London Guards
A British Army Reserve administrative organisation comprising reserve companies associated with the four senior Foot Guards regiments.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
London Guards is an administrative organisation of the British Army rather than a commercial brand or a regiment in its own right. It coordinates Army Reserve companies in London that are affiliated with the four senior Foot Guards regiments: the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards and Irish Guards. The organisation emerged from the reorganisation of the London Regiment, a formation whose institutional ancestry reaches back to the creation of the original London Regiment in 1908 from 26 Volunteer Force battalions. The London Regiment was reformed in 1993 from surviving successor units and maintained a deliberately multi-badge structure. Its companies carried identities associated with London Scottish, the Queen's Regiment, the City of London Fusiliers and the London Irish Rifles. Between 1998 and 2006, two companies affiliated with the Royal Green Jackets also formed part of the regiment. This structure reflected the complex heritage of London's volunteer and territorial infantry units, whose names, battle honours and customs were retained through successive Army reorganisations. The regiment moved from the Queen's Division to the Guards Division following the restructuring announced in 2004. Its reserve soldiers also undertook operational service, including deployment to Iraq in 2004. Further changes in 2017 transferred B and C Companies to other infantry formations, while F Company of 7th Battalion The Rifles returned to the London Regiment and a new G Company was formed. The unit was subsequently placed under 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East and also came under Headquarters London District. Under the British Army's Future Soldier programme, announced as part of the Integrated Review, the London Regiment lost its independent regimental status. In April 2022 it was redesignated 1st Battalion London Guards, and its former companies became reserve companies of the four senior Foot Guards regiments. The resulting organisation preserved local recruiting and historic affiliations while aligning its command and identity more closely with the Guards Division. The constituent companies adopted new titles: Ypres Company of the Grenadier Guards in Kingston upon Thames, No. 17 Company of the Coldstream Guards in Hammersmith, G (Messines) Company of the Scots Guards in Clapham Junction, and No. 15 (Loos) Company of the Irish Guards in Camberwell. London Guards therefore functions as a military organisational identity rather than a market-facing consumer brand. Most officers and soldiers wear the uniform of their affiliated Foot Guards regiment and follow that regiment's customs and traditions. A limited London Guards uniform is reserved for the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer, incorporating symbols representing all four Foot Guards regiments. The organisation contributes reserve personnel to the British Army and supports ceremonial activity in the capital, including the provision of street liners for the 2023 Trooping the Colour parade. Its Colours were presented at Buckingham Palace on 9 July 2023 by the Regimental Colonel, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.
History
The historical background of London Guards is rooted in London's volunteer infantry tradition. The original London Regiment was formed in 1908 by bringing together 26 Volunteer Force battalions. Although the modern London Guards is not itself that regiment, it inherited personnel, local affiliations and traditions through a series of later reorganisations. The London Regiment was re-established in 1993 from successor units including the 8th (Volunteer) Battalion, Queen's Fusiliers, the 1st Battalion, 51st Highland Volunteers, and the 4th (Volunteer) Battalion, Royal Irish Rangers. The London Scottish and London Irish Rifles were moved into the relevant predecessor formations before the reformation. The new regiment retained several distinct identities, including London Scottish, Queen's Regiment, City of London Fusiliers and London Irish Rifles associations. Its headquarters was based at Battersea, with companies located across London. Royal Green Jackets companies formed part of the London Regiment from 1998 to 2006. In 2004, elements of the regiment served in Iraq. The same period brought a major institutional change: the regiment transferred from the Queen's Division to the Guards Division as the Army developed a dedicated Territorial Army, now Army Reserve, battalion connected with the Guards. The Royal Green Jackets companies were moved elsewhere in preparation for the creation of The Rifles. Further restructuring in July 2017 transferred B Company to the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and C Company to the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. F Company of 7th Battalion The Rifles returned to the London Regiment and G Company was raised. The regiment was placed under 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East and was also associated with Headquarters London District. The decisive transition came through the Future Soldier programme. In April 2022 the London Regiment was redesignated 1st Battalion London Guards and ceased to exist as an independent regiment. Its companies were converted into reserve companies of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots and Irish Guards. The new organisation retained London-based locations and much of the historic character of its predecessor, but its personnel and companies were aligned with the traditions of their respective Foot Guards regiments. The four principal companies are Ypres Company of the Grenadier Guards, No. 17 Company of the Coldstream Guards, G (Messines) Company of the Scots Guards and No. 15 (Loos) Company of the Irish Guards. Their locations are Kingston upon Thames, Hammersmith, Clapham Junction and Camberwell respectively. London Guards is consequently best understood as an administrative and reserve military structure. It does not sell products or operate as a conventional regiment; instead, it provides trained reserve infantry personnel and supports ceremonial responsibilities in the capital. Its Colours were presented at Buckingham Palace on 9 July 2023.
