Presented in 1935 by the Officers of The 3rd Hussars to mark the 250th Anniversary of the raising of the Regiment in 1685, the picture shows Charles, Duke of Somerset, the first Colonel of the Regiment, in the robes of a Garter Knight.
He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1684 and appointed to the Colonelcy of the Queen’s Consort’s Regiment of Dragoons on 2 August 1685, a reward for his fidelity at the time of Monmouth’s rebellion.
In August 1687 he was removed from his position at court and his Regiment for refusing to attend a nuncio from Pope Innocent XI into the King’s presence.
He subsequently joined William of Orange in the Revolution and was a Privy Councillor and Master of the Horse during the reign of Queen Anne.
He died in December 1748 at the age of 86 and is buried in Salisbury Cathedral.
