Too bad the public interest always seem minimal for these ceremonial processions.
I think the reason is also that it as a normal workday in Denmark and the Carraige Tour is in the morning when most people are at work.
Not to mention pretty cold!
Another member
PM'ed me with some questions about the honor guards and I've decided to answer the questions here:
How do they get picked for this position?
What age can they join the Honor Guards?
Is it a certain amount of time or can it be for lifetime?
Can they transfer to another regiment if they want to?
Do they live in the palace or barracks nearby?
Does the government pay them or the royal family?
------------------
The honor guard is simply an attachment of the serving guards battalion of the Royal Lifeguard Regiment.
Or an attachment of the Horse Squadron of Guards Hussars Regiment.
Apart from senior NCOs and officers they are all conscripts. However the conscripts in the Danish military are very close to 100 % volunteers nowadays. Some units like the Royal Lifeguard, the Guards Hussars and the crew aboard Dannebrog are very sought after! And there is usually a waiting list for up to a couple of years to serve in these units.
All Danish males are eligible for conscription from the age of eighteen. In reality only some 5-6.000 are called up each year, so most of a generation don't serve. But practically all are called up for the draft board.
All Danish females have the right to serve as conscripts from the age of eighteen. Because many women have ridden horses when they were girls, and because they are generally lighter and smaller than the guys, the Guards Hussars Horse Squadron is very sought after by them. - However, they still have to go through basic training and additional combat training, because the Guards Hussars is a combat regiment before being allowed to apply for service with the Horse Squadron.
The difference between the men and women is that women can quit at any moment during their service. - Men can't.
Regular professional soldiers usually don't serve in the guards battalion, unless they are senior career NCOs.
But some regulars stay in their parent regiment throughout their careers.
It's not common for conscripts to transfer to another regiment. They may in some cases transfer to another platoon or company, but there have to be really good reasons for it.
Since 100 % of all conscripts in the Royal Lifeguard Regiment are volunteers that's close to unheard.
If someone cannot cope, they simply shipped home. Since the military can pick and choose, there is no need to keep someone around who is unfit for duty.
The conscripts live in barracks during their service. Regulars, NCOs and officers live at home.
The conscripts of the Royal Lifeguard Regiment are stationed at Høvelte Barracks, where they receive their training. Once graduated from here those who are to serve in guards battalion are transferred to Rosenborg Castle in central Copenhagen. Here they also guard the crown Jewels and when it's time for their platoon to stand guard at a royal palace they simply march to Amalienborg or is driven to wherever they are supposed to stand guard.
All expenses regarding the military, whether they are associated with the DRF or not, are covered by the Ministry of Defense.
The sentries perform regular military guard duty, which means they are live rounds and when standing guard the sentry is the highest authority present, expect for his immediate NCO or commanding officer.
If a guard on duty issue an order to a general, the general must obey.
That also applies to civilians, including tourists.
There have been some instances in the past when the sentries have opened fire. Except for during WWII only warning shots though.
The serving guards platoon at Amalienborg is always billeted in basement of the mansion of the monarch. Right now that's the Regent Couple's mansion.
Within at most a couple of days after Frederik has become king, the guards platoon will be billeted in the basement of M&F's mansion.
At the same time the monogram on the sentry boxes will be changed from M2R - Margrethe 2nd Regina to FXR - Frederik tenth Rex.
The epaulets on the shoulders of all soldiers in the Royal Lifeguard Regiment (they are popularly known as rex'es) will also be changed to the new monogram. - They have probably already been made.
Older career soldiers and NCOs are sometimes selected for duty as chauffeurs for the DRF. That's a cozy posting and more or less considered a reward for long and reliable service.
They get a crash course on etiquette and evasive driving and issued a uniform. PH as the social man he very much is, often develop a close relationship with his drivers and bring them with him, rather than leaving them at the car.
I happen to know an NCO whom I served with in the 90's, who until last year was a driver for the DRF.
Pity there is only room for two in the golden coach. - So Mary would have to run behind the coach, and that would look sloppy methinks.