The uniforms of the Household Cavalry
- especially ceremonial - are unique, and best explained
by the combined use of explanations and illustrations.

Men of both Regiments of the Household Cavalry
dress similarly, but quite distinctively, when on
non-ceremonial duties, and on active service.

This first section deals with the component parts
of the ceremonial dress, familiar around the world
thanks to The Queen's Life Guard, Escorts,
and the many ceremonial parades in which
the Household Cavalry participate.

Click on one of the following links
to learn more about each.

Ceremonial Uniforms - All Ranks

Mess Dress Jackets & Waistcoats

Patrol Jackets

Full Dress Tunics -
Officers of The Life Guards

This is made from scarlet beaver cloth,
and has dark blue velvet collar and cuffs.

It is piped down the front and along the bottom
of the skirt edges, with 1/16 inch dark blue cloth.

Rising to 2.25 inches in height, the collar is
decorated with a device which is embroidered at each end,
and incorporates laurel leaves - firstly with
oak leaves and acorns adjoined.

The skirts, at the rear, are in two parts and each
is decorated with three blocks of gold laurel
and oak-leaf embroidery.

When in the saddle, the half rear skirts are left open.

Each cuff has an embroidered device incorporating
gold laurel, oak-leaf and acorn patterns.

Both shoulders of the tunic have four worked eyelets,
through which the laces of the gold shoulder cords pass
and are secured. Buttons are all of Regimental pattern.

The waist belt is lodged between the two
lowest buttons on the front of the tunic.

Field Officers (Major and above) are identified by
the addition of a half-inch wide border of gold
oak-leaf embroidery at the top of the collar and cuffs.

Full Dress Tunics -
Officers of The Blues And Royals

This is made from dark blue face cloth,
and has scarlet face cloth collar and cuffs.

It is piped down the front and along the bottom
of the skirt edges, with 1/16 inch scarlet cloth.

Details of pattern and decoration are otherwise
the same as for The Life Guards, except that a
gold embroidered Eagle is worn on the left sleeve.

The buttons are of Regimental pattern,
apart from the lowest one - on the front of the tunic -
which is plain and flat, and allows the waist belt
to fit over it without slipping.

1st Class Staff -
The Tunic (WOIs and WOIIs of The Life Guards)

This tunic is made from scarlet face cloth,
with dark blue cloth collar and cuffs.

It is piped down the front and along the bottom
of the skirt edges with 1/16 inch dark blue cloth.

Rising to 1.75 inches in height, the collar is
decorated with 5/8 inch wide Household Cavalry gold lace.

At the rear, the skirt has a centre seam which is
piped in dark blue cloth, and trimmed with 5/8 inch gold lace
arranged in three blocks, and backed with dark blue cloth
on each side of the centre piping.

Each cuff is 3.5 inches deep on the underside,
rising to 6.5 inches at the hind-arm seam.
They are also decorated with 5/8 inch gold lace.

Both shoulders of the tunic have four worked eyelets,
through which the laces of the gold shoulder cords
pass and are secured.

Buttons are of Regimental pattern, except the lowest button
on the front of the tunic, which is plain and flat and allows
the waist belt to fit over it without slipping.

The tunic is authorised for the Regimental Corporal Major,
Regimental Quartermaster Corporal, and
Squadron Corporal Majors.

1st Class Staff -
The Tunic (WOIs and WOIIs of The Blues And Royals)

This tunic is made from dark blue face cloth,
with scarlet cloth collar and cuffs.

It is piped down the front and along the bottom
of the skirt edges with 1/16 inch scarlet cloth.

At the rear, the skirt has a centre seam which is
piped in scarlet cloth, and trimmed with gold lace
arranged in three blocks, and backed with scarlet cloth
on each side of the centre piping.

Details of pattern and decoration are otherwise
the same as for The Life Guards, except that a
gold-embroidered Eagle is worn on the left sleeve.

Buttons are of Regimental pattern, except the
lowest button on the front of the tunic,
which is plain and flat.

