Royal Guards (Sweden)

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Image:Royal guards sweden.jpg The Royal Guards (Högvakten) is a tri-service unit of the Swedish Armed Forces which has responsibility for the protection of the Swedish Royal Family. The Royal Guard unit is usually divided into two parts, with the main force being stationed at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, with a smaller detachment at the Drottningholm Palace. The Swedish Royal Guard traces it's history back to the early 16th Century, with the Cavalry tracing back to early 17th Century, making it in essence the oldest serving cavalry unit in the world. Due to the extreme pressures upon the regular Royal Guard from Livgardet, especially during the summer, during other parts of the year (the protection of the Royal castles is diverted to other regiments throughout Sweden on a rotational basis. However, these units do not make up the Royal Guard as this previlige is restricted to Livgardet. Between April and August, the mounted companies of Livgardet can be seen in Stockholm and around the Royal Palace. Accompanied by the mounted music corps, they depart from the cavalry barracks on Östermalm and arrives at the palace around noon for the relieving ceremony. These events attracts large numbers of tourists each summer.sv:Högvakten