- 2023
Colours presented at Buckingham Palace
[1]The 1st Battalion London Guards received its Colours in a Buckingham Palace ceremony.
- 2022
Creation of London Guards structure
[1]The London Regiment was redesignated 1st Battalion London Guards and its companies became reserve companies of the four senior Foot Guards regiments.
- 2017
Company restructuring
[1]Two companies transferred to other regiments, while replacement companies returned to or were raised within the London Regiment.
- 2004
Transfer to the Guards Division
[1]Army restructuring moved the London Regiment from the Queen's Division to the Guards Division.
- 2004
Operational deployment to Iraq
[1]Elements of the London Regiment deployed to Iraq.
- 1993
London Regiment reformed
[1]A modern London Regiment was created from successor Territorial Army units and preserved several historic London infantry identities.
- 1908
Original London Regiment formed
[1]Twenty-six Volunteer Force battalions were brought together to form the original London Regiment, establishing the historical lineage later associated with London Guards.
Products and positioning
A London-based British Army Reserve organisation positioned around local service, Foot Guards affiliation, historic military identities and support for operational and ceremonial duties.
Military service
Army Reserve infantry capability
London Guards provides trained reserve infantry personnel through companies affiliated with the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots and Irish Guards. Its role is organisational and military rather than commercial, supporting the British Army's reserve force and enabling personnel to undertake operational, training and ceremonial duties.
Ceremonial military service
London ceremonial support
The organisation supports ceremonial activity in London, including parade duties and the provision of street liners. This public-facing role connects its reserve companies with the ceremonial traditions of the Foot Guards and the wider British Army.
Brand decisions
2022
Conversion to London GuardsStrategyBackground
The Future Soldier programme reorganised Army Reserve structures under the British Army's wider Integrated Review implementation.
Action taken
The London Regiment lost its independent regimental status and was redesignated 1st Battalion London Guards. Its companies became reserve companies of the four senior Foot Guards regiments.
Aftermath
The organisation continued as a London-based reserve structure with company identities tied to the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots and Irish Guards.
2017
Reorganisation of London Regiment companiesStrategyBackground
Army restructuring changed the distribution of reserve infantry companies among British Army formations.
Action taken
B Company and C Company transferred to other regiments, while F Company of 7th Battalion The Rifles returned and a new G Company was raised.
Aftermath
The formation became a Guards reserve battalion under 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East, with an additional relationship to Headquarters London District.
2004
Transfer from the Queen's Division to the Guards DivisionStrategyBackground
British Army restructuring created a stronger Territorial Army relationship with the Guards Division.
Action taken
The London Regiment retained its name and multi-badge structure while transferring to the Guards Division. Its Royal Green Jackets companies were moved elsewhere in preparation for the formation of The Rifles.
Aftermath
The regiment became the principal London-based reserve infantry formation associated with the Guards Division.
Recent events
- 2023
London Guards supported Trooping the Colour[1]
Other
London Guards provided street liners for the Trooping the Colour parade, helping enable a larger ceremonial event.
- 2023
Colours presented to 1st Battalion London Guards[1]
Other
The battalion received its Colours at Buckingham Palace in a ceremony conducted by its Regimental Colonel, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.
- 2022
London Regiment redesignated 1st Battalion London Guards[1]
Other
The Future Soldier reorganisation ended the London Regiment's status as an independent regiment and converted its companies into reserve companies of the four senior Foot Guards regiments.
- 2017
London Regiment companies transferred to other formations[1]
Other
B Company and C Company transferred to other infantry regiments, while replacement companies were introduced and the formation was designated a Guards reserve battalion.
- 2004
London Regiment deployed elements to Iraq[1]
Other
Elements of the London Regiment were deployed to Iraq during the regiment's period as a Territorial Army infantry formation.
- 2004
London Regiment moved into the Guards Division structure[1]
Other
Army restructuring placed the London Regiment within the Guards Division while retaining its multi-badge identity.
Sources2 sources
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