THE Queen has confirmed the name of a new North West Army regiment will be the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, as exclusively revealed by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

The news has delighted the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and East Lancashire MPs, who backed our campaign calling for the county's identity to be retained following an armed forces re-organisation.

Originally there had been a suggestion that the new regiment -- made up of the QLR, the King's Own Royal Border Regiment based in Cumbria and the King's Regiment recruited from Manchester and Liverpool -- should be called the King's Lancashire and Border Regiment.

But our major campaign persuaded officials to have a rethink and we revealed the name change earlier this month.

The full title of the new merged regiment will be the Duke of Lancashire's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border).

The Queen gave her Assent to the new title yesterday which was then announced by Defence Secretary John Reid.

He said that on formation in July 2006 the new regiment will have three regular battalions with a Territorial Army battalion of weekend solders known as 4 LANCS.

When the three regular battalions merge into two in March 2007 the TA battalion will assume the vacant title of 3 LANCS.

The Duke of Lancashire's Regiment and the Yorkshire Regiment will comprise the new King's Division of the Army.

Mr Hoyle said: "I am absolutely delighted. This title clearly links the regiment with the old County Palatine of Lancashire and the Queen, The Duke of Lancaster.

"The longer title acknowledges the contributions of the three component regiments."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "I am delighted at this new title. It has a snappy short form, The Duke of Lancaster's, which acknowledges the key part of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment while the longer title will acknowledge the contribution to the new force from the borders, Liverpool and Manchester."

Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "I am very pleased that the new regiment will be The Duke of Lancaster's making clear it's connection with Lancashire and the Queen."

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher said: "I am very pleased at the new title, which is what people in the QLR wanted."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: "I am absolutely delighted. This makes clear the connection with the historic County Palatine and with the Queen while also acknowledging in the longer version contributions from Cumbria, Manchester and Liverpool."

A spokesman for the QLR, Roger Goodwin said: "The regiment is extremely pleased. We are happy to see the short title of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment which acknowledges its links to the county and the Queen."