The tunic is authorised for the Regimental Corporal Major,
Regimental Quartermaster Corporal,
and Squadron Corporal Majors.

2nd Class Staff - The Tunic
(Squadron Quartermaster Corporals of The Life Guards)

The tunic for 2nd Class Staff is similar to that
of the 1st Class Staff, except the gold lace is 1/2 inch wide,
and the rear skirts have dark blue piped scarlet slashes
with scalloped edges, instead of the gold lace trimming.

2nd Class Staff - The Tunic
(Squadron Quartermaster Corporals
of The Blues And Royals)

The tunic is similar to that of the 1st Class Staff,
except the gold lace is 1.2 inch wide, and the rear skirts
have scarlet piped dark blue slashes with scalloped edges,
instead of the gold lace trimming

Full Dress Tunic
(Corporals of Horse and Lance Corporals of Horse
of The Life Guards)

The tunic is similar to that of the 2nd Class Staff,
except the top edges of the cuffs are not laced.

Full Dress Tunic
(Corporals of Horse and Lance Corporals of Horse
of The Blues And Royals)

The tunic is similar to that of the 2nd Class Staff,
except the top edges of the cuffs are not laced.

Full Dress Tunic
(Lance Corporals and Troopers
of The Life Guards)

The tunic is similar to that of the NCOs of immediate
seniority, except that dark blue cloth shoulder straps,
edged with 1/2 inch wide gold lace, are buttoned to the tunic,
instead of the gold shoulder cords.

Full Dress Tunic
(Lance Corporals and Troopers
of The Blues And Royals)

The tunic is similar to that of the NCOs of immediate
seniority, except that scarlet cloth shoulder straps,
edged with 1/2 inch wide gold lace, are buttoned to the tunic,
instead of the gold shoulder cords.

Farrier Ranks of The Life Guards

Farrier Ranks of The Life Guards are unique
in wearing dark blue tunics of the same pattern as
The Blues And Royals (other than the Farrier Ranks of that Regiment).

Decoration of the tunic is in step with the
equivalent ranks of the Farriers.

Buttons are of The Life Guards pattern.

Full Dress Tunic
(Farrier Ranks of The Blues And Royals)

The tunic is as for the equivalent ranks of the Regiment,
except that the cuffs should be dark blue with scarlet cloth
showing only inside the chevron type decoration.

Full Dress Tunic
(Musicians and Trumpeters of The Life Guards)

The tunic is made from scarlet cloth,
with dark blue cloth collar and cuffs.

It is piped down the front and along the bottom
of the skirt edges with 1/8 inch gold braid.

Rising to 1.75 inches in height, the collar is decorated
with 1/2 inch wide gold lace around the edges, and has
a trimming of gold tracing braid in a continuous looped
design, sometimes described as 'bullet hole' braiding.

At the rear, the skirt has a centre seam and
the scarlet slashes piped in gold braid.

Each cuff is decorated, around all the edges,
in the same manner as the collar.

Shoulder cords of triple 10 ligne gold cord are arranged
on a scarlet cloth backing, which is sewn to the tunic
at the base, and engages the shoulder button
of the tunic, at the top end.

Buttons are of Regimental pattern.

Full Dress Tunic
(Musicians and Trumpeters
of The Blues And Royals)

The tunic is made from dark blue cloth,
with scarlet cloth collar and cuffs.

It is embellished as for The Life Guards but there
is a difference in the design of the gold tracing braid
towards the front edges of the collar, whereby
it terminates as a single loop.

Dark blue cloth is used as a backing for the gold shoulder cords.

Buttons are of Regimental pattern.

Mess Jacket -
Officers of The Life Guards

 

The jacket, of scarlet cloth, has dark blue velvet
collar, cuffs and edging. It is lined drab silk.

Decoration is in 1 inch wide gold lace.

There is an edging of dark blue velvet inside the lace
and around the top of the cuffs, which rise to 6 inches
at the hind-arm seam.

