Annual Photo Shoots & Holidays At Gråsten Slot: 2003, 2005-2022

[Roskilde]

LOTS of loving summer pictures of F+M and children at today's summer photo session (and Grace)

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...35227816664642

[HereditaryPrincess]

Wonderful photos of the photosession today - I was kind of hoping that the grounds would be used as a location again as the parade was also used last year, but I still enjoyed looking at the photos nevertheless and it's always a delight to see the children. Isabella has indeed shot up since we last saw her, she looks so grown up! It does appear that she will be tall for her age.
I love the anecdote of Mary comforting the girl who was upset (I'm guessing she was just a regular member of the public?) - both she and Frederik seem to have really down to earth and approachable personalities. One can see Mary's maternal instinct showing as she seemed very quick to comfort the little girl as she would one of her own children That will be a pretty cool albeit a little embarrassing story for the girl to tell at parties once she's older!

Originally Posted by Muhler

It was Grace who stole the show this year.

Indeed she did! She's such a sweet little dog.

[ladongas]

Pictures in which the children look very grownup, but Frederik looks like a boy!

https://www.therealmyroyals.com/the-...rasten-castle/

[Lady Nimue]

Could someone explain what's happening in this event? Why?

[iceflower]

The rider parade is part of the traditional tilting-at-the-ring festivals, see here

And here's an additional article by the dailymail:


** dailymail: 'I'm shocked how grown up they are!' Royal fans in awe as Crown Princess Mary steps out with her young family..**

[Muhler]

(..)

As I explained in a previous post, ring-riding is a popular sport in Southern Jutland, with lots of traditions.
These traditions include riding in a procession, in your finest, and with your horse dressed up as well, to a square where the ring-riding competitions will take place.
And they consists of trying to stick a short lance through a ring at a trot.
There are competitions on a local as well as a regional level.
The competitions and celebrations typically lasts a few days, and it's a big crowd-pleaser also because it's also a kind of country fair.
All generations take part, from old very experienced riders to the very young who have only just mastered sitting on a horse.

But of course not everyone can afford to own a horse, or attend a riding school, with all the gear needed - or are particularly keen on sitting on a horse... so for these children bicycles are an alternative, so they attend the ring-riding competitions on their iron-horses instead.

All that culminates here in the mid summer, also at Gråsten.
Hence the competitions there always culminate in a large procession where traditionally the DRF are showered in flowers. Sometimes it's QMII who is in the center, she's after all the Monarch, and sometimes it's M&F.
It's a way to personally meet and greet the royals and strengthen the affiliation between the DRF and Southern Jutland, which is strong as it is.

And that's why some 300 riders and at least one band passed by M&F yesterday.

[Lady Nimue]

Thank you, Iceflower and Muhler!

[royalela]

Hello, will this year be shooting in the gardens? Thank you

[polyesco]

A wonderful event that the family enjoys, I would say the community too.

Another article and gallery
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/me...nprinsfamilien

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by royalela

Hello, will this year be shooting in the gardens? Thank you

No.
There is no other photo shoot planned.

But it is almost certain that we will see some photos of the family out and about in Gråsten town, but not from inside the palace grounds. That's against the law, without permission.

Strictly speaking it's also against the law to take photos of the family and publish these photos outside the palace grounds. As that is a breach of their privacy - as long of course they are not performing an official function. But the DRF usually tolerate it, especially if the photographers stand in the open, say: Hi, we are from XX, do you mind if we take a few snaps?

[carina_a]

Originally Posted by Muhler

No.
There is no other photo shoot planned.

But it is almost certain that we will see some photos of the family out and about in Gråsten town, but not from inside the palace grounds. That's against the law, without permission.

Strictly speaking it's also against the law to take photos of the family and publish these photos outside the palace grounds. As that is a breach of their privacy - as long of course they are not performing an official function. But the DRF usually tolerate it, especially if the photographers stand in the open, say: Hi, we are from XX, do you mind if we take a few snaps?

So is this the first time in a long time that the Queen does not conduct a summer photocall?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by carina_a

So is this the first time in a long time that the Queen does not conduct a summer photocall?

Things are changing.

Beforehand QMII was the first to go to Gråsten. Usually at the end of July and sometimes missing the ring-rider procession. Then her family would join her for a week or so and during that week there would be a photo shoot in the garden and that was about it. Perhaps with a photo shoot in Legoland as well.
But due to other holiday plans, often J&M wouldn't be there. - (And that led to endless speculations about the internal relationships between J&M and M&F in particular, so I guess the DRF simply decided to keep it simple.)

And in recent years M&F are staying at Gråsten for a couple of weeks during mid July, and leaving a few days after QMII joined them. That means they are now almost always present when the ring rider procession takes place.
That has become a tradition which they are obliged to uphold anyway in the future. The Monarch has for the past 150 years changed residence during the summer in order to maintain the affiliation with various parts of DK. Hence why QMII go to Fredensborg, Marselisborg, Gråsten and do her summer cruise aboard Dannebrog.
That's what is expected of M&F in the future as well. They may not have time for more than a very short holiday abroad during the summer months in the future. The rest of their holiday will be spend in DK, or at least within the realm.

