Changing of the Honor Guard at the Quirinale: The Corazzieri Line Up for Republic Day

Rome, June 1, 2025 – On the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations, the traditional solemn changing of the Honor Guard took place yesterday at the Quirinale Palace. The ceremony featured the mounted Corazzieri and the fanfare of the IV Carabinieri Regiment, offering a spectacle of great charm and symbolic appeal.

The Ceremony of June 1st

Yesterday afternoon, the historic Piazza del Quirinale hosted the solemn changing of the Honor Guard, an event that officially opens the Republic Day celebrations. The Corazzieri Regiment, an elite unit of the Carabinieri, paraded in full dress uniform, wearing the iconic shining breastplates and crested helmets, symbols of continuity between past and present.

The fanfare of the IV Carabinieri Regiment accompanied the ceremony with solemn marches, while a large audience of citizens and tourists watched with participation and respect. The changing of the guard is not just a military ritual, but represents a moment of profound institutional significance, highlighting the bond between the Armed Forces and the Presidency of the Republic.

The Origins of the Corazzieri

The roots of the Corazzieri Regiment date back to the 14th century, with the formation of a corps of Archers and Squires in the service of the House of Savoy. However, it was in 1557, under the duchy of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, that the "Prince's Honor Guard" was formally established, composed of about fifty men. This unit received its baptism of fire at the Battle of San Quentin, marking the beginning of a long tradition of service and loyalty.

Over the centuries, the corps evolved, assuming different names and structures. In 1868, on the occasion of the marriage between Prince Umberto and Margherita of Savoy, a squadron of mounted Carabinieri was formed for the honor escort, marking the birth of the modern Corazzieri. Since then, the unit has maintained the task of protecting and representing the Head of State, through the country's institutional transformations.

The Corazzieri in the Italian Republic

With the proclamation of the Republic in 1946, the Corazzieri were released from their oath to the Monarchy and transformed into the "3rd Mounted Carabinieri Squadron". In 1948, President Luigi Einaudi restored the "Carabinieri Guards Squadron", returning the unit to its historical uniforms and ceremonial role.

In 1965, the unit assumed the name "Carabinieri Guards Command of the President of the Republic", becoming in 1990 the "Carabinieri Guards Regiment of the Republic". Finally, on December 24, 1992, President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro officially conferred the name "Corazzieri Regiment" on the unit, recognizing its historical and symbolic importance.

Today, the Corazzieri Regiment continues to perform high representation and security functions for the President of the Republic, keeping alive the traditions and excellence that have distinguished it for centuries.