View the image at MSN Starlounge

On Monday October 26th, HRH Crown Princess Mary attended the launch of the 2009 Christmas Seal, a charity stamp which is released each year to benefit the Christmas Seal Foundation (Julemærkefonden), at the Tivoli Amusement Park.

This year’s stamps were designed by Birgitte Els-Schleuder, who says her inspiration for the designs were “old poetic Christmas decorations.” Mary met with Els-Schleuder and several young girls from the Foundation homes at the launch, before revealing this year’s stamp.

The Crown Princess was joined by her mother-in-law’s first cousin, HE Count Ingolf of Rosenborg, and his second wife HE Countess Sussie for the launch. The Count and Countess are the patrons of the Christmas Seal March (Julemærkemarchen). The money raised by the Foundation through the stamps and the march go towards the Christmas Seal Foundation homes which assist sick children.

View the image at MSN Starlounge

The world’s first Christmas Seal was released in Denmark in 1904, and bore a likeness to HM Queen Louise, the deceased wife of the then King Christian IX. The King had approved the idea of the Christmas Seal. Records show that over 4,000,000 stamps were sold in the first year; and by 1910, enough money had been raised to build the Kolding Christmas Seal Sanatorium, which houses ill children.

HRH has been patron of the Julemærkefonden since December 2004, attending the stamp launch each year since (except for 2005 when she was on maternity leave). View Mary’s Christmas Seal Foundation thread here.

JessRulz Danish Royals Christmas, Count Ingolf, Countess Sussie, Julemærkefonden, Patronage, Princess Mary

According to politiken.dk, the Danish Royal Family will next year receive an increase in their allowances totalling 1.9 million kroner.

The Queen’s husband Prince Henrik will receive a total budget of 7.1 million kroner, which is a rise of 200,000 klroner from last year, whilst Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will receive an increase of 100,000 kroner, for a total of 3.1 million. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will have their budget increased by 400,000 kroner, to a total of 17.6 million. Princess Benedikte, sister of Queen Margrethe, will be given a total of 1.1 million kroner, and even Count Ingolf, the cousin of the Queen, will receive an increase of 100,000 kroner.

The former wife of Prince Joachim, Countess Alexandra, will also be given an increased budget of 2.1 million kroner, an increase of 100,000 upon last year. However, as a private citizen, the Countess does not have tax-exempt status and will as such  be paying tax upon it.

For more information, please see this thread.

alex001 Danish Royals Count Ingolf, Countess Alexandra, Finances, Margrethe II, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Prince Joachim, Princess Benedikte, Princess Marie, Princess Mary