Despite the regular terror attacks these days, life
must go on.
Summary of article in Billed Bladet #14, 2016.
Written by Trine Larsen.
After the initial welcoming and trip around the harbor, the visit started with a gala-dinner in the evening.
QMII wore a dress by Birgitte Thaulow and Queen Mathilde a dress by Armani.
The food was served on silver plates from the 1700's. (That results in a very special sound during the dinner BTW. The DRF and senior guests east from gold-plates). The gilded silver cutlery is from 1863, the year Christian IX was crowned.
On the tables 25 large put-flowers-into-thingies (see the scan) had been placed with poppies in various hues. The poppy is the national flower of Belgium.
Princess Elisabeth, who looked pretty frail, was escorted to her place by and adjutant.
Mary wore a dress by Jesper Høring and Frederik the gala uniform of a rear admiral.
Our Marie wore a dress by Rikke Gudnitz while Joachim wore the gala uniform of a full colonel in the army.
Earlier that day M&F took King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde for a trip round the harbor. The Belgian Regent Couple stayed at the guest/representation mansion of Amalienborg and were driven to the quay, where the barge waited for them. M&F were in good time and strolled the couple of hundred meters from their own mansion and stood waiting holding hands for a while, delighting tourists and local onlookers.
Mary wore a coat by Claes Iversen.
The boat trip was probably one of the few occasions the two couples had for a little, almost private chat, during a busy visit. - And that showed! Okay, from time to time M&F did actually point out things in Copenhagen.
The two royal ladies may have regretted their footwear, as the perforated deck on the boat was a virtual booby-trap for stilettos. - But they made it.
It was once again M&F who were the de facto hosts of this visit.
Of course the Belgian Regent Couple, didn't go to DK, just to say hi, this was also very much about export. As such a considerable Belgian business delegation accompanied the Belgian RC.
So at some point the two couples went to look at Belgian products. Not least chocolate and beer.
In the forenoon, Frederik and King Philippe went to Copenhagen Town Hall, in pouring rain. Later on they strolled to nearby House of Industy to look at Smart-city solution. I.e. high-tech control of traffic and improved infra-structure in major cities. Something that is needed in the highly urban Belgium.
In the meantime Mary and Queen Mathilde went to a school to have a look at how Free From Bullying was implemented there. 0-2 graders demonstrated how to become better friends and what to do to avoid bullying. That included the children singing You got friends".
On the second day it was time for the Belgian return dinner, which took place at the Black Diamond, the state library in Copenhagen.
Here Mary wore a dress by Jesper Høvring and earrings by Dulong and a clutch from Prada.
Queen Mathilde wore a dress by Natan.
The two ladies hugged when they met and as observers noticed Mary did not curtsy. Partly because they are close personal friends and partly because they have been together the whole day anyway, so some formalities were dispensed with. - But when it was time to say goodbye Mary did a deep curtsy, following the protocol. (See the scan).
The Belgian RC confided that they see M&F privately regularly, and that Queen Mathilde had seen her goddaughter, Isabella, both at this visit but also on previous private visits to Belgium by M&F and children.
Princess Elisabeth, who also seems to know the Belgian RC well, was also there - against escorted by an adjutant.
And so was J&M. Marie again wearing a dress by Rikke Gudnitz and a shawl with gold-embroidered elephants.
And here are the scans:
BB #14, 2017