Danish Residences General Discussion

[mstaier]

Thanks for the replies...this has helped me greatly and I will see the three as mentioned by JessRulz & Madam Royale
1. Amalienborg Palace

2. Christiansborg Palace

3. Rosenborg Castle

Thank you to Stefan as well for your detail. I will try and see one out of Copenhagen if I get time and my husband agrees!!!

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by mstaier

Thanks for the replies...this has helped me greatly and I will see the three as mentioned by JessRulz & Madam Royale
1. Amalienborg Palace

2. Christiansborg Palace

3. Rosenborg Castle

Thank you to Stefan as well for your detail. I will try and see one out of Copenhagen if I get time and my husband agrees!!!

It really doesn't take all that long by train to Roskilde It is a pleasant little town, the cathedral isn't all that far from the railway station, and I would say that the cathedral there really is worth a visit for someone interested in the Danish royal family/history.

It's worth to note that tickets to Rosenborg and Amalienborg Palace Museum can be bought so that one ticket covers both museums.

[Stefan]

When i was in Copenhagen i bought the Copenhagen Card which is avalible for 1 or 3 days. There you get often free entrance in some Attractions and sometimes you the Price reduced.

[Muhler]

Other residencies and places connected to the DRF.

The hunting lodge in Trend.

Big overview. The lodge is located in the middle of a forest and yet close to a fjord:
Trend 2 copy - Kopi.jpg - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Closer view. Pretty undisturbed:
Trend, south of the town of Løgstør copy - Kopi.jpg - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

-----------------------

Gråsten Slot.
The summer meeting place for the family and where Queen Ingrid used to live.

A closer view. The whitish patch near the palace is a shallow lake:
http://www.box.net/shared/qurx5n1k3l

View of the palace and Gråsten town:
http://www.box.net/shared/c6i9mocn98

--------------------------

Frederiksborg Slot.
A beautiful castle where the coat of arms of the DRF are hanging.

The castle and the town of Frederiksborg:
http://www.box.net/shared/yljigc1k37

Closer view of the castle:
http://www.box.net/shared/xsqe43zx6r

[Muhler]

I guess we can put this under residencies.

In Billed Bladet #18, 2011 a Lars B. Nielsen ask about the bunker reserved for the Monarch in times of war.
http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kongelige...ongehuset.aspx

Jon Bloch Skipper replies that there indeed were two such bunkers, one may still be in use.
One bunker is located in Rold Forest in Northern Jutland and it's called REGAN VEST, which stands for REGeringsANlæg = Government facility West.
The other bunker is located in Northern Zealand.

- Apart from that Jon Bloch Skipper doesn't reveal more.
However the bunker and the purpose is now de-classified. During the so-called "grey period" prior to a full scale war, the DRF and a number of the most senior government ministers, and other key figures were to be transported to these bunkers and they were to stay there during a nuclear attack, or an invasion. In case of an invasion, the plan was to evacuate them as far as it was possible.
As it was expected that at least one of these bunkers would be knocked out neither the government nor the DRF were all placed in one bunker.
It was from here that Denmark would be governed in the aftermath of a nuclear war.

The Danish system was pretty identical to the British system, with a number of regional bunkers dotted all over the country. In these bunkers would be gathered a number of military and civillian key persons and regional politicians as well as government ministers.
In case of a nuclear war these regional commands would take control and excerzise what was basically dictatorial powers over the area.
I was in the Home Guard before joining the army again and in case of an invasion we were still under command of the general staff, but as everything was expected to break down after a nuclear war, we would as such be under the command of the local regional centre.
Our jobs were to maintain order, to search for wounded and perform triage both locally and at the interrim medical facillities and also to secure the regional centre and to ensure that commands from these centres were carried out. Another more morbid task was to deal with corpses. Geological surveys had already selected which areas were best suited for mass graves.

[Muhler]

Isn't there a thread about Dannebrog? She's a residence too.

In Billed Bladet #18, 2011 we are informed that there is a christening ceremony onboard Danneborg for those onboard who pass the polar circle for the first time.
It's pretty similar to passing the equator, just colder, a lot colder!

King Neptune pays a visit and those who are to be baptized are subjected to various mischiefs and baptized in ice cold water. Mary was exposed to that when she visited Greenland in 2005 I think.
Our Marie has yet to go through that experience.

