Original British Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Victorian Era Style Uniform Set Original Items

Original Item: IMA has been fortunate in obtaining a very few Original British Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Bandsman Parade Uniforms in the 19th Century Victorian style used exclusively by members of the Regimental Band. These examples were produced in the last decades of the 20th century.

This regiment was formed on 9 June 1959 after defense cuts implemented in the late 1950s saw the amalgamation of the Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) and Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s), forming the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire). These two regiments had themselves been created by previous amalgamations during the Childer’s reform of 1881.

The Royal Berkshire Regiment had been created as the Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), by the amalgamation of the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s) (Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot and the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot. In 1921, it was renamed the Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s).

The Wiltshire Regiment had been a line infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh’s (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot. The regiment was originally formed as the Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment), taking the county affiliation from the 62nd Foot (which became the 1st Battalion) and the honorific from the 99th Foot (which became the 2nd Battalion). In 1921, the titles switched to become the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s).

Clinging to the glorious Victorian traditions the Regiment replicated these 1880’s traditional Red Tunics, blue coveralls (pants), white belts and Spiked Blue Cloth Helmets for use by the Regimental Drummers and other band members. Now, IMA has a few of these highly desirable uniform sets for the first and only time available to the collecting fraternity.

Each Bandsman tunic is constructed of bright red Melton cloth complete with all buttons and badges, just as it was issued, together with dark blue coverall with wide red stripe down each leg denoting a “Royal” Regiment. A white buff leather waist Belt with “Dieu est mon droit” (God is my right) brass buckle is included as is the Pattern 1881 Blue Cloth Spiked Helmet bearing Regimental Badge, chained chin strap and spike to complete the ensemble. This is a very stunning and rare set of which only a few dozen were ever made over the past 20-30 years. Ready to Display, exclusively for the Anglophile commemorating a period of glory during Britain’s Empire History. Fewer than 5 sets available.

NO SIZE CHOICES, SORRY.