Down the front of the jacket is a row of gilt studs.

The back seams are braided in dark blue silk.

Plaited chain gimp, 1.25 inches at the base,
is used to make the gold shoulder cords.

Field Officers are distinguished by gold gimp
around the collar and cuffs.

Mess Jacket -
WOs and NCOs of The Life Guards

The jacket, of scarlet cloth, has a dark blue cloth
collar and cuffs decorated with gold lace.

Mess Waistcoat -
Officers of The Life Guards

The waistcoat is of dark blue cloth and is worn closed at the neck.

It is edged all round with 1 inch wide gold lace.

There are gilt studs down the front and it is closed with hooks and eyes.

The pockets do not have welts or lace.

Mess Waistcoat -
WOs and NCOs of The Life Guards

The waistcoat is of dark blue cloth and is worn
closed at the neck. It is edged with gold lace.

Mess Jacket -
Officers of The Blues And Royals

The jacket, of scarlet cloth, has dark blue
velvet collar and cuffs. It is lined blue silk.

Decoration is in 1 inch wide gold lace.

The collar is fastened, at the neck,
with a 1.5 inch gold Russia loop.

Plaited chain gimp, 1.5 inches wide, at the base,
is used to make the gold shoulder cords.

Field Officers are distinguished by gold gimp
around the collar and cuffs.

Mess Jacket -
WOs and NCOs of The Blues And Royals

The jacket, of scarlet cloth, has a dark blue cloth collar,
shoulder straps and cuffs, decorated with gold lace.

Mess Waistcoat -
Officers of The Blues And Royals

The waistcoat is of dark blue cloth and is worn closed at the neck.

It is edged all round with 1 inch wide gold lace.

There are no gilt studs down the front,
which is closed with hooks and eyes.

The pockets are decorated with 1 inch wide gold lace.

Mess Waistcoat -
WOs and NCOs of The Blues And Royals

The waistcoat is of dark blue cloth and is worn
closed at the neck. It is edged with gold lace.

Patrol Jacket -
Officers of The Life Guards

The Patrol Jacket is made from dark blue barathea,
Patrol pattern, and is fully lined.

It has a collar 2.25 inches in height.

The sleeves have a 3 inch vent at the cuffs,
and there are side vents 5.5 inches deep.

Shoulder straps are 2 inches wide.
They are fitted by means of a tongue, under the strap,
which is passed through a loop on the shoulder
and fastened by a small screw button.

This is to enable them to be easily detached
for interchanging with gold shoulder cords.

A distinguishing feature of the jacket is that
there is only one diagonal dart from the collar base
to the top of each breast pocket.

Buttons are gilt and of Regimental pattern.

Patrol Jacket -
Officers of The Blues And Royals

The Patrol Jacket is of the same pattern as for The Life Guards.

It is distinguished by having two diagonal darts
from the base of the collar to each breast pocket.

Buttons are of gilt and of Regimental pattern.

Patrol Jacket -
Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The Patrol Jacket is of dark blue cloth.

It is universal to both Regiments - the only difference
being the buttons, of Regimental pattern, and the
Eagle badge worn by The Blues And Royals.

Service Dress Jacket -
Officers of The Life Guards

The Service Dress Jacket is made of khaki barathea
and cut in cavalry style.

There is a single vent at the rear waist, and the
forepart has full skirts. No waist hooks are fitted.

The lining is in khaki rayon. Buttons are of Regimental pattern.

Service Dress Jacket -
WOIs of The Life Guards

The Service Dress Jacket is the same as for the Officers.

The insignia of rank alone differentiates.

Service Dress Jacket -
WOIs of The Blues And Royals

The Service Dress Jacket is the same as for the Officers.

The insignia of rank alone differentiates.

No 2 Dress Jacket - Other Ranks
of the Household Cavalry

The No 2 Dress Jacket is made from khaki barathea.

Buttons are of Regimental pattern.

