Countess Alexandra and Martin Jørgensen to Separate: September 8, 2015

[Muhler]

Summary of a Q&A in Billed Bladet #01, 2016.

Where a Birgit Nielsen asks the intriguing question: Did Alexandra have a surname while being married to Martin? And what now that they going to divorce?

Jon Bloch Skipper replies that Alexandra retains the title and name she was given when marrying Martin Jørgensen and as such lost her royal status.

So her name and title is now officially: Her Excellency Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg.

- So I guess she use the name Alexandra Frederiksborg when ordering stuff on Amazon.

[Muhler]

BT writes today that it has been confirmed that Alexandra has put up her home at Svanemøllevej for sale: Se den svimlende pris: Alexandra sælger sin luksusvilla - Royale | www.bt.dk

The house is 356 square meters, placed on a property of 1.176 square meters. As such it's more than twice the size of an average family house in DK.
The price is 25 million DKK = 3.7 million $ = 2.6 million £ = 3.3 million €.

There is a standing mortgage (I think it's called) i.e. debt for 6.196.000 DKK.

For the price you get a two-floor-house from 1904. With a basement and attic.
You get two living rooms en suite, a dining room and a wine cellar.

The garden is surrounded by a high wall or a high hedge for privacy.

The advert is here: Svanemøllevej 15 - Villa på 356 kvm - 2100 København Ø
There are no photos though.

- There are many embassies in the area, so perhaps a foreign country will but the house?
It really is a bit on the large size of a family that now only consists of two people and a dog. We may presume that Nikolai won't move back permanently. My guess is that he will take a year off after high school or joing the military, before going to university or something similar.

[FasterB]

How much was it that Prince Joachim payed for the house back in 2004?

[ricarda]

https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/pr...-paa-oesterbro

According to this article the house was the former Slovanian embassy and she bought it for 7 mill. But it needed extensive renovation.

[polyesco]

Thanks for the update. I guess you really dont need a huge house for just two people. I wonder where she will live now with Felx and part-time Nikolai

[Muhler]

Well according to the gossip-mag Her & Nu, she has said she intends to move into a smaller house, now that she is alone with Felix.

Ekstra Bladet has had a look at how expensive it is to live in a house that size in that part of Copenhagen. Alex sparer formue i skat – Ekstra Bladet

In 2014 she paid various property taxes for 59.197 DKK and 77.800 DKK, for a total of 136.997 DKK = 18.300 € = 14.200 £ = 20.700 $
That's in the high end, I'd say!
Plus naturally all the other taxes, vat and so on.

Keep in mind that when she took over the house she was still a royal and as such exempt from paying taxes - so marrying Martin Jørgensen has been expensive in more ways than one!

It has been estimated that the yearly expenses on insurance, renovation, water and so on amounted to: 20-25.000 DKK. On top of that comes heating, a whopping 40.000 DKK!

So it has been estimated that her monthly expenses for living in her house (mortgage on loans not included) amounts to 16.416 DKK = 2.400 $ = 1.700 £ = 2.200 €.
Now, I'm not that familiar with the prices in Copenhagen, but I'd say her total monthly expenses are at least 60 % higher than ours, with now three adults and a child. And that's a conservative estimate.

- So Alexandra will be able to save a small fortune almost anywhere she choose to move to. And of course she's not obliged to live in DK. There is nothing to hinder her from moving to say Malmö, Sweden where the prices are lower. - I doubt she will move further away from Copenhagen, where she now has most of her friends and also being the city-girl she obviously is.

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #06, 2016.
Written by our team on the catwalk, Casper Nielsen and Karina Didriksen.

During the CIFF Martin Jørgensen, wearing perfectly trimmed days-old stubbles..., made an appearance with his new sweetheart, Eva Harlou.
Eva is 38, Martin is 37.
They didn't go to the same fashion show as Alexandra or Mary for that matter, but instead went to Kopenhagen Furs show.

Smiling broadly Martin confided to our reporter: "I come because I've been invited and because I think it's fun to take part in. I don't usually go to that many fashion shows, but this time I am".

