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February 5th marks the fortieth birthday for Denmark’s future Queen. Crown Princess Mary sat down with the newspaper, Berlingske Tidendeto talk about her milestone birthday.
 Click here for more photos at the Danish royal website! “I don’t think about my physical age,” she said. “I am in a wonderful period of my life. As a forty year old you just know so much more about what life is about. It’s about being present here and now – but I’m also looking forward to continuing journey.”
Mary was asked how she tackles her role as Crown Princess.
“I have all the time felt that I had grabbed the sides that are important to me, which I was interested in. Meaning, how do I use my skills and abillities for the benefit of Denmark? How do I best represent Denmark as the person I am?”
She also glowed over the support she gets from the Danish people.
“It can still be experienced as very overwhelming, when you come out and meet the warmth that radiates towards you. It’s nice to feel that you have the backing in the population for what you do.”
Source: Berlingske Tidende
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.”
Sources: Jyllands-Posten, JydskeVestkysten
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.
Sources: Sky News, AP, Deutsche Presse Agentur
 Click here to see more related photos 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.”
Sources: Politiken, Herald Sun (Australia)
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.
Sources: SN.dk
Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark finished their seven day official visit to Australia Saturday. The last three days of their tour took them to Melbourne and a town called Broken Hill.
 See photos of Day 4 here at Zimbio For Wednesday, Frederik and Mary went to Melbourne’s version of the Sofitel Hotel, to open the State of Green – Join The Future. Think Denmark conference. Before entering the hotel, the couple were greeted by 7 year old Catherine Babie, who was born the day before they married in May 2004. Catherine’s mother, Rachael Oliphant, had flown with her to Melbourne in hopes of meeting the Australian-born Mary, and with luck it worked out!
“Hello Prince Frederik, hello Princess Mary, these flowers are for you,” Catherine said as she handed the Crown Princess a bouquet of chrysanthemums, gerberas and lilies. She then curtseyed to the royals.
“She’s fairly young, she has children, she’s well presented, she’s from Australia and someone to admire,” Ms. Oliphant described Mary. She also explained that her daughter collects magazines of the Crown Princess.
Inside the hotel, Crown Prince Frederik discussed green technology, which is the point of this official visit.
“We’re here to develop the existing strong commercial relationship between Australia and Denmark in areas of mutual interest such as smart cities, clean energy, fruit and meat technology,” he said.
“Climate change and scarce resources impede us to continue business as usual. Both our countries are looking to reduce their dependency on oil, gas and coal.”
“At the same time we’re not willing to compromise our economic prosperity in order to do so.”
After the conference, Mary teamed up again with chefs Rasmus Kofoed and Matt Moran to demonstrate Danish-Australian cooking. Following that, she and her husband went to the Denmark House, where they presented scholarships.
 See images of Day 5 here at Zimbio Next, Frederik and Mary toured the Corporate Culture facility, where they gave out a Danish Export Association honorary diploma and HRH Prince Henrik’s medal of honor before having a business dinner at the Docklands.
On Thursday, the royals went their separate ways. The Crown Prince toured the George Weston Foods production facility in Castlemaine while Crown Princess Mary visited the Pakenham Springs Primary School. There she saw one of its buildings being fitted by Danish eco-friendly technology.
In the afternoon, the couple teamed up again for a reception for the opening of the LeoPharma Pharmacueticals Australian division. As always, they were greeted by large crowds and many offered flowers, though the attention was mainly on Mary.
Next, Frederik and Mary went to a children’s activity center at Birrarung Marr to see kids use LEGO toys to build a city. One of the children gave the Crown Princess a LEGO version of the Danish flag. As she tried to leave, a couple of girls hugged Mary, preventing her from leaving on schedule. But she took it in stride.
For the final hours of their fifth day, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess took part in the naming of the Svitzer Marysville tugboat at Melbourne Harbor, and a business dinner at Federation Square.
 Click here to see photos of Day 7 Friday saw the Crown Princely couple again split up. Mary went to tour the Royal Flying Doctors Service base in Broken Hill, while her husband checked out the Macarthur Wind Farm in southwest Victoria. The farm will install 140 Danish windturbines and will become the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.
