Danish State Visit to Germany: November 10-13, 2021

[Blog Real]

By invitation from the Federal Republic of Germany’s President, HE Frank-Walter Steinmeier, HM The Queen and HRH The Crown Prince pay a state visit the days of 10 - 13 November 2021. The visit takes place in Germany’s capital, Berlin, where both The Queen and The Crown Prince will be present, after which The Queen alone will continue the visit in the state of Bavaria’s capital, Munich. The state visit will include a business promotional campaign as well as visits to cultural institutions. Last year, Denmark and Germany celebrated the “Cultural Year of Friendship”, and agreements in the creative educations and in the area of arts and culture will be entered into during the state visit.

More information: https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/state-visit-to-the-federal-republic-of-germany

 

[principessa]

Great news. I am thinking of travelling to Munich to see the queen.

 

[muriel]

More information: https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/state-visit-to-the-federal-republic-of-germany

Good to see:

1) a state visit happening
2) a 4 day one at that
3) with a monarch and an heir in tow!

 

[Muhler]

The timing simply couldn't be better!

The German election is coming up this Sunday, and since the leading right-wing politicians have used every opportunity to shoot themselves in the foot, it is more than likely that the next German government will be leaning to the left.
If that happens, it is expected that a policy towards a much more environmentally friendly Germany and a Germany with a lot more focus on the global climate will be implemented.
That means a lot of changes in the German energy, production and infrastructure. - Changes that suit Danish export and know how perfectly.
So right now many a prayer is going up here north of the Danish-German border that a left leaning government will take over come Sunday.
Because that means export-money. A lot of export-money!

So this state visit fits perfectly with Danish businesses wanting to promote themselves and here the DRF is a great help.

Anyway, Germany is the biggest export market for Danish products, so that alone merits regular official and state visits by the DRF. and each time the DRF members help promote Danish businesses.

It is of course a state visit, so it's logic Mary is not coming along. This is after all QMII's area, and while it is my impression that QMII is well respected in Germany (to the extent that people care about royalty of course) Mary would add considerably more glamour. That is undeniable.
But she will have to wait for the next official visit, together with Frederik. And that I think, will come in a couple of years, because it normal that a major commerce-promotion headed by the DRF, is followed up a year or two later by another visit.

 

[Stefan]

The timing simply couldn't be better!

The German election is coming up this Sunday, and since the leading right-wing politicians have used every opportunity to shoot themselves in the foot, it is more than likely that the next German government will be leaning to the left.
If that happens, it is expected that a policy towards a much more environmentally friendly Germany and a Germany with a lot more focus on the global climate will be implemented.
That means a lot of changes in the German energy, production and infrastructure. - Changes that suit Danish export and know how perfectly.
So right now many a prayer is going up here north of the Danish-German border that a left leaning government will take over come Sunday.
Because that means export-money. A lot of export-money!

So this state visit fits perfectly with Danish businesses wanting to promote themselves and here the DRF is a great help.

Anyway, Germany is the biggest export market for Danish products, so that alone merits regular official and state visits by the DRF. and each time the DRF members help promote Danish businesses.

It is of course a state visit, so it's logic Mary is not coming along. This is after all QMII's area, and while it is my impression that QMII is well respected in Germany (to the extent that people care about royalty of course) Mary would add considerably more glamour. That is undeniable.
But she will have to wait for the next official visit, together with Frederik. And that I think, will come in a couple of years, because it normal that a major commerce-promotion headed by the DRF, is followed up a year or two later by another visit.

Why is it logic that Mary does not come along. In the Nl when Beatrix was still queen she either went alone one State Visits abroad or was accompanied by both Willem-Alexander and Máxima not only WA. And at incmoing Statevisits in Denmark Frederik and Mary most of the time accompany the visiting head of State
As for the new german goverment it can be said for certain that it will not be in office then as it is expected that the formation of it will take quiet some time even more so as for the first time very likely 3 Parties are needed.

 

[Izzie]

I agree with Stefan here. Why isn't Mary coming along. Given the description of the visit, it seems this is right up her alley and they type of visits she and Frederik have been doing for years. She is well versed in the areas of sustainability, green energy, etc. I think Frederik will probably handle the majority of all the trade/business engagements as that is his area of expertise.

And yes, she brings the glamour and there is nothing wrong with that....because along with that comes way more media attention tbh...more coverage of the events.

Also, would this be not excellent training for her on an outgoing state visit? She's already been doing all the heavy lifting (along with Frederik) on incoming state visits for years and does a stellar job.