So while J&M appear to spend most of their summer holiday in France, with only the occasional visit to Gråsten, combined with the Berleburgs being reduced to basically Benedikte, because Gustav, Nathalie and Alexandra and their families live their lives - there really isn't that big a family gathering there anymore. And as such IMO hardly a need for a big photo shoot.
It also seems like M&F have made a kind of deal with the press. Their presence at Gråsten is low key and relaxed, including the fairly informal ring rider procession. On the other hand the press can have a few snaps here and there of the family relaxing.

So I guess photo shoots in the garden will be reserved for larger family gatherings, at several years intervals.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Muhler

That's what is expected of M&F in the future as well. They may not have time for more than a very short holiday abroad during the summer months in the future. The rest of their holiday will be spend in DK, or at least within the realm.

But Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik have spent weeks in France every year, usually August. Doesn't seem to bother anyone.


Perhaps F&M will do things a bit differently in the future: Spend, say, a couple of weeks at Marselisborg during Easter and summer, a couple of weeks at Gråsten and having done their "duty", the rest of the holiday at Chateau De Cayx or where ever they want. At Fredensborg Palace they would live part time anyway.


Joachim and Marie could perhaps also take a couple of weeks to help with "keeping affiliation"? What about taking turns: This year, F&M stay at Gråsten and next year J&M or at Marselisborg. It's not like J&M wouldn't have time to holiday in France and opportunity to spend time with family there if they did.

[Muhler]

Yes. but M&F's children go to school, which start in early August.

And the problem is that J&M is not the future regent couple. It's M&F people want so to see in the summer.
And for Southern Jutland, especially since J&M no longer live at Schackenborg, (But only visit the place, so a similar event as yesterday would IMO not take place at Gråsten, but Schackenborg.) that means a lot to the locals.

J&M could indeed stand in, during years where M&F are say in Australia during the summer months or during Easter or at Christmas. - But they would stay at Schackenborg, not Gråsten.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Yes. but M&F's children go to school, which start in early August.

J&M could indeed stand in, during years where M&F are say in Australia during the summer months or during Easter or at Christmas. - But they would stay at Schackenborg, not Gråsten.

Yes, yes, the kids go back to school in August and it will be another 10 years or so before F&M can think of spending August in France without the kids. Ok, maybe not that long. Christian and Isabella will be 20+ at the time.



I was mostly thinking of you saying that in the future, F&M wouldn't have time to spend more than "a very short" holiday abroad. QM spending 3 weeks at Chateau de Cayx is not that short.



Certain things are expected of the future regent couple but not everything has to be done the same way it's been done for the past 50 (or more) years. Times change and I'm sure people would understand that the future regent couple spend parts of the holiday in Denmark and part abroad.

[Muhler]

Oh yes, you can easily imagine all sorts of solutions so to speak about king Frederik and queen Mary's tour of residences.

What is important is that they spend time at each residence at least once a year.

Okay, Amalienborg will be their home on a day to day basis and their workplace, as well as winter residence. So that's occupied most of the year.
Then they could very well use Fredensborg (or more correctly Kancellihuset) and Trend as a weekend retreat.
That leaves Gråsten, Marselisborg, Cayz and Fredensborg and to some extent at least Trend for the holidays. Not to mention a private cruise aboard Dannebrog - after all the crew needs practice.

The schools are off for six weeks during the summer. Before and after that they are unlikely to go abroad or leave the area around Copenhagen. Although M&F themselves are expected to go on two summer cruises aboard Dannebrog.
That means six weeks for a trip aboard and/or divided between Trend, Cayz, Marselisborg, Dannebrog and Gråsten.
IMO they could spend two weeks at each place of their choice. The question is which ones, because it would simply be too stressful IMO to go to more than three places max.
I leave out Fredensborg, because they may very well use Fredensborg as their summer residence because that still enables the children to go to school/high school.

Then there is Easter, the winter holiday in week 7 and the autumn holiday in week 42, as well as Christmas.
Okay, I think we can leave out the winter holiday as they are usually in Switzerland at this time of year.
So that leaves Christmas, Easter and week 42, which they will spend where?

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

That's the reasoning. Let's now go to the bottom line:

So dear fellow TRF'ers. How would you divide the time M&F should spend in their various residences?
You have:
Fredensborg.
Marselisborg.
Trend.
Cayz.
Gråsten.
Abroad on a private holiday.
A private cruise aboard Dannebrog.

The times are:
Easter.
Christmas. i.e. weeks 51 & 52.
Week 42/the autumn holiday.
Six weeks of summer holiday.

You may use this little guide as a help: https://app.box.com/s/5pc2zsdggt19264bqvfd

[ricarda]

When have they been in Cayz the last time? I think it was at Prince Henrik's 80th birthday in 2014. I don't see them holidaying there every year like Margrethe and Henrik did.

[Muhler]

Interesting question. And it makes you wonder whether they will eventually sell the place and put the money in the piggy bank for the children.

[An Ard Ri]

Thankfully the weather is better this year wasn't it pouring rain during last years photoshoot?

[polyesco]

Another lovely photo gallery
https://www.seoghoer.dk/nyheder/kong...rie-i-graasten

Christian and Frederik
https://www.seoghoer.dk/sites/seogho...ridning_29.jpg

Mary with her boys
https://www.seoghoer.dk/sites/seogho...ning_135_0.jpg