Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
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The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is a ceremonial cavalry regiment of the British Army. It is classed as a regiment of guards, and carries out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions. These include the provision of the Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the present Queen's Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) in June each year. Other occasions include those during state visits by visiting Heads of State, or whenever required by the British monarch. The regiment also mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards.
A further duty is a Staircase Party inside Buckingham Palace when either the Queen or the Prince of Wales award honours such as MBE, KBE, Victoria Cross.
It consists of one 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. 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.
The Household Cavalry Musical Ride has been performed at agricultural shows, military tattoos since the 1880’s. The display is often accompanied by the Mounted Band of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). The Musical Ride demonstrates the skills that were required by cavalry in times of war. The display was a firm favourite at the Royal Tournament where it was first performed in 1882, the Musical Ride was performed at the last Royal Tournament in 1999.
