Queen Margrethe II, Current Events Part 1: February 2018 - June 2020

[polyesco]

"In the light of light and torches, Her Majesty the Queen this evening was welcomed home to Fredensborg Slot by the city's citizens.
Since 1988, Fredensborg city has organized a torchlight course in connection with residency to the North Zealand castle. At the evening's event, Her Majesty thanked the welcome and sang with the attendants at "There is a lovely country"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwnDxGcl...ource=ig_embed
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...edensborg-slot
https://sn.dk/Fredensborg/Video-og-s...artikel/833857

[iceflower]

Billedbladet has a video of yesterday's torchlight procession:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CTMb-DXoic

And today, April 24, Queen Margrethe presented the Queen Margrethe II's Science Prize at the Science Society in Copenhagen:



** Pic ** BB: Glad dronning Margrethe tilbage efter ferie ** translation **


** kongehuset.dk gallery: Overrækkelse af Dronning Margrethe II's Videnskabspris **

[Muhler]

Wonder if she is still there?

Her adjutant would have had to carry her kicking and screaming back to the car.

[iceflower]

.

Queen Margrethe received the new Ambassadors of Belarus, Peru, Turkmenistan, Liberia and Montenegro at Christian VII's Palace, Amalienborg, this morning, May 6:


** kongehuset gallery: Ambassadørmodtagelse **

[JR76]

It's a bad week for knights in Scandinavia.
Following the King of Sweden's decision to strip the rape convicted Jean Claude Arnault of the Order of the Polar Star earlier this week, his first cousin Queen Margrethe have stripped Christian Kjær of The Order of the Dannebrog & his additional honorary titles of Court Chamberlain & Master of the hunt. The direct cause for The Queen's decision is that Kjær, who was a close friend of her deceased husband Prince Henrik, received a suspended sentence in a traffic case earlier this year. Kjær was so sure of his acquital that he made a bet with reporters covering the case.
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/ko...hristian-kjaer

[Muhler]

I bet he regrets that now!

Yes, as the Monarch it is QMII who decides if someone is to be stripped of titles and orders. - Even someone who was a close friends of PH. - Or to be more correct, because he was such a close friend of PH.

Christian Kjær came driving along when he was stopped from crossing a road because of a cycle-race. That can of course be annoying, but that's life and it's announced well beforehand where and when.
Anyway, he was stopped by an official. But the good Christian Kjær either felt he was too important to be stopped because of some cyclists or he felt provoked by the official. Whatever, he moved his car forward, very slowly, so that the car lightly touched the official. - That's assault, not to mention a breach of I don't know how many traffic rules.

But he got off very lightly!
30 days suspended prison sentence. A 10.000 DKK fine (Some 1.500 $) and a ban on driving for one year.

Often it's the Police Home Guard who acts a traffic wardens as such events and had he pulled that stunt against someone from the Home Guard, Christian Kjær would not have gotten away with a suspended sentence. We are talking 60 days in prison plus additional for assaulting a Home Guardsman on duty. 90-120 days would seem likely IMO.

Of course there is no way QMII can show understanding for such behavior. So Christian Kjær has been stripped of his order as Knight of Dannebrog, First Class. As well as two courtier-ranks.
That means he will no longer automatically be invited to New Year Courts and similar official events, let alone State dinners and galas.
Nor will he take part in royal hunts.
In fact I doubt he will ever be invited again.

It also means he can wave any future honors goodbye.
It's a breach of the conduct expected of a man who received such honors.

[iceflower]

.

Queen Margrethe unveiled a statue of Christian IV in Copenhagen today, May 10:



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** ppe gallery **


** tv2 video: Dronningen i problemer ved afsløring af ny statue ** politiken article with photos **

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbR0esknDwc

[polyesco]

very elegant Queen today
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxSe9Yih...ource=ig_embed

https://www.belgaimage.be/#/search/i...y%2010,%202019

[Muhler]

Thanks, Iceflower & Polyesco.

https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/E...tridte-statue/

Even though King Christian IV is behind most of the older and most distinctive buildings in Copenhagen, you actually have to look hard for a statue of him.
There is indeed a very good statues of Christian IV, but it's somewhat away from the tourist tracks.
But today a new one was unveiled, where the king is standing on Round Tower, turned upside down, being a reflection in the water. Copenhagen is very much connected to the sea.

But Christian IV must have been in a foul mood today, or he didn't appreciate the statue of him, so he refused to be unveiled!
First the cord snapped. Leaving him covered.
Then some organizer and QMII tried to yank the veil free. They succeeded - to some extent. Christian Four still refused to unveil his face, and only with the help of a ladder was the rest of the veil lifted.
QMII had a very merry time today, methinks!

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Of course there is no way QMII can show understanding for such behavior. So
It's a breach of the conduct expected of a man who received such honors.

Just another proof of how passionate Danes are about their morning pastries.

I was a bit surprised when Google took me somewhere that stated that Danish courts are obligated to inform the Royal Court when they press charges against a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
I also agree that, although a revocation of the order isn't unusual in cases like these, Christian Kjær being that close to the Royal family was one of the reasons for the Queen taking such a swift action. It would be a PR disaster for both the Court and the other Knights of the Order if he was seen as being able to use his connections to get off easy compared to others.
The Queen expects that the holders of the honorary positions and the order set an example for others and, as a reporter writes, by taking this action she's literally put Christian Kjær out in the cold. He won't be received at Court again and he will probably not be invited to functions and parties where high ranking members of the Royal family is expected to attend.

[Muhler]

There is more on the story: https://www.bt.dk/kendte/efter-dom-s...-hjem-til-salg

Christian Kjær and his wife is now putting their (large) home up for sale as a direct consequence of the sentence and the added knock on the head of being stripped of orders and titles.
His wife writes that is was so unfair that he got his sentence (which she more than hints was based on a lie from two witnesses) and as such also lost his titles, that it has devastated him and as a consequence has put their home up for sale.
The logic of that particular move does not only elude me, but several other, who have commented on that message on the social media.
- But no, is the response from the wife, not when you are innocent. And she adds that this is not about fleeing but about being left alone.

--------------

Well, I doubt very much the ordinary Dane cared much, nor do I think that crowds gathered in front of their house in order to gloat at Christian Kjær's downfall.
And as for the press, telephone calls, no doubt. But hardly photographers behind the trees.
So yes, this reaction is a bit over the top, to put it mildly!

I think it's more likely that he and his wife will settle somewhere abroad, where the weather is better. It's not that he is short of cash. And now there will be no invitations from the court...

[iceflower]

.

Queen Margrethe attended the Crafts Association's annual medal ceremony in Copenhagen today, May 14.

Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, became Honorary Craftsman of the Year 2019:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** kongehuset gallery **


** belga gallery ** BB: Dronningen hædrede håndværkerne og Margrethe Vestager ** translation **

[eya]

Queen Margrethe attend today 1 June a service commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Danish church abroad in Herning

https://scontent.fskg1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...d0&oe=5D96DD17
https://scontent.fskg1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...92&oe=5D5EAB1B
https://scontent.fskg1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...a0&oe=5D882582

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByKuLaFAe2t/

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by JR76

I was a bit surprised when Google took me somewhere that stated that Danish courts are obligated to inform the Royal Court when they press charges against a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.

Interesting, so it appears the honorary privileges conferred by the monarchy are officially acknowledged by the judiciary in some form.

Originally Posted by Muhler

There is more on the story: https://www.bt.dk/kendte/efter-dom-s...-hjem-til-salg

Christian Kjær and his wife is now putting their (large) home up for sale as a direct consequence of the sentence and the added knock on the head of being stripped of orders and titles.
His wife writes that is was so unfair that he got his sentence (which she more than hints was based on a lie from two witnesses) and as such also lost his titles, that it has devastated him and as a consequence has put their home up for sale.
The logic of that particular move does not only elude me, but several other, who have commented on that message on the social media.
- But no, is the response from the wife, not when you are innocent. And she adds that this is not about fleeing but about being left alone.

--------------

Well, I doubt very much the ordinary Dane cared much, nor do I think that crowds gathered in front of their house in order to gloat at Christian Kjær's downfall.
And as for the press, telephone calls, no doubt. But hardly photographers behind the trees.
So yes, this reaction is a bit over the top, to put it mildly!

I think it's more likely that he and his wife will settle somewhere abroad, where the weather is better. It's not that he is short of cash. And now there will be no invitations from the court...

Mr. Kjær's reaction does seem outdated; I would have thought it was strange if being stripped of royal honors and court invitations had meant being driven out of one's home in a constitutional monarchy in 2019.

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Interesting, so it appears the honorary privileges conferred by the monarchy are officially acknowledged by the judiciary in some form.



Mr. Kjær's reaction does seem outdated; I would have thought it was strange if being stripped of royal honors and court invitations had meant being driven out of one's home in a constitutional monarchy in 2019.

Quote from Wikipedia - "The Order of the Dannebrog is a means of honouring and rewarding the faithful servants of the modern Danish state for meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life or for those working for Danish interests."
It's handed out automatically to for instance certain members of Parliament, people who reach certain levels of the Civil service, the army, the police, the judiciary system among others.
What degree of the order you've received decides things as your place in the Order of Precedence, if you attend the New Year's Cours so it's most definitely an official award for service to the nation. An award that apparently comes with an expected code of conduct from the Grand Master and the government.

[iceflower]

.

Here are some more photos, information and a video about the Queen's engagement in Herning today:


** Pic ** tvmidtvest article with video: Dronningen besøger Himmelske Dage i Herning **


** BB: Dronning Margrethes himmelske dag ** translation **

[Muhler]

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...aften-i-tivoli

QMII went to Tivoli Saturday evening to see the re-premiere of the ballet The Steadfast Tin-soldier (or whatever it's called in English.)
It was cool with slight rains, so it's good the ballet didn't last ore than 30 minutes.

[Tarlita]

It might be what we call The Nutcracker.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Muhler

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...aften-i-tivoli

QMII went to Tivoli Saturday evening to see the re-premiere of the ballet The Steadfast Tin-soldier (or whatever it's called in English.)
It was cool with slight rains, so it's good the ballet didn't last ore than 30 minutes.

Originally Posted by Tarlita

It might be what we call The Nutcracker.

No, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” ballet is based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen. Balanchine created the ballet with music from Bizet.

“The Nutcracker” ballet is based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, music composed by Tchaikovsky.

[Lee-Z]

Completely OT, but ooooooh how i loved that fairy tale when i was little, had a record of it (of a story teller reading it)...cried everytime at the sad ending...