General News about the Danish Royal Family 1: December 2008 - January 2013

[Muhler]

DR1 has just shown the yearly review of the DRF. I'm sure someone will post a link at some point.

It was actually very good!

For those of you who like to follow M&F's children in particular there is plenty to watch.
There were also a few things I certainly didn't know about. Like M&F working as volunteers at a homework-cafe for schoolchildren (I don't know the Englisg word for it). That was in an immigrant neighborhood and a boy sitting next to Frederik didn't know who he was. In fact he asked Frederik how many children he has and Frederik replied that he has four children and pointed at Mary: "With the lady behind the camera there". The boy, Achmed, said afterwards that he didn't know who they were, but they were good teachers.

Another absolutely hillarious episode took place at the National Museum for Art, where Christian made a figure and explained that it was the Prime Minister. - I thought the figure was spot on!
I also noticed that Frederik called his daughter: "Skat", the most common word of endearment in DK. That can, depending on who you say it to, be translated to honey or sweetie even though it actually means treasure.

Joachim and our Marie got a limited coverage but Marie in particular got a very positive coverage. And from a purely objective point of view: I'm geuninely impressed with her pronounciation.
We also heard Felix talk for once, with stars in his eyes (he is after all son of Joachim) he talked about his favorite car a Bugatti.

Fashion wise Mary and Marie were compared, or rather the way they are going on different paths was noticed. Where Mary dress up to her role as Crown Princess, Marie now has developed a much more sporty and younthful way of dressing. - That's what they said, don't hit me!

 

[polyesco]

There were also a few things I certainly didn't know about. Like M&F working as volunteers at a homework-cafe for schoolchildren (I don't know the Englisg word for it). That was in an immigrant neighborhood and a boy sitting next to Frederik didn't know who he was. In fact he asked Frederik how many children he has and Frederik replied that he has four children and pointed at Mary: "With the lady behind the camera there". The boy, Achmed, said afterwards that he didn't know who they were, but they were good teachers.


I also noticed that Frederik called his daughter: "Skat", the most common word of endearment in DK. That can, depending on who you say it to, be translated to honey or sweetie even though it actually means treasure.

thanks Muhler
that is a very sweet story and good for Frederik and Mary

And to read what Frederik calls his daughter is

 

[fairy tale]

Here it is
Året i Kongehuset

 

[UserDane]

... Marie in particular got a very positive coverage. And from a purely objective point of view: I'm geuninely impressed with her pronounciation.

So am I Muhler - I think her grasp of the Danish language is on a continual upward curve. She is very easy to understand and has a pleasant speaking voice

 

[Roskilde]

thanks Muhler
that is a very sweet story and good for Frederik and Mary

And to read what Frederik calls his daughter is

Why do I always miss these TV programs! Well, I have to watch the program online tonight

I have for many years noticed that both Frederik and Mary call their children "Skat". Christian was not very old when I first time heard Mary call him "Skat" in a video clip on the news. And I really like that little detail, because it's just so... very normal and like any other Danish family. My little daughter must also put up with being called "Skat" pretty often
Actually, I think that I also have heard Mary call Frederik "Skat", but I don't remember on what occasion. Maybe in the TV program "Kongehuset Indefra"?

 

[Muhler]

Why do I always miss these TV programs! Well, I have to watch the program online tonight

I have for many years noticed that both Frederik and Mary call their children "Skat". Christian was not very old when I first time heard Mary call him "Skat" in a video clip on the news. And I really like that little detail, because it's just so... very normal and like any other Danish family. My little daughter must also put up with being called "Skat" pretty often
Actually, I think that I also have heard Mary call Frederik "Skat", but I don't remember on what occasion. Maybe in the TV program "Kongehuset Indefra"?

There is also TV2's review to look forward to.

I recall that too. I can't remember when but it was on TV and covering something that went on behind the scenes.
I also call my daughter "skat", for my son it has for whatever reason always been "ven = friend". - He's probably pleased with that now, being fifteen. Though his mother sometimes call him "skat", or worse: "lille skat = little honey".

I also noticed in the Museum clip that Frederik when speaking directly to Bella, called her Isabella. Whether that was because there was a camera around, or because he prefer Isabella, (it's a pretty name) is open to debate. Mary has certainly been heard saying Bella and Christian too.

Those of you who will watch the review Fairy Tale kindly posted, will perhaps go slightly ga-ga seing Felix. He is a charming boy and he was shy. He has on several occasions made at least the BB journalist, Trine Larsen, go broody.

 

[Roskilde]

There is also TV2's review to look forward to.

I recall that too. I can't remember when but it was on TV and covering something that went on behind the scenes.
I also call my daughter "skat", for my son it has for whatever reason always been "ven = friend". - He's probably pleased with that now, being fifteen. Though his mother sometimes call him "skat", or worse: "lille skat = little honey".

