The Danish State Visit to Vietnam ended on Friday,with the royal men once again attending business forums in the morning at the Sheraton Hotel.

TRH Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik once again viewed business stands and attended environmental seminars throughout the morning; while their wives, HM Queen Margrethe II and HRH Crown Princess Mary, paid a visit to the Phasion-Viedam Moulding factory where they were given a tour around the building.

They then moved on to Maersk, a company which produces helmets, in Ho Chi Minh City. The Queen and Crown Princess were introduced to a campaign for children’s regarding them wearing helmets when riding bikes. The duo then headed up to the stage with a group of young children, and assisted them in putting on their white Maersk helmets. And then it was the royal visitors’ turn to try on the helmets – Princess Mary managed to somewhat successfully place her helmet on top of her large brown hat, while Queen Margrethe laughed and passed her helmet on to her daughter-in-law to take back to Denmark, presumably for her two children Christian and Isabella.

The State Visit concluded at 16:00 local time, with a press conference with both Danish and Vietnamese media in the Thao Dien Village. The royal family discussed the visit, and what it was like to go on a state visit together. “It has been lovely, and it has been instructive,” Crown Princess Mary said of accompanying her in-laws to Vietnam. Queen Margrethe quickly agreed, “It’s fun to be two generations together. And instructive – also for an old hand like me.” Prince Henrik, who has no doubt enjoyed showing his family around the country he spent his early childhood in, also spoke highly of the visit and the family’s time together. Crown Prince Frederik was asked what it was like to attend a state visit with his mother and replied, “It’s always good to be able to learn in this subject that I am in right now. To be able to follow my parents in this way. It’s things that I of course put in my backpack.”

The visit concluded officially on Friday, but HM and the Prince Consort will stay on in Vietnam until November 11th. Crown Prince Frederik is off to South Korea on the 10th, for the annual meeting of the International Sailing Federation. It is unknown whether Crown Princess Mary will stay in Vietnam with her in-laws, or head back to Denmark.

JessRulz Danish Royals Margrethe II, Press Conference, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, State Visit, Vietnam

Day four of the Danish State Visit to Vietnam saw a change in the program, due to torrential weather and a typhoon in the district of Hue, where the official program was headed.

View the image at Belga

The planned sailing trip from the Thien Mu Pagoda was cancelled as the water levels in the river had risen two meters. The royals also had to alter their transportation to the area. HM Queen Margrethe and HRH Prince Henrik had to double back and have their plane land in a city further south, as they were unable to land in Hue. A bus was then arranged to transport the royal couple to their destination.

A tour of the Minh Manh tomb was made the first event on the agenda, and it gave us some of the funniest pictures of the visit! Images of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik wearing candy-coloured plastic ponchos to protect themselves from the rain will never be forgotten, as will the picture of Prince Henrik attempting to perform ‘The Falcon’ in the middle of tour (TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary quickly diverted their eyes). Minh Manh was the King of Vietnam from 1820 to 1840.

View the image at Belga

A reception at the Imperial Palace was hosted by the People’s Committee and President Triet at lunch time, which was followed by a tour of the Imperial City inside the Citadel and a lunch in the Duyet Thi Theatre. The afternoon ended with Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik attending the opening of a new extension to the HUDA Brewery.

The state visit concludes tomorrow. Click here to view the thread at TRF.

JessRulz Danish Royals Margrethe II, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, State Visit, Vietnam

Compared with the first days of their state visit to Vietnam, the Danish Royal Family enjoyed a much slower pace on day three. HM Queen Margrethe II and HRH Prince Henrik were out and about by brunch, attending a Danish business event.

View the image at Belga

The royal couple visited Danish work-wear company Mascot International’s building in Hai Duong, where they were met by the company’s directors, Michael Grosbøl and Thomas Bo Pedersen. Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik were treated to a guided tour of the factory, before attending the awards ceremony of the Corporate Social Responsibility’s honourable prize. The prize was presented to Thomas Bo Pedersen by the Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee in Hai Duong, Ms Nguyen Thi Mihn.