Late the afternoon, the couple reunited to attend a reception hosted by the Governor of Victoria, Alex Chernov at Government House.
On Saturday, Their Royal Highnesses were at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation event in Broadmeadows where she discussed cyber bullying and eSmart, which is to be enrolled in all Australian schools.
‘‘eSmart is a world-leading system and one which Australia should be extremely proud of and one which I’m sure, and I’ve no doubt myself will take home, and with inspiration from here, talk with the actors in Denmark that are already active in the area that maybe can use a little bit of extra inspiration,’’ Mary said in a speech.
In the evening, Frederik and Mary attended the Starry Starry Night charity ball which raised money for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
Thus ends the whirlwind seven days touring Australia. Throughout, Crown Princess Mary wowed everyone who caught a glimpse of her.
“She’s just so beautiful, the way that she held herself, what she was wearing, she’s just stunning and she was just so nice to everyone there,” said Annie Turner who was one of the many people in the crowds during the final leg of this tour.
The royal couple will remain in the country for a few more days, spending private time in Mary’s native Tasmania.
Sources: The Herald Sun, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, The Australian
Denmark’s future King and Queen are currently on a six day official visit to Australia – Crown Princess Mary’s native country. This is the first time the couple have been Down Under since 2008. The purpose of this visit is to promote Danish eco-friendly technology.
 Click here for images of Day 1 Crown Prince Frederik and his wife arrived in Sydney Friday, the city where he and Mary met at a pub back in 2000. Their first stop was to the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition at Bondi Beach. There, they were met by Barry O’Farrell, the premier of New South Wales, who gave them a tour of the art exhibit.
Frederik and Mary then went to another exhibition, this time the Curating Cities: Sydney-Copenhagen, which aims to show alternative energies. The couple took turns to try an “energy-generating bike” which is designed to power a smoothie blender.
Later in the day, the royals took a boat trip across the Sydney harbor to meet with Governor-General Quentin Bryce and her husband, Michael, at the Admiralty House for a barbeque. They took the time to pose for the media not just with the Bryces’, but with their 10 month old twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. The babies have accompanied their parents on this trip while older sibling, Prince Christian and Princess Isabella are staying in Denmark.
 Click here for photos from Day 2 On Saturday, Frederik and Mary were still in Sydney and were still promoting green technology. In the morning, they went to the Sofitel Hotel for the State of Green – Join The Future – Think Denmark conference. Upon arriving for the event, Mary was welcomed by three young girls who showered her with bouquets and compliments.
“She said thank you for the beautiful flowers, and it was really, really, really nice,” said Evi Karagorge. “And she wasn’t just pretty, she was glamorous!”
Inside, Frederik gave a speech about how both Denmark and Australia are working together to make a more environmentally friendly world.
“Both our countries are looking to reduce our dependency on oil and gas and coal. At the time we are not willing to compromise our economic prosperity in order to do so,” the Crown Prince said.
“My country has shown that it is possible to maintain economic growth and job creation (and) at the same time move towards a more climate friendly and green economy.”
 Click here for images of the Sydney dinner gala
After the conference, the Crown Princess went to the kitchen of the Sofitel to learn how to make a seafood salad and a white chocolate and jelly dessert by Australian chef Matt Moran and Danish chef Rasmus Kofoed.
Afterward, Frederik and Mary went their separate ways – he went to the Darling Quarter while she headed for the Westmead Hospital. The Crown Prince was given a tour of the Commonwealth Building, which uses energy-saving tools and methods.
At the hospital, his wife was honored by its cancer center by renaming it after Her Royal Highness. Its director, Professor Paul Harnett, said the center built a strong relationship with the Danish health system over the years. During her stay, Mary met with the staff and patients, and was given a tour of the facility.
In the evening, Frederik and Mary reunited for a black tie dinner at the Doltone House in Pyrmont. 400 guests were there, as well as the Australian String Quartet, which had played for the Crown Princely couple’s wedding reception in 2004.
