'The Tangier Regiment' was raised on 14th October 1661 to garrison the new British acquisition of the Port of Tangier which was part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry when she married King Charles II. The Regiment served in North Africa until 1684, when they returned to England.

In 1685 on the death of King Charles II it was redesignated the Queen Dowager’s Regiment of Foot. In 1703 the regiment was awarded the title “Royal”, and mottoes “Pristinae Virtutis Memor” and “Vel Exuviae Triumphant.”. Then in 1714 it was renamed 'Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wale’s Own Regiment of Foot' and again in 1727 renamed  '2nd or The Queen's Own Royal Regiment of foot' when Princess Caroline became Queen.

Its final change before the late 1800's came in 1751 when it was named the The Queen's (Second) Royal Regiment of Foot.

It retained this designation until the Childers Reforms of 1881.

The 1870s and 80s saw major changes taking place throughout the Army, driven by the Secretary of War, Edward Cardwell.

In 1857 the regiment had already formed a second battalion and in 1881 these Battalions became the 1st and 2nd battalions of The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment.

This title remained through the first World War until 1920 when the regiment became The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

Other than the Guards regiments, the 2^nd Foot was the oldest line infantry regiment in England. A regimental timeline can be found at the Queen's Royal Surreys Regimental museum site.

It ceased to exist as a separate regiment when in 1959 it amalgamated with the East Surrey Regiment, to form The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment.