The King presents new Standards and Colours at Buckingham Palace

Published

His Majesty The King, Head of the Armed Forces, accompanied by Her Majesty The Queen Consort, presented new Standards and Colours to the Royal Navy, the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, The King’s Company of the Grenadier Guards and The King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force at Buckingham Palace.

The King presents new Standards and Colours at Buckingham Palace

The parade will take place in the Quadrangle and Garden of Buckingham Palace, and marks the first Colours presentation at which all three Services of the Armed Forces were represented.



The four Colours and Standards consecrated will be seen during Their Majesties’ Coronation Procession on Saturday, 6th May.

Firstly, in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, His Majesty received a Royal Salute from the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The King presents new Standards and Colours at Buckingham Palace

The new Standard of the Life Guards were consecrated by the Chaplain General, before being presented by The King to the Regiment. 

His Majesty was then joined by The Queen Consort, Colonel, Grenadier Guards, on the North Lawn of the Garden of Buckingham Palace where personnel from the Royal Navy, The King’s Company of the Grenadier Guards and The King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force were assembled, alongside the Royal Marines Band and the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. 

The King and The Queen Consort present new Standards and Colours at Buckingham Palace

Their Majesties were met by a Royal Salute and National Anthem, before the colours were blessed by the three Service Chaplains.

The King then officially presented the new Colours, and then gave a short speech:

It is some eighty-five years since a King’s Colour has been presented and, on such a special occasion, I particularly wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you, as representatives from the three Services, for your loyal service over the course of her remarkable reign, to The late Queen who, I know, held you all in such high regard.

There was a final Royal Salute before the parade marched off.

Colours and Standards

The term ‘Colours’ appears to have come into regular usage in the late 16th Century, when they were used as rallying points on the battlefield, helping troops locate each other and avoid becoming disorientated during the fog of war. Today, Colours are a formalised continuation of the ancient battlefield practice mentioned above, being the ceremonial evidence of the spirit of a Service or Regiment.

The Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment



Formed in 1660, the Life Guards celebrated their 350th anniversary in 2010. The Regiment has its origins in a three cavalry troops of loyal gentlemen who accompanied King Charles II to the Netherlands during his exile (1652-59) and formed themselves into a military bodyguard to protect the Sovereign.

Mounted members of the Household Cavalry at Buckingham Palace



All Household Cavalrymen alternate their service between the operational and ceremonial duties, meaning that many of those on parade have seen active service.



The Sovereign’s Standard of the Life Guards is made of silk damask, with gold thread embroidery and fringe. It bears the Royal Arms and the battle honours of the Regiment.



The Royal Navy



The Royal Navy is the oldest of the UK’s three Armed Services, and has units deployed on operations around and at home, working to uphold maritime trade, protect UK national security and build international partnerships. As Prince of Wales, His Majesty embarked on a Naval career in 1971, following in the footsteps of His Majesty’s father, grandfather and both his great-grandfathers.

The King presents the Royal Navy with a new Standard



The King’s Colour was first introduced to the Royal Navy in 1924 when it was approved by King George V, and consists of a silk white ensign bearing the Royal cypher, red, white and blue silk cord and gold tassels. The Royal Navy’s Colour serves an almost exclusively ceremonial role and is held securely in Navy Command Headquarters in Portsmouth, only visible to the public when it is paraded for major ceremonial occasions requiring a Royal Guard and Colour Party, such as the Coronation.



The King’s Company, Grenadier Guards



While The Queen Consort serves as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, The King is Company Commander of The King’s Company, which is one of the oldest bodies of regular serving troops in the British Army, predating the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660.

The Grenadier Guards new Colour is presented by The King



As the first regiment of Foot Guards now known as the Grenadier Guards established its companies in the 17th century, King Charles II gave orders that the command (or Captaincy) of the first Company of the first regiment of Foot Guards be reserved for Himself, and that this Company would, henceforth, be known as The King’s Own Company.

Today, the Grenadier Guards are one of the most senior infantry regiments in the British Army, specialising in Light Role Infantry operations, and kept ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice, while also carrying out ceremonial duties in London and Windsor.



The King’s Company Colour, the Royal Standard of the Grenadier Guards, is carried only when the Regiment is employed on ceremonial duties in the presence of His Majesty. The Colour is the personal gift of The Sovereign, presented only once in each reign, and is laid at the feet of Sovereigns who have passed, upon their catafalques.



