For many years the 2nd Foot of the British army was nicknamed the Sleepy Queen's Royal Regiment because of the following incident in the Peninsular War.
In 1811, the then Viscount Wellington blockaded Almeida, a city in Portugal that was in French hands, with 13,000 troops. But the French, some 1,400 men, managed to slip out of the town, right through the British lines.
When the escape was reported to General Picton, commander of the British 3rd Division, by an Irish officer, Picton bellowed, "What the devil were the 2nd doing? " "Faith," returned the Irishman, "I suppose they were asleep." "Asleep! " roared Picton. "What, then, was the 36th about? " "Devil a one can tell," replied the Irishman coolly, "but maybe they were watching the 2nd, for fear somebody would waken them! "
英軍第二步兵團一個叫了多年的綽號是：女王之瞌睡軍團。這綽號出自下述半島戰爭故事。
一八一一年，時為子爵的威靈頓派遣一萬三千將士，封鎖當時法軍扼守的葡萄牙城市阿爾梅達。但那一千四百個法軍悄悄出城，直闖過英軍陣線，逃之夭夭。
一個愛爾蘭軍官向英軍第三師司令皮頓將軍報告這件事。皮頓怒道：「豈有此理！第二步兵團當時在做什麼？」那軍官回答：「老實說，我想他們睡着了。」皮頓咆哮道：「睡着了！那麼，第三十六軍團又在做什麼？」那軍官不慌不忙說：「誰都不知道，但也許是在看着第二步兵團，以免有人把他們吵醒。」