Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
Major Tim Cooper, Director of Music of The Blues and Royals conducting the Mounted Band of The Blues and Royals
Active	19 October 1992-Present (roots dating back to 1660)
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Horse Guards
Role	Public duties/ceremonial
Size	One regiment
Part of	Household Cavalry
Garrison/HQ	Hyde Park Barracks, London
Motto(s)	Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Evil be to Him who Evil Thinks)
March	Life Guards: Quick - Millanollo Slow - Life Guards Slow March Trot Past - Keel Row Blues and Royals: Quick - Quick March of the Blues and Royals Slow - Slow March of the Blues and Royals Trot Past - Keel Row
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	HM The Queen

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army tasked primarily with ceremonial duties. Part of the Household Division, it is classed as a regiment of guards, and carries out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions. The HCMR is one of two operational units that form the Household Cavalry, the other being the Household Cavalry Regiment. That unit is a formation reconnaissance regiment, with front-line combat duties.

It consists of one sabre squadron from each regiment of the Household Cavalry (the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals) plus a Headquarters Squadron, and the Household Cavalry Training Wing. Each of the Squadrons consists of two divisions of one officer and 24 men. This has been based (in various forms) at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, since 1795. This is three-quarters of a mile from Buckingham Palace, close enough for the officers and men of the Household Cavalry to be available to respond speedily to any emergency at the Palace and also to conduct their ceremonial duties.

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment carries out regular ceremonial duties throughout the year. As the Sovereign's bodyguard and part of the Household Division, the HCMR mounts a daily guard (called Queen's Life Guard) at Horse Guards, which is the historical and ceremonial entrance to Buckingham Palace. This ceremony can be viewed daily by members of the public. The HCMR is responsible for the provision of the Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the monarch's annual Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) in June each year. The escort is also seen at other occasions, including during state visits by visiting heads of state, or whenever required by the British monarch. The regiment provides a staircase party inside Buckingham Palace at state Investitures, and inside the Palace of Westminster at the annual State Opening of Parliament. They are also present at the annual Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle.