A Royal Warrant of 19 Dec 1746 changed the status of the King’s Own Regiment of Horse to dragoon guards. The change was an economy measure as dragoons were cheaper to maintain than regiments of horse. The regiment was now the King’s Dragoon Guards. They were distinguished from dragoons mainly because their coats had lapels to the waist while dragoons had no lapels.
This illustration by PW Reynolds is a copy of David Morier’s painting of the KDG in 1751, one of the paintings in the Royal Collection that is not available in colour. The clothing warrant for the KDG of 1751 describes the uniform:
‘Privates: Red coats faced blue, lapelled to the waist, lined blue, buttonholes of very narrow lace (two by two), slit sleeves, long pockets, yellow aiguillette, blue waistcoat and breeches, gold laced hat. Horse furniture red, yellow worsted and mohair lace with blue stripe one third the whole breadth. Device on housings the King’s Cypher within the Garter, and crown over embroidered. Holster caps: GR and Crown embroidered. Underneath I DG in yellow on the blue stripe of the lace.'
‘Corporals: Narrow gold lace on turn-up of sleeve and shoulder strap. Yellow silk aiguillettes.'
‘Sergeants: Narrow gold lace on lapels, turn-up of sleeves and pockets, pouches like the men, gold aiguillettes, blue worsted sash round waist.’
The pouch-belt on the left shoulder has no flask cord and there is no sword-belt on the right shoulder. The sword, and bayonet, is slung from a waist-belt. The lace chevrons on the sleeve and coat tails remained, in various forms, a feature of cavalry uniform for the next 100 years.
