Marselisborg Palace, Aarhus

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Because Marselisborg Manor is fairly small. In the sense that it has few, but big rooms. So when the entire DRF and adjutants, PET officers, drivers, additional staff not to mention a nanny or two are counted, there really aren't that many rooms to go between them.
So it's simply more practical to billet some of the family in one of the staff houses on the grounds of the manor. - With their entourage of nannies and PET officers.

Let's try and count them.
The Regent Couple = One or two bedrooms.
Joachim and our Marie = One bedroom.
Nikolai and Felix = One room.
Little Piaf and bette Henrik = One room.
A possible nanny = One room.
Mary and Frederik = One Bedroom.
Christian and Isabella = One room.
Vincent and Josephine = One room.
A probable nanny = One room.
Resting Pet officers = At least one room.
Staff = Several rooms.
Possible adjutant on duty = One room.

A platoon from the Royal Lifeguards = A house.

- So all rooms at or the near manor must be presumed to be in use.

Muhler, is there a reason you always refer to Marie as 'our Marie'? Is she just a personal favourite of yours or is there something more to it? Just a genuine question, hope you don't me asking. .

[Archduchess Zelia]

I think I remember the Queen saying that she'll leave Marselisborg to Frederik and that she hopes that he will use it and be as happy to stay there as she is (she also said something about being fairly certain that he will use it as he has studied in Aarhus and is very fond of the city).

[Madame Royale]

The manor would need a refreshing and complimetary lick of paint (something light and neutral) and a few added personal touches, and I'm sure it could serve as a lovely Easter residence for Frederik, Mary and their children in years to come.

[NGalitzine]

Since Marselisborg is not the private property of the monarch but simply at their disposal I doubt QMII can leave it to anyone.

[Madame Royale]

Since Marselisborg is not the private property of the monarch but simply at their disposal I doubt QMII can leave it to anyone.

According to Muhler it is, as he has here pointed out in post #8

Yes, Marselisborg Manor is the private property of the DRF/Monarch.

[NGalitzine]

If it truly is a private property, that can be sold or left to whomever QMII wants, does the DRF pay for its upkeep, staffing, utilities etc themselves? If it were left to Joachim would it be subject to inheritance tax? Could he afford to pay inheritance tax? I was under the impression that the DRF do not have a large private fortune so perhaps there are financial considerations to take into account.

[Madame Royale]

It's my undertanding that Marselisborg has been either inherited to gifted to each consecutive monarch since Christian X.

In light of this I don't envision the property being left Joachim, rather, that it shall be inheirted by Frederik in due course. What he (and dare I suggest Mary) then wish to do with the Palace is at their discretion.

[Muhler]

Marselisborg was originally intended to be at the disposal of the Monarch.
In the sense that QMII owns the manor, but she is very much expected to stay at Marselisborg from time to time.

The purpose of building the manor in the first place was to strengthen the bonds between the DRF and Jutland. Back when Marselisborg was build Gråsten was a part of Germany, so there were no royal residencies outside Zealand.
However, Marselisborg was hardly used during the reign of Frederik IX and that caused some resentment in Jutland and Aarhus in particular. There were even serious talks about Aarhus municipality getting back Marselisborg so that it could be used for something useful, rather than just standing around empty.

Fortunately since QMII was granted the use of Marselisborg by her father, the DRF are there three times a year. - Easter, during the cultural week in septemper (if possible) and Christmas.

I don't think Marselisborg will be handed over to Joachim. He has Schackenborg and to pay for the upkeep of yet another manor, may be a little too much to expect.

It is however interesting to speculate about what will happen, once QMII and PH are gone. Your guess is probably as good as mine in that respect.
M&F with children will probably move around between Amalienborg, Fredensborg, Gråsten, Marselisborg and Cayz. Depending on the season. - It will be an awful lot of moving around though!
But once M&F's children reach adulthood, it will be an entirly different matter. They may also use the palaces with their families, but that's 30 years into the future.

Joachim's children are to put it bluntly only one generation away from becoming mere counts and countess, so I don't think they will have a place at their disposal.

However with eight royal children I should be surprised if not some of them will study at Aarhus University and just like Frederik, they are likely to live at Marselisborg.

[NGalitzine]

Sinced it is at least in theory a private residence could QMII sell it?

[Grandduchess24]

Marselisborg palace like other danish royal residences is beautiful and big and will suit the crown prince and princess of denmark and their children once they become king and queen.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

Sinced it is at least in theory a private residence could QMII sell it?

That's an interesting question.

It's a little problematic selling such a gift, without causing an uproar in Aarhus.
I guess QMII's option would be to return the gift to Aarhus municipality. - That would also be seen as a snub by the DRF.

Marselisborg is in serious need of some thorough modernization, so if the DRF came out and said: "Sorry, it's too expensive to maintain". That could be seen as the only acceptable reason.
Perhaps funding for such a renovation could be raised in connection with QMII's 50th jubilee (if she's still around) or Frederik's 50th birthday?

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Perhaps funding for such a renovation could be raised in connection with QMII's 50th jubilee (if she's still around) or Frederik's 50th birthday?

Or when Frederik becomes King

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by Muhler

That's an interesting question.

It's a little problematic selling such a gift, without causing an uproar in Aarhus.
I guess QMII's option would be to return the gift to Aarhus municipality. - That would also be seen as a snub by the DRF.

Marselisborg is in serious need of some thorough modernization, so if the DRF came out and said: "Sorry, it's too expensive to maintain". That could be seen as the only acceptable reason.
Perhaps funding for such a renovation could be raised in connection with QMII's 50th jubilee (if she's still around) or Frederik's 50th birthday?

But if it is truly a privately owned residence why would the public pay anything towards its renovation? Who pays for the upkeep and maintenace now, QMII or the tax payer? I could see public funds for security but other than that if it is truly a private residence why would anyone other than the DRf pay anything towards it?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

But if it is truly a privately owned residence why would the public pay anything towards its renovation? Who pays for the upkeep and maintenace now, QMII or the tax payer? I could see public funds for security but other than that if it is truly a private residence why would anyone other than the DRf pay anything towards it?

Because the manor was a present to the DRF from the public. In return the DRF was very much expected to live there from time to time.

The DRF pays for maintaining Marselisborg, not the taxpayers. The park however is maintained by Aarhus municipality, because the public have access to the park when the DRF is not in residence.

As Aarhus in particular and eastern Jutland in general wish to maintain the affilliation with the DRF by their presence at Marselisborg, it is not unrealistic to believe that the DRF, Aarhus municipality and other contributers will share the bill for renovating the manor at some point. - Something similar happened in regards to Frederik VIII's mansion, where M&F live.

In contrast to M&F's home, Marselisborg will hardly need such a major renovation to it's structure, but the heating system, the electrical system, the water pipes and the windows needs to be replaced by something modern. Just as the walls and roof no doubt need insulation. - I think I would faint on the spot if I ever saw the heating bill for Marselisborg during Christmas!
It would it any way be a sound investment, because the costs of running the place would be reduced very substantially.

However, such a modernization will cost a lot of money and I can't imagine how the DRF will come up with that sum alone.

[tommy100]

In regards to funding I wonder if the RF could gift the home back to nation but keep it as an official residence to use. This way they give up ownership of it but retain the use of it. I know such a thing couldn't happen here in the UK as the media would have a fit over it but I don't know if that would be acceptable in Denmark?
Its always the same with big houses such as this one, it makes people think that the people who live in them must be rich when in fact they often don;t have the money in the bank to maintain them as much as is needed.

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

As Aarhus in particular and eastern Jutland in general wish to maintain the affilliation with the DRF by their presence at Marselisborg, it is not unrealistic to believe that the DRF, Aarhus municipality and other contributers will share the bill for renovating the manor at some point. - Something similar happened in regards to Frederik VIII's mansion, where M&F live.

Weren´t there also some funding for the renovation of Schackenborg?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by FasterB

Weren´t there also some funding for the renovation of Schackenborg?

Yes, that was a part of a public wedding present. Ordinary people could donate money o renovate Schackenborg.
Schackenborg was close to being downright derelict!

The donation helped and Joachim is continously renovating more of the place.
But the DRF itself had to spend a considerable and not budgetted sum on Schackenborg, so Joachim at least would have something resembling a home.

In Alexandra's time they had to walk from the bedroom through very cold rooms in order to get to the bathroom. - That might explain why Alexandra didn't stay that much at Schackenborg, certainly not compared to our Marie.

Such a public donation could be an option at a jubilee or a birthday. But not so much, I believe, when Frederik become king. - The death of QMII is hardly a reason to celebrate with a gift to the monarch.

Tommy100 pretty much nailed it, when he wrote that a manor/palace can be very much a burden for the family living there.

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Such a public donation could be an option at a jubilee or a birthday. But not so much, I believe, when Frederik become king. - The death of QMII is hardly a reason to celebrate with a gift to the monarch.

Ooopss, forgot about the deaththing going on shortly before Frederik becomes king

[Muhler]

Fngslet for Marselisborg-indbrud - TV 2 Nyhederne

The police arrested a 22 year old burglar who had entered Marselisborg Manor through a window in the basement.
The alarm went off and the police apprehended the man on the scene. Around 23.00.

Very unusual for a burglary the public were barred from the court when the burglar was presented before a magistrate. - Of course that has something to do with the place he attempted to burgle.
So far he is to be held in costudy for 14 days, pending police inquiery.

- That costudy can, if need be, be prolonged indefinitely until he is put on trial.
I guess he's an amateur. The professionals know perfectly well which places are secured better than others and where the police response time is much quicker than otherwise.
Apart from that Marselisborg Manor is located in the middle of a large park, you would have a dog attached to your behind before you got any far.

ADDED: More from Jyllands Posten: http://jyllands-posten.dk/aarhus/kri...cle4715286.ece

The police was alarmed at 23.05. Several patrols were dispatched to Marselisborg Manor and the burglar was arrested on site ten minuttes later.
The man hadn't even had time to collect any loot.

- Many years ago a foreign burglar attempted to climb the wall around one of the gardens at Amalienborg. He found himself lying under several hundred kilos of guardsmen within moments.
In a couple of other cases the guards have fired warning shots.
And it happens from time to time that the guards have to take firm action against drunkards and fools who don't obey instructions about staying clear of the palaces.
In Sweden the the guardsmen are not allowed to arrest instruders, only to check intruders and wait for the police to arrive. Unless in selfdefence or to protect the SRF. Some years ago a mentally disturbed intruder entered one of the palaces in Stockholm. The guards arrived on scene, but had to stand and observe the intruder vandalise a room until the police arrived.
In DK the intruder would have been clubbed on the spot.

[Muhler]

http://www.bt.dk/krimi/overvejer-at-...rgrethes-roser

BT informs us that Aarhus municipality consider closing the park around Marselisborg at night. Someone steal roses.

There are many rare roses in the park and quite a few of them have been stolen, so the municipality urges visitors to the park to keep an eye out or if need be to close the park in the evening.

When the DRF are not in residence the park is open to the public and you can walk right up to the manor itself and apart from caretakers, gardeners and other employees, there are no around.

Theft of flowers and herbs are of course also a problem in botanical gardens.