Hennes Majestet Dronningens Garde

Hennes Majestet Dronningens Garde (Her Majesty the Queen's Guard) is a royal guard regiment of the Nordenland Army. The regiment has two primary roles: serving as the Queen’s bodyguards, tasked with protecting the royal residences, including the Royal Palace in Kalda, the royal estate at Bygdøy Konungsgård, and the Queen’s private residence at Skaugum, all located in Kalda, and acting as the main infantry unit responsible for the defense of Kalda. Hennes Majestet Dronningens Garde is stationed at Huseby Leir, located in Kalda, on the historic Nordre Huseby Gård (Northern Huseby farm), which was acquired by the Nordenland government in the late 19th century.

Her Majesty the Queen's Guard
Hennes Majestet Dronningens Garde
Active	1835-
Country	Nordenland
Allegiance	Monarch of Nordenland
Branch	Royal Nordenic Army
Type	Royal Guard
Size	1,600
Anniversaries	10 April, 1 November
Engagements	German Invasion of Nordenland (1940) 2011 Regjeringskvartalet Bombing 2015 Coordinated Terrorist Attacks in Europe
Commanders
Commander of the Guard	Colonel Eirik Jonsson Nygaard
Ceremonial Chief	Queen Helena III
Colonel-in-Chief	Major General Sir Nils Olav III

After the terrorist attack in November 2015, the unit also functions as a defence force in the capital and assisted the police raids for capturing the suspected members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the suburb of Kalda.

Duty

Armed guards from Her Majesty the Queen's Guard are always on duty at the Royal Residence in Kalda, Skaugum Estate, and Huseby Leir. The Guard is also responsible for securing Bygdøy Royal Estate when it is in use.

The Guard's security operations around the royal residences are carried out in close cooperation with the Kalda Police District, Asker and Bærum Police District, and the Royal Police Escort Unit. Guards are equipped with weapons and live ammunition, forming an essential part of the security measures surrounding the royal family.

At the Royal Residence, armed guards perform their duties in the Guard’s ceremonial uniform. Security here is conducted with a high degree of military precision, including formations and drill marches, referred to in military terms as close-order drill. This aspect of the Guard’s duties draws significant attention from both tourists and locals. The Guard's main daily changeover ceremony, which takes place precisely at 13:30, is a popular tourist attraction. At Bygdøy Royal Estate, Skaugum Estate, and Huseby Leir, guard duty is performed as a purely military operation.

Despite the ceremonial uniforms, drill marches, and formations, the Royal Guard’s primary focus remains active security. Unlike other nations’ ceremonial guards, Nordenland's guards are allowed to move and speak with people while on duty. This practice enables them to monitor and respond to potential threats more effectively.

The primary responsibility for guarding duties falls on the operational guards in the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Rifle Companies, with the 6th Company providing additional support when necessary.

The Guard previously also handled security at Akersborg Fortress, but this assignment ended on November 1, 2019.

Armed Royal Guardsmen with bulletproof vests reinforced the guards around the Royal Palace immediately after the terrorist attack on July 22, 2011.

The July 22, 2011 Terror Attack

After the terror attack on the Regjeringskvartalet (Government Quarter) on July 22, it was the duty officer at the Royal Residence in Kalda who first raised the alarm internally within the Nordenland Defense Force. Minutes after the explosion, he ordered additional security measures around the Residence and called for reinforcements from Huseby Leir. Shortly afterward, the Royal Guard deployed machine guns at the Residence Square and considered using construction equipment to dig defensive positions there.

The 2015 European Coordinated Terrorist Attacks

During the 2015 Coordinated Terrorist Attacks across Europe, including one in Kalda, the Royal Guard was swift to respond. The duty officer immediately ordered heightened security at critical royal sites and collaborated with special forces to assist in pursuing ISIS members on the run. Rapid response units secured surrounding areas, while specialized teams participated in coordinated raids to capture the attackers. Simultaneously, the Guard worked closely with the Nordenland Police and Home Guard to reinforce defenses at key infrastructure across the capital.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Guard’s Rapid Response Force

The Guard’s rapid response force is the standing emergency unit of Her Majesty the Queen’s Guard, based at Huseby Leir in Kalda. The force consists of over 150 guardsmen and is ready to reinforce security around the Guard’s protected sites or assist the police around the clock. The rapid response force uses armored MB field vehicles and Jotun trucks. Guardsmen wear bulletproof vests during critical missions. The response force can be equipped with various weapons depending on the type of mission. Personnel from the Guard have also been deployed for other tasks, including in international operations, but have not always had sufficient training for such missions.

The Capital Defense Mission

As part of the capital’s defense, the Guard must be prepared to support the police in crisis situations such as natural disasters, major accidents, and terrorist attacks. The Guard’s role in the capital’s defense is primarily to serve as a military rapid response force in Kalda, working closely with the Home Guard. For the Guard, the most relevant task is to support the police with armed security at key sites in Kalda in the event of a crisis.

In Wartime

In a wartime situation, the Guard’s primary mission would be to protect the Queen and the royal family. Thus, the Guard serves as the Army’s infantry unit in Kalda and must be capable of conducting military operations independently.

Trivia

• A guard from the rifle companies has an average of 35–40 duty days.
• Guards on duty are not allowed to initiate conversations with the public but may answer non-critical questions.
• The maximum hair length for a guard is 6mm for areas not covered by the ceremonial hat, and "well-groomed" on top, but never over 2cm. This is especially strict in Company 3, where hair not covered by the ceremonial hat must be 0.5–1mm, and the maximum length is 9mm. Members of the band are allowed to have bangs, but they must not extend beyond the highest point of the head.
• Female guards can choose to cut their hair like male guards or wear it tied up in a band under or behind the ceremonial hat.
• At the Royal Palace, the signal Tappenstrek is played every evening at 21:45. This is an old tradition originating from the practice of signaling that beer taps were closing and soldiers needed to return home.
• The recruit training period at Terningmoen ends with the "cap run." Recruits are tested on everything they have learned during the period, and at the end of the run, they are awarded the Guard Cap.
• Gardisten is HMDG's own camp newspaper, published quarterly.
• The Guard’s mascot is the penguin Sir Nils Olav, who resides at Edinburgh Zoo. He holds the rank of brigadier.