Queen's Royal Hussars

Queen's Royal Hussars
Public domain · source
Unit name	Queen's Royal Hussars
Caption	Cap badge of the regiment
Dates	1993–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Armoured cavalry
Role	Armoured reconnaissance and armoured warfare
Garrison	Bulford Camp
Motto	Shame and Grief
March	Queen's Alma Mater
Battle honours	See article

Queen's Royal Hussars is a British Army armoured cavalry regiment formed in 1993 by amalgamating antecedent units with lineages reaching to the Napoleonic era. The regiment traces traditions through earlier formations engaged at Waterloo, Crimea, Somme, El Alamein, and Normandy landings; it serves within the Household Cavalry and wider British Army operational framework, maintaining readiness for NATO and UK operations. Headquartered at Bulford Camp, the regiment contributes to armoured reconnaissance, liaison with formations such as 7th Armoured Brigade and interoperability with partners including US Army and NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

History

The regiment was created by the amalgamation of the 10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) and 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) lineage in 1993, consolidating battle honours accrued at Waterloo, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Ypres, and Passchendaele. Antecedent regiments fought in the Peninsular War, the Indian Mutiny, the Second Boer War, and the two World Wars including actions at Gallipoli, Cambrai (1917), and the North African Campaign. Post‑1993 history includes deployments to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq War, Afghanistan, and contributions to UNPROFOR, KFOR, and NATO Response Force commitments. The regiment’s lineage connects to notable figures commemorated in regimental histories such as Lord Cardigan, Viscount Wolseley, Field Marshal Montgomery, and commanders associated with armored doctrine like Major General John Frost and General Sir Mike Jackson.

Organisation and structure

The regiment is organised into sabre squadrons and a headquarters squadron, aligning with structures used by the Household Division and Royal Armoured Corps. Squadrons are tasked with reconnaissance, armoured support, and liaison duties for brigades such as 12th Armoured Brigade and elements attached to 1st (UK) Division. Personnel progress through training establishments including Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Army Training Centre Pirbright, and the Armour Centre at Catterick Garrison. The regiment works alongside corps-level formations including Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, and Royal Logistic Corps to provide combined arms capability for operations coordinated by headquarters such as Permanent Joint Headquarters and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

Operational deployments

Operational deployments reflect commitments to multinational missions and UK defence tasks: peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovina under IFOR and SFOR, stability operations in Kosovo with KFOR, counter‑insurgency in Iraq War during Operation Telic, and mentoring and combat operations in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick. The regiment has conducted armoured reconnaissance during exercises such as Exercise Joint Warrior, Exercise Combined Endeavour, and bilateral training with US 1st Cavalry Division and German Army formations. It has been mobilised for homeland resilience tasks supporting Civil Contingencies Secretariat requirements during national emergencies and in ceremonial roles at events like Trooping the Colour and state visits involving the Royal Family.

Equipment and vehicles

Operational equipment has evolved from Challenger 2 main battle tanks to reconnaissance platforms such as the CVR(T) family, the current deployment fleet including the Ajax (Armoured Vehicle) family and variants of the Warrior tracked armoured vehicle for armoured reconnaissance and liaison. Support vehicles include logistics platforms from Royal Logistic Corps inventories, armoured recovery vehicles, and specialist communications suites interoperable with NATO standards and systems used by UK MOD. Personal equipment aligns with issue from Royal Army Clothing Depot and small arms commonly from Ministry of Defence procurement including service rifles and support weapons integrated with vehicle mounts.

Traditions and insignia

Regimental traditions draw on heraldry and ceremonial practice derived from antecedent regiments with insignia featuring elements from royal patronage linked to Prince of Wales and Prince Albert. Ceremonial dress for state occasions follows guidelines practised by the Household Division with standards and colours paraded on anniversaries such as regimental days commemorating battles like Waterloo and Alamein. The cap badge, stable belt and motto reflect amalgamated lineage honoured alongside affiliations with institutions including The Worshipful Company of Drapers and military charities such as Royal British Legion.

Regimental museum and memorials

The regimental museum preserves collections of uniforms, medals, and artefacts from antecedent regiments and is displayed in venues associated with historic garrisons including Warwick Castle and county museums in Berkshire and Sussex. Memorials to the regiment and predecessor units stand at battle sites such as Waterloo Memorial, regimental churches including St Paul's Cathedral memorial plaques, and on regimental roll of honour installations maintained by organizations like Commonwealth War Graves Commission and local veterans’ associations including The Rifles Museum affiliates. The museum collaborates with archives such as the National Archives (UK) and academic institutions like King's College London for research and public history programmes.

Category:Armoured regiments of the British Army