WW2 11th Hussars Prince Alberts Own Cap Badge Treu Und Fest Brass Slider Origina

Up for sale is an authentic vintage 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own) Cavalry Regiment Cap Badge. This iconic British cavalry insignia depicts a central fluted pillar cleanly charged with the shield heraldry of the arms of Saxony. The pillar rises gracefully out of a detailed base ducal coronet and is surmounted at the apex by a matching crown out of which flow five distinctive, textured peacock feathers. The bottom is beautifully balanced by a three-part sweeping unit scroll bearing the historic German royal family motto: “TREU UND FEST” (Faithful and Firm).

Struck in solid brass, the reverse side features its original brass flat vertical mounting slider. This original piece is highly sought after by cavalry specialists, Napoleonic/Crimean lineage historians, and advanced militaria collectors.

Used / Very Good Vintage Condition. This classic cavalry insignia is in wonderful structural shape with no bends or crushing to the delicate tips of the upper peacock feathers or the curls of the lower scrolls. The brass retains an exceptionally sharp strike, showcasing crisp details across the tiny jewel settings on both coronets, the internal lining of the Saxony shield, and the individual lettering within the motto tracks. The reverse side clearly shows the clean, mirror-image die-struck indentations and displays a beautiful, uncleaned warm honey aged brass patina with minor authentic storage toning and light verdigris in the deeper recessed areas. The rear brass slider is completely structurally sound, straight, firmly attached, and fully intact. Please check all the high-resolution close-up photographs to inspect the exact quality before purchasing.

The 11th Hussars hold one of the most romantic and celebrated legacies in the history of the British Army. Originally raised in 1715 as Light Dragoons, the regiment’s defining historical moment occurred in 1840 when they were chosen to act as the official personal arrival escort for Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as he traveled to marry Queen Victoria. Impressed by their elite discipline, the Prince Consort became their Colonel, changed their role to Hussars, granted them his personal crimson livery uniform trousers (earning them the famous nickname “The Cherry Pickers”), and authorized them to wear his personal family crest and German family motto, “Treu und Fest”.

The regiment wore this distinctive brass insignia on their field service caps through major historic deployments, including the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, and across both World Wars. The vertical brass slider reverse setup was the standard military issue style for secure cap attachments during the interwar and WWII eras. Because of the badge’s direct German royal connection, personnel temporarily stopped wearing it on their specialized berets during the heavy fighting of World War II to avoid frontline confusion, making these surviving original brass patterns highly historic and deeply evocative cavalry artifacts.