[Tricota]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I guess we can put this under residencies.

In Billed Bladet #18, 2011 a Lars B. Nielsen ask about the bunker reserved for the Monarch in times of war.
Billed-Bladet - Blev der bygget en hemmelig atombunker til kongehuset?

Jon Bloch Skipper replies that there indeed were two such bunkers, one may still be in use.
One bunker is located in Rold Forest in Northern Jutland and it's called REGAN VEST, which stands for REGeringsANlæg = Government facility West.
The other bunker is located in Northern Zealand.

- Apart from that Jon Bloch Skipper doesn't reveal more.
However the bunker and the purpose is now de-classified. During the so-called "grey period" prior to a full scale war, the DRF and a number of the most senior government ministers, and other key figures were to be transported to these bunkers and they were to stay there during a nuclear attack, or an invasion. In case of an invasion, the plan was to evacuate them as far as it was possible.
As it was expected that at least one of these bunkers would be knocked out neither the government nor the DRF were all placed in one bunker.
It was from here that Denmark would be governed in the aftermath of a nuclear war.

The Danish system was pretty identical to the British system, with a number of regional bunkers dotted all over the country. In these bunkers would be gathered a number of military and civillian key persons and regional politicians as well as government ministers.
In case of a nuclear war these regional commands would take control and excerzise what was basically dictatorial powers over the area.
I was in the Home Guard before joining the army again and in case of an invasion we were still under command of the general staff, but as everything was expected to break down after a nuclear war, we would as such be under the command of the local regional centre.
Our jobs were to maintain order, to search for wounded and perform triage both locally and at the interrim medical facillities and also to secure the regional centre and to ensure that commands from these centres were carried out. Another more morbid task was to deal with corpses. Geological surveys had already selected which areas were best suited for mass graves.

Nice story. Thnks for sharing...

[Muhler]

In Billed Bladet #47, 2011 a Kirsten Pedersen-Hansen ask whether M&F now only live at Amalienborg or do they still use Kancellihuset near Fredensborg? And if so, isn't that excessive?

Jon Bloch Skipper replies that it has always been the plan that M&F would use Kancellihuset during the summer and Amalienborg during winter and as far as he is aware that is still the case.
He adds that he doesn't find it excessive to have two homes, even if they are at present using only one, as they have been busy establishing themselves at Amalienborg and that they have two new children to deal with. Children who need stability in their everyday life rather than being shutteled from home to home all the time.
(Jon Bloch Skipper is here presumably also referring to the notion of M&F using Kancellihuset, not only as a summer home, which may become more difficult as M&F take on more responsibillities, but also as a weekend home and a summer cottage).

In context to the post about bunkers above, I can add that Tønder municipality a short while ago put a bunker up for sale. A bunker placed right next to Schackenborg. That bunker was supposed to be the municipal commando centre in the aftermath of a nuclear war.

[NGalitzine]

What ever happened to the so called Yellow Palace that the future Queen Alexandra of Great Britain and the future Empress Marie of Russia grew up in. Did it continue on as a royal residence? Who were the last royal residents to occupy it? Did it continue on at the disposal of the monarch or has it now become an office building or government guest house?

[Archduchess Zelia]

The Yellow Palace or 'Det Gule Palæ' is owned by the state and is currently used for 'Hofmarskallatet', the Lord Chamberlain's office. If you have presents or letters for the Royal Family for birthdays or jubilees, you can deliver them in the Yellow Palace. The last royal occupants, I believe, were King Christian IX's youngest son, Prince Valdemar and his with Princess Marie, Prince Valdemar continued living there after his wife's death.

[AnnaNotherThing]

Can someone answer a few questions for me:

What is the yearly schedule/rotation that members of the royal family use their royal residences?

And for what purpose are these particular residences used for? (for example, Trend during hunting season, Amalienborg/Copenhagen official duties, Graasten, summer extended family vacation, Dannebrog too is interesting etc)

Can someone do a full yearly schedule/map of location and the particular families that use the residences and what month they use them in?

Is this too much?

[Muhler]

No, because there isn't a fixed yearly schedule. Just traditions.

Amalienborg is of course the main residence and indeed office.

The Regent Couple move to Fredensborg during the summer months and over the years they go there earlier and earlier in the year and return to Amalienborg later and later. I guess they wouldn't mind living there permanently and who can blame them?

There is a tradition for the Regent Couple for going to Marselisborg during Easter, a few weeks during the summer and at Christmas. - But it isn't a must. And they go there because they like Marselisborg and to maintain the affilliation between the DRF and the city of Aarhus.
Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid didn't go to Marseliborg that often.

Gråsten is used for the yearly family gathering during the summer, partly because this was Queen Ingrid's home for many years and partly because there are many rooms there.
Queen Ingrid after becoming a widow was very much seen as their special royal by people living in Southern Jutland. Now that role has very much been transferred to Joachim and our Marie.

Trend is a place that appears to be very loved by M&F, while QMII & PH rarely used it. But Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid did go there fairly often.
And it appears M&F go there during the summer and the autumn holiday in week 42. - And also when there are private family events like birthdays.

Then of course there is Cayz, where the Regent Couple go every summer and sometime Joachim or Frederik go there as well.

Apart from that there is also Dannebrog, which the Regent Couple is very fond of! The yearly summer cruises are usually spilt in two, lasting a week or two each. - And from time to time M&F go on a cruise as well.

So you see all the residences are in use by the various members of the DRF, depending on tradition and preference.
If I should look say ten years into the future I can well imagine that Gråsten and Marselisborg will not be used that much.
However looking 30 years into the future, there may be no less than six DRF families (including M&F's children) around and by then all the residences may be occupied much more often. (I omit Joachim's children because by then they will likely be reduced to secondary royals with their own private lives and careers).

[nwinther]

I very much agree with your latter prediction - that the houses will likely see more use as the children "fan out".

Looking even further into the future there may be some difficulties. Frederik and Mary's children - at least the three youngest - will have to be treated rather equal (Christian, being the future king will be in a special position).

Depending on the lives they will lead, Isabella and the twins may chose a life far away from the public eye, or they may go the road of Joachim, and become an appendix of the Royal House somewhere in the countryside or similar.

And then it'll be a problem where to "place" the three younger children.

This haven't been an issue since the changeing of the constitution in 1954, where it was decided that only the decendants of Christian X could inherit the throne. This effectively limited the "real" royals into a very narrow group - of whom half remained childless (IIRC).

Now the generations soon begin to push at that boundary. While there's still plenty of houses, with the children of Mary and Frederik, we will likely need six households (Mary+Frederik, Joachim+Marie, Christian, Isabella, Vincent, Josephine).

Schackenborg is reserved for Joachim+Marie.

That leaves Amalienborg (that has four palaces, three of which is habitalbe IIRC), Gråsten, Fredensborg, Marseillesborg. And I suppose Sorgenfri.

That's a "full house" (although with a reserve of apartments at Amalienborg (at least).

Depending on what we would expect of the younger princes and princesses it may be necessary to purchase - or make available - further residences for future generations.

Of course, a solution á la Alexandra could be interrim or permanent for the more peripheral royals.

[AnnaNotherThing]

Thanks for answering my questions, Muhler...really appreciate it

And I also love your speculation-riddled reply to nwinter's post too...you know I love a bit of speculation and fortunetelling...BUT another question...do you really think, say the twins or even Athena will be ALLOWED to live overseas? They still heirs to the throne, albeit 3rd (Vincent), 4th (Josephine), and 9th, (Athena) but heirs all the same, I also realise that they will move further down the ladder as Christian has children but really?...I really can't see that happening...The (unspoken) expectation is that the royal stays put and the spouse comes in...And Denmark is their home, where they grew up and what they are familiar with...Chances are with the opportunity of 'free accommodation and expenses' there is not much incentive to be self-sufficient

My allocation would be this:

F&M (while Regents) Amalienborg
Christian (newly married) Fredensborg, like his parents before him
Isabella (urban chic) apartments at Amalienborg
Vincent and Josephine (sharing with big sister) bachelor/bachelorette pad, Amalienborg, aka Party HQ circa 2032

Nikolai (decides to restore and modernise) Marselislborg
Felix (as second son gets) Schackenborg
Henrik and Athena (share) Graasten, because it is near where they grew up in Schackenborg

[Muhler]

Oh, yes. No problem.
Benedikte married a German and settled in Germany. Her children don't live in DK.
Anne-Marie married a king, so no problem there either.

Interesting allocation of residencies.

However, it's very unlikely any of Joachim's children will take over and run any residence. They may very well live in a house on the estates but not in the palaces themselves.
It's an entirely different matter for Frederik's children, especially Christian. Since they are likely to have more official duties than Joachim's children (you never know, perhaps Athena turns out to have an exeptional talent for representation) it's also more likely and acceptable that they have a palace of their own.

If you look at Madeleine in Sweden, that's what I predict for some of the eight children. I.e. marrying and settleling abroad, only returning home for special occasions.

[AnnaNotherThing]

OK, cool...thanks Muhler...I actually think Fred and Joachim have put a real spanner in the works by being so (re)productive...I think Margrethe may have had the foresight to only have two kids and then those two kids only having two kids would make for easy of distribution (of assets to the 4 grandkids) but with the birthrate ballooning out to EIGHT...Maybe they are struggling to comprehend their (the 8 kids) future role and placeand where to accommodate them in the Danish royal family...

[Viv]

Originally Posted by AnnaNotherThing

My allocation would be this:
F&M (while Regents) Amalienborg
Christian (newly married) Fredensborg, like his parents before him
Isabella (urban chic) apartments at Amalienborg
Vincent and Josephine (sharing with big sister) bachelor/bachelorette pad, Amalienborg, aka Party HQ circa 2032
Nikolai (decides to restore and modernise) Marselislborg
Felix (as second son gets) Schackenborg
Henrik and Athena (share) Graasten, because it is near where they grew up in Schackenborg

That's speculation as good as it gets !

IMO the big question is the future use of Graasten Palace! Before Schakenborg returned to DRF ownership and in the times of Queen Ingrid, Graasten was the pivotal place in the special link between the Danish Royal Family and the population of Southern Jutland, who were under German rule 1864-1920. The Southern Jutes are said to be the most loyal and royalistic of the Danes, and Graasten has been perceived as an advanced royal stronghold, if you like. Besides, it was the summer rally point for Queen Ingrid's grand children!
Queen Margrethe dediced to keep the pot on a slow burner by gathering the family for two weeks during summer. But what will happen when she is no more?
There's also the mothballed Sorgenfri Palace north of Copenhagen. The main building is empty, but one of HM's cousins (Count Christian) is living in one of the buildings on the grounds. The fact that the RF hang on to it indicates, that it could come in handy later on.

Like other Danish posters I tend to believe that the children of Prince Joachim will be relegated to minor royalty ranks, perhaps with the exception of Prince Nikolai, the first born of the lot and apparently a smart kid! And except for Christian, IMO most of them will find careers and partners abroad.

viv

[Archduchess Zelia]

I very much doubt that Graasten will go to anyone else than Frederik and Mary and their children, it's very much a "summer residence" kind of thing for the family (along with Fredensborg and Cayx), and also I think it is a place that means a lot to Frederik considering how close to Queen Ingrid he was.

Queen Margrethe also once said (in a book about Aarhus, I believe) that she hoped that Frederik would continue to use Marselisborg, but again, that doesn't mean that Joachim's family can't use it. I do think I've heard something about it only being inheritable to the heir of the throne though.

[NGalitzine]

Which of these residences are owned by the state and which are private property? If they are owned by the state how could QMII leave them to anyone?

[Muhler]

Marselisborg and Trend are private. The rest are owned by the state.

The palaces are for the DRF to use as they please, so it's basically up to the head of the family i.e. the monarch to work out how.
The reason I don't believe anyone but the children of the monarch/heir will be allowed to settle in the palaces themselves is firstly not to establish a sense of ownership for anyone but the monarch to any palace but also to avoid say Vincent being evicted some time in the future: "Sorry, Vincent, we are running low on palaces and Christian needs room for his two sets of twins. So you have to pack up and move out".
But just as importantly, because apart form the 200 years during the period of Absolutism, the Danish kings were constantly on the move, living in castles and palaces all over the realm and thereby maintaining an affilliation with the whole country instead of just living in Copenhagen and only come visiting to the other parts of the country for a few hours.
It may sound like a trivial matter but locally it means a lot!

It was seriously considered buying back Marselisborg by Aarhus municipality because the DRF was rarely there. Now the locals are very pleased and dare I say a bit proud that QMII is so fond of the place.