97th (The Earl of Ulster's) Regiment of Foot

97th or Earl of Ulsters Regiment of Foot
Active	1824–1881
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Nickname(s)	The Celestials
Motto(s)	Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt – Where Right and Glory Lead
Colors	Sky blue facings
March	Quick March "Paddy’s Resource"
Anniversaries	Sevastopol Day (8 September)
Engagements	Crimean War Indian Mutiny

The 97th (The Earl of Ulster's) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1824 and amalgamated into the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) in 1881.

In 1823 and 1824 the size of the British Army was increased by the raising of six regiments of foot, numbered the 94th-99th. The raising of the 97th Regiment was authorised by a royal warrant dated 25 March 1824: the colonelcy was given to Major General Sir James Lyon, with the headquarters to be established at Gosport. It was the sixth regiment of foot to have borne the number "97", the others having been short-lived war-raised units that existed at various periods during the Seven Years' War, the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. On 30 March the headquarters of the regiment were moved to Winchester, by which time recruiting parties were active throughout the United Kingdom. By June 1824 the regiment had been brought up to full strength.

The bulk of the regiment was recruited in Ireland, and it was initially regarded as an Irish unit. This led to it being given sky blue facings derived from the colour of the ribbon of the Order of St Patrick. The colour of the facings led to the 97th gaining the nickname The Celestials. The Irish connection was reinforced in September 1826 when the regiment was granted the additional title of "Earl of Ulster's". This was an additional title in the Peerage of Ireland borne by Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. The Latin motto Quo fas et gloria ducunt was granted to the regiment in the following month.

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