At this point we must go back to the years which followed Waterloo, to discuss the standards of the Cavalry. The Hussar regiments had discarded them completely, and most, if not all, of the Lancers had done the same. No Hussars or Lancers possess them to-day, but, of course, their drum banners serve to display their arms and appointments. * * * * * The shape of these flags received attention at this time. =The Life Guards and Horse Guards= continued to fly square standards (there was an exception in the case of The Blues, of which mention is made later). =The Dragoon Guards= had favoured guidons from the date of their inception in 1746, but were ordered to carry square standards in 1837. =The Dragoons= continued to use the guidon-shaped banner which they selected in the days of the Stuarts, and which they still carry. The Light Dragoons only possessed banners, which were guidons, in three instances. A King’s regulation, dated June 1st, 1837, decreed that:— The Standards of the Dragoon Guards were “to be of silk damask embroidered and fringed with gold. The guidons of the regiments of Dragoons to be of silk. The flag of the standard to be 2 ft. 5 ins. wide without the fringe, and 2 ft. 3 ins. on the lance. The flag of the guidon of Dragoons to be 3 ft. 5 ins. to the end of the slit in the tail, and 2 ft. 3 ins. on the lance; the first or royal standard to be crimson, and the others of the colour of the facings as before.” These latter were of a curious oblong shape, with straight edges to the portions cut away in the fly. Another official decree, dated August 18th, 1858, ran as follows:— “Her Majesty has been pleased to approve that regiments of Dragoon Guards henceforth carry but one standard or guidon, that the second, third and fourth standards or guidons at present in use be discontinued and that the authorised badges, devices, distinctions, and mottoes be, in future, borne on what is now called the Royal or first standard or guidon in the Dragoon Guards. N.B.—This not to apply to the Household troops, who carry one standard per squadron.” This decree is a little difficult to understand as the third and fourth standards had not been carried for many years prior to the issue of the warrant. To-day, of course, these regiments possess but a single flag, a combination of royal and regimental colour in one. A standard which has received much prominence, and which forms an unwelcomed exception to the rule that the Horse Guards fly square standards (see p. 29) was presented to the Blues by William IV. in 1812, at Windsor. We quote from a newspaper cutting:—