Den Kongelige Livgarde
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Den Kongelige Livgarde (Royal Life Guards) is an infantry regiment of the Royal Danish Army, formed in 1658. It serves a dual role as both a front line combat unit, and as a ceremonial unit at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. The regiment was founded by King Frederik III and was charged with both being an infantry regiment and as a guard for the Danish Monarch. The Life Guards provide a permanent guard at the Amalienborg Palace, and also guard palaces where the Royal Family is in residence.
The ordinary uniform of the Life Guards while they are on guard duty is dark blue. Their full dress uniform is similar to that of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army: a scarlet tunic, with white cross belt; blue trousers; and a bearskin with the regiment's cap badge (the Sun and Royal Coat of Arms); together with the symbolic gardersabel (Guards sabre), which is part of the spoils from the First Schleswig War 1848-1850 and originally a French infantry sabre. During his time in the Danish forces, Crown Prince Frederik served a tour in the Life Guards.
The regiment itself has a total of seven battalions:
- 1st Battalion (1. Bataljon) - Founded 1658. Currently serves in the armoured infantry role
- 2nd Battalion (2. Bataljon) - Founded 1867. Currently serves in the armoured infantry role
- 3rd Battalion (3. Bataljon) - Founded 1923. Currently serves in the armoured infantry role
- 4th Battalion (4. Bataljon) - Founded 1961. Currently serves in the mechanised infantry role
- 5th Battalion (5. Bataljon) - Founded 2000. Currently serves in the mechanised infantry role
- 6th Battalion (6. Bataljon) - Founded 2000. Currently serves in the mechanised infantry role
- 7th Battalion (7. Bataljon) - Founded 2000. Currently serves in the mechanised infantry role
 |
This Denmark-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
