Latest news with #King'sLifeGuard
The Province
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Province
King Charles says he 'misses Canada' in meeting with Canadian mounted troop at Windsor Castle
The King made sure soldiers from the Edmonton-based Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment were enjoying their accommodations and asked if they were liking their borrowed horses Soldiers from Lord Strathcona's Horse, a Canadian Forces tank regiment based in Edmonton, are in England to fill the role of the King's Life Guard at Buckingham Palace until July 21. Photo by MCpl. Antoine Brochu, Canadian Armed Forces Members of the Canadian military's only ceremonial mounted troop got to meet and chat with the King Monday at Windsor Castle. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The 26 soldiers from Lord Strathcona's Horse, a Canadian Forces tank regiment based in Edmonton, are in England to fill the role of the King's Life Guard at Buckingham Palace until July 21. King Charles III hosted them Monday at Windsor Castle. 'His Royal Highness invited the mounted troop over for a brief meeting,' Capt. Tom Lauterbacher, the Strathcona Mounted Troop leader, said Monday. 'He made sure that the soldiers were enjoying their accommodations' at Hyde Park Barracks and King's Guard Barracks, and asked 'how we were liking the horses,' Lauterbacher said. The Canadians are riding horses that belong to the U.K.'s Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. 'He knows that it's a big change between the horses that the Household Cavalry have and our quarter horses that we have in Canada,' Lauterbacher said. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They're a lot larger than the horses that we have.' King Charles was interested in how the soldiers came to be in the mounted troop and whether or not they wanted to stay in the army, said the captain. 'He was very personable. He asked a lot of very in-depth questions to get to know the soldiers on more of a personal level.' Lauterbacher escorted the King while he chatted with the Canadians. 'He talked about how much he missed Canada; how beautiful he thinks it is,' Lauterbacher said. 'He wishes he could be able to get out more, but the trip is fairly long — h e made the joke.' They sipped sparkling water and orange juice at the reception. 'The soldiers had a little bit of time to talk and share a laugh with His Royal Highness and then we had to be back on our way to get back to the (guard) duties,' Lauterbacher said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. They are guarding Horse Guards in St. James Park, the original entrance to Buckingham Palace. The invitation to take on the ceremonial role is a rarity; this is only the third time the job has been done by soldiers from outside the United Kingdom. The invite, which marks the regiment's 125th anniversary, came from the King himself, who is the Strathcona's colonel-in-chief. From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, two Canadians at a time, wearing dragoon helmets and their regimental colours of scarlet red and myrtle green, do one-hour shifts in guard boxes flanking the palace entrance. At 4 p.m., there's 'an inspection which dates all the way back to Queen Victoria when she found some of her soldiers who were intoxicated on the job, so she gave them a hundred years of defaulters,' Lauterbacher said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The hundred years is long past, but the ceremonial inspection still draws large crowds. The Canadians carry lances while on parade and sabers in the guard boxes. 'Our soldiers do engage if they have to tell a person to, 'Please don't touch the tack of the animal,' or 'Please don't enter the box,'' Lauterbacher said. 'It's a safety thing that they're allowed to engage.' People who have come to snag photos of the Canadians 'have been absolutely fantastic and super respectful,' he said. A soldier from Canada's Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment stands guard outside Buckingham Palace. Photo by MCpl. Antoine Brochu, Canadian Armed Forces One horse 'stumbled a little' during the ceremonies, but its 'fantastic rider' was able to hold the animal steady so it wouldn't cause issues with the crowds, Lauterbacher said. 'It's been a great time so far. The mounted troop has been practicing and getting ready for this for the last few months,' he said. 'And now we're finally getting the opportunity to do it, the soldiers are ecstatic.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The crowds are immense. 'The soldiers perform in front of thousands of people, but it's nothing compared to the amount of people that come by (Horse) Guards. The photos, the people that want to come up and talk to everybody. How proud we are to be in front of the world and have everybody here cheering us on. It's a dream come true for a lot of the soldiers … to be here and to do the job. It's very busy, but it's very rewarding.' In addition to guarding the palace, the Canadian troop goes on morning rides, called Watering Order, through Hyde Park. 'When they're doing that they can say hello to people and a lot of people are really interested to come up and talk to the Canadians,' Lauterbacher said. 'So, it's been a great time.' Lord Strathcona's Horse stood up its mounted troop in 1974 after the original mounted troop stood down in 1939 to man tanks during the Second World War. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're the only mounted regiment in Canada when it comes to the Canadian Armed Forces,' Lauterbacher said. The soldiers also have to maintain their operational skills should they be deployed in tanks. 'They have to train just like any other soldier, while also on the side learning how to ride horses,' Lauterbacher said. The King donned a Canadian naval uniform earlier this year, which some interpreted as his subtle support for this country as U.S. President Donald Trump mused about making Canada the 51st state. 'I can't speculate on what the King's intent is, but I know that he was very happy to have us and host us here and ask the mounted troop to come see him at Windsor Castle,' Lauterbacher said. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Crime News News News News
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Edmonton-based ceremonial mounted army troop guarding London
OTTAWA – Just over a month after King Charles expressed his support for a 'strong and free' Canada in a visit to Ottawa, he invited Canadian soldiers to staff the ceremonial mounted troop which guards the official entrance to Buckingham Palace in London. The Edmonton-based Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment are in the British capital for 10 days of service, marking only the third time a non-British unit will mount the King's Life Guard. The Life Guard protects the Horse Guards building, which is the official entrance to St. James's and Buckingham Palace. The regiment is also known as the Royal Canadians and the members have had to adjust to larger horses used in London for the ceremonial guard. The only other two times foreign units mounted the Life Guard were also Canadian, including in 2012 when the RCMP took on the role to mark Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee and in 2000 when the Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment did it to mark its 100th anniversary. Canada's high commission in London says the arrangement symbolizes Canadian nationhood and sovereignty, and is an example of Ottawa's commitment to its allies. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
