Queen Margrethe's Summer Tour aboard the Dannebrog: 2015 - 2023

[polyesco]

This is very exciting and I look forward to see all 3 together.
Announcement from the DRF
https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/ko...ejlsaeson-2021

[kathia_sophia]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Probably.

Billed Bladet hints that Christian this time will have a prominent role up front. - Rather than just accompanying the adults.

So going solo? Giving a speech? We shall see.

Very interesting. I look forward to it, and to be honest, I am kinda excited to hear him in a speech. I bet that his voice has deepened a lot.

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Probably.

Billed Bladet hints that Christian this time will have a prominent role up front. - Rather than just accompanying the adults.

So going solo? Giving a speech? We shall see.

I guess the question is, how much can be expected or produced from a 15-year-old who hasn't done anything official yet?

The flip side is Christian always having appeared very comfortable and easy with being in public and around people. Assuming they are not simply planning to toss him overboard in some kind of ritual, it could be very interesting.

[Muhler]

Well, we don't know yet, exactly what Christian will be doing.

Perhaps he will just walk in the heels of his dad or grandmother.
But I doubt that.
I think he will have some sort of role. Whether that is cutting a ribbon and giving a short speech remains to be seen.
Christian has unveiled stuff since he was around five years old. So far his role has pretty much just being yanking a rope with the adults giving speeches.
This time I think he will do something like that, in the sense that QMII and Frederik will take the backseat, while Christian give a short speech on behalf of the DRF and then unveil a plaque or something. - It will be difficult to see anything though, because QMII and Frederik will be luminescent with pride.

I can also imagine Christian going solo, say being taken for a tour of some exhibition or presented to a school project by local school children. Or local school children acting as tour guides in order to present a more youthful view of the reunification. - There is a great interest in the national roots among young in the Danish minority in Germany these years.
I can imagine a reverse situation, where Christian is told about the whole thing from the point of young people from the German minority in DK.

Christian can visit a youth-club, a sports association or a kindergarten (who says only girls can visit kindergartens?) where he is going solo. - Not much can go wrong there. He pretty much just has to remain an ordinary curious fifteen year old.

Whatever will happen, this is a guaranteed:
Christian will meet the locals in as far as it is possible with the Corona restrictions at the time.
Christian will answer questions from journalists, both on the go and during more regular interviews.

It's on the job training and Christian has shown that he is confident in meeting the public and in being in the spotlight. And considering how truly hard it was for Frederik giving speeches, Christian might just as well get started as soon as possible.
And he will face a friendly audience.
He will have to cut off the heads of rabbits in front of children in order not to have a personal victory here. - And even then...

[amaryllus]

He has to start doing some official things on his own sooner or later and 15 is as good as age as any. These are heirs/esses are now busy young women and one guy on the move:)

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Well, we don't know yet, exactly what Christian will be doing.

Perhaps he will just walk in the heels of his dad or grandmother.
But I doubt that.
I think he will have some sort of role. Whether that is cutting a ribbon and giving a short speech remains to be seen.
Christian has unveiled stuff since he was around five years old. So far his role has pretty much just being yanking a rope with the adults giving speeches.
This time I think he will do something like that, in the sense that QMII and Frederik will take the backseat, while Christian give a short speech on behalf of the DRF and then unveil a plaque or something. - It will be difficult to see anything though, because QMII and Frederik will be luminescent with pride.

I can also imagine Christian going solo, say being taken for a tour of some exhibition or presented to a school project by local school children. Or local school children acting as tour guides in order to present a more youthful view of the reunification. - There is a great interest in the national roots among young in the Danish minority in Germany these years.
I can imagine a reverse situation, where Christian is told about the whole thing from the point of young people from the German minority in DK.

Christian can visit a youth-club, a sports association or a kindergarten (who says only girls can visit kindergartens?) where he is going solo. - Not much can go wrong there. He pretty much just has to remain an ordinary curious fifteen year old.

Whatever will happen, this is a guaranteed:
Christian will meet the locals in as far as it is possible with the Corona restrictions at the time.
Christian will answer questions from journalists, both on the go and during more regular interviews.

It's on the job training and Christian has shown that he is confident in meeting the public and in being in the spotlight. And considering how truly hard it was for Frederik giving speeches, Christian might just as well get started as soon as possible.
And he will face a friendly audience.
He will have to cut off the heads of rabbits in front of children in order not to have a personal victory here. - And even then...

