The severe losses sustained on this occasion, and on other services in Spain, induced the Earl of Galway to order the Queen's Royal and the 9th Regiments of Foot, after transferring their serviceable men to other regiments in Spain, to return to England, for the purpose of recruiting their ranks. [Sidenote: 1708] The regiment accordingly arrived in England in 1708, and, by active exertions, its casualties were soon replaced, and the men rendered fit to enter upon active service. [Sidenote: 1710] _Lieutenant-Colonel Piercy Kirke_ was promoted Colonel by purchase, on the 19th of September, 1710, _vice_ General the Earl of Portmore[22]. He was the son of its old Colonel, Lieutenant-General Kirke, and had served in the corps from the rank of Ensign, in 1686. [Sidenote: 1711] In 1711 the regiment formed part of a force of 5000 men ordered to proceed to America under General Hill, and to make an attempt on Quebec, with the object of effecting the conquest of Canada. A large fleet of men-of-war formed part of the armament, which was to be further strengthened by troops from the American colonies. The expedition did not reach the river St. Lawrence until the 21st of August, when it encountered storms, and being furnished with bad pilots, eight transports, a store ship, and a sloop were lost by shipwreck, and 29 officers, 676 soldiers, and 35 women of the 4th, 37th, Colonel Kane's, and Colonel Clayton's regiments, perished. There was also a scarcity of provisions. It was therefore determined, in a council of war, that further operations should be abandoned. Some of the regiments engaged in the expedition proceeded to Annapolis Royal, in Nova Scotia, but the Queen's returned to England, and arrived at Portsmouth on the 9th of October. [Sidenote: 1712] [Sidenote: 1713] In consequence of the sudden death of the Emperor Joseph of Austria, and the election of Charles III. of Spain to the dignity of Emperor of the Romans, negociations were entered into by England and France, and hostilities were terminated by the peace of Utrecht, which was concluded on the 31st of March, 1713. The Queen's Royal were now permitted to remain for a period on home-duty. Queen Anne was not unmindful of the arduous and faithful services which had been rendered by her troops in time of need, and recommended them to the consideration of parliament, as 'brave men who had exposed their lives in the service of their country, and could not be employed in time of peace.' [Sidenote: 1714] [Sidenote: 1727] After the demise of her Majesty Queen Anne, on the 1st of August, 1714, King George I. not having a Queen Consort, this regiment was styled '_Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales's own Regiment of Foot_;' and when the death of King George I. on the 11th of June, 1727, brought the Princess of Wales to share the throne of England, its appellation was again changed to '_The Queen's own Regiment of Foot_.' [Sidenote: 1728]