Currently Browsing: Frederik & Mary
Posted by
Anne in
Mary on
12 1st, 2009 |
no responses 
Following in the footsteps of her husband, who visited Afghanistan and the Danish soldiers there last autumn, Crown Princess Mary was on a secret two-day visit to the country. She landed back in Denmark this morning, after visiting the Danish camps in Afghanistan. She was accompanied by the Danish minister of Defence, Søren Gade, as well as the chair of the Danish parliament, Thor Pedersen.
They arrived in the Danish Camp Armadillo on Sunday, and moved on to Camp Price where they spent the night. The Crown Princess was shown how the Danish soldiers operate and live, and she met with the mayor from the local town, Gereshk. The group relocated to Camp Bastion on Monday, where briefings on the situation in Afghanistan were given, and a tour of the facilities was given.
The trip ended in Kandahar, with a visit to the American field hospital and meeting the Danish personnel serving there.
According to the Danish Ministry of Defence, about 750 Danish soldiers are serving in Afghanistan.
Posted by
Anne in
Mary on
10 26th, 2009 |
no responses Today Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will be present at the release of this year’s Julemærke, or Christmas stamp as the English translation would be. The Crown Princess is the patron of the Christmas stamp.
The world’s first Christmas stamp was Danish, the motive was Queen Louise of Denmark, and was released in 1904. Since then, many other countries have also taken up the idea of festive stamps on letters for Christmas.
The proceeds originally went to children who suffered from tuberculosis, but today they go to the Julemærkehjem – the Christmas Stamp Homes. These homes, which have trained adult personnel, are welcoming children who are experiencing problems in their environment, such as bullying, or suffer from nervous diseases sometimes resulting in obesity.
Each year 700 Danish kids are admitted to the 4 homes, and roughly 500 kids are on the waiting list. They pay nothing for the experience – everything is funded by the sale of the Christmas stamps, or extra donations from the public.
Queen Margrethe has been the artist behind the Christmas stamp on several occasions, the first time in 1970, the last (so far) in 2003.
Posted by
Anne in
Frederik,
Haakon,
Victoria on
05 11th, 2009 |
no responses Last year, the three heirs to the Scandinavian thrones, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, travelled to Svalbard on the occasion of the International Polar Year.
They apparently enjoyed the experience so much, that they’ll be repeating it this year, in another location.
From May 27 to June 1, they will follow up last year’s trip, with a trip around Greenland.
They will travel on the ship H.D.M.S. Ejnar Mikkelsen along with scientist researching the environment.
Visits to Qeqaertarsauaq to examine sustainable energy alternatives, to the University of Copenhagen’s research station, as well as the iceberg town of Ilulissat.
Later in June, Crown Prince Frederik will return to join in the 30 anniversary celebrations of Greenlandic Home Rule, with the Queen, Prince Henrik and Crown Princess Mary.
The Queen’s Birthday. And the whole family was out in full force. I did not actually notice Princess Isabella until I came home – she is rather small behind the bars.
The balcony scene is interesting to see, year after year, especially when it includes the children. Prince Nikolai is tall enough to comfortably look over the barrier now, and his brother, Prince Felix has also reached the desired height. Prince Christian, on the other hand, is trying so hard to look over the barrier, whereas his sister, Princess Isabella has decided against trying and is more comfortable looking through the bars.
Amalienborg Palace Square was stuffed with people today, old and young, Danes and tourists – as well as Her Majesty’s guard playing the birthday song. If you ever have the occasion to be in Copenhagen on the 16th of April, I sincerely recommend a trip to the Palace square, at 12 o’clock.
This was probably the last public engagement for Princess Marie until the birth.
For more pictures taken by yours truly: Flickr
Posted by
Sofia in
Mary on
03 18th, 2009 |
2 responses 
In February, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark was promoted to lieutenant in the Danish Home Guard and is now a part of the Total Force Region Copenhagen which includes the capital, North Zealand and the island Bornholm. This after having completed officer training during the last year together with her Lady-in-Waiting and Private Secretary Caroline Heering.
Now the Crown Princess has granted the Home Guard’s magazine “HJV magasinet” an exclusive interview about her experiences. Asked about whose initiative it was for her to get involved in military training she said:
- There has always been a tight bond between the defence and the Royal House. It has been my wish to carry on this good tradition that is in the Royal Family to take part in defence training. At the same time it was my wish to get a deeper insight in that role that the total defence plays in and outside Denmark. (more…)
Earlier this week, prince Frederik, princess Mary and their children Christian and Isabella posed in front of the press during their skiing holidays in Klosters, Switzerland. This country seems to be a popular destination for the Danish crown princely family, since the last two years we saw them in Verbier.
Christian and Isabella had a lot of fun together, taking a sleigh ride and playing with their parents. Pictures of the whole family in the snow can be seen here. Prince Christian, who started his first skiing lessons this year, also gave his first interview, you can find it here! (Just click on ‘Hør Christian blive interviewet, somewhere half down the page).
I bet Anne or Sofia can tell you a little more about what was being said, my Danish is a bit rusty, unfortunately…
With Crown Princess Mary in training for the Danish Home Guard: Army, Billed Bladet has pulled out pictures from the time her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe II, went through the training for the Airforce branch of the Home Guard.
The Home Guard stands strong among the Danish female royals: the Queen’s sister, Princess Benedikte is a member of the Navy branch of the organization.
The Danish Home Guard is a part of the Danish military. It has around 50,000 volunteers, and 650 full-time employees. It was formed in 1945, by former resistance fighters, who wanted to ensure that Denmark had a wide network of people who knew how to fight, if Denmark was to be invaded again. Today, the organization deals with education of military forces sent out for deployment, and with more civilian matters inside Denmark, such as handling environmental or other emergencies where the government is in need of extra hands.
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