Audiences with Margrethe, and the Political Role of the Danish Monarch

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I know, this is pretty basic for most here, but some are not familiar with the little details of a monarchy, which is why I often write about the "obvious".

I thank you for it Muhler
Your insights and backgrounds are always appreciated

[Muhler]

You are most kind, Polyesco

Perhaps we should briefly go through the procedure of getting a medal.
You have been employed in the same company for say 40 years (I believe it's 40 years, but don't hang me). Your employer or the association your employer belongs to, will contact the relevant ministry, in this case either the Ministry of Employment or the Ministry of Commerce and recommend you for a medal for long and true service.
At the ministry they will check your papers just to make sure you really have been employed for 40 years. Ok, no problem. The recommendation is then passed on to the Chapter of the Order, where among others Joachim will have a look at the recommendation. At this level probably just a formality.
Your name is added on the list that is send to QMII for approval.

The big day of your anniversary comes, your are celebrated by co-workers and your boss. Your boss will give an appropriate speech and present you with the medal and later on take you out for a dinner. That's basically how the tradition is.
Incidentally after 25 years of employ, the first big day (no medal though), you will if you are a member of at least my union, get three days of extra holidays annually. I don't know off hand if you get more after 40 years.

Common curtesy dictates that you thank the Majesty for the medal at the next convenient public audience.
Again following tradition, your employer escorts you to Christiansborg, where the audiences take place. Here you will show up in your finest, wearing your medal and gloves. You present yourself and state your business and your name is added to the list of that day.
You will get a short briefing by an official at the court about the protocol and the discreet signal QMII will give you when it's time to leave.
The door is opened and you are introduced and walk into the room, where QMII stands alone in the middle of the room.
You walk up to her and shake hands while you bow/curtsey. The door is closed behind you, this is an audience alone with the Majesty. She will congratulate you and exchange a few words with you before giving you the sign to leave. You say goodbye and leave. No walking backwards all the way to the door here. I guess that's considered a little silly and perhaps too many have tripped over their own feet beforehand.
And that's it.

Your medal is your personal property and in contrast to an order it must not be returned upon your death.

Of course a lot of people are nervous and perplexed at these audiences so QMII has probably seen all sorts of weird behavior. One well known person here in DK, Jacob Haugaard, told about his audience with QMII after being elected for the Parliament. That went well, until it was time to leave. He just turned around in order to leave, but QMII stopped him: "But surely I'd like to say goodbye to you".

[Muhler]

Translation of a Q&A in Billed Bladet #43, 2012.

Here a Pernille Koch asks:
I know this has been answered before, but my grandparents celebrate their diamond-anniversary on the 29th November. What must I do so that the will get a greeting from the Queen?

Jon Bloch Skipper replies:
You must do nothing else but looking forward to your grandparent's big day, because the court get the needed informations from the relevant authorities.
The Majesty will send her congratulations to married couples who have diamond (60 years), crown diamond (65), iron (70) and nuclear anniversary (75), just as all who celebrate their 100th birthday recieve a royal greeting.

- There is a picture of such a letter in the article. It simply reads:

Jane and John Doe.

On the occasion of your diamond anniversary I send my heartfelt (substitute with something similar in your own language) congratulations.

Signature.

Let's add a few more anniversaries as they are called and celebrated here in DK: Gold (50 years), silver (25 years) and copper (12½ years).

As a curiosum I can add that there is a very common phrase here in DK for describing neigherborhoods where the majority of the residents are middle aged: Silver anniversary neigherborhood.
Or where the majority have reached retirement age: Gold anniversary neigherborhood.

[Muhler]

There was another public audience yesterday and this time QMII recieved 66 persons. 66 kvinder og mænd i audiens hos dronningen

If you've read one of the previous posts, then you know the drill.

[Muhler]

Tomorrow, Thursday, (presumably in the forenoon), the Minister for Culture, Elbæk, will go on the long drive to Amalienborg and inform Her Majesty about his resignation from the government. QMII will accept the resignation and thank the Minister for his services (even though he was, shall we say, not encouraged to stay).
A little later, the new minister for culture to be, (the name is not yet known, except that it will be a woman), will meet QMII and offer her service as minister. QMII will accept and congratulate the new minister, who will most likely be presented to the press at Amalienborg Square.

The official handover will take place at the Ministry for Culture and the now ex-minister, Elbæk, will be driven home for the last time in his official car.

[Muhler]

It turned out to be Joachim who appointed the new Minister for Culture today: Billed-Bladet - Prins Joachim udnævner for første gang en minister

Because he is currently Rigsforstander as both QMII and Frederik is out of the coutnry these days. - It's the first time Joachim has appointed or rather approved a new minister.

It was incidentally Marianne Jelved who bcame the new minister (can't we ever get rid of her)?

[Muhler]

I guess this is the best place to put a post that is specifically about the DRF and the Law of Succession.

Derfor kan prins Henrik ikke blive konge

The serious newpaper Jyllands Posten has taken a serious view on Prince Henrik wish to be titled king.

He can't! Not possible. That would require a change in the Law of Succession and the Law of Succession is just as difficult to change as the Constitution.

In other words QMII cannot bestow the title of king on Prince Henrik. In order for that to happen, there must be a majority in favour in the Parliament, followed by a general election. And in the new Parliament there must also be a majority for that to happen. Then the question is put out for a referendum and IRC 60% of the voters have to vote, for the referendum to be valid and there of course has to be a majority.
Only then can the Parliament pass the change, which has to be signed by QMII and published in paper Statstidende and then finally can Henrik call himself king.

Professor at law, Michael Hansen Jensen says: "As the rules are now, Prince Henrik cannot be king. Paragraph two in the Constitution follow the Law of Succesion in regards to who can become king, and it says that the throne is inherited by direct decendants to King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine".
- In other words in Denmark a king is defined as a sovereign, nothing else.

But could Prince Henrik be addressed/get an honorary title as king, without him being sovereign?

Michael Hansen Jensen replies: "You can't rule out that you can address him differently, but hardly as king, because that titles has some very specific/precise meanings in regards to the Constitution. I do however consider that a hypothetical question".

- So PH just has to live with being a Prince Consort. - And no matter what the second most distinguished person according to rank in DK. That's hardly a bad deal!
PH can sulk all he want but he is not in the line of Succession, so there will be times when, in matters of state, he is not bypassed but merely having a different role from his sons. If he can't live with that, I say shame on him.

It may be a generation difference or a cultural difference, I don't know, but if I was in Prince Henrik's shoes and I wittnessed Frederik performing his duties in matters of state I would be luminescent with pride.

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

In order for that to happen, there must be a majority in favour in the Parliament, followed by a general election. And in the new Parliament there must also be a majority for that to happen. Then the question is put out for a referendum and IRC 60% of the voters have to vote, for the referendum to be valid and there of course has to be a majority.
Only then can the Parliament pass the change, which has to be signed by QMII and published in paper Statstidende and then finally can Henrik call himself king.

Muhler, it´s something about 40%... I´m too tired to translate now, but you can read more here: Folketinget - Kapitel 10: Ændring af grundloven