Summary of a number of articles in Billed Bladet #23 & 24, 2012.
Written by Ken Richter and Annelise Weimann.
The main purpose of these cruises is to visit islands and small towns that would normally not get a royal visit. These visits differ from visit to merchant towns, which follow a set pattern. A couple of merchant towns were also on the list.
This year Dannebrog sailed to the islands south of Zealand and south of Funen, in one of the most scenic surroundings in DK. As such these waters are among the favourits among private boatowners.
Stubbekøbing, a small town (actually a big village) on the island of Falster.
Stubbekøbing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Judging from the pictures the entire population of 2.000 turned out to greet the Regent Couple while they strolled through the town the townhall, where they waved to people from the very low balcony.
While QMII visited a retirement home, Prince Henrik went to a local museum and admired a vintage Nimbus moterbike from 1934. (*) After that they were treated to a sample of the local summer revue.
They also visited the nearby Medieval Centre, where gallant knights in shining armour jousted. The centre is worth a visit for medieval nerds as there is a large collection of working medieval stonethrowing machines, some of them very large and pretty complicated.
Faaborg, a town on the island of Funen
Faaborg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia being a major town of more than 7.000 people it is naturally a major cultural hub.. almost. The Regent Couple were as such treated to a scene at a filmset, where they remake a series a popular familiy films from the 50's.
They also rode in a carriage through the narrow streets of the town, again with the locals turning out in force.
The obligatory visit to the local elder centre taken care of it was off to the local high school where QMII wittnessed some scientific experiments.
Prince Henrik again got all the luck, he visited a chocolate factory and sampled some of the products.
Avernakø and Lyø, two tiny islands south of Funen.
First to Avernakø, population: 100. After a short tour of the island it was time for lunch with practically the entire population, who all stood in line to greet the Regent Couple who held court in the courtyard of a farm.
The tour guide, Rasmus Andersen, said afterwards: "We had a lot of laughs and I was surprised easy they were to talk with".
Then it was off to Lyø and again the total population, 140 in total, turned out. The Regent Couple were taken on a tour of the island, transported in a hay-waggon pulled by a tractor that had been washed for the occasion and shined proudly. Here PH and QMII were treted to the local tourist attraction, a bell-rock. If you bang on the poor defenceless rock with a stone it emits a bell-like sound.... sort of. But the there was coffee with pastry afterwards, so no complaining there.
The transport to and from the islands took part in one of the smaller of Dannebrogs boats.
Middelfart, a town on Funen,
Middelfart - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia with a population of almost 15.000 it's a veritable city in comparison to the previous visits during the cruise. Unfortunately it was pouring down when Dannebrog arrived, so QMII wore her flower-power raincoat, so no one were in doubt as to where their Monarch was.
Now, this being almost a big city things were much grander here in Middelfart. The Regent Couple rode in a carriage through the rainsoaked streets, escorted by the guards hussars. QMII visited a ceramics exhibtion and a home for adults who are physically and mentally handicapped.
By the the weather had improved and the couple went to the nearby town of Strib, where a large bronce sculpture named Torso made by Prince Henrik greets visitors to the town. (**)
As it so happen, Prince Henrik is also honorary gunner (***) in Sophieodde Saluting Guild and delighted ly he fireda salut of three shots by two field pieces from the First Schleswigan War. (Around 1850).
Finally it was off to the island of Endelave north of Funen. Population: 185.
At least it was sunny!
Endelave Town consists of one street, adorned with flags and the locals had moved out in the fron gardens where they sat and sipped coffee and enjoyed the spectacle. But the Regent Couple were nevertheless offered a cup of coffee and a cake or two several times during the stroll through the village, which the gladly accepted. - Not to mention homemade able cider, beer, cherry wine and so on. So no empty stomach on that visit.
QMII also greeted the eldest on the island, Inga Larsson, who recently turned 100 and as such got a birthday telegram from the Majesty. (****)
It was also here on Endelave that they encountered the ferret Fritte. Fritte and his colleagues take part in huniting down the 10.000 rabbits that are killed and eated on Endelave each year.
There is also a very small brewery on the island and here QMII turned a tap so that the latest brand of beer, called Tøse Bryg = Girlie Brew, could be made.
The local school also got a visit. Seven pupils in total and all in the same classroom.
Herbs is among the niche productions on the island. That was something that interested Henrik, so he got a few samples to bring back home.
But such a long day on an island is strenous, so Prince Henrik borrowed a pensioner-cycle and rode back to the small harbour with his adjutant running beside him.
By now it has become really windy and it was considered too risky t sail the Regent Couple by boat out to Dannebrog who was anchored way off the island. So a Navy Home Guard cutter had been on stand-by. The Regent Couple boarded the cutter and sailed out to Dannebrog, where they were transferred to the bigger ship, a novel experience for all, but it went well.
(*)
Nimbus (motorcycle) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia We are talking major collectors items here! I've seen motorcycle enthusiast ruthlessly push pregnant women and small children aside so that they could stand and drool over a Nimbus. - Completely ignoring Harley Davidsons and costum build choppers.
(**) Or spook any visitors.... The Torso is a stylised sculture with female shapes to one side and masculine traits to the other. Or so the text says, because if I wasn't told I wouldn't have guessed it. Oh well, I've seen worse.
(***) He's actually kanoner = Kanoniere in German, I guess that can best be translated to master gunner in English. It's a title going back to the first cannons.
A kanoner was a well paid and very sought after specialist. He was an expert in handling canons, down to calculating the proper charge, windage, angles and so on. He would also oversee the proper mixture of components when making gunpowder. A kanoner was in charge of at least a battery of cannons, with the senior master gunner (overkanoner) being in charge of a whole artillery train.
As such a kanoner had a very special status and so did the cannons. During the wars of the 1500 and early 1600's a misbehaving mercenary would find sanctury from the wrath of the profoss, if he managed to put his hand on a cannon. That sanctury would last for a day or so, during which time the profoss or his men were not allowed to stand around, waiting for the culprit. With just a little luck the mercenary could sneak away overnight or his friends might be successful in appealing to the profoss.
A Profoss was back then in charge of order and discipline in a camp. Not to be confused with the Hurenwebel, who was in charge of order among the campfollowers and the baggage train.
(****) All turning 100 who wish to, will get a telegramm from the Majesty on his/her birthday. All it takes is for someone to notify the court some time in advance.
! I mean, the court and the RF are 