Household Cavalry Officers

Both the aiguillette and shoulder cords
(Household Cavalry Officers) are made from
15 ligne plaited gold wire basket cord.

The latter are mounted on a cloth-covered stiffening,
which matches the colour of the tunic.

Under the cords are laces, which enable them
to be secured to the inside of the tunic.

Insignia of rank is pinned to each shoulder cord.

The aiguillette is an extension of six continuous lines,
from the shoulder cords worn on the wearer's right side
of the tunic, which terminates with two gilt trophy tags
with knitted heads.

Life Guards Officers suspend the aiguillette,
across the tunic - or cuirass - by means of a loop
attached to the tunic collar.

Officers of The Blues And Royals suspend the aiguillette
from the top button of the tunic, or - when the cuirasses
are worn - from a clip on the front cuirass.

1st Class Staff

Both the aiguillette and shoulder cords (1st Class Staff)
are made from 11 ligne plaited gold oris basket cord and are
the same design as for Officers.

The cords are mounted on a cloth-covered stiffening,
which matches the colour of the tunic.

Under the cords are laces, which enable them
to be secured to the inside of the tunic.

The aiguillette is an extension of six continuous lines,
from the shoulder cord worn on the wearer's left side
of the tunic, which terminate with two gilt trophy tags
with knitted heads.

Those entitled to wear these items are:
the Regimental Corporal Major, Regimental Quartermaster Corporal,
Squadron Corporal Majors, Band Corporal of Horse,
and Trumpet Major of the Household Cavalry.

2nd Class Staff

Detail and design (2nd Class Staff) are similar to
that for 1st Class Staff, except the shoulder cords are
less densely plaited.

The aiguillette is without the coils at the forward ends.

Those entitled to wear these items are:
Squadron Quartermaster Corporals, Corporals of Horse,
Farrier Corporals of Horse, Lance Corporals of Horse,
Band Corporals, and Corporals of the Household Cavalry.

Lance Corporals of the Household Cavalry

The aiguillette (Lance Corporals of the Household Cavalry) is
made from the same material as the 1st and 2nd Class Staff
items, but unlike them it fastens independently
to the wearer's left shoulder strap.

Lanyards

Warrant Officers Class 1 wear
the same Lanyards as the Officers.

Warrant Officers Class 2 of The Blues And Royals
wear a Blue Lanyard on the left shoulder.

Soldiers of The Blues And Royals wear
a White, Wool Lanyard on the left shoulder.

Cartouche Belts, Standards Belts
and Ceremonial Axes

Gold Cartouche Belt

Officers of The Life Guards

The belt is of gold lace in oak-leaf design and
2 3/8 inches wide, with a dark blue velvet edging and
mounted on red morocco leather.

A crimson silk cord, 1/4 inch diameter, is held
centrally along the belt by gold braid loops.
The furniture is of gilt.

The pouch is 8.75 inches x 3.75 inches.
It has a metal inner box, covered with black plastic,
which bears a Regimental ornament, in gilt with a
silver Garter Star and a red cross at its centre,
mounted on scarlet velvet.

Officers of The Blues And Royals

The belt is of gold lace, of Regimental pattern,
2 3/8 inches wide, with a crimson silk centre line which is
mounted on crimson morocco leather wider than the lace
- thus showing as an edging.

A crimson silk cord, 1/4 inch diameter, is held
centrally along the belt by gold lace loops.
The furniture is of gilt.

The pouch is 6.5 inches x 3.75 inches. It has
a metal inner box, covered with black plastic,
which bears the Royal Arms design, in gilt.

White Cartouche Belt

Officers of The Life Guards

The belt - Officers of The Life Guards - is of
white buff leather and is 2.5 inches wide.

A crimson cord, 1/8 inch diameter, is fastened
centrally along the belt. The furniture is of gilt.

The pouch is the same as for the gold cartouche belt.

Officers of The Blues And Royals

The belt is of white buff leather and is 2.5 inches wide.

