Queen Margrethe II, Current Events Part 1: February 2018 - June 2020


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Status
Not open for further replies.
Summary of article in Billed Bladet #42, 2018.
Written by Trine Larsen. (Who IMO clearly is the best royal reporter at BB.)

QMII was out and about last Friday.
She presented Queen Ingrid's Research Award at Amalienborg to the Arthritis Association. - Something QMII herself is painfully aware of.

And not far from Amalienborg, in the small Churchill Park at the Citadel, she unveiled a bust of Thomas Dinesen, brother of the author Karen Blixen.
He fought with the Canadian Black Watch (*) during WWI and was decorated with the Victoria Cross. He received it after distinguishing himself at the Allied offensive at Amiens in August 1918.
Present were the ambassadors for France, Canada and UK, as well as various veterans associations and not least representatives of the Canadian Black Watch regiment.

It is of course called the Churchill park for a reason. It's located next to the English Church and there are a number of monuments to fallen Allied soldiers in the park.

IIRC Thomas and Karen Blixen's father, Isak Dinesen wrote a charming account about his travel through what was still somewhat the Wild West in USA towards the end of the 1800's. His mastery of English (and American culture) wasn't perfect, which of course makes it more authentic and charming.
He referred at some point to a Mr. Platte (actually Mr. Platt) whom he had visited.
To Danish ears it sounds perfectly reasonably to spell and pronounce Platt as as Platte, with an audible e at the end. ?

(*) You learn something every day! I didn't know there was a Canadian regiment called The Black Watch. I knew about the Scottish regiment of course and also that Canada has several highland regiments, but not that they use the same names.

Anyway, here are the scans of BB #42, 2018.
https://app.box.com/s/qev7niejez7od2290qvp3v553jc6k55c
 
Last edited:
Muhler said:
Summary of article in Billed Bladet #42, 2018.
Written by Trine Larsen. (Who IMO clearly is the best royal reporter at BB.)

QMII was out and about last Friday.
She presented Queen Ingrid's Research Award at Amalienborg to the Arthritis Association. - Something QMII herself is painfully aware of.

And not far from Amalienborg, in the small Churchill Park at the Citadel, she unveiled a bust of Thomas Dinesen, brother of the author Karen Blixen.
He fought with the Canadian Black Watch (*) during WWI and was decorated with the Victoria Cross. He received it after distinguishing himself at the Allied offensive at Amiens in August 1918.
Present were the ambassadors for France, Canada and UK, as well as various veterans associations and not least representatives of the Canadian Black Watch regiment.

It is of course called the Churchill park for a reason. It's located next to the English Church and there are a number of monuments to fallen Allied soldiers in the park.

IIRC Thomas and Karen Blixen's father, Isak Dinesen wrote a charming account about his travel through what was still somewhat the Wild West in USA towards the end of the 1800's. His mastery of English (and American culture) wasn't perfect, which of course makes it more authentic and charming.
He referred at some point to a Mr. Platte (actually Mr. Platt) whom he had visited.
To Danish ears it sounds perfectly reasonably to spell and pronounce Platt as as Platte, with an audible e at the end. ?

(*) You learn something every day! I didn't know there was a Canadian regiment called The Black Watch. I knew about the Scottish regiment of course and also that Canada has several highland regiments, but not that they use the same names.

Anyway, here are the scans of BB #42, 2018.
https://app.box.com/s/qev7niejez7od2290qvp3v553jc6k55c
Click to expand...

Thank you Muhler for the opportunity to share about the Black Watch Regiment of Canada; I however did not know that the brother of Karen Blixen was a member! Here is their website: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
they are currently preparing a visit to Mons in Belgium to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1918 armistice. I think Denmark was neutral during WW1; perhaps this is why the young Dinesen joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force as did so many other idealistic young men who wanted to see action with often tragic results. Lovely of HM Queen Margrethe to unveil the statue; I believe her grandmother was Princess Margaret of Connaught, the daughter of the Duke of Connaught and tenth governor general of Canada who helped raise several Canadian regiments to fight in the 1914-1918 conflict. Princess Margaret's younger sister, Princess Patricia of Connaught, gave her name to the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, a regiment which has seen many battles and fought with distinction https://ppcli.com/
Lovely how our two countries, Denmark and Canada, have such close family ties.:flowers:
 
Thanks for an interesting read, Gerry. :flowers:

I did a little digging. The Dinesen males have a distinguished track record for valor on the battlefields.

Thomas Dinesen earned the Victoria Cross on the Western Front during WWI. He also earned the Croix de Guerre. - As a private! Ending the war as lieutenant.

