The Welsh Guards have been presented with new Colours by Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle.

The Welsh Guards have been presented with new Colours by Her Majesty The Queen at Windsor Castle.

The Queen, Colonel-in-Chief, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, and The Prince of Wales, accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall, presented the new Colours to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards today, before joining the regiment and their guests at a Regimental Garden Party in the castle grounds.

This is the eighth set of Colours that have been presented to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in their 100 year history. Colours are the Regimental Flags of the British Army. They were originally used as rallying points on the battlefield as long ago as the Kings of Babylon. They were vital because before modern communications, it was all too easy for troops to become disorientated by the fog of war. From the reign of Queen Anne every regiment has been awarded two colours: the Queen’s Colour and the Regimental Colour. In the Guards Regiments the Queen’s Colour is crimson silk and the Regimental Colour is the Union Flag.

Battle honours

The Queen's Colour of the Welsh Guards carries a red dragon above the motto "Cymru Am Byth" in the centre, while the Regimental Colour carries a Company badge. Both carry the most notable of the Regiment’s Battle Honours.

The New Colours for the Welsh Guards carry 21 out of their 47 Battle Honours, the last being Falkland Islands 1982. Since then the Welsh Guards has served operationally in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012.

Today, as the battalion resplendent in ceremonial red tunics and bearskins stood to attention in the Quadrangle, Windsor Castle, The Prince of Wales, accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall, was met by the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Major General Robert Talbot Rice, and the Regimental Adjutant, Colonel Tom Bonas, and the Old Colours were marched off the parade.

Regimental Colonel

The Prince of Wales is the Regimental Colonel of the Welsh Guards, a position he has held since 1st March 1975. As Colonel, The Prince has taken a great interest in the Welsh Guards participating in ceremonial events such as Presentation of New Colours and Trooping the Colour, and He supports the regimental family by discussing and highlighting military issues, such as welfare and veteran support.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh then arrived at the State Entrance and were met by The Prince of Wales, in his role as Colonel of the Regiment. The Queen inspected the front rank of the Battalion, while The Prince of Wales inspected the rear rank.

Her Majesty presented the New Colours after a short service of prayers and consecration, held by The Reverend David Coulter, Chaplain-General, The Reverend Dowell Conning, Senior Chaplain, Household Division, and The Reverend Andrew Harding, Chaplain, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Following the march past, the Regiment and their guests moved into the grounds of the Castle for formal photographs and the Regimental garden party.

Centenary year

Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Major General Robert Talbot Rice said: “This a very special day in a unique year. Marking the centenary of the Regiment reminds us of the extraordinary achievements of those who have gone before us, who established the reputation for excellence of which we as a Household Division Regiment are so proud.

"It emphasises our duty to build on that reputation in all that we do whether here at home, or on operations around the world. The colours presented to us today represent our pride in past achievements, and our steadfast loyalty to the Crown. They embody the resilient Welsh Guards’ spirit which holds all of us together as a tight knit family, and will be carried forward with great pride."

Troop the Colour

Colours were last carried into action by the 58th Foot in South Africa in 1881. Up to that time they participated in all the varying fortunes of their regiment; often torn by enemy fire they acquired an almost religious significance. Colours are always carried by an officer and accompanied by an armed escort.

The Welsh Guards is the youngest Regiment in the Foot Guards, having been formed on St David’s Day in 1915. 2 VCs have been awarded to the Welsh Guards since then.

This year is the Regiments’s centenary year and in celebration, following the Presentation of New Colours, the Regiment will prepare to 'Troop the Colour' on 13 June on Horse Guards Parade for the Queen’s Birthday Parade. On parade they will be joined by elements of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots and Irish Guards, the Massed Bands of the Household Division, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.