Active 1859-present Branch Royal Thai Army Size Regiment | Country Thailand Type Infantry | |
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Allegiance King Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||
The 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Own Bodyguard (Thai: กรมทหารราบที่ 1 มหาดเล็กรักษาพระองค์ ) (ร.1 รอ.) is a King's Guard regiment under the 1st Infantry Division, King's Guard of the Royal Thai Army. The regiment is divided into four battalions, all of them based in Bangkok. The regiment is the only unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces with the designation Mahat Lek Rajawallop (Thai: มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ); meaning the king's close bodyguards, translated as the King's Own Bodyguards. The unit was first established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1859, whilst he was still a young prince. One of the primary role of the regiment is to provide security and protection to members of the Thai Royal Family as well as the ceremonial escort and guarding of the royal palaces. The unit is the oldest regiment of the Thai army.
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History
The Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam in 1859, when he was still a young prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants with duties such as scaring crows, which led to commoners referring to them as the "Mahat Lek Lai Ka," roughly translated as "Scarecrow Corps."
When he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the "Thahan Song Lo" (Two-Dozen soldiers"). In 1870, the unit was upgraded into a full army regiment and was given the name the "King's Guard" and their duties included escorting the king while he travelled around the country.
The king commanded the regiment himself until 1873, when he appointed Lieutenant General Chao Phraya Phasakornwongse as its first military commander.
The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand.
Organization
The regiment is divided into four infantry battalions:
Uniforms
The 1st, 2nd and 4th battalions wears a ceremonial uniform of scarlet red and black facings and a bearskin-styled cap based on the British Army Foot Guards. The 3rd Battalion however wears a ceremonial uniform of white and shocking pink facings and plumed helmet, by the orders of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) who founded the battalion. The ceremonial uniform is worn only when the regiment is on duty in a public royal ceremony with a member of the royal family present, and has single buttons (similar to those used in the British Grenadier Guards). When providing guard on royal premises, such as the Grand Palace, the soldiers wear a white uniform with a pith helmet.