Standards were carried by regiments of Horse while guidons were carried by Dragoons, units that originated from mounted infantry. There is not much known about the standards in the first half of the 18th century except that they may have borne the arms of the Colonel as in the case of the one surviving standard of Ligonier’s 8th Horse. The clothing regulations of 1747 gave specific instructions that formed the basis for Standards and Guidons for the next 200 years. These Regulations stipulated that:— ‘The Standards and Guidons of the Dragoon Guards, and the Standards of the Regimental Horse, to be of Damask, embroidered and fringed with gold or silver.’
Three of the Regiments of Horse had been converted to Dragoon Guards in 1746, including the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards. In effect this reduced their status to that of Dragoons. Not only were Dragoons identified by the carrying of Guidons, but these Guidons were to be made of silk whereas the standards of the Horse were made of damask. To soften the blow to the pride of the Dragoon Guards they were permitted to have their King’s or First banner as a Standard, and their second and third banners as Guidons. Not only that, but they were to be of damask.
The illustrations show the KDG King’s Standard in red damask and the Second Guidon in blue damask. These illustrations are taken from kronoskaf.com and based on description as no actual example has survived from the mid 18th century. The 1751 Clothing Regulations specify that the blue Guidons (Second and Third) of the KDG should have gold embroidery and gold fringes. This was distinctive as the other cavalry regiments had Guidons with either a mixture of gold and silver fringes or some other colour mixture. They also state that the KDG badge should be the King’s cypher within the Garter and Crown. However, the regimental badge is without the crown in the illustrations. The other big difference is that the King’s Standard has the badge in the 2nd and 3rd corners instead of the rank of the regiment i.e. ‘1 D G’.
The dimensions for the flags and the lance poles was not specified until the Royal Warrant of 1768:— The lance of the Standards and Guidons was 9ft long, spear and ferrule included. The flag of the Standard was 2ft 5ins wide (without the fringe), and 2ft 3 ins on the lance. That of the Guidons 3ft 5ins long by 2ft 3ins deep.
The 1747 Clothing Regulations
The King’s or First Standard or Guidon of each Regiment to be Crimson, with the Rose and Thistle conjoined [Shamrocks added after the Act of Union 1800], and Crown over them in the centre. His Majesty’s Motto, DIEU ET MON DROIT underneath. The White Horse in a Compartment in the 1st and 4th corners, and the rank of the Regiment in gold or silver characters on a ground of the same colour as the facings of the Regiment, in a compartment in the 2nd and 3rd corners.
The Second and Third Standard and Guidon of each Corps to be of the colour of the facings of the Regiment, with the badge of the Regiment in gold or silver Roman characters on a crimson ground within a wreath of Roses and Thistles on the same stalk, the Motto of the Regiment underneath. The White Horse on a red ground to be in the 1st and 3rd compartments. The distinction of the third Standard or Guidon to be a figure 3 on a circular ground of red underneath the Motto. Those Corps which have any particular badge are to carry it in the centre of their Second and Third Standard or Guidon, with the rank of the Regiment on a red ground within a small wreath of Roses and Thistles in the 2nd and 3rd corner.
