AF:Kongehuset og Henning Okholm
FOTO:ZHONG MIN PENG©RP
His Majesty The King took part in the Anniversary Parade of the Royal Life Guards on June 26, 2025, and presented “The King’s Watch” at the Life Guards Barracks in Copenhagen. The anniversary parade is held to commemorate the founding of the Royal Life Guards, which was established by King Frederik III on June 30, 1658.
The Chief of the Life Guards presented the parade formation to the King, after which His Majesty inspected the troops, accompanied by the Chief of the Life Guards and the Chief of the Adjutant Staff.
The parade formation consisted of the Life Guards Band, the Guard Company with the Corps of Drums (and the Royal Life Guards’ standard), 1st Battalion/Life Guards (with standard), 2nd Battalion/Life Guards (with standard), representatives from the Danish Guards Associations, a contingent from the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, as well as a number of unattached personnel (officers, NCOs, privates, and civilians from the Guard Barracks and the Life Guards Barracks).
“The King’s Watch” was presented by His Majesty to Guardsman Christoffer Petersen Voldbjerg from Aalborg. The recipient is selected by superiors and fellow guardsmen, based on outstanding military service and exceptional comradeship.
The presentation of the watch has taken place annually since 1970 and was instituted in connection with King Frederik IX’s 70th birthday. “The King’s Watch” is an honorary award given to the guardsman chosen by the Guard Company as the best of the service period at its conclusion.
Following the presentation of “The King’s Watch,” the Chief of the Royal Life Guards requested the King’s permission to initiate the march-past, a ceremonial tradition in which the Royal Life Guards parade past His Majesty after the presentation.
