HRH Prince Albert



Prince Albert arrived in England on 7th February 1840 to marry Queen Victoria. Squadrons of the 11th Light Dragoons took it in turns to escort his coach to London via Canterbury over two days. They were, of course, under Lord Brudenell's strict command, so they must have presented themselves as a very well turned out unit. Albert was so impressed that he persuaded the Queen to let the Regiment be his own. The livery colour worn by the staff that served the Saxe-Coburgs was the crimson adopted by the new 11th Hussars for their trousers and busby-bags. Albert was appointed Colonel of the regiment on the 30th April 1840 but he only held the position for two years. It was around the time that Albert left the colonelship of the 11th that Lord Cardigan's behaviour was causing great embarrassment to the regiment. It may well have influenced the Prince Consort's decision to remove himself from the regiment.


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by Stephen Luscombe