Three days after she came into the world, Denmark’s newest Princess was taken home by her parents, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.
The media and well-wishers gathered at the hospital’s lobby to cheer for the latest addition to the Danish royal family. Marie looked well rested while Joachim appeared to be ecstatic.
“She has a good appetite and zest for life,” said the proud father.
Joachim also told reporters that his new daughter looks like Marie, whom said it was too early to say. However, the little girl has Marie’s dark hair.
The baby was asleep in her mother’s arms and one reporter suggested she be named “Sleeping Beauty”.
During her hospital stay, Princess Marie was visited by her parents, her in-laws, and her two stepsons – Princes Nikolai and Felix from Joachim’s previous marriage. Even the couple’s 2 1/2 year old son, Prince Henrik paid a visit and got to meet his little sister.
The new Princess is the eighth grandchild of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort. She is also tenth in line to the Danish throne.
Her name won’t be revealed until the day of her baptism, which has yet to be announced.
Already, Danish bookies are betting the princess would be named after one of her grandmothers. After all, big brother Henrik is named after his paternal grandfather!
Denmark’s Princess Marie delivered her second child Tuesday. She had a daughter, and the child weighed 6.45 pounds (2.930 kilograms) and measures 19.6 inches (49 centimeters).
Click here for more pics of the couple
This new addition to the Danish royal family is now 10th in line to the throne.
While this is the second child for Marie, it’s the fourth for husband Prince Joachim. He has two boys – Princes Nikolai and Felix – with his previous wife, Alexandra Manley, whom he divorced in 2005.
Joachim married Marie in 2008, and they had a son, Prince Henrik, in 2009.
This baby was born exactly ten days after her grandmother, Queen Margrethe II, celebrated her 40 years as monarch.
As with Danish royal tradition, the name of this new princess won’t be revealed until her baptism later this year.
Although she officially marked 40 years as head of Europe’s oldest monarchy Saturday, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II continued with the festivities on Sunday.
Click here to see the balcony photos!
The day began with Her Majesty’s 500th State council meeting. She was accompanied by husband Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.
Then at noon, the Queen and the Prince Consort appeared on the balcony of Amalienborg Palace. Between 8,000 to 10,000 Danes gathered below to wish their Queen the best for her ruby jubilee. Some of those people arrived very early in the morning to get a spot.
On the adjacent balconies were her sons, her daughter in laws and her grandchildren – even the twins! Even Princess Marie, who’s on maternity leave and is due any day, was on the balcony.
On the other balcony were the Queen’s fellow Scandinavian royals from Norway and Sweden, as well as the former Greek royals.
In the evening came the gala banquet, with all the tiaras, men in uniform and designer gowns. In attendance were all the Danish royals – save for Princess Marie and the grandchildren, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, plus Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Greece’s deposed royal family including King Constantine, Queen Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie-Chantal.
Speeches were given in honor of Margrethe’s jubilee. Prince Henrik gave this moving speech in honor of his wife:
See the banquet photos here
“Dear Queen, dear wife, dear Daisy. I am the first man in the kingdom to admire you,” he said.”We have over these 40 years shared many good and exciting things together, but also some difficult challenges. But always with dedication and sensitivity. ”
To the attendants, Henrik said, “All we will together with the Danish people celebrate a queen who has dedicated her life to Denmark and Greenland and the Faroe Islands. A monarch who has shown the greatest capacity to carry out her mission in life: to work for Denmark with God’s help, the people’s love, and Denmark’s strength.”
Finally, Her Majesty spoke and expressed her gratitude plus her awe at spending the past four decades as Denmark’s monarch. “They have gone so quickly,” she said.
“The commitment is as strong for me today, but I would like to stress that the obligation has always been driven by joy. The joy is rooted in the heat that has met me and my family everywhere through every year, in celebration and joy as in sorrow, as well as in daily life,” the Queen said.
To her husband, she said: “You, my dear Henri, has stood by me and been of encouragement and inspiration for me in the work that we have been two to perform. This day is your anniversary as well as mine. Together we have seen our sons grow up, marry and enrich us with a whole bunch of grandchildren.”
