General News about Frederik, Mary and Family Part 18: June 2020 - August 2023

[Roskilde]

How long does it take to get to the schools from there?

About 20-30 minutes.

 

[Muhler]

According to the gossip magazine, that is usually well-informed about the court. (They must have a source.)
M&M have employed a male assistent-nanny to look after their children.
https://herognu.dk/frederik-og-marys-giver-stor-gave-til-boernene/

He will not be titled nanny though. His title will be chamber-assistant.

It is a 21 year old guardsman who has just finished his service as a conscript in the Royal Lifeguard Regiment.

While it is far from unusual that former conscripts from the two guards regiments find themselves employed by the court afterwards, it is very unusual that they start that close to members of the DRF. I mean, you can hardly get closer than looking after someone's children.
I am also surprised at how young he is.

To me that suggests that it might very well be someone they know personally.

M&F have had up to four nannies at the same time, and probably still have one to look after the children when M&F are away. Or simply make sure they are fed and do their homework when mom and dad are at the office. (Amalienborg. They live at Fredensborg, an hour away.)
My guess is that this guy will also be a kind of employed "older cousin/uncle" who can talk sport, games, music, girls (and boys) with the children and who can accompany them to matches and what not. Something older, but more experienced and female nannies may not be able to to the same extent.
And perhaps he is destined to become a close companion for Christian? A future valet?
When Joachim and Frederik became teenagers, they got a male companion too, in the shape of one of QMII's adjutants, major Carl Erik Gustav von Freiesleben. He knew the boys, having been an adjutant for ten years and he knew about being a man, and how teenage boys think and are interested in. They were at the time outgrowing their old and indeed beloved nanny, Else Petersen.
He ended up being very close to J&F until his death.
I can well imagine this is something M&F have in mind.

Or perhaps M&F simply thought: Well, we need an assistant for the nanny. Why not a man this time?

In any way, it is a sad fact that most kindergarten teachers nannies and even school teachers are women. - We all know why...
But is is so important IMO that the children have both men and women as their role-models outside their family.

BTW when the twins were born, M&F employed Bernadette Lion from the London-agency Eden Nannies & Maternity.

 

[Tarlita]

Interesting choice. Hope it works out well for all of them.

 

[TLLK]

It’s naturally not much we have seen to Frederik, Mary and their four children these months/in 2020 so far due to corona lock down, cancellations of major family events (as Christians' confirmation), then summer vacation, and now possibly another corona wave.
At least not near as much as we, fortunately, are used too and have seen to F&M and children all others years.

That's why I woke up the other morning and thought: Oh man, Christian is finishing primary school next summer!

Little Christian... he just started in 9th grade this month after summer vacation and thus his last year in primary school. I think this year has flown by!

I think we therefore should have a school update on Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine:

After this summer holidays are:

- Christian started in 9th grade

- Isabella in 7th grade

- Vincent and Josephine in 3rd grade.

The Danish primary school consists of a compulsory kindergarten class and 1st - 9th grade as well as a voluntary 10th grade.

So next year Christian will not only be confirmed, but must also find out what he wants after finishing primary school.

He can take 10th grade at a school (maybe Tranegaardsskolen offers it) or 10th grade at continuation school* (maybe one with sport on the programme) or he can go straight to high school.

* A very popular choice in Denmark. I do not know how 'after school' is translated correctly into English. To my knowledge, “continuation school" is the closest you get to “efterskole” in English. But given that continuation schools are a unique Danish school system, the English “continuation schools/boarding schools” and the Danish “efterskole” are of course not identical schools.

Thank you for this update on the children's schooling for the 2020-2021 school year and it's hard to believe that Christian will be starting high school so soon.


Regarding the meaning for "continuation school," I can tell you that in my state of California it would refer to an alternative school placement for high school students.


