King Charles has hailed the newly formed King's Gurkha Artillery unit as an 'important new chapter' during a ceremonial visit to their base in Wiltshire. The monarch praised the 'determination and commitment' of the troops and described the regiment as a 'powerful reaffirmation of the enduring and deeply valued relationship between the United Kingdom and Nepal'.
The King was greeted with a 21-gun salute upon arrival at Larkhill Barracks near Salisbury, where he was presented with a traditional mala flower garland. In a speech to the assembled troops, Charles highlighted the significance of the unit's formation, which enables Gurkhas to serve across the full spectrum of capability within the British Army for the first time.
Modern Conflict Lessons
The King noted that the capabilities of the new artillery unit would be shaped by lessons from modern warfare, particularly the conflict in Ukraine. 'We have seen how agility, precision and integration with advanced technologies have redefined the battlefield,' he said, emphasising the importance of sharing knowledge with Ukrainian partners.
The King expressed his pride in the troops and thanked them for their dedication, adding in Nepali: 'Malai tapai haru prati pura bjarosa cha,' which translates to 'I have full faith in you.'
Unit Background
The King's Gurkha Artillery was formally established in April 2025, marking the Army's first dedicated Gurkha artillery unit. Over the next three years, 400 Gurkha personnel will join the unit, offering new opportunities within the Brigade of Gurkhas, part of the Royal Artillery.
Gurkhas have a historical connection to artillery, having served in the Bombay Artillery before the First World War, with around 85 serving as gunners during the Second World War. The new unit's cap badge, approved by the King, features a crossed khukuri knife and a field gun of the Royal Artillery, bearing the Latin inscriptions 'Ubique' (Everywhere) and 'Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt' (Whither Right and Glory Lead).
Gurkha gunners will serve across several Royal Artillery regiments, supporting 1st Division, 3rd Division and 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, and will be trained on advanced systems including the Archer and Light Gun artillery systems, as well as the remote-controlled Howitzer 155 system.