Continuing, she said:”40 years is more than one lifetime, unmanageable for many years to look forward to for those who are young. But in retrospect it seems to me that they’re gone so fast. Today when I look back over the years, it is with deep gratitude, gratitude for the task which has been entrusted to me, and grateful for everything it has given me,” she said.
To end it off, Queen Margrethe said: “I ask all to rise and speak with me and say God preserve Denmark.”
40 years ago on this day, January 14th, King Frederik IX of Denmark passed away from an illness. His eldest daughter and heir, 31 year old Crown Princess Margrethe, became Queen Margrethe II, head of a monarchy with over 1,000 years of history.
Click here for more pics at Daylife
Today, Her Majesty, her family, and the rest of Denmark celebrated her ruby jubilee. It began with the Queen and her two younger sisters, Princess Benedikte and Anne-Marie, the former Queen of Greece, laying wreaths at the tombs of their parents – King Frederik and Queen Ingrid – at Roskilde Cathedral.
The Queen’s husband, Prince Henrik, her two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and daughter in law, Crown Princess Mary were also there. Princess Marie is out on maternity leave.
The royal family then boarded a train back to Copenhagen where they were picked up by a horse drawn golden carriage that drove them through the city. Large cheering crowds were there to greet and honor their Queen, affectionately known as Daisy.
At City Hall, reception took place, attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Sonja, the former Greek royals, and Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.
During the reception, Her Majesty received a gift from Copenhagen’s mayor and told him the city will have a “special place in her heart” always.
See more photos at SN.dk here
Afterward, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik stood on the balcony where about 5,000 cheered for her below.
A recent poll shows nearly 80 percent of Danes approve of the monarchy, making it perhaps the most popular in Europe. When the Queen took over the institution, it was a lot less popular.
Margrethe has been able to “modernize an ageing monarchy and adapt it to the evolving society,” explained Lars Hovbakke Soerensen, a historian at the University of Copenhagen.
In the evening, a gala concert was held with the Danish royals dressed up. The concert included ballet and music conducted by Markus Lethinen.
Tomorrow, Queen Margrethe will hold her 500th state council meeting with the cabinet, plus attend a church service and banquet.
Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark is just days away from marking her Ruby Jubilee, or 40 years on the throne. Tuesday saw the beginning of Queen Margrethe II’s celebrations, with a visit to the Folketinget, or Parliament, and a press conference at Amalienborg Palace.
Click here to view photo gallery
The Queen arrived at Danish Parliament a bit after noon. She was with her husband, Prince Henrik, the Crown Princely couple, and Prince Joachim. Princess Marie did not attend today’s events due to her pregnancy.
Parliamentary Chairman, Mogens Lykketoft, gave a speech for the Queen:
“Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, has extorted the highest respect by all the successive governments and ministers who have served in the Privy Council. On behalf of democracy, I would like to thank you for the way you have managed your responsibility and the royal family as an institution. Parliament wishes your majesty a happy anniversary.”
Afterward, a reception was held at Christianborg Palace.
Not all members of the Folketinget are pleased with the celebrations surrounding Margrethe’s ruby jubilee. Some even boycotted Parliament’s honoring of her today. Zenia Stampe, of the far-left party, the Radicals, was one such politician.
“I do not love her, but I do not hate her, certainly not. She is a sweet and talented woman, but I think sometimes a good thing that can go a little North Korea in Denmark when we approach such some events,” she said on a Danish morning program.
One debater flinched at the comment and responded: “I will defend Her Majesty to the day she is not here anymore. I do not think we can do more than to love her for her abilities, her wit and the things she does for Denmark,” said Jim Heather Wild.
“I’m just a democratic citizen who is entitled to have an attitude,” Stampe replied.
Later in the day, Queen Margrethe met with various reporters for a press conference, something she gives during important events. Speaking in Danish, English, French and Swedish, she talked about her 40 year reign and the monarchy’s future.
Click here for recent pics of Queen Margrethe II
When asked about her son and heir, Crown Prince Frederik, she said she would give him this advice: “That you are totally committed. 24 hours. The year round. You should have the confidence that it is possible. You are not alone with the task.
