Queen's soldiers arrested on drug and money-laundering offences
Six soldiers and a veteran have been arrested (not pictured)
Richard Pohle/The Times
A Coldstream Guardsman veteran and six Irish Guards were arrested by the Royal Military Police as part of a "planned operation", the MoD said.
Closely associated with the Queen and the Royal Family, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards are set to lead Thursday's Trooping the Colour for the monarch's Platinum Jubilee.
Nome of the soldiers under investigation will take part, the MoD confirmed.
Founded by Queen Victoria in 1900, the Irish Guards have recently been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The regiment counts Prince William as its royal colonel
Richard Pohle/The Times
The regiment – which counts Prince William as its royal colonel – also guards royal palaces, where they can be seen wearing the distinctive bearskin hat and red tunic.
Last week, the Duke of Cambridge presented troops with new colours, ready for them to lead the parade on the Queen's birthday at the opening of the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
In a statement, the MoD said: "As part of a planned operation, the Royal Military Police arrested six Irish Guards soldiers and a Coldstream Guardsman veteran from across the UK on suspicion of conspiracy to supply drugs and money lending and laundering offences.
"None of the soldiers under investigation will participate in planned Queen's Platinum Jubilee parades.
"The Army does not tolerate any type of illegal or fraudulent behaviour.
"As this is now the subject of an independent Royal Military Police investigation, it is inappropriate to comment further."