The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment and Queen's Regiment Museum

Mission and History

Our Mission

The PWRR and Queen’s Regiment Museum’s mission is to tell the stories of the soldiers who have served in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and the regiments which came before it.

Using objects from our unique collection, we tell the stories of bravery and comradery which have marked our regiments’ history from their very beginnings.

A leather football which was kicked over the top on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916..
A red army uniform with a red sash and white belt which was worn between1902 and 1914

Our History

Our regimental history stretches back to 1572, before the British Army was even founded.

1572

Elizabeth I sends 300 men to the Netherlands to join Thomas Morgan's Company. In 1665, this unit returns to England and becomes The Holland Regiment. They wear buff facings on their uniform and become The Buffs.

1661

Charles II marries Catherine of Braganza. As part of her dowry, he receives the port of Tangiers, and sends the Earl of Peterborough to garrison it. The Tangiers Regiment become the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

1759

At the Battle of Minden, during the 7 Years War, the 37th Regiment of Foot (later the Royal Hampshires) help defeat the French cavalry - the first time infantry troops beat the cavalry in battle. The PWRR commemorate Minden Day every August 1st by wearing a red rose.

1811

At the Battle of Albuhera, troops from the 57th (later the Middlesex Regiment), 31st of Foot (later East Surreys) and the Buffs fight to a stalemate. The losses are horrendous - over 80% of the Buffs were killed. The PWRR hold a silent toast every year to commemorate the fallen, as their forebears did.

1846

At the Battle of Sobraon in the First Anglo-Sikh War, the battle is feared lost until Sgt Bernard McCabe seizes the 31st of Foot's Regimental Colour and plants it above the enemy, spurring the men to victory. The PWRR commemorate Sobraon Day every year on February 10th.

1881

Army reforms reorder the infantry, giving each regiment an area to recruit from and naming them after their county. The Middlesex Regiment, East Surrey Regiment, Royal Sussex Regiment, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, and Royal Hampshire Regiment are created.

1914

Private John Parr, of the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), is the first British soldier killed in the First World War.

1916

On July 1st, Captain Billie Neville sends his men 'Over the Top' into the Battle of the Somme kicking footballs ahead of them. The Footballers Advance is reported across the world.

1943

At the Battle of Salerno on 9th September, troops from the Royal Hampshires and the Queen's Royal Regiment fight to invade South East Italy.

1959

As the army reduces in size after the Second World War, Kent and Surrey's infantry regiments are reduced to one per county, the Royal Kent Regiment and the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.

1966

The Queen's Regiment, a new large regiment, is created to incorporate the county regiments of Surrey, Kent, Sussex and Middlesex.

1992

On the 9th of September, the Queen's Regiment amalgamates with the Royal Hampshire Regiment to create the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

2004

Johnson Beharry earns the Victoria Cross with two acts of outstanding heroism in Iraq.

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