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

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by UserDane

You are referring to video dbarn67 made a link to right? Funny, how differently we see the same video then. I don't wee what you see - at all!

Me neither...

[marfre]

This has been a great photo shoot so many wonderful photos of this lovely family.
QM and Prince Henrik enjoy time spent with their grand children. Little Henrik is a sweet liitle boy and Nikolai and Felix are growing up quickly.

Vincent and Josephine are so adorable and cuddly with such chubby cheeks.
It is lovely to see the way Christian and Isabella interact with the twins, they certainly appear to adore them.
Isabella is such an energetic little girl and so full of personality, a gorgeous little lady. Christian is a good looking boy and has a calmness about him which will no doubt help in the future I love the photos of him siiting on the steps by the water.

Mary and Frederik can certainly be proud of their little ones.

[iceflower]

__________________


Here are some pics prior the photo session:

On July 27, Prince Henrik and Prince Christian went swimming, watched by Queen Margrethe and
Princess Isaballa, on July 28, CP Mary, CP Frederik, Princess Isabella and Princess Alexandra went
for a walk with the twins:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** gallery **

On July 28, Prince Henrik handed over the Lion's Prize at Gråsten Slot:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **


On July 29, he was pictured on a little trip with a very special t-shirt.


** Pic ** gallery **

On July 30, Prince Henrik spent a couple of hours gathering fresh vegetables in the greenhouses
of the castle and used his golf car.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

[marfre]

Thanks iceflower.

Love the photos of Isabella helping Mary push the pram.

[iceflower]

You are most welcome, marfre


Today, August 3rd, Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik and Princess Benedikte attended
the inauguration of the maritime stairs at Gråsten Slot.


** BB: Henrik og Margrethe **

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by iceflower

__________________
On July 29, he was pictured on a little trip with a very special t-shirt.


** Pic ** gallery **

Thanks, Iceflower

Typical for Prince Henrik to wear a "camping habit = camping (business-)suit". He is also one of the very few royals I can imagine getting away with wearing a T-shirt like that.

[JulieS]

Originally Posted by iceflower

__________________


On July 29, he was pictured on a little trip with a very special t-shirt.


** Pic ** gallery **

This t-shirt is so funny.
I agree with Mulher, only Prince Henrik could wear this kind of t-shirt.

[iceflower]

_________________


You are most welcome! And have you seen his shoes (see the gallery link of that day),
he's so relaxed and confident to walk around in house shoes


Here are some more pics from today:


** ppe gallery **

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by iceflower

_________________
You are most welcome! And have you seen his shoes (see the gallery link of that day),
he's so relaxed and confident to walk around in house shoes

And silk socks, yes.

The world will, fashion wise, be a poorer place when Prince Henrik is no more.
Hopefully Frederik will entertain us in a similar manner in the years to come, he has already displayed a fashion sense, which is... interesting.

[BurberryBrit]

Any close up pics of Carina Axelsson?

[ironical]

So sweet moment Photo from Getty Images
Isabella kisses her little bro at knee, she's so cute and natural, love her.

[Tiggersk8]

I'll have to check out those links later, but thanks in advance Iceflower. I've been waiting for it to cool down to go on the Stationary Bike and that's *finally* happened, so...

Anyway, thanks to one and all for all the links to pictures and video from the Photo Call!! Much appreciated!!

It's been awhile since I've seen Nikolai and Felix and are those boys growning up fast. I also haven't seen many pictures of little Henrik for a bit now as well and he's too adorable for words. :o) Loved the portion of that video where his Big Brothers each have one of his hands and are helping him w/his balance while walking. :oD

The Twins are just too cute for words!! I want to reach through the screen and pinch those chubby wittle cheeks. :oD Loved watching Isabella kissing her baby brother and baby sister. She's quite the little firecracker, isn't she? :o) Christian's grown up a bit since the Christening and he's turning into quite the good looking young man. Mom's opinion when I showed her the pictures was that he's going be quite the Heartbreaker when he hits his late Teens. :o)

What a lovely, lovely Family they are. :o)

[iceflower]

It's always a pleasure, Tiggersk8!

Originally Posted by BurberryBrit

Any close up pics of Carina Axelsson?

BurberryBrit, here's one, but maybe you've seen it before and it's not as close as you had hoped:


** Carina **


Here are some pics of Mary and Frederik riding on horses and bikes:

** BB: Frederik og Mary på ridetur i Gråsten **

And another gallery focussing on the twins:

** BB: Josephine og Vincent på Gråsten **

[biboquinhas]

Nice to see Ziggy again. Were those pictures taken now?

[Muhler]

Summary of a number of articles in Billed Bladet #31, 2011.
Written by Anna Johannesen and Ken Richter. (*) And Annelise Weimann, writing a story based on some photos.