A maroon cord, 1/4 inch diameter, is fastened
centrally along the belt. The furniture is of gilt.

The pouch is the same as for the gold cartouche belt.

WOIs, WOIIs and all Band Personnel
of the Household Cavalry

The belt is of white buff leather and is 2.75 inches wide.

A red cord, 1/4 inch diameter, is held centrally
along the belt by white buff leather loops, three in all.

The buckles and slides are of brass.

The pouch is 7 inches x 3 inches and is covered in
black plastic with the Royal Arms decorated in brass.

In The Life Guards only, a small piece of red cloth is
ipositioned behind the Royal Arms so that it just shows through.

Squadron Quartermaster Corporal,
and all Ranks below, of the Household Cavalry
(except the Farrier Ranks)

The belt is of white buff leather and is 3 inches wide.

A red cord, 1/4 inch diameter, is held centrally
along the belt by a single buff leather loop.

The buckles and slides are of brass.

The pouch is 6 inches x 5.25 inches and is covered
in black plastic, with the Royal Arms decoration in brass.

In The Life Guards only, a small piece of red cloth
is positioned behind the Royal Arms so that it
just shows through.

The Standard Belt

Ceremonial Axe Belt

Farrier Ranks of The Household Cavalry

The belt is of white buff leather and 2.75 inches wide.

A red cord, 1/8 inch diameter, is held centrally along
the belt by two white buff leather loops. Furniture is of brass.

In place of a cartouche box, a white buff leather frog
is attached to the belt by two brass rings and is worn
centrally at the back.

It was designed for carrying the Axe, on the march.

Ceremonial Axe

Farrier Ranks of The Household Cavalry

The Axe head is of plated steel, with a blade
extending 7 inches from the shaft and measuring
9.5 inches across the points.

The spike projects 6.75 inches from the shaft.

From the spike to the far end of the pole it is 35 inches.

The pole is of wood which is painted black.

Gold Waist Belt

Officers of The Life Guards

The belt is of gold lace in oak-leaf design
and 1.75 inches wide, mounted on black morocco leather
wider than the lace, thus showing as an edging.

The belt plate is 3.25 inches in length and of frosted gilt.

It is decorated with the Star and Collar of the
Order of the Garter, surmounted by a Crown.

On either side of the Collar, the letters 'LG' reversed
and intertwined.

Below the letters, a scroll upon a twig of laurel.

To the viewer's left the scroll is inscribed:
'Peninsula' and to the right: 'Waterloo'.

Officers of The Blues And Royals

The belt is of gold lace, of Regimental pattern,
1.25 inches wide, with a crimson silk centre line which is
mounted on crimson morocco leather wider than the lace,
thus showing as an edging.

The belt plate is 2.5 inches in length and of
dead frosted gilt decorated with the Royal Arms.

White Waist Belt

Officers of The Life Guards

The belt is of white buff leather and 2 inches wide.

The belt is secured to two brass rings,
which provide attachment for the sword slings,
one being worn on the wearer's left side, with a
sword hook affixed, and the otherat the centre back.

The belt plate is the same as for the gold waist belt.

Officers of The Blues And Royals

The belt is of white buff leather and 2 inches wide.

The construction is the same as for The Life Guards.

A point of interest - regarding the gilt belt plate - is that
the design shows a St Edward's Crown surmounted by a
Crowned Lion, instead of the Royal Arms on the gold waist belt.

Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The belt is of white buff leather and 2 inches wide.

All the fittings are of brass.

The belt plate is 3.75 inches in length and
decorated with the Royal Arms.

State Sword and Scabbard

Officers of The Household Cavalry

The State Sword and Scabbard is of a half basket
pattern with a plated hilt, which is ornamented in brass
and has a black fishskin grip 5 to 5.75 inches in length,
to suit the size of the hand.

The blade is a straight cut-and-thrust type,
which is 39 inches in length and fully
1 inch wide at the shoulder.

Overall length is 45 inches.

