The King's Royal Hussars Cap Badge: History, Symbolism and Collecting Guide
Introduction
The King's Royal Hussars (KRH) was formed on 4 December 1992 by amalgamating The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) and The 14th/20th King's Hussars. The regiment inherited the traditions of the 10th, 11th, 14th and 20th Hussars.
Its cap badge is dominated by the Prussian Eagle. A National Army Museum sealed pattern from 1993 records that the eagle was awarded to the 14th Light Dragoons by Princess Frederica of Prussia in 1798 after the regiment escorted her from Dover to London before her marriage to the Duke of York.
Choose Your King's Royal Hussars Cap Badge or Display Frame
Formation of the Regiment
The two regiments joined in 1992 were themselves products of earlier amalgamations:
- The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) had been formed in 1969 from the 10th Royal Hussars and 11th Hussars.
- The 14th/20th King's Hussars had been formed in 1922 from the 14th King's Hussars and 20th Hussars.
The resulting KRH therefore brought together four cavalry lineages inside one Royal Armoured Corps regiment.
Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1715 | The 10th, 11th and 14th cavalry lineages are raised. |
| 1798 | Princess Frederica of Prussia awards the Prussian Eagle to the 14th Light Dragoons. |
| 1858 | The lineage that becomes the 20th Hussars enters British Army service from the East India Company forces. |
| 1922 | The 14th King's Hussars and 20th Hussars form the 14th/20th Hussars. |
| 1969 | The 10th and 11th Hussars form The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own). |
| 4 Dec 1992 | The King's Royal Hussars is formed. |
| 1993 | The documented other-ranks KRH cap-badge pattern is sealed. |
| 1994–1999 | The regiment serves in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo. |
| 2005 & 2007 | Operational deployments to Iraq. |
| 2009 & 2012 | Detachments serve in Afghanistan. |
| Present | KRH is an armoured regiment based at Tidworth and equipped with Challenger 2. |
The Prussian Eagle Cap Badge
The badge's defining feature is the Prussian Eagle, often known within the regiment as The Hawk. The 1993 NAM sealed pattern confirms that this is the inherited insignia of the Royal House of Prussia granted to the 14th Light Dragoons in 1798.
Why a Prussian Eagle?
The device came through royal patronage rather than through a British battle honour. Princess Frederica of Prussia granted the distinction after the 14th Light Dragoons escorted her to London before her marriage to Prince Frederick, Duke of York.
The eagle then passed through the 14th King's Hussars and 14th/20th King's Hussars before being retained by KRH in 1992.
The Crown on the Eagle
The crown is part of the Prussian eagle device itself. The KRH badge therefore should not be treated like a conventional British cap badge whose separate Sovereign's Crown automatically produces King's Crown and Queen's Crown versions.
The FR Device
The letters FR form part of the Prussian royal device on the eagle. They belong to the inherited eagle design rather than being a separate KRH motto or battle distinction.
The Four Hussar Lineages
Each of the four principal antecedent regiments is preserved in the modern squadron structure. National Army Museum records the arrangement as follows:
- C Squadron — 11th Hussars
- D Squadron — 10th Hussars
- B Squadron — 14th Hussars
- A Squadron — 20th Hussars
C Squadron is unusually the senior squadron and parades on the right of the line, preserving an 11th Hussars tradition associated with service in Egypt in 1800.
Inherited Battle Honours
KRH carries the inherited honours of four cavalry lineages. These include campaigns from the Napoleonic period through the Crimea, imperial campaigns and both World Wars.
Those inherited honours should not be described as battles fought by the King's Royal Hussars itself, which did not exist until 1992.
Operational Service Since 1992
The regiment was initially based at Münster in Germany. It sent troops to Northern Ireland in 1994 and deployed most of its squadrons to Bosnia in 1996, returning in 1997. It then served in Kosovo in 1999.
After moving to Tidworth in 2000, the regiment returned to Northern Ireland in 2002, served in Iraq in 2005 and 2007, and sent detachments to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012.
More recent commitments include NATO's enhanced Forward Presence under Operation CABRIT. The British Army currently lists KRH as an armoured regiment equipped primarily with the Challenger 2 main battle tank.
Collecting King's Royal Hussars Cap Badges
The KRH badge dates from the regiment's creation in 1992. National Army Museum holds an other-ranks sealed pattern dated 1993, providing a strong reference point for the authorised form.
Do Not Confuse It with 14th/20th Badges
The Prussian Eagle predates KRH by nearly two centuries, so an eagle badge is not automatically King's Royal Hussars. Complete pattern, date, material, fittings and provenance matter.
No Conventional Crown Variant Sequence
The crowned eagle is the inherited Prussian device. Collectors should not impose the normal Tudor-Crown/St Edward's-Crown dating framework used for British badges with a separate Sovereign's Crown.
Officer and Other-Ranks Examples
Different materials and constructions occur by rank and order of dress. Attribution should be based on documented pattern rather than apparent quality alone.
Originals and Reproductions
No single detail proves originality. Eagle proportions, FR device, crown, material, dimensions, reverse fittings and provenance should be considered together.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The King's Royal Hussars formed?
4 December 1992.
Which regiments formed KRH?
The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own) and The 14th/20th King's Hussars.
Why is there a Prussian Eagle on the badge?
Princess Frederica of Prussia awarded the device to the 14th Light Dragoons in 1798 after they escorted her from Dover to London before her marriage to the Duke of York.
What does FR mean?
It forms part of the inherited Prussian royal eagle device.
Where is KRH based today?
Aliwal Barracks, Tidworth.
What is its current role?
Armoured warfare, centred on Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
Further Reading
- National Army Museum — The King's Royal Hussars
- National Army Museum — KRH Cap Badge, sealed pattern 1993
- British Army — The King's Royal Hussars
Officially Licensed King's Royal Hussars Displays
Precision Military Emblems produces officially MOD-licensed King's Royal Hussars display pieces from approved artwork.
- King's Royal Hussars Cap Badge
- 14th/20th King's Hussars Cap Badge
- King's Royal Hussars Display Frame
These are modern commemorative display pieces rather than original service-issued insignia. Intellectual Property of the Secretary of State for Defence is used under licence.
About Precision Military Emblems
Precision Military Emblems produces officially MOD-licensed 3D-printed British military badge display pieces and framed heritage displays in Leicestershire. The Military Heritage series is researched from regimental, museum, government and institutional sources.