IamA Danish Royal Guard AMA!

Really good photos in proof.

Thank you.

[deleted]

To be honest, never.

I absolutely understand that. Just imagine how awful it would have been for you if you grew up here in Sweden instead, and no one would ever understand a single word of what you were saying.

Big hugs from Sweden!

Big love brother.

What are your long term career goals?

I want a leadership education, I have already begun my trials to start sergeant training.

If the Queen decided that she has had enough of democracy and wanted to establish an absolutist monarchy, would the Royal Guard be obliged to support her, or would the Guard just carry on as usual?

We would just carry on as usual.

If other foreign royalty comes to visit would you ever do joint ceremonies with their royal guard?

That depends on a lot of things, I have only experienced it once.

Interesting. Also Im an American but I actually lived in Copenhagen for a couple months and I used to walk past you guys all the time. I'm a big fan of the black hats.

I'm glad you got the chance to see us, hopefully you enjoyed it and your time in Copenhagen?

How uncomfortably warm is that hat?

It is very... very warm! But it also shields my head from the sun when I stand at ease, so you gotta give it credit where credit is due.

I'd suppose the strap under your lip is more uncomfortable

Not really, you actually end up forgetting that it is there.

Which is your favourite butter cookie? I like the kringle/pretzel best.

Can I say all of them?

I was on exchange years ago to Denmark. I was outside some palace where the prince was staying and I was pressing the intercom button telling the prince to come out and face me like a man. Why didn't he?

Maybe you pressed the wrong button?

How much traveling does it involve for you?

Only to the locations I have to stand guard. As an example we walk as a parade to Amalienborg in Denmark every day.

What is your most favorite, and least favorite thing about your job? And those hat's are awesome!

My most favorite thing would be the feeling of being a part of something a lot larger than yourself and also the fact that you gain so much self-discipline and attitude from this.

My least favorite thing would be... hmm.. Either it's the loooooooong working hours or the annoying tourists that doesn't understand the fact that they are NOT allowed to touch me, or stand right next to me.

or stand right next to me.

What's the best way to take a picture with you or your colleagues, if one exists at all.

Approach politely and ask if you can come closer, the guard will tell you when you get too close, just remember that distance, and do not try to get closer. Then you will have a great opportunity to take a picture.

Have you met the royal family? If so, have you talked to them?

I have not spoken with them, and I don't think I will.

I have been in their presence a lot tho.

Nice one mate, was on the Copenhagen - Hillerod train last week and atarted talking to two RGs who've been in a similar time but were national service (conscript) guys. I'm part Danish but a Royal Marine back in the UK so was loving it.

How do the regulars and the conscripts get along in training etc? Are standards similar?

Btw, they were moving to Flensborg (another royal residence) as of last week and had been in for many 2 months or so, so may have been your bunch?

It might have been, can't say for sure before I see their markings.

We get along quite well, ofc there's always the internal competetive hate to become the best group/regiment, but we all work well together if needed.

Have a nice day commando.

Marry, Fuck, Kill: Norway, Sweden, Finland?

Oh that is a tough one. Let me think about it.

Is your job primarily ceremonial or do you also care for the security of the royal familiy?

We're a huge part of the security force of the Royal family and their palaces, so the ceremonial part is only for looks, beneath that we're soldiers.

When not being part of a ceremony, are you wearing normal uniforms?

It depends on where you're on duty, if you're guarding Amalienborg, then we wear the ceremonial uniform, but if you're guarding the Fortress (Kastellet) then we wear our normal uniform.

So what is your favourite part about your job?

Being able to be part of something a heck of a lot bigger than myself and my ego.

How similar is your position the the Queens Guard in England?

Very similar, except that our guns are always loaded. Major credit to the Queens Guard in England, they're some badass soldiers.

Hvor i Danmark er du fra?

Og jeg kender én fra Aabenraa, der blev kongelig livgarde da han blev færdig med gym i 2014. Kan det være du har mødt ham? Jeg skal nok ikke sige hans navn her, men hans initialer er O.T. :) stor, blond fyr, havde været barmand før. Hvis du har, og stadig har kontakt med ham, så må du gerne hilse ham fra Belgieren!

To keep this so people can understand it, I will answer in English.

GraafBerengeur is asking where I am from (in Denmark) and I currently live in Naestved, but grew up in a small town called Bevtoft in the southern part of Jutland.

He is then asking whether I know a specific person, which I sadly don't - If I get the chance to meet him, I will be sure to greet him from The Belgian.

Will you always remain a royal guard or is it a special assignment like the Old Guard in the U.S. military?

There's a chance that I can become a sergeant in the Royal Guard if I prove myself to be good enough, but it is a special assignment.

I saw your two rows walking through Gothersgade (in Copenhagen) the other day. Why do you do that?

We walk from the barracks to Amalienborg to change the guards, and then they walk home. That happens every day.

So you´re just moving your asses through town, got it.

Free transport for the military.

On a personal level, what are some of your favorite films?

Somehow I really love and always have loved the first Starship Troopers, oh an I'm a huge fan of Star Wars.

Starship troopers is so wonderfully silly. If you haven't you should check out Galaxy Quest seems like something you might enjoy.

It's noted, I will give it a look.

I think you will really like it, Galaxy Quest is amazing. Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Sigourney Weaver and uhhhhhhhhhhhh whispers Tim Allen. You can't go wrong

Thank you for the advice on my next watch.

