This mode of formation was, however, changed during the reign of Queen Anne, when the general adoption of Bayonets took place, and, the Division of Pikemen being discontinued, the _Third Colour_ became unnecessary, and was consequently laid aside. The Queen's Royal Regiment had originally a Colour to every Company, and after the year 1688 it had Three Stand of Colours, in common with other Regiments: it happened, however, that the Third Colour was retained in possession by the Queen's Royal until 1750, probably from the long absence of the Regiment on Foreign Service, it having embarked in 1730 for Gibraltar, where it remained until 1749. A belief had thus been induced that the Queen's Royal Regiment had been permitted, AS A DISTINCTION, to carry Three Colours, as appears by a Letter from General Robert Donkin, who entered the Regiment as an Ensign in 1747, and served in it until 1759. He states,--"On our marching over Island Bridge into Dublin duty in 1750, the Third Colour was, by order of General Fowke (then Colonel of the Regiment), taken out of my hand, furled, and never flew since. The men grumbled exceedingly. I felt myself hurt at being deprived of an honour no other Corps then enjoyed." With a view of establishing Uniformity throughout the Army in the Colours, Clothing, and Appointments of the several Regiments,--a Warrant, dated 1st July, 1751, was issued by King George II., for regulating the Clothing, Standards, Colours, &c., of Regiments of Cavalry and Infantry. By this Warrant it is directed that-- "The King's or FIRST Colour of every Regiment is to be the Great Union throughout;"--and that, "The SECOND Colour is to be the Colour of the Facing of the Regiment, with the Union in the Upper Canton." At this period the Facing of the Queen's Royal Regiment was _Sea-Green_, which was the original Facing of the Corps. It is further directed, in the same Warrant, under the head of "Devices and Badges of the Royal Regiments, and of the six old Corps," as follows:-- "SECOND REGIMENT, or, THE QUEEN'S ROYAL REGIMENT." "In the Centre of each Colour, the QUEEN'S CYPHER on a red ground, within the Garter, and CROWN over it: in the Three Corners of the _Second_ Colour, the LAMB, being the ancient badge of the Regiment." A subsequent Warrant was issued on the _19th December, 1768_, by Command of His Majesty King George III., prescribing "_Regulations for the Colours, Clothing, &c., of the Marching Regiments of Foot_." This Warrant contains the same directions as that of 1751 regarding "the _First_ and _Second_ Colours of Regiments," and "the Devices and Badges of the Royal Regiments and of the Six Old Corps." The Facing of the Queen's Royal Regiment was, at this period, changed from Green to _Blue_. Neither of the Royal Warrants above mentioned contains any Authority for the Queen's Royal Regiment bearing a _Third_ Colour.