Royal colonel
Royal Colonel is an appointment made by the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, to members of the British Royal Family who are appointed to the position of Colonel-in-Chief or Colonel of a regiment within the British or Commonwealth army. Royal Colonel appointments are made for regiments and military units of the British Army. Similar roles exist in honorary Air Commodores-in-Chief and Air Commodores for the Royal Air Force, and honorary Commodore-in-Chief for the Royal Navy.
These appointments are honorary and allow the holder to wear the regimental uniform with rank insignia of (full) colonel, regardless of their official rank. They are a ceremonial appointment designed to further strengthen the bond between the British Army and the Royal Family.
The appointment of Royal Colonels is made by the Queen and is announced in a press release issued by Buckingham Palace.[1]
Following the reorganisation of regiments in 2006 the following appointments were made:
- The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (TA)
- The Welsh Guards
- 2nd Battalion The Rifles
- The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
- 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (TA)
- The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)
- 6th Battalion The Rifles (TA)
- 7th Battalion The Rifles (TA)
- 1st Battalion The Rifles
- The Scots Guards
- 3rd Battalion The Rifles
- 4th Battalion The Rifles
- 5th Battalion The Rifles