Q: Is it Eva who has lured you along?
Stubbles... Sorry, Martin Jørgensen: "Yes, we are after all here together".

Eva Harlou, who has just ended her divorce, was more talkative: "I'm fine. Of course it has been hard for all parties concerned, but I'm fine. One should also hang on to the fact that life goes on.
We don't comment on whether we are sweethearts, things that are part of the private life and something you can't really answer, but we enjoy each other's company.
I'm back from where I came - furniture and design. I enjoy blowing a bit in the balloon called architect...". (She goes on to talk a bit about being an x-factor judge. The Danish version of X-factor doesn't interest me, I find documentaries about the annual tractor production in North Korea endlessly more interesting and I suspect your interest is even less, so I'll spare you...)

[Muhler]

Following the news of Alexandra putting up her house for sale, every expert imaginable is asked about their opinion.

Also DRF-expert and historian, Lars Hovbakke Sørensen to BT today: Ekspert om Grevinde Alexandras salg af 'gratis' luksusvilla: Det gør hende ikke ligefrem mere populær - Royale | www.bt.dk

Basically he says the sale of the house which she is likely to profit very handsomely from and which was given to her virtually for free, will not make her more popular in the eyes of the public.
Because the public are annoyed that she is getting an apanage for doing... what? And now she's going to profit from the sale of her house.

- I must admit that this angle is unfair IMO.
If she stayed in the house, she would get heat for living in a huge house in a very expensive part of Copenhagen. And as such for having a too high opinion of herself.
If she sells, she's getting heat from profiting from the sale.
I mean, come on, she can't win.

The extreme left, The Unity List, (which is in favor of abolishing the DRF) has again talked about having a look at her apanage. - They can safely do that because the other parties in Parliament won't.
As Lars Hovbakke points out, it's more than doubtful the politicians will officially take up let alone change an agreement about an apanage once passed in the Parliament.

Lars Hovbakke also suggest that Alexandra might move abroad - still getting her apanage. Perhaps to pursue a career. - Personally I don't believe in that one. Or rather I find it very unlikely.

Alexandra may have her faults but I don't think she's particularly concerned with her popularity dropping. Apart from the gossip magazines she's hardly mentioned anywhere anymore. After her recent separation she's IMO even more irrelevant for various organizations as a more or less official patron. So she can just shrug her shoulders.

And there is one more thing: The sale of the house might provide her with an income sufficient enough to enable her to decline any further apanage. But no one seems to think about that.
That would be a nice little PR-coup.

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Muhler

And there is one more thing: The sale of the house might provide her with an income sufficient enough to enable her to decline any further apanage. But no one seems to think about that.
That would be a nice little PR-coup.

thank you for all the updates.
I agree with this last little bit it would be great PR.

Regarding living outside of Denmark, would Felix have to live in Denmark? or would he be able to live with his mom outside of Denmark?

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

So it has been estimated that her monthly expenses for living in her house (mortgage on loans not included) amounts to 16.416 DKK = 2.400 $ = 1.700 £ = 2.200 €.
Now, I'm not that familiar with the prices in Copenhagen, but I'd say her total monthly expenses are at least 60 % higher than ours, with now three adults and a child. And that's a conservative estimate.

Living in the area myself (and my brother lives here too) I can say that it´s a normal monthly expense, she´s paying :) Actually if it´s only kr. 16416,- it´s quite cheap. Nobody would raise their eyes at a mortgage on kr. 20-35000,- for a house of that size.

Originally Posted by polyesco

Regarding living outside of Denmark, would Felix have to live in Denmark? or would he be able to live with his mom outside of Denmark?

IIRC then the ones in line for the throne has to live in Denmark, atleast until they are 18 and if they want to live outside of Denmark (outside is also Malmø, Sweden, although many danes lives there) then the monarch has to say yes to it.
But I´m not sure that I do remember correct :)

[Muhler]

Thanks FasterB I needed a sniff from my smelling salts after reading that.

Grevinde Alexandra taler ud om bolig-salg: Derfor sælger jeg mit palæ - Underholdning | www.bt.dk

Countess Alexandra has today issued an official statement regarding the sale of her house.

