Danish State Visit to Vietnam; November 1st-6th, 2009

[Patra]

Im looking forward to seeing the photos posted on this trip. The Royal couples seem like they all get along so well. I would like to know more about why Prince Henrik lived in Vietnam as a child.

[sgl]

Berlingske has an article about Prince Henrik's visit to his childhood home in Vietnam:
Prins Henrik besøgte barndommens gade - Danmark

It says that the house was filled with servants, gardeners, and other typical features found in a house owned by a wealthy family. His family went to Vietnam because of the opportunities in agriculture. They owned coffee and rice plantations. They also owned a newspaper, and a few other businesses not identified in the article. The Monpezat family left Vietnam in 1954 due to the war. They returned to France. The article says that most of their holdings in Vietnam disappeared during the war.

During his visit to his former home, the Prince was very excited to show reporters a pagoda on the property. It was a favorite childhood hangout of the Prince, according to the article.

And Jyllandsposten has an article about the Queen and Prince Henrik's ride on a bicycle taxi. After the visit to the childhood home of Prince Henrik, the couple went to a cathedral, where Prince Henrik put up a plaque in honor of his grandfather, whose grave in Vietnam disappeared during the war. He wanted to put the plaque up in the cathedral as a way to commemorate his grandfather.
http://jp.dk/blitz/kongelige/article1870327.ece

The article also says that Crown Prince Frederik was there (doesn't mention whether Mary was there or not), and he told reporters that this has been a great way to experience his father's past.

[MAfan]

La regina in cyclo - La foto del giorno - Corriere della Sera
The Queen in Hanoi, from the italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

[thedittybopper]

The Queen Margrethe, Prince Consort Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark began their visit to Vietnam. todaythey visited the district of Hanoi where Prince Henrik lived.

Début de la visite au Vietnâm pour la famille royale de Danemark | Noblesse & Royautés

[dazzling]

Pictures from the reception

[dee4855]

VnExpress - Nữ hoÃ*ng Ä�an Mạch thăm phố cổ HÃ* Ná»™i trên xÃ*ch lô - Nu hoang Dan Mach tham pho co Ha Noi tren xich lo
Nice photos. There is a really beautiful shot of the Queen looking over at PC, such a serene smile on her face. I think this is wonderful for the family to go back to see where he was raised. You know this has to mean so much to him since he is aging. Sad Prince Christian was not old enough to make the trip.

[rubies]

The Queen looks stunning!. Fredrik and Mary look like they are on vacation, not the first official day of a state visit. I think you can do casual much better.

[MelinaB.]

Thank you all for the beautiful pics! The 2 couples seem to enjoy their walk in Hanoi. I didn't know it is so hot there in November.

[dee4855]

Originally Posted by MelinaB.

Thank you all for the beautiful pics! The 2 couples seem to enjoy their walk in Hanoi. I didn't know it is so hot there in November.

My brother was there for 2+ years during the war. He said it is never cool being a tropical climate.

[Dierna23]

Originally Posted by rubies

The Queen looks stunning!. Fredrik and Mary look like they are on vacation, not the first official day of a state visit. I think you can do casual much better.

I agree with you! Margrethe looks very good today, relaxed and happy. But a bit too much casual on Mary & Frederik. Looking foward to the next days.

[MelinaB.]

Originally Posted by dee4855

My brother was there for 2+ years during the war. He said it is never cool being a tropical climate.

Alright, so Vietnam is in the tropical zone. I thought it was close to it, just like California. Thanks for the info

[sgl]

Originally Posted by rubies

The Queen looks stunning!. Fredrik and Mary look like they are on vacation, not the first official day of a state visit. I think you can do casual much better.

I agree with you, but I think that technically the official duties don't begin until 2 November. I think that they were there a few days early in order to relax and acclimate to the time difference before the official state visit begins. This may account for their very relaxed appearance (just a guess). The DRF's website lists the dates for the state visit as 2-6 November.

[lyndaW]

Originally Posted by rubies

The Queen looks stunning!. Fredrik and Mary look like they are on vacation, not the first official day of a state visit. I think you can do casual much better.

I also agree, Princess was a bit too casual and her pants were rather tight. The Queen, as usual is always dressed for the job

[ricarda]

Originally Posted by rubies

The Queen looks stunning!. Fredrik and Mary look like they are on vacation, not the first official day of a state visit. I think you can do casual much better.

Actually it isn't the first official day. Officially the state visit lasts from 2 to 6 November (according to the Danish court's announcement) and starts tommorrow (Monday) with official welcoming, wreath laying, state banquet and so on. From 7 to 9 November they will stay on privately and today seems to be somehow semi-official, with a voyage back into Henrik's past.

I actually like their colour coordination. The Queen wears a white blouse with red and blue stripes and Henrik a red shirt, Frederik a blue shirt, Mary a white top. I think their outfits, although quite relaxed looking (even the Queen's, though her's is the most elegant), were carefully planned.

In the evening the Queen wore trousers - definitely a sign that this day/event was an unofficial one. I have never seen her wearing trousers during official parts of state visits.

[Terri Terri]

Yes! Quite unusually, it was CP Mary in a dress and the Queen in a white pants suit for the evening dinner at the Danish Embassy!!!! That attests to the somewhat semi-official feeling of this first day! It was more a day of nostalgia for Prince Henrik and showing his family where he lived during the earliest part of his life! So this was a casual day almost! This first day showed Prince Henrik in focus. From tomorrow, it would be Queen Margrethe as the Head of State in Denmark who would be in focus!

Two lovely pics of CP Frederik and CP Mary from Belga. More pics have been added to the Belga gallery!!!
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture...mId=1478181-41
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture...mId=1478181-54

[carlota]

i was quite impressed to see that mary is participating in more events in this trip than frederic!
i'm sure it will be quite an emotional trip for henrik - is the plan after the 6th supposed to be private or will they still visit some charities or NGO's as well where there will be press opportunities?

[giov]

Prisma gallery
Derechos España y Portugal : La Familia Real de Dinamarca de visita en Vietnam - Agencia Prisma

[Terri Terri]

i was quite impressed to see that mary is participating in more events in this trip than frederic!

Actually, CP Frederik has some events on his own. CP Mary does not. She will either accompany CP Frederik or Queen Margrethe to events. CP Mary has no solo events on this state visit.

is the plan after the 6th supposed to be private

Yes...after the official visit end on November 6th, the royal family will spend some private time in Vietnam (a few days).

More pics!!! Belga keeps updating their gallery!
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture.../16325524.html
http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture.../16325462.html

[lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by MelinaB.

Thank you all for the beautiful pics! The 2 couples seem to enjoy their walk in Hanoi. I didn't know it is so hot there in November.

It's hot all year round in Vietnam, especially in the city centres.

Originally Posted by Terri Terri

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Originally Posted by Terri Terri

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Beautiful pictures of the pair.
Mary looked wonderful tonight.

[Maura724]

Prince Henrik's childhood home looks beautiful. I'm glad the family is having a chance to do this - I'm sure it's a fascinating trip for them. I always love having parents and grandparents show me around where they grew up.

Henrik was not actually born in Vietnam, was he? One of the articles posted here says so, but I think he was born in Talence, France and just moved to Vietnam as a boy?