King Charles says he 'misses Canada' in meeting with Canadian mounted troop at Windsor Castle
Members of the Canadian military's only ceremonial mounted troop got to meet and chat with the King Monday at Windsor Castle. The 26 soldiers from Lord Strathcona's Horse, a Canadian Forces tank regiment based in Edmonton, are in England to fill the role of the King's Life Guard at Buckingham Palace until July 21. King Charles III hosted them Monday at Windsor Castle. 'His Royal Highness invited the mounted troop over for a brief meeting,' Capt. Tom Lauterbacher, the Strathcona Mounted Troop leader, said Monday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'He made sure that the soldiers were enjoying their accommodations' at Hyde Park Barracks and King's Guard Barracks, and asked 'how we were liking the horses,' Lauterbacher said. The Canadians are riding horses that belong to the U.K.'s Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. 'He knows that it's a big change between the horses that the Household Cavalry have and our quarter horses that we have in Canada,' Lauterbacher said. 'They're a lot larger than the horses that we have.' King Charles was interested in how the soldiers came to be in the mounted troop and whether or not they wanted to stay in the army, said the captain. 'He was very personable. He asked a lot of very in-depth questions to get to know the soldiers on more of a personal level.' Lauterbacher escorted the King while he chatted with the Canadians. 'He talked about how much he missed Canada; how beautiful he thinks it is,' Lauterbacher said. 'He wishes he could be able to get out more, but the trip is fairly long — h e made the joke.' They sipped sparkling water and orange juice at the reception. 'The soldiers had a little bit of time to talk and share a laugh with His Royal Highness and then we had to be back on our way to get back to the (guard) duties,' Lauterbacher said. They are guarding Horse Guards in St. James Park, the original entrance to Buckingham Palace. The invitation to take on the ceremonial role is a rarity; this is only the third time the job has been done by soldiers from outside the United Kingdom. The invite, which marks the regiment's 125th anniversary, came from the King himself, who is the Strathcona's colonel-in-chief. From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, two Canadians at a time, wearing dragoon helmets and their regimental colours of scarlet red and myrtle green, do one-hour shifts in guard boxes flanking the palace entrance. At 4 p.m., there's 'an inspection which dates all the way back to Queen Victoria when she found some of her soldiers who were intoxicated on the job, so she gave them a hundred years of defaulters,' Lauterbacher said. The hundred years is long past, but the ceremonial inspection still draws large crowds. The Canadians carry lances while on parade and sabers in the guard boxes. 'Our soldiers do engage if they have to tell a person to, 'Please don't touch the tack of the animal,' or 'Please don't enter the box,'' Lauterbacher said. 'It's a safety thing that they're allowed to engage.' People who have come to snag photos of the Canadians 'have been absolutely fantastic and super respectful,' he said. One horse 'stumbled a little' during the ceremonies, but its 'fantastic rider' was able to hold the animal steady so it wouldn't cause issues with the crowds, Lauterbacher said. 'It's been a great time so far. The mounted troop has been practicing and getting ready for this for the last few months,' he said. 'And now we're finally getting the opportunity to do it, the soldiers are ecstatic.' The crowds are immense. 'The soldiers perform in front of thousands of people, but it's nothing compared to the amount of people that come by (Horse) Guards. The photos, the people that want to come up and talk to everybody. How proud we are to be in front of the world and have everybody here cheering us on. It's a dream come true for a lot of the soldiers … to be here and to do the job. It's very busy, but it's very rewarding.' In addition to guarding the palace, the Canadian troop goes on morning rides, called Watering Order, through Hyde Park. 'When they're doing that they can say hello to people and a lot of people are really interested to come up and talk to the Canadians,' Lauterbacher said. 'So, it's been a great time.' Lord Strathcona's Horse stood up its mounted troop in 1974 after the original mounted troop stood down in 1939 to man tanks during the Second World War. 'We're the only mounted regiment in Canada when it comes to the Canadian Armed Forces,' Lauterbacher said. The soldiers also have to maintain their operational skills should they be deployed in tanks. 'They have to train just like any other soldier, while also on the side learning how to ride horses,' Lauterbacher said. The King donned a Canadian naval uniform earlier this year, which some interpreted as his subtle support for this country as U.S. President Donald Trump mused about making Canada the 51st state. 'I can't speculate on what the King's intent is, but I know that he was very happy to have us and host us here and ask the mounted troop to come see him at Windsor Castle,' Lauterbacher said. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Global News
12-07-2025
- General
- Global News
Edmonton-based regiment takes over King's Life Guard task
At King Charles' request, Canada's Lord Strathcona's Horse took over the King's Life Guard duty in London on Friday for a 10-day assignment. This is just the third time ever, a non-British regiment has been granted this honour. It's an honour for these 26 Canadians, who've had just a few days to get used to these horses, British cavalry chargers. For Canada's High Commissioner, this King's invitation marks more than just 125 years of the Strathconas. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It is, I think, not lost on everyone that this is part of his demonstration, very loud and clear the last number of weeks and months, including the throne speech in Ottawa, his affection for Canada and his very strong support for Canada as an independent sovereign country,' said Ralph Goodale, Canadian High Commissioner to the U.K. 'For us to be able to do that as part of the 125th anniversary just once again gets us to kind of be able showcase our professionalism, our heritage, our traditions,' said Capt. Tom Lauterbacher, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). Story continues below advertisement Millions of tourists will see these Canadians hard at work in this ceremonial role. Back home here in Edmonton, the battalion is proudly watching on. For more on this story, watch the video above.
