Since ancient times, armies have carried flags, pennants, and/or banners into battle. Their purpose was to identify individual units and to be used as a rallying point in the din of battle. In the British army from which we get so many of our customs and traditions, two flags were carried into battle. The first was the King's or Queen's Colour (depending obviously on the gender of the Monarch). It symbolized the Regiment's loyalty to the Crown. The second was the Regimental Colour, which identified the unit and generally carried emblazoned on it the battles it had fought and won distinction in.

Colours suffered grievous destruction in battle and many times were captured by the enemy. As a result of this, Colours have not been carried into battle since the late 1800s. The last British Regiment to carry its colours into battle was the 58th Regiment at Laing Nek (South Africa) in 1881. The British Secretary of War announced in The House of Commons on 29 July 1891, "That, in consequence of the altered formation of attack and the extended range of fire, the colours should not in future be taken with the battalion on active service."

For history buffs, the colours of the 4th Regiment, United States Infantry were surrendered to the 41 Regiment of Foot under the command of Major General Sir Isaac Brock when he captured Fort Detroit on 16 August 1812. These colours were initially placed in the Chapel of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London. The colours were subsequently handed over to The Welsh Regiment at a ceremonial parade at the Royal Hospital on 8 March 1961. They are now on display at the regiment's museum at Cardiff Castle in South Wales.

Not to be outdone, the American Forces invaded and captured the town of York (now Toronto) on 27 April 1813. The Americans occupied the town for some five days before pulling out. On the flagstaff in front of Government House, which was inside the Fort, was a 30 x 24 foot Royal Standard, that of King George III. It was being flown as the personal standard of Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe, General Officer Commanding the Army in Upper Canada. On 1 May 1813, before setting fire to Government House, the Americans removed the flag and took it as war booty. This flag was presented to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis Maryland in 1849 where it rests today in fragile condition. A Union Jack from HMS Duke of York was also taken at York, and it too is now located in the Naval Academy Museum.

The Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment received its first Colours from Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Macdonnel on 14 October 1934 in Picton Ontario. They were consecrated by the Right Reverend John Lyons, Lord Bishop of Ontario.

In 1960, the Regimental Colours were stolen from the Officers' Mess in Belleville Ontario. To this day, it has never been found. The staff for it, the Queen's Colours and its staff were laid up in St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, Picton, Ontario on 4 October 1964 for safekeeping, until, as is the custom, "in time they are no more."

The Colours are the special responsibility of the Commanding Officer. When the Regimental Colours were stolen in 1960, the Commanding Officer at the time, LCol Angus Duffy, removed his cap badge in disgrace vowing never to wear it again until the Colours were returned. Over the years despite many attempts by various members of the regimental family to convince him otherwise, Col Duffy never again wore his regimental cap badge from that day until he transferred to the White Battalion in 1998.

New Colours were presented to The Regiment on 17 May 1964 by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, the Honourable W. Earl Rowe, and consecrated by the Command Chaplain, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Anderson.

As previously stated, the Colours are the special responsibility of the Commanding Officer, and are formally surrendered on parade by the retiring Commanding Officer to symbolize his relinquishment of command. They are handed into the charge of the new Commanding Officer as the sign he has assumed command.

Colours are the most prized possession of line infantry units with The Regimental Colours the most prized of all. It symbolizes The Regiment and its accomplishments. Colours never appear on parade without an armed escort. The senior subaltern carries the Queen's Colours and the junior subaltern, the Regimental Colours and three senior NCOs form the escort. Colours are always paid compliments on parade and are never dipped except in the presence of the Sovereign.

In 1846, Prince Albert consort of Queen Victoria said the following of Colours: "Receive these Colours; one called the Queen's. Let it stand as a pledge of your loyalty to the Sovereign, and of obedience to the laws of the country. The more especially the Regimental one; let that be a pledge of your determination to maintain the honour of your Regiment. In looking at one you will think of your Sovereign; in looking at the other you will think of those who fought, bled, and conquered before you."