison/HQRHQ – London
1st Battalion—Windsor
No 7 Company—London
No 17 Company Hammersmith
Nickname(s)The Lilywhites
Motto(s)Nulli Secundus
(Latin for 'Second to None')
MarchQuick: "Milanollo"
Slow: "Figaro" ("Non più andrai" from The Marriage of Figaro)
AnniversariesSt George's Day (23 April)
Engagements
Commanders
Colonel-in-ChiefThe King
Colonel of
the Regiment
Lt Gen Sir James Bucknall
Regimental Lieutenant ColonelCol. Toby P. O. Till
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
PlumeRed
Right side of Bearskin cap
AbbreviationCOLDM GDS

The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular[b] regiment in the British Army.[2] As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonial occasions. The Regiment has consistently provided formations on deployments around the world and has fought in the majority of the major conflicts in which the British Army has been engaged.[3]

The Regiment has been in continuous service and has never been amalgamated. It was formed in 1650 as 'Monck's Regiment of Foot' and was then renamed 'The Lord General's Regiment of Foot Guards' after the Restoration in 1660.[4] With Monck's death in 1670 it was again renamed 'The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards' after the location in Scotland from which it marched to help restore the monarchy in 1660.[4] Its name was again changed to the 'Coldstream Guards' in 1855 and this is still its present title.[5]

Today, the Regiment consists of: Regimental Headquarters, a single battalion (the 1st Battalion), an independent incremental company (Number 7 Company, maintaining the customs and traditions, as well as carrying the Colours of 2nd Battalion), a Regimental Band, a reserve company (Number 17 Company) and individuals at training establishments and other extra regimental employment.[6]


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  1. ^ "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Coldstream Guards". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ "The Coldstream Guards Official Charity Website". Coldstream Guards. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b Davies, Godfrey (1924). The early history of the Coldstream guards. Oxford: The Clarendon press.
  5. ^ The Coldstream Guards.
  6. ^ "Regimental Headquarters". Coldstream Guards. Retrieved 10 March 2021.