Why this elite British tank regiment drinks from a captured French silver chamber pot

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Formed in 1992, the King's Royal Hussars is a modern armoured unit defined by its deep historical roots. From wearing unique crimson trousers to maintaining a silver trophy seized from Napoleon's brother, the regiment preserves centuries of cavalry tradition while operating advanced main battle tanks in global conflicts.

The King's Royal Hussars was established in December 1992 through the merger of two historic armoured units: The Royal Hussars and the 14th/20th King's Hussars. These predecessors traced their own lineages back to cavalry regiments raised as early as 1715. Today, the regiment is organized into five squadrons, each tasked with perpetuating the specific traditions and histories of its antecedent units. Notably, the senior squadron is 'C' Squadron, which represents the 11th Hussars; this arrangement honors the bravery of the 11th Hussars in Egypt in 1800, granting them the right to parade at the head of the line.

The regiment's identity is marked by distinct customs, including the wearing of crimson trousers—a unique distinction in the British Army granted by Prince Albert in the 19th century. They also wear a brown beret, a practical choice adopted in 1928 when the 11th Hussars mechanized, as the traditional peaked cap proved cumbersome for tank gunners. Among their most unusual artifacts is 'The Emperor,' a silver chamber pot captured from King Joseph Bonaparte’s baggage train during the 1813 Battle of Vitoria. The regiment, as successor to the 14th Light Dragoons, retains this trophy, and officers continue to use it as a loving cup during formal mess nights.

Beyond its ceremonial life, the regiment has maintained an active operational tempo since its inception. Initially based in Germany, it deployed to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Kosovo throughout the 1990s. In the 21st century, the unit has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in 2010, it became the first cavalry unit to provide protection for the Falkland Islands. Currently equipped with Challenger 2 tanks and based in Tidworth, the regiment balances its heavy armoured role with diverse duties, such as assisting with domestic flood defenses in 2016.

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