I have some speculations, but I will hold off.

 

[Muhler]

Several reasons.

QMII usually handles culture while Frederik handles the export. A simple but efficient division of labor.
Mary now has almost twenty years of experience as a senior royal. She doesn't need practice.
Mary isn't needed, also because the hosts don't need to find a third person to escort Mary around. Mary tagging along with either QMII or Frederik is really a waste of her talents. No matter who she is tagging along with, she will have to take a second seat, when she is best as having an equal role or taking the lead by going solo.
There are times where team M&F is great. But that's more for official visits. - For now of course.
And Rigsforstander. There has to be one at home to man the fort. Of course Benedikte could take over but it seems more logic that Mary takes over. Which is a tremendous pad on her shoulder! And J&M are after all in France.

So team QMII&F for state visits.
Team M&F for official visits and follow-up visits.
Mary or Frederik for all other solo visits.

 

[polyesco]

this makes the most sense to me. On official incoming visits it's mostly Frederik and Mary. but I'm sure the Queen is still quite capable and even misses it.
With Frederik going she wont be lonely. Their Argentina visit was a wonderful trip.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Delighted to see the State Visit to Germany going ahead another sign of normality returning bit by bit.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Mary will be needed at home as Rigsforstander until Frederik is back... As Joachim is living and working full time in France and Benedikte lives in Germany, it seems not logic to order any of them back for 2 or 3 days when Mary also can step in..

There is no need for 3 persons on State Visits in a programme planned for 2...

When Frederik and Mary are King and Queen, they will ofcourse go both of them... But by then Crown Prince Christian will likely be above the age of 18 and will step in when his parents is abroad.

 

[iceflower]

Queen Margrethe held a press conference for the German media ahead of the state visit to Germany today, October 26:


** instagram gallery **


** kongehuset gallery: Pressemøde for tyske medier **

 

[maria-olivia]

Will Prince Gustav of SWB and Carina be invited at the Gala ?

 

[Izzie]

Why isn't Frederik doing the entire visit? Why just two days? Weird.

 

[lucien]

Why isn't Frederik doing the entire visit? Why just two days? Weird.

Not weird at al,Frederik is needed at home as Regent

 

[Nordic]

Not weird at al,Frederik is needed at home as Rigsforstander.

He isn't really needed.
Crown Princess Mary is rigsforstander the first two days, 10.-11 November. She could have continued two more days. Crown Prince Frederik is regent from the 12th to the 15th.
There is some other reason for him not to participate in Munich.


English version of the program for the visit
https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/program-for-state-visit-in-germany

 

[principessa]

Next Friday I am in Munich to see her and I am really looking forward to it!

 

[Stefan]

Next Friday I am in Munich to see her and I am really looking forward to it!

I will be there too

 

[iceflower]

An English version of the programme has been released today:


** kongehuset: Program for state visit in Germany **

 

[Izzie]

He isn't really needed.
Crown Princess Mary is rigsforstander the first two days, 10.-11 November. She could have continued two more days. Crown Prince Frederik is regent from the 12th to the 15th.
There is some other reason for him not to participate in Munich.

English version of the program for the visit
https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/program-for-state-visit-in-germany

I agree. No reason Mary could not have continued as rigforstander for two more days. If she can carry out that position for 2 days she can do it for 4 days. Wasn't that the reason to give her such an appointment? Why would he not participate in Munich?

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

In this day, with 24/24 and 7/7 availability via internet, the concept of a Rigsforstander is a bit mediaeval. Macron and Putin travel around there is no appointment for a stand-in in Paris or Moscow.

The Dutch King places a digital signature via his iPad, if there are urgent papers waiting for his consent. Back in The Hague he countersigns his digital signature on the official document itself: it is 2021, after all.

It would have been nice to see Mary in Germany.

 

[Izzie]

In this day, with 24/24 and 7/7 availability via internet, the concept of a Rigsforstander is a bit mediaeval. Macron and Putin travel around there is no appointment for a stand-in in Paris or Moscow.

The Dutch King places a digital signature via his iPad, if there are urgent papers waiting for his consent. Back in The Hague he countersigns his digital signature on the official document itself: it is 2021, after all.

It would have been nice to see Mary in Germany.

Interesting about the digital signature. Had not occured to me tbh. And YES, it would have been great to see Mary on this visit.

 

[Nordic]

In this day, with 24/24 and 7/7 availability via internet, the concept of a Rigsforstander is a bit mediaeval.
It would have been nice to see Mary in Germany.

