In the Edwardian era one of the premier cavalry regiments in the British Army was the Royal Horse Guards. Raised in August 1650 at Newcastle upon Tyne and County Durham by Sir Arthur Haselrigge on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as a Regiment of Horse, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford’s Regiment in 1660 upon the Restoration of King Charles II. As, uniquely, the regiment’s coat was blue in colour at the time, it was nicknamed “the Oxford Blues”, from which was derived the nickname the “Blues.” In 1750 the regiment became the Royal Horse Guards Blue and eventually, in 1877, the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues). Today’s postcard depicts a troop of the Royal Horse Guards outside Buckingham Palace in their distinctive blue uniforms:

The distinctive uniform consisted of a blue tunic over white breeches, with highly polished black leather riding boots. The metal helmet was worn with the chinstrap under the chin, as opposed to the Life Guards who wore it under their lip and featured a red plume. A metal cuirasse was worn, with a sash across the body and white leather gloves were provided. Swords were, of course, obligatory for a cavalry regiment:

The Royal Horse Guards were amalgamated with The Royal Dragoons in 1969 to form a new regiment, the Blues and Royals, which is still part of the Household Cavalry today. Most of its ceremonial uniform was drawn from the Royal Horse Guards history, so modern day Blues and Royals look very similar to the members of their predecessor regiment in this postcard.