The Royalist - Queen's Guards Sacked In Drugs Scandal

Queen's Guards Sacked In Drugs Scandal

Written by Joanne Leyland

Tuesday, 26 August 2008

The Ministry of Defence has announced that five soldiers whose duties include guarding the Queen have been sacked from the Army after failing a drugs test.

The five soldiers are members of The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

Although the MoD is yet to confirm what drug was involved, it’s believed the soldiers tested positive for a class A drug.

The regiment enjoys especially close links to the Royal Family.

Upon her accession to the throne in February 1952, the young Queen Elizabeth decreed that The King’s Troop should retain its name in honour of her late father, King George VI.

Members of the regiment are regularly seconded to stand guard at royal events, the most high profile engagement being the firing of gun salutes to mark the monarch's birthday.