The Royal Life Guards Stopping for the Traffic Lights | København

The Danish Guards walking the streets of Copenhagen.
I found it funny how the Guards would stop at the traffic lights!
Thank you for taking the time to view my video
Filmed and Edited by Tony Bestmann
An 'Off the Rails' Production
The Royal Life Guards (Den Kongelige Livgarde) is an infantry regiment of the Danish Army, founded in 1658 by King Frederik III. It serves in two roles: as a front line combat unit, and as a guard/ceremonial unit to the Danish monarchy.
The Royal Life Guards provide a permanent guard at the Amalienborg Palace, Kastellet (part of the old fortification of Copenhagen), Rosenborg Castle/garrison of the Royal Life Guards in Copenhagen and the garrison of Høvelte.
On occasions guard is kept at Fredensborg Palace, Marselisborg Palace, Gråsten Palace, Christiansborg Palace and other locations inside the Danish realm.
The ordinary uniform of the Royal Life Guards while they are on guard duty is dark blue. Their full dress uniform is very similar to that of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army: a scarlet or blue tunic; blue trousers; and a bearskin with the regiment's cap badge (the Sun and Royal Coat of Arms); together with the symbolic infantry sabre, which is part of the spoils from the First Schleswig War 1848-1850 and originally a French infantry sabre. During his time in the Danish forces, Crown Prince Frederik served a tour in the Royal Life Guards with the rank of Sergeant.
The regiment itself has three battalions:
1st Battalion (I Bataljon) - Founded 1658. Armoured Infantry Battalion, part of 2nd Brigade.
2nd Battalion (II Bataljon) - Founded 1867. Armoured Infantry Battalion, part of 2nd Brigade.
3rd Battalion (III Bataljon) - Founded 1923. Training Battalion.
#funny #royalguard #viral

[@Off-The-Rails]

300,000 views, I can't believe it, thank you all for your comments and likes. If you have the time, Please check out my channel and Subscribe, as this would help my channel grow.

[@mansoortanweer]

Honey, I'm gonna be late. I got stuck behind the life guards again.

[@tyrnei6877]

life guard-chan I'M STUCK

[@hafeezuddin1367]

@@tyrnei6877 oh god no please, anything but that

[@HyouMix]

惡魔

[@lorz3450]

@@tyrnei6877 ohhhhh.....

[@PM.68]

You always say that when your secretary is working late, honey😄

[@kalleklp7291]

It's a tradition here in Denmark. It will be that way for years to come. Respect to these dudes. :)

[@maxviking3210]

I guess Denmark has the same rules as in Sweden. According to the traffic act a marching troop is regarded as a vehicle and obey by the same rules as any car. That said it is on their way to duty. They are not guarding the subject. When they do they will act as any military unit with the honourable task to protect

[@Dragontrumpetare]

Really we do? Don't remember stopping at traffic lights when we rode to the castle or marched?

[@Seignto]

@@Dragontrumpetare Yes it´s true. But I would guess you were escorted by the riding police. Police can override (pun attended) redlights

[@Dragontrumpetare]

@@Seignto Yes, thats true... didnt think about that. :-)

[@jrjr9908]

@Max Viking but they dont have break lights

[@Novozymandiaz]

@@jrjr9908 Neither does a bicycle yet it still has to abide by road laws.

[@DCdabest]

What you can't hear in this video is the guy at the front-centre of the formation making engine noises.

[@Lynn.knepper1280]

Shift into 5th Gear boys.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

British: *MOVE IT!*

[@forzaisspeed]

There not the British Royal Guards.

[@RadTechFred]

@@forzaisspeed He's making a joke about the British guards shoving people in tourist areas.

[@meldrop4411]

@@forzaisspeed 🤦‍♂️

[@Only1199]

@@forzaisspeed no one said they were.

[@forzaisspeed]

@@Only1199 Kid it was 1 month ago, your a bit late there.

[@briandfallon74]

Meanwhile, over in England, they be like: “MAKE WAY FOR THE QUEEN’S GUARDS” and knocks over a granny in a wheelchair...

[@TheGrenadier97]

Quite right, since all the time it's a disrespectful tourist blocking the way.

