The current regiment was formed in 1959 by the amalgamation of
1st King's Dragoon Guards (raised in 1685 by Sir
John Lanier as Lanier's or the 2nd Queen's Regiment of Horse in response to the
Monmouth Rebellion) and the
2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) (raised in 1685 by the
Earl of Peterborough as Peterborough's or the 3rd Regiment of Horse, also in response to the Monmouth Rebellion). The regiment has spent much of its short history based in Germany. It served during the
Aden Emergency in 1966 and 1967 and its squadrons were dispersed throughout the Middle East during that time. In 1983, the regiment was deployed to
Lebanon in support of the allied
Multinational Force, in 1990 it was sent to the Middle East for the
Gulf War, and in 1996 it was deployed to
Bosnia as part of
NATO peacekeeping forces during the
Yugoslav Wars. On their return from Iraq in 2005, Brigadier Rose of 3 Commando Brigade presented the Regiment with the Commando Dagger in recognition of the superb relationship between 'C' Squadron and the
Royal Marines during the liberation of Iraq. This squadron had the distinction of spending one of the longest periods of constant contact with the enemy for 20 days or so during this operation. In 2004, the QDG returned to Iraq on Op TELIC 5 in the counter insurgency role with B Squadron deploying from Basra in support of 1st Battalion, The Black Watch in support of operations around Fallujah. After operations in Basra and Maysan, the Regiment then took command of Al Muthanna Province as a Task Force of over 1000 personnel. In 2006, the QDG returned to Iraq on
Operation Telic 8 and oversaw the successful transfer of Al Muthanna province back to Iraqi control. In 2012, the regiment were called in to provide security for the
2012 London Olympics with composite squadrons focused on supporting the beach volleyball and securing the athletes village. In May of that year, there was speculation that the unit would become a victim of the defence budget cuts. As it was one of only three regiments historically associated with and one that still largely recruits from Wales, there was much support from the Welsh public to keep the QDG. However,
Ministry of Defence officials announced no such plan has been made. As part of the
Army 2020 plans, most units based in Germany returned to the UK and the QDG moved to
Robertson Barracks,
Swanton Morley,
Norfolk, in June 2015. They re-roled as "light cavalry", using
Jackal vehicles. In 2014, the Regiment deployed on the final British combat deployment to
Helmand Province on Operation HERRICK 20. Battlegroup Headquarters worked alongside the senior leadership of 3/215 Brigade of the Afghan Army. 'A' Squadron worked with the Afghan Army to develop the latter's capabilities and professionalism in a training capacity. 'B' Squadron formed the Afghan National Security Forces Liaison Team, patrolling to the forward operating bases across the southern part of the province. 'C' Squadron formed the Brigade Reconnaissance Force. In 2018, the QDG conducted two tours of
Poland on
Operation Cabrit providing the role for NATO as the enhanced forward presence in order to protect and reassure NATO's Central and Northern European member states on NATO's eastern flank of their security. In June 2021 'C' Squadron, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards deployed to Mali with
2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment to form the Long Range Reconnaissance Group for Op Newcombe rotation 2 for 6 months. As part of the
Future Soldier programme, the regiment will remain in their armoured cavalry role but move to
Caerwent 'not before' 2027. ==Operational role==