Here's a link to the state's website addressing continuation school.


https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/ce/

Continuation education is an alternative high school diploma program. It is for students who are sixteen years of age or older, have not graduated from high school, are still required to attend school, and who are at risk of not graduating.
Many students in continuation education are behind in high school credits. Others may need a flexible school schedule because they have jobs outside of school. Some students choose continuation education because of family needs or other circumstances.
Students who attend continuation high schools must spend at least 15 hours per week or three hours per day at school. They take courses that are required for graduation. They also receive guidance and career counseling. Some programs offer independent study, job-placement services, and concurrent enrollment in community college.

 

[gerry]

According to the gossip magazine, that is usually well-informed about the court. (They must have a source.)
M&M have employed a male assistent-nanny to look after their children.
https://herognu.dk/frederik-og-marys-giver-stor-gave-til-boernene/

He will not be titled nanny though. His title will be chamber-assistant.

It is a 21 year old guardsman who has just finished his service as a conscript in the Royal Lifeguard Regiment.

While it is far from unusual that former conscripts from the two guards regiments find themselves employed by the court afterwards, it is very unusual that they start that close to members of the DRF. I mean, you can hardly get closer than looking after someone's children.
I am also surprised at how young he is.

To me that suggests that it might very well be someone they know personally.

M&F have had up to four nannies at the same time, and probably still have one to look after the children when M&F are away. Or simply make sure they are fed and do their homework when mom and dad are at the office. (Amalienborg. They live at Fredensborg, an hour away.)
My guess is that this guy will also be a kind of employed "older cousin/uncle" who can talk sport, games, music, girls (and boys) with the children and who can accompany them to matches and what not. Something older, but more experienced and female nannies may not be able to to the same extent.
And perhaps he is destined to become a close companion for Christian? A future valet?
When Joachim and Frederik became teenagers, they got a male companion too, in the shape of one of QMII's adjutants, major Carl Erik Gustav von Freiesleben. He knew the boys, having been an adjutant for ten years and he knew about being a man, and how teenage boys think and are interested in. They were at the time outgrowing their old and indeed beloved nanny, Else Petersen.
He ended up being very close to J&F until his death.
I can well imagine this is something M&F have in mind.

Or perhaps M&F simply thought: Well, we need an assistant for the nanny. Why not a man this time?

In any way, it is a sad fact that most kindergarten teachers nannies and even school teachers are women. - We all know why...
But is is so important IMO that the children have both men and women as their role-models outside their family.

BTW when the twins were born, M&F employed Bernadette Lion from the London-agency Eden Nannies & Maternity.

I am certain it is a good idea to allow the children a 'manny'; there are many examples of how well this works. (..)

 

[Muhler]

I am certain it is a good idea to allow the children a 'manny'; there are many examples of how well this works. On a totally different topic (sorry mods but I must ask Muhler this!) our local Netflix is finally broadcasting Borgen! I am so enjoying this behind the scenes look at Danish politics with glimpses of 'Queen Margrethe's' back and wonder how the series was reviewed in Denmark?

A manny? I'll remember that one! ?
How very fitting.

(..)

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Interesting choice and I like that Mary and Frederik have a male nanny for the children - breaks away the gender stereotypes. I agree that it seems unusual for the nanny to be so young, but then again I've known people who have been nannies whilst they were in their older teens as an after school job, so it's not impossible.

 

[Roskilde]

CP Mary today seen at the Equitour Denmark Championships in dressage in Aalborg, Northern Jutland.

"It was the girls from Hørsholm Rideklub of 2003, who in their debut won the DRF's Elevskole Cup during the Equitour competition. The winners met Crown Princess Mary after the award ceremony”

http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.43a4a15584c6e68ac0ef62a3746d5505.png
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.d164fe90f6079c6b04ea19f18bc8e358.png

Small little article from a horse news site:
https://ridehesten.com/nyheder/vinderne-modte-kronprinsessen/76194

Great F&M do those things here.
Even though they are out as private persons they take the time to talk and take pictures.

I think it was this morning. I can imagine Mary and Isabella (and maybe Josephine too) drove to the horse show yesterday after the Flag Day. If I remember correctly, Mary and Isabella also privat visited the horse show last year.