The photo shoot.
Sixteen family members were present at the photo shoot this year. This time the shoot took place in the back garden at the stairs leading down to the big lake behind Gråsten Palace. As expected the children stole all the attention and they handled it all in a cool manner. They didn’t voice any protest and even smiled a couple of times at the peculiar adults.
Vincent, perhaps a bit early in life, sported “hentehår = a comb over”, something otherwise seen on men who are still maintaining illusions about the rest of humanity being hard at seeing.
Mary, wearing a handmade Prada dress from the collection: made-in India carried Josephine. On her feet she wore blue ballerinas. (**)
Not for the first time the article here claims there is a particular close bond between QMII and Christian and they did indeed lead the procession down to the stairs hand in hand. However QMII also held Vincent in her arms. (***)
But then Nikolai and Felix has a visibly good relationship with our Marie, who was observed and photographed holding her arm around them, something they obviously didn’t mind at all. Bette Henrik was at some point swinging between his two older half-brothers. That was fun!
Alas, Joachim, Carina, Gustav and Benedikte were reduced to props in this year’s shoot.
Queen Anne-Marie had left early Monday morning and missed the shoot. Princess Benedikte and her daughter, Princess Nathalie stayed at Broholm Manor, not far away. Nathalie was taking part in the Danish championships in dressage in Gråsten town, which took place Sunday. She and her father, Prince Richard left for Berleburg, right after the championships ended. Princess Alexandra of Berleburg and her two children had also been at Gråsten Slot, but they could not attend the photo shoot either. Count Jefferson did not go to Gråsten, he was on holiday on Capri, and Alexandra went to Denmark from there to be with her Danish family for a few days.
A part of the shoot took place at the newly renovated stairs right down to the lake. The stair, which are flanked by crowns set on pedestals, was to be officially inaugurated Wednesday.
The shoot took place in the late forenoon, shortly before lunch, because that suited the rhythm of the twins.
That Bella and Christian are very fond of the twins is clear from the pictures. Christian sported a cool Darth Vader “tattoo” on his right arm. Isabella sported a no less cool tattoo of two sharks on her left shoulder. (****)

The ride, Thursday morning.
Presumably leaping out of bed, M&F mounted a couple of “iron horses” and drove some distance to the staples. Ziggy followed them a little behind. At some point they passed a busy main road and Ziggy did not pass the road with M&F. A big truck with a trailer behind came driving (presumably at a fairly slow speed) and blocked Ziggy from her humans. Ziggy then darted underneath the truck and got through, but it was close call and the dog was somewhat perplexed before she ran after M&F. – There is a picture in BB of Ziggy rafter after she ran underneath the truck. The truck was BIG and Ziggy was very fortunate!
Anyway, After Frederik chivalrously assisted his wife in mounting the horse, M&F went riding for nearly an hour in the woods near Gråsten Palace. (*****)

Legoland.
As is tradition members of the DRF went to Legoland, located in Billund in south central Jutland, some distance from Gråsten. This time it was M&F who took the children. The children being Christian and Bella and Count Richard and Comtesse Ingrid. The party was escorted by the manager of Legoland, Henrik Höhrmann, who observed: “The children very clearly have their own favorites”. The children now being old enough to remember how it was last year and what was fun. That included a trip to “indianerlejren = the Native American village”, where Isabella and Christian were issued feathers and Isabella also acquired a ferocious looking rubber tomahawk.
But it was also time to test their limits and that included riding down a waterfall in canoe and judging from Bella’s expression, it was a little bit dangerous, even though mother had her arm around her.

Miscellaneous.
Annelise Weimann wrote a short article based on the photos of Prince Henrik and his adjutant, Nils Nykjær, driving in a stylish Buick to a fitness center in the town of Gråsten. (******) On a day to day basis Prince Henrik has a physiotherapist to assist him, but on holidays he is on his own and in order not to have problems with his legs and back, he go to the gym from time to time.
Wearing a in every definition of the word a casual outfit, he also wore a T-shirt with a print of himself and QMII in morning robes, from her 70th birthday.
The memorial service in Copenhagen Wednesday was arranged in about 24 hours. As such QMII flew from Gråsten to Copenhagen and M&F were supposed to drive to Gråsten by car that same day.
After the service Mary hitched a ride with QMII on the helicopter back to Gråsten. Landing next to Gråsten less than an hour later, they all milled out of the helicopter. Mary and QMII had not changed and with them were, (I’m looking at a picture) four children, two nannies, two adjutants and at least one PET officer. – Yes, the EH101 are big! It’s far cry from the old Sikorsky’s. Christian was seen with a guitar strapped to his back.
Frederik drove instead. Unfortunately there was a story in Ekstra Bladet about Frederik speeding in Southern Jutland. Annoyingly I find the story very credible as the DRF has a habit of speeding. – So too has members of the SRF when they are passing through DK.
Prince Henrik did not attend the service in Copenhagen. His adjutant, Niels Nyhave, explained that it was due to meetings that had been long scheduled.


