Yes, you read that headline correctly – Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary is going to be mother again, and this time to twins!
Amalienborg Palace announced Friday that the babies are due in January 2011.
When Mary’s brother-in-law Prince Joachim was asked Friday about the pregnancy, he said “Wonderful news. Absolutely wonderful”.
He added: “You become really happy for such good news and you become even happier for double-good news”.
It was Crown Prince Frederik who told Joachim about it at Gråsten recently.
“He was more than ordinarily happy when he said it. It’s great that he can give the good news to those closest to him. Now the whole family is somersaulting with joy. I see the same joy in his eyes, as I experienced myself, when I became a father”.
He ends by telling that he looks forward to seeing how the twins will look like.
Congrats to Frederik, Mary, Christian and Isabella!
ROYAL PRESS PHOTO OG NIELS HENRIK DAM / COLOURPRESS
Most of members of the Danish royal family took part in a media photoshoot Wednesday at Gråsten Castle. Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik were there with their two sons, their daughters in law and their grandchildren. They were also with the Queen’s sister, Princess Benedikte and her husband, plus her grandchildren.
Absent from the event were Prince Joachim’s two eldest sons, Princes Nikolai and Felix, who are vacationing with their mother in Turkey. Also, Princess Nathalie, daughter of Benedikte, is still in Germany recuperating from delivering her son earlier this week.
ROYAL PRESS PHOTO OG NIELS HENRIK DAM / COLOURPRESS
Despite that, Prince Joachim was proud to show off his youngest son, Prince Henrik age 1, to the press. The little boy is turning into a spitting image of his mother, Princess Marie.
ROYAL PRESS PHOTO OG NIELS HENRIK DAM / COLOURPRESS
Meanwhile, Frederik and Mary were happy to pose with their two children, Prince Christian and Princess Isabella. Christian will be 5 years old this coming October, and there will be a lot of celebrations to mark that milestone. As for Isabella, age 3, she is turning into a lovely young lady – or rather, lovely young princess!
Time flies! It was a year ago today that Denmark’s Princess Marie gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, whom she and husband Prince Joachim named after their son’s grandfather, Prince Henrik, consort to Queen Margrethe II.
Kongehuset/Steen Brogaard
Now the little prince is a year old. To mark this occasion, Joachim and Marie invited photographer Steen Brogaard to take pictures of their son in late April. The photographs also include little Henrik interacting with big brothers Princes Nikolai and Felix, Joachim’s sons from a previous marriage.
After weeks of building up the big event, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II officially celebrated her 70th year Friday, and she did it with the love of her people, her family and other royals from across Europe.
Schiller Graphics/Getty Images
Unfortunately, a lot of royals were unable to make to the festivities because of the volcanic ash shutting down airports in northern Europe. But that didn’t stop everyone from having a good time.
Friday began with 27 cannon rumblings from a nearby naval base. Within hours, the royal family of Denmark stepped out onto the balcony of Amalienborg Palace to greet the thousands of well-wishers who waved their country’s flag and cheered for their Queen. Along with the family, the crowd also sang “Happy Birthday” to the monarch affectionately known as Daisy.
During this time, police had to block a small group of anti-monarchists from protesting at the Palace. They were kept back at over 300 feet.
STF/AFP/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, then rode a carriage through the streets of Copenhagen as they traveled to a reception at City Hall. There, European royals had a birthday lunch which seemed to be a prologue to the gala dinner in the evening.
Not all of Europe’s royalty were there for the celebrations. With air flights canceled due to ash from an Icelandic volcano, some were not able to come to Copenhagen at all. Britain’s Prince Philip, the Crown Princely couple of Belgium, and the King and Queen of Spain were those not in attendance. Others, such as Dutch Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima made it in via train just for Friday and had missed out on the performance gala Thursday night.
But luckily, they did not miss out on the dinner at Fredensborg Palace. Dressed to the nines, the royals gathered once again for the final part of Queen Margrethe’s birthday festivities. This time, her husband and eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik delivered moving speeches.
The Prince Consort went first. After welcoming the guests, he said in Danish, “Dear Daisy, 70 years is a milestone. The years that have elapsed, has filled you with a life experience that is influenced by your life’s work and your duty to follow it. But they also have filled you with joy and happiness – even if no people are living a perfect life. For aspects of life are manifold. But if you have lived as you can safely say that you have lived a rich life.
