Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik's Official Visit to the USA: June 6-11, 2011

[iceflower]

___________________

According to the royal website Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik will make
a visit to the USA from June 6th to June 11th, 2011.
Here's the information given so far:

The royal couple will visit Washington and New York from 6 June to 11 June 2011.

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort's program during the visit will primarily focus on cultural activities and company visits.

In Washington, the royal couple among others attend the premiere of The Royal Ballet's performances at the Kennedy Center, meet with the Danish consuls in the U.S. and visit the Museum of American History, and the royal couple will visit a number of Danish companies.

In New York the royal couple participates in the Danish American Society Gala at the Museum of Natural History, where HM Queen is honored with the title "Person of the Year ". Moreover the visit includes the UN headquarters and the view on a selection of Danish design at the Museum of Modern Art.

On 11 June Prince Henrik is in Solvang, California to celebrate the city's 100th anniversary. He will also visit Stanford University and the Danish Innovation Center in Palo Alto in Silicon Valley.

source: kongehuset.dk

[Muhler]

(...)

According to a note in Billed Bladet #21, 2011, QMII and Prince Henrik have been invited by Michelle Obama for a cup of coffee in the forenoon in the White House. It is hoped President Obama will join them as well.

There is no mentioning of when this will take place.

- Something like that is to be expected. According to the diplomatic protocol, a foreign head of state, who is visiting a country in the official capacity of head of state, will also greet the head of state of that country. That is simply common curtesy.
The problem with USA is that the President is the leader of the administration as well as head of state, so he can be pretty busy and often on the move, sometimes making such meetings a little problematic.

There are of course exceptions. Had QMII been invited to USA by the UN, or just going to an event in UN, in New York, she would not be obliged to visit the US head of state, even though she is entering US territory to get to UN.
That is a way to avoid akward situations where heads of states who are less than welcome in USA, needs to be recieved, greeted and sometimes aknowledged by the US President.

[dazzling]

The visit says it ends on the 11th, according to the latest calendar entry, Prince Consort has a few events on June 13 in California while the Queen has an event on June 14 in Denmark. Maybe the Prince Consort will stay a few more days in the States without the Queen?

[dazzling]

Source: Kongehuset

The official program

Application to Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort's visit to U.S..

Monday 6 June 2011
Visit Washington DC

RC. Danish Embassy
Cl. 19.00
The royal couple take part in a reception in the Ambassador's residence.

Tuesday 7th June 2011
HM the Queen's program
National Museum of American History
Cl. 09.30
HM The Queen arrives at the National Museum of American History. HM The Queen displayed the exhibition "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the maritime exhibition "On the Water".

HRH the Prince Consort's program
Mil-Tek
Cl. 09.30
HRH Prince Henrik arrive in Mil-Tek, where there will be a tour of the company.

Common Curriculum
USS Sequoia Presidential Yacht
Cl. 12.00
The royal couple participates in lunch with Vestas as host.

Library of Congress
Cl. 14.15
The royal couple arrives at the Library of Congress. Royal Couple inspect the library's collection of Hans Christian Andersen works in The Wilson Room. Towards omvisn ing Ithe Great Hall presented: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights.

HM the Queen's program
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Cl. 15.20
HM The Queen arrives at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where Queen greets the RC. Danish Ballet. After featuring Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy on tea and subsequent tour of the Kennedy Center.

Common Curriculum
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Cl. 19.30
The royal couple will attend the premiere of "A Folk Tale" put forward by the Royal. Danish Ballet in The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Subsequent participant royal couple at the reception.

Wednesday 8th June 2011
Common Curriculum
Congress
Cl. 09.15
Meeting with Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, with subsequent tours in Congress.

The White House
Cl. 10.30
The royal couple visiting First Lady at the White House.

USS Sequoia - Gang Plank Marina
Cl. 11.45
Royal Couple press conference aboard the USS Sequoia.

Phillips Collection
Cl. 12.30
The royal couple participates in lunch with Terma as host.

Dinner
Cl. 19.00
The royal couple participating in dinner in the Ambassador's residence.

Thursday, 9 June 2011
Visit New York

UN Headquarters
Cl. 11.30
The royal couple arrives at UN headquarters, where there is a tour of Finn Juhl House by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the Danish Ambassador Carsten Staur and chief architect of the Capital Master Plan Michael Adler Stein. Then submit royal couple courtesy visit to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with his wife.

Museum of Modern Art
Cl. 14.45
The royal couple participates in the design event "Reinventing Danish Classics" at the Museum of Modern Art. HM the Queen will announce the winner of the National Arts Foundation design competition for new furniture for Finn Juhl hall at the UN.

American Museum of Natural History
Cl. 18.45
The royal couple participates in Danish American Society Gala at American Museum of Natural History, where HM Queen honored with the title "Person of the Year".

