“At 12 the King and Queen with their suite and an escort of the Third Dragoon Guards passed along the front of the line in open carriages and, having taken post in the centre, the guns fired and the troops saluted. The troops having been wheeled inwards, and the officers called to the front, Lord Hill placing himself before his regiment, their Majesties, accompanied by the Dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester, and Prince George of Cumberland, with the Duchess of Cumberland and Princess Augusta, taking their station in the centre, the standard, richly wrought in gold and emblazoned with the trophies of the Blues, was consecrated by the Chaplain to the Forces. After an address, in which the King recapitulated the motive of his gift, and the early origin and distinguished services of the Royal Horse Guards, His Majesty presented the standard to Lord Hill, who respectfully received it on the part of his regiment. The troops then resumed line, broke into column, and marched past in ordinary and quick time.” This standard was guidon-shaped and of crimson silk; in the centre it had the cypher of William IV., forward and reversed, interlaced, surrounded by a number of battle honours, above which was the royal crown. In the four corners were crowned emblems of the rose, thistle and shamrock. * * * * * We are now drawing to the close of this historical sketch, but before turning from the subject we must mark the year 1855. About this time the union wreath on the colours of the infantry regiments assumed the style as we now have it; the spear-head gave way for the lion and crown which now adorns the pike-tops, whilst the cord and tassels were given a definite style which has not been altered since. About this time, also, a regulation was issued declaring that “The regimental or second colour is to be the colour of the facing of the regiment, with the Union in the upper canton, except those regiments which are faced with red, white or black. In those regiments which are faced red or white, the second colour is to be the red cross of St. George in a white field, and the Union in the upper canton. In those regiments which are faced with black, the second colour is to be the St. George’s Cross: the Union in the upper canton, the three other cantons, black.” A more recent regulation has been framed which, in a measure, modifies the one just quoted. We give it at length:— “=The Colours of the Infantry= are to be of silk, the dimensions to be 3 ft. 9 ins. flying, and 3 ft. deep on the pike, which, including the Royal Crest, to be 8 ft. 7½ ins., the cords and tassels to be crimson and gold mixed.