Some history and culture was next on the agenda, as they visited the Kim Lien Pagoda. The Queen and Prince Consort were received by the pagoda’s head monk, who told them of the history and spiritual meaning of the site. They were told of how the pagoda was part of the Tu Hao Palace, ordered to be built by Princess Tu Hoa, a daughter of King Ly Than Tong of the Ly Dynasty. The King then sent his daughter and her maids to the pagoda to make them understand their societal position.

View the image at Billed Bladet

HM and HRH were then treated to lunch at the Koto Restaurant, where the royals were given a tour of the restaurant and kitchens before being given the opportunity to help the staff make Vietnamese spring rolls. Prince Henrik, who has written many a cookbook, seemed in his element and both he and his wife participated with extreme interest. Queen Margrethe spoke with the press later after the lunch, about Prince Henrik’s connection with Vietnam. “The more I see, the more I sense the world my husband remembers and tells about…I think it’s fascinating to come here, I have thought a lot about my parents-in-law,” she said.

The royal couple retired for the evening, and allowed TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary to take over. The couple attended a rock concert at the Hue Sports Centre, which featured both Danish and Vietnamese artists. Danish rockers The Blue Van were greeted with wild applause by the Crown Prince Couple, who appeared relaxed and enjoyed their evening.

Day four continues tomorrow. View the state visit thread here.

JessRulz Danish Royals Concert, Margrethe II, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, State Visit, Vietnam

Day two of the Danish State Visit to Vietnam began early this morning, with TRH Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik awake early to attend a business forum “Denmark and Vietnam – Let’s Do Business” at the Melia Hotel.

View the image at the MoFA Denmark

Prince Henrik awarded the HRH Prince Henrik’s Honorary Medal to Preben Hjortlund, a Danish businessman, during the event which was well attended by the Danish business delegation on the visit. During the forum, the two men visited several stands and attended various seminars on a cleaner environment in the future, business and production technology and airspace products.

HM Queen Margrethe II and HRH Crown Princess Mary meanwhile visited the Ba Trang Phomax/Anna Black Ceramics Factory. The two women participated in painting some ceramic plates and mugs, decorating them and signing their names. Queen Margrethe, being an artist, was much more at ease with painting than her daughter-in-law, even though she did find it a little challenging, eventually resigning and stating “It isn’t great art.” She still managed to finish painting several items though, while Mary was on her first. “My goodness, this is something of a task,” the Princess exclaimed. Queen Margrethe also painted mugs for the Crown Prince and two of her grandchildren, Christian and Isabella.

View the image at Billed Bladet

From there, the duo headed to the a nearby youth theatre where they watched  a performance by the Batida Children’s Theatre. Several Hanoi performers were on hand to perform, as well as ten Batida Denmark dancers. Lunch was served at the Melia Hotel for the royals and the Danish business delegation, where speeches were held by the Queen and Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

Margrethe, Frederik and Mary then attended the opening of the first ever Street Festival in Vietnam. Cultural events are traditionally held indoors, and this is the first to be held outdoors. A reception was hosted at the National History Museum for Danish residents living in Vietnam, as well as the staff and children of the Danish Embassy. All the royals were in attendance, as were various officials accompanying them on the trip.

Queen Margrethe hosted a return banquet for President Triet at the Temple of Literature, beginning at 19:30 local time. Tomorrow’s agenda includes a tour of the Kiem Lien Temple, lunch at the Koto restaurant and a rock concert in the evening. View the State Visit thread here.

JessRulz Danish Royals Margrethe II, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, State Visit, Vietnam

An official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam this morning officially began the first state visit to Vietnam by a Danish Head of State.

View the image at ANP

HM Queen Margrethe II, accompanied by TRH the Prince Consort, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, was welcomed by the Vietnamese President Nguyen Minth Triet and a full guard of honour. The President’s wife, First Lady Tran Thi Kim Chi, was also on hand for the welcoming. Despite the sub-tropic climate, the Queen and the President stood under a shaded platform while the remainder of the party stood in the sunshine. It was here, during the national anthems, that Crown Princess Mary was the victim of mother nature – a gust of wind blew her hat straight of her head and into the arms of a nearby official.

