Summery of article in Billed Bladet #47, 2010.
Mary festede med de blå husarer - Mary partied with the blue hussars. (*)
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen.
Mary and Frederik arrived at Antvorskov Barracks in the town of Slagelse to celebrate the 396th anniversary of the Guards Hussars Regiment. (**) Frederik was dressed in the full dress uniform (***) of the Horse Squadron. Frederik being an hussar, has taken part in such parties before, but for Mary it was the first time.
About 300 guests were invited.
There are a number of traditions in connection with this party. Two of them are traditional speeches. One for the ladies and one for the horse.
When the speech for the horse is held, a mare, who always named Laura is brought inside. Tradition dictates that the speech for the horse is full of innuendoes both to female bodyparts and "riding"... This year it was the chaplain who gave the speech.
Another tradition is that all guests at the command: "Prepare to mount" stand on their chairs and place their left foot in an imaginary stirrup on the table, while all sing: "Cling, cling, clang, we are the blue hussars".
It was more or less expected that M&F would leave the party early, but they stayed on.
(*) A reference to a movie.
(**) After the reorganisation of the Danish army from primarily territorial defence to operating abroad, there are now only three combat regiments left. All other combat regiments have been amalgamated into these three regiments. Train, artillery and engineers have also been amalgamated into single specialist regiments.
That is also the case with the Guards Hussars Regiment, which is a light armoured regiment. The Horse Squadron (the genuine hussars) of this regiment was formed in 1762. However the oldest part of this now amalgamated regiment, can trace it's history back to 1614. That was the then Sjællandske Livregiment.
The Royal Lifeguard Regiment, which is a mechanised regiment, has also been amalgamated with other regiments.
The third combat regiment, Jyske Dragonregiment = Jutland Dragoon Regiment, which is an armoured regiment, was also amalgamated with other regiments. One of them being Prinsens Livregiment, in which Prince Joachim served.
(***) The gala uniform includes the kepi, a sabre and the red pelisse, fur jacket, which within the regiment is only referred to as the fur.
The first few seconds of this clip, illustrates correctly the tradition about "prepare to mount":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RMvHksJuN8&playnext=1&list=PL5B29B1B2DBE80C54&index=39
. Her dress is a very good choice. And above all, she looks relaxed and happy. It's funny that always the same people creep the idea that Fred doesn't treat her well, why? Because he, as an officer, had to do his duties for a few seconds?
