The Royal Green Jackets: Tradition, Amalgamation and the Story of the Cap Badge

Royal Green Jackets with Remembrance Poppy

The Royal Green Jackets were formed in 1966, bringing together three distinguished rifle regiments: the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and the Rifle Brigade. Each had a proud history stretching back centuries, and their amalgamation marked an important moment in the evolution of Britain’s light infantry.

From Light Infantry to Green Jackets

The Royal Green Jackets carried forward the specialist role of riflemen — speed, initiative, and precision — traditions long associated with light infantry service. In 2007, the regiment itself became part of a further restructuring of the Army, amalgamating with the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry, and the Light Infantry to form The Rifles.

While the name changed, the ethos did not. The professionalism and quiet confidence of the Green Jackets continue to live on within The Rifles today.

The Evolution of the Cap Badge

Few items carry as much regimental meaning as a cap badge, and the Royal Green Jackets badge tells a layered story. The design combined key elements from its antecedent regiments, most notably the Maltese Cross of the Rifle Brigade and the crowned bugle horn traditionally associated with riflemen.

The badge symbolised unity without erasing history — a deliberate choice that allowed serving soldiers and veterans alike to see their own regimental past reflected in the new emblem. Worn on the dark green beret that gave the regiment its name, the cap badge became an instantly recognisable mark of rifleman identity.

A Legacy Still Honoured

Although the Royal Green Jackets no longer exist as a standalone regiment, their legacy remains deeply respected. For veterans, families, and collectors, regimental items such as cap badges and displays are far more than decoration — they are tangible links to service, comradeship, and shared history.

At Oaths of Allegiance, we are proud to honour that legacy by offering Royal Green Jackets–specific memorabilia, created with care and respect for the regiment and those who served under its colours.

FAQs

1) When was the Royal Green Jackets formed?The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) were formed on 1 January 1966 by amalgamation within the Green Jackets Brigade. Wikipedia+1

2) Which regiments formed the Royal Green Jackets?RGJ brought together 1st Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd), 2nd Green Jackets (King’s Royal Rifle Corps), and 3rd Green Jackets (Rifle Brigade). Wikipedia+1

3) What happened to the Royal Green Jackets in 2007?In 2007, the Royal Green Jackets were amalgamated with other light infantry regiments to form The Rifles. National Army Museum+1

4) How does the Light Infantry connect to The Rifles?The Light Infantry became part of the same 2007 restructuring that created The Rifles, bringing much of the Light Division under one regimental structure. Light Infantry+1

5) What does the Royal Green Jackets cap badge represent?The RGJ cap badge features a bugle horn (a traditional rifle/light infantry emblem) mounted on a Maltese Cross, with battle honours on the arms of the cross. National Army Museum Collection

6) Why is there a naval crown on the RGJ cap badge?The naval crown commemorates the Rifle Brigade’s service at Copenhagen (1801). National Army Museum Collection

7) Why do people care so much about cap badges?A cap badge is often the most personal symbol of a soldier’s regiment — it represents identity, service, and belonging, and it’s why regimental memorabilia remains so meaningful to veterans and families.

8) Do you offer Royal Green Jackets–specific products at Oaths of Allegiance?Yes - RGJ veterans and families can create a display that reflects their regiment.