View the image at the MoFA Denmark

After regaining her hat, and composure, the Princess joined her family in an audience with the President and First Lady. Queen Margrethe and President Triet had much to discuss, covering a wide variety of topics from Danish-Vietnamese relations, economic issues and culture. A pressing issue was the effect climate change will have on Vietnam. Both the Queen and President highlighted this, with President Triet thanking Denmark for their recent committment to an aid package worth $US40 million to assist Vietnam with climate change. Queen Margrethe also extended an invitation to the President to visit Denmark in the future.

View the image at ANP

From there, it was on to two seperate wreath laying ceremonies. The first was at the Monument for National Heroes and Martyrs, where Vietnamese soldiers assisted in the laying of the wreath for the royals. The second ceremony was at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

While Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik met with Nguyen Phu Trong, the President of the Vietnamese National Assembly, the Crown Prince Couple paid a visit to the Bang and Olufsen store in Hanoi where Crown Prince Frederik helped to launch a new product line called BeoVision 10 to the Asian market. In the early afternoon, Frederik headed off to officially open the new brewery of the Hanoi Beer Company. The Prince was then treated to a tour of the building, followed by a tasting (or two) of the Company’s finest. Read more…

JessRulz Danish Royals Climate Change, Margrethe II, President Triet, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, State Visit, Vietnam

The Danish State Visit to Vietnam began in a semi-official capacity this afternoon local time, with HM Queen Margrethe II and the Royal Family spending the day in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital.

View the image at VN Express

Queen Margrethe and HRH Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort, arrived in Vietnam earlier in the day and were welcomed at the Noi Bai National Airport with a guard of honour. This was followed by the first of several cycle tours in traditional rickshaws through Hanoi. The couple were joined by TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary for a visit to the Prince Consort’s childhood home, which lies on Phan Dinh Phung.

The de Laborde de Monpezat family bought the house in 1928, and lived in Vietnam for five years before returning to France (Henrik later returned to Vietnam in the early 1950s to attend secondary school). HRH was very excited to return to the house and show his family where he grew up. One particular spot was a pagoda located on the property which was a favourite hunt of Henrik’s. “I am very happy to show both Hanoi and the house [to my family],” Prince Henrik told Danish media.

View the image at Belga

After the visit to the house, Henrik and Frederik visited St Joseph’s Cathedral, where they were met by Father Luong. The purpose of the visit was for Prince Henrik to erect a plaque in honour of his paternal grandfather, Henri de Laborde de Monpezat,who was a prominent member of the Colonial Supreme Council in Hanoi and an active entrepreneur (the family had several business holdings in Vietnam, many of which disappeared during the war). The grave of Prince Henrik’s grandfather, who died in 1929, also went missing during the war, and the Prince Consort wanted a way to commemorate him – thus the plaque. Crown Prince Frederik assisted his father in installing the plaque, and said it was a “great experience to witness his father’s past.” A video of the day’s events can be viewed here at TV2.

In the evening, a reception was hosted by the Danish Ambassador to Vietnam, Peter Lysholt Hansen, at his residence in Hanoi. The Ambassador’s wife (who is Vietnamese), Ha Thi Bich Lien, and the couple’s six-year-old son Khoi also attended the reception. Khoi was even on hand to present the Queen and Crown Princess with bouquets upon their arrival.

The state visit begins officially tomorrow, with the official welcoming ceremony by President Nguyen Minth Triet at the Presidential Palace. The visit runs until November 6th. View the TRF thread for the state visit here.

JessRulz Danish Royals Margrethe II, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, State Visit, Vietnam

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

 The Danish Royal Family today attended the opening of the 2009/2010 Danish parliamentary season at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The royal family traditionally attends the opening each year, where the current Prime Minister opens the season.

Click to see the image at Billed-Bladet

HRH Princess Benedikte, the younger sister of HM Queen Margrethe, arrived at Folketinget (the Danish parliament) first just after 11:45 local time. She was followed by TRH Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, who was dressed in a green coat-dress and a matching beret-style hat; and then TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. The Crown Princess was wearing a black coat and skirt, with a grey hat and accessories.