Very much so.
He has done some events, with his parents and no siblings, mostly (that I can remember) in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. He was of course younger but I remember his family visit to the Faroe Islands he had a few events with just Frederik and him.
https://ca.hellomagazine.com/images/...nsize=0.75xw:*
And from Greenland, I clearly remember handing the greeting babies part fantastically.

I'm looking forward to it.

[valeas]

Time to show and emphasise continuity from HM, the CP and future heir.
godt klaret.

[Archduchess Zelia]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

I guess the question is, how much can be expected or produced from a 15-year-old who hasn't done anything official yet?

The flip side is Christian always having appeared very comfortable and easy with being in public and around people. Assuming they are not simply planning to toss him overboard in some kind of ritual, it could be very interesting.

Christian has partaken in several official engagements. Especially during the tours to Greenland and the Faroe Islands during which M&F very clearly made a point out of bringing him along on engagements where he partook on par with his parents. No solo engagements yet, no, but very few 15 year olds or younger have.

[iceflower]

To mark the upcoming tour the Palace has shared some photos of earlier summer tours today:


** kongehuset gallery **

[iceflower]

Queen Margrethe officially boarded the Royal Ship Dannebrog today, May 4, to mark the start of the season 2021:


** tt.se gallery ** kongehuset gallery **


** BB video: Endelig: Dronning Margrethe ombord på Dannebrog **


** kongehuset video: VIDEO: Kongeskibet Dannebrog runder Kronborg Slot **

[Muhler]

https://www.bt.dk/royale/kongeskibet...m-af-forsvaret

There have been problems with Dannebrog's engines and she had to be towed back to her home in Frederikshavn Naval Station.
She was otherwise on her was to the Faeroe Islands for the first summer cruise there with QMII, bot both engines failed.
Fortunately she was able top be towed back to the harbor by a frigate. (No, it's not the frigate you see towing Danneborg into the harbor, but a tugboat. The frigate is much larger and was perhaps an escort for Dannebrog.)

It is of course unfortunate, if they can't fix her engines very soon. She is after all an elderly lady and can't sail that fast. And as such may not get to the islands in time.
She is also a big crowd pleaser.

But the escorting frigate, Iver Huitfeld (pronounced Whitfeld in English) can. She is fast and hyper-modern and she is designed to accommodate a commodore or rear admiral. Her helicopter is a Seahawk and large enough to fly QMII, a LiW and an adjutant anywhere they want on the islands. (Something the previous, but much loved navy Lynx helicopters couldn't.)
Size-wise there is plenty of room for QMII's entourage, because Iver Huitfeld is actually a heavy destroyer, despite her being classified as a frigate. And I think the crew will quite appreciate being the royal yacht. - Something to brag about to the crews of the other frigates.

As for QMII, she will no doubt fly to the islands, as has always been the plan and then quietly board whatever ship is available and be accommodated there, before the official cruise starts at 10.00.

As the former Master of Ceremonies, Christian Eugen Olsen, who has a wonderful sense of humor, pointed out: The clock is always ten, when the royal yacht moors at the quay.

ADDED:
Here are two short clips of Danish helicopters landing on deck in the North Atlantic, first a Seahawk, then a Lynx.
Watch them if you dare!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3A_noXLzuo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJIZTL2ZyEw

ADDED: A photo of Dannebrog. Isn't she beautiful?
https://jyllands-posten.dk/pictures/...indes-i-sexsag

[Muhler]

The problems with Dannebrog's engines persists.
She cannot get to the Faeroe Islands in time. - It takes four days for her to sail there.
But there are no reports of changing of plans from the court, so it appears QMII will start her visit to the islands tomorrow as scheduled.

[Muhler]

Well, today QMII took off for the Faeroe Islands by plane, so that she would be ready for the official visit starting tomorrow.
Alas, the plane couldn't land in Thorshavn and QMII will try again tomorrow.

https://www.bt.dk/royale/dronningens...e-kunnet-lande

I work in logistics, so this is interesting for me on a professional basis.
I'm almost certain she tried to fly to Thorshavn on an air force Challenger. But the weather is very unpredictable in the North Atlantic, and it's not unusual that the airport is closed and trying to land in poor weather is dangerous! A Defense Chief was killed with the crew and his staff trying to do just that some twenty years ago.
Considering the range of a fully loaded Challenger, I will imagine the plane refueled in Norway on the way back to DK.

