The Household Cavalry: its history, the regiments and the famous Cavalry Black horses

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Household Cavalry
The Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry.
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

The Household Cavalry was formed by the union of the two most senior regiments in the British Army, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, and is divided into the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Both regiments have a long and distinguished history; the Life Guards were formed as the bodyguard of King Charles II while in exile on the continent in the 1600s, eventually escorting him back to England for the restoration in 1660.

The Blues and Royals was formed in 1969 by the amalgamation of the Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons), both of which have their origins in the mid-17th Century. The blue livery, which gives rise to part of the name, was adopted while under the command of the Earl of Oxford and became known as Oxford Blues. Now, the Blues and Royals have blue tunics, red plumes and black sheepskins, while the Life Guards have red tunics, white plumes in the helmets and white sheepskins over the saddles.

Liz Falkingham
Liz Falkingham
Freelance journalist

Liz Falkingham is a journalist and media consultant based in East Yorkshire. Former editor of the Farmers Guardian and communications director for NFU, Liz specialises in agricultural, rural and equestrian issues and writes across the spectrum from technical content to news analysis and general features. Liz writes for Horse & Hound, Country Living and Countryside, as well as the farming and general regional press, as well as handling PR and consultancy work for a small number of clients.