Royal Company of Archers

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=The Royal Company of Archers, The Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland


caption=Badge of the Royal Company of Archers
dates=1676-
country=Scotland
branch=
role=Royal Bodyguard
type=Private Archery club
size=
command_structure=Sovereign's Bodyguard
current_commander=
garrison=Edinburgh
ceremonial_chief=HM The Queen
ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel in Chief
colonel_of_the_regiment=The Earl of Airlie KT, GCVO, PC
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=Captain-General
nickname=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Collar Badge
identification_symbol_2=Eagle Feathers
Number dependent on rank
identification_symbol_2_label=Hackle
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland.

The company was formed in 1676 as a private archery club, which it still is today. In return for being endowed with "perpetual access to all public butts, plains and pasturages legally allotted for shooting arrows", the Royal Company is required to present to the Sovereign three barbed arrows on request. The main duties of the company are ceremonial, and include attending the Sovereign at various functions in Scotland, including the Order of the Thistle investitures at The High Kirk of Edinburgh (St Giles Cathedral), investitures at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the presentation of new colours to Scottish regiments.

The Royal Company of Archers has its base in Edinburgh at Archers Hall (built 1776 and recently refurbished). The Hall serves as a venue for various dinners and meetings of the company.

The structure of the organisation is divided between officers (including a Secretary, currently David Younger) and members. By seniority the officers comprise one Captain-General, four Captains, four Lieutenants, four Ensigns and twelve Brigadiers.

The uniform consists of a dark-green tunic, shoulder-wings and gauntleted cuffs and trousers trimmed with black and crimson; a bow-case worn as a sash, of the same colour as the coat, black waistbelt with sword, and Balmoral bonnet with thistle ornament and eagle's feathers. The number of feathers worn denotes the rank of the member.

Members of the Royal Company must be Scots or have strong Scottish connections. Membership is by election; the present membership totals around 530.

Notable members have included:
* Lieutenant-General Sir Ronald Ferguson (1773-1841) and his brother Robert Ferguson of Raith (1770-1840) - subjects of the painting, "The Archers" (1789 or 1790), by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823). (Collection: National Gallery)
* Rt.Hon. Sir Angus Ogilvy (1928-2004), husband of Princess Alexandra of Kent.
* Robin Orr Blair, LVO, WS (1940-), Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland
* Charles Jauncey, Baron Jauncey of Tullichettle, Law Lord.
* Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll (1948-), a cross-bench member of the House of Lords, Chief of Scottish clan Hay, and hereditary Lord High Constable of Scotland.

Captains-General

*John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl c.1676–1703
*George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie 1703–1714
*David Wemyss, 4th Earl of Wemyss 1715–1720
*"vacant"
*James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton 1724–1743
*James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss 1743–1756
*Charles Douglas, 3rd Duke of Queensberry 1756–1778
*Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch 1778–1812
*Charles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch 1812–1819
*John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun 1819–1823
*James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose 1824–1830
*George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie 1830–1838
*Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch 1838–1884
*William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch 1884–1914
*John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch 1914–1935
*Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone 1935–1953
*John Dalrymple, 12th Earl of Stair 1953–1961
*Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch 1961–1973
*John Dalrymple, 13th Earl of Stair 1973–1988
*Ronald Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir 1988–1996
*Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, 10th Baronet 1996–2004
*David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie 2004–present

External links

* [http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5009.asp The Royal Company of Archers]

References

*cite book | first=Sir James Balfour | last=Paul | title=The History of the Royal Company of Archers: The Queen's Body-guard for Scotland | publisher=W. Blackwood | year=1875 | url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=0jgeHDY7thuStKFf&id=ClIBAAAAQAAJ | accessdate=2007-04-20