King Frederik joins Sirius patrol in Greenland expedition

King Frederik of Denmark has returned from a multi-day sled expedition with the Sirius patrol in Greenland, calling the experience “never enough,” according to a statement released by the Danish Royal House on Saturday.

The unannounced visit, which took place from Monday to Thursday, was not listed on the royal calendar until after the king’s return, reports news agency Ritzau. The monarch shared details of the journey on the Royal House website and Instagram, describing the route from Hvalrosodden past Aalborg Hus to Daneborg—the starting point of the first Sirius sled team 75 years ago.

“After a stopover in Mestersvig, where we squeezed in a quick table football match, we set off,” the king wrote. He praised the over 500 personnel who have patrolled “this harsh and beautiful national park” since the unit’s founding, adding: “Each and every one has my deepest respect. Thank you to Sirius for letting me once again feel the rush of nature’s breathtaking forces.”

The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, Denmark’s Arctic special operations unit, operates primarily in Northeast Greenland. This marks the king’s second major expedition with the patrol; in 2000, as crown prince, he completed “Expedition Sirius 2000,” a 2,795-kilometer, four-month sled journey around northern Greenland.

Photos released by the Royal House show the king participating in patrol activities during the trip.