His father, Wilhelm Dinesen, fought in three battles during the Second Schleswigan War. And it seems he harbored a considerable animosity towards Germany in general and Prussia in particular, because he volunteered for the French army during the Franco-Prussian War. Appointed captain, he arrived in time to see the end of the war in a number of skirmishes, as well as experiencing the Paris Commune in 1871 first hand.
And if that wasn't enough he went to the Wild West in the 1873, where things were pretty dramatic, as you no doubt know! (It wasn't Isak Dinesen, as I wrote I my previous post.) He worked various jobs and lived with a tribe for some period and met a number of interesting people. As well as saw a victim of a native raid, who had been scalped.
And as if that wasn't enough he embedded himself with the Turkish army during the Russian-Turkish war in 1877.
Ending up hanging himself in 1895.
- Talk about a man who lived in the fast lane!

Thomas Dinesen's grandfather, Adolph Wilhelm Dinesen, distinguished himself in several battles during the First Schleswigan War.
But before that he took part in the French conquest of Algeria in the 1830's, earning the Légion d'honneur de Chevallier.
He signed up for general staff duty during the Second Schleswigan War.

- A very interesting family!
 
Last edited:
Queen Margrethe will visit Iceland on December 1, marking the 100th anniversary of Iceland's sovereignty.

Queen Margrethe will view an exhibition about the history of the creation of the Icelandic flag, she will visit the National Gallery, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute of Foreign Languages, a research centre at the University of Iceland, and she will attend a gala evening at the opera in Reykjavik:


** kongehuset: Hendes Majestæt Dronningen besøger Island **
 
Thanks, Iceflower :flowers:

Yes, for whatever reason it was decided to place this memorial in Aarhus, which is nowhere near Southern Jutland.
But here are some more pics from the memorial:
https://www.graenseforeningen.dk/sites/default/files/pictures/Mindeparken i Marselisborg Afsked.JPG
http://fo2grafikeren.dk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Mindeparken_Aarhus_1956.jpg
http://fo2grafikeren.dk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Mindeparken_Aarhus_1976.jpg
https://media2.trover.com/T/50005960d7fbfe7cb8000081/fixedw_large_4x.jpg
http://fo2grafikeren.dk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Mindeparken_Aarhus_1962.jpg
https://static.a-n.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/circles-4.jpg
http://fo2grafikeren.dk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Mindeparken_Aarhus_1957.jpg
https://www.graenseforeningen.dk/sites/default/files/pictures/Mindeparken i Marselisborg Digtet.JPG
https://www2.forsvaret.dk/omos/orga...hingImages/Mindedag 11. november 2016 043.JPG
https://amfoto.dk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/1005-Mindeparken-IMG_9322.jpg
https://finespind.dk/images/artikelbilleder/529/_thumb3/overheardmindeparken-1.jpg
The Remembrance Park with the circular memorial is placed right in front of Marselisborg

ADDED:

Coverage from Jyllands Posten: https://jyllands-posten.dk/internat...set-markerede-foerste-verdenskrigs-afslutning
QMII looks tired.

ADDED:
This photo is interesting.

https://media.avisen.dk/GetImage.ashx?imageid=11568891&sizeid=49

We see four reenactors.
From left to right, we see first a French soldier, in the early WWI uniform, that was very colorful. And that was on purpose. The French military doctrine at the time relied on "elan". I.a. an aggressive spirit (that by the nationalists were defined as typically French.) And the purpose of that was to instill in the French soldiers and officers a willingness to attack. That was inspired by the aggressive tactics of the predominantly Prussian army during the Franco-Prussian war - without regards to the truly horrendous casualties the Prussians suffered, despite winning that war.
So in the beginning of WWI the French army was very aggressive and on the attack when possible, almost regardless of the tactical situation. And with the soldiers wearing spectacular uniforms the casualties were horrific! IIRC 50.000 killed on average during the first months of the war. - And that was reinforced by the fact that the war at this stage was still very "fluent" with a lot of movement and "encounter battles".
An encounter battle is when two armies meet each other without having prepared their positions, and as a result both sides feed in more and more reinforcements leading to a bloodbath. That happens even today on the rare occasions such a unexpected encounter takes place.
On "normal" circumstances, both sides are more or less prepared and modify their tactics for the upcoming fight, with the aim of coming out on top while keeping your own casualties down.
In an encounter battle, no one are prepared and no one really know what is happening. There were quite a few of that in the beginning of WWI!

