What is "horse guards"

Horse Guards \Horse" Guards`\ (Mil.) A body of cavalry so called; esp., a British regiment, called the Royal Horse Guards, which furnishes guards of state for the sovereign.

The Horse Guards, a name given to the former headquarters of the commander in chief of the British army, at Whitehall in London.

Horse Guards is a large Grade I listed building in the Palladian style between Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade in London. The first Horse Guards building was built on the site of the former tiltyard of Westminster Palace in 1664. It was demolished in 1749 and was replaced by the current building which was built between 1750 and 1753 by John Vardy after the death of original architect in 1748 William Kent. Horse Guards Road runs north-south on the western boundary of the parade ground, while Horse Guards Avenue runs east from Whitehall on other side of the building, to Victoria Embankment.

The building served as the offices of the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces until 1904 when the post was abolished and replaced by the Chief of the General Staff. The Chief of the General staff moved to the Old War Office Building in 1906 and Horse Guards subsequently became the headquarters of two major Army commands: the London District and the Household Cavalry. The building is the formal entrance to St James's Palace via St. James's Park (though this is now entirely symbolic). Only the monarch is allowed to drive through its central archway, or those given a pass (formerly made of ivory).

Horse Guards or horse guards can refer to:

• A Household Cavalry regiment:
  • Troops of the Horse Guards Regiment of the British Army from 1658-1788
  • The Royal Horse Guards, which is now part of the Blues and Royals
  • The Governor General's Horse Guards, the Household Cavalry regiment of the Canadian Forces
• Horse Guards (building), a building in Whitehall, London, formerly the headquarters of the British Army
  • Horse Guards Parade, the parade ground behind the building where the Trooping the Colour ceremony is held annually
  • Horse Guards Road, the road between the parade ground and St. James's Park
• Horse guard wasp, a North American sand wasp which eats horse flies