In Copenhagen, His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark presided over the Royal Life Guards parade and the presentation of the Kongens Ur at the barracks of Den Kongelige Livgarde at Rosenborg Slot.

The parade forms part of the concluding ceremonies marking the completion of service for a company of the Royal Life Guards, during which the sovereign traditionally reviews the unit and presents the Kongens Ur, known in English as the King’s Watch.

The distinction is awarded to the guardsman judged by the Guard Company to have distinguished himself most notably during his period of service. In selecting the recipient, superiors and fellow guards place particular emphasis on exemplary military conduct, reliability in duty, and the individual’s contribution to the cohesion and morale of the unit.

The tradition of presenting the Kongens Ur was established in 1970 during the reign of King Frederik IX of Denmark. Since that time, the watch has been awarded annually at the conclusion of a guardsman’s service to the soldier regarded by his comrades and commanders as the most distinguished of his intake.

Den Kongelige Livgarde itself is among the oldest institutions of the Danish armed forces, having been established in 1658 by King Frederik III of Denmark. The regiment serves both as a ceremonial guard to the Danish monarch and as an operational infantry unit of the Danish Army.

This year, the Kongens Ur was awarded to Guardsman Frederik G. Nielsen.

In a statement, Den Kongelige Livgarde noted that Guardsman Nielsen received the distinction in recognition of his “great maturity,” observing that he “has established a natural authority among fellow guards on duty and those serving alongside him, and his strong relationships with colleagues make that authority credible.”

The regiment further noted that Guardsman Nielsen is attentive to his colleagues and strives to ensure a positive social environment within the guard unit.