Royal Company of Archers
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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.
Members of the Royal Company must be Scots or have strong Scottish connections. Membership is by election; the present membership totals around 530. 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. Sir Angus Ogilvy was a member of the company.
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.
Captains-General
dates of appointment generally unknown
- John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl 1670 (first office-holder)
- William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch
- John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch
- Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone, KT 1935-1953
- Lieutenant-Colonel John Dalrymple, 12th Earl of Stair, KT DSO 1953-1961
- Colonel Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch, KT GCVO TD PC 1961-1973
- Colonel John Aymer Dalrymple, 13th Earl of Stair, CVO MBE 1973-1988
- Colonel Ronald John Bilsland Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir, KT CB MBE TD 1988-1996
- Major Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, Bt GCVO 1996-2004
- David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, KT GCVO 2004-
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