Why are you not allowed to lean on the lamp posts?

Because it's a lamp, it's not meant to be leaned on.

Do you have special training in case of bombs/terrorism?

yes.

Could you elaborate?

Sadly I cannot - we're taught to be a soldier first, a parade guard second.

How much do you know of the history of your unit and the Danish military in general? Do they teach you that?

I know a fair bit, and yes we are taught some - but encouraged to read up on it ourselves.

What led you to become a royal guard and how do you feel about your position? Is it something you've always wanted to do or did you just fall into it?

There's a few things that led me to pick the Royal Guard. My Grandfather used to be a part of the Royal Guards nearly 60 years ago, and he always spoke highly of it.

I also wanted to be part of something special, something bigger than just myself.

The Royal Guard has the one of the hardest basic training in our conscription program, which eventually also influenced my decision.

I love being a part of it, I feel honored being a part of a regiment that is filled with honor, tradition and purpose.

What's standard procedure for an attack on the palace?

To defend and fight back.

Do you ever shag tourists that leave you numbers or wait for you after your shift?? Appreciate what you do, from the US!!

Haha they will have to wait for a looooong time for a guard to finish his shift - but I don't... my girlfriend wouldn't approve. haha

Though some of the other guards are having a lot of luck using the title when they go out drinking.

Are you trained with swords or other blades at all, or is it only guns?

We're not trained with swords or blades, I wish we were tho.

Did you have to deal with annoying tourists?

Yes, that happens pretty often - but I try to start off by being polite.

What kind of physical training do you do after finishing basic training? Btw, congrats on completing basic training.

Thank you very much, well it's up to the individual person, but I train my core, and then I run.

Hello. How heavy are those hats?

I have no clue, but not that much imo.

Random question.

Your on guard and what looks like a regular joe starts walking by you. But all of a sudden he stops, lights a flair, starts tap dancing his way down the sidewalk. What do you do?

I'd make sure the police knows about that flare, and then I'd just wonder why he is spending his valuable time doing that.

Are those Bear-Skin Shakos hot in the summer?

Yes, a lot.

Hey!

I used to live in Copenhagen and went to watch the changing of the guard a few times.

My friend told me a few years back, she and some other female friends got invited to a party after meeting some of the guards by the palace. My question is: how often do you talk to tourists or is it like in London where you have to be silent and professional?

It's nice that you got to see the changing of the guard, I hope you enjoyed it.

We're not allwed to have conversations with people, we can answer questions with short and precise answers though. The things I say the most are usually "keep distance" "further back" "keep distance to the palace!" "Move away from the guard tower!".

Is army conscription mandatory across Denmark and is that how you moved onto the Queen's Guard? I never got a definitive answer from the locals.

Only a specific amount (low) are forced into conscription, the rest is voulenteers. The Queens Guard are all voulenteers, we can't have people protecting the queen, who doesn't want to be there.

What do you think of foreigners mocking Queens Guardsmen? Such as imitating the walk, and the mannerisms?

Well for starters; I do not find their mockery funny, but they're not trying to humor me.

It's okay to some extent, it all depends on the situation and the level of mockery. If it disturbs me too much, then I will order them to leave the palace yard.

By chance, if one of the royals asked you to do something for them, are you required to or is it not something required of you? By 'something' I mean follow me, or get me something.

We're guards, not servants.

The Royal family knows this, and they know that we cannot leave our post unattended, they have people that gets them stuff if they can't themselves.

The "follow me" example all depends on the situation, and most likely we would follow them, and get another guard to come to the post. (the ones in the guard room)

Do you have actual combat experience or training? I would expect a royal guard to be badass and directly protect the royal family from violent attacks by attacking the provokers with their weapons, instead of just serving a stupid ceremonial role.

As written in the bio, we're trained as soldiers first, we practised a lot of sharp shooting with our rifles, and we have been trained in combat.

As it is a special assignment for the conscriptee's of this regiment they have no actual combat expericence because of the lack of deployments, but don't get confused... We will defend and protect the royal families, no matter the cost.

Why?

Why what, Why I joined?

From Wiki:

Active personnel 15,034 military and 4,877 civilian (1 January 2016) Reserve personnel 12,000 + 51,000 volunteers in the Home Guard

Population • January 2017 estimate 5,748,769 (112th) • Faroe Islands 49,884 • Greenland 55,860

Why even have a military if this is the best you can do? Just put more cops on the streets. Then surrender ASAP when Swedes roll in.

I honestly don't get why Sweden and Denmark have to fight eachother all the time, both sides have won, and both sides have lost.

In my honest opinion we would gain a lot more from working together than working against eachother.

How can you take honor in this job?

Its a fucking joke and so is our royal family.

I find a lot of personal honor in doing this job, I do because I am proud to serve.

The rest is your own opinion, and you're free to have it, I just don't share it.

How worried are you about radical Muslims attacking the monarchy?

I personally do not believe that religion has anything to do with the terrible things that are going on in Europe and all around the world.

But to answer your question properly, it's not something that I worry about, we're just more aware of our surroundings and the people around us.

Are you being some sort of extremely politically correct apologist twat, or do you honestly believe it's just a incredible coincidence that the attackers are always Muslims?

There's no need to to turn this in to a religious discussion, therefore I will not spend my time answering your question - if you have any problems, then I will have to have a moderator take over.