The amalgamation was announced in July 2012, and the regiment was formed with an amalgamation parade before their colonel-in-chief, Queen Elizabeth II, at Richmond Castle on 2 May 2015.[3][4]
On 5 April 2017, to mark her 70th anniversary as colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers and its predecessors, The Queen granted the regiment the honorific suffix "Queen Elizabeths' Own", to recognise their service to Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.[5]
On 8 June 2023, Queen Camilla was appointed colonel-in-chief of the regiment.[6]
Operational role
The regiment is an Armoured Cavalry Regiment.[7] Previously equipped with the Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicle, it started converting to the Warrior tracked armoured vehicle in 2022.[8] This was intended to be replaced by the Ajax (Scout SV) from 2019;[9] however, after considerable delays, British Army trials of the Ajax were paused in the summer of 2021 due to excessive vibration.[10] The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle is also currently used.[8]
The Royal Lancers is now the last regiment in the British Army to retain the title of "lancers". It has directly or indirectly inherited the traditions of the six British lancer regiments that were in existence until a series of amalgamations began in 1922.