Maybe it was in the terrific scene in which Frederik tells the former master of ceremonies that he should not tell him where the most beautiful place is located on his wife I'm still smiling when I remember back to this episode

You have right, on Thursday, right? But for some reason, I most often finds DR1's programs about the royal family much better and deeper than TV2's But maybe I'm wrong this year.

 

[nwinther]

Frederik and Mary call their children "Skat".

Must have been quite a hurdle for Mary to call her children that.

 

[Muhler]

Must have been quite a hurdle for Mary to call her children that.

True, so very true

Buut, let's not go any deeper into that....

 

[Muhler]

There are already a few items on the agenda for next year.

Apart from the wedding in Sweden, a baptism in the UK, a state visit to Chile and a state visit from Finland, there is also Nikolai's confirmation. (Presumably in May). There are no details so far, but I'd say there will be a good deal of coverage as Nikolai most likely is the first DRF child to be confirmed in public.

ADDED: You may wish to keep an eye on DR2 tonight at 20.30. They show half an hour from M&F's wedding with behind the scenes stories. DR2 is like DR1 a public service channel and with a little bit of luck you should be able to watch it outside DK.

 

[American Dane]

Meaning William and Kate's child's baptism or of a family friend living in the UK? I don't understand why any of the foreign royal families would go to the Prince/Princess of Cambridge's baptism.

 

[kathia_sophia]

why not??? when happens a major baptism of an heir, some royals are invited, but it doesnt mean they have to be the godparents. the appearence of royals, such as heirs, monarchs, remarks that the child is important!
on Estelle's christening, Guillaume, Stephanie, Mathilde, Phillippe, QMargrethe, etc... attended and none of them was the godparent.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Meaning William and Kate's child's baptism or of a family friend living in the UK? I don't understand why any of the foreign royal families would go to the Prince/Princess of Cambridge's baptism.

Perhaps they'll attend because they're invited.

 

[American Dane]

Frederik and Mary weren't invited to the wedding and British royal christenings are more family affairs than Swedish or Danish baptisms. I would love to see them invited and attend but W&C have shown they have no interest in the other royal families... so I am still doubtful.

 

[NGalitzine]

why not??? when happens a major baptism of an heir, some royals are invited, but it doesnt mean they have to be the godparents. the appearence of royals, such as heirs, monarchs, remarks that the child is important!
on Estelle's christening, Guillaume, Stephanie, Mathilde, Phillippe, QMargrethe, etc... attended and none of them was the godparent.

Unless one of the continental royals is a godparent (doubtful) I wouldn't count on seeing any of them at the christening, or even seeing the christening at all. In the UK these are private family events and are not broadcast ( just a couple of photos released by the court) and foreign royals are not invited just because they are royal. It is just family and godparents and christenings are not state events.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

I also think that Billedbladet has gotten it completely wrong. They write (if something got lost in translation, I blame the fact that it's 1:10 am here in Denmark right now ): "The birth is one of the royal year's biggest events and the christening will receive equally much attention because foreign royals from most of Europe's royal families will be in there, in London, when the little Prince/Princess gets his/her name."

The journalist must have mixed up Scandinavian christenings with the British ones. Though I do think it would have been lovely had the christening been televised.

 

[FasterB]

I also think that Billedbladet has gotten it completely wrong. They write (if something got lost in translation, I blame the fact that it's 1:10 am here in Denmark right now ): "The birth is one of the royal year's biggest events and the christening will receive equally much attention because foreign royals from most of Europe's royal families will be in there, in London, when the little Prince/Princess gets his/her name."

The journalist must have mixed up Scandinavian christenings with the British ones. Though I do think it would have been lovely had the christening been televised.

Or maybe they can´t remember how it went the last time in UK

 

[Muhler]

The Christmas/New Year cards from the DRF are out and shown in BB. They'll probably surface somewhere else soon, so let me describe them briefly.

M&F's card depicts their four children in the swimming pool at Gråsten. It is presumed it Mary who has been the photographer as it is her style.
The cards reads in Danish, French and English: "Happy New Year". and it's signed: "Frederik & Mary".

The Berleburgs also have a card, depicting Princess Benedikte and Prince Richard standing in their garden surrounded by three black labradors.

The Schackenborgs have used an official photo by Steen Brogaard as their card. The shoot was made in March 2012 and is of the whole family sitting on the floor at Schackenborg. Our Marie looking adoringly at her daughter, who seems most interested in what her older brothers are up to.
There card in Danish and French is signed: "Marie & Joachim". (*)

The Greeks have also send out a card. A kind of collage with the whole family in the Greek flag in the background. (**) Their New Year greeting is in Greek and English and signed "Tino & Anne-Marie".

QMII and PH's card is off themselves during the summer cruise 2012 and it's signed: "Daisy & Henri".

