He had no intention of meeting the Crown Princess at all. But the very first meeting was the beginning of a long road of love. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Consort Henrik of Denmark have been together for 50 years. Sometimes it is not easy for them, but wisdom and patience help to cope with difficulties.

Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid

She was born at Alienborg Castle in Copenhagen on 16 April 1940 to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid. By this time, the tiny Danish kingdom had been occupied by Nazi Germany for a week already. The birth of a baby in a couple of monarchs at such a difficult time for the country gave hope for the revival of a free country.

The baby's parents believed that Denmark should have a monarch who would receive an excellent education and be distinguished by intelligence and good manners. That is why, along with studying at a regular school, the future queen had to work hard at home, following all the instructions of the incoming teachers.

Higher education alone is not enough for a monarch, of course, and Princess Margaret, after studying philosophy at the University of Copenhagen, studied archeology at Cambridge, civics at Aarhus and the Sorbonne, and economics at the London School.

Together with her grandfather, the Swedish king, the young princess took part in excavations near Rome. It was Gustav VI Adolf who was the very first to note the far from mediocre artistic abilities of the girl.

In 1953, Danish succession law was changed because the incumbent king had three daughters. The change in law allowed Margaret, as the eldest daughter of the king, to receive the title of crown princess.

Since 1958, Crown Princess Margaret became a member of the Council of State, which made her responsible for replacing her father at meetings and representing Denmark at the international level.
From that moment on, Margaret went on official visits to different countries, attended receptions and receptions. One of these receptions became a meeting place for the princess and her future husband.

Henri Marie Jean André, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat

The future Prince Consort of Denmark was born in Indochina on June 11, 1934. When the boy was 5 years old, the family returned to France to the family residence in Cahors, where young Henri went to school. He studied at the Jesuit College in Bordeaux, and then in high school already in Cahors.
In Hanoi, where the family left after the appointment of his father, Henri studied at a French gymnasium, after which he became a student at the Sorbonne. Here he successfully studied law and politics, while improving his knowledge of Chinese and Vietnamese at the National School of Oriental Languages. The Count de Laborde de Monpezat had his language practice in Hong Kong and Saigon.

After serving in the army and participating in the Algerian War, Henri successfully passes the exam and becomes an employee of the Asian Department of the French Foreign Ministry. Since 1963 he has held the position of third secretary at the French Embassy in London. It is in London that he will meet his future wife Margareta.

It was love

When Henri was told that the crown princess of Denmark herself would be present at the dinner party to which he was invited, he was going to refuse the invitation decisively. It seemed to him that the princess must certainly be arrogant, arrogant, extremely capricious and very selfish.

However, reality did not at all correspond to his fantasies. At the reception, he saw a charming young lady with a charming smile, excellent manners and the ability to support any conversation.

When Henri arrived in Denmark, Margareta herself met him at the airport, not trusting anyone. She herself wanted to meet on Danish soil the one who had occupied all her thoughts lately. The tender meeting of the lovers left no doubt that it was going to the wedding. The very next day after Henri's arrival in Denmark, on October 5, 1966, the engagement of the Crown Princess of Denmark Margaret and Comte de Laborde de Monpeza was announced.

They were married at Holmens Church in Copenhagen on June 10, 1967. As a result of the marriage, the princess' husband received the title of "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark".

Royal co-creation

In early 1972, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark ascended the throne following the death of her father. By this time, two children were already growing up in the family: Frederic and Joachim. Prince Henrik was somewhat weary of his second role under the queen, but he had the patience to devote his energies to raising children and creating. He writes and publishes collections of poems, finding in them consolation and peace for the soul.

However, the queen herself, realizing how difficult it is for her husband to play the supporting roles, involves him in joint work. Under the pseudonym of X. M. Weyerberg, translations of Simone de Beauvoir, a French writer, begin to be published in Denmark. Critics gave very flattering assessments of the quality of translation of books, not even realizing that under an inconspicuous pseudonym, the crowned persons of Denmark themselves were preparing for publication.

Wisdom and Patience

However, against the background of his bright and talented wife, Prince Henrik was losing. She paints pictures, illustrates books, draws scenery and costumes for theatrical productions. And he still remains only her husband, moreover, with the title of only a prince consort.

As much as the Danes love and exalt their queen, being proud of her talents and respecting her justice and openness, they are just as offended by the behavior of Prince Henrik, who is constantly offended by insufficient attention to himself.

However, the Queen of Denmark has enough wisdom and patience so that Prince Henrik does not feel left out. In 2002, the prince was not appointed to perform royal duties in the absence of Margareta, entrusting them to the eldest son, Frederick. Offended by this turn, Prince Henrik went to the family estate in Cahors, but the queen immediately followed him. They spent some time together, after which they returned safely to Denmark.

And in 2016, Prince Henrik resigned as a member of the royal house and officially announced his retirement. However, Queen Margaret II herself does not care at all what status her husband is in. The main thing is that there are real feelings between them.

And yet kings can afford to marry for love. Margrethe II still loves her husband, and the Norwegian love story confirms that even the throne cannot replace real feelings.

He had no intention