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The Household Cavalry Regiment
Blues and Royals cap badge
Regimental cap badge
Active 1992—Present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch

Flag of the British Army British Army

Type Horse guards
Role Brigade Reconnaissance
Size Two Regiments
Part of Armoured - 1st Strike Brigade
Mounted - London District
Garrison/HQ Combermere Barracks, Windsor
Nickname(s) HCR
Motto(s) Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense
(Evil be to Him who Evil Thinks)
March Life Guards: Quick – Millanollo
Slow – Life Guards Slow March
Trot past – Keel Row
Blues and Royals: Quick – Quick March of the Blues and Royals
Slow – Slow March of the Blues and Royals
Trot past – Keel Row
Engagements Operation Granby
Operation Telic
Operation Herrick
Website Household Cavalry Regiment
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief HM The Queen

The Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the union of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals for operational purposes. Both regiments were allowed to maintain their separate identities, and each provides two squadrons for the HCR. This makes the HCR unusual in the British Army, in that it is an operational regiment only – it does not have its own ceremonial identity, as The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals have their own distinct RHQs, uniforms and accoutrements.

The regiment is part of the Household Cavalry, which is a corps in its own right, rather than the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC), which other armoured units in the British Army are part of. However, it serves as one of the army's five formation reconnaissance regiments, for which it is equipped with various vehicles, including the FV107 Scimitar, and is considered, for operational purposes, as part of the RAC. Uniquely among the army's formation reconnaissance regiments, in peacetime the Household Cavalry Regiment has four operational squadrons (the rest have three); one of the HCR's squadrons is permanently attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade. Under Army 2020, that may no longer be the case.

It currently serves as the formation reconnaissance regiment assigned to 1 Mechanised Brigade and is based at Combermere Barracks, Windsor, one mile from Windsor Castle. Under Army 2020, the regiment will be the Armoured Cavalry to the 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.[1]

In 2019, the armoured regiment moved from Combermere Barracks to Tidworth, where they will be assigned to the 1st Strike Brigade as medium reconnaissance. In 2020, the regiment is due to be equipped with the Ajax Reconnaissance Vehicle.

Organisation[]

Organisation of the regiment today includes:

  • Regimental Headquarters based at Purvis Lines, Bulford Camp
  • Headquarters and Support Squadron
  • B Squadron - Command and Support (Surveillance Troop and x3 Guided Weapons Troops)
  • A Squadron - Sabre Squadron (x3 Troops and Support Troop)
  • C Squadron - Sabre Squadron (Same as A)
  • D Squadron - Sabre Squadron (Same as A)

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

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The original article can be found at Household Cavalry Regiment and the edit history here.