The Garden is King Harald’s bodyguard. Every year the troops are inspected by the king personally, an inspection characterized by painstaking, order and detail.
“Uniform garments, distinctions, uniform insignia, ribbon stripes etc. must be replaced before they become visibly worn or unsuitable. Shoes and boots must be polished and in good condition,” it says The Armed Forces’ regulations on the uniforms.
But when the Garden’s traditional drill display was held on Slottsplassen on Wednesday, the guards’ holey and worn soles stood in stark contrast to the otherwise spotless uniforms.
Chief of Communications in the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Lars Ø. Strøm, tells NTB that there are several explanations for this.
– During use, the shoe turns black under the heel and forefoot, while the shoe’s original light color can be seen in the middle. Therefore, at first glance, it may look as if there are holes under the shoe, as the pictures show, because the light sole is also visible on the front part where friction is greatest against the ground, he says.
Worn out shoes before graduation
The secret of the parade shoes is that they are at their very best after they have been worn and just before they are completely worn out, because friction against the ground is then at its most optimal, says Strøm.
– One of the shoes shown in the picture is, however, clearly worn out underneath, even though it looks nice on top. The reason why the shoes have not been replaced may be that there is a short time until the guardsmen graduate from service, he says.
Therefore, it makes little sense to go into brand new shoes with only a few weeks of service left, adds Strøm.
– In this case, we can soberly state that both shoes and guards have given everything for king and fatherland. And they are both at their best now, just before the shoes are worn out and the guardsmen are ready for graduation.
– Top sport of its kind
NTB has asked the Palace for a comment on the case. They refer to Garden.
Garden consists of around 1,200 conscripts. Perhaps their best-known company is the 3rd Guards Company, which consists of a music and drill troop. They are highly sought after and often participate in various ceremonies all over the world.
– What they are doing is top sport of its kind. The parade shoes that the guards use during drills were delivered new to the guards in March 2024, and new shoes are already ready for the next contingent, says Strøm.
He offers a tip for people in the Oslo area who have not yet made plans for next Sunday:
– For those who want to see our great guardsmen in drill and music at their best, in well-made shoes, next Sunday 25 August at 6pm is a great opportunity. Then His Majesty’s King’s 3rd Guard Company holds a free concert for Oslo’s population in Oslo Cathedral. Welcome, he says.
#guards #holey #shoes #king #fatherland
2024-08-22 04:19:53
