On Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal (Princess Anne of Great Britain) will attend the laying up of standards of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals at the St.- George’s Memorial Church in Ypres.

The British Household Cavalry is classed as a corps in its own right, and consists of two regiments: the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). They are the senior regular regiments in the British Army, with traditions dating from 1660, and act as the Queen's personal bodyguard.

The Household Cavalry carry Standards presented by Her Majesty The Queen, consecrated by the Chaplain General in Her presence.  When the Standards begin to show wear, usually after about 10 years of use, they are replaced, and the old ones are laid up in a suitable place, such as a church or museum.  This involves some pageantry in honouring our Standards usually in a short church service.  It is normal for the Colonels of Regiments to attend this service, and accordingly Field Marshal the Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, Colonel The Life Guards, and HRH The Princess Royal, Colonel The Blues and Royals, are to attend the laying up ceremony.

The regiments of the Household Cavalry have strong historical links to Ypres.  Following World War 1 a Squadron Standard of 1st Life Guards was laid up in St George’s Church, Ypres.  In 2014 the Household Cavalry undertook a battlefield tour of the Zandvoorde area to teach our soldiers of their history.  It was coincidental that we were looking also for places to lay up Standards that had recently been replaced.  Given that all regiments of the Household Cavalry had distinguished service near Ypres, it was determined to offer St George’s Church a Standard from each successor regiment – The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals.  The Household Cavalry is delighted that the Priest-in-Charge, Reverend Brian Llewellyn has accepted the offer.