12 June 1922: A ceremony took place in St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle at which King George V received the Colours of five Irish infantry regiments & one cavalry regiment of the British army who were disbanded OTD. These were: The Connaught Rangers; The Leinster Regiment; The Royal Munster Fusiliers; The Royal Dublin Fusiliers; The Royal Irish Regiment & the South Irish Horse. At the time of their disbandment they contained some 12,000 men the majority would have been Irish or of Irish descent. 

The reason for their abolition was the Treaty between Ireland and Britain in December 1921 which saw 26 counties of Ireland becoming The Irish Free State. As a result the British Armed Forces would no longer be able to actively recruit in the South and thus these regiments could no longer be sustained with new members to fill the ranks. Another factor was Britain had an overcapacity of men in the British Army at time that it was stretched to the limit financially. This was therefore a case of financial and political necessity allowing the Cabinet to conclude that they would have to go.

That day at Windsor King George V, with emotion in his voice, received the Colours saying:

Your Colours are the records of valorous deeds in war, and of the glorious traditions thereby created. You are called upon to part with them today for reasons beyond your control and resistance. By you and your predecessors these Colours have been reverenced and guarded as a sacred trust - which trust you now confide in me. As your King I am proud to accept this trust. But I fully realise with what grief you relinquish these dearly-prized emblems; and I pledge my word that within these ancient and historic walls your Colours will be treasured, honoured, and protected as hallowed memorials of the glorious deeds of brave and loyal regiments.

Their Colours were laid up at St George's Hall, Windsor Castle, to be kept forever in the care of the King and his descendants.

On their State Visit to the United Kingdom in 2014 the Irish President Michael D. Higgins & his wife Sabina were escorted by The Duke of York to the Grand Stairs in Windsor Castle to view the colours of five Irish regiments of the British army which were disbanded on that day.