[@paulcollyer801]

Here’s the thing with that. A squad marching on the road is classed as a vehicle, thus red lights mean stop, unless dispensation is given otherwise, eg for Remembrance Parades. However, if the front of the squad is already on the junction, it will continue. Re:- MAKE WAY! Almost always on a tourist area, plenty of warning usually given. They’re Not stopping for some numpty

[@sumvs5992]

I think if they've got someone in a wheelchair or a pram in the way of the way they want to turn, they end up going diagonally to push into an able bodied person. Still idiots for surrounding the people with guns though.

[@forzaisspeed]

There not the British Royal guards.

[@briandfallon74]

@@forzaisspeed I’m aware of that fact. These guard seem much more polite than Her Majesty’s palace guards in Britain.

[@zaq457]

Former royal guard here. When they march like this, they are concidered a vehicle. So they must obay the trafic laws

[@jansandman6983]

are this UK Guards Sir?

[@generalkenobi5173]

@@jansandman6983 that's Danish

[@jansandman6983]

@@generalkenobi5173 i see thanks

[@timw6863]

If they violate a law who gets the ticket?

[@jansandman6983]

@@timw6863 the Pltn Commander XD

[@janandersen8735]

There are 3 levels of changing the guard, Kings Guard when the Queen is in residence, Lieutenants Guard if a lesser royal but not the Queen is in residence and Palace Guard when the place is empty. The first 2 march with full band and/or tambours (fifes and drums). Traffic is stopped for them. This is a Palace guard and since there is no one at the palace, in true Danish fashion, it would seem rude to inconvenience traffic. Pro Rege et Grege

[@ringo5721]

0:40 just look at that timing, the girl putting her foot on the road alongside with the royal guards stopping

[@ivan-1876]

aha I just noticed that maybe she was surprised why the sound of her footstep was so loud and then looked behind to find the marching guards🤣

[@anderspedersen7488]

*Looks down on her shoe in surprise*

[@fernandogonzales493]

"Sir, I've got to see your marching license, you are marching without license plates and your lights are kinda broken"

[@karltriebel4262]

I like the policeman awkwardly trying to walk backwards in front of them, but doing it kind of in a marching style 🤣

[@grahamemmett]

That's what you call Stop Start marching

[@nehrigen]

Terrible for gas mileage

[@jakdk]

It's called "March as a car". They obey the same traffic rules as any motorist. Albeit a slower moving car. ;-)

[@Danspy501st]

So.... If they need to turn left or right, do they have one guard in front and one guard in the back to wave their arms like it was an turn signal?

[@Novozymandiaz]

@@Danspy501st no

[@bigmoniesponge]

Imagine being late for work cause the queen’s life guards are in the road.

[@shades2.183]

@@bigmoniesponge No, that would be because you left your place too late then.

[@Albert-wk8ts]

@@bigmoniesponge Happens very often. It's super annoying. They walk through several streets i need to go through in order to get to my office. They should just use the sidewalk or take a bus instead of being an annoyance to everyone.

[@DarronGA]

"Sir! We're Royal Life Guards! Not Savages! We must adhere to the rules of society!"

[@idleonlooker1078]

Oh look - they even had their seatbelts buckled up! 🤣

[@Dimensions_X_Warpgates]

Their hats are sssoooooo cccuuuuuttteee!!! I love, love, LOVE their big, fluffy hats, and the fact that these men are wearing blue ('cause it's my favorite color) with stylish attire made my week.😄😘

[@HONNEKI]

Teacher: “What's your favorite vehicle?” That Danish student:

[@simonpedersen9940]

Is it a bus? Is it a truck? No its the royal guard

[@cass9929]

"Do you have a license?" 19 guards at once: *Yes*

[@Ambiorix33]

For those who don't know, when a platoon marches like this (at least for here in Europe) we count as a road vehicle and must respect all traffic laws, so no walking on the sidewalk/pavement, no going down one way roads or through parks. The upside is you DO count as a priority vehicle, so at a crossroad you always have priority and if you reach a narrow road that can only admit one vehicle, the other vehicle has to back up

[@joepatroni8777]

0:40 The feet snapping scared the shit outta that cyclist.... lol

[@KenWiggerAnotherAncientGamer]

This was a cool video! Thanks for sharing my friend!

[@ryanbennett1024]

In the British Army, probably R.A.F and RN as well, a squad/platoon/Squadron of marching soldiers is classed as a vehicle and is to be treated as such. Good drills from the Danes.