The next day, the royals headed for Canberra, Australia’s capital. There, they went to the Parliament House after meeting with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. They also toured the National Gallery of Australia and National Portrait Gallery. At the National Arboretum, Their Royal Highnesses planted a Field Maple tree, native to Denmark. About 500 locals were chosen to attend the planting and get a glimpse of the Australian-born Mary.
There was a better chance of seeing her when she and her husband laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial afterward.
“For the children particularly I think they love to see royals and Prince Frederik and Princess Mary have a strong affiliation with Australia,” said the War Memorial’s Carol Cartwright.
In the evening, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess attended a children’s charity gala.
Sources: News.com.au, Telegraph.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald, Herald Sun, ABC.net.au
 View original source of photo here Friday saw the release of the latest portrait of the Danish Crown Princely family.
Frederik and Mary posed with their two eldest children, Christian age 6 and Isabella age 4, plus with their twin babies, Vincent and Josephine, who are nearly 11 months old.
In less than two months, those twins will be celebrating their first birthday! Amazing how time flies!
Wednesday morning saw the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take part in their first humanitarian cause outside of the United Kingdom, as they flew to Denmark to visit a UNICEF emergency supply center. The depot is sending food and medical supplies to east Africa, with Somalia being the main target. That country is facing its worst famine in decades.
 Click here to check out more photos Who was there to greet them and join them in their visit to the center? Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. This was the first time Catherine met the Danish crown princely couple since they did not attend her April wedding, but William has met Frederik a few times previously.
At the aid depot, the royals were given a tour of the place. They sampled some of the food, such as a high protein peanut paste, but the Duchess reportedly declined for unknown reasons.
This whole visit was instigated by William and Catherine because, according to St. James Palace, they are very concerned with the famine occurring in the region. They also have ties to East Africa. It is where they became engaged last year, they have friends in Kenya, and the Prince once spent part of his gap year there.
“The two couples felt they wanted to do something more to bring the profile of the tragedies back into the public domain,” a spokesman for St. James Palace said.
After the tour of the supply center, William said this: “I think what impresses me the most is that there is just an incredible amount being done.”
“UNICEF are leading the way and they’re doing a fantastic job and sadly there’s still a lot more to do and that’s why we’re here today, to try our best to … get as many people as possible realising the truly horrendous situation that’s going on in east Africa.”
Giving her first interview since the announcement of her engagement nearly a year ago, Catherine said, “It’s really just how shocking the situation still is.”
“It’s been going for 100 days or so and it’s really still ongoing, and a huge amount still has to happen with hundreds of children still malnourished at the moment. Hopefully we can do as much as we can really.”
Drought and food shortages are leaving 13 million people in east Africa on the brink of starvation, with more areas being included in the crisis. So far, 320,000 children are facing malnourishment and are near death.
Crown Princess Mary personally saw the struggles when she visited the Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya in late August.
Sources: AFP, The Daily Mirror
The royals of Scandinavia spent some time together in New York, both in the morning and in the evening. They are in the Big Apple mainly to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Scandinavian-American Foundation.
 Click here for images of the Ground Zero visit But sadly, no visit to New York is without a visit to Ground Zero, site of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Together, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary went to the place where nearly 3,000 people died. With them were the Presidents of Finland and Iceland. Everyone went to the memorial and laid flowers there. All look solemn during the visit.
For the rest of the day, each royal couple went to their separate engagements. The Danish Crown Princely couple went to the BIG Architectural Studios, the Norwegian King and Queen attended an awards ceremony, while their Swedish counterparts met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and his wife Yoo Soon-taek at the United Nations headquarters.
 Check out more photos of the gala here In the evening, it was time to dress up for a black-tie event for the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s centennial ball. All three royal couples, plus the Presidents of Finland and Iceland, went to the Hilton Hotel for the event. Even Sweden’s Princess Madeleine, who’s been spending most of her time in New York these days, attended.
After today, Frederik and Mary will spend a few more days in New York, while the Kings and Queens of Norway and Sweden will go north to Jamestown, near Buffalo, New York Saturday, to celebrate the Norden Club’s centennial anniversary and visit the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. The Norden Club was founded in 1902 by Swedish immigrants to the area.
Source: WGRZ, The Royal Forums
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