But the French learned, the hard way... So their uniforms were soon changed into sky-blue uniforms, because the emphasis was still on attack and aggressiveness, but the blue uniforms would mean the soldiers would be less easy to spot, with the blue background of the sky behind them...
In the trenches and in the mud, that was not the case! And anyone standing up for any length of time would soon be a casualty.
But at least they also introduced a helmet. And wicklers, inspired by the British army. Leather strips wrapped around the shin were much better suited for mud and trench warfare, than boots and much easier to clean. So even the Germans adopted wicklers eventually.
The soldier on the far right is such a French soldier. The uniform and helmet is different from the standard French post 1914 uniform, so either it's an early version, or a very late version. He is here armed with a Lebel carbine. The French soldiers during WWI were armed with the full length Lebel rifle.
But I imagine full length replicas of rifles are too difficult to obtain for reenactors.

The German officer is wearing the winter coat of a rear-warrior. Complete with the pickle-haube on his head. The spike was actually designed to deflect sabre blows from cavalry, but later on became a pure and distinctive adornment.

The German soldier is wearing the pre-1916 summer uniform. He is armed with the Mauser K98 carbine, rather than the full length rifle, which would have been more correct. Typical for field service, his pickle-haube is covered to keep it less conspicuous, especially from the sun being reflected in the helmet but also simply to keep it clean. The number refers to the number of his battalion not his regiment.
His boots are not particularly well fitting, but practical. Except in the sticking mud of Flanders, where a constant complaint of German soldiers was that their boots constantly got stuck in the mud.

I must confess I know to little about nurses uniforms to comment on her.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for the very interesting details about the uniforms, that was fascinating.
 
A very full and busy day for Queen Daisy, so wanting to see pictures of the gala.
 
Here is a funny anecdote from 2004. The Olympics in Athens.

https://www.bt.dk/haandbold/haandbold-darling-overrasket-af-dronningen-det-var-saa-pinligt

Rikke Hørlykke represented DK in handball and she shared a room with fellow team mate, Mette Vestergaard.
At some point QMII was to meet the Danish athletes backstage, but our two roommates had opted to stay in their rooms.

Then all of a sudden there was a knock on their door.
"We had stayed in the apartment because we weren't that royalist minded.
When I open the door I'm actually standing there in a sports-bra, shorts and bare belly. Then it's chef de mission and Queen who is standing outside the door."

QMII had wished to see how the athletes live and since Rikke Hørlykke and Mette Vestergaard were at home, so to speak, that was likely the reason why their apartment was chosen.
QMII was of course allowed inside, buuuut...

"We hadn't been warned, so there was everything from smelly sports-bras and socks to all the kinds of untidiness that is a part of a final round, all over the apartment."
That included posters of (very naked!) men on the walls as well.

"She was really calm/unperturbed about it. It was a quirky experience."

- You can say QMII got an authentic experience. :lol:
I don't think she's stranger to mess though. Not with two sons.
 
 
Last edited by a moderator:
:previous: That's a lovely photo. Wasn't Iceland owned by Denmark for a bit during the 20th century? I wonder if the two countries still share close relations with one another.
I'm off to visit Iceland in a few weeks and am looking forward to it! Hoping to see the Northern Lights.
 
Yes, that's a pretty red nose!

She'd better look out, when you are past 70, a severe cold or ear infection isn't something to take lightly.

HereditaryPrincess said:
:previous: That's a lovely photo. Wasn't Iceland owned by Denmark for a bit during the 20th century? I wonder if the two countries still share close relations with one another.
I'm off to visit Iceland in a few weeks and am looking forward to it! Hoping to see the Northern Lights.
Click to expand...

Well, Iceland was initially independent and settled by outlaws and people who did not wish to conform to the growing powers of kings in the northern countries, so what we today would call political refugees were also among the settlers.
Despite the, to put it mildly, very different kinds of people settling in Iceland in the 8-900's they did in fact develop the first true democracy in Europe north of the Alps.
But by the 1100's that had ended, because by then Iceland came under the Norwegian throne.
In the 1300's the Scandinavian Kalmar Union under Queen Margrethe I was formed, and when that broke apart, Norway ended up under the Danish throne. Norway and Denmark was officially and dual monarchy, but in reality Norway was a province in the Danish realm, and so was Iceland. Now detached from Norway administratively speaking.

In 1814 Denmark for various reasons ended up being one of the last allies of Napoleon. Our arch-enemy Sweden backed the winning side and wanted their spoils - Norway!
The Norwegians weren't at all keen on changing allegiance from Denmark to Sweden. they wanted independence and tried to fight back, they were overwhelmed.
However, Sweden did not get Iceland!
Some powers (Britain in particular) were not all displeased with seeing Denmark and Norway being separated, but there was no reason to make Sweden too powerful, so Iceland remained with Denmark.