Personally, I think having a regent or a rigsforstander is a very nice tradition. "Mediaval" or not. Not everything needs to be "2021".

 

[polyesco]

Seeing the program, the first and second days seem heavier. The 3 and 4 on the lighter side, so maybe it was decided the Queen can do that on her own and Frederik take care of things at home.

Looking forward to this and seeing the Queen and Frederik together. The state visit to Argentina was such a treat.

 

[wartenberg7]

In this day, with 24/24 and 7/7 availability via internet, the concept of a Rigsforstander is a bit mediaeval. Macron and Putin travel around there is no appointment for a stand-in in Paris or Moscow.

The Dutch King places a digital signature via his iPad, if there are urgent papers waiting for his consent. Back in The Hague he countersigns his digital signature on the official document itself: it is 2021, after all.

It would have been nice to see Mary in Germany.

Sometimes it is not about modernity or digitalism, but tradition! Reasonable or not, it gives one a good feeling that someone beyond a leader of government remains in the country who is in charge.

 

[Izzie]

Tradition is fine. But we must remember that under the pomp and circumstance is an actual business. Yes, the monarchy is a business. And that business model must constantly be reviewed and revised to fit the times so that the business side runs efficiently, effectively and things ere handled expeditiously. And yes, that can coexist with traditions such as the New Years courts, galas, etc. Modernity and tradition are not mutually exclusive.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Personally, I think having a regent or a rigsforstander is a very nice tradition. "Mediaval" or not. Not everything needs to be "2021".

Indeed Monarchy is all about tradition and also Danish queen is of a 'different generation' to the trendy touch of a button Dutch monarch.

 

[Muhler]

In this day, with 24/24 and 7/7 availability via internet, the concept of a Rigsforstander is a bit mediaeval. Macron and Putin travel around there is no appointment for a stand-in in Paris or Moscow.

The Dutch King places a digital signature via his iPad, if there are urgent papers waiting for his consent. Back in The Hague he countersigns his digital signature on the official document itself: it is 2021, after all.

It would have been nice to see Mary in Germany.

Whatever works in the Netherlands is their business.
Here it's good to have a Rigsforstander around at any time.

Those who wrote the first democratic constitution were wise and wanted to cover every possible eventuality - just in case.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

It is okay by me folks. No problem. If the Danes think the Crown Princess can not be in neighbouring Germany because she has "to lead" the country. Fine. If that helps the Danes having a calm heart: "The water will flow out of the taps, the trains will run on time, because Mary is in charge", why not.

In my simplicity I think: "Where are these well-paid professionals, named ministers, when you need them?"

 

[Muhler]

Because all power stems from the Monarch, the Regent or the Rigsforstander.
While the government can make administrative decisions, no laws are valid until one of the above have signed it.

Example: M&F + QMII crash on the way back from Germany. Joachim is in Mali and can't move due to a sandstorm. Who knows when he will be back?
Benedikte can't be found.

Back in DK there is an emergency, the government has stepped down due to scandal and functions as a business ministry.
Corona is on the rise (it really is) and as the period where the government can impose administrative restrictions has expired, (it has) it requires a law to introduce the necessary restrictions. But there are no one to sign the bill passed in the Parliament.
The Parliament now have to appoint a temporary Rigsforstander, but the politicians can't even agree on what day it is!

At the same time the Swedes are concentrating two brigades of Volvos on the other side of the Oresound Bridge, and who knows what they may be up to!

- It is of course slightly dramatized, but the main point is that the Danish Monarch has a direct Constitutional role to play.
Bypassing the Monarch, even in an emergency, is an illegal act and creates an interesting precedence - and that is taken very seriously here!
In fact there are quite a few politicians who would very much like to put the current PM before a court for exceeding the government's powers during the Corona emergency and she might actually be put before a court, albeit on a technicality.

So it's not a question of the country managing without Mary around as Rigsforstander, it's a question a breaching the Constitution.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

It goes pretty far when you analyse it. Not only is Denmark a monarchy, where the head of state is determined by hereditary succession. Soit. So be it. The Danes have no say in it, as also people in 7 more European countries and some city-states.

But here the constitutional power is not even in hands of the monarch or a hereditary successor. No, it is given to a non-Danish born Tasmanian whom happens to be married into the royal family. That she is given the reins of state goes pretty far.

But okay, apparently the Danes are happy with it. In most monarchies the King, and the King only, can execute the (theoretical) royal privilege unless a Regent is appointed (which is not an easy procedure in most monarchies.)

Well, I wish Mary (and the Danes) calm and peaceful days as Rigsforstander.