[@teddawg327]

A former exchange student of mine served in the Royal Life Guard

[@samg1879]

If ever the Danes invaded me, I'd order all traffic lights to be turned red

[@annecohen8927]

That is quite amusing to see the guards go along with the flow of automobiles traffic…..especially when they stopped at the red light. I can imagine the possible hilarious results of seeing them run against the red light as the same time with the usual red light runners only to be pulled over to the side of the road and issued a speeding ticket by a traffic cop.

[@jamielyallleathan]

A civilized country where we can see that there are no perks even for the Royal Guard!

[@trabadix]

And if an emergency vehicle is going to pass, should the guard also step aside? And what if there is traffic ahead, does the guard honk his horn? And if a guard in the formation hurts his leg, do they turn on their warning flashers? And if it is raining or it is at night, do they have front and rear lights per unit or only those that go in the corners of the formation? And if they go around a curve, the formation leans to one of its sides to take the curve well? so many questions and no one to answer seriously

[@HugsBach]

Refreshing

[@happyexiled]

What’s worse than being behind a learner? BEING BEHIND THE GOD FUCKING DAMMM QUEEN’S GUARD!

[@joshschneider9766]

I love how they have a policeman escorting them like they wouldn't unleash the wrath of hell on anyone messing with them.

[@flyingtanks9313]

Policeman probably there to make sure the criminal doesnt die lol

[@N000BiZ]

@@flyingtanks9313, was just about to say, It's not to protect us, it's to protect them ...

[@Jackty89]

That 1 day you need to go for a job interview and you're stuck behind these guys

[@1ridgy]

Smart as, the history behind this regiment goes on and on

[@nadav1316]

And i thought my stomping are loud 😆

[@smw1279]

They are heading to the drive through of a McDonalds. Their ammo pouch doubles as a cup holder.

[@christinaj.jensen4805]

The McDonald's' in central Copenhagen doesn't have a drive through though ;) it's only out in the suburbs.

[@ppunion]

Just to clear the air: Even though Denmark technically have a territory dispute with Canada, we danish people really like the Canadian reputation of politeness, helpfulness and friendliness. In fact, if I was ever to visit North America, my first choice would be Canada.

[@drippyamongus3235]

I know you posted this 2 years ago but im really happy that the dispute is over and new Denmark and Canada has a land border.

[@ppunion]

@@drippyamongus3235 Same.

[@sgtjarrodrayner]

Gotta be hard to swim with those funny hats

[@haeleth7218]

In Britain they'd stop the functioning of the traffic lights and turn over/shift any vehicle that got in the way. 🙂

[@joshschneider9766]

Lol!! Polite little band of killer badasses, aren't they. Blessem.

[@flatmoon6359]

In Germany in 80s saw a fully kitted up Bundeswehr section,anti tank weapons included,waiting at pedestrian crossing to go onto green to cross.Then it was a fineable offence to cross on red.British section would have just walked over on red.On large exercise you got a get out of jail free card for stuff,even traffic offences.Number of times I ran a red in middle of night and got stopped,waved piece of paper and off I went.

[@whodunnitagain]

Public transportation on next level

[@idleonlooker1078]

Plot twist - when they got back in to barracks, someone asked: "Why were you marching?" The reply: "Fucking truck ran out of fuel 5 miles back!!" 🤣👍

[@wendyrowland7787]

Spike Milligan “ I’m walking backwards to Christmas”

[@aidanf1654]

What a great tradition.

[@HoferAndi]

sehr schön!!

[@aegontan686]

Imagine they were British Guards, they’d probably go MAKE WAY FOR THE WALKING CAR!!

[@AdonInvictus329]

Royal Life Guards: Stops for traffic Royal Guards: *Moves through traffic*

[@Elated_Llama]

Danish: see how many bikes you could fit in the space of a car... Also the danish: how many humans can you fit in a car spot tested all over town, just to be sure ^^

[@wkruit]

That’s how a law abiding country looks!!

[@rondiarelli]

Interesting. They stopped for the red light! They are polite.

[@phantom-rider]

Imagine the traffic light malfunctioned 😂

[@eranbroide3003]

Traffic light: red Royal guards: MAKE WAY! Nothing or no one can stand in their way

[@stylembonkers1094]

What if they get attacked from behind while waiting for the traffic lights?

[@Erreul]

... I mean they aren't going to march into on coming traffic are they?

[@floridageneral1204]

"Professionals have standards."