 

[polyesco]

CP Mary today seen at the Equitour Denmark Championships in dressage in Aalborg, Northern Jutland.

"It was the girls from Hørsholm Rideklub of 2003, who in their debut won the DRF's Elevskole Cup during the Equitour competition. The winners met Crown Princess Mary after the award ceremony”

http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.43a4a15584c6e68ac0ef62a3746d5505.png
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.d164fe90f6079c6b04ea19f18bc8e358.png

Small little article from a horse news site:
https://ridehesten.com/nyheder/vinderne-modte-kronprinsessen/76194

Great F&M do those things here.
Even though they are out as private persons they take the time to talk and take pictures.

I think it was this morning. I can imagine Mary and Isabella (and maybe Josephine too) drove to the horse show yesterday after the Flag Day. If I remember correctly, Mary and Isabella also privat visited the horse show last year.

What a lovely day out and taking time to chat with the winners.

 

[iceflower]

A number of off-topic posts and comments have been removed. Thank you for your understanding!

 

[Susan D]

I admire how CP Mary has invented a good job out of thin air and for this horse show she is very appropriately dressed.

 

[Nordic]

According to the gossip magazine, that is usually well-informed about the court.
M&M have employed a male assistent-nanny to look after their children.

He will not be titled nanny though. His title will be chamber-assistant.

It is a 21 year old guardsman who has just finished his service as a conscript in the Royal Lifeguard Regiment.

If this news is correct and this young man has been employed (full time or only part time) would he be the first male nanny (or "manny") in this position or have there been others in other royal families?

I've had 3 kids in kindergartens and they were all always very happy with having a male employer. Not that many of them back then.

 

[Somebody]

I read some mentions that he is rather young (I agree) but I would say especially the age difference is rather small. So, yes, I'd say he is probably more of an 'older companion' than a nanny at least for the older two (Christian and Isabella don't need nannies anymore).

I looked up the age of the most famous nanny of the Dutch princesses (now private secretary to their majesties after having served as personal assistant in between); she started as a nanny in 2006 at the age of 23; so only 2 years older than this young man - but as Amalia and Alexia were toddler and baby, with a much larger age gap.

 

[Roskilde]

Due to a larger increase of Covid infected in Denmark the Danish government has today introduced new (or actually just the old) restrictions back in many municipalities.

Among other places in the municipality of Copenhagen, where the gatherings of people today has been lowered from 100 to 50 people.

Maybe it will have an impact on F&M's official calendar.

F&M's calendar is well packed again after the big lock down, but F&M have already each had official events canceled due to Covid and their official visit to the Netherlands has been postponed due to Covid.

We have to see if the new restrictions today will have an impact on F&M's upcoming official events.

 

[Roskilde]

CP Mary today seen at the Equitour Denmark Championships in dressage in Aalborg, Northern Jutland.

"It was the girls from Hørsholm Rideklub of 2003, who in their debut won the DRF's Elevskole Cup during the Equitour competition. The winners met Crown Princess Mary after the award ceremony”

http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.43a4a15584c6e68ac0ef62a3746d5505.png
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.d164fe90f6079c6b04ea19f18bc8e358.png

Small little article from a horse news site:
https://ridehesten.com/nyheder/vinderne-modte-kronprinsessen/76194

Great F&M do those things here.
Even though they are out as private persons they take the time to talk and take pictures.

I think it was this morning. I can imagine Mary and Isabella (and maybe Josephine too) drove to the horse show yesterday after the Flag Day. If I remember correctly, Mary and Isabella also privat visited the horse show last year.

The riding girls' riding teacher writes under the post on Facebook:

‘A thousand thanks from the girls, their parents and from Hørsholm Rideklub It made the girls day even better, and Mary was so sweet and took good time to talk with the girls. A fantastic Crown Princess ‘

 

[polyesco]

Frederik has written a forword in honor of the 250 anniversary of Gyldendal publishing.

