King Charles presented new Colours to the Coldstream Guards today at Windsor Castle, marking the regiment’s 375th anniversary. The King, as Colonel-in-Chief, handed over four ceremonial flags to the 1st and 2nd Battalions (Number 7 Company).
The event took place in the castle’s Quadrangle. The battalions marched from Victoria Barracks through the George IV Gate before the ceremony began. One of the new Colours will be carried by Number 7 Company during tomorrow’s Trooping the Colour at the King’s Birthday Parade in London.
The presentation underlined the regiment’s long-standing service to the Crown. From a dais, King Charles received a Royal Salute while the Band of the Coldstream Guards played the National Anthem. He was joined by Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall, Colonel of the Regiment.
After the salute, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel Toby Till invited the King to inspect the regiment. The Chaplain-General then consecrated the new Colours. The flags were laid across stacked regimental drums, following a battlefield tradition of creating makeshift altars before combat.
Once consecrated, the new Colours were presented to the King, who touched them to show his acknowledgement. The Coldstream Guards, known as the Sovereign’s bodyguard, guard royal palaces in London and Windsor. King Charles became Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment on 22 December 2022.
Over the past eighteen months, the regiment has carried out various operations. They have deployed to Iraq, trained Ukraine’s armed forces, and led training in West Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
The Colours are silk damask flags embroidered with gold thread and fringe. They display the regiment’s battle honours and cyphers. After presenting the Colours, King Charles addressed the parade, followed by a short response from the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel.
