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Summary of articles in Billed Bladet #40, 2016.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen from our Washington office.
The whole thing ended with the Grand Ball in Washington, where Mary, wearing her rya-carpet dress, rocked quietly on the dance floor to Isn't She Lovely.
The one overseeing and very much organizing the ball was DR1's USA correspondent, Johannes Langkilde. - Which makes very good sense, since he has a network among fellow journalists, including American journalists and as such quite a few were present - and apparently they liked what they saw.
As is traditions at such balls various Danish artists entertained and the guest treated to Danish cuisine.
The American ambassador to DK, Rufus Gifford, was present as well. Without his husband it seems. The Danish ambassador was present as well, as can be expected.
It was BTW Johannes Langkilde's five year old daughter, Dagmar, who was the flower-girl.
Mary's hairdresser, Søren Hedegaard accompanied her to USA and he was very much in charge of her looks.
This was the largest commerce offensive by DK businesses to USA yet and Danish commerce was very pleased with M&F. They are a great representative team.
The manager of Danish Industry, Thomas Bustrup, said: "The businesses are going home and (they) are really pleased. They have had opportunities to meet mayors and governors here in the east coast, whom they otherwise wouldn't have had to opportunity to meet had the CP-couple not been in front of this endeavor. And the high level of activity the CP-couple has had over here has really been impressive. That has made it possible for a lot of the companies to create super-connections, which they can work on from there".
The Minister for Commerce, Troels Lund Poulsen, can't get his hands down and he is praising team M&F warmly and at length!
In fact M&F rushed from one exhibition, opening, meeting, promotion to another all day long and it would be next to meaningless to recount them all here, so let's instead focus on some tidbits.
When Mary went to a radio station and visited a hospital, she was wearing a dress by Olga Vilhenko and earrings by Marianne Dulong, which consisted of diamonds and aquamarines in the shape of a lotus.
Both gave loads of speeches. Frederik at some point amused people by referring to the surveys showing the Danes as the most happy nation on Earth and then saying that we are outnumbered by pigs four to one - and they are happy too you know. - (So hint, hint, how about some Danish bacon?)
In fact the Danish output of foodstuff from our agriculture is at present enough to easily feed ourselves and the whole city of New York - and still have a surplus for additional export. I mention this because know-how in intensive agriculture is an export as well. USA for example focus on extensive agriculture.
Mary also gave a speech in Boston where she said: "I sense that in USA you say it if there is something you like, and if your are good (at something), then it's OK to say that aloud as well. So in the American spirit I will mention a couple of good reasons for going to Denmark to establish a company". (*)
As mentioned Mary went on the air and read aloud the H C Andersen story about the Emperor's New Clothes (which is very much relevant today as well!). While Frederik can with injured veterans. That is of major interest to DK, partly because we've our share of casualties in recent years, but also because artificial limps is a serious export.
The latest is personalized and well designed crutches that look decorative and stylish, in contrast to the usual hospital-issue support-thingies. - The mindset being: There is no need not to look elegant and fashionable just because you use a crutch.
The whole trip ended in Boston with a meeting with governor, Charlie Baker, at the State House.
Here they were presented with a present, in the shape of a cup, resembling a trout (fishing is a big thing in Massachusetts) which gargle when you drink from the cup. M&F were sure it would delight their children.
(*) I've spoken to a number of people over the years and most claim that is actually difficult to gauge Americans, because they tend to be very reluctant to say something negative about you or your products at meetings.
While at the same time being very let's get down to talking business right away, which is something Danes appreciate.
On the other hand I have repeatedly heard that Danes can be shockingly frank when asked for an opinion. Bordering on what is perceived as rude in many cultures. While at the same time being very reluctant to praise oneself or one's product too much
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