Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers

The 1st Rifles Regiment was formed on September 27, 1830 during the Belgian Revolution. They were equipped with carbines and received the title of Regiment of Carabiniers in 1850. On July 21, 1930, King Albert I decided that the regiment would bear the title of Regiment Carabiniers Prince Baudouin, in honour of his late brother (not to be confused with the king of the same name) who served within its ranks.

Monument to the 1,600 Belgian grenadiers killed in action during World War I

The Grenadier Regiment was founded on May 8, 1837 by King Leopold I. Originally designated as the Regiment of Grenadiers and Voltigeurs, it was created by bringing together the elite companies of each of the twelve regiments of line infantry then in existence. The new unit consisted of four battalions; two of grenadiers and two of voltigeurs. Renamed as the Elite Regiment a year later the unit finally received the designation of Grenadier Regiment by royal command on March 5, 1850.[1]

The new regiment was stationed in the Caserne Prince Albert, in Brussels near the Royal Palace. Today only the monument to the fallen Grenadiers remains of it. In the Hall of Grenadiers the memorabilia and the portraits of the Royal Officers are still kept.

As a result of cuts to the army after the Cold War, the Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn was amalgamated with the 1st Grenadier Regiment on June 27, 1992 in order to form the new Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers. The unit retained its role of mechanised infantry and was stationed in Leopoldsburg. They take part in missions abroad and still have important ceremonial duties.

Today there are approximately 600 Grenadiers of whom 6 are women.

The Duke of Brabant, Leopold II as Grenadier wearing a bearskin.

Historically, the regiment had the distinction of having members of the royal family and nobility within its ranks, including:

• King Leopold II
• Prince Baudouin
• King Albert I
• King Leopold III

Today Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este is officer of the Second Regiment of Grenadiers. Other important officers included Francis Dhanis .

The following honours are displayed on the regiment's standard, they are embroidered in gold on the Belgian Colours. The current Standard was presented to the Regiment by King Albert II in 1994:

• Campaign 1914-1918
• Antwerpen
• Ijzer
• Tervaete
• Steenstraete
• Westrozebeke
• Passendale
• Rumbeke
• Battle of Belgium 1940