Profile: History of the Coldstream Guards

After forming as part of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army in Coldstream in the Scottish Borders in 1650 during the English Civil War, they laid down their arms and then become Royal troops.

Although they have a high-profile public role including ceremonial duties such as the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and the State Opening of Parliament, a number are currently serving in Afghanistan.

Soon after their formation the regiment – known as "Coldstreamers" – saw active service including the Monmouth Rebellion and the decisive Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685.

They also saw extensive service oversees such as in the wars against the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War and the Second Boer War in South Africa.

One of the regiment's greatest achievements was the defence of Hougoumont on the fringes of the Battle of Waterloo.

An annual ceremony of "Hanging the Brick" is performed each year in the Sergeants' Mess to mark the efforts of Cpl James Graham and Lt-Col James Macdonnell who shut the North Gate after a French attack.

The Duke of Wellington declared after the battle that "the success of the battle turned upon closing the gates at Hougoumont".

But in the early days of the First World War they suffered heavy losses.

After Britain declared war on Germany the Coldstreamers were one of the first British regiments to arrive in France. The 1st Battalion, as part of the 1st Guards Brigade, and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, as part of the 4th Guards Brigade, were all heavily involved in battle.

The Coldstreamers also fought in the war's most significant conflicts including the Retreat from Mons, the battles of Marne, Aisne and Ypres and those at Loos, the Somme and Ginchy.

During the Second World War they were part of the British Expeditionary Force in France and across Europe and also served in the Middle East and North Africa.

In more modern times they served in various conflict zones including Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq.