1st Infantry Regiment (Thailand)


The 1st King Close Bodyguard Regiment, King Close Bodyguard is a King's Guard regiment under the Royal Security Command. The regiment is divided into three battalions, all of them based in Bangkok. The regiment is the only unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces with the designation Mahat Lek Rajawallop ; meaning the king's close bodyguards, translated as the King's Own Bodyguards. The unit was first established by King Chulalongkorn in 1859, whilst he was still a young prince. One of the primary roles of the regiment is to provide security and protection to members of the Thai royal family as well as the ceremonial escort and guarding of the royal palaces. The unit is the oldest regiment of the Thai army.

History

The Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1859, when he was still a young prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants with duties such as scaring crows, which led to commoners referring to them as the "Mahat Lek Lai Ka," roughly translated as "Scarecrow Corps."
When he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the "Thahan Song Lo". In 1870, the unit was upgraded into a full army regiment and was given the name the "King's Guard" and their duties included escorting the king while he travelled around the country. The king commanded the regiment himself until 1873, when he appointed Lieutenant General Chao Phraya Phasakornwongse as its first military commander.
The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the royal family of Thailand.
On 18 January 2019, the unit has renamed to 1st Royal Guard Regiment, King's Guard. Then, on 23 April 2019, the unit has renamed again to 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard.
On October 1, 2019, the command of the unit was transferred from the 1st Division, King's Guard to the Royal Security Command under the command of King Vajiralongkorn, along with 11th Infantry Regiment. Thereby removing the two units out of the chain of command of the Royal Thai Army and into the monarchy.

Organization

Active

' 2nd King Close Bodyguard Battalion, '''1st King Close Bodyguard Regiment, King Close Bodyguard

Dissolved

  • '''4th Infantry Battalion, 1st King's Own Bodyguard Regiment'''

Notable members