The Welsh Guards, part of the Guards Division, is one of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. It was founded in 1915 as a single-battalion regiment, during the First World War, by Royal Warrant of George V. Shortly after the regiment's formation, it was deployed to France where it took part in the fighting on the Western Front until the end of the war in November 1918. During the inter-war years, the regiment undertook garrison duties in the United Kingdom, except between 1929 and 1930 when it deployed to Egypt, and late 1939 when it deployed to Gibraltar.
Cap badge of the Welsh Guards
Men of 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards in Arras, France, 14 February 1940.
The then Prince of Wales, colonel of the regiment from 1975 to 2022, in Welsh Guards uniform at Trooping the Colour, 2012.
Welsh Guardsman outside the Jewel House at the Tower of London
In some militaries, foot guards are senior infantry regiments. Foot guards are commonly responsible for guarding royal families or other state leaders, and they also often perform ceremonial duties accordingly, but at the same time are combat soldiers.
Harald V, the King of Norway, inspects Hans Majestet Kongens Garde with Dmitry Medvedev. The unit acts as foot guards for the Norwegian Army.
The Governor General's Foot Guards is one of two active foot guards regiments in Canada.
The Guard Jaeger Regiment is a Finnish Army unit that provides a guard of honour for the President of Finland.
The Wachbataillon performs ceremonial guard duty for the German Armed Forces.