[@disposabull]

We were going to take an Armoured Personnel Carrier, but budget cuts...

[@crispinjulius5032]

Do they not have trucks in Kobenhavernmehanvermeameirmanver to transport these guys?

[@snarkymatt585]

It's quirky to watch them stop at the traffic lights. However seeing they are the Royal Lifeguards it's pretty sloppy that they weren't given right of way in traffic by the escorting police who could have radioed ahead to the traffic controllers.

[@N000BiZ]

Actually the only time we have the right of way is when the Monarch is residing at the palace, then we would be accompanied by the Royal life guard music corp ...

[@MeBallerman]

They are soldiers in a civilized country, not idiots with a need to bully others. I've seen vids here on utube where the British Royal guards points his rifle at a young man "to show him who's boss! - and even Britisk ones marchimg straight into old women. Danish soldiers do not attack civilians.

[@joakimberg7897]

Well, if 7 soldiers or more are marching in a column they are considered a vehicle and can travel as so. Atleast here in Sweden.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

I'm confused. Why are they walking in the street?

[@lionljb]

watch this with "Jedi temple march" from star wars Rots in the background

[@fungarage48]

I would love to see these guards on the highway or on the german Autobahn :)

[@janandersen8848]

And since they walk there every day it would be too complicated to stop traffic every day...so better wait at the traffic light...

[@LeftToWrite006]

I wonder if they can use HOV lanes in formation?

[@Broadshore]

Didn't know the Danes still use the old AR Platform. I though the Danes went with the HK G36 like some of the Germanic Countries.

[@N000BiZ]

We went away from that platform in 1995 and got new again in 2010 ...

[@andresc5915]

They ain’t about to block the roads off... Felt bad for that car behind them tho

[@michaelteasdill6410]

lOVELY

[@vinnieg6161]

why they not walking on the sidewalk?

[@bobbybates2614]

They got the same Busby as the grenadier guards

[@Inderastein]

0:49 Anyone notice that the UPs took a left turn?

[@BelgianProblem]

So?

[@LM-ly1dx]

Give those Danish Guards, loaded side arms and Live ammo for their rifles and they won't need a Police escort! Mess with a Bull, Gets the Horns!!!!

[@juicyjews4iife636]

It's is live rounds. The police is for traffic. And law enforcement

[@virgianas157]

is it fine, if you're behind them and you just past through btw?

[@tr6431]

If Sweden only knew this a few hundred years ago. So many wars could be prevented if Sweden just put up a red traffic light next to the border to Denmark....

[@chrisidoo]

That poor car in the back.

[@gaafailok3719]

Ah yes the marching microphone

[@ridondax2922]

Don´t they have buses ?

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Jeez even the cyclists stopped for the lights.

[@vi6144]

There is literally 2 cops and 20 royal guards standing right next to them tho.

[@88marome]

Denmark is one of the biggest cyclist nations. You can recieve a fine between 700 and 1500 DKK for not obeying cycling rules.

[@chair6703]

wow life guards got me confused, i thought of the british household cavalry regiment. lol

[@kenneth8477]

They're saying that they have the most diciplined military in the world.

[@sst1911]

So, if they turn, do they all have to signal, or just the leader?

[@The_General_Owl]

They move as one so only the leader need to signal

[@brandonmbih9117]

That player in civ 6 who can't let go the muskmen

[@imnotsurewhy]

Can they go to a drive through?

[@EagleEyeM4]

Pull them over and ask if they are carrying any weapons.

[@Markus-zb5zd]

in many countries around the world marchin formations are regarded as vehicles when on streets

[@MrMdamsoe]

I'm confused you don't stop in front of the traffic lights that is red 🤔 thay are on the road so essentially thay have to follow the traffic (I'm from Denmark btw 🇩🇰)

[@patriot4786]

When you military, you can walk in the middle of the fuckin road without any car honking at you

[@MeBallerman]

The military isn't there to annoy or harass people, you know?

[@darylcheshire1618]

Sign at Pukapunyal army camp “Troop movements have right of way”

[@thomasbaagaard]

When ever members of hte royal family is at hte palace the guard is bigger and march with a band. And then the traffic is stopped by the police to allow the guard to march.

[@Miss_WarHorze]

When soldiers are marching in Denmark then they are like verichels so they are following the traffic rules like verichels sould do. That's pretty normal.

