1st Infantry Regiment (Thailand)
The 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard () (ร.1 ทม.รอ.) is a King's Guard regiment under the 1st Division, King's Guard of the Royal Thai Army. The regiment is divided into three battalions, all of them based in Bangkok. The regiment is the only unit of the Royal Thai Armed Forces with the designation "Mahat Lek Rajawallop" (); meaning the king's close bodyguards, translated as the "King's Own Bodyguards". The unit was first established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1859, whilst he was still a young prince. One of the primary role  of the regiment is to provide security and protection to members of the Thai Royal Family as well as the ceremonial escort and guarding of the royal palaces. The unit is the oldest regiment of the Thai army. History. The Royal Guards were established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam in 1859, when he was still a young prince. Initially, the Royal Guards were servants with duties such as scaring crows, which led to commoners referring to them as the "Mahat Lek Lai Ka," roughly translated as ""Scarecrow Corps."" When he succeeded his father in 1868, King Chulalongkorn took  his Royal Guard and formed a 24-strong Royal Bodyguard, referred to as the "Thahan Song Lo" (Two-Dozen soldiers"). In 1870, the unit was upgraded into a full army regiment and was given the name the "King's Guard" and their duties included escorting the king while he travelled around the country. The king commanded the regiment himself until 1873, when he appointed Lieutenant General as its first military commander. The Royal Guards still exist down to the present and serve as protectors of the Royal Family of Thailand. On 18 January 2019, the unit has renamed to 1st  King's Own Bodyguard Regiment. Then, on 23 April 2019, The unit has renamed again to 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Close Bodyguard. On October 1, 2019, the command of the unit was transferred from the 1st Division, King's Guard to the Royal Security Command under the command of King Vajiralongkorn, along with 11th Infantry Regiment. Thereby removing the two units out of the chain of command of the Royal Thai Army and into the monarchy.