Danish Royal Family Christmas: 2003, 2004, 2006-2012

[Lumutqueen]

So i'm confused, Mary and Frederik are not celebrating christmas with the family because of the children?

[Sternchen]

The family will go to Schackenborg to celebrate at Marie and Joachim, who will also have Felix and Nicolai over.
Mary and Fred will stay at Amalienborg with Christian and Isabella.

I wonder why M&J didn't decide to celebrate at Amalienborg as they have an appartment there?

[Lumutqueen]

I wonder why Mary and Fred aren't going to Schackenborg either?

[Zonk]

Aren't the babies due in December/January? Maybe its easier to celebrate at home. What if Mary has a C section? A lot could be going on that we simply aren't privy to.

[Sternchen]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

I wonder why Mary and Fred aren't going to Schackenborg either?

Schackenborg is a three hour drive from CPH :) IIRC it is about the same distance as a drive from Marselisborg to CPH.

[Lumutqueen]

But wouldn't the family want to be all together at Christmas, especially if the babies are born early, before Christmas.
Couldn't M&J travel to Amalienborg to be with the rest of the family?

[Sternchen]

That was what I thought, too, but perhaps Mary's relatives will come to Denmark, or Marie's relatives? After all both women have families, too, only they are not royal :)

[Zonk]

They can but most likely they are choosing not to. Why we don't know.

Like I said, we don't know when Mary is in fact due (although twins usually come early). Although they would be traveling with nurses and nannies, are you aware of how much stuff an infant needs (diapers, bottles, formula, etc.) on a day to day basis? And multiply that times two. Plus two other children. Thats a lot to handle (not that Mary will be packing it)....how many nannies does she currently have? I am sure they will add at least 2. Whereas they can adjust to be being a family of four to a family of six.....in their own home.

Its a family holiday...its not like they are moving to the Antartica never to see the rest of the family again. Big families are a joy to be around but sometimes people just want to be immeadiate. In my family, for example, we always spend Thanksgiving together (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, etc.) but Christmas has just been my immeadiate family (parents and sisters).

And, if Mary has a C section...while its definitely not as bad as it once was....she wouldn't (or shouldn't) be on her feet for what-----two to six weeks?

[Lumutqueen]

But why does Mary have to move anywhere after having the children?
If the royal family celebrated Christmas at Amalienborg, they newborns don't have to go anywhere?

[Zonk]

I am not sure I understand.

Fred, Mary, Christian, Isabella and the twins will be at Amalienborg and everyone else will be at Schackenborg. I am speaking of Mary and Fred lugging all the newborn stuff and the twins with them.

Or am I missing something?

[Sternchen]

I think Lumutqueen means, why the rest travels to Schackenborg, while they all could celebrate in Amalienborg :) M&J have an appartment there, too.

[Lumutqueen]

Thanks Sternchen, :)
Christmas is about spending time together as a family, and seeing as their will be two new born additions it would be even more special.
So why can't Marie, Joachim, Henrik and the boys stay at Amalienborg?

[UserDane]

If Marie's family is coming to celebrate Christmas I think it's natural that they would want to spend it on Schackenborg.
Who knows, Mary may also have some of her own family for Christmas and she and Frederik may want to make things as easy as possible considering the newborns/upcoming newborns and stay at Amalienborg.

[Zonk]

Thanks for clearing that up.

Christmas is for family and they will all be with their families....their immeadiate families. I don't see what the problem is...it isn't as if they don't see each other at all. As people marry and start their own families, its only natural that sometimes they don't spend time with each other. I mean why is always assumed that Mary and Marie will spend time with Margrethe and Henri during the holiday...they have families as well.

[ashelen]

We really do not know but if she didn't give brith may be it is more secure to be home cloe to the hospital just in case they born in cristmas eve! if she give birth or not she will be to tired anyway , i have a girl and i remeber you do not want to do anyting the last month or weeks to big too havy and i an not imagine with 2, and if she gave birth to much to handle even she might have 2 nannie plus the one they already have now, or they have 2 already? new home, first christmas there might be excited, her familly comming over, s many thing into consideration!

[Muhler]

I'm starting to lean towards Mary having some of her family over for Christmas. In which case I believe it would be considerate of QMII and PH to let them celebrate Christmas alone. They may have their own traditions and cartainly a lot of family-talk and the presence of what is after all the Queen may put a little damper on things.

Another thing is that we may see a beginning of a new tradition, where the family take turns in hosting Christmas. And why shouldn't Joachim and Oor Marie wish to celebrate Christmas at home and start their own Christmas traditions.

I can certainly understand why M&F would not go to Schackenborg with two newly born twins.
And in case she hasn't given birth before Christmas Eve, she may be due any moment. I don't think anyone are prepared to take any chances. The nearest really well equipped hospital from Schackenborg is in Odense or Aarhus, where very competent specialists are ready at all times. The local hospitals closer to Schackenborg don't have the same equipment or staff.
We have to take into considerations that a helicopter cannot fly due to weather and then it's a long, very long, way with ambulance to Odense or Aarhus! Much safer to stay in Copenhagen and especially for Mary to know she would soon be in the hands of people she knows and trusts.

Having said all that, my prediction still stands: New Years Eve plus/minus two days.

[nwinther]

I doubt that QM and the prince will (ever) be celebrating christmas in Copenhagen. It's tradition that they move out of the city for such events, usually to Marselisborg in Århus. I could imagine that M&F are staying in Copenhagen due to the pregnancy - and it would be more of a bother for M&J with 3 kids to move to Århus, than for QM and PH to go to Schackenborg. This way they can be out of Copenhagen and still celebrate christmas with the family.

I doubt this'll be a new tradition - it's not QMs style to change traditon.

On a nother note, it may add fuel to the fire regarding the rumors about Frederick and Joachim not being on the best footing. But I think if they can keep up appearances at other occations, they can at christmas as well. (Not sure there's much to the story anyways.)

[Katrianna]

I understood that Frederik and Mary will stay at Amalienborg because the hospital is close by their home so that makes sense.

[Aotearoagal]

Originally Posted by Sternchen

That was what I thought, too, but perhaps Mary's relatives will come to Denmark, or Marie's relatives? After all both women have families, too, only they are not royal :)

I'm sure that if Mary's relatives were to come to Denmark they would be made very welcome by Margrethe, Henrik and the rest of the family, and will be invited to the family celebration - the norm is for both sides of the family to celebrate together! I'd say that this arrangement means that Mary's family are NOT due in Denmark, and yes, they want to have a quiet Christmas.
You'd have to ask though, if you were in the Donaldson shoes, would you rather celebrate Christmas in Denmark or by the beach?

[stellad]

My take on this is that M&F want to remain in Copenhagen to be near the hospital for whatever purpose.