[@johnallen7807]

"Public duties" you would at least expect the police to clear the route.

[@thomasbaagaard]

When members of the royal family is at the palace the guard is much bigger and march with a band and traffic is stopped for the guard. but when there are no members of the royal family there, the guard is smaller. And follow the traffic rules.

[@johnallen7807]

@@thomasbaagaard Doesn't happen in the UK, guards on duty always have priority and a police escort.

[@MeBallerman]

Why would they need to "clear the route"? I see no need for that. They are not there to show the civilians who's boss. Why wouldn't they stop for red light? Police cars stop for red loght also. Why would a bunch of soldiers not need to? Why wopuld they not wait for the green light?

[@thomasnielsen5151]

Danish traffic laws puts formations of people like this into the same traffic rules as vehicles :-)

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

Its one thing obeying the lights but how do they indicate.

[@coling3957]

in the UK . or elsewhere, police would be with them and would be controlling traffic lights.. troops stopped at the light is inviting trouble.

[@cataldodebartolomeo2052]

The Queen's escort escorted by the police ... definitely comical!!

[@forzaisspeed]

There not the British Royal Guards.

[@The_General_Owl]

@@forzaisspeed denmark got a queen. Stop writing about stuff you know nothing about.

[@sovietred7371]

People always make fun of the uniforms... But yet it was worn by probably the most brave generations we ever had, to stand in line in a open field, getting shot at by the other side by guns, canons and even grapeshot, but you were not allowed to move or retreat.

[@lasselippert3892]

Generations of soldiers killed because of the ambitions of some inbred parasite. They should have turned their guns on their monarchs, instead of marching to war against their peers.

[@thekingshussar1808]

@@lasselippert3892 Typical anti-monarchy sentiment. Only the Spanish sect of the Habsburg dynasty widely practiced inbreeding and the Danish Royal Family aren't Habsburg at all, and monarchy were better than republics during their finest times and even constitutional monarchies today as they're more politically stable. Go bring your democracy, heck yeah freedom-lovin' blindness elsewhere.

[@lasselippert3892]

The King’s Hussar Considering your profile pic and moniker, I can understand why you’re getting all giddy watching these young lads dressed up in their shiny uniforms. However, I really can’t understand this obsession with a romanticized view of the monarchy,- constitutional or otherwise.

[@thekingshussar1808]

@@lasselippert3892 People obsess over romantics because it inspires them. It's better to have morale than without. Romanticization is just reality but in good aspects, however, it should be for the individual to know what he/she is doing or believing such as for a good cause than to blindly follow, which unfortunately is a bit ironic as most of the case when it comes to romantics, it drives the audience to feel good and get them to follow it directly rather than considering it through first before enacting it so. I do, however, know my beliefs and am aware of the negatives of a monarchy of which can be put to discussion to attempt to constrain them from happening, and this applies to other political systems.

[@lasselippert3892]

The King’s Hussar That was.. well thought out, and very well written. Certainly a lot better than I can do, even if english was my first language. But I’ll risk a reply anyway. First off, I can’t imagine any of us being swayed by the others view of the positive/negative aspects of the monarchy, so I’ll leave that alone (for now anyway). One thing you wrote I really take issue with though. You stated that “romanticization is just reality but in good aspects”. Isn’t that simply another way to describe historical (or political) bias? Whenever you promote one aspect of an issue and downplay or ignore the others, you’re surely skewing reality, thereby making it *not* reality. Going back to the the lads in their fancy pants,- I love history, but people who fetishize history usually bore or annoy me very quickly. And in my opinion thats what these uniforms (and the constitutional monarchy as a whole) represent. An idealized, and usually ill informed, fetishistic yearning for “The wonderful good old days. When everything was right with the world”.

[@timw6863]

If they are life guards why do they have guns, and not swimsuits?

[@thekingshussar1808]

This is a joke, right?

[@timw6863]

@@thekingshussar1808 yes

[@christopherj8280]

Would have been sweeter if they were told "Mark Time"

[@Justbrowsing4lunch]

How much do they get paid? Does it cover their healthcare or is that included?

[@odball75]

Denmark has universal healthcare coverage, meaning you do not to pay for going to the hospital or your local doctor.

[@thatguy7444]

I mean, what else are they going to do, say “the royal life guards never falters” and get run down by traffic?

[@rodrigochaves5185]

why do they need police alongside them?