(*) Anna Johannesen appears to have covered the photo shoot and as always when she spots royal children she goes into grandmother-mode! Read: Going gaga. As such the articles are in her usual somewhat sugary style.
Ken Richter, as usual, reports what he saw, heard and learned and that’s about it. Even though he certainly is pro-DRF.

(**) The blue hue is called Summer-blue. I know a painter…

(***) Let there be no mistake, QMII is obviously delighted with her new grandchildren and she certainly has become much better at interacting with small children in recent years but the way she held Vincent was pretty awkward. She lacks routine. I have a feeling it’s mainly PH who picks up the wailing children when the grannies are prince/ss-sitting.

(****) As long as it’s henna. But I fear, if the current trend continues, we will eventually see Bella and Josephine with tattoos on their lower backsides. Ass-antlers, so called because such tattoos, just like real antlers, are destined to grow bigger and wider….

(*****) As always followed by an NCO from the Guards Hussars. M&F’s horses are familiar with him and his horse. – PET I assume followed them on bicycles.

(******) Well, he could have walked to the fitness center. At the very most it can't have been more than a couple of kilometers from Gråsten Slot. That would have been excellent exercise!
An alternative approach to fitness is not unheard among older gentleman. My own late father used to swim for some time when he was at the beach. “To get the blood flowing”. What he neglected to say was that he walked on the bottom, while making swimming movements with his arms…..

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

However QMII also held Vincent in her arms. (***)

To this I must add that I´m not at all surprised that Prince Henrik was carrying Pss Josephine. He has always hoped for a daughter. And if you ask any mother, who has been at Amalienborg Square, on QMII´s birthday with a app. 1½ year old daughter, she can tell you that she (the mother) and Prince Henrik had eyecontact He wanted a daugther and got two sons... But now he has to granddaugthers

Originally Posted by Muhler

After the service Mary hitched a ride with QMII on the helicopter back to Gråsten. Landing next to Gråsten less than an hour later, they all milled out of the helicopter. Mary and QMII had not changed and with them were, (I’m looking at a picture) four children, two nannies, two adjutants and at least one PET officer. – Yes, the EH101 are big! It’s far cry from the old Sikorsky’s.

WOW, that´s a lot of people inside the helicopter And both the heir´s heir and the spares...

Originally Posted by Muhler

Prince Henrik did not attend the service in Copenhagen. His adjutant, Niels Nyhave, explained that it was due to meetings that had been long scheduled.

I´m glad to hear some kind of explanation why Prince Henrik didn´t come to the memorial service, but couldn´t those meetings have been cancelled or moved?

Originally Posted by Muhler

(******) Well, he could have walked to the fitness center. At the very most it can't have been more than a couple of kilometers from Gråsten Slot. That would have been excellent exercise!
An alternative approach to fitness is not unheard among older gentleman. My own late father used to swim for some time when he was at the beach. “To get the blood flowing”. What he neglected to say was that he walked on the bottom, while making swimming movements with his arms…..

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by FasterB

I´m glad to hear some kind of explanation why Prince Henrik didn´t come to the memorial service, but couldn´t those meetings have been cancelled or moved?

That's what I thought as well....

Originally Posted by FasterB

T

WOW, that´s a lot of people inside the helicopter And both the heir´s heir and the spares...

Well, if you are going to crash, better crash in a helicopter than in a fixed wing aircraft. As long as the rotors remain intact you have a very good change of surviving and that without too severe injuries.
They are here flying in a search and rescue version of the EH-101, with a crew of at least four, usually six or seven. Apart from room for stretchers and equipment there are sixteen (IRRC) comfortable seats. - So twelve additional passengers (the twins would most likely be strapped somewhere, so they don't need a seat) is no problem.

The alternative would be a minor caravan driving towards Gråsten. - And the crew get some flight time.

The transport version can accomodate 32 fully equipped infantry men.

[iceflower]

Originally Posted by biboquinhas

Nice to see Ziggy again. Were those pictures taken now?

They were taken shortly before the photo session, on the last days of July

[Viv]

According to Billed Bladet Alexandra of Berleburg and kids spent a few days at Graasten before the photo session. And according to BB her husband -Jefferson preferred to stay with friends in Italy.

Am I imagining things - or are we actually seeing less and less of Jefferson? He didn't attend this year's Berleburg wedding, if I remember correctly!


viv

[BurberryBrit]

Originally Posted by iceflower

It's always a pleasure, Tiggersk8!



BurberryBrit, here's one, but maybe you've seen it before and it's not as close as you had hoped:


** Carina **

Thanks! I didn't see it before.