The statement reads:
Due to the divorce I have chosen to start a new chapter in the life of me and my sons.
The Princess and I for natural reasons seen a new beginning in new surroundings. We have had many lovely years in our home at Svanemøllevej and now the time has come for the next chapter, where our lives contain new activities and we are confident/are ready for new challenges
We have not yet found a place to live, but (we) will remain in Copenhagen. A new time is beginning and we look forward to that.

[Muhler]

Grevinde Alexandra efter bruddet: Jeg er kommet tættere på mine børn | BILLED-BLADET

Countess Alexandra went to the Royal Theater to see a ballet and here she had a brief talk with a BB reporter. - Mainly about her current life.
She went with her former LiW and good friend, Christine Wiberg-Lyng and apparently she looked radiant, so our reporter asked why.

"I just enjoy being where I am now. I enjoy life, and if for no other reason, then everything that has happened has ensured that the children and I have become even closer. I didn't think that was possible, but we are. We are in a good spot".

Hos she done anything to become closer to her children?
"No, not apart from being honest with each other, to be there for them, support them and back them up. I've always said that it's a good parenting-thing to slowly let go. It's not always that easy.
And I can see they are well udnerway, så that makes me glad. I'm a proud mother".

About ballet:
"I've always thought ballet was lovely, also when I was a small child. Danish ballet is very well-known and has a high standard, (*) so I look forward to seeing the performance
Ballet is lovely. It's fantastic to see how people can use their body and train it so much and keep it so top-tuned".

How about the boys and ballet? Would she take them to a ballet some day?
"That would be great to do once in a while. It's a form of art that it would be nice to have the children seeing".

(*) I'm now venturing into an area I know little about, so please correct me if wrong.
Danish ballet adhere to the Bournonville school of tradition. I.e. classic ballet, with direct links to the very origins of the art-form. That is, ballet as it looked when it really took off back in the 17-1800's.
One particular ballet, from 1786, is still danced as it was back then.

[Muhler]

The magazine issue this week has more details about what Alexandra said.

Nikolai is thriving at Herlufsholm boarding school: "Yes, I don't think he'll move home anymore - just once in a while during the weekends. And it is indeed nice to see that he is so well there.
In the beginning I thought it was hard that he only went home every second weekend. But now I've gotten used to it and I can tell that he is thriving.
I realize it isn't a decision he is taking. It's affects the whole family, because suddenly Felix is very much the only-child at home. But he's fine with that".

[polyesco]

thank you
How many more years will Nikolai be at Herlufsholm boarding school?
Im sure we can expect he to go to University right after or do Danish kids take a gap year?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by polyesco

thank you
How many more years will Nikolai be at Herlufsholm boarding school?
Im sure we can expect he to go to University right after or do Danish kids take a gap year?

You are welcome.

IIRC he started high school last year, so that's three more years.

ADDED: I think Nikolai will opt for volunteer conscription before going to the university.

[Muhler]

And we have a status-report from Alexandra.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #12, 2016.
Written by Marianne Singer.

Alexandra was also present at the movie-premiere of Concussion, which Mary also attended. And on that occasion she had a chat with our reporter.

Has she found a new man?
"No. I have to say no at once. But I think it's lovely that I have many lovely friends, who will go dining with me. But no, I haven't got a sweetheart. All in good time".

How about the house?
There is no rush and: "I'm not looking for something right now".

Her plans for Easter?
"My children will be with their father and I am to be with some good friends".
Does that mean traveling?
"To travel, can also be in this country".

How about the boys?
"They become more and more fond of sports. It's interesting to see how Nikolai is developing into being a handsome young man. He is doing a lot of sports at Herlufsholm and Felix is very much into boxing".

Exercise is a good thing: "I've for example seen with Parkinsons disease that when you do exercise you can keep the medication down. Last year I cycled with people who suffer from Parkinsons and it's important that when you do sport, you don't need as much medication.
I played squash in my younger days and have had a strained back and neck. The more sport you do, the more extreme it is, the more you can get hurt. Everything with moderation".

