Major music deal for Royal guards

The band regularly take part in Trooping the Colour

The Queen's Guards have signed a major recording contract at Horse Guards Parade in London.

The UK's longest-serving military band, the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards, sealed the deal with Universal's Decca label.

"If they're good enough for the Queen, they're good enough for Decca," said the label's boss Dickon Stainer.

The Band of the Coldstream Guards are best known to the public for performing the theme tune to Dad's Army.

Big names

"Our music has the power to move and inspire people in a very positive way... we're delighted the Coldstream Guards, through Decca, will be able to reach out and share this with a much wider public," said the Guards' director of music, Graham Jones.

Daniel Glatma, who managed boy band Blue, will now manage the Guards.

"Their record is going to be huge. Their sound is epic, impassioned and emotional," he said.

Other performers on the same label include Andrea Bocelli, Bryn Terfel and Montserrat Caballe.

The Band of The Coldstream Guards has now been in existence for over 200 years of continuous service, making it one of the oldest military bands in the world.