"ALL THE BOOKS OF ALL TIME we read together*is a large, beautiful gift book with a foreword by HRH Crown Prince Frederik, which tells about his relationship to Danish children's literature through his upbringing and as a family man."

https://www.gyldendal.dk/produkter/...vi-læser-sammen-52923/indbundet-9788702301786

 

[Roskilde]

Some nice little news on such a Sunday:

A proud Prinsess Isabella was with her mother, Crown Princess Mary, when the Crown Princess made her debut in a horse dressage show yesterday

It was a happy and relaxed Crown Princess Mary who could breathe a sigh of relief after the closing parade at the horse show in Frederiksværk yesterday. The Crown Princess and her horse made a great debut. First trotting program, then a gallop program and finally a step program. The Crown Princess scored 72.05% and was ranked number four.

Mary rode the horse Edelman, which she has been mating for a while.

Mary has always been a horse girl who rode hunting when she lived in Australia. Over the last years, the Crown Princess has performed at more and more horse events. She shares the joy of horses with the rest of the family, but especially with her eldest daughter, Princess Isabella, who yesterday was up early with her mother and getting the horses ready for yesterday’s show and Isabella also helped where she could during the show.

It is Mary herself who both saddles her horse up and transports it to teaching and competitions. Mary took driving license to drive a horse trailer back in the year 2006.

Crown Princess Mary’s plan is to get some more experience and routine.

* We know that Mary has loved horses and riding all her life. Before she got children she rode a lot, but there has not been much free time after she got married, became a Crown Princess and not least got 4 small children.
Now all four kids are getting bigger and I think it's lovley to see that Mary again have time for her big hobby, horses. And now can share it with her daugthers. And Bella looks so proud of her mother ?

** This is under private auspices, and not officially in any way, which is why I have not seen anything about it elsewhere in the Danish press than on this horse website.

Pictures from yesterday:
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.284218216ebbdf1afa8467a17720270a.png
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.fa0561b7dba7a373ef7e9d6e3c658777.png
https://www.eurodressage.com/sites/..._mary_edelman_01.jpg?h=4437fa4b&itok=i_bnjlrx
https://ibb.co/MDRQbsW
https://ibb.co/7V8NdgC
https://ibb.co/4gxSmh6
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2020_09/image.png.284218216ebbdf1afa8467a17720270a.png
https://ibb.co/7pynzVh

Article (with also a video of Mary’s debut)
https://www.ridehesten.com/nyheder/kronprinsessen-dansede-igennem-sin-debut-video/76241

Article in english:
https://www.eurodressage.com/2020/0...s-dressage-show-debut-2020-cdn-frederiksvaerk

 

[Tarlita]

Mang tak Roskilde, so lovely to see Mary doing something she really loves. Her dressage outfit makes her look very slim as well as looking very smart. Nice looking horse too, carries himself well. Mary and Aunt Benedikte have lots to talk about.

 

[polyesco]

What a surprise, good job Mary! Lovely in a hobby she enjoys so much. That photo of Isabella and the horse is beautiful.

News from August 31st, Frederik enjoying a game of golf with employees of the DRF
https://www.helsingorgolf.dk/Nyhedsbrev-September-2020

 

[Roskilde]

Thanks Polyesco
It is really nice to see Crown Prince Frederik doing such a thing with the court.

 

[Roskilde]

The annual Hubertus Hunt is cancelled this year due to Covid-19. It's only the second time since 1949 it's been cancelled.

Expected, but what a shame. Seeing Frederik, Mary and children to the Hubertus hunt is one of my favorite events of the year!
So many things are still being canceled. F&M can carry out official events with fewer participants, but I’m afraid we will not get to see the children so much this autumn, when these larger family events in DK are canceled, as they usually includes many people.

 

[MARG]

What a surprise, good job Mary! Lovely in a hobby she enjoys so much. That photo of Isabella and the horse is beautiful.

