18 November 2021

The King presents a new standard to Karlberg Military Academy

On Thursday 18 November, The King presented a new standard to Karlberg Military Academy in Stockholm.

The King salutes Karlberg Military Academy's new standard during a ceremony outside Karlberg Palace in Solna.

The King salutes Karlberg Military Academy's new standard during a ceremony outside Karlberg Palace in Solna. Photo: Niklas Englund/The Swedish Armed Forces

The King presented a new standard to Karlberg Military Academy, in the presence of cadets and staff. The old standard, which was presented to mark the academy's 200th anniversary in 1992, was therefore retired.

The King presents the new standard to Lieutenant Colonel Johan Martinsson.

The King presents the new standard to Lieutenant Colonel Johan Martinsson. Photo: Niklas Englund/The Swedish Armed Forces

During the ceremony, The King presented the new field standard to Lieutenant Colonel Johan Martinsson, Deputy Director of Karlberg Military Academy.

The King gave a speech on Kyrkplan near Karlberg, in which he said:

Here at Karlberg Castle, Swedish officers have been trained for more than 200 years. More specifically, since 1792. This makes Karlberg the world's oldest military academy to carry out training in the same location.

But even though the academy itself is old, its academic environment is vibrant and modern. This includes cooperation with the Swedish Defence University within subjects such as military science and leadership.

HM The King

The King's Song and inspection

Once The King had presented the standard, The King's Song was sung and the director of the military academy led four cheers for The King. The King then inspected the units to the accompaniment of Under the Blue and Yellow Flag, performed by the Life Guards' Dragoon Music Corps.

The ceremony took place on Kyrkplan, behind Karlberg Castle.

The ceremony took place on Kyrkplan, behind Karlberg Castle. Photo: Niklas Englund/The Swedish Armed Forces

Field standards

The units of the Swedish Armed Forces are assigned new field standards when, for example, they are newly formed or reorganised, or when the old standard has become worn out. Field standards are the collective name for banners, standards, dragoon banners, three-tailed Swedish banners and three-tailed Swedish ensigns (in the navy, the three-tailed banner is called an ensign) and command ensigns/command emblems.

The original role of the field standard was to show the location of a particular unit during combat.