He should have faith in himself being able to do it and that you get help and support from your country. From the Danes. From his family. He should do what feels most natural for him. However, I don’t have big problems imagining myself that Frederik will manage it alright”
The Queen reflected on her long reign this way: “I have tried to keep ears and eyes open and use intuition. My whole country has been a support for me through all the years. I have my husband by my side and my children, who have grown up and become good and sensible people, who are a good help. And then I had my mother.”
That mother was Queen Ingrid, a Swedish princess. In fact, she was Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf’s aunt, making Margrethe and the King first cousins.
Her Majesty also spoke about how pleased she was that the monarchy is more popular today – 78 percent – than when she inherited the throne in 1972. Back then, nearly a third wanted a republic.
“I’m very glad that people feel it as a natural part of our country that there are royals. That warms so tremendously and it stiffens (you) frightfully to know that you have the confidence from people,” she said.
The Queen also insisted she will remain one until the end of her days. “In my eyes it’s part of the very position you have, to inherit a monarchy. It’s a task you have taken over and you keep it as long as you live.”
As for Frederik and Mary, Margrethe did say as she ages, she will give more tasks to them.
Queen Margrethe II inherited the Danish monarchy January 14, 1972, following the death of her father King Frederik XI, who had reigned for only 25 years.
NOTE: CNN International will broadcast an interview of Her Majesty by Max Foster. It will air on Saturday 430pET and Sunday 530a/1130pET.
Sources: Billed Bladet, The Royal Forums, Monster & Critics
Yep, it’s been one year since the Danish royal twins were born!
Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander and Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda mark their first birthday Sunday.
Photographs done by Franne Voight were taken, featuring the twins crawling around and hanging with their family. There’s even one showing the babies’ birthday cakes – inspired by Greenland, a Danish autonomic area. It should be noted that the twins’ middle names – Minik and Ivalo – are Greenlandish.
A recent poll found that while many in Denmark adore Queen Margrethe II, they would like to see her son and heir, Crown Prince Frederik succeed her soon.
A Megafon poll revealed about 40 percent of Danes would like to see the Queen to abdicate in favor of Frederik within ten years. Another 11 percent would like to see the succession take place immediately.
“A monarch is something you are for life. The problem is that people live much longer now than previously. In the 20th century that has meant that successors accede to the throne when most other people are pensioned off,” says historian Steffen Heiberg.
Even Her Majesty, who will mark 40 years as Queen of Denmark, has no plans to retire. “My view has always been that it is an assignment that you have for life,” she told Politiken on Sunday.
The results of this poll could be a reflection of the enormous popularity of Frederik and his wife, Crown Princess Mary.
“If she abdicated it would make the royal house just look like the rest of society. That would make the monarch just a job like any other job and that you retire when you are 70. The monarchy could probably not survive if it became too standard,” Heiberg says.
Despite her insistence to remain monarch until death, Queen Margrethe believes Frederik would make a good King.
“I have complete confidence in my son. He will be able to fulfil his role.”
Every January, the Danish royal court celebrates the new year with a series of gala events. For the first day of the new year, the court invites members of the government and the court.
See gallery of the arrivals at SN.dk here
Prince Joachim was the first to arrive for the banquet and he was solo this year. This is because his wife, Princess Marie, is on maternity leave.
The crown princely couple were scheduled to come next, but there was a delay. So, Queen Margrethe II and husband Prince Henrik arrived. The Queen, who will mark 40 years as monarch later this month, wore a rose colored gown she had worn during the celebrations for her 70th birthday in 2009.
Frederik and Mary pulled up at the palace last. The Crown Princess wore a long sleeved red velvet gown with a train. It was the same gown she wore to the same event in 2007. But back then she was pregnant with Princess Isabella, and for this year, her dress was restitched for her slim figure.
The New Year Court banquet takes place at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg and it features a four-course menu where, among other things, potato soup, pheasant and marcel cake were served.
It has been a tradition, with the exception of a few years, since 1598 for the Danish monarch to celebrate the new year in this fashion.
While most of their European counterparts deliver their year-end speeches to their people, Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark give their speeches on New Year’s Eve. They both discussed the hard times their country’s faced in 2011, and urged optimism for 2012.