The Colour bears The King’s cypher ensigned with the Crown. In the four corners are the national badges of the United Kingdom, each ensigned with the Crown. It is made of heavily gold embroidered and tasselled silk, and is much larger than other Regimental Colours, at over 6 feet square. The pole is topped by a large silver gilt crown, presented to the Regiment by King William IV.

The King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force



The King’s Colour Squadron performs both ceremonial and operational roles, and represents the Royal Air Force at ceremonial events in the UK and abroad. As 63 Squadron RAF Regiment, the unit’s operational name, the unit currently has personnel deployed in the Middle East conducting a Counter-Drone role.

The Royal Air Force receive a new Colour from The King



The King’s Colour for the Royal Air Force was first approved by King George VI In 1947, with the first Colour presented on His Majesty’s behalf in 1951 by the then Princess Elizabeth. The Colour is of RAF light blue silk, with light blue and silver tassels and fringe.

Related content

News

The Queen visits Exeter

06 February 2025
The Queen visits Exeter
Press release 07 February 2025

The King and Queen will visit the Holy See and Italy

Read more

A speech by His Majesty The King to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

As the number of Holocaust Survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders, and on those of...

27 January 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a reception, hosted by the Anne Frank Trust, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Let’s unite in our commitment to take action, to speak up and to ensure that the words “Never Forget” are a guiding light that charts a path towards a better, brighter, and...

24 January 2025
News

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

27 January 2025
The King with Jewish leaders

A message from The King to the people of Glasgow celebrating the city’s 850th anniversary.

It goes without saying that people really do make Glasgow. As one of the most diverse cities in Scotland and beyond, it is entirely fitting that the celebrations to mark this...

13 January 2025

A message of condolence from The King following the South Korean plane crash

My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life. As the people of the Republic of Korea...

29 December 2024

A message of condolence from The King to the people of Vanuatu, following the recent earthquake.

I am aware, from my visit to Vanuatu and Port Vila in 2018, of the extraordinary spirit of ni-Vanuatu, which has been called upon too often in recent years with repeated...

21 December 2024
Press release 16 December 2024

The King's Gold Medal for Poetry 2024

Read more

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a reception for winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 at Buckingham Palace

Thanks to your talents, your readers are taken on amazing journeys with you across the Commonwealth, from Gambia to Grenada, from Bangladesh to Botswana, from Malta to...

21 November 2024

A message read by The Duchess of Edinburgh, on behalf of The King, marking the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Bombings

Today we remember the twenty-one people who lost their lives so cruelly and all who were injured, many of them grievously. We also pay heartfelt tribute to those who rushed to...

21 November 2024

A speech by The King at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon

It is this operational excellence, underpinned by your unique skillset and training, which will ensure that all of you, as Royal Marines, will help to perpetuate our peace and...

15 November 2024
Press release 13 November 2024

Bishop of Norwich appointed Lord High Almoner

Read more

A message from The King to King Felipe VI of Spain regarding the ongoing floods in Valencia.

Our special thoughts, prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with all those who have lost loved ones and livelihoods this terrible week.

02 November 2024

His Majesty's remarks at the CHOGM dinner in Samoa

It remains a life-long aspiration to have visited all the countries of the Commonwealth

25 October 2024

His Majesty’s speech to open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Samoa

Together, we can expand opportunities across this family of nations to build shared prosperity and truly resilient economies.

25 October 2024

Her Majesty The Queen’s speech to the CHOGM Women’s Forum

Leaders from around the globe are willing to meet, as equals, and to have difficult, and constructive, conversations.

24 October 2024

His Majesty’s remarks at the Community BBQ, Parramatta Park

It is no wonder, I think, that Sydney is world famous for its cuisine, whether it’s smashed avo, a pav, or a Cab Sav and that is what I hope has been on display!

22 October 2024

His Majesty The King’s remarks to NSW Parliament House

I am delighted – and proud – to be able to return to the Parliament of New South Wales in order to celebrate the occasion of your bicentenary.

20 October 2024
Press release 11 October 2024

State Visit by the Amir of the State of Qatar

Read more

The King's speech marking the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament

We are all, at the end of each day, united by our love of Scotland.

28 September 2024

The King's message to mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden

We will never forget the heroism and sacrifice made by so many in the pursuit of peace and liberation.

21 September 2024

A message from The King regarding the ongoing floods in Central Europe.

"My wife and I are profoundly shocked and saddened to see the destruction and devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding in Central Europe. Many people in the United...

19 September 2024