News from August 31st, Frederik enjoying a game of golf with employees of the DRF
https://www.helsingorgolf.dk/Nyhedsbrev-September-2020

News from August 31st, Frederik enjoying a game of golf with employees of the DRF
https://www.helsingorgolf.dk/Nyhedsbrev-September-2020

It is a very good way to show you appreciate them at a time when they are doing a lot less than they usually would. Being under utilised can lead to staff wondering how long they will keep their jobs even if they have been assured they won't.

No family get togethers, no Hunt and probably no New Years Courts, no receptions, etc. You could see that people would wonder howling this is going to last.

 

[Nordic]

News from August 31st, Frederik enjoying a game of golf with employees of the DRF
https://www.helsingorgolf.dk/Nyhedsbrev-September-2020

It is a very good way to show you appreciate them at a time when they are doing a lot less than they usually would. Being under utilised can lead to staff wondering how long they will keep their jobs even if they have been assured they won't.
.

The golf club newsletter mentions it's an annual thing.

 

[Roskilde]

TODAY IT IS 20 YEARS AGO THAT FREDERIK & MARY MEET THE FIRST TIME

Two people who completely swept the feets away under each others, but with unusually difficult odds to succeed. The Danish Crown Prince's and Crown Princess's way to give each other their ‘yes’ is far from as romantic as the press has liked to describe it. In several interviews both Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary tells, unusually honestly, about a strong love, infatuation and obsession, but which was by no means were a 'fairytale', but characterized by a large geographically distance, longing for each other and insecurity before they 4 years later finally could give each other a 'yes' at the wedding in the year 2004. A wedding which was called the most touching and romantic royal wedding of the century.

On Saturday 16 September 2000, 28-year-old Mary Elizabeth Donaldson's friends try their best, one night during the Sydney Olympics, to lure Mary out to a bar, but Mary is tired and the neighbors further down the road are having a moving party, where she was actually going to give them a visit. The friends leave, but not long after, Mary regrets her choice, and when her taxi arrives, she instead chooses to drive to the Slip Inn bar to meet her friends. For how often is the Olympics in town?
Sydney is buzzing and bubbling with life during the Olympics and the city is filled with athletes and foreign visitors.

- "I was living with four others in a shared house. It was at the time of the Sydney Olympics and one of my roommates had been invited to take a couple of friends over for dinner at a bar to meet some Australian and foreign participants at the Olympics. But I had plans to stop by a farewell event with some neighbors further down the street, but when the taxi arrived I thought, "No, I'll change my mind and take with you!". A sudden decision taken in a split second. I think perhaps because I was the one who had lived in the house longest, and because it was the first time we were going out together." says Mary Elizabeth Donaldson in a long interview with Ninka up to the wedding in the year 2004.

At the Slip Inn bar, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson meets her friends, who are invited to a dinner with foreign guests. Among them is Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik. It is first later Mary Elizabeth Donaldson is told that some of the guest probably are prince og princess of a country far away. However, it is first later in the evening that Crown Prince Frederik meets Mary Elizabeth Donaldson on the dance floor, in fact when he is on his way home, as he is hit by jet lag.

Crown Prince Frederik has since explained that he was dazzled by Mary and could not get his eyes off her on that dance floor:

- "The introduction was a little secretive, but very beautiful. To visualize it, it was almost like a summer landscape in moonlight."

- It was all about Mary that I was drawn to.
To me there was just something inexplicably attractive about her. First of all a very calm being, her eyes and then the way she moved, her dark voice which was incredibly fascinating. And then we talked tremendously good together. After all it wasn't just love, but also much the feeling of having met a soul mate. What exactly is hard to say when I love my wife as I do," says the Crown Prince in the portrait book 'Under the Beam'.

- "Later in the evening Frederik and I began to converse, and we simply didn't stop talking. And that was IT! A very long conversation, which continued," Mary Elizabeth Donaldson tells Ninka in the year 2004.