[Muhler]

Martin flytter hjem til far – Ekstra Bladet

Ekstra Bladet writes that Martin Jørgense (finally) has moved his officially registered address from Svanemøllevej (where Countess Alexandra lives) to a small house further away from Copenhagen city center.
That house belongs to Martin Jørgensen's father, who has used that house in connection with his company.

After the split Martin Jørgensen moved into a luxury flat owned by a friend of his, but apparently without moving his official address.

Martin has not commented on an inquiry from EB, so it is not known whether he is actually moving into his father's house or whether he will continue to live in his friend's flat.
Whatever, he still has to pay his share of the debt in the house at Svanemøllevej. The debt is a considerable 6.2 million DKK.

- This makes me think two things:
A) His friend has had enough and kicked him out of the flat, not wishing to have a (presumably) non-paying tenant forever. It's one thing to lend a friend a helping hand and offer him a bed for a couple of months, but that long?
So now he's leeching on his dad... Sorry, I mean now he has accepted his father's hospitality.
B) His father's considerably more modest house, located far away from the nightclubs and cafes, is just a c/o address and Martin continues to live in the luxury flat. Presumably because the IRS are beginning to define Martin as a tenant and that means an income, which is taxed, so Martin now costs his friend even more if he doesn't "move out".

[Muhler]

Another update. It appears Alexandra has sold her house.
Alexandras luksusvilla taget af markedet

The house no longer figure on the real estate agents webpage, whether it has been sold or is no longer for sale is unclear, but the agent, Lützau, has said to BT: "I have no comments to the sale".
- So that smells like a sale to me.

Added. That may also explain why Martin Jørgensen recently moved his publicly registered address away from the house. He simply has to.
------------------------------

A little update from BT: Grevinde Alexandra klar til nyt liv efter skilsmissen: Registrerer egen virksomhed

Alexandra has activated her company.
Her secretary, Eiliya Julie Jacobsen, explains: "The Countess has formally reactivated the old one-man-firm in order for the settings to be in place for a future work at a later stage".

The company is registered as PR and communication, but: "It's registered as such because something has to be stated, but in no way does it say what the Countess may occupy herself with at some point".

[Muhler]

It is now confirmed.
Alexandra has sold her house: Ejendomsmægler bekræfter: Alexandras luksusvilla solgt

Well, that means she's going to move in somewhere. She has said previously she intends to remain in Copenhagen.

While selling the house in 55 days is pretty fast Billed Bladet reports that the last official price for the house was 25 million DKK. http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige...-solgt-sit-hus

Thumb-rule:
1 £ = 9.5 DKK.
1 $ = 6 DKK.
1 € = 7.5 DKK.

[Muhler]

Martin Jørgensen taget for spritkørsel: Jeg er utrolig skuffet over mig selv

The unshaving Martin Jørgensen has been nicked in a routine-control for DUI.

He has expressed how sorry and annoyed with himself he is about this and explains he just went for a pack of cigarettes and wasn't aware he was still over the limit.

- In DK the limit for legal driving is 0.5 which I personally think is silly. it ought to be 0, because that's it. No alcohol at all, rather than perhaps two or three beers.
Anyway, if you are stopped by the police in DK while driving it's as sure as amen in church that you will blow the alcometer/breathalyzer.

According to Martin Jørgensen himself, he was just over the limit of 0.5 i.e at least 0.6 otherwise you are likely to be let off, because you are taken in for a bloodsample and the result of that is deciding. And that takes time and in the meantime you might go under 0.5.
Anyway, he's in for a sanction.
His driver-license is conditionally suspended. I.e. he has to take a driving test within six months in order to keep his license.
On top of that he will get a fine that is the equivalent to his monthly salary after tax X his result, say 20.000 DKK X 0.7 = 14.000 DKK.
On top of that he has to attend a twelve hour course in drink-driving which he has to pay for himself.
- And that's the mildest possible sanction.

If the result is over 1.2 you lose your drivers license for several years, pay a fine of say 20.000 DKK X 1.4 = 28.000 DKK = 3.700 € = 4.600 $.
For first time offenders, that is