Click here to read the Queen's speech (in Danish)
Queen Margrethe talked about how many Danes are still struggling with the poor economy. She called for them to keep their heads held high.
“We have faced adversity before and we’ve seen before how we could get through a crisis by biting the teeth together, support each other and not give up,” she said.
“We can not leave it to others or to chance, how we should proceed. We need to make sure you get where we can find a starting point. This applies both mentally and concretely.”
“Also many of the young, the situation is worrisome. They can not really hold, because they can not find work or because they do not get the education that can improve their chances of finding employment. It can give confidence to recede, making it more difficult to get started, find a foothold and move on. This is serious, not just for the individual young person but the entire community. For it is the young who must lead our society forward, they are the ones that our future must be based.”
The Queen also talked about the troops in Afghanistan, whom she personally went to visit earlier this year. “We all know that they are doing a great and good effort, but with my own eyes to see how they live, to talk with them and gain an insight into their everyday lives is something I will never forget.”
Her Majesty then went on about her own family, and increasing number of grandchildren. This year saw Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have twins, and Princess Marie is due to have a second child next month.
“We are pleased and touched by everything that happens in our family. I could wish for all families that they could experience as much joy as we: to see their children grow up and develop, and their grandchildren thrive and spread joy.”
With that, Queen Margrethe ended her speech with the traditional, “God save Denmark”.
Over in Norway, King Harald V had the somber duty of healing the country still reeling from the terror attacks in Oslo and Utøya back on July 22nd.
Click here to read the entire speech (in Norwegian)
“Those directly affected should be processing strong emotions and a heavy loss in their own way and at their own time. In this slow adaptation to the rest of us to be fellow human beings,” he said.
“‘When all is no longer with and carry, it becomes harder for us,’ said one of the survivors of Utøya two months after the tragedy. Here is a challenge to each and every one of us. A challenge to show care and provide assurance. We must not forget the children. They might be sitting back with more and stronger impression than we realize.”
“2011 has been a dramatic year,” the King went on to say. “The tsunami that struck Japan took twenty thousand lives and caused widespread nuclear contamination. In the Horn of Africa and elsewhere have natural disasters hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. In our own wealthy European debt crisis threatens to close youth out of work – to an extent we thought belonged to the past. But there have also been many positive: the so-called Arab spring. Nobel Peace Prize award to female democracy activists in Africa and the Middle East. Let’s hope this is what will stand out as milestones in history when the long lines to be drawn.”
Harald went on to mention Norway’s fight against racism, and how a program that was started this year saw native Norwegians be invited to the homes of immigrants. Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were invited to an Iranian family’s house for tea as a result of the program. “The conversation with his neighbor over a cup of coffee or tea will also help us to understand differences and appreciate the resources inherent in diversity. At the same time it gives us the opportunity to hone ourselves to each other. We must dare. When the call is an even more important way forward.”
King Harald then ended his speech by saying, “Every person has a great power in themselves – that can carry us through what we encounter in life. But we can not do it alone. And I’m not alone would be to cope with life’s greatest challenges.”
With that, His Majesty wished all Norwegians a happy new year.
Sources: Kongehuset.dk, Kongehuset.no
Dear Readers, I would like to take this time to wish you all a Happy New Year! 2011 was very eventful, both in the royal sphere and beyond. Let’s make 2012 a great year! – Megan
A recent poll found that nearly eight of ten Danes enjoy their monarchy and would rather have that than a republic.
Click here for original source of photo
The Megafon poll found 77 percent of the people support Queen Margrethe II and her family, while only 16 percent would want to abolish the institution.
“That’s a lot more than for the other European monarchies,” commented Copenhagen University lecturer Lars Hovbakke Soerensen.
According to Soerensen, those other European monarchies see about 50 – 60 percent support from their people.
That may be because the Danish royals have modernized at a reasonable pace than the British royals, whom some say have adapted to changing times too slowly. But at the same time, the Danes have not modernized as quickly as their Norwegian counterparts, whom might have done so too quickly.
In addition, the money it costs Danish taxpayers to finance their royals – between 40-54 million euros – can be considered reasonable, says Soerensen.
The poll was conducted ahead of Queen Margrethe’s 40th anniversary as head of state next month.
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