Summary of note in Billed Bladet #12, 2010.
Vikar for mor - Substitute for mother.
Instead of QMII, who was down with the flu, it was Frederik who attended the watch-parade at Rosenborg parade ground. (*)
Each guards battallion of conscripts serve for, if I remember correctly, four months standing guard at the royal palaces. The soldiers in each battallion vote for the one among them who is the best comerade and that soldier is presented with a watch from the Majesty. This time it was private Rasmus Gråsbøll Vilhelmsen who recieved the watch.
Such a parade takes place three times a year just before a new battallion takes over. So the next parade will take place in four months time.
Frederik, dressed in the dress uniform of the Guards Hussars, said in his speech: "Experience shows that all guardsmen look back on their time as guardsmen as a good time. I do that myself as well. I was a recruit for three months in 1986 and they were good months. (**)
I should like to emphasize the guards at Kancellihuset, who are obvious/conspicous for myself, for the Crown Princess and for our children".
About the two companies from the regiment currently serving ín Afghanistan, he said: "They put their lives on the line in the fight against terror. That envokes the deepest respect in me". (***)
Written by Annelise Weimann.
(*) Rosenborg is not only home to the crown jewels, it also serves as barracks for the serving guards battalion. I.e. the battaliion of the Royal Life Guard Regiment, that at any given time stand guard at the royal palaces.
The regiment itself is home at Høvelte Barracks.
(**) Frederik was a recruit in the Royal Life Guard, before attending NCO school.
When he became a liutenant, he served in the light recon squadron of the Guards Hussars. The light squadrons of the regiment have suffered particularly heavy losses in Afghanistan.
(***) Indeed thay are. The Royal Life Guard Regiment, being a combat regiment, have suffered the highest casualties in Afghanistan.
- Several combat regiments have now been amalgameted into the Royal Lifeguards Regiment, which is now a mechanised regiment. However 100 % of all conscripts serving in the guards battallions are volunteers.
Frederik served as a platoon commander in the Guards Hussars, when he was a newly appointed lieutenant. Obviously with considerable pride as I cannot remember when he last wore the uniform of the Royal Lifeguard.
There are now, after the recent reorganisation of the Danish army, three combat regiment left. All other combat regiments have been amalgamated into these regiment.
All the other support regiments have been amalgamted into single specialist regiments, depending on the job. Like all train regiments beeing amalgamated into the Train Regiment.
That means that a number of old regiment, including the one I served with, no longer exist.