AP PHOTO/POLFOTO, Jens Dige
“You have contributed to your own life and greatly to mine, Frederik, Joachim, our grandchildren and our entire extended family. Yes, you have contributed more than that. You have too many lived a life that has inspired loving care, life energy, cheerfulness and artistic talent.
“Although you may begin to feel the age pass you from these sources of inspiration properties that blooms and evolves as never before.
“Your pleasant and amiable mind, combined with your life’s work, gives you an intuition and a compassion that touches people in your vicinity. For all those who live around you, every day enriched with joy and feeling of joy, happiness and admiration.”
With that, Prince Henrik gave a toast calling the Queen the light of his life.
REUTERS/Jens Norgaard Larsen/Scanpix Denmark
Next came Crown Prince Frederik, whom many thought Margrethe was going to abdicate the throne on this day for. Whether he was disappointed or relieved did not show on the Prince. Instead, he gave a sweet speech to his mother, and got a kiss from wife Crown Princess Mary as a result!
Even Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen spoke to the head of state in words the Queen described as “kind and beautiful.”
Finally, the birthday girl got her chance to speak. She gave a short and simple speech in which she thanked each of the speakers and gave them a few personal words. As for the rest of the guests, she said:
“What is 70 years? Many before you reach this far, but when the day comes, they are suddenly gone so quickly. Day has gone to day, year to year, many were the challenges, joys far more and far larger. Gratitude for everything that was me and part of everything I have experienced the greatest.”
With that, a toast was made and the night’s dinner began.
The past two days have seen one of the great gathering of royals of 2010. The next time this many royals would be at one place in such a glamorous environment with gowns, tuxedos and tiaras will be Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding on June 19th – that is almost two months away!
Dozens of European royalty arrived at the Royal Danish Theatre for a performance gala to mark Queen Margrethe II’s 70th birthday.
REUTERS/Bob Strong
Although flights in northern Europe are experiencing delays and even cancellations because of an Icelandic volcanic eruption, many of the region’s royals made it to the celebration, and boy, were they a sight to see! Glamorous gowns, stunning tiaras, men in tuxedos – it all added up to the quintessential royal event.
First, the Danish royals: Crown Princess Mary wore a white Grecian style gown and her beautiful ruby tiara, while sister-in-law Princess Marie looked quite sexy in her tight red dress. Both were on the arms of their husbands, Frederik and Joachim.
Also on the arm of Crown Prince Frederik was fellow royal and good friend Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. She looked quite stately in her gown that had a simple white top and a silvery floral skirt.
Representing Sweden were Crown Princess Victoria, her fiance Daniel Westling, and brother Prince Carl Philip. Victoria recycled a dress she wore to a dinner following the 2008 Nobel Prize ceremony. She also wore what seems to be her favorite tiara, the four button.
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg were among the guests as well. The Grand Duchess wore her emerald tiara that went nicely with a sparkly gown.
Polfoto
Queen Margrethe’s sisters, Princess Benedikte and ex-Queen Anne-Marie of Greece were also on the guest list, as was her niece, Princess Nathalie, who’s pregnant belly was noticeable, and her fiance, Alexander Johannsmann.
In addition to the royals at this event was the President of Iceland. While his country is experiencing a major natural disaster, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson arrived on time to pay his respects to the Danish Queen. Iceland was once a territory of Denmark.
The performance for the evening was an opera, a play and a ballet. The evening began with the overture from “The Elf Mound.” It was followed by two excerpts from Wagner operas, Bizet’s “Carmen” and samples of the ballets “Swan Lake” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
On the drama side was an excerpt of one of this season’s most notable performances, Holberg’s “Ulysses of Ithaca.”
Tomorrow will be the big day for Queen Margrethe, as she will finally turn 70 years old. More royals are expected such as the Dutch, who were unable to make it in time for tonight’s gala.
Friday marks Queen Margrethe II’s 70 birthday, and Denmark is going to great lengths celebrating this milestone. Since the beginning of the year, there have been televised documentaries, books and exhibits honoring the Danish monarch. But Tuesday began the real festivities.
Schiller Graphics/Getty Images
The members of the royal family put on their best attire for a gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace, with 375 guests including members of parliament.
Queen Margrethe gave a speech at the start of the dinner, where she spoke humbly about the affectionate relationship she has had with her people.
“Tonight I have the opportunity to bring a greeting and a thank you to the entire country for everything I through many years has received the kindness and warm attention from all sides,” said the Queen.
