General Questions and Information about the Danish Royal Family

[Loyalist]

Im mot sure if this is the correct forum but I was wondering... I heard the Queen was made to stop smoking in public. Was this her choice or was it made for her?

[fifiona]

I know that the DRF use Royal Copenhagen porcelain, and that Fred and Mary have been featured on their webpage for formal and informal porcelain. Does anyone know what other royal families use formally and informally for their dinner services, cutlery and glassware?

[nwinther]

Originally Posted by Loyalist

Im mot sure if this is the correct forum but I was wondering... I heard the Queen was made to stop smoking in public. Was this her choice or was it made for her?

It was her choice.

The idea that anyone, save perhaps Henrik, dare "tell" Margrethe anything is laughable. She's too experienced to be bossed around.

The no-smoking craze in Denmark is seemingly taking a lull at the moment.

[Loyalist]

Originally Posted by nwinther

It was her choice.

The idea that anyone, save perhaps Henrik, dare "tell" Margrethe anything is laughable. She's too experienced to be bossed around.

The no-smoking craze in Denmark is seemingly taking a lull at the moment.

Hmmm. I see. Well I'm glad she still retains some personal authority. However, I wouldn't say its laughable considering many monarchs have jad their arms twisted behind closed doors.

[nwinther]

Originally Posted by Loyalist

I wouldn't say its laughable considering many monarchs have jad their arms twisted behind closed doors.

Yes, that's disgraceful IMO.

But in Denmark, the monarchy is (as you know) more popular than ever - and has been for some time.

15 years ago or so, a newspaper "revealed" that former PM Poul Nyrup Rasmussen had edited Margrethe's New Year speech. The critizism was massive and widespread, that PNR dared edit the queen's speech.

The reality was, that the PM's ministry writes the entire speech (with Margrethe or the court delivering some pointers they'd like to touch upon) and as such always "edits" the speech and has done for decades. So the critizism was sort of unfair.

My point is, that the Danes don't like politicans to tell anyone - and especially not her Majesty - what to do or say. It would require a politican of Bismarckian magnitude to make Margrethe do anything these days. And outright "telling" her to do anything would never succeed.

The only PM who'd theoretically be able to "suggest" something to the queen, would be former PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen (current head of NATO), and he was a pragmatist if anyone was (Realpolitkk).

[Nora80b]

Regarding my prev post about online sources of TR DVDs, if this not the right thread to post, where I can post such Q's? :)

Thank you

[Muhler]

Some months back I happened to be present when a company was visited by the Regent Couple.
QMII and PH arrived in seperate cars and I happened to be chatting with the driver of QMII whom I had served with in Croatia and hadn't seen for years.

He was still in the army and he told me a few details about what goes on behind the scenes.
The DRF drivers are detached from the military and chosen preferably among thoe who are mature and who have served abroad. They undergo the usual screening process by PET and FET, then serve for a given period before returing to regular duty again, akin like the adjutants.
They get regular pay while serving the DRF, with the usual extra for overtime and being away from home.

In this case he the drove the car labelled Krone 1, http://aalborgstift.dk/assets/artikl...ronningen6.jpg which is the second grandest in the fleet of cars.
He described it as driving a "rocking chair" as the car has a tendency to rock and in fact PH don't like driving in it. It's also prone to being affected by wind from the side.
Apart from that the car is a petrol guzzler! Some five or six kilometres a litre is considered good! As such it needs a regular refill and so he drive into a gasstation, complete with say QMII in the backseat and PET trailing behind. Fill it with gas and then go in to pay like any other costumer. However, as he is in a drivers uniform and wear medals and all, he has rarely had to wait in line...

There is however plenty to do, while staying at places like Marseliborg. The car needs checking and endless polishing. And he also checked PH's Puc Maxi moped while there. PH often skip the car when visiting Aarhus and instead go by moped. A somewhat more modest mode of transportation. Here in the usual standard Danish configuration with a nicked milk box on the back: http://images.wikia.com/da.uncyclope.../Puch-maxi.jpg

It was fun to meet an old mate like this but I promised to wait about telling this until he has returned back to regular duty.

[marfre]

Not sure if this is the correct thread but I hope one of our Danish friends can help with this.

What happens in the future with the many royal children in the family, I assume when Frederik's children marry their spouses will be prince/princess and will attend the New Year event?
Will Joachim's children be given another title when they reach 18 and be styled perhaps Count/Countess? Nikolai will be 18 in three years time, will he then attend the New Year event and receive an apanage? If so that would mean all the children would be the same and therefore in 15/16 years time when the younger children can attend, the older royals are still going strong and maybe a marriage there could be 15/16 members attending rather a large group I think.

