Royal Life Guards (Denmark)

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The Royal Life Guard
Den Kongelige Livgarde
Coat of arms
Active	30 June 1658 – present (363 years, 2 months)
Country	Kingdom of Denmark
Branch	Royal Danish Army
Type	Foot Guards
Role	1st Battalion – Mechanized infantry 2nd Battalion – Mechanized infantry 3rd Battalion – Training Guards Company – Public Duties
Size	Three battalions & one company
Part of	Army Staff
Garrison/HQ	Høvelte Rosenborg Castle
Nickname(s)	Livgarden, Garden
Motto(s)	Pro Rege et Grege (For King and people)
Engagements	Northern Wars Scanian War Great Northern War Napoleonic Wars First War of Schleswig Second War of Schleswig Operation Weserübung War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2011 Operation Inherent Resolve Resolute Support Mission
Website	Official website
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel
Chief of the Guard Company	Major H. C. Rørvang
Notable commanders	Duke William of Württemberg Christian X of Denmark Alexander III of Russia
Insignia
Cap Badge of the Royal Danish Guard
Regimental belt
Colours

The Royal Life Guards (Danish: Den Kongelige Livgarde) is a mechanized infantry regiment of the Danish Army, founded in 1658 by King Frederik III. The primary task is to provide a number of soldiers from the Guard Company to serve as a guard/ceremonial unit to the Danish monarchy, while training the Royal Guards for various functions in the mobilisation force.^[1] Until its disbandment, the Royal Horse Guards (Danish: Livgarden til Hest), served the role as the mounted guard/ceremonial unit, afterwards the role was taken over by Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron. During the time period 1684-1867, the Royal Life Guards were called The Royal Foot Guard (Danish: Den Kongelige Livgarde til Fods), in order to distinguish between the regiment and the Royal Horse Guards.^[2]

History[]

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Role[]

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Organisation[]

The regiment itself has two battalions, the Guard Company and a Musical Corps:

• 1st Battalion – Founded 1658. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, part of 1st Brigade. Plus Ultra (Even further)
  • Staff Company (STKMP/I/LG)
  • 1st Armored Infantry Company (1/I/LG)
  • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company (2/I/LG)
  • 3rd Company (3/I/LG)(inactive)
  • 4th Company (4/I/LG)(inactive)
• 2nd Battalion – Founded 1867. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Vincere Volumus (We'll be victorious)
  • Staff Company (STKMP/II/LG)(inactive)
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company (1/II/LG)
  • 2nd Basic Training Company (2/II/LG)
  • 3rd Basic Training Company (3/II/LG)
• Royal Guard Company (Vagtkompagniet) - Founded 1659. Ceremonial/guard unit.
• Royal Life Guard Music Band (Den Kongelige Livgardes Musikkkorps) - Founded 1658. Musical unit.

Disbanded units

• 3rd Battalion – Founded 1923, Disbanded 2018. Infantry (basic training) Battalion. (Mechanized Infantry Battalion 2000-2004)
• 4th Battalion – Founded 1961, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion.
• 5th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from Danish Life Regiment, only as reserve)
• 6th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from Danish Life Regiment, only as reserve)
• 7th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from Zealand Life Regiment, only as reserve)

Names of the regiment[]

Alliances[]

•  United Kingdom – The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) – Bond of Friendship
•  Germany – Bundeswehr

Image gallery[]

• 

  Life Guard in old combat uniform

• 

  Life Guard in combat uniform (m/84)
  staff company/1st battalion.

See also[]

• Guard Hussar Regiment (Denmark)
  • Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron
• Royal Horse Guards (Denmark)

References[]

Further reading[]

• Brammer, G. (1908). Livgarden 1658-1908 (in Danish). Copenhagen.
• Gram-Andersen, J. (1983). Den Kongelige Livgarde 325 år - perioden 1958-1983 (in Danish). Copenhagen.
• Gram-Andersen, J. (1986). Livgardens Kaserne & Rosenborg Eksercerplads 200 år (in Danish). Copenhagen.
• Lövenskiold, C.L.v (1858). Efterretninger om Den Kongelige Livgarde til Fods (in Danish). Copenhagen.
• Thaulow, Th. (1933). Livgarden 1908-1933 (in Danish). Copenhagen.
• Thaulow, Th.; Mentze, E.; Friis Møller, M., eds. (1958). Livgarden gennem 300 år (in Danish). Copenhagen.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Royal Life Guards in Denmark.

• Official Site
• Den Kongelige Livgardes Musikkorps