Sword

Officers of The Life Guards,
and Officers of The Blues And Royals

Swords are distinguished by the intertwined initials of each
Regimental, below the Crown, on the guard of the sword hilt.

The scabbard is silver plated, with plain ribbed brass mountings.

Red Sword Buff

Officers of The Life Guards

The red sword buff is of leather and has
a white leather border.

The buff is fitted to the inside surface of the guard
so as to show through the pierced pattern.

Worn only when the Officer is wearing Gold Kit ancillary items.

White Sword Buff

Officers of The Household Cavalry

The white sword buff is entirely of white leather
and is fitted exactly as the red one.

Worn by The Blues And Royals with Gold Kit and White Kit,
but with White Kit only by The Life Guards.

Sword Belt and Suspender

Officers of The Household Cavalry

The Sword belt and suspender is made of webbing,
has a brass buckle and eyelets, and is strengthened
at the wearer's left side and centre back with leather,
to which the sword slings are attached.

The suspender is also fixed to the back of the sword belt
and is worn over the right shoulder.

Gold Sword Slings

Officers of The Life Guards

The gold sword slings are of black morocco leather,
covered on both sides by 1 inch wide gold lace, in oak-leaf design.
1/16 inch of leather is shown at the edges.

The slings each have a tag end with a hole,
which is passed through a ring of the scabbard and
fastens back to a stud on the sling.

The long sling usually measures 32.5 inches
and the short sling 16 inches.

This normally accommodates an Officer of
5 feet 10 inches in height.

Gold Sword Knot

Officers of The Life Guards

The gold sword knot of white buff, has a gold bullion tassel,
a gold netted mould, and a gold runner.

It has a small button and buttonhole means of attachment.

Gold Sword Slings

Officers of The Blues And Royals

Gold sword slings are of crimson morocco leather,
covered on the outer side only by 1 1/8 inches wide gold lace
of Regimental pattern, with a crimson silk centre line.

1/16 inch of leather is shown at the edges.

White Sword Slings

Officers of The Household Cavalry

White sword slings are of white buff leather,
1 inch wide and are attached in the same manner
as the gold sword slings.

Gold Sword Knot

Officers of The Blues And Royals

The gold sword knot is a crimson gold thread stitched knot,
with a gold bullion tassel, a gold purl covered mould,
and a gold runner.

It has a small button and metal stud means of attachment.

White Sword Knot

Officers of The Household Cavalry

The white sword knot is of white buff leather
and the knot is formed by the leather being rolled
laterally to form a white cap.

Overall length of the actual knot is 2.25 inches, the cap 1/2 inch.

State Sword and Scabbard

Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The State Sword and Scabbard is of half basket
pattern with a plated hilt, and has a black fishskin grip
5.75 inches in length.

The blade is a sabre type 34.5 inches long and fully 1 3/8 inches wide at the shoulder.

Both blade and scabbard are of polished steel.

Sword Belt

Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The sword belt is made of webbing, has a buckle and
eyelets, and is strengthened at the wearer's left side and
centre back with leather, to which the sword slings are attached.

The runners are also of leather. it is worn under the tunic.

Sword Slings

Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The sword slings are of white buff leather and 1 inch wide.

Buckles and studs are of brass.

Sword Knot

Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The sword knot is of white buff leather and has a knot
which is flatter in appearance to the Officers' pattern.

Service Sword

Officers of The Blues And Royals

The Service Sword has a hilt of steel, which is
stove enamelled black, and has a black fishskin grip,
which is curved and 5.75 inches in length.

The blade is a straight cut-and-thrust type,
35 inches long and fully 1 inch wide at the shoulder.

Officers of The Life Guards do not carry Service Swords.

Service Sword and Scabbard

Other Ranks of the Household Cavalry

The hilt of the Service Sword is steel and stove enamelled black,
and has a brown fibre curved grip 5.75 inches in length.

The blade is a straight cut-and-thrust type,
35 inches in length and fully 1 inch wide at the shoulder.

The scabbard is in steel and stove enamelled black.