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The Queen’s Colour
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- When the Battalions become permanently
established in 1751, each was allowed two colours; the Royal or First Colour
(now known as the Queen’s Colour) and the Regimental Colour. The Colonel’s
Colour was adopted as the Queen’s Colour of the First Battalion, and the
Lieutenant Colonel’s Colour was adopted for the 2nd Battalion.
When the Third Battalion was formed in 1897, the Major’s Colour was adopted
for their Queen’s Colour.
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- Within the Guards Division, the Queen’s
Colours are crimson, whereas in most of the rest of the Army, they are based
on the Union flag.
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The Regimental Colours
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- These are based on the Union flag and have
a company badge in the centre. These badges are changed with each new
issue of colours and follow in numerical sequence, irrespective of
which battalion the badge belongs to. Each regimental colour bears the
number of the battalion in roman numerals in the top corner. This is not
deemed necessary on the Queen’s Colours as they are of noticeably different
design.
- Both colours bear forty-four of the
Regiment’s battle honours, irrespective of which battalion gained the honour
originally.
Up until the end of the First World War, all the regiment’s battle honours
were borne, however, so many were won in the two World Wars, that it was
decided that each regiment would select 10 from each war, to be carried
their colours. All battle honours won since 1945 are borne on the
colours. The only battle honour awarded to the Coldstream since 1945 in ‘Gulf
1991.’
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- The life expectancy of the colours in the
Foot Guards is between 10 – 15 years (as opposed to 25 years in Line
Regiments), and new colours are then presented, usually by the Monarch. The
last three occasions when the Coldstream have received new colours are 1976,
1985 and 1999.
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- Since the 2nd Battalion was
placed into suspended animation in 1993, the Coldstream Guards have had in
incremental Public Duties Company based in London. Taking the title Number 7
Company, Coldstream Guards, it has been granted the privilege of carrying the
colours of the 2nd Battalion, and maintaining their customs.
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- The following battle honours and honorary
distinctions are borne on the colours:
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