THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S SCARLET AND BLUE FULL-DRESS TUNIC OF A COLONEL, GRENADIER GUARDS | with a crimson silk shoulder sash, a gold round-cord aiguillette and a pair of white kid gloves, all late 19th century, comprising:

1. Tunic with scarlet body and sleeves, dark blue collar and cuffs and gold embroidery; the lining to the back and breast in white silk, with (later) lining to the skirts and shoulders in cream satin, having four deep internal cotton or linen pockets, two in each breast and two in each of the rear skirts; the shoulder-straps each bearing the embroidered rank insignia of a Colonel (a crown and two stars) together with the crowned gilt-metal badges of a personal ADC to the Sovereign – VR and ER – with, beneath the right shoulder strap, a single mother-of-pearl button for the attachment of an aiguillette; worked loops, or ‘beckets’, on the left breast for the attachment of medals and the stars of Orders of Knighthood, nine gilt-metal buttons – including the reversed and interlaced cypher VR – to front, four on each rear skirt, two to the rear waist and two (small) fastening each shoulder-strap; measuring, at front, 28½ inches from bottom of collar to bottom of skirt and, at rear, 30½ inches; the collar, rounded at the front, 1⅝ inches high, with small tears and repairs overall, staining to collar inside, some surface moth damage and general tarnish to the metal embroidery;2.  Sash of crimson silk net 3½ inches wide, cut on the curve and with twisted crimson silk corded tassels beneath a crimson silk runner, in good condition;3. Aiguillette of ¼ inch gold round-cord, with gilt-metal embossed tags, attached to a plaited gold strap pierced with a button-hole for attachment beneath the right shoulder-strap of the above tunic, as specified in regulations for wear in regimental uniform by field marshals who were also regimental officers, in good condition; 4. A pair of white kid gloves, each with a single mother-of-pearl button at the wrist; the left glove marked inside in ink 8/2 and gm 1812; the right glove marked inside in ink gm 1812 and, in a rectangle, MADE SPECIALLY FOR BEALE & INMAN BY FOWNES, with MADE IN ENGLAND, below in ink, also in good condition (lot)

The tunic and sash conform to those specified for senior officers of the Grenadier Guards in Dress Regulations, 1891. The aiguillette formed part of the uniform of a field marshal after 1876, the pattern of the above example being adopted in 1880.  White leather gloves were specified for wear by most officers in full dress from the early nineteenth century onwards and examples like these are shown being worn or carried by H.R.H. Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, in numerous portraits as well as in photographs dating from circa 1857 to the 1890s. Prince George was appointed colonel of the Grenadier Guards in December 1861 and Field Marshal in November 1862, holding both appointments until his death in 1904.