Will all of Frederik's children receive an apanage? If not I guess that means Joachim's will not receive any. I cannot see Denmark being able to support all. Joachim does receive one would he continue to receive his for the rest of his life?

Sorry about the many questions and that it's a little messy. Thanks in advance.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by marfre

Not sure if this is the correct thread but I hope one of our Danish friends can help with this.

What happens in the future with the many royal children in the family, I assume when Frederik's children marry their spouses will be prince/princess and will attend the New Year event?
Will Joachim's children be given another title when they reach 18 and be styled perhaps Count/Countess? Nikolai will be 18 in three years time, will he then attend the New Year event and receive an appendage? If so that would mean all the children would be the same and therefore in 15/16 years time when the younger children can attend, the older royals are still going strong and maybe a marriage there could be 15/16 members attending rather a large group I think.

Will all of Frederik's children receive an appendage? If not I guess that means Joachim's will not receive any. I cannot see Denmark being able to support all. Joachim does receive one would he continue to receive his for the rest of his life?

Sorry about the many questions and that it's a little messy. Thanks in advance.

A lot of relevant questions, I think.

And my bid will be just as good as as anyone elses.
It will basically be up to the monarch and the Parliament.

I believe Joachim will continue to recieve his apanage as he no doubt will continue to do public work. And also because a substitute is needed in case Frederik or for that matter Mary becomes ill. Experience matters.
I also believe M&F's children will recieve an apanage starting in ten years time in the case of Christian. As children of the CP (or more likely the king) they are almost expected to take part in the royal duties.

The more open question will be Joachim's children. One of them is likely to take over Schackenborg, which means he or she will need an education within agriculture, presumably starting out by being Joachim's right hand.
The others, well, unless they for some reason have a talent for public duties or have a big wish for public duties I believe they will be destined to have a career of their own.
I cannot believe they will stripped of their titles and demoted to counts, even though the monarch (can and indeed) has done it before.
Should that happen I think it would be likely to occour in connection with a marriage.
But their children will likely be made counts/countesses at least of Montpezat, perhaps one more title.
Unless of course they voluntarily wish to relinquish their royal title. Which may be a more practical solution, especially if they are to pursue a career in private commerce.
As for apanage for Joachim's children, I think it will be something akin to an expence account in connection with their royal duties.

It is IMO certain that Nikolai will presented with the Order of the Elephant. It is also certain, I think, that he initially will take part in the New Year Courts. Whether he will continue to do so, remains to be seen.
It is entirely up to the monarch, whether any spouses of Joachim's children will get a title of prince/princess.

Also, with eight children, statistically speaking at least one of them will at some point do something monumentally stupid. Like doing drugs, DUI, stripping in public and so on. There will be plenty of drama ahead.
We must also expect that one or perhaps two of M&F's children will do a Madeleine. I.e. marry a foreigner and basically withdraw from public duties and settle abroad.
That in combination with the fact that this may also apply to Joachim's children, some of which on top of that may also have careers abroad, the DRF events may not be that crowded after all in 25 years from now.

[marfre]

Thanks Muhler for the information.

I have a couple of further questions, thanks.

Will all the children receive the Order of the Elephant? If so will they receive it on their 18th or will only Christian receive it at 18? Do you have to hold the Order to attend the NY Courts.

Do you think all of Frederik's children will do royal duties when they are old enough? Full time or part time.
If they do fulltime with Frederik and Mary, Joachim and Marie that is eight. I guess Christian will join the Navy/Army and may not be around most of the time.
Sorry, but I find this interesting.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by marfre

Will all the children receive the Order of the Elephant? If so will they receive it on their 18th or will only Christian receive it at 18? Do you have to hold the Order to attend the NY Courts.

The answer to the first question must be yes. Traditionally all members of the DRF recieve the Order of the Elephant.
They do not have to attend the New Year Courts, they are entitled to do so, if they wish, even if they are no longer active royals or alternatively have been made counts/esses. As holder of the Order of the Elephant they are automatically entitled to attend the grandest of the New Year Courts as well as the court for the various classes of rank.

Originally Posted by marfre

Do you think all of Frederik's children will do royal duties when they are old enough? Full time or part time.
If they do fulltime with Frederik and Mary, Joachim and Marie that is eight. I guess Christian will join the Navy/Army and may not be around most of the time.
Sorry, but I find this interesting.

Yes, this is indeed interesting.
Actually I don't think so. As I said in my previous post I think it's very likely at least one of them will do like Madeleine. Retain the royal title but settle abroad and only occasionally attend a royal event. I.e. being a non-working member of the DRF.

I think Christian will indeed take up a military career in all three branches and no doubt go the university as well to, like Frederik, get a more in depth understanding of how the society works. - I think royal educations in the future will be much more comprehensive than today. Not only with political science but also an understanding of how the media works, rhetoric and so on.
It would be very useful if one of the eight would get an education as a journalist.