(*) It is of course unecessary to point out that Joachim, being the gentleman he is, has naturally ensured that the name of his wife comes before his own.

(**) Does the Greek flag have a name?

 

[iceflower]

.

Prince Henrik has gotten a large halibut of impressing 27 kg. Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix and Countess Alexandra were at Amalienborg Palace as well when the halibut was delivered. And Henrik proudly presented his new puppy Quita


** ppe gallery ** sn.dk: Prins Henrik fik en kæmpe helleflynder ** translation **

 

[carlota]

quita is the most adorable little thing. nice to see alexandra coming to see her ex in laws.

 

[Dman]

quita is the most adorable little thing. nice to see alexandra coming to see her ex in laws.

They mantain a very good relationship with each other.

 

[Muhler]

Quite a lot of details in this weeks issue of BB, so some summaries tonight, the rest tomorrow.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #3, 2013.
Mary og Marie til vinterparty - Mary and Marie to winter-party.
Written by an apparantly freezing Helle Skram de Friis. (It has been pretty cold lately).

A member of the LEGO-family, Anders Kirk Johansen and his wife Anja had a christening Saturday. They actually have a manor in Jutland but like so many of the very rich, they have a huge house in central Copenhagen as well.
Anyway, their child was christened in Esajas Kirke, the church where the Lucia concert with M&F and children was held. Here Augusta-Benedicte Kirk Johansen was baptised. He already has a two year old sister to keep an eje on him.
Mary attended the christening, wearing a long bluish black coat and long boots and holding a Bottega Veneta clutch. She wasn't a godmother. Afterwards she walked from the church with the other guests to the home of the Kirk Johansens and had afternoon tea.

But in the evening there was a party at 20.00 and about 100 guests were there, many of them belonging to the circle of friends of both M&F and M&J.
Joachim and Marie arrived and posed briefly for the waiting photographer. Our Marie dressed warmly in a fur coat with her hand buried deeply in her pocket, the othe holding Joachim's hand. Joachim, being a gentleman, naturally also put his other hand in his pocket in sympathy.
Mary and Frederik rushed past the photographer.
As the caption puts it: Crown Prince Frederik was busy getting inside in the warm, while Crown Princess Mary had time and surplus to smile warmly to the photographer. (*)
Mary also wore a furcoat, that to my untrained eye seems more fashionable than the practical coat Marie wore. Mary's coat had a kind of partings in the lower part, beneath the belt, which offered a view of the short lilac dress she was wearing underneath, very neat, but it can't have been as warm as Marie's.

The Kirk Johansens are friends of M&F but apparantly not so much J&M, even though Joachim has a close relationship to other members of the LEGO-family. But this time they were invited. (**)

Among other friends at the party were:
Caroline Søeborg Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille. (She's old nobillity. Bille is a medieval noble name).
Charlotte Velin, with whom Mary goes riding.
Ellen Hillingsøe.
Christel Lüttichau, whose husband is a close friend of Frederik.
Holger Foss with his wife, Rose Gad.
The Buchwald's were there as well.
Pernille and Bendt Tido Wedell.
Anna von Lowsow, with brother Christian Lerche-Lerchenborg (also nobillity) with hs Amalie.
Nina Wedel-Wedellsborg (more nobillity) was also there.

(*) After having read the articles for many years, you can sometimes read between the lines if the journalist is annoyed. In this case it's an example of: We have been freezing our butts blue standing out here, the least you can do is to bloody stop for a few seconds to pose!

(**) It seems to me that Joachim and Marie have begun to socialise much more since Marie became established in DK and in her marriage. Joachim used to associate few, but very close friends and some of the most rich and influential families in DK, but discreetly. Lately they appear to also associate the circle of M&F's friends. - I wonder if this has something to do with Marie? I must confess I can't remember who Joachim and Alexandra associated when they were married..

 

[polyesco]

thanks Muhler
So Frederik didnt go to the christening? just the party?
I dont blame him for not stopping to pose it looks frezzing in DK

 

[iceflower]

.

Here's a very small view on the Billed-Bladet coverage of the christening Muhler has mentioned:


** billedbladet.dk: BILLED-BLADET denne uge - få et smugkig her! **

 

[Roskilde]

thanks Muhler
So Frederik didnt go to the christening? just the party?
I dont blame him for not stopping to pose it looks frezzing in DK

No, Frederik didn't attend the christening in the church. Neither did prince Joachim and princess Marie. It was only Mary who attend both the christening in the church and the party in the evening


I bought Billedbladet today and it's annoying that we can't see more of Mary's short lilac dress. It looks very ... sexy I know it's freezing cold in Denmark these days, but dear Mary, you could have arrived without the jacket. Just so we here on TRF could get a little look at your dress

 

[Muhler]

This is the story about how a relationship between a member of the press and the DRF can evolve into something bordering on genuine friendship.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #03, 2013.
Alexandra tilbage på slottet - Alexandra back to the palace.
Written for Jørgen Kølle by Annelise Weimann.