There was some independence movement in Iceland by the beginning of the 1900's. And IRRC Iceland had de facto autonomy.
Then Denmark was invaded in 1940.
The Allies, meaning Britain did not want Iceland to be occupied by Germany! So Britain occupied Iceland and the Faeroe Islands. Later on the Americans took over in Iceland.
Not knowing when the war would end, or even who would win, the Icelandic independence movement grew stronger and by 1944, no doubt "not discouraged" by USA, Iceland declared itself independent and a republic.
That led Christian X to feel somewhat bitter. He felt that by 1944 it was clear who would win and couldn't the Icelanders wait until the war was over and then seek independence so that the two countries would separate more amiably?
But the political realities were of course to be considered. After all there was no agreement on which side of the Iron Curtain Denmark would end up in. It was literally first come. Fortunately for Denmark the German forces in DK surrendered to Field Marshall Montgomery. But had the Soviets been more successful, they might have "liberated" Denmark...
That meant that Iceland would for all practical purposes have ended up as a US protectorate, along with the Faeroe Islands and Greenland. The island was and is too important strategically. - In fact it may only be a matter of time before the NATO Base is Iceland is reopened.

The political realities were as they were after WWII, so DK and Iceland established very friendly relations. Icelanders wishing a higher education went to Denmark at studied at universities here. And for decades after WWII Danish as such remained the second language taught in Iceland.
Today Iceland is a wealthy country with a very well-educated population and they have become much more international in regards to where they get the education they can't get in Iceland.

Today Iceland is one of the three countries closest to DK, and as such also one of the three countries that a new regent couple visit first officially. So when M&F take over, one of the first state visits will go to Iceland.
There are still very strong bonds between Iceland and Denmark and Norway. During the Cod-War between Britain and Iceland in the 1970, there were actually serious calls in Norway and Denmark to send our navies to assist the Icelandic coast guard.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
:previous:


Here's another video of the day in Iceland:

 
gerry said:
So how does language work in Iceland....is Danish also understood by Icelanders?
Click to expand...

We used to have an Icelander around here on TRF, who will have the final word on this. :icelandflag:

My impression is that increasingly fewer Icelanders speak, let alone understands Danish.
I don't even think Danish is taught in schools there anymore. That has long since been replaced by English and as you can get an university education in English in Denmark and elsewhere now, I don't think Danish is seen as particularly relevant.
 
Muhler said:
We used to have an Icelander around here on TRF, who will have the final word on this. :icelandflag:

My impression is that increasingly fewer Icelanders speak, let alone understands Danish.
I don't even think Danish is taught in schools there anymore. That has long since been replaced by English and as you can get an university education in English in Denmark and elsewhere now, I don't think Danish is seen as particularly relevant.
Click to expand...
Thank you Muhler, as always! I was curious because I believe Queen Margarethe was speaking Danish when she presented the book (can you share which book it was?) to the Icelandic president and he seemed to understand what she was saying ...:whistling:
By the way; hot Danish news from Toronto....we now have a Danish Pastry House http://danishpastryhouse.ca/
in our downtown Union Station (main transportation hub) and at Eaton centre, our largest shopping mall. I think it is time for the DRF to come back and officially open these wonderful ambassadors of Danish culture in my city!
 
Last edited:
:previous:

I just checked the site you gave us on the Danish Pastry Shop.......oh my goodness what a delight, I have had Stone Age Bread many many years ago and loved it. Since I am gluten free it is a must have for me when I find it. I am wondering if they could ship it over night or what? Would be to expensive for my bank account I bet, yet worth it only for a one time shipping. Thanks for sharing that info with us, makes my mouth hungry just looking at it. I also so not eat manufactured food nor chemicals in my food, my body was not built for those things that I have a strong belief they cause us medical problems. Now I want bread..........:lol:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

iceflower
  • Locked
  • Sticky
Prince Christian, News and Current Events Part 1: October 2023 - January 2024
Replies
8
Views
3K
Alisa
Alisa
iceflower
Queen Margrethe II, Current Events Part 3: September 2023 -
2
Replies
54
Views
10K
iceflower
iceflower
iceflower
Queen Mary, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2 3
Replies
75
Views
11K
Izzie
Izzie
iceflower
Prince Albert & Princess Charlene Current Events Part 6: January 2024 -
Replies
14
Views
4K
An Ard Ri
An Ard Ri
iceflower
King Frederik X, Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2 3
Replies
79
Views
10K
Izzie
Izzie

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom