The Household Cavalry consists of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st The Royal Dragoons). They are the oldest and most senior regiments in the British Army and are split between two different units equipped to perform two quite different roles. The Household Cavalry Regiment has an operational role in armoured fighting vehicles which has seen them at the forefront of Britain's military operations including the Falklands (1982), the Gulf (1990) and, more recently, Bosnia and Kosovo. The regiments are Guards Regiments and, with the five Foot Guards Regiments, form the Household Division.

The second unit is the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment equipped with horses. It is their unique privilege to meet the requirement to carry out mounted and some dismounted ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions which include the provision of a Sovereign's Escort most commonly seen at the Queen's Birthday Parade in June each year. Other occasions include Sovereign's Escorts for Her Majesty The Queen during State Visits by visiting Heads of State, and as required by Her Majesty anywhere in the Kingdom. They maintain a world-famous tradition dating back to 1660.
1 of 2