The Royal Life Guards ( da, Den Kongelige Livgarde) is a

mechanized infantry Mechanized infantry are infantry units equipped with armored personnel carriers (APCs) or infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for transport and combat (see also mechanized force). As defined by the United States Army, mechanized infantry is di ...

regiment of the

Danish Army The Royal Danish Army ( da, Hæren, fo, Herurin, kl, Sakkutuut) is the land-based branch of the Danish Defence, together with the Danish Home Guard. For the last decade, the Royal Danish Army has undergone a massive transformation of structures ...

, 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 The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Kingdom of Denmark was al ...

, while training the Royal Guards for various functions in the mobilisation force. Until its disbandment, the

Royal Horse Guards The Royal Regiment of Horse Guards (The Blues) (RHG) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. Raised in August 1650 at Newcastle upon Tyne and County Durham by Sir Arthur Haselrigge on the orders of Oliver Cr ...

( da, Livgarden til Hest), served the role as the mounted guard/ceremonial unit, afterwards the role was taken over by

Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron The Guard Hussar Regiment Mounted Squadron ( da, Gardehusarregimentets Hesteskadron, HESK), is part of the Guard Hussar Regiment. The purpose of the squadron is to provide mounted escorts for the Royal family and carry ceremonial services for the ...

. During the time period 1684-1867, the Royal Life Guards were called The Royal Foot Guard ( da, Den Kongelige Livgarde til Fods), in order to distinguish between the regiment and the Royal Horse Guards.

History

Role

Organisation

The regiment itself has two

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...

s, the Guard Company and a Musical Corps: * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards I Battalion

1st Battalion – Founded 1658. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, part of 1st Brigade. ''Plus Ultra'' (Even further) ** Emblem for the LG 1Staff

Staff Company (STKMP/I/LG) ** Emblem for the 1-I-LG

1st Armored Infantry Company ( Army's Flank company ) (1/I/LG) ** Emblem for the 2-I-LG

2nd Mechanized Infantry Company (2/I/LG) ** Insigne incognitum

4th Mechanized Infantry Company (4/I/LG)(inactive) * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards II Battalion

2nd Battalion – Founded 1867. Mechanized Infantry Battalion, ''Vincere Volumus'' (We'll be victorious) ** Insigne incognitum

Staff Company (STKMP/II/LG)(inactive) ** Emblem for the 1-II-LG

1st Mechanized Infantry Company (1/II/LG) ** Emblem for the 2-II-LG

2nd Basic Training Company (2/II/LG) ** Emblem for the 3-II-LG

3rd Basic Training Company (3/II/LG) * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards Guard Company

Royal Guard Company () - Founded 1659. Ceremonial/guard unit. * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards Musical Corps

Royal Life Guard Music Band () - Founded 1658. Musical unit. ;Disbanded units * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards III Battalion

3rd Battalion – Founded 1923, Disbanded 2018. Infantry (basic training) Battalion. (Mechanized Infantry Battalion 2000-2004) * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards IV Battalion

Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards IV Battalion

4th Battalion – Founded 1961, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards V Battalion

5th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from

Danish Life Regiment The Danish Life Regiment ( da, Danske Livregiment) was an infantry regiment of the Royal Danish Army. On 1 January 2001 it was merged with Sjællandske Livregiment, into Gardehusarregimentet. History The Danish Life Regiment trace its history bac ...

, only as reserve) * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards VI Battalion

6th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from

, only as reserve) * Emblem for the Danish Royal Life Guards VII Battalion

7th Battalion – Founded 2001, Disbanded 2005. Infantry Battalion. (Merged in from Zealand Life Regiment, only as reserve)

Names of the regiment

Alliances

* – The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) – Bond of Friendship * –

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

Image gallery

Soldaat poseert voor een muur, Bestanddeelnr 252-8722.jpg, Life Guard in old combat uniform Royal Life Guard at CEANCO 2013.jpg, Life Guard in combat uniform (m/84)
staff company/1st battalion.

References

External links

Official Site

Den Kongelige Livgardes Musikkorps
{{Authority control Danish Army regiments Royal guards Guards regiments 1658 establishments in Denmark Military units and formations established in 1658 Danish monarchy