The Duke of Edinburgh presents New Colours to 1st Battalion London Guards

The 1st Battalion London Guards has received its new set of Colours in a sacred ceremony at Buckingham Palace, presented by The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Battalion. 

The new Colours replace those which were presented in 1997.

The traditional ceremony which is based on the format of religious services held on the battlefield for centuries, where soldiers are blessed from a makeshift altar of drums in a hollow square before going into battle, was attended by 100 soldiers.

Following the consecration, the Colours were formally handed to the Battalion by The Duke of Edinburgh, who then took the salute as they were marched past with the Battalion.

The new Colours have been handmade by expert craftsman using centuries’ old techniques. They are made from heavy silk, which is richly embroidered with gold and silver thread depicting the Regiment’s cap badge and company cyphers.

The Duke then joined the reserve soldiers, their families and association members at a celebratory reception in Wellington Barracks.

During the course of their first year, soldiers from across the Battalion have served in the Middle East, Africa and the South Atlantic. As members of the Household Division, the battalion took part in the King’s Birthday Parade for the first time last month.