This is the first pattern belt plate of the 25th Regiment after they were granted Royal status and allowed the title ‘King’s Own Borderers’. King George III granted this honour in 1805, permitting the regiment to use the Royal Crest on their badges and the King’s Royal cypher. However, the Royal Crest does not appear on this plate; instead, a Hanoverian crown sits above the two central ovals.
The left-hand oval is formed by the Royal Garter, while the right-hand oval contains the regimental motto ‘In Veritate Religionis Confido’ surrounding the White Horse of Hanover. Above these ovals is the battle honour MINDEN, granted on 1 January 1801. Below them are the Sphinx and the word EGYPT in silver, commemorating the Egyptian campaign honour granted on 6 July 1802.
The next battle honours to be awarded to the regiment were MARTINIQUE (9 December 1819) and EGMONT OP ZEE (10 February 1820). As neither of these appear on the plate, it is likely that this pattern was worn by officers between 1805 and 1820, covering the early years of the regiment’s Royal designation.