Traditionally, at least the males within the DRF have all joined the military. We can almost be certain that Nikolai will be a volunteer conscript. Whether he will continue a career as an officer from there, remains to be seen.
But the girls may also join the military, or indeed become a professional within the Civil Defence, or become an active member of the Home Guard. Even a volunteer firefighter. (More likely with J&M's children).
I think we can expect all eight children, in one way or another, to do service within the total defence.

Christian is bound to join the military, but for the rest of M&F's children, as well as the two youngest of Joachim's children, it's more open. Because I don't think there will be conscription in ten-fifteen years from now.
As it is now, conscription is basically a trial period for those who contemplate a career within the military or who wish to serve abroad. It's more for recruitment than for practical use. (One exemption from that are the all-volunteer conscripts onboard Dannebrog).

ADDED: I find it more than likely that M&F's children will work and study for at least a year in Australia.
Certainly Athena and bette Henrik may very well study in France or Switzerland.

[marfre]

Thanks once again Muhler.

Say we skip forward 16/17 years Athena will be 18, the twins 19 and Isabella will only be 23. If Isabella is in Denmark at this time, the younger ones including Henrik are still at school/university is it possible that they would all attend the NY Event? What a entrance that would be especially if we add Christian in as well.

I love to see the children study/ work in Australia maybe even one of Joachim's he spent a little bit of time also.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by marfre

Thanks once again Muhler.

Say we skip forward 16/17 years Athena will be 18, the twins 19 and Isabella will only be 23. If Isabella is in Denmark at this time, the younger ones including Henrik are still at school/university is it possible that they would all attend the NY Event? What a entrance that would be especially if we add Christian in as well.

I love to see the children study/ work in Australia maybe even one of Joachim's he spent a little bit of time also.

It will be a feast for the photographers and royal watchers!

It will almost be a procession.

To make it practical I can imagine king Frederik, queen Mary, as well as Joachim and our Marie will arrive in usual style, probably with Christian too arriving on his own.
But at that age and to make it more manageble I think Bella and the twins will arrive as a group.
So will Joachim's children I guess. (Athena will no doubt reduce her brothers to props).

As for the greeting of the guests, it will be a spectacle akin to the von Trapp family!
Can you see it? M&F first, followed by their four children, then J&M and another four young people.

We can also imagine that Nikolai and Felix will study or work in Hong Kong.
Why I'm almost certain that Athena and bette Henrik will go to France or Switzerland is because they are after all some three-quarters French.

[crown]

Mayby Mary calls him Pingo when there are alone. When he was in 'Frømandskorpset' (Danish equivalent of The Navy Seals) Frederik's call name was Pingo.

[marfre]

Originally Posted by Muhler

It will be a feast for the photographers and royal watchers!

It will almost be a procession.

To make it practical I can imagine king Frederik, queen Mary, as well as Joachim and our Marie will arrive in usual style, probably with Christian too arriving on his own.
But at that age and to make it more manageble I think Bella and the twins will arrive as a group.
So will Joachim's children I guess. (Athena will no doubt reduce her brothers to props).

As for the greeting of the guests, it will be a spectacle akin to the von Trapp family!
Can you see it? M&F first, followed by their four children, then J&M and another four young people.

We can also imagine that Nikolai and Felix will study or work in Hong Kong.
Why I'm almost certain that Athena and bette Henrik will go to France or Switzerland is because they are after all some three-quarters French.

Hi Muhler, It would be wonderful to see all the young royals together at least once at the NY Court however I don't think it is something that will happen.

Thanks for making this a little clearer for me.

[Muhler]

My pleasure, Marfre

Summary of a Q&A in Billed Bladet #8, 2014.

Where a Bent Holm would like to know whether the DRF have a special passport.

Jon Bloch Skipper explains that they don't anymore, not since 1982.
Instead they have a standard diplomatic, beetroot-colored passport like this: https://app.box.com/s/gs6phenw0723825554x2
Which simply says diplomatic passport on the front.

It's the Foreign Ministry which issue the passports to the DRF.

[Marty91charmed]

Probably this is a silly question but I made a search on internet and I can't find a thorough reply: Does the lutheran church allow a marriage after a divorce? Because P: Joachim married twice in church and I?ve never understand why.
Thank you

[crown]

Not a silly question at all. The people's church of Denmark allows does indeed allow divorcees to remarry. It also allows same sex marriages but each vicar has the option to refuse to perform such a marriage.

[Marty91charmed]

Thank you very much! :-) and did the couple had only a religious ceremony or a civil too?

[crown]

They only had the religious ceremony. In Denmark that is considered sufficient.