They fell in talk, the two of them. Talked all the evening and all night. Forgot about their friends. They followed each other to a new bar before sharing a taxi home late at night.
Crown Prince Frederik had completely swept the legs off under Mary:

- I was spellbound. He really swept me off my feet this handsome man, who also seemed beautiful inside - positive and humorous, experienced and traveled. It was also very appealing, I thought, that he besides a good English also spoke French. For fun, I've always said to myself that I would love to find the man who could both dance, ride a horse, speak several languages, be a good swimmer and wear sensible shoes. Although Frederik is not the born dancer, he really likes to dance and all the other things were there in plenty of ways. He had the whole package ... yes, he was a good package!, Crown Princess Mary tells in the portrait book about the Crown Prince.
When the taxi reached Mary's home, Crown Prince Frederik gave her a kiss on the cheek and asked for her number.

- I was home at three or four at night. Frederik dropped me off in a taxi and before it disappeared around the corner he asked for my phone number. I gave it to him and got a little goodnight kiss on the cheek, Crown Princess Mary tells.

Crown Princess Mary tells she at the same time thought, 'Yeah well, I will never hear from him again, but I've had a fantastic evening.'

But Mary decided to allow herself to indulge into the adventure as long as it lasted. She wanted to enjoy the rest of the Olympic Games and Frederik's presence, and to concentrate on the present and displace all the sensible thoughts she is so good to get.

The next day Mary was hoping and waiting for him to call but she didn't dare to hope too much. But he called. Again and again. But there were so many circumstances that blocked the way for them.
- “The next day Frederik and his brother traveled to Melbourne, but a week later I met him and his friends for dinner. He then traveled around in Australia for six weeks with his friend, Jeppe. When Frederik returned, we met again, but he was called home because his grandmother was seriously ill. He was very affected by this and wanted to travel as soon as possible. We had a day and a half together where we had hoped for a week to get to know each other a little better.”

- “It wasn't like 'BANG' the first night, that I knew that I have met the man of my life. It is difficult to pinpoint that precise moment. There was a great distance between us and big gaps of time between our meetings, too. Because we spent so much time being alone, anything could happen for each of us. At such a distance both geographically and family wise, you cannot just say: He's the right person. I takes time and you have to test each other, because there's a lot in the pot in this situation. But we kept in contact with each other. And each time we met, things went one step further.”

- “Now I knew who he was, of course, and this made the whole thing that more uncertain. Could it develop to something at all? On the other hand I wasn't that pessimistic, where I felt that it wasn't worth the trouble. It wasn't like that. And each step forward finally took us to a point, where we realised, that we couldn't continue to be that far away from each other. We had to take the jump and see where it would land us.", Mary Elizabeth Donaldson tells in a interview before the wedding in 2004.

But there was also a dark side which the Crown Prince couple only rarely have told about.

A growing and strong love is blooming. Frederik and Mary are spellbound by each other, but thier love must last for several years with long distance, longing and long flights back and forth. They get one year together before the press discovers them. A year that meant everything for their relationship has Crown Prince Frederik since told. When the Crown Prince travels home Mary feels it like a heartache. She can't think, she can't concentrate, she misses him so it hurts.

One thing know Mary though is that she has met an unusual man whom she dearly misses as soon as he has left her.
That year she often listens to the song by Dido "Here with me", which is about the woman who wakes up in bed in the morning and discovers her beloved is gone and the emptiness and sadness grabs her.

John Donaldson has told that his daughter was constantly looking at her phone during that period and was beaming like a sun when the Crown Prince called. She realizes she has to choose whether to stay in her safe anonymous life or take the huge unknown jump - she knows there is no way back if she jumps. The love and longing to be together is too strong. The couple has succeeded in creating a bow of love across the earth that they decide to get carried away. It has to be the two of them.

