Later on Friday 16th April at Fredensborg Castle, before the private birthday dinner of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II's dinner for Royal family members of Europe and a host of other guests, there were several shifts of The Royal Guard.
One fascinating little event was when smaller groups of guards in red and blue ceremonial uniforms left their tiny cafeteria and kitchen with little bundles of army dress under their arms. This, I was told, was for one very practical reason:
The red-blue uniforms are made of thick and tender wool. And for dry clean reasons, they are not to be messed with - say, with stains of grease or the smell of food. So every time the guards enter the kitchen house, they make a shift of clothes from ceremonial outfit to regular camouflage army wear. And back again after the last bite. Leaving an odd little scene of guards with bundled packages of clothes under their arms for the waiting crowds. I'll make a note of that practice for my next shift before eating.