“It means a lot to me that even the Faroe Islands and Greenland are represented here tonight. Well, there may be far from Torshavn or Nuuk, but for me the distance never seemed exemplary or the many miles incalculable,” she said, mentioning Denmark’s territories.
“It is my hope that this evening alternating spots and surprises may be for the benefit of all those who have the opportunity to follow in the event.”
The Queen then concluded with a toast of champagne.
Performances by Danish singers and some foreign acts, such as Cliff Richard took place. There was even a magic trick show by comedian Rune Klan.
Celebrations for Queen Margrethe will last until Friday. I will keep you updated on the days’ events!
Denmark’s Prince Joachim and Princess Marie just completed a visit to Mexico this weekend. They arrived late on Wednesday, and spent three days in the Latin American country. The couple were there for various business and cultural events.
AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
One of those activities was the exhibition of the costumes to the movie “The Wild Swans”, which were designed by Danish Queen Margrethe II herself. Joachim and Marie opened the display at Museo Franz Mayer in Mexico City following a press conference. Afterward, they attended the premiere of the film.
On Friday March 4th, the couple went their separate ways. Prince Joachim paid a visit to the Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, which included having Danish suppliers coming along with of brewing equipment. Meanwhile, his wife represented UNESCO Denmark by visiting UNESCO Casa Luis Barragan, which was just named a World Heritage Site.
In the afternoon, the pair reunited to open the horizontal position Dreams on Wheels at the Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico. The exhibition focuses on the Danish cycling culture and innovative bicycle designs, was launched in December when the U.N. Climate Change Summit took place in Copenhagen.
In the evening, the Prince and Princess went to the Anthropological Museum followed by a gala dinner.
On Saturday, the royal couple visited the Mexican pyramids in Teotihuacan and then later went to the organic public park Xochitla where they planted a tree.
Wednesday evening saw Danish Queen Margrethe II host the Cour Ball, in which the members of Denmark’s government, Parliament and those who represent the country in the European Union are invited. All the members of the Danish royal family attended the gala, including the Crown Princely couple, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte, the Queen’s sister. The event was held at Christianborg Palace.
The royal women dressed glamorously, complete with sashes and tiaras. Crown Princess Mary wore the same tiara she wore when she married Crown Prince Frederik in 2004. She also wore a deep blue sleeveless dress plus her usual fur shawl.
Princess Marie wore a one shouldered pale blue gown with gold embroidery in the front, as well as a fur shawl.
To see video of the arrivals and the opening part of the dinner, click here. The royals start to arrive at about 1:19 into the video.
On Sunday, Denmark’s Prince Joachim and Princess Marie arrived in Hong Kong to kick off their eight day official visit to China. They will be promoting such Danish products as cuisine, fashion and design.
Jesper Sunesen/BILLED-BLADET
On Tuesday, they toured the city and then opened an exhibit in Hong Kong’s Shopping Center called “The Danish Design Jewels.”
Towards the end of their tour, Joachim and Marie will go to Beijing.
The royal couple also brought with them their 6 1/2 month old son, Prince Henrik. Unfortunately though, there won’t be much time for the parents to spend time with their baby, so a nanny was brought along for the visit.
The Prince is very familiar with Hong Kong. In the late 1990s, he worked here, and it was in the city he met a woman named Alexandra Manley. The two married and had Joachim’s first two sons, Nikolai and Felix. Sadly, the couple divorced in 2005, and Alexandra became known as the Countess of Frederiksborg.
The entire Danish royal family gathered yesterday for the annual opening of Parliament at the Christianborg Palace in Copenhagen. The women, in particular Crown Princess Mary and Princess Marie, were dressed fashionably with their lovely coats and hats. They also carried bouquets of autumn colored flowers.
Hanne Juul/Billed Bladet
Princess Benedikte, the younger sister of Queen Margrethe II, arrived first at about 11:45am. She was followed by Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, then by the Crown Princely couple. Last but not least to arrive was the Queen and her husband, Prince Henrik. She was greeted by Thor Pedersen, the Speaker of Parliament.
At noon, everyone went inside and sat in their box to watch the opening session. This year was a more special year since it was Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen’s first time opening Denmark’s Parliament.
Despite that, the royal family, even Queen Margrethe, looked noticeably bored during the session. Some members even looked like they were ready to fall asleep.
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