The journey to today is long. Full of strong love, but also inhuman hard. A totally unprepared and unprotected Mary Donaldson is hunted by aggressive paparazzies in the streets as she drives to and from work and they camp out in front of her home and they look through her trash when she goes down with it. The paparazzies are relentless - and Mary is in chok and terrified, she locks herself into her home, rolls down the curtains and she shakes. Mary's sister Jane tells in the portrait book that Mary was so worried about her family during that time, would they also be exhibited and hunted?
The Crown Prince is in Denmark and he looks on powerless from the other side of the world. Unfortunately, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson way too quickly needs 24-hour protection and loses all her freedom out of the blue. The Crown Prince wraps an iron ring around her, he is hiding her for a while to Paris in a loving attempt to give Mary a rest, but Paris was not a good time for Mary. In Paris she was all by herself, she didn't knew anyone. She founds herself a job as teaching english at a school and she waits all week only for Crown Prince Frederik to come during the weekends.

(1/2)

 

[Roskilde]

Crown Princess Mary tells in the portrait book that she during that period became uncertain. Why did Frederik suddenly not want to appear in public with her anymore, why did he hide her everywhere, why did he let go of her hand when they were out? She thought: 'Frederik, are we two together or not?' It wasn't until later that Mary realized that Frederik just was doing everything he could to protect her. But how could an ordinary woman know that? Mary only really understood that later on when she really learned how intrusive the media is.

- We had a wonderful start together, but I could not yet allow myself to give everything of me. And that was the case right up until I moved to Copenhagen in the summer of 2002. I was so uncertain about how it all would go, and part of my doubts at the beginning was also because I couldn't really understand what Frederik saw in me. I mean he could get, you know, all women, and probably had a great selection to choose from. That's how I thought. So even though we had a wonderful time every time he came in the first year he also had to travel back home every time. Back to his world, and I to mine. But he always called back quickly after he left so I never got stuck in my doubts, Crown Princess Mary tells in the portrait book.
- And Frederik just kept calling. Often when it was morning in Australia and late night in Denmark and sometimes he was in a more festive mood than others, and then we talked until he fell asleep. But it was a bit dreadful and not always easy because I was usually in the office when we had these long conversations and I had to stop the work I was doing. At the same time it was very important for me to talk with him when he called. In reality, I didn't thought much longer than from one call to the next during that period.

The Crown Prince's close friend, Jeppe Handwerk, tells in the book how he during that time helped hiding Mary into Denmark. They drove a car from Paris up through Germany and into Denmark. On a dark country road Frederik waited in another car and Mary switched to that car in the dark and cold night and was driven further into Denmark. In that way the Crown Prince knew they could cut off the press - and they succeeded.

Jeppe Handwerk tells in the book that it was snowing and was so dark that he felt so sorry for the Australian Mary who was used to the warm and sunny climate and now stood in a life where she had to be smuggled into a country in the middle of a blizzard.

In the year 2002, Frederik and Mary decide that now it is over to hide and live separately.
Mary moves to Denmark, she starts to learn Danish and she gets a job.
In the spring of 2002, Crown Prince Frederik presents Mary to his mother. And the Queen is happy:
- "It was a lovely experience to meet Mary Donaldson. She really had such a genuine soul… a sweet and a good and a sensible personality, and an meaning, ”the Queen has told of her first meeting with her daughter-in-law.

In October 2003 Frederik and Mary decide that it is now over to hide and live separately. Crown Prince Frederik plans to propose to Mary in Rome. He arranges a romantic weekend, he finds a church that he thinks is the right place to kneel and asks if Mary wants to marry him? He says at the same time that she can't say no. They have since smiled a lot about that.

- And then I said "you can't say no, don't say no, you have to say yes". And then she said "yes". It was lovely and fantastic. We were happy and just the two of us, Crown Prince Frederik tells in the portrait book.

Crown Prince Frederik gets a big yes and they have both since described the propose as the finest little romantic moment. The propose is a surprise to Mary, but they have of course talked thoroughly about getting married and Mary tells she probably had guessed that something was in the works that day because Frederik suddenly behaved a bit strange and searching. Today, she knows it was because he was looking for the right place to ask for her hand.

