Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Unit name	Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
Dates	1992–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Line infantry
Role	Light infantry
Size	Regiment
Command structure	Queen's Division
Garrison	Canterbury Barracks, Kent
Nickname	"The Tigers", "PWRR"
Patron	Princess of Wales
Motto	"Dieu et mon droit"
Colors	Black and red
March	"The British Grenadiers"
Battle honours	See below

Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is a British Army infantry regiment formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of the Queen's Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment. It is part of the Queen's Division and recruits principally from Kent, Hampshire, Sussex and Isle of Wight. The regiment has served on operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, and has ties to historic lineages dating to the 17th century.

History

The regiment was created on 9 April 1992 when the Queen's Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment were amalgamated under post-Cold War restructuring initiated by the Options for Change defence review. Its antecedent units include the 2nd Regiment of Foot (later Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)), the Royal Berkshire Regiment, the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), the Middlesex Regiment, and battalions with service in the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, the Second Boer War, World War I, and World War II. Early deployments included peacekeeping in the Balkans during the Bosnian War and stabilization duties in Kosovo under NATO auspices. In the 2000s elements served in Iraq War operations during Operation Telic and multiple tours in Operation Herrick in Afghanistan supporting ISAF objectives. The regiment has undergone structural changes aligned with the Army 2020 and Future Soldier initiatives, maintaining both regular and reserve battalions affiliated with territorial units such as the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Reserve)'s antecedents.

Structure and Organisation

The regiment traditionally comprised two regular battalions and associated reserve battalions; post-2010 restructuring reduced and re-roled several units in line with Army 2020. Subordinate companies and platoons trace lineage to specific county regiments including the Royal Green Jackets amalgams and the Light Division influences. The regimental headquarters is located at Canterbury Barracks with regional ties to recruiting centres in Chatham, Aldershot, Portsmouth, and Brighton. The regiment is part of the 1st (UK) Division command when deployed and works alongside units such as the Royal Anglian Regiment, the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Yorkshire Regiment for collective tasks. It maintains training relationships with the Infantry Battle School at Brecon and the Small Arms School Corps.

Operational Deployments

Operational history includes internal security tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, peace enforcement in Bosnia and Herzegovina under UNPROFOR and IFOR, and peacekeeping in Kosovo under KFOR. The regiment contributed battalions to Operation Telic in Iraq during the 2003 invasion and subsequent stabilization phases, and multiple rotations to Operation Herrick in Afghanistan including counter-insurgency operations in Helmand Province alongside units of the US Marine Corps and Royal Air Force support elements such as No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group. Deployments have included training missions in Falkland Islands defense duties, security tasks in Cyprus as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and exercises with NATO partners including US Army Europe, the Dutch Armed Forces, the German Bundeswehr, and the Polish Land Forces.

Traditions and Insignia

Regimental traditions draw on symbols like the tiger emblem inherited from the Queen's Regiment and the Royal Hampshire Regiment battle honours such as Minden and Waterloo. Badges and collar dogs reflect county affiliations to Kent, Hampshire, Sussex, and Berkshire. The cap badge combines royal cypher elements associated with the Princess of Wales patronage and uses the regimental colours black and red; stable belt patterns echo those of predecessor regiments such as the Royal Fusiliers and the Middlesex Regiment. The regiment observes regimental days commemorating engagements like Dettingen Day and memorials for the Battle of Arnhem and honours fallen soldiers from World War I and World War II at regimental ceremonies often attended by members of the Royal Family and dignitaries from the Ministry of Defence.

Regimental Museum and Heritage

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment's heritage is preserved through collections held at affiliated museums and trust organisations, incorporating artefacts from antecedent regiments displayed at institutions like the Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum in Winchester and the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum in Maidstone. Exhibits include medals such as the Victoria Cross, campaign drums, uniforms from campaigns in Egypt, the Western Front, and the Far East, and archives documenting service in theatres like Gallipoli and North Africa. The regimental museum works with bodies such as the Imperial War Museum, the National Army Museum, the Army Museums Ogilby Trust, and local history groups in Canterbury and Portsmouth to conserve and interpret material culture and oral histories.

Battle Honours and Awards

The regiment inherits battle honours from historic antecedents including Blenheim, Dettingen, Minden, Waterloo, Sevastopol, Gatacre, South Africa 1899–1902, Somme 1916, Ypres 1917, El Alamein, Normandy Landing, Arnhem, and numerous honours from the Korean War and post-1945 operations. Individual soldiers and units have received decorations such as the Victoria Cross, George Cross, Military Cross, Distinguished Service Order, and Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for actions spanning from the 19th century through to modern deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regimental colours emblazon these honours and are paraded on ceremonial occasions including Trooping the Colour and at remembrance events such as Remembrance Sunday.

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