FORMATION
The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the senior English infantry regiment of The Line. It was formed on 9th September 1992 by the amalgamation of the Queen's Regiment and The Royal Hampshire Regiment. It is the Infantry County Regiment of London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment can trace its history back to 1572 when Queen Elizabeth I reviewed the Trained Bands of London, from which the 3rd of Foot descended. The Regiment's precedence in the British Army dates from the raising of the 2nd of Foot in 1661 for the defence of Tangier acquired by King Charles II on his marriage to Princess Catherine of Braganza. The nickname "The Tigers" comes from the 67th Foot (South Hampshire Regiment). Having served 21 years unbroken service in India, under active service conditions, King George IV authorised the Tiger sleeve badge in 1826.
FIGHTING RECORD
The forebear regiments of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment fought in nearly all the major campaigns and wars in which the British Army was engaged. They won no less than 56 Victoria Crosses, an outstanding record, and were awarded over 550 Battle Honours including the oldest on any Colour: 'Tangier 1662-80'
REGIMENTAL BADGE
The Regimental Badge is a composition of the badges of the forebear regiments.
The Dragon was awarded to The Buffs, in recognition of their Tudor origin, by Queen Anne, probably in 1707. It was a rare distinction for a Regiment to be honoured like this in those days, and is one of the earliest known Regimental Badges.
Below the Tudor Dragon is The Hampshire Rose as worn by the Trained Bands of Hampshire, who fought so gallantly for King Henry V at Agincourt in 1415.
The surrounding device inscribed with the motto 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' (Shame on him who thinks ill of it), is a garter, as awarded to the Knights of the Order of the Garter. This is England's oldest Order of Chivalry, founded by King Edward III in 1348. The garter is taken from the badge of the Royal Sussex Regiment and the Officers' badge of The Royal Hampshire Regiment.
The feathers above the Tudor Dragon are the ostrich plumes worn by The Black Prince at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. The 15th Prince of Wales considered the East Middlesex Regiment to be deserving of his plumes for its exploits in India. The award was given the King's approval in 1810 and was subsequently included in the badge of the Middlesex Regiment.
Members of the Regiment on exercise.
