The Royal Regiment of Scotland 

   THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT 

AND ITS ANTECEDENCE

The Royal Regiment of Scotland was formed on 28 March 2006 from the old Scottish Infantry Regiments of the Line. These regiments were amongst the oldest and boldest fighting regiments in the world. They have fought in every corner of the globe through out the last 373 years and there are very few countries on earth where they have not confronted the Queen’s enemies. The seven battalions that make up The Royal Regiment of Scotland have their origins in the following antecedent regiments:...

 ...1st Battalion was formed from the merger of The Royal Scots, 1st of Foot and The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 25th of Foot, being named The Royal Scots Borderers on 1 August 2006. These two Regiments were among the last remaining old infantry regiments that had never been amalgamated or merged throughout their existence. The battalion is now a light role battalion and is based at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh. It is part of 4 Mechanised Brigade.

[The Royal Scots was the oldest Regiment in the British Army, being founded by Sir John Hepburn in 1633.]

HRH the Princess Royal is the Royal Colonel.
Soldiers of the Battalion wear a black hackle in their Tam O’Shanters.

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  ...2nd Battalion was formed from The Royal Highland Fusiliers which was an amalgamation of the The Royal Scots Fusiliers, 21st of Foot and The Highland Light Infantry, 71st and 74th of Foot, in 1959. It is a light role infantry battalion and is based at Glencorse Barracks near Edinburgh. It is part of 52 Infantry Brigade.

HRH the Prince Andrew is the Royal Colonel.
Soldiers of the Battalion wear a white hackle in their Tam O’Shanters.

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 ...3rd Battalion was formed from the The Black Watch, 42nd and 73rd of Foot, formed in 1739 as independent Companies to police the Highlands. It is a light role infantry battalion based at Fort George, Inverness. It is part of 19 Light Brigade.

HRH the Duke of Rothesay is the Royal Colonel.
Soldiers of the Battalion wear a red hackle in their Tam O’Shanters

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 ...4th Battalion was formed from The Highlanders whose golden thread is traced back to the famous Highland Regiments: The Queens Own Highlanders, The Seaforth Highlanders, 72nd and 78th of Foot, The Gordon Highlanders, 75th and 92nd of Foot, and The Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, 79th of Foot. It is an armoured infantry battalion based at Fallingbostal in Germany and is part of 7 Armoured Brigade.

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh is the Royal Colonel.
Soldiers of the Battalion wear a blue hackle in their Tam O’Shanters.

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 ...5th Battalion was formed from The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the 91st and 93rd of Foot, immortalised in the famous painting of the Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb. It is an air assault battalion with 16 Air Assault Brigade based at Howe Barracks in Canterbury.

Her Majesty the Queen is the Royal Colonel.
Soldiers of the Battalion wear a green hackle in their Tam O’Shanters.

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 ...6th Battalion was formed from the 52nd LOWLAND Regiment and is a TA Battalion which is based at Walcheren Barracks in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Lowlands of Scotland. Its origins are in the famous 52nd Lowland Division of the First and Second World Wars. It is part of 51 Scottish Brigade.

HRH the Princess Royal is the Royal Colonel.

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 ...7th Battalion was formed from the 51st HIGHLAND Regiment and is a Territorial Army Battalion and is based at Queens Barracks in Perth and throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Its origins are in the famous 51st Highland Division of the First and Second World Wars. It is part of 51 Scottish Brigade.

HRH the Duke of Rothesay is the Royal Colonel.

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