The mounted high guard’s silver parade helmets are based on a 19th-century model and there have been questions about how well it performs in accidents. During an inspection in May, the Swedish Work Environment Authority found that there were serious deficiencies with the parade helmet.
Now the Armed Forces have purchased 200 ordinary, black riding helmets that will be used at the autumn’s mounted ceremonies.
“It is a short-term solution which means that we are making a departure from the uniform regulations. But it means that we can carry out our operations largely according to plan,” says Lifeguard head Colonel Stefan Nacksten in a press release.
For ceremonies on foot, the parade helmet may still be used. Work to develop a new parade helmet that provides sufficient protection is ongoing and the plan is for the new helmet to be put into use in 2024.