Lord Strats at the Palace

[TonyM]

CANADIAN CAVALRY TO GUARD ROYAL PALACES

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) will mount The Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards in Whitehall on seven days in September. This will be the first time that troops other than the Household Cavalry and The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery have ever undertaken the duty before. It is a unique honour which Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to bestow upon this Regiment which, having been formed in 1900, shares this Centenary year with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

LdSH(RC) will undertake the duty on 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 September using the world famous black horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at the barracks in Knightsbridge. After the troops ride down from Knightsbridge Barracks, the ceremony at Horse Guards takes place at 11.00 am each morning.

Horse Guards historically remains the official entrance to the Royal Palaces having been so for the Palace of Whitehall and remained so since the move to St James's and Buckingham Palace.

Lord Strathcona's Horse is now an armoured regiment based in Edmonton, Alberta. Lord Strathcona formed it, as a Horse Cavalry Regiment, in August 1900 to deploy to South Africa as part of the Canadian forces supporting Great Britain in the Boer War. For many years they have maintained a 25 person 'riding troop' that perform all over Western Canada each summer. The troops wear full dress uniform similar to that of the Life Guards. HRH The Prince of Wales is the Colonel-in Chief of the Regiment.

Note to Editors/Facility Note: News editors are invited to a facility to interview/film/photograph the Lord Strathcona's Horse rehearsals (in full dress) at 9.00 am at Hyde Park on 6 Sep. Representatives must have a valid Press photo ID and should report to Lt Laura Oberwarth at the Ceremonial Gate to Hyde Park Barracks in South Carriage Drive. Further details are available from Lt Laura Oberwarth on Tel: 28 Aug: 07901 858635 (Mob). The Canadian's first Queen's Life Guard mount at Horse Guards will be on 8 Sep at 11.00 am. Arrangements for the necessary news-filming/photo pass to cover this event should be made with the Royal Parks Agency who control Horse Guards Parade

[TonyM]

..there's more


CANADIANS TO GUARD THE QUEEN

The Royal Canadian Regiment will mount Queen's Guard and provide the guard at Saint James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London during September.

The honour being accorded to Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) is especially valuable during this Millennium year in which the Regiment, formed in 1883, celebrates the 100th year of its participation in the Boer War.

2RCR, based in CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick will provide six 48 hour guards on 3, 7, 11, 15, 21 and 25 September. The 95 man Canadian contingent includes their famous Pipes and Drums Band which will play during the colourful 'changing of the Guard' ceremonies at 11.30 am on the mounting dates and two days after each mount when the Regiment dismounts at the same time. The RCR will wear their distinctive, scarlet ceremonial uniform that includes a scarlet-banded Wolesley, pith-style helmet. They will carry their Queen's and Regimental Colours emblazoned with the Regiment's Battle Honours. HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment