Royal Regiment of Scotland

Royal Regiment of Scotland
Unit name	Royal Regiment of Scotland
Caption	Regimental flag
Dates	28 March 2006 – present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	United Kingdom
Type	Line Infantry
Role	Light Role Infantry
Size	Seven battalions
Command structure	Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division
Garrison	Edinburgh Castle (Regimental Headquarters)
Motto	Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity)
Colors	Gold, purple, red, green
March	Quick: Scotland the Brave, Slow: Garb of Old Gaul
Anniversaries	28 March (Regimental Day)
Battles	War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Operation Shader
Current commander	Colonel-in-Chief: Charles III
Colonel of the regiment	Major General L. J. R. B. Dennis
Identification symbol label	Tactical Recognition Flash

Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2006 under the Future Army Structure reforms, it consolidated the historic regular infantry regiments of Scotland into a single large regiment, headquartered at Edinburgh Castle. Its Colonel-in-Chief is Charles III, and it maintains a global operational role, with battalions frequently deployed on active service.

History

The regiment was created on 28 March 2006 from the amalgamation of six existing Scottish regiments: the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Black Watch, the Highland Light Infantry, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. This restructuring, part of the wider Delivering Security in a Changing World defence review, followed earlier amalgamations such as the creation of the Royal Scots Borderers. The formation was controversial, sparking significant public and veterans' debate about the loss of individual regimental identities, a process similar to the earlier creation of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

Organisation

The regiment comprises seven battalions, with the regular order of battle consisting of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Battalions. The 1st Battalion serves as the Public Duties battalion in Scotland, while the others are light role infantry units within the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division. The 6th Battalion is a reinforced company permanently based in London for public duties. Additionally, the regiment maintains a single Army Reserve battalion, the 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, which forms part of the 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland.

Uniform and insignia

The regiment's uniform incorporates elements from its antecedent regiments. The standard dress is a dark blue Glengarry bonnet with a black cock feather hackle, except for the former Black Watch battalion, which retains the famous red hackle. The ceremonial feather bonnet is worn by the pipers and drummers. The tactical recognition flash is a gold, purple, red, and green patch representing the Stone of Destiny, and the cap badge features the Lion Rampant of Scotland within the Order of the Thistle circlet, surmounted by the Royal Crown.

Regimental traditions

Central to its identity are the distinct pipes and drums of each battalion, which continue the musical heritage of their forebears. The regiment's motto, Nemo Me Impune Lacessit, is also the motto of the Order of the Thistle and was previously used by the Royal Scots. Key ceremonies include the presentation of Malt whisky on St Andrew's Day and the celebration of Regimental Day on 28 March. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo regularly features the regiment's massed pipes and drums.

Operational history

Since its formation, battalions have seen extensive operational service. Multiple deployments were undertaken during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) as part of the International Security Assistance Force, particularly in Helmand Province. Battalions also served in the Iraq War and later in Iraq as part of Operation Shader against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Other deployments have included public duties for state occasions, peacekeeping in Cyprus, and training missions in Kenya and Canada.

Affiliated units

The regiment has formal affiliations with several commonwealth and allied forces, including the Royal Australian Regiment, the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, and the 48th Highlanders of Canada. Within the British Army, it is affiliated with the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry and the Royal Marines. It also maintains close links with the University of Edinburgh Officers' Training Corps and several Combined Cadet Force contingents in Scottish schools.

Category:British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 2006 Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army