Samuel Brothers has been making new uniforms for the UK’s oldest private ceremonial military regiment as it prepares to be restored to its original full strength for the first time in more than a century.
Thirteen new warders of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, which dates back to 1660, will be presented with their warrants at a special ceremony in the Co Down village in May.
It will be the first time the guard, which carries out ceremonial duties at Hillsborough Castle, the royal residence in Northern Ireland, has been at its full complement of 20 warders since 1890.
The guard was created in the 17th century when a royal warrant was first issued by Charles II but went into decline in the 20th century when no new warders were recruited. For several years, only the bugler was left to carry on ceremonial duties until 2021 when the Marquess of Downshire issued warrants for six new warders as part of the reformation of the Fort Guard.
The final restoration will see the guard, whose members are known as the “Castlemen”, return to its full strength of 20.
