Summary of a number of articles in Billed Bladet #43, 2011.
All very well written by Ulrik Ulriksen.
Gala at Hotel Hilton:
It was Mary and Frederik who opened the ball and the other guests applauded them as they went out on the dance floor with Frederik positively beaming.
Here they danced away to: The Way You Make Me Feel.
After which the other guests present joined them. The Finnish President, Tarja Halonen, in particular was very active on the dance floor. The repertoire was varied, from Dancing in the Street to Night and Day.
They probably all felt like moving around a bit as they had been dining for a couple of hours, prior to entering the dance floor.
Mary was wearing a dress by Ole Yde. (*)
Among the other guests were: Apart from the heads of states from the other Nordic countries also Liv Ulmann, Malene and David Belafonte.
There was however also a slight mishap as is almost inevitable at such events. Queen Sonja was standing on an escalator when her dress almost got stuck. Her secretary was helping her, when she slipped and fell backwards almost into the arm of King Harald. The secretary was still lying down, when they reached the top of the escalator and King Harald was finally able to help her on the feet.
Fortunately at appears the secretary wasn’t hurt.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1008659...PaRulletrappen
And as if that wasn’t enough Queen Silvia was so unfortunate as to spill most of her glass of champagne on her dress. Oh well…
MetLife Stadium:
Frederik was appointed honorary captain for the New York Jets on this his first American football match, so he entered the field along with three players from each team in order to toss the coin. 85.000 spectators looked on.
Frederik isn’t a small guy, but he was nevertheless dwarfed standing next to the players.
While he and Mary were standing next to the field and were being photographed, Frederik suddenly spotted Michael Douglas and called: “Hey Michael”. He went up to Michael Douglas and shook his hand: “Nice to see you again”.
It so happens that they have met several times before and after having chatted for five minutes, they all posed with Michael Douglas' ten year old son, Dylan. Catherine Zeta Jones was also present at the stadium.
Michael Douglas chatted quite a lot with Mary before the match while the VIP lounge was being filled and Frederik was busy tossing coins around.
Michael Douglas told our reporter afterwards: “I got to know the Crown Prince during the year he was in USA and worked for Mondaviawinery in California. I was at the same time in California to film in a movie called: Black Rain, and one day Crown Prince Frederik came visiting. He made a good impression very young as he was. Since back then in 1988 we have met a number of times at different occasions. And I must say that I’m very impressed by the big effort he has done for Denmark. He is a fantastic representative for your country. And Crown Princess Mary is also a quite fantastic woman. It’s the first time I meet her and she impresses me. I think it’s absolutely incredible that she and the Crown Prince already have four children. Well done”.
Memorial Site:
Along with the head of states from the other Nordic countries, Mary and Frederik also laid down a wreath at the Survival Tree. A tree, which miraculously survived after the towers fell. After spending some time outside New York it is now moved back to the Memorial Site.
Frederik said afterwards that it meant incredibly much to him and the Crown Princess to come to the 9/11 Memorial Site in order to show respect for the many who died in the attack. It was an experience he would never forget, he emphasized.
Scandinavia House:
Wearing a dress by Ole Yde, Mary went to Scandinavia House without Frederik, who was in Boston, along with the heads of states of the other Nordic countries.
Here they were to open the Nordic art exhibition Luminous Modernism.
Mary was well received by a number of loud onlookers, who waved to her as she arrived.
It was a pleasant evening, with Mary being among people she knows well. King Harald in particular seems to have a good rapport with Mary.
Bjarke Ingels’ studio:
M&F went to see the new studio of the architect Bjarke Ingels, whom they recently presented an award to in Aarhus.
Mary and Frederik were shown a few of the projects he is working on in New York.
The award he recently won, was hanging from the ceiling in strings and that inspired M&F to goof around a bit. Frederik looked through the award at the Hudson River, Mary did likewise, amusing Bjarke Ingels – so the mood was fine.
Harlem Children’s Zone:
While Frederik was in Boston, Mary visited a school (in Queens I believe). That school is part of a project called Harlem Children’s Zone, which aims to improve the children’s schooling and social terms.
Mary entered a class, which was being teached science and nature with the words: “Hi, everybody”. Here she chatted with the students, who told her about their school, after which Mary took part in an experiment. She was to let go of a car driving down a ramp, and the pupils were to time it and the figure out how fast it drove.
Then the schools cook and a couple of pupils took Mary for a guided tour on the roof, because here was a kitchen garden. Healthy diet is also a part of the programme.
Union Square:
M&F visited the Greenmarket at Union Square, where three Danish chefs, Rene Redzepi and Adam Aamann and Claus Henriksen were preparing samples for passer-by, including M&F. Danish cuisine is being heavily promoted in New York at present. (**)
After that Frederik and an obviously cold Mary (***) strolled around the market.
- An interview with Mary coming up.
Ulrik Ulriksen’s way of writing made it so easy to write a summary.
(*) A dress that is designed to be worn by women, not models. So Mary looked good in it.
(**) Along with Danish art and design. – Also in the hope that New Yorkers will go to DK and be ripped… I mean experience the real thing.
(***) Or perhaps Frederik has bitten her? But alas, and in contrast to Frederik, Mary’s arms are too long for her to reach her pockets in a natural way. – Sorry, simply couldn’t resist….
(don't hit me guys, it's a joke)
I'd bet Prince Charles would be absolutely enthralled visiting America's heartland since he's very much into farming and the organic movement. I'm sure he'd be interested in all Kansas had to offer!
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