Due to political tensions between two countries, the unit was relocated to Norway in 1888, where it continued ceremonial duties whenever the King was in residence. The same period the Royal Guards were used as a testing unit, for example experimenting with winter warfare procedures and equipment. In 1905 Norway is free from the Swedish-Norwegian union and becoming an independent kingdom. With the newly installed king Haakon VII of Norway, The King’s Guard acquired several new responsibilities, what led to enlargement of the unit to battalion strength. The battalion served with distinction during the Second World War, where it prevented the Wehrmacht from capturing the Royal Family and the Cabinet in April 1940. During the campaign in central Norway they were known among the German soldiers who fought them as “die schwarzen teufel” or “the black devils”, due to their ferocity and dark uniforms.

The Guard’s dark blue uniform has remained virtually unchanged throughout the regiment’s existence, what means more than 150 years!  One noteworthy detail of the uniform is the plumed bowler hat, which was copied from the Italian Bersaglieri alpine troops – a regiment that so impressed the queen Louise (Queen of Sweden and Norway 1859 – 1870) that she in 1860 insisted the Norwegian guards be similarly attired.