The oldest Regiment in the British Army?

**Vasquez** · February 03, 2009, 11:02 PM

The Royal Scots the Royal Regiment? Her Majesties Coldstream Guards? I know the whole "New Model Army" argument is going to be raised but can we please be constructive. Not looking for ceremonial like the Kings Troop R.H.A or the Lifeguards. What infantry formation enjoys preeminence as the oldest and no it's not the Beefeaters.

**Stavroforos** · February 03, 2009, 11:55 PM

You seem to want a specific answer, almost as if you know it already...

**Markas** · February 04, 2009, 12:08 AM

Coldstream I always thought of as the oldest regiment in continuous service unless this is a QI question and alarms are about to go off.

**Nik** · February 04, 2009, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by Vasquez

The Royal Scots the Royal Regiment? Her Majesties Coldstream Guards? I know the whole "New Model Army" argument is going to be raised but can we please be constructive. Not looking for ceremonial like the Kings Troop R.H.A or the Lifeguards. What infantry formation enjoys preeminence as the oldest and no it's not the Beefeaters.

Only Regiments still in existence or recently disbanded/amalgated ones too?

Given you are already quite strict in disqualifying certain units in advance, a little more specifics would be good.

**jackwei** · February 04, 2009, 07:22 AM

It susposed to the Royal Scots i think in 1633, but it was disbanded in 2006 and formed into the Regiment of Scotland until present.

So Technically the next oldest regiment would be the Coldstream Guards, which was founded in 1650 and part of the New Model Army under Oliver Cromwell. However it is strange it isn't the most senior infantry regiment and the Grenadier Guards is, which was founded later in 1656 because the Coldstreams were apart of the New Model Army.