The Dress Regulations of 1822 describe the uniform introduced in 1821. The coat was scarlet with collar, cuffs and turn-backs, which in the case of the KDG, were dark blue velvet. It was single breasted with eight gold lace buttonholes extending across the chest in pairs. It then says, ‘on the right side a scarlet fly with eight buttons’. The collar was three and a half inches high, laced top, bottom and front, and having a laced loop and ‘small button at either end’, although the buttons are not apparent in this portrait. On the long tails at the back there were four chevron-shaped lace loops and buttons similar to the lace on the sleeves.
The gold cord aiguillettes (pronounced ‘eglets' by British soldiers) are plaited and have gilt engraved tags which hook onto the front of the coat. The officer, named as Captain James Leatham, wears a medal for Waterloo. His pouch-belt is gold laced with Ess & Vellum pattern lace, the same pattern for his waist-belt. His cossack trousers are pale blue with gold lace stripes down the side. The sword slings attached to his waist-belt are gold laced, but there is no sign of slings for a sabretache.
The helmet is described as ‘Roman, black glazed skull and peak, encircled with richly gilt laurel leaves, rich gilt dead-wrought scales and lion’s heads, bearskin top.’ The black bearskin crest looks impressively large. This style of helmet was worn until 1834.
