Monck Forms Regiment: Birth of Coldstream Guards

Colonel George Monck formed his Regiment of Foot in 1650, a unit that would later become the Coldstream Guards, the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army. The regiment's motto, "Nulli Secundus" (Second to None), reflects its ancient origins in the English Civil War. Monck raised the regiment in the Scottish town of Coldstream, near the English border, from soldiers who had served in Cromwell's New Model Army. The unit fought at the Battle of Dunbar and served during the occupation of Scotland, earning a reputation for discipline and reliability. When the Commonwealth collapsed after Cromwell's death, Monck marched his regiment south from Scotland to London in 1660, securing the peaceful restoration of Charles II to the throne. Most Parliamentary regiments were disbanded after the Restoration, but Monck's unit survived because of the critical role it played in bringing about the transfer of power without bloodshed. Redesignated as the Lord General's Regiment of Foot Guards, then the Coldstream Guards, the regiment has served in every major British conflict since, from Marlborough's campaigns to both World Wars, the Falklands, and Afghanistan. Their ceremonial role guarding Buckingham Palace makes them one of the most visible symbols of the British monarchy, though their combat record is equally distinguished. Monck himself became Duke of Albemarle for his services in restoring the monarchy, transforming from Cromwell's most capable general into the Stuart dynasty's most valuable ally.