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The Royal Guard Company
Vagtkompagniet
Emblem of the Danish Royal Life Guards Guard Company
Active	1659 – present (366 years ago)
Country	Kingdom of Denmark
Branch	Royal Danish Army
Type	Foot Guards
Role	Public Duties
Size	300 (about 400 after 1st of December 2019)
Part of	Royal Life Guards
Garrison/HQ	Rosenborg Barracks
Nickname(s)	Livgarden, Garden
Motto(s)	Pro Rege et Grege (For King and people)
Stable belt
Website	Official website
Commanders
Current commander	Major H. C. Rørvang
Ceremonial chief	HM King Frederik X

The Royal Guard Company (Danish: Vagtkompagniet) is part of Royal Life Guards which serves as an active protection force for the Danish royal family. Of the 300 in the company, 280 are conscripts.

Organisation

There are 4 Guard teams of approximately 80 conscripts and 8 sergeants. The teams are arranged by height, with the tallest conscripts serving in 1st team and the shortest in 4th team.

Guard duties

The Royal Life Guards provide a permanent guard at the Amalienborg Palace, Kastellet (part of the old fortification of Copenhagen), Rosenborg Castle/garrison of the Royal Life Guards in Copenhagen and the garrison of Høvelte. On occasions guard is kept at Fredensborg Palace, Marselisborg Palace, Gråsten Palace, Christiansborg Palace and other locations inside the Danish Realm.

Drum Corps

One part of the Guard Company is the Fife and drum corps (Danish: Livgardens Tambourkorps), which consists of 8 drums and 8 fifes. It originally consisted of conscripts, however, after the Defence agreement 2005–09 which changed the conscription time for Life Guards from 12 to 8 months, there was not enough time to train the conscripts. The corps is therefore mostly enlisted.

Traditions

Uniform

The review order uniform of the Royal Life Guards, worn while they are on guard duty, consists of bearskin headdresses, dark blue tunics and light blue trousers with white stripes. The ceremonial uniform, worn on special state occasions, substitutes a scarlet tunic for the dark blue. The bearskin dates from 1803 and is decorated with the regiment's bronze cap badge (the Sun and Royal Coat of Arms). Symbolic infantry sabers are carried by the rank and file. These were part of the spoils from the First Schleswig War of 1848–1851 and were originally derived from a French infantry weapon.

King's Watch

The regiment holds a traditional military parade every November at their barracks known as the "King's Parade". Following the parade, the sovereign hands over the “King’s Watch” to one guard for his/her exceptional service in the regiment. It has been a tradition since 1970, when Frederik IX first handed over a watch at a parade. The "King’s Watch” was known as the "Queen’s Watch” from 1972-2024 during the reign of Margrethe II and became known once again as the King's Watch after the accession of Frederik X in 2024. The guard is appointed by their superiors and fellow soldiers.

Image gallery

• Alexander III in Danish Royal Life Guards Uniform, 1899
• Royal Guards on Queen Margrethe II's Birthday, 16 April 2009.
• Royal Guard at the Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen.
• Danish Royal Guards presenting arms at the Changing of the Guard ceremony, Amalienborg.

See also

• Royal Life Guards (Denmark)
• Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark)
  • Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron

References

1. "Guard Company's History". forsvaret.dk/LG (in Danish). Forsvaret. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
2. Rinaldo D. D'Ami, page 83 "World Uniforms in Colour" Vol. 1, SBN 85059 031 0
3. Rinaldo D. D'Ami, page 84 "World Uniforms in Colour" Vol. 1, SBN 85059 031 0
4. "Queen Margrethe attends military parade in Copenhagen". Royal Central. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-12-05.

External links

• Official website

v t e Danish Defence
Royal Danish Army    Royal Danish Navy    Royal Danish Air Force   [REDACTED] Danish Home Guard
Command organisations	Defence Command Defence Staff Army Command Naval Command Air Command Joint Arctic Command Home Guard Command Special Operations Command
Leadership	Chief of Defence Chief of the Defense Staff Army Chief of the Army Sergeant Major of the Army Navy Chief of the Navy Master chief petty officer Air Force Chief of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the RDAF Home Guard Chief of the Home Guard Command Sergeant Major of the Home Guard
Joint Service	Acquisition and Logistics Organization Administration of Conscientious Objector The Ark Project Emergency Management Agency Estates and Infrastructure Organisation Financial Management Agency Health Services Intelligence Service Internal Auditor Judge Advocate Corps Maintenance Service Personnel Service
Higher education facilities	Royal Danish Defence College Royal Danish Military Academy Royal Danish Naval Academy Royal Danish Air Force Academy
Units	Army Danish Artillery Regiment Engineer Regiment Guard Hussar Regiment Intelligence Regiment Jutland Dragoon Regiment Royal Life Guards Schleswig Foot Regiment Signal Regiment Logistic Regiment Navy 1st Squadron 2nd Squadron Sirius Dog Sled Patrol Danish Task Group Air Force Air Squadron 515 Air Squadron 660 Air Squadron 690 Air Squadron 721 Air Squadron 722 Air Squadron 723 Air Squadron 724 Air Squadron 727 Air Squadron 730 Mobile Air Control Centre Control and Reporting Centre Karup Combat Support Wing Special Forces Jaeger Corps Frogman Corps Sirius Dog Sled Patrol SSR (Home Guard)
Ranks and insignia	Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Army Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Air Force Ranks and insignia of Home Guard Badges of the Danish Military

• Royal guards
• Military units and formations established in 1659
• Guards of honour
• Monarchy of Denmark