Jørgen Kølle is a BB photographer, I belive he is also freelance and he had somehow got hold of a 27 kilo halibut which he gave as a present to Prince Henrik around noon last Sunday. (*)
The fish was presented by Jørgen Kølle, while Alexandra happened to be visiting with her two sons.
Jørgen Kølle used (still do?) live close to Schackenborg and as such he and Alexandra know each other well. She greeted him with a: "Oh, how cosy. How are you"? Nikolai and Felix, who also know the photographer well, hugged him.
Prince Henrik was enthusiastic and pretty much salivating at the sight of the fish. The fish-chef, Annegrethe Berg Madsen, who is newly employed and comes from the fishing town of Skagen, was called up.
Prince Henrik said: "I've never seen such a big fish here at Amalienborg before. We must taste it tonight".
Prince Henrik is very fond of food from the sea, unfortunately he has developed allergy agains shellfish.

While there, Prince Henrik's new dachshund puppy, Querida was presented.
Querida apparantly means "my beloved". The last dog, Vega, was run over and killed in November.
Prince Henrik: "It's almost twelve weeks old and (it's) a hairy dachshund just like Vega".

BB is up.

(*) Presumably because they are friends, but also because it's Prince Henrik who is in charge of the cuisine.

.

Prince Henrik has gotten a large halibut of impressing 27 kg. Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix and Countess Alexandra were at Amalienborg Palace as well when the halibut was delivered. And Henrik proudly presented his new puppy Quita


** ppe gallery ** sn.dk: Prins Henrik fik en kæmpe helleflynder ** translation **

I'll translate.

Jørgen Kølle now seems to live in the town of Næstved on Zealand.

Næstved's court (*) photographer Jørgen Kølle has done it again. Got some fine pictures of his good friend Prince Henrik. And on top of that together with a huge halibut weighing 27 kilos.
How did that come about?

Jørgen Kølle explains:
"I have a good friend who is a skipper on a fishing boat at Rømø (an island next to Jutland). Last week in Skagerak (Between Denmark and Norway) he caught two large halibuts weighing sixteen and 27 kilos respectively. He asked whether I thought it was something Prince Henrik would like, who isn't keen on oysters", says Jørgen Kølle, who has known Prince Henrik for many years.

"I called the Prince Consort and asked whether he wuld like one of the fish.
He would very much like that and it should be the big one", says Jørgen Kølle, who drove from the home in Vejlø, east of Næsteved to Rømø. Put the 27 kilo big fish in the trunk and drove to Amalienborg. Here he was recieved by Prince Henrik, who was being visited by his two grandchildren, the Princes Felix and Nikolai. And everyone naturally wanted to see the big fish. Even Prince Henrik's new dog Quita was interested.

"They were impressed and the boys thought it was fun to see the big fish. It was the largest they had ever seen. I'm pleased with seeing the Prince Consort glad", said Jørgen Kølle to Sjællandske (the newspaper).
Jørgen Kølle has for more than 40 years followed the DRF, especially Queen Ingrid and Prince Henrik with his camera.
The court photographer has sold his royal photos to Billed Bladet.


(*) Not sure it that is a title or whether it's just something the paper calls him.

- I guess we will eventually figure out the right name of the dog.

ADDED: Here are som pics by Jørgen Kølle (translated to English his name means George Club/Mallet:

http://www.jv.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/17/26617_540_300_0_0_0_0.jpg

http://multimedia.pol.dk/archive/00231/HJVHKH_KP_MARY23_231040a.jpg

http://www.sn.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/52/285752_590_590_0_69_1890_1121_2.jpg

 

[tdarlene]

While there, Prince Henrik's new dachshund puppy, Querida was presented.
Querida apparantly means "my beloved". The last dog, Vega, was run over and killed in November.
Prince Henrik: "It's almost twelve weeks old and (it's) a hairy dachshund just like Vega".


Querida in portuguese it also means darling or honey, I think it's the same in spanish. I would like to know after which languege the prince named the new puppy!

 

[Muhler]

Prince Henrik is quoted for saying: "I have a new dog and I've given it a Spanish name. I call it querida, which means my beloved".

 

[ashelen]

querida is in spanish and it has several meanings: it can mean "mistress" too! althoug I don't think prince Henrik wants to mean that probably
"darling" , or "dear" is more correct translation
Muhler with my respect to you the translation of my beloved is more" mi amada"
but over all I think probably the name is after the dog that he lost and it was very dear for him. and he wanted to honour in someway!

 

[Muhler]

Thanks for the explanation, Ashelen

The good thing about this forum is that no matter what it is, there is always someone in the know.