Queens' Guard (College of William and Mary)
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The Queens' Guard is a ceremonial unit at the College of William and Mary. The unit is recognized by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and is comprised of students of the College. It is the only unit called "Queens' Guard" recognized by the British monarchy in the United States of America. It is not an organization attached to any military.
The name uses the possessive plural "Queens'" in recognition of the three Queens of Great Britain considered patrons of the College: Queen Mary II, who with her joint Sovereign William III granted the royal charter for the creation of the College; Queen Anne, who in 1708 granted money for the rebuilding of the College after a devastating fire; and Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the College in 1957 and for whom the Queens' Guard was created.
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[edit] Creation
During Elizabeth II's visit to the College on October 16, 1957 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the colonization of Jamestown, Virginia, a unit of cadets from the College's US Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps was selected to serve as an honor guard for Her Majesty and His Highness, the Royal Consort, Prince Phillip. A successor to this honor guard, known as the Queens' Guard, was established on February 8, 1961, the 268th anniversary of the chartering of the College. A letter dated February 11, 1961 and signed by a representative of the Queen expresses Her Majesty's approval of and support for the creation of the unit.
[edit] Uniform
When the unit was created in 1961, the Queens' Guard wrote to Her Majesty, asking for suggestions for a distinctly British-style uniform. Some Scots Guards uniforms were sent back as a gift, and were the inspiration for uniform comprised of a red tunic and black trousers, worn with a busby.
[edit] Current activities
Since the 1980s, the Queens' Guard has been combined with Company W-4 of the National Society of Pershing Rifles, a military fraternity. The Queens' Guard has both ROTC cadets and civilian students as members. Its primary function is to serve as a ceremonial drill unit for the College.
