In a vivid display of pageantry and military tradition, the Coldstream Guards have marked their 375th anniversary with a ceremonial journey from London to Berwick-upon-Tweed — the birthplace of the regiment.
The event paid tribute to one of the oldest continuously serving regiments in the British Army.
Dressed in their iconic scarlet tunics and bearskin caps, 100 soldiers from Number 3 Company, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards — known as ‘The Spotty Dogs’ — along with musicians from the Band of the Coldstream Guards, marched across King’s Cross Station shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The striking scene drew admiration from early-morning commuters as the troops prepared to board a specially commissioned LNER Azuma train.
The train, unit 800111, bears a poppy-themed livery in recognition of the armed forces. Operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), a signatory of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, the train’s design honours those who have served and continue to serve in the military. “Thank you” signs and a live brass quintet greeted passengers at the station, amplifying the ceremonial atmosphere.
As the train travelled north toward the Scottish Borders, soldiers were treated to a presentation on their regiment’s history by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, Brigade Major of the Household Division. The journey concluded in Berwick-upon-Tweed, the border town where the regiment was originally formed in 1650 by General George Monck during the English Civil War, under the authority of Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth of England.
The Coldstream Guards were later incorporated into the British Army following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Despite their origins as a Parliamentarian force, they became staunch Royalists — a rare historical transition.
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The regiment takes its name from the Scottish town of Coldstream, near Berwick, where Monck’s regiment was headquartered before marching south to help restore King Charles II to the throne. Their motto, “Nulli Secundus” — Latin for “Second to None” — reflects their pride and long-standing excellence, though they are officially the second most senior regiment in the Household Division.
The Coldstream Guards have served in virtually every major British military campaign since the 17th century, including the War of Spanish Succession, the Napoleonic Wars, both World Wars, and more recent deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. They are also a key ceremonial unit, frequently seen guarding royal palaces and participating in state occasions such as Trooping the Colour.
Today, the Coldstream Guards remain both a frontline infantry regiment and an enduring symbol of British heritage. Based at Wellington Barracks in London, the 1st Battalion balances ceremonial duties with operational readiness, including overseas deployments and domestic security tasks.
The 375th anniversary commemorations are part of a year-long series of events that honour the regiment’s rich legacy, its connection to the local communities of the Borders, and its vital role in both ceremonial life and national defence.
For the soldiers on the train, the journey was more than symbolic — it was a return to their roots and a living tribute to generations of Coldstream Guardsmen who have served with distinction for over three and a half centuries.
