A few summaries from the wedding from my archive. A bit late but still....
http://www.bt.dk/article/20080527/royalt/80527003/
According to this article in BT Prince Joachim gave a very romantic and moving speech to his Marie. In French. Resulting in quite a few of those who understood French shedding more than one tear.
There are unfortunately no details.
Our Marie's father also gave a warm speech. Expressing his joy that Marie had found Joachim. Only the best is good enough for Marie.
The Regent Couple did not give a speech. However the Regent Couple had expressed their joy with Marie and the marriage at the party the night before.
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Here are a number of additional tidbits and details from the wedding. All compiled by from Billed Bladet #22, 2008.
The late Queen Ingrid meant a lot to the DRF while she was around and not least to both Joachim and Frederik. So Joachim had incorporated a number of subtle details in remembrance of his grandmother (mormor). First and foremost: The wedding took place on the 24th May which is the same day the then Crown Princess Ingrid was married to Crown Prince Frederik. (Later King Frederik IX). That took place 73 years ago.
The flowers in our Marie's bouquet were very similar to those in Ingrid's bouquet.
One of the medals worn by Joachim is the remembrance medal for the arrival of Crown Princess Ingrid to Denmark (she was actually married in Sweden), a medal of which joachim is particularly fond.
As you all know by now Joachim gave a very romantic and moving speech at the dinner. To his bride Marie and her family but certainly also to his sons.
The exact words are not known yet.
After having spoken to his bride, reducing everyone able to understand French to tears he turned towards his sons and said among other:
- "You have held it all together and (you) have helped me through the difficult times. You have been so sweet and understanding and (you) have made it all go smoothly. Without you I couldn't have made it. You have helped making me both happy and strong again".
He also thanked his boys for the way they had received Marie and added that it had been "so great, so great". - Again bringing tears to the eyes to those who understood Danish. But the meaning was pretty clear to everyone else too! - Now
that's an emotional wedding!
Not surprisingly a lot of the coverage emphasise the surprising emotional outburst of the usually very composed Joachim.
Joachim changed to white tie for the dinner.
The Bugatti, which being a Bugatti is allowed, even honour bound to condescending puff a little smoke, naturally attracted attention. Including Frederik and papa Henrik. Mary, as befits females, looked on in admiration standing slightly behind Frederik, while the males, with their hands in their pockets kicked the tires, had a look at the motor and exchanged expert knowledge. - That's the law of nature! And if you don't take my word for it, then there's a picture in Billed Bladet of the three of them doing just what I described above.
David Arasa and Claudio Morelli, who designed Princess Marie's dress were both present at the wedding. And in contrast to quite a few of the other guests they were both very correctly attired in the white ties. Two centimetres of the vest visible beneath the jacket. And two centimetres of the white shirt being visible beneath the cuffs of the jacket. Nice!
The matron of the Cavallier clan, Marie's beloved grandmother (farmor) Baroness Odile de Sairigne, married into a noble line which were enobled on 15. November 1734.
Not in connection to the wedding itself and yet....
Our Marie went on the job for the first time, when she gave a little speech at Tønder town hall, a couple of the lines being in Danish. She did well as you know, she does however still lack the routine in such matters which her predecessor and sister in law master so well. The attentive royal reporter, Trine Larsen, noted a few minor details:
When you are a royal lady, flowers are constantly thrusted into your hands, which apart from looking good is also a way to keep your hand occupied. Males can always walk around with the hands on the backs, ladies can't! Anyway, when you also have a handbag and everyone want's to shake you hand and present you with something, you really require a third hand or practise in coordinating both hands in a suitable femine way. Marie lack a bit of practise yet.
And what do you do when you are a royal lady and your handbag falls on the floor with an audible bang. Reach for it... No, perhaps not. Hmm, wait for a gentleman to pick it up for you. Yes. That gentleman being the daily manager of Schackenborg, Søren Frederiksen, who on this day were shanghaied as Marie's Gentleman-in-Waiting. He was helpful in several situations.
