Thursday's child: Royal Palace, Stockholm

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Who doesn’t love visiting a stately palace or a magnificent castle?  This month I’ll be writing about some of the royal residences that we’ve visited.

We didn’t even go inside the Royal Palace in Stockholm, but we were truly impressed by what we saw in the palace courtyard.  Every day, the Royal Guards perform their Changing of the Guard ceremony at the palace in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan (Old Town), and we saw this ceremony last summer.

Watching the Changing of the Guards is always exciting, but this one was special for a couple of reasons.  First, we were incredibly close to them, separated only by a rope hung between a couple of posts.  And second, the guards were so enthusiastic about their roles. Being a palace guard in Stockholm isn’t a permanent job, but a temporary one that young members of various branches of the military are called to for a few weeks.  Every member of the guard seemed intent on making the most of his or her time at the palace, serving with the eagerness of the young and the precision of the well-trained.

We got to the courtyard early that day, to ensure a front row position.  As the hour approached, we heard faint strains of the military band as it wound its way through Gamla Stan, and finally we saw them as they turned the corner into the palace courtyard.  The brilliant blue uniforms were dazzling, and the helmets gleamed with a dazzling polish.  The guards strode in time to a stirring Scandinavian march.  And on a sunny day in Stockholm, we felt honoured to watch the Changing of the Guard.


23 comments:

Carol said...

I love Changing of the Guard ceremonies! They look so majestic in their impressive blue uniforms.

Gloria Baker said...

nice pictures Beth! Happy Easter to you!

Bonnie said...

Beth, You captured the event beautifully. The uniforms are such a vibrant blue. Happy Easter! Bonnie

Belinda said...

Such a neat tradition that continues to delight. Love the blue!

Sue said...

Love their bright blue uniforms. What a sight to see. When I was a child I did get to see the changing of the guard at Arlington Cemetery. It really made an impression on me.

Kittie Howard said...

Hi, Beth! I'm so glad I'm back in touch with your blog. My previous computer died because of a glitch in the motherboard that the Geek Squad kept saying they'd repaired. I didn't know if I'd pursued this more they would have had to give me a new replacement. *sighs for live and learn* Anyway, I couldn't match your name with your blog and, so, I'm finally here. Your travels are treasures. We saw the changing of the guard at the palace in Stockholm. Fabulous! We also stayed at the Sheraton with points and only had to pay local taxes, about $200.00.

Cindy said...

Thank you for another wonderful post. I just enjoyed another little vacation.

Julie said...

My family is Swedish. I've always wanted to go here. Thanks for the look into the country.

Jemi Fraser said...

Very cool! Palaces are very interesting places - and the guards and uniforms can transport us to different worlds!

Anonymous said...

Great photos!

Anonymous said...

That looks so awesome. They seem so intense... :)

C&C Cakery said...

Those helmets are SO badass!

Claudia said...

Every Thursday, you give me "itchy feet" and I want to see what you saw. It seems to be such a different experience than the one at Buckingham Palace. Happy Easter, Beth.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! I love castles and palaces, so I'm looking forward to the rest of your posts this month.

Anonymous said...

I love a stately castle as well and this looks like total fun to watch. I absolutely love the photos as well.

Valerie Gamine said...

Beautiful photos! I'm a sucker for uniforms. :)
I can't wait to see the rest of April's posts!

Bam's Kitchen said...

Hello Beth, I am so glad you stopped by my website so I could find yours. I have been lost in the sea of fantastic recipes, travel excursions and learning about your books. I am looking forward to keeping in touch. Take care, BAM

Anonymous said...

Now I'm curious to know what a Scandanavian march looks like? The blue uniforms are so striking. This must have been spectacular to watch! BTW, I love the name of your blog!

Elaine said...

I have fond memories of watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace when I was a child. It is so very impressive.

Rachel Cotterill said...

I loved Stockholm! Looks like you had lovely weather, too :)

Anonymous said...

I hope to see this sight one day. I've only seen the guards at Buckingham Palace long ago. I'd love to visit Stockholm.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

What a fun memory, Beth! I love their bright blue uniforms against the palace backdrop...beautiful!

Rita said...

Very impressive Beth. Hope you and your family are having a wonderful Easter weekend.
Rita

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