{{Short description|Military mascot}} {{For|the King of Norway|Harald V}} {{Use British English|date=September 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox animal | name = Harald VI | image = Harold_VI_02.jpg | caption = Harald VI in 2024 | breed = Gute | sex = Male | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2017|4|7|df=y}} | nationality = {{flag|Sweden}} | employer = {{army|Sweden}} | years_active = 2020–2026 | known = Former mascot of the Gotland Regiment | predecessor = Harald V | successor = Harald VII | owner = Katarina Amér }}

'''Harald VI''' (born 7 April 2017) is a Swedish Gute ram who previously served as the mascot for the Gotland Regiment and Gotland Battlegroup.

He was the sixth ram to hold the role, continuing a regimental tradition that began in 1979. Harald VI would appear at regimental ceremonies and public events, where he served as a symbol of Gotland's cultural heritage.

== Life == Harald VI was born on 7 April 2017 in Fardhem, Gotland County, to local sheep breeder Katarina Amér.<ref name=":2">{{harvnb|Ihreskog|2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{harvnb|Widegren|2019}}</ref> He belongs to the Gute breed, a heritage landrace native to Gotland that descends from the island's ancient horned outfield sheep and is regarded as one of Sweden’s oldest domestic sheep varieties.<ref>{{harvnb|SSBA|2023}}</ref>

As a lamb he was kept alongside his predecessor, Harald V, which accustomed him to human contact and ceremonial environments.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1">{{harvnb|Skoog|2019}}</ref> Amér, who has long specialised in breeding Gute sheep, described Harald VI as being fostered "like an adjutant" by Harald V, and later as taking on a similar role with younger rams in her flock.<ref name=":2" />

== History == The Gotland Regiment is the only regiment in the Swedish Armed Forces to maintain a live animal mascot.<ref name=":3">{{harvnb|Fagerstedt|2018}}</ref> The tradition of using Gute rams began in 1979 with Harald I, who was later promoted to second lieutenant after serving in ceremonies including the royal guard at Stockholm Palace.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> Since then, successive rams named Harald have represented the regiment, serving as living symbols of Gotland’s cultural heritage and sheep-farming traditions.<ref name=":4">{{harvnb|Widegren|2020}}</ref>

Following the sudden death of Harald V in September 2019, Harald VI was recruited as the next mascot at the age of two.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /> He made his official debut in January 2020 at the ceremony marking the transfer of the Gotland Battlegroup's command from the Skaraborg Regiment to the Gotland Regiment.<ref name=":4" />

Harald VI took part in several regimental events each year, including parades, transfer ceremonies, and public celebrations.<ref name=":2" /> Before such occasions his owner, Amér, would be informed of the schedule and duration of the assignment. For official duties he wore a specially made uniform in the M90 camouflage pattern.<ref name=":2" />

On 5 February 2026, Harald VI retired as regimental mascot and was succeeded by Harald VII.<ref>{{harvnb|Wallin|2026}}</ref>

== See also == * Gotland Regiment * Gotland Battlegroup

== References == {{reflist}}

== Sources ==

* {{Cite news |last=Fagerstedt |first=Therese |date=25 May 2018 |title=Emotional ceremony at the celebration of the establishment of the Gotland Regiment |url=https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/news/2018/05/emotional-ceremony-at-the-celebration-of-the-establishment-of-the-gotland-regiment |access-date=10 Sep 2025 |work=Swedish Armed Forces |language=en}} * {{Cite news |last=Widehed |first=Maria |date=10 Sep 2019 |title=Gutebaggen som blev en symbol för något större |url=https://officerstidningen.se/gutebaggen-som-blev-en-symbol-for-nagot-storre/ |access-date=10 Sep 2025 |work=Officers' Magazine |language=sv-se}} * {{Cite news |last=Skoog |first=David |date=29 Oct 2019 |title=Harald V har fått en efterträdare |url=https://www.helagotland.se/nyheter/gotland/artikel/harald-v-har-fatt-en-eftertradare/grm6yz6j |access-date=9 Sep 2025 |work=Helagotland |language=sv-se}} * {{Cite news |last=Widegren |first=Patrik |date=29 Oct 2019 |title=Ny gutebagge redo för militärtjänst |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/ost/harald-vi-redo-for-tjanstgoring |access-date=9 Sep 2025 |work=Sveriges Television |language=sv-se}} * {{Cite news |last=Ihreskog |first=Magnus |date=4 Jan 2020 |title=Harald VI redo för sitt första maskot-uppdrag |url=https://www.helagotland.se/nyheter/fardhem/artikel/harald-vi-redo-for-sitt-forsta-maskot-uppdrag/4lqkoz8l |access-date=9 Sep 2025 |work=Helagotland |language=sv-se}} * {{Cite news |last=Widegren |first=Patrik |date=8 Jan 2020 |title="Lysande premiär" för den militära gutebaggen Harald VI |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/ost/lysande-premiar-for-harald-vi |access-date=9 Sep 2025 |work=Sveriges Television |language=sv-se}} * {{Cite web |last=SSBA |date=7 Jun 2023 |title=Gutefår |url=https://faravelsforbundet.se/gutefar/ |access-date=10 Sep 2025 |publisher=Swedish Sheep Breeding Association |language=sv-se}} * {{Cite news |last=Wallin |first=Tobias |date=6 February 2026 |title=Möt militärmaskoten Harald VII som nu fått sin titel |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/ost/mot-militarmaskoten-harald-vii-som-nu-fatt-sin-titel |access-date=27 April 2026 |work=Sveriges Television |language=sv-se}}

Category:2017 animal births Category:Individual animals in Sweden Category:Individual sheep