Joachim and Marie were naturally also presented with a present: A book about Schackenborg. And our Marie acted like a human being and opened the present to have a look. Then remembering that royal ladies are
not human beings. Royal ladies do not open presents until afterwards, they just receive presents and descreetly hand them over to their Gentleman-in-Waiting, which is what our Marie did next.
In short: Marie charmed everyone in sight.
A note also informs us that the suits Nikolai and Felix wore were from the shop: Prins & Prinsesseskabet in the town of Måløv. The suits can be purchased online for 549 DKK each.
Then we have Felix, who to the delight of the photographers present fell asleep in the church. Mother Mary noticed her nephew sleeping and tried descreetly to wake him up, but he was slightly out of reach. Okay, plan B then: Get Nikolai to wake Felix. Which Nikolai indeed did in a big-brotherly manner. I.e. giving Felix a push in the side. Felix reacted like any kid brother and grumpily pushed back.
Okay, Nikolai tried again. This time succeeding and making Felix sob quitely. And now dad was leaving too! that was too much for Felix, but fortunately grandpapa Henrik was there along with granny Margrethe and that helped a little and when the left the church Felix was his usual happy self again. - Not least when he spotted the Bugatti!!
Notes informs us that the wedding waltz was danced at 23.47. I.e. before midnight as tradition dictates. Then party time! M&F left the party at around 03.45. Then a few hours in bed before family and friends gathered for a brunch at Schackenborg at 11.00.
Written by Anna Johannesen, Trine Larsen & Annelise Weimann.
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And a few more trivia. This time about the cars:
The bugatti, named Krone (crown) 41 on the occassion was borrowed from Donington Grand Prix Collection. It was the same collection that lend out cars to one of the most successful exhibitions ever in Aros art museum in Århus. THAT was art that appealed to the masses! Great cars!
Only six versions of Bugatti type 41 were made. each were different. This one is an exact copy of the Coupe Napoleon. - Delivery time for the copy: ten years!
Joachim arrived to the chuch in his own crown car, Krone 61. A Maserati Quattroporte, purchased last year as Joachim's official car. It will also be used by Princess and Countess of Montpezat Marie. So we are going to see more of that car in the years to come.
M&F arrived in Krone 2. The Regent Couple arrived in Krone 1. The flagship, store (big) Krone, a rolls Royce was not used today.
Krone nos. 1, 2 & 5 are Daimler Limousines. Eight seaters.
Krone 1 was bought by Frederik IX in 1970. And was originally used by the late Queen Ingrid.
Krone 2 is the latest of the three Daimlers and was bought in connection with Prince Henrik turning 60, in 1994.
Krone 5 was bought in 1986 and is now mainly used to transport foreign heads of states and ambassadors who are transported to an audience with the Queen.
Princess Marie's father has, as is tradition, recieved the Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog. Both as a curtesy but also to ensure that though he may be outclassed by many in DK, he is only outranked by royals and heads of states in regards to orders. The Order of the Elephant being more grand.
So did the fathers of Henrik, Mary and Alexandra.
Our Marie has recieved the Order of the Elephant, as she is now royal - and Countess.
And now some trivia:
The Bugatti, which brought Mr. News, Jes Dorph Pedersen on TV2 to a state of extacy, was borrowed by Joachim from a friend in Britain as a special surprise to his bride. Only six have been made of this particular model from 1930.
The police bomb squad sweeped the area around the church prior to the wedding. One of the dogs showed an alarming interest in a photographers bag. The bag was opened and the bomb turned out to be a sandwich. - Well, it's not only bombs that can go astray. So can dogs. I hope it got the sandwich.
Felix, being only five, sobbed heartily when his father and Princess Marie left the church. He'd like to go with them. Fortunately big brother Nikolai and grandpapa Henrik was at hand to comfort him.