Honorary guard from the Life Guard on Strömbron outside the Royal Palace.
Photographer: Torbjörn Gustafsson/Combat Camera
A royal guard has been protecting the Royal Palace since 1523. When the current palace was under construction between 1697- 1754 the royal guards were based at Wrangelska Palace on Riddarholmen, residence of the Royal Family at that time. Up to the mid 19th century, the royal guards were made up of 100-200 men from guards units, who also maintained law and order in the city of Stockholm and provided fire-fighting services. When the police force took over these duties, the guard was reduced to 30-50 men.
From the mid 19th century, other units at the Stockholm garrison also acted as royal guards. The number of units that provided these duties was successively expanded and by the 1960s, also included national service recruits from some 40 different units that then existed across Sweden. These national service recruits came from both the army, navy, marines, air force and from the home guard and other voluntary defence organisations.