Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Unit name	Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Caption	Cap badge of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Dates	9 September 1992 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Line infantry
Role	Armoured infantry
Size	Two battalions
Command structure	Queen's Division
Garrison	RHQ – Tower of London 1st Battalion – Tidworth Camp 3rd Battalion – Canterbury
Nickname	The Tigers
Motto	Honi soit qui mal y pense, Ich dien
Colors	Facings – Blue
March	Quick – The British Grenadiers, Slow – The Duchess of Kent
Anniversaries	Albuhera Day (16 May), Minden Day (1 August)
Battles	Bosnian War, Kosovo War, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan, Operation Telic, Operation Herrick
Current commander	Lieutenant General Sir James Bashall
Colonel of the regiment	The Princess of Wales

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. It is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division. Formed in 1992 through the amalgamation of the Queen's Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment, it inherits a lineage stretching back to 1572. The regiment is colloquially known as "The Tigers" and maintains a dual role as an armoured infantry unit and a regional regiment for the southeast of England.

History

The regiment's formation was part of the wider Options for Change reforms that restructured the British Army after the Cold War. Its immediate predecessors, the Queen's Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment, were themselves products of earlier amalgamations, consolidating the histories of over fifty former regiments. These include famed units such as the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), the Royal Sussex Regiment, and the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Since its creation, it has been consistently deployed on operational tours, including peacekeeping during the Bosnian War and combat operations in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Its soldiers have served in Basra, Helmand Province, and on Operation Telic and Operation Herrick.

Regimental structure

The regiment currently comprises two regular battalions and one Army Reserve battalion. The 1st Battalion serves as an armoured infantry battalion, equipped with the Warrior tracked vehicle and forming part of the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade. The 3rd Battalion is a reserve unit, providing individual reinforcements and specialist capabilities to the regular army. Regimental Headquarters is located within the historic Tower of London, a privilege shared with other senior regiments. The regiment's recruiting area covers the counties of Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex, as well as the City of London.

Traditions and insignia

The regiment's cap badge is a unique design featuring the Royal Arms of England within the Garter, surmounted by the Prince of Wales's feathers and the motto Ich Dien. Its uniform maintains the traditional infantry facing colour of blue. The primary regimental march is The British Grenadiers, with the slow march being The Duchess of Kent. The regiment observes several historic anniversaries, most notably Albuhera Day on 16 May, commemorating the Battle of Albuhera in 1811, and Minden Day on 1 August. The tiger emblem and "Tigers" nickname are inherited from the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), which served in India during the 18th century.

Battle honours

Inheriting the accumulated honours of its forebears, it bears a vast collection of battle honours spanning four centuries. These include historic engagements such as Tangier, Blenheim, Dettingen, and Plassey. From the Napoleonic Wars, key honours are Corunna, Barrosa, and Albuhera. Twentieth-century honours feature prominently, including those from the First World War like the Somme, Arras, and Ypres, and from the Second World War such as Dunkirk, El Alamein, Kohima, and Imphal. Recent honours include Gulf 1991 and Al Basrah.

Colonels-in-Chief and Colonels

The Colonel-in-Chief is Catherine, Princess of Wales, a role she assumed in 2022. The regiment's first Colonel-in-Chief was Diana, Princess of Wales, from its formation until her death in 1997. The professional head is the Colonel of the Regiment, a senior army officer; the position has been held by figures such as General Sir Michael Rose and, currently, Lieutenant General Sir James Bashall. The role involves upholding regimental standards, traditions, and welfare.

Alliances

The regiment maintains formal military alliances with several Commonwealth and allied forces, fostering exchange and camaraderie. These include The Royal Canadian Regiment, the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, and The Royal Queensland Regiment of the Australian Army. Within the United Kingdom, it is allied with the Royal Marines and the Queen's Royal Hussars. These alliances often involve shared training, ceremonial duties, and the exchange of officers and senior non-commissioned officers.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1992