King's Guard (Thailand)

The King's Guard (ทหารรักษาพระองค์; ) is a ceremonial designation given to various regiments within the Royal Thai Armed Forces. This contingent is dedicated to the protection of the Royal Family of Thailand.

History
The Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn the Great of Thailand in 1859, when he was still crown prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants with duties such as scaring crows, which led to commoners referring to them as the "Mahat Lek Lai Ka," roughly translated as "Scarecrow Corps."

When he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the "Thahan Song Lo" (Two-Dozen soldiers"). In 1870, the Royal Guard regiment were given the name the "King's Guard" and their duties included escorting the king while he travelled around the country.

About the year 1875 the necessity for surveys in connection with improvements in the city of Bangkok, and for supervision in carrying out these improvements, led to the selection of certain officers of the royal bodyguard for training in this direction. These officers were formed into a special company called "Military Engineers of the Royal Bodyguard," in which Mr. James McCarthy held the rank of captain. A royal decree issued September 3, 1885, separated the surveyors from the royal bodyguard and created the Royal Survey Department, which is now the Royal Thai Survey Department (กรมแผนที่ทหาร, a Special Services Group of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters.

The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand. Today's King's Guard units serve as the Thai equivalent to the guards units of various countries.

Royal Thai Army

 * Cadet unit
 * Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Cadet Regiment, King's Guard (Cadet students of the Royal Military Academy)


 * Infantry units
 * 1st Infantry Division, King's Guard
 * 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Own Bodyguard (a.k.a. "Mahat Lek Ratchawanlop" มหาดเล็กราชวัลลภ: The king's close bodyguards)
 * 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard
 * 31st Infantry Regiment, King's Guard (Airborne)
 * 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard (Designated 'Queen's Guard' in honour of Queen Sirikit in 1988)
 * 2nd Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard
 * 12th Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard
 * 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen's Guard (a.k.a. "Thahan Suea Rachini" ทหารเสือราชินี: the queen's tiger soldiers)


 * Cavalry units
 * 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Guard
 * 1st Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard
 * 1st Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 3rd Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 17th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 4th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard
 * 5th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 11th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 25th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 5th Cavalry Regiment, King's Guard
 * 20th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 23rd Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 24th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 27th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 29th Cavalry Squadron, King's Guard
 * 30th Cavalry Squadron, Queen's Guard
 * 4th Tank Battalion, King's Guard
 * 7th Tank Battalion, King's Guard


 * Artillery units
 * 1st Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard
 * 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, King's Guard
 * 1st Air Defense Artillery Battalion, King's Guard


 * Engineer units
 * 1st Engineer Regiment, King's Guard
 * 1st Engineer Battalion, King's Guard
 * 2nd Engineer Battalion, King's Guard


 * Signal units
 * 1st Signal Battalion, King's Guard
 * 2nd Signal Battalion, King's Guard


 * Transport unit
 * Transport Regiment, King's Guard

Royal Thai Navy

 * Naval Cadet Regiment, King's Guard (Cadet students of the Royal Naval Academy)
 * Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment, Marine Division, King's Guard (Royal Thai Marine Corps)
 * Headquarters Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Marine Division, King's Guard (Royal Thai Marine Corps)
 * 1st Marine Battalion, King's Guard, 1st Infantry Regiment, Marine Division (Royal Thai Marine Corps)
 * 9th Marine Battalion, King's Guard, 3rd Infantry Regiment, Marine Division (Royal Thai Marine Corps)

Royal Thai Air Force

 * Air Cadet Regiment, King's Guard (Cadet students of the Royal Air Force Academy)
 * RTAF Security Force Regiment, King's Guard
 * Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, King's Guard
 * 201st Air Force Squadron, King's Guard
 * 602st Air Force Squadron, King's Guard