As I indicated in my earlier post, the Royal Palace is guarded by Royal Guards. Besides the cermonial, they also really fulfill the function of guards. They guard the royal palace on all four sides and on entrances located on the sides. When we passed by the bus I immediately noticed the blue uniforms.
Personally I think this kind of formal, ceremonial scenes are nice to see. Tradition and necessity combined. In addition to the royal guards, there were also military personnel who keep an eye on things. One of the guards on the side of the building walked back and forth a few times, stopped, then started walking again after a minute or so.
I tried to take a selfie with him, and I succeeded. I always find it special that they stay in their role so well, I can imagine that they are not waiting for those masses of tourists who come to take a picture :)
The palace is an impressive building in the middle of the city, it is built in a square with a huge courtyard. My wife thought it was an ugly building, I thought it was a beautiful and imposing whole.
It is one of Stockholm's landmarks and is visited by thousands of people every week. It is, still, also the official residence of the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf. (He wasn't home by the way, I rang the doorbell but nobody opened the door).
The palace was built in Baroque style and was designed by the architect Nicodemus Tessin Source and counts more than 600 rooms on eleven floors. So it is quite a building.
We did not enter the palace, only in the courtyard and around the palace. But there are several points of interest within, including the Royal Apartments, the treasury, the medieval history, and the Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities. We have seen the statues of the Museum of Antiquities in long, large halls. Impressive.
When we walked across the courtyard we saw that people were gathering and some soldiers started to make a barrier with rope. Herd animals that we are, we also stood in line without knowing exactly what to expect.
Next to us was a lady who apparently knew what she came for so I asked her what was about to happen. It turned out that the guard would be changed at a quarter past twelve. The group with the audience grew and people (as so often) went to places where this was not allowed. It immediately became clear that the guards were strict and immediately sent people away to the right place, where they were allowed to stand.
The guard in the square also occasionally moved from his place to march a bit. If I look at the time they are on guard, it may also be that they do that to stretch their legs :)
It started at a quarter past 12, in the distance we heard a drum band coming. The musicians are part of the military marching band, neatly dressed and all in time. The parade started outside the palace below the ramp. So they had to climb quite a bit. It remains a beautiful sight when all the musicians march in line. They walk side by side with military precision.
The new guards came out and were deployed in groups to relieve the standing guards. This went with the necessary respect and commands. The commandos reminded me a bit of my own military time when we had to stand on roll call.
After the formal part of the change, the marching band went to the center of the square, a conductor came in front of the musicians and began to play an arrangement.
After the first arrangement the played another one, I thought I knew the tune but was absolutely sure when she played the chorus. It was a song by the late DJ Avicci, I thought it was a nice tribute.
After the guards had been relieved in all places, the changed guards returned in column. After they had signed off, they could enjoy a well-deserved break. I was still talking about it with my wife, they are a lot of young boys and girls, that must be a great honorary job for them. In the service of the King, of the country.
I loved watching the changing of the guard. We experienced it without planning :) I always find it nice to see, traditions from a country, a kingdom and its procedures. Of course also for the tourists, but in the end it serves a function.
Have a great day,
Peter