Text: Ditte Arendt Toft
Photo: PL-R Michael Linden-Vørnle

The Royal Danish Naval Band and Danish and British marines marched through the city in this years church march.

On the pier at Nordre Toldbod the crews from the Danish and British Navy were gathered. In their beautiful uniforms they stood proud and ready to walk the annual church march.

The Royal Danish Naval Band played and led the way for the crews of the ships. A tickling sensation occurred as the entire parade marched across the yard of the royal palace Amalienborg, to the sound of the rumbling drums.

Son of a cadet baptised
Holmens Church Choir began the service with the well known Danish gospel “I østen stiger solen op” in Christiansborg Palace Church. No seats were free in the church. The Danish and British sailors, led by commodore Palle Cortes and Viceadmiral of the Fleet Paul Boissier, sat in one side of the church, while the congregation sat in the other.

Part of the congregation was also the guests for the baptism that took place during the service. A navy cadet had his son baptised. The son wore sailor suit and slept through the entire baptism. He was named Markus.

The flag is presented

People were thrilled
After the service ended the parade marched from Christiansborg Palace Church back to the pier at Nordre Toldbod. At this time Copenhagen was awake and more people were at the street.

It was clear that people were thrilled with the sight. Both citizens and tourists took pictures of the marching sailors.

The march ended at Nordre Toldbod where it started. The number of spectators had grown considerably since the morning. After the final manoeuvres the parade was dismissed. They could congratulate themselves with a well performed church march.
The church march and the service is a tradition that takes place every year during DANEX.

This year lieutenant Thomas Schwartz commanded the parade. He was a bit nervous before the parade started since this was his first time.
“During the march I made a couple of small mistakes, but all in all it went fine”, said Thomas after the crews had been dismissed.