Stockholm Palace

When Gustav Vasa was crowned King of Sweden in 1523, he handpicked sixteen loyal men to guard his life. Five centuries later, the Royal Guards still stand watch at Stockholm Palace, but with a twist: the duty rotates among all serving regular and reserve armed forces, including the Home Guard, with detachments serving just five to seven days at a time.

Until the mid-1800s, the Royal Guards numbered between 100 and 200 soldiers who maintained law and order in the city as well as providing firefighting services, a royal protection detail moonlighting as Stockholm’s entire emergency response system. When modern uniformed police and firefighting services were established mid-19th century, guard numbers were reduced to between 30 and 50 soldiers. The multitasking militia had finally been relieved of their municipal duties- though you have to wonder how many palace guards showed up to state dinners smelling faintly of smoke.