Danish Royal Guards Band and Honour Guard Unit
Founded in 1658 by King of Denmark and Norway Frederic III, the Life Guards Regiment today, as before, guards the Royal family and at the same time is part of the Danish Armed Forces.
The musical division of Danish Guards consists of the band and drummers corps. The corps instruments are drums, flutes, horns and trumpets, such was the composition of early military bands in Western Europe in XVII and beginning of XVIII centuries. The band is quartered at the Guard’s barracks in Rusenborg (Copenhagen district). It comprises predominantly of professional musicians, as well as draftees. Apart from the responsibilities to guard royal residences, they participate in different events at home and abroad, including military and music festivals.
The brand repertoire includes ancient signals, marches, fanfaronades and drumbeats. In special ceremonies the corps performs as a full band. Drills that are demonstrated by the soldiers of Danish Guards are applied during service of guarding royal residences. The Guards wear bandoleers with a monogram of the ruling monarch and are armed with half swords of 1854 model, whose origin dates back to the models of cold steel during Napoleon era in France. The parade uniform of Guards includes a cap made of bear fur and blue tunic (in special cases — red).