Mary Elizabeth Donaldson says 'yes' to Crown Prince Frederik with all her heart. At the same time, she also says yes to a whole new life, and goodbye to everything she knows.
On 8. October 2003 they announce their engagement and the whole country was presented with a nervous but calm Mary Elizabeth Donaldson when the couple's engagement is broadcast on live TV in front of the entire world press. And Mary starts in Danish:
- "Hello. I would like to say a few words before we begin. I hope you can understand that I'm a little nervous."

Later in the engagement interview on DR1 a blushing Mary tells:

- Frederik makes me happy. He is smart, brave and caring, and he is so fun and charming. He is warm and he has a big heart, she told the world's press.

Denmark is cheering! The country goes crazy and into a 'Frederik and Mary booble'.

In 2004 the Crown Prince marries Mary Elizabeth Donaldson who at the wedding is given the title: Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark.
The Crown Prince succumbs to years of burnt-out emotions and his eyes are in tears of joy as his beautiful bride walks down the aisle with her Scottish father John Donaldson - and the wedding goes down in history as the most romantic, touching and human royal wedding.

Seeing Crown Prince Frederik is like seeing a new man and it is impossible not to notice. From looking like a mute and rather sad Crown Prince with a very heavy burden to carry on his shoulders, then Crown Prince Frederik is seen after his wedding with his wife, as a relieved and happy family man who now rests completely in himself and is proud over who he is and that he is Denmark's future King. In her speech to the couple's wedding, the Queen said that she knew when it became Spring in Frederik's mind - it happened when he met Mary. From that day on, Crown Prince Frederik has looked like someone whose burden on the shoulder became significantly lighter. He says himself that after the wedding he feels that he now has someone to share it with. That they are now two in an otherwise lonely world.

Crown Princess Mary takes on her new role with great respect, and she shows from the first day that she knows apanage and respect is something one must work hard to gain.
She has since stood by her Crown Prince and been a diligent, committed and dignified Crown Princess for her new country, which she has always shown great love for.

The following year she gives birth to a healthy boy and thus she gives the Crown Prince and Denmark a healthy heir, Prince Christian. The year after she gives birth to a daugther. The first Princess born in Denmark in 60 years. Three years later she gives birth to twins, a son and a daugther. The love she has for her children and her husband is obvious in every way we see the Crown Prince family.

“For me, it is in our shared family moments that I feel most grateful, most connected, most in love I'm so happy that you swept me off my feet and that we dared to fall for each other - not for a while, but for life," as Crown Princess Mary said in a touching and humorous love of speech to her husband on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

(2/2)



** Sorry for the rather bad translating. I have used Google translate as it is a long text and it is late.

 

[polyesco]

Thank you Roskilde. Always a joy to take a look back

Billed bladet has a small gallery of the two back to celebrate the anniversary
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/20-pletskud-mary-og-frederik-viser-kaerligheden

Australia is also remembering the 20th anniversary of their olympic games and mentioned Frederik and Mary

https://twitter.com/x/status/1305280164721557505

 

[Roskilde]

And why not take a look back on that beautiful, honest, funny and romantic love of a speech Mary gave her husband at his 50th birthday.
We really got to see the person ‘Frederik’ behind the title.

 

[polyesco]

Two more pics of Mary at the horse competition
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/marys-hemmelige-debut-er-et-kaempehit

 

[polyesco]

Gallery of Mary and Isabella at the horse event. Isabella looks in her element.
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/kronprinsesse-marys-store-dag#127906-1

 

[Tarlita]

Yes we've had lots of flash backs about our Olympics from 20 years ago and they replayed the opening ceremony again. They also mention Mary and Fred & the beginning of a love story that truly blossomed into a successful future both of them, raising a lovely family and supporting Her Majesty the Queen.

The photos from Billed Bladet show Mary riding two different horses.

And many thanks -- Mang Tak Roskilde for the translation its not too bad really. I learnt one new thing from it though. When Fred proposed I never knew it was inside a church in Rome. I knew they were in Rome and that he got down one knee. So that was surprising.