Company of Pikemen and Musketeers

The Company of Pikemen & Musketeers is a ceremonial unit of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), which provides a regiment for the Army Reserve and is associated with the City of London. The HAC is the oldest regiment in the British Army, though not the most senior.

The Pikemen & Musketeers are dressed and equipped as members of the HAC would have been in the 1640s and the Company is tasked with providing a ceremonial bodyguard and escort for the Lord Mayor of London. This includes escorting the Lord Mayor's state coach at the Lord Mayor's Show. and guards of honour and carpet guards for events at Mansion House and Guildhall.

The Company also mounts guards for livery company functions in the City, at Royal Palaces and for charitable and other events. It has taken part in the British Military Tattoo and the 500th anniversary of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in Rome. From time to time it visits Boston to take part in ceremonies with its sister organisation, the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. It also provides period displays of 17th century drill and music to show how the army of Charles I moved and defended itself.

In 1955 HM The Queen granted the Company a Royal Warrant. This allows the Company to parade a maximum of 63 members, including six officers, at any one time – that being the size of a company in the 17th century. The Pikemen & Musketeers may only parade with a warrant signed by one of the Company's three governors – The Lord Mayor of the City of London, the Colonel-Commandant of the HAC or the General Officer Commanding London District.

Uniform, Arms and Equipment

The uniform members of the Company wear is identical to that worn by the HAC in the reign of Charles I. It comprises Venetian red tunics with white linen collars and cuffs and knee-length breeches. The seniority of officers and non-commissioned officers is signified by the amount of lace worn on collars and cuffs; the more lace the more senior the rank. Officers wear thigh boots and spurs.

...
Wikipedia