Military Mary on parade

Princess Mary of Denmark is donning uniform this weekend to take part in a Danish Home Guard exercise that lasts for three days.  The princess has been a member of the organization for five years after completing her training in 2008. 

 

Princess Mary of Denmark on an earlier Home Guard exercise

(photo Ole Bo Jensen)

Mary will be involved in the exercises all day Friday and photos will be released once the three day event is over.  The operation is called Sure Sunshine and will involve around 500 soldiers and one Crown Princess.  The Home Guard's mission statement is to offer credible and effective protection for Denmark in all areas of society by their work with police and the military.  They were set up in 1945 and their role now includes environmental disaster duties and rescues.

 

Princess on parade  - Mary on a previous meeting with the Danish Home Guard in Kosovo

 

Mary completed officer training with the corps in 2009 and is now a lieutenant.  And the future queen consort of Denmark, a member of the Total Force Copenhagen Region, is following in the footsteps of queen regnant, Margrethe, who trained with the equivalent of the Home Guard in her younger days, alongside her sister, Benedikte.