Summary of article in Billed Bladet #22, 2015.
Written by journalist par excellence Ulrik Ulriksen.
Hamburg:
Here M&F milled all over the city to various shops, stands and exhibitions.
She also went to a en exhibition at Stilwerk, where she had a closer look at Pocknit scarves. (So perhaps we'll see her wear one soon).
Mary also went to the Edeka supermarket where a number of Danish products had been lined up, including various snacks and Mary tried a sample, until it dawned on her it was beetroot! Yuck, major yuck! So that was quickly put back.
But while in Hamburg M&F also went to the Tasty Living seminar and it was here Mary worked as an assistant for a Danish chef. (A nervous Danish chef BTW). And here Mary found a spice and thought should have a whiff as well, so she put it under his nose, as you can see in some of the pics.
In the evening there as a gala dinner in Kaisersaal and here M&F met die Gitte. A Schlager singer, Gitte Hænning, is much better known in Germany than in DK. (*) She has been a good ambassador for DK for many years now, and she's often used as a commentator when the German TV cover an event in the DRF - whether she knows anything about it or not.
At this gala they also marked the 150 anniversary for the composer Carl Nielsen (**) Mary wore a dress by David Andersen.
München:
And here Frederik gave a speech in German at Antiquarium, where M&F were hosted by the MP for Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, known locally as King Horst.
It was also here M&F went to Fritz Hansen Design, where Mary tried out an Arne Jacobsen armchair. (You know, the colorfully and patterned chairs).
But they had been working separately for an hour or so, and Frederik arrived as the first of the two, and waited patiently outside for his wife, who soon turned up, and this is where I let Ulrik Ulriksen take over:
- However the Crown Prince arrived a little prior to Mary and waited for her outside. Here he was in the company of a lot of people behind barriers and just as mane were crammed inside the store. All looking forward to enjoy the CP-couple entering. Also the biggest German TV-networks were in place with the cameras.
And finally Mary came. Frederik looked like he forgot the whole world around him and there before him was only Mary.
When they stood in front of each other he kissed her gently. A kiss that in a split-second spread itself to the surroundings. A collective sigh, followed by jubilant cheer spiced with heavy applause reminded the Crown Prince that he was a main cast on the street in Munic, in front of audience and millions of TV-viewers in Germany. The reaction of the audience made Frederik a bit shy, even though he also smiled a little of the situation. (***)
At this gala Mary wore a dress by Ole Yde, earrings by Ole Lynggaard and shoes by Gianvito Rossi.
BB again compares Frederik to his morfar, Frederik IX who wasn't afraid either of showing affection for his wife in public.
Afterwards M&F spoke to our reporter:
M: "The way the Crown Prince and I work together is completely natural in every situation and we enjoy just being her together and to put focus on Denmark.
We are proud of Denmark and the Danish products and businesses. We enjoy to create awareness for all that our country can offer. And it's a pleasure to be a part of a big commerce delegation who presents to the Germans everything from medical products to sustainable products of any kind. (A big thing in Germany!) All the products, the technology and the innovative design we promote with pride alongside the commerce delegation".
F: "It has been interesting to experience both the northern as southern part of the country and how different one is in each end of this country.
Something Hamburg and München have in common is however that they in both places have shown an enormous interest in us and Danish businesses".
M: "We have both previously been to Germany and it has always been a good experience. This time has indeed been totally fantastic. When we go home it will be with a strong belief in the relations between Danish and German companies will become stronger and that good business deals for both our countries will come from our visit here in München and also Hamburg".
F: You never know when that will be (returning to Germany), but we are landlocked with Germany, so it's easy to take a trip across the border.
We visit the family at Gråsten in Southern Jutland near the border in the summer, so we actually come quite often on a short visit to Germany".
(*) Where she has been singing for some 50 years now. While well known in Germany she is virtually unknown in DK, where only those of us who are old enough to remember the pop-music of the early 70's know her. Like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPLjH9ocZ1U
(**) The no doubt best known peice by Carl Nielsen is Tågen Letter = The mists lifts. It's pure meditation music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yCOKCACRqU
(***) That is a typical Ulrik Ulriksen. Had Jane Austen known him, she would have discarded her manuscripts.