Friday the 10th June 2011
HM the Queen's program
Lincoln Center Plaza
Cl. 10.00
HM The Queen arrives in Lincoln Center Plaza. Visit by the New York Philharmonic with the publication of Carl Nielsen concert and recording project. Here witness the launch of Queen concert and recording project by Alan Gilbert and Henry Rørdam and concert excerpts by the orchestra's newly appointed førsteklarinetist Ricardo Morales with klaverakkompangement.

Bikubenfonden Academic Guesthouse
Cl. 11.00
HM The Queen visited Bikubenfonden Academic Guest House, where there will be a tour and interview with the resident Danish elite students.

Lunch
Cl. 12.30
HM Queen participates in lunch for Friends of the Royal. Danish Ballet.

Scandinavia House
Cl. 16.00
HM The Queen visited Scandinavia House on the occasion of the American Scandinavian Foundation's 100-year anniversary.

HRH the Prince Consort's program
Maersk
Cl. 10.15
HRH Prince Henrik arrive for Maersk Inc., where there will be a tour and meeting with employees.

Arla Foods
Cl. 11.00
HRH Prince Henrik arrive at Arla Foods Inc., where there will be presentation of Arla Foods North America, and the tour and reception.

The Grand Café
Cl. 12.00
HRH the Prince Consort presents HRH Prince Consort honorary medal to Danish Crown.

Common Curriculum
Georg Jensen
Cl. 17.00
The royal couple arrives at the Georg Jensen shop on Madison Avenue. The royal couple is shown exhibit "Centuries of Sterling Icons".

Saturday 11th June 2011
HRH the Prince Consort's program
HRH the Prince Consort departing from Santa Barbara, California, where the Prince Consort will attend the Solvang 100-year anniversary. Consort will also visit Stanford University and the Danish Innovation Center in Palo Alto in Silicon Valley.

[iceflower]

Day 1 of the visit to the USA has started with a reception at the Danish Ambassador's
Residence on June 6, 2011 in Washington, DC.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** gettyimages/zimbio gallery **


** Billed-Bladet gallery: Regentparret i USA 1 **

[Kasumi]

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II receives a bouquet of flowers presented to her by Rose Gallay, 5, during a visit at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History in Washington June 7, 2011.
**Pic** - credits Reuters
Gallery via daylife

[iceflower]

The gallery has also been updated with pics of the lunch time cruise on the Potomac River and of the
premiere of the Royal Danish Ballet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 7!


Here are some additional pics from yesterday from Billed-Bladet:


** Dronning Margrethe på Museum of American History i Washington **

[Australian]

No disrespect...but what on earth is the Queen wearing?!
Photos of Danish Queen's visit to Washington

[Zonk]

She's worn this before in Denmark I believe while on her annual summer vacation. It has been EXTREMELY hot in the DC area the last couple of days, so I am hoping that the dress is cool at least.

All of these events are happening in my general area but for some reason I didn't feel like going out and trying to catch a glimpse of the Queen. I know I will regret this later.

[dazzling]

Gallery from June 8, 2011
Daylife.com

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has coffee with Denmark's Queen Margrethe (L) in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House in Washington June 8, 2011.
Picture

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2nd R) poses for a photo in the UN Rose Garden with Queen Margrethe II (2nd L) of Denmark June 9, 2011 at the United Nations in New York. Also shown(L) Prince Henrik of Denmark and Ban's wife Yoo Soon-taek.

Daylife picture gallery

[Muhler]

A gallery from BT Henrik tog en slapper hos Obama | www.bt.dk

I had no idea the US President has a yacht. I.e. USS Sequoia.

[roseroyal]

Neither did I!

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by roseroyal

Neither did I!

Well, I checked wikipedia: USS Sequoia (presidential yacht) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And according to this article USS sequioa is a yacht formerly at disposal by the US presidents. It was however sold during President Carter's time in office.

I thought USS XXXX was only used by serving and retired navy ships, not vessels that are privately owened.

Anyway, Jyllands Posten has an article from QMII and PH meeting the press onboard USS Sequoia: Ikke et ord om det svenske kongehus

QMII, was not very forwarding when asked to comment on the issues in the SRF!
Her facial expression became tense: "You know what, (*) If you are associating someone and are close to someone as family, you never involve outsiders".
As for how the press had been handling the matter, she said: "I really think we should leave that subject".

Prince Henrik has become hoarse, that happened on the way to USA.
QMII praised as expected the welcome they have been recieved with in USA and also the Royal Danish Ballet who are currently performing in USA, with the national play: A Folks Tale. (**)

The rules about smoking are more strickt in USA than in DK, to that QMII said: "I smoke where I can (***)" adding that she can go without a cigarette when she has to, and: "But it is after all more fun, when you can (smoke)".

Does the Regent Couple travel as man and wife?
QMII: "We always travel as man and wife":
PH: "We work in the same firm".
QMII: "And on the same boat", referring to the yacht.