The problems with Dannebrog's engines is worrying, because she was scheduled to sail on to Greenland from the Faeroe Islands. But if the engines aren't fixed within a few days it will not be possible for Dannebrog to reach Greenland in time for QMII's visit.
And that will present a major problem for QMII, because where do you accommodate QMII and her entourage?
The small hamlets don't have hotels. At best they have gravel landing strips for Hercules transport plane and local Challengers. Only the towns have a landing strip suited for local shuttle planes.
Helicopters can't make the distance between several of the destinations anyway, so one way or another QMII will have to be accommodated locally.
Where she may risk having to stay for several days, because the weather is unpredictable around Greenland.
One solution is to use the patrol frigate stationed in the Greenlandic waters, but that's anything but luxurious!
There are nothing else but small ferries, patrol boats, trawlers and small icebreakers. But keep in mind that QMII has turned 81, so climbing ladders is hardly an option for her.

So I think there is a more than good chance the visit will be postponed or alternatively be downsized to only taking place in Nuuk, the capital and the hamlets and towns within a safe distance.

To put it into perspective: The west coass of Greenland is roughly equivalent to the east coast of USA in regards to distances.

ADDED:
Due to a rise in the number of infected on the islands, QMII, like everybody else, must be tested when she arrives at Thorshavn. And then she must isolate until the result of her test is there. But she will be given first priority in regards to the result of the test, was the info on the press briefing in Thorshavn yesterday.

Like I mentioned above, QMII will fly in on a Challenger and this is how it looks when she arrives anywhere: https://billedbladet-prod.imgix.net/...=imgixjs-3.4.0
Challengers routine land on the gravel strips in Greenland (and Canada) but it's bad for the paint!

[iceflower]

Queen Margrethe has started her visit to the Faeroe Islands today, July 15:


** tt.se gallery **


** BB article: Se dronningens første dag på Færøerne ** translation **


** kongehuset gallery day 1: H.M. Dronningens besøg på Færøerne - dag 1 **


The updated programme for the visit released today:


** kongehuset: Program for H.M. Dronningens besøg på Færøerne **

[Muhler]

It's a grueling schedule QMII has to go though, due to everything having to be compressed.
She is after all 81 and there are few breaks and no one to share the burden - i.e. she is on constantly.

[polyesco]

She looks fantastic!
https://scontent.fapa1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...be&oe=60F670B6

[Prinsara]

She likes being up there, doesn't she?

She doesn't seem to be feeling alone at all. And she looks terrific in her local dress.

[kalnel]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

She likes being up there, doesn't she?

She doesn't seem to be feeling alone at all. And she looks terrific in her local dress.

I agree. She always seems to thrive on doing her duty -- I think she truly enjoys it. I get the same impression from Princess Benedikte. They clearly love their jobs.

In fact, I get the same sense from Princess Beatrix and Princess Margriet in the Netherlands and Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne in England. They all look great and enjoy their duties. No drama, no "celebrity."

[iceflower]

Here are some nice photos of day 2 today, July 16:


** tt.se gallery **


** kongehuset gallery: H.M. Dronningens besøg på Færøerne - dag 2 **


** BB article: Nyt besøg på Færøerne: Dronning Margrethe kom flyvende **

[Muhler]

Yes, QMII has been very busy!

It delights the locals that she is able to understand most of spoken Faeroese and she can speak simple sentences.
There are however some critical voices. Not so much against QMII. But that the visit comes now where there is an increase of infected on the islands and where the islanders have been urged to avoid too much contact with other people.
A visit by QMII means crowds and that many people interact closely.
It hardly helps by having a group of Danes flying in. I.e. QMII's entourage plus journalists.

Some have also expressed concern about QMII. Because even though she has long been fully vaccinated, there is a real risk of her becoming infected in this visit. And while an illness may not be severe, she is after all 81.

And due to the local restrictions regarding crowding, one of QMII's favorits when visiting the islands, the chain-dance has to be cancelled.
For someone who is so much into Nordic culture and mythology, the songs accompanying the dances are based on stories written down during the 1200's about events taking place 2-300 years earlier, are a treat.

So here is it, with English subtitles.
It's about a large sea-battle taking place around 900 between the Nordic kings. There are about 10.000 verses in these songs and it's really mesmerizing! Hypnotic.
It's fascinating to think that variations of this dance has been danced on the Faeroe Islands for more than a thousand years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvjdBelNFZM

Here with the CP-family aboard Dannebrog (Watch on YouTube):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cGbaXliCXQ

And if you simply can't get enough, here with QMII back in 2016, she's singing along on the chorus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkRyJRmJBeg