As a body established by the Monarch, the company has a long history of unique prizes, influential supporters, and ceremonial roles.

It has an associated charity, the Royal Company of Archers Charitable Trust, dedicated to helping disadvantaged individuals with their health and wellbeing in Scotland.

Men were summoned by the sheriff and other civil magistrates to attend a muster in their respective counties at least 20 days in advance of the meeting.

People of all stations were obligated to play their part in each rendezvous and to show up equipped in military kit that conformed to their respective ranks.

The Lords and Barons were required to provide a list of the members of their company and the weapons they brought with them to the civil magistrates and King's commissioners.

[1] By using the old laws of wapinschaw, the Jacobites formed a plan to institutionalise a military corps, under a pretext of sports and recreation, that could be assembled by an authority as occasion offered.

This society sought and acquired the patronage of the Scottish Privy Council, which provided a prize that was shot for by the company's members.

Upon the accession of Queen Anne, and death of the Marquis of Athole, they appointed Sir George Mackenzie, then Lord Tarbat and Secretary of State, and afterwards Earl of Cromarty, their Captain-General.

Having chosen a new leader, the society obtained from Queen Anne a charter under the Great Seal of Scotland, establishing it as a corporation by Letters Patent, dated 31 December 1713 into a Royal Company.

[2] These letters of patent: revived and ratified, on their behalf, the old laws and acts of Parliament that favored archery;[3] gave them power to admit members, chose a President and council, appoint commanding officers, and to meet and act under their officers' supervision in military form for weapon-shawing as often as they should think convenient; and prohibited the civil magistrate from interrupting their activities.

These rights and privileges were designed after the mode of feudal tenure, and to hold them in blanch fee (reddendo) of Her Majesty and her successors, therefore annually acknowledging a pair of barbed arrows.

[1] The first such weapon-shawing was held on 14 June 1714, with the Marquis of Athole as the company's Captain-General, even though he was in his 80s by this time, and the Earl of Wemyss as Lieutenant-General at the head of about 50 archers.

[15] Since 1677 there has also been a competition for The Royal Prize for which £20 is awarded on the condition that the winner contributes to the Company silver plate to the value of money received from the Crown.

The ninth and tenth prizes are a pair of Silver Bugles, one presented to the Royal Company by one of the General Officers, Sir Henry Jardine, Knight, and which was shot for on 9 April 1830, for the first time.

The competitor whose arrow first breaks this globe is declared " Captain of the Goose " for the year, and was awarded the other gold medal presented by Major Spens.

The Company arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse by march at noon, preceded by their pipes and drums band, and holding the unstrung bows in their right hands.

The sun in glory glowing, With morning dew bestowing Sweet fragrance, life, and growing To flowers and every tree.

The council is vested with the power of receiving or rejecting candidates for admission, and of appointing the company's officers, civil and military.

Members pay an annual subscription, and are also expected to cover the cost of their uniforms and equipment, as well as of travel and other expenses incidental to their duties.

On the other, a yew tree, with two men dressed and equipped as archers, encircled as the former motto: Dal gloria vires (Glory Gives Strength).

On the other, St Andrew on the cross on field argent; at the top, a crown, motto: Dulce pro patria periculum (danger is sweet for one's country).

The Royal Company of Archers have the distinction of being the first unit in the service of the British Crown who adopted tartan as a part of their uniform.

[27] The corps shooting dress is a dark-green tunic with crimson facings, shoulder-wings and gauntleted cuffs and dark-green trousers trimmed with black and crimson, a bow-case worn as a sash, of the same colour as the coat, black waistbelt with sword, Highland cap with thistle ornament and one or more eagle feathers, and a hunting knife.