Click to see the image at Billed-Bladet

HM Queen Margrethe II and HRH Prince Henrik arrived shortly after their eldest son and daughter-in-law, and the Queen was greeted by the Speaker of the Danish parliament, Thor Pedersen, before the royal family entered the parliament building. A video of the arrivals, and of inside parliament, can be found here.

At noon, the royal family took their places in the royal box and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen began his first speech at the opening of parliament (he became Prime Minister earlier this year). As usual, the Danish royals had a hard time keeping their eyes open during the event, and images of the monarch and her consort catching forty-winks is not unusal.

Click here to view the Opening of Danish Parliament thread, which includes photos from previous years.

JessRulz Danish Royals Margrethe II, Parliament, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Prince Joachim, Princess Benedikte, Princess Marie, Princess Mary

 An audience with HM the Queen of Denmark. That is how US President Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady Michelle, ended their visit to Copenhagen yesterday, October 2nd.

Click to see the Berlingske gallery

The duo first met with Queen Margrethe II and HRH the Prince Consort at Christiansborg Palace, before the President was presented with a guard of honour by the Royal Danish Life Guard. President and First Lady Obama were then introduced to TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. The meeting took place in the Palace’s Banquet Hall, which is home to the ‘Dronningens Gobeliner’, or the Queen’s Tapestries.

The seventeen 300m2 tapestries, created by Bjørn Nørgaard and presented to the Queen as a gift for her 50th birthday, stunned the President, who was greatly impressed by the pieces. Queen Margrethe wasted little time, pointing out various features of the tapestries and explaining their meanings to her guests. The Obamas spent approximately fifteen minutes in the Banquet Hall with the royals, Michelle was seen chatting with the Prince Consort and Princess Mary. View a video of the Obamas’ arrival and inital meeting here.

From there, the President went on to an audience with Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Here, there was a press conference where Obama thanked the royal family and the people of Denmark as a whole. “I would like to thank the Danish Royal Family for their extraordinary hospitality during our visit,” he said. The Prime Minister also thanked President Obama for coming to Copenhagen, saying everyone was delighted by their trip and hoped they would visit again soon, and wished the Chicago 2016 Summer Olympic Games bid well.

Click to see the image at Daylife

Luck was not with the Obamas and the Chicago delegation, which also included Oprah Winfrey, though as they were eliminated in the first round of the voting. Coming down to Madrid and Rio de Janiero, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced that the Brazillian capital would be the first South American city to host an Olympic Games, sending joy and jubilee throughout the Rio delegation and in the city itself.

The 121st IOC Congress continues until October 9th. View the Congress thread here.

JessRulz Danish Royals Audience, IOC, Margrethe II, Michelle Obama, President Obama, Prime Minister Rasmussen, Prince Frederik, Prince Henrik the Prince Consort, Princess Mary, Rio 2016

 The 121st International Olympic Committee Congress kicked off yesterday, with a luncheon hosted by HM Queen Margrethe II and the Opening Ceremony at the elegant Copenhagen Opera House.

Click to see the image at Belga

The day began with an early afternoon lunch at Amalienborg Palace, which was hosted by the Queen for the visiting IOC delegations from Spain, the US, Brazil and Japan. TRH Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary attended the luncheon and were on hand to greet their VIP guests. And VIP these guests were: TM King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, First Lady Michelle Obama, HE President da Silva of Brazil and HE Yoshiro Mori, the former Prime Minister of Japan.

Click to see the image at ESPN

It was the first meeting of the American First Lady and the Danish royals, while the Spanish King and Queen greeted Queen Margrethe and her family as old friends would: with hugs and kisses (and a curstey from the Crown Princess). The Brazillian President has also met the royal family before, paying a state visit to Denmark two years ago. A group photo was taken in Christian VII’s Palace before the lunch began.

That evening, the glamour came out to play. The Congress’ Opening Ceremony was held at the Copenhagen Opera House, and was attended by the IOC members (royal members include HRH The Princess Royal and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco), the members of the candidate city delegations and the Danish royal family. Read more…

JessRulz Danish Royals Constantine II, IOC, King Juan Carlos, Margrethe II, Michelle Obama, President da Silva, Prince Frederik, Princess Mary, Queen Sofia