Overview
One of the most important cities in Europe, if not the world, a kingdom over a thousand years old, and the capital of an empire on which the sun never set, London is many things. For the traveler, it is a great destination to spend a few days just before Christmas. Returning from my trip to Morocco, I had to change planes for the transatlantic leg of my flight. I chose a four-day layover in London. Just enough time to visit a few locations I missed on a trip a few years ago.
I am breaking this up into four articles and breaking one of my rules on this site. The first article is about two museums because a separate article for each would make them pretty short. It’s my site; I can make and break the rules.
History of the Guards
It gets complicated with Britain’s unit-naming convention in the army. And yes, while these units have ceremonial duties, including the changing of the guard, they are fully trained active-duty military units that can and have fought in wars, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Let me start with the Guards, or I guess they’re officially known as the Foot Guards Regiments. There are now five regiments in the Foot Guards. Before the English Civil War, the Crown and Parliament were at odds. When Ireland, then part of the UK, rebelled, the king could not send troops. Instead, he formed a regiment of Scots loyal to him in 1642. They were known as the Regiment of Scottish Foot Guards. The king didn’t last through the Civil War and was beheaded.
His son was living in exile, and when Scotland rebelled against the crown, he renamed them the Life Guard of Foot. He used the regiment to reconquer Scotland. But he was unsuccessful. When things settled down after the civil war, in 1666 the king formed a new regiment, the Scottish Regiment of Foot Guards. They were renamed in 1712 as the Third Regiment of Foot Guards, and again in 1831 as Scots Fusilier Guards, and finally in 1877 as The Scots Guards.
Even dating back to 1646, they did not become part of the British Army until 1648, by which time there were already two other guard units. The Scots Guards are considered the third in the order of regiments.
If you are still reading this, you would be better served by going to the source on the Museum’s website. Suffice it to say there is a lot of complicated history with the Foot Guards.
History of the Household Cavalry
Much like the Foot Guards, the Household Cavalry dates back to the end of the English Civil War. King Charles II, living in exile, was preparing to return and restore the crown. He formed a mounted bodyguard troop while still in Holland. In 1660, a few cavalry bodyguard troops were formed into the Life Guards Regiment. Later, a regiment from Cromwell’s New Model Army became part of the English Army. However, due to their extreme religious views and loyalty to Cromwell, they did not become part of the Household Guard until 1820, when they were known as the Royal Horse Guards, commonly known as the Blues.
The final unit in the Household Cavalry was formed in 1661 to garrison the port of Tangier in North Africa. In 1683, they returned to England and became dragoons, or light pistol-armed cavalry, known as the Royals. They were later combined with the Blues to become the Blues and Royals. Currently, the unit has two regiments, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
Like the Foot Guards, the Household Cavalry are not just a ceremonial unit. They have been part of every major war the British have fought, with heroes in each. While they no longer ride horses in battle, cavalry troops fought in both Iran and Afghanistan as armored reconnaissance units.
Two small museums
I visited two small museums near St James park and Buckingham Palace. In fact, one, The Guards Museum, is on the south edge of the park on a delightful street named Birdcage Walk, and the other, on the east side near Number 10 Downing Street, is The Household Cavalry Museum, with its entrance on Whitehall Street.
Both have a small entrance fee and small gift and book stores. The Guards Museum is open from 10 am until 4 pm every day; the Household Cavalry Museum is open from 10 am until 5 pm in winter and 10 am until 6 pm in the summer. Both are closed on holidays. Check their websites for details: The Guards Museum, The Household Cavalry Museum