As for the coffee with the first lady, QMII said: "That went well and easily. Mrs. Obama was very friendly and hearty/cordially. She offered a cup of coffee and we had a pleasant and relaxed conversation".

(*) She might just have said: "Now, listen"! The meaning is the same, just expressed more politely.

(**) Now, I know nothing about ballet. I understand however that the Danish Royal Ballet, dance accoring to the school of Bournonville, as one of the very few, if not the only major ballet in the world. In that sense I guess we can lable their style as classical, classical ballet.

(***) I can just imagine QMII rushing into the Danish embassy, or whereever she's staying, and the first thing she does is to light a cigarette, inhaling all of it in one go, before lighting up the next...

[Sternchen]

Is Rose Gad still the Primaballerina?

[dazzling]

Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark and Denmark's Queen Margrethe II attend the Danish American Society Gala at the American Museum of Natural History June 9, 2011.

Daylife picture gallery

[Muhler]

Thanks, Dazzling

A gallery from BT: Se billederne: Dronning Margrethe med hjelm på | www.bt.dk

This time from the UN building in New York, where some renovation is taking place.

[dazzling]

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik of Denmark arrive at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) before a ceremony June 09, 2011 announcing the winner of a competition to design new furniture for the UN Headquarters' Trusteeship Council Chamber. The designers invited to participate are Danish, as the Chamber was originally designed and furbished by the respected Danish architect Finn Juhl (1912-1984) ? one of the most significant representatives for Danish and Scandinavian Design.

ANP pictures

Image Upper.com - Free Image Hosting - View Image
Image Upper.com - Free Image Hosting - View Image
Image Upper.com - Free Image Hosting - View Image

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II greets guests James and Lisbeth McCoy before a luncheon for Friends of the Royal Danish Ballet and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York June 10, 2011.

Daylife.com picture gallery

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Well, I checked wikipedia: USS Sequoia (presidential yacht) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(...)

Thanks for this and for highlighting a very interesting point. I believe that in the United States, it is illegal to smoke in any public building. Although the Danish embassy is of course Danish territory, I wonder whether HM The Queen would be allowed to smoke in her own embassy? Do you have similar strict rules about smoking in public Danish buildings?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by gerry

Thanks for this and for highlighting a very interesting point. I believe that in the United States, it is illegal to smoke in any public building. Although the Danish embassy is of course Danish territory, I wonder whether HM The Queen would be allowed to smoke in her own embassy? Do you have similar strict rules about smoking in public Danish buildings?

Well, I'm a non-smoker myself, so I'm not absolutely sure about the rules.
You are not allowed to smoke in bars and restaurants unless they are under a certain size.
However I know about rules in workplaces.
It is not allowed to subject employees to the hazards of passive smoking. Period!
So those employees who wish to smoke either has to:
A) Go to a specially made room with proper ventilation.
B) Go outside, where ashtrays have been set up.
C) Leave the premesis of the workplace altogether.

- This rule apply to all workplaces, also workplaces which at the same time is a private home.
That means that if a cleaner, craftsman or someone else enter your home in a profesional capacity, you are not allowed to subject that person to passive smoking and as such you have to go to a part of your home where that person will not enter or go outside.
I emphasized all workplaces because palaces are also considered workplaces. There was some interest in how QMII were to deal with that, being a smoker herself. - I don't know.

Mrs. Muhler know a lot about this problem in professional capacity, as a lot of elderly smoke and you can hardly kick them outside while an employee from the municipality works in their home. So a kind of compromise has been made. If the elderly does not smoke when someone is there and the home is ventilated and most importantly, the employee does not complain, then you generally close your eyes.
Something similar applies for craftsmen. It's bad for business to demand the costumer can't smoke at all in their own home during a period where some work is going on.
My guess is that the DRF has reached a similar compromise with their employees.

Billed-Bladet - I dag fejrer prins Henrik fødselsdag i Californien
Prince Henrik turned 77 yesterday and that was celebrated in the "Danish colony" of Solvang in California.

To be more precise in Rusack Wineyard in Solvang. The Danish ambassador to USA, Peter Taksøe-Jensen and Christian Eugen Olsen were among the guests.
QMII managed to wish her husband a happy birthday before flying home to DK.

The BB reporter covering this visit is Annelise Weimann, whom Prince Henrik knows very well after so many years.
At the hotel Carlyle, where the Regent Couple were staying, she and the photographer sang the Birthday song to Prince Henrik, some from the court and hotel employees joined in with the English song: Happy Birthday. Delighting Prince Henrik: "I'm very moved. It's incredibly nice of you to remember my birthday".
Prince Henrik's voice is still very hoarse.

Billed-Bladet - BILLED-BLADET sang for prins Henrik

BB is up.

The Danish birthday song, which is used for children - and their parents: (I apologize to those who are not tone deaf)

YouTube - ‪Dantes 3 års fødselsdag - fødselsdagssang‬‏

[dazzling]

Picture gallery of Prince Henrik in California June 11, 2011
Click here to see