Royal Guard, Copenhagen

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During September to April Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family. During this time it is possible to see a full changing of the Royal Guard. The Royal Guard march to a military band from the barracks at Rosenborg Castle (the home of the Crown Jewels) in the King's Garden, through the streets of Copenhagen to perform the changing ceremony at Amalienborg Palace. The whole changing ceremony takes almost an hour. The Guard set off from Rosenborg Castle at 11:30 and arrive at Amalienborg Palace at noon.

A reduced ceremony takes place during the rest of the year when the royal family are not in residency.

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I was kinda fortunate to have as my guides a former guardsman (Allan) and a Danish historian (Raz) which made my visit to the museum extra rich and informative - Cheers Guys!

The Guards have a long and varied history, dating back to their formation in by King Chistian IV in 1658. Not only are they the Royal Bodyguard but are also a front-line infantry unit which has seen action in every major conflict the Danes have been involved in.

Their present-day role continues this duality providing the ceremonial Royal Guard at Rosenborg Castle and Amalienborg Palace and taking part in action on behalf of the UN and NATO in places such as Afghanistan, Africa and Iraq.

The museum is housed in the Rosenborg Barracks, adjacent to the Rosenborg Castle where the Guards perform their cermonial "Changing of the Guard" daily. The exhibitions chart the Guards' history from formation to the present day with scale models, period paintings, photographs and collections of memorabilia presented chronologically in a series of interconnecting rooms.

The museum is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays between 11.30 and 15.00 and entry is free (though note that a small donation is always appreciated). Guided group visits can be arranged, for a fee, as can access to the Archives and Library for research purposes.

You dont need to buy a ticket, if you are not visiting inside the palace. The surroundings along the palace is quite peaceful. Lot many peoples were getting tan on the lawns of this palace. Sit/lie down a relax, if your not interested in seeing the crown jewels.

If you at the right time and the right place, you will see the gaurds marching through the streets of Copenhagen, on their way to Amalienborg, the Royal Residence in Copenhagen. The Royal Guard is on duty for 24 hours and the change takes place every day at 12 o'clock noon. The parade starts off from the barracks by the Rosenborg Palace at 11:30am.

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Changing of the guard starts at Gothersgade barracks where the guard march of halve an hour before arriving at precise twelve a clock on Amalienborg palace yard.
At the square the guard change first walking up to the monarchs resident fane out to make a front march. After this a officer and a sergeant goes and collect the royal banner. With the banner the new guard march to relive the standing guard. It takes some time to shift the guards on the square in the meantime the royal music corps plays a few numbers before they take a little rest as they also have to accompany the relived guard back to the barracks. When the change of the guard has been made the old guard makes a new front march and put the banner back they had the day before and march of home.

The photos is from the Queens 49 years birthday when it’s a royal birthday it is a tradition that the monarch if at home goes out on the balcony to the cheers of the many people who has come to pay tribute (or just to see the Giraffe).

Disappointment comes as a tourist if the queen is not at home as the royal guard follows her around the country and only have lieutenants guard (if one of the other royals is home, this is with music) or a palace guard (no music and only a sergeant and 12 Guards) if nobody is at home. You see if there is someone at home on the palace flags if there is a crown in them there is someone at home

The Royal guard are on duty at the Amalienborg palace. There main function is to protect the queen and the other members of the Danish Royal family everyday there is a changing of the guard it normally starts around 11.30 but its around 12 before they actually enter the palace square.

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Seems like it's 12 o'clock everytime I am near Amalienborg Palace. The changing of the guards takes place everytime I am there (or maybe it isn't 12 o'clock and they just change them because of me? Do I look that scary? ;).

It's a bit of the boring side comparing to other Changing of the Guards ceremonies all over Europe. They are basically just standing around. But still it's nice to see this tradition. And when I was here on a windy winter day I finally realised why the guards are wearing fur hats. It should help against the cold!

As soon as the guards are changed the roads leading to the palace re-open and it is again turned into a "Royal Roundabout".

See my "General Tip" on a funny incident in Copenhagen involving the guards.

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The Amalienborg Slot has been the home to the Danish royal family since the 1790s. The palace is made up of four almost identical rococo mansions. They were designed by the architect Nicolai Eigtved.

The mansions surround a cobblestoned square with a central feature of a large statue showing the mounted figure of Frederik V (1746 - 1766); it was created by JFJ Saly.

One of the mansion houses is open to the public and is home to an exhibition space.

Remember the guard changes at noon.

There's a daily Changing of the Guard in Amalienborg Slotspad. Amalienborg Slots is the residence of Queen Margrethe II, and the Royal Life Guards have the duty of protecting her. The process occurs daily, and starts at 11:30am, though it's closer to noon when they actually enter the square of the palace. Unlike at Buckingham Palace, the crowds are small, and there's no big gated fence to keep folks away from the palace, so it's much easier for visitors and photographers to have a much more unobstructed view of the whole process...you can see this from my photos.

On the Queen's birthday, which is April 16th, I hear that things are a little more elaborate, but I did not have a chance to witness that myself.

You don´t have to go to London to see the changing of the guards. In Copenhagen you can see this phenomenon too. At 12 ´o clock at Amalienborg you can see a whole lot of guards making music, screaming and marching. A really nice sight.

Be there a quarter of an hour earlier to get a good place in the front.