Programme for Trooping the Colour and presentation of first colours to the Irish Guards, 1902

The spirit of a regiment is embodied in its Colours: 'trooping' or marching these through the regiment reinforces the loyalty of its soldiers, both to the regiment itself and through it to the Sovereign whom they serve.

King Edward VII presented the first Colours to the Irish Guards at Horse Guards on 30 May 1902. The regiment had been raised by order of Queen Victoria on 1 April 1900 in recognition of the bravery of Irish soldiers during the Boer War (1899-1902).

The cadre of the new regiment consisted of around 200 men of Irish descent who transferred from the Grenadier Guards. Many more men followed as a free transfer was offered to all Irishmen serving in the Guards Brigade and then to those from line regiments.