Mary on Home Guard Duty

Crown Princess Mary during her weekend joining in Home Guard exercises

(photo det Dankse Kongehus Instagram)

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has had a working weekend. The future queen joined her country's Home Guard on a set of training exercises. The event, mixing skills and education, is designed to prepare members for future duty. And Mary, a member herself, was more than ready to join in practice.

The exercises took place on June 4th and June 5th in the area around Fredericia and involved over 5000 people. Over the course of the two days, Mary joined over members of different parts of the Home Guard including the Air Guard and the Marine Guard. The 2016 Home Guard Practice is designed to show its variety as an organisation and Mary was there to see how their work was evolving as well as to take part in exercises herself.

It's not the first time we've seen Mary on parade as she has joined the Home Guard for similar exercises before.  Mary completed her training with the Home Guard in 2008 and was made a sergeant and lieutenant in later years. Queen Margrethe trained with equivalent of the Home Guard as did her sister, Princess Benedikte.

After a parade at the end of day two, Mary was set to join Queen Margrethe on board the yacht Dannebrog for a reception marking the Home Guard training event and parade. Mary on parade is a weekend to remember.

Photo credit: kongehuset.dk