Crown Princess Mary was named the Captain of the Home Guard on Sunday at its Nymindegab base in Jutland, as the Home Guard celebrated its 70th anniversary.
The Crown Princess, fresh off a working visit to Ethiopia, travelled to the Nymindegab base, with Queen Margrethe, to receive her new post.
The Queen and Crown Princess Mary, along with Home Guard General and Home Guard Commander, reviewed a parade before joining in on the celebrations with the 500 soldiers gathered.
Guests included representatives from the Nordic, Baltic and American Home Guards; representatives of the Armed Forces and other first responders; locals who live near Nymindegab, and the Mayor of the Varde Municipality.
Major General Jens Garly, General of the Home Guard, made a speech to mark the anniversary, which was posted on the Home Guard’s official website.
“Today’s event is a tribute to all of you, who over the years have in one way or another contributed to the Home Guard and thus created the conditions for the Home Guard to have delivered an operational effort.
“Of course, we are particularly pleased with the support and interest we enjoy from the Royal House.”
Queen Margrethe also gave a speech, praising the Home Guard for their work.
“It is a great day not only for the Home Guard but also for me personally,” Her Majesty said. “It means something to our self-esteem that so many give their time and support and stand up for the defence.
“The efforts of the Home Guard are really appreciated. To sign up for the Home Guard – it’s not just a kind of duty – it’s with the heart you participate.”
The Queen then presented a handful of special commemoration medals to volunteer soldiers who have been involved in the Home Guard from its beginning in 1949, including to Kurt Dose.
Crown Princess Mary’s appointment as Captain was followed by a performance by the Home Guard Music Corps, who played the Crown Princess’s Honour March.
The Danish Home Guard is a voluntary service that supports the Danish Armed Forces at home, and abroad in Afghanistan and Kosovo. It consists of three branches – the Army Home Guard, the Police Home Guard and the Infrastructure Home Guard – and 45,600 personnel.
Queen Margrethe was affiliated with the Female Flight Corps in her youth, which was part of the Home Guard from 1961 onwards. Crown Princess Mary has undergone training with the Home Guard and recently completed a training course in March.
