The Household Cavalry is part of the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two regiments The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st The Royal Dragoons). They are amongst the oldest and most senior regiments in the British Army with traditions dating from 1660.

The Household Cavalry as a whole is split into two different units which fulfil two very distinct roles.

The first has an active operational role in armoured fighting vehicles which has seen them at the forefront of conflicts in the past and upto the present day. The regiments are Guards regiments and, with the five Foot Guards Regiments, form the Household Division.

The second unit is the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment equipped with horses who carry out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on State and Royal occasions. These include the provision of a Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the present Queen's Birthday Parade in June each year. Other occasions include those during State Visits by visiting Heads of State, or whenever required by the British monarch

The rank names of non-commissioned officers above corporal in the Household Cavalry are unique amongst units of the British Army. Those holding the equivalent of rank of sergeants and warrant officers in other regiments are referred to as corporals of varying degree from corporal of horse (sergeant) up to Regimental Corporal Major (Regimental Sergeant Major) See: Comparative military ranks

See also: Structure of the British Army