Hyde Park Barracks

Also known as Knightsbridge Barracks, Hyde Park Barracks is the base for the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which is horsed and carries out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions in London.

Related Topics:
Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment - London

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These duties include the provision of a Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the present Queen's Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) in June each year. Other occasions include those during State Visits by visiting Heads of State, or whenever required by the British monarch. The regiment also mounts the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards.

Related Topics:
Sovereign's Escort - Queen's Birthday Parade - Trooping the Colour - State Visits - Heads of State - Queen's Life Guard - Horse Guards

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It consists of one squadron from each regiment. This has been based (in various forms) at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, since 1795. This is three-quarters of a mile from Buckingham Palace, close enough for the officers and men of the Household Cavalry to be available to respond speedily to any emergency at the Palace.

Related Topics:
Squadron - Regiment - 1795 - Buckingham Palace - Household Cavalry

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The barracks building, designed by Basil Spence in the Brutalist style, is 94m high with 29 floors, and was completed in 1970. It has been described as "dramatically modern and uncompromising" http://www.countrylife.co.uk/countrysideconcerns/news/eyesore_results.php, but generally arouses less favourable reactions (it was voted one of Britain's "top ten eyesores").

Related Topics:
Basil Spence - Brutalist - 1970

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