Changing of the Guard - Copenhagen

Royal Life Guards at Amalienborg Palace

I was impressed that the changing of the guard ceremony that occurs daily at noon at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, which includes a large complement of soldiers. The band entered under an arch and much drill an ceremony at platoon and squad levels took place to relieve guards at their posts. The Danish Royal Guard is composed of the Royal Life Guards regiment (Den Kongelige Livgarde), which operates as a front-line mechanized combat unit and carries out public ceremonial and guard duties to the Danish monarchy. Their elaborate uniforms include bearskin hats, dark blue tunics, and various badges. Cross-belts, period grenadier boxes, and swords are contrasted by modern assault rifles. Scarlet tunics are worn on special occasions.

The Royal Life Guards band

Guard units formed up in the palace courtyard

Royal Life Guard platoons face off during the changing of the guard

Guards officers salute as they pass under the palace arch, surprising a passerby

Royal guards meet eyes while presenting arms during the guard change ceremony

A squad approaches to relieve a guard. Note the soldier's grenadier pouches and the sentry box are both decorated with the royal monogram of Queen Margrethe II

The guards relieved, this squad returns to the larger formation

The Royal Life Guards put on a wonderful show that is always well attended by tourists enjoying Copenhagen. As mentioned, I was surprised by the scope of the daily ceremony, maintained by only one regiment that also has standard modern infantry duties. The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, which is often less elaborate, is supported by five foot guard regiments while other guard duties are carried out by two horse regiments. The population of the U.K. is roughly 11 times that of Denmark. Both the Danish and British guards carry their standard rifles for ceremonial duties, avoiding the cost of keeping older weapons in service. The U.S. Army Old Guard, which attends the Tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington Cemetery, carry long M-14s with wooden stocks, a better match for their full dress blues.

Another day, I came upon a solitary royal guard covering another aspect of the palace and keeping an eye on the royal Bentley.

A royal Bentley under guard

Pro Rege et Grege, "For the King and the People" is the motto of the Royal Life Guard and is inscribed on the regimental cap badge.

Cap Badge of the Royal Danish Guard. Source

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Did you see my other recent Scandinavian travel posts?

Denmark

• Copenhagen Alleys, Kirken and a Palace
• Rundestaarn - The Round Tower of Copenhagen

Sweden

• Helsingborg - Swedish Port on the Øresund
• Swedish Ceramics Center and Food Hall
• Cattle on the Kulla and Hogs Downtown - Sweden
• Swedish Architecture
• Sailing in Southern Sweden
• Mölle Swedish Gem by the Sea
• Floating Maritime Museum in Gothenburg
• The Streets and Roofs of Gothenburg
• Viking Loot - Museum of Gothenburg
• Sweden's Second City with a Second Name

Norway & Svalbard

• A Fountain and Many Buildings in Oslo
• Oslo Photo Gallery Part 2
• Oslo Photo Gallery Part 1
• Risen Ships of the Norse - Oslo
• Winning the South Pole – Oslo
• Urban Iceberg - Oslo
• Svalbard - A Short Visit to Longyear Town

All of the content in my posts is original and the photos are Copyright © Nick Kraft.

I was traveling light. These images were taken with a small Samsung point-and-shoot camera or a smartphone!

Thank you!

Nick