Coldstream Guards Given Freedom of Hammersmith and Fulham
17 Company has been based in the borough since 2018
Coldstream Guards and H&F councillors. Picture: Justin Thomas
May 20, 2025
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has awarded the British Army’s oldest continuously serving regiment the Freedom of the Borough.
The Coldstream Guards, which was established in 1650 as part of William Cromwell’s New Model Army, was given the award at a ceremony on Wednesday night (21 May).
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the council, paid tribute to the Guards and their families “for making that sacrifice in order to be that line of defence”.
Part of the Household Division, the Coldstream Guards are recognised for their roles in state ceremonial processions as well as their work as an infantry unit, while also serving as King’s Guard at Buckingham and St James’s Palaces.
The 17 Company has been based in Hammersmith and Fulham since it was formed as part of the London Guards in May 2018. It is the regiment's reserve company, based in Hammersmith and operates under the command of the 1st Battalion. It comprises reservists who live and work primarily in London and the surrounding areas.
In council papers on the awarding of the Freedom, officers wrote that 17 Company had contributed to duties including “supporting the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and deployments to Kenya, Estonia, and Cyprus”.
At the ceremony, Cllr Cowan spoke on the history of the Coldstream Guards and their role in defending Britain and its way of life.
“There is so much to be proud of about the British Army, and the Coldstream Guards epitomises every single aspect of that. But this is not just about an abstract army or regiment,” he said. “This is about the women and men who join up and give service. People who thought to themselves that they would put themselves on the line to fight for us.
“So I don’t just thank every single member who is here today, but I recognise the sacrifice that every single soldier’s family makes, and we pay tribute to the soldiers and their families for making that sacrifice in order to be that line of defence.”
The work done by the Coldstream Guards, both within the Hammersmith and Fulham community and internationally, was further praised by Opposition Leader Cllr Jose Afonso.
He said, “We on this side thank the Coldstream Guards for their contribution to our community. With this year being the 80th anniversary of VE Day, it is right for our borough to honour them for their continued service to our country and our community.”
Cllr Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, also touched on the manner in which the company has become a “central part of our community”.
Highlighting the council’s recent announcement of a 25 per cent council tax cut for veterans, Cllr Ree said, “It is no exaggeration to say that the Coldstream Guards have shaped the world that we live in, and it is in no small part thanks to them that we are able to enjoy the freedoms and the way of life we have today.”
Accepting the Freedom, Major Rudy Vandaele-Kennedy told attendees the 17 Company is grateful for the council’s recognition, and for collaborative work such as the Mayor’s Coldstream Guards Awards. The awards recognise local young people who have gone above and beyond in school.
The meeting also saw Cllr Sharon Holder elected as the borough Mayor for 2025/26.
The incoming Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Sharon Holder. Picture: Justin Thomas
Cllr Holder, previously the Cabinet Member for Public Realm, replaces Cllr Patricia Quigley who served in the role for two years. Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier is to take on Cllr Holder’s Cabinet portfolio.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter