Annual Photo Shoots & Holidays At Gråsten Slot: 2003, 2005-2012

[iceflower]

Yes, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai have spent some weeks with
her mother, Countess Alexandra, in Turkey. That's why they did
not attend the photosession!

[crm2317]

It's a shame that Nikolai and Felix were unable to attend but of course after being in France with Joachim and Marie it is only right they go away with Alexandra and Martin.

I get the feeling it won't be too long before we can expect another addition to the Danish Royal Family

[Muhler]

Summary of several articles in Billed Bladet #31, 2010.
Written by Ken Richter (*)

The main story of course being the three minuttes photo session on the stairs to the garden side of Gråsten Slot.
But also the changing of the guards at noon, the next day I believe, which was also seen by the entire family. (**)
The whole family was there, at the changing of the guards, including a lively Bella, who unfortunately fell on the stairs, but before she could start crying Mary comforted her.
Christian was, as we have see before (***), more preoccupied with the music so he started to conduct the band.
When the guards marched off the family retired into the garden room, however Isabella surfaced again. She had discovered that if you breathe on the windows it forms condens and then you can draw figures with your finger - or lick on the glass. So she was busy doing just that.

Between showers the DRF turned up on the stairs for the official photoshoot. Christian looking serious and speculative, while holding grandmother's (farmors) hand. Isabella contended herself with holding daddy Frederik's hand.
While Prince Henrik turned out in a flower-power outfit, Bette Henrik sat comfortably on daddy Joachim's arm at looked with some wonder at the people who had showed up to look at him. But he also got some serious attention from grandad (farfar) Henrik, which he didn't seem to mind at all. The proud father however thought Bette Henrik would appreciate a better overview of the event from daddy's shoulders. He did not! So our Marie came to the rescue. That was better!
There were other children present, Count Richard and Komtesse (****) Ingrid, who both looked a bit uneasy about the whole thing. Presumably they are not used to such attention.

Frederik has been observed riding almost daily in the woods around Gråsten - without Mary.

(*) Who cover Jutland.
Ken Richter is a matter-of-fact jounalist in the sense that he is writing about what he is actually seeing and doesn't speculate much.

(**) Common curtesy.

(***) Remember how he stepped in tune with the music last year?

(****) Komtesse = an unmarried daughter of a princess or a count.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #31, 2010.
Små kongelige på krigsstien - Little royals on the warpath.
Written by Ken Richter.

Before Legoland opened the older children at Gråsten, Christian, Isabella, Richard and Ingrid - and their parents but also Prince Gustav with Carina Axelsson, escorted by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, who owns Lego. (*)
Here they tried out some of the wilder things, like the Caterpillar a sort of fast roundabout, where Bella was sitting next to Mary, squaeling with joy.
Christian enjoyed himself too sitting next to Carina Axelsson.
A pretty cool thing was falling from a "dangerous" height in the Frog Hopper. So cool in fact that they tried it several times.
Later on they wandered along in the park among the other guests who had by now come when the park opened. That included driving among wild Lego-animals in a safari-jeep. Bella sitting next to Mary while she was "steering" carefully. Christian being older, drove his own jeep.
In all they spend five hours in the park, before heading back to Gråsten Slot.

But the visit included a visit to a Native Indian camp (**) where chief Longear recieved them with a genuine "How" - and a little more modern high-five, and invited the children: "Now you can say goodbye to your mum and dad, because we're going catching cowboys". And Isabella said in an almost definitive way: "Goodbye/farewell mother and father" (***) and mounted her wooden horse.
Each issued a feather and sucurely mounted on their ponies the children led by Longear started out with a war-cry. Christian led the way, sounding ferocious with Bella following suit, keeping an eye on how big brother did it. Richard and Ingrid being older, were a bit more hesitant and shy.
That had the adults on the verge of crying with laughter. While Frederik stayed near the children, (no need to ride too far away from daddy on the warpath, is there?) the others, and not least Mary, were busy photographing the children.
After a ride over the prairie all the children were issued a (rubber) tomahawk as a sign that they are now genuine Native Americans (****) and full members of the tribe of Longear.

Mary told our reporter: "Both children and adults look forward to going to Legoland. It's a pleasure to be here and we've had a lovely day with the family".

Ken Richter also cornered chief Longear aka Jan Friborg, who have been chief for 26 years: "Some children can get a little scared when they see me for the first time. But it's obvious that the royal children have seen me before because they were in on the game right away".

Nikolai and Felix were not present but they are themselves familiar with Chief Longear and they had asked their uncle Frederik to say hello to the chief from them, which he did.

(*) He and his family are loaded! But they are also pretty discreet. I understand that they have ties with Joachim.

(**) Native American being the currently politically correct term, in USA at least. That term however does not exist in Danish, for the simple reason that there are different words for Native Americans (indianere) and for Indians (indere). Indianere is comparable to saying Europeans.

(***) No mum, mommy, mama, dad, daddy in Danish, remember? Only mother and father.

(****) Forgive me, but for me, being used to a completely different word, this pc-term does sound a bit silly.
It's like calling me "Native European" in the same description.

[iceflower]

Here's an Billed-Bladet article about the Legoland visit the family had made:


** Isabella og Christian fangede cowboys - se billederne **

[marymaxima]

princess mary, on a photo with christian, has a pendant for pregnant mothers... in spanish: llamador de angeles or called angels

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by marymaxima

princess mary, on a photo with christian, has a pendant for pregnant mothers... in spanish: llamador de angeles or called angels

This picture?
Billed-Bladet - Kronprinseparret og ungerne i Legoland

[marymaxima]

yes lumutqueen!

[Marika86]

What a beautiful picture from Legoland!!

[Muhler]

In Billed Bladet #26, 2011 there is a little note about the family shoot at Gråsten in 2008.
As you may remember M&F didn't show up.

IRRC it was in that year Christian had been photographed naked at a public beach. That picture was published in at least one paper and M&F were pretty annoyed about that.
It was speculated at the time that M&F were so miffed they didn't want to pose.

Anyway, BB offers an explanation: M&F had simply mixed up the dates and as such they didn't show up for the shoot.

- Well, that's an explanation.

[Fanvanmaxima]

When will the shoot be this summer?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Fanvanmaxima

When will the shoot be this summer?

That must be in late July or early August.

[iceflower]

__________________


According to the official website of the Danish Royal Family the annual photo session at Gråsten Slot
will take place next Monday, August 1st, at 11.30 am! A great summer event we can look forward to!

[iceflower]

___________________


Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik arrived back at Gråsten Slot yesterday, July 25,
Princess Benedikte has already been there, the dogs seem to have been most excited
here are some pics:


** ppe gallery - July 25, 2011 **

[Daisiesforever]

Oh Iceflower, thank you for these lovely photos of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. I do love the excited dogs and of course the cake.

[Muhler]

According to this article and picture in Billed Bladet: Billed-Bladet - Mary og Frederik nyder ferien på Gråsten
M&F went to Gråsten after the service in Copenhagen.
They went riding in the early morning, as we can see. That must be today.

From article in Billed Bladet #30, 2011.
Written by Anna Johannesen.
http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kongelige...0Graasten.aspx

The Regent Couple and M&F have arrived at Gråsten.
The Regent Couple went straight from Greenland to Gråsten and M&F arrived late Wednesday.

Joachim and our Marie will not be present at the photoshoot Monday. There is no explanation as to why they cannot attend, but they will probably turn up later.
Queen Anne-Marie arrived Tuesday. She will leave early Monday and as such she will not take part in the photoshoot either.

Princess Benedikte will be there, perhaps Prince Richard as well.
Princess Alexandra will be there with her two children and Count Jefferson.
Prince Gustav and Carina Axelsson will also attend.

[FasterB]

Article and photo from a trip to Legoland:
Billed-Bladet - Kongelig sjov

[fairy tale]

Originally Posted by FasterB

Article and photo from a trip to Legoland:
Billed-Bladet - Kongelig sjov

More pictures
Christian og Isabella i Legoland

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by fairy tale

More pictures
Christian og Isabella i Legoland

Am I the only one thinking that Prince Christian wasn´t too fun of the ride pictured in the photos 1-13?

[princess gertrude]

Christian must have liked the ride since he road it twice, once with his mother and once with his father. They did look to have a good time, especially Frederick with Christian. And like many Moms, Mary had her camera ready!

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by FasterB

Am I the only one thinking that Prince Christian wasn´t too fun of the ride pictured in the photos 1-13?

Hee! Yes, in some of the pics he looks like he's having a wonderful time and others it looks like he is terrified.