THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY -

THE REGIMENTAL

COMMAND STRUCTURE

Links

Hereunder you will find a brief explanation of each role in the hierarchy.

For fuller descriptions, and definitive listings, please click on one of
the following links to take you to the appropriate page:

Colonel-in-Chief

Colonels of the Regiments & Gold Sticks

Colonel - The Life Guards

Colonel - The Blues And Royals

Commander Household Cavalry

For descriptions of the following roles
(which appear lower down the page),
please click on one of the Links:

Regimental Commanding Officers

Regimental Adjutant

Veterinary Officer & Medical Officer

Riding Master

Quartermaster

Forms of Address

Cornet, Corporal Major, Corporal Of Horse?

To learn about Officer and Soldier ranks and insignia

Click Here

Colonel-in-Chief

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Colonel-in-Chief
of The Household Cavalry.

Since 1821 the Colonels-in-Chief have, by tradition,
been the reigning Monarch.

Her Majesty appoints the Colonels of each Regiment.
The Colonels additionally hold the title of Gols Stick-in-Waiting,
and they officiate alternately on a monthly roster system.

The duties of this appointment are to protect The Sovereign, which
principally involves attending Her Majesty on Ceremonial Occasions.

The Queen passes any orders, relating to the Household Cavalry,
to Gold Stick who refers them to the Silver Stick-in-Waiting for action.

Colonel of
The Life Guards

General The Lord Guthrie
of Craigiebank is Colonel of
The Life Guards, and carries
the appointment of
Gold Stick-in-Waiting.

Colonel of
The Blues And Royals

HRH Princess Anne,
The Princess Royal is Colonel of
The Blues And Royals, and
carries the appointment
of Gold Stick-in-Waiting.

Commander Household Cavalry

Both Regiments are overall commanded by an Officer who usually
holds the rank of Colonel in the Army. He must be qualified to become
a Guards General.

It is customary, in the Household Cavalry, to continue to call this Officer
by his original title of 'Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Household Cavalry'.

He also holds the appointment Silver Stick-in-Waiting, and deputises for
the Gold Stick-in-Waiting, in the event of the latter being absent from
any State Occasions or functions.

The Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Household Cavalry is responsible
to the Major-General Commanding the Household Division, and in that
respect the Regiments and Squadrons (or detachments of Regiments)
- wherever stationed - maintain the traditions, customs and privileges
of the Household Cavalry.

Each Regiment is individually commanded by an Officer
holding the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Officer Commanding HCR

Home HQ, Windsor
and Active Service

Officer Commanding HCMR

Hyde Park Barracks
(Ceremonial)

The Household Cavalry Regiment is based at Combermere Barracks,
Windsor, and is an
Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment.

The barracks also houses an Equitation School, where initial training
is provided for soldiers destined for the Mounted Regiment.

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is based at
Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, in London, and as part of the
Household Division, plays a major role in State and ceremonial
functions throughout the year.

Regimental Adjutant

The Regimental Adjutant is the Staff Officer of the Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Household Cavalry,
and is normally found from the opposite Regiment to the latter.

He is also Silver Stick Adjutant, and accompanies the Silver Stick-in-Waiting
on Ceremonial Occasions.

Veterinary Officer

One Veterinary Officer
is appointed to the
Household Cavalry Regiment,
for which he wears the uniform
of the Regiment to which he is
assigned (The Life Guards, or
The Blues And Royals).

He advises the Commanding Officer
on all veterinary matters, and is
responsible for horses in both
Knightsbridge and Windsor.

His tour of duty is
not usually specified.

Medical Officer

A specially selected
Medical Officer serves with the
Household Cavalry Regiment,
and he also wears the uniform
of the Regiment to which he is
assigned (The Life Guards, or
The Blues And Royals).

The Medical Officer's appointment
is made by the Regimental
Lieutenant-Colonel, who consults
with the Medical Directorate
before reaching his decision.

Tour of duty not usually specified.

Riding Master

A similar selection procedure exists for the Riding Master - usually
commissioned from the ranks, having been a suitable Warrant Officer
within the ranks of Riding Instructors.

The duration of the Riding Master's service in this appointment is
determined by the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel and, once appointed,
the Riding Master is immediately responsible to the Commanding Officer
of the Household Cavalry Regiment for the training of recruits and remounts
(a unique appointment in today's army).

Quartermaster

The Quartermaster is appointed by the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel,
so becoming known as Silver Stick Quartermaster - along with the
Medical Officer he has the responsibility for the sanitary conditions of
all the Household Cavalry's accommodation in London.

A Quartermaster may be commissioned from the ranks.

Forms of Address

It is traditional, in the Household Cavalry, for Officers and Soldiers to
address Lieutenant-Colonels and above by their rank, instead of "Sir".

All Warrant Officers Class I are referred to as "Mister".

Officers address Warrant Officers Class II,
and Squadron Quartermaster Corporals, as "Corporal-Major"
- other personnel by their rank and name.

Soldiers of junior rank address Warrant Officers and
Squadron Quartermaster Corporals as "Sir" - and other
Non-Commissioned Officers as "Corporal".

In The Blues And Royals, the most junior Officer rank
(equivalent to 2nd Lieutenant) is known as "Cornet".

Another unique custom within The Blues And Royals is that
soldiers may salute with the hand - in the usual manner - even when
no headdress is worn (a tradition dating back to 1760).