His Majesty The King’s Guard
His Majesty The King’s Guard is the military guard charged with ensuring the safety of the Royal Family in times of peace, crisis and war.
The Royal Norwegian Company of Marksmen was established on 1 November 1856 to enhance security around King Oscar I in Stockholm. The company was renamed His Majesty The King’s Guard in 1866, and was transferred to Kristiania (now Oslo) toward the end of the union between Sweden and Norway. Since 1888 the King’s Guard has been on duty at the Royal Palace and other Royal residences 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Today the King’s Guard has permanent sentry duty at the Royal Palace, Skaugum Estate, Bygdø Royal Farm when in use, and Huseby military camp. The King’s Guard normally establishes security posts outside Stiftsgården in Trondheim when members of the Royal House are in residence there.
Sentry duty at the Royal Palace is performed in the characteristic ceremonial dress of the King’s Guard and focuses on ceremonial routines such as the changing of the guard.
Security operations are conducted in close cooperation with the Royal Court, the national police and the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST).
His Majesty The King’s Guard is a unit of the Armed Forces and is based in the Oslo area. In times of crisis or war, the King’s Guard can draw on its resources, experience and capacity not only for royal protection duties, but also to support, among others, the Police in safeguarding civilian security and emergency preparedness.
Changing of the guard
The main changing of the guard detail takes place daily at 13.30. During the summer, parades with concerts or drill exercises may be presented in conjunction with this ceremony. Dates are announced at His Majesty The King's Guard's own website.
Parade of the King’s Guard
During the summer, members of the King’s Guard march through the streets of downtown Oslo. Led by a Norwegian military band, the parade begins at Akershus Fortress at 13.10 with mounted police at the head. The parade route extends from the fortress square, via Kirkegaten to Karl Johan Street and up to the Royal Palace. The parade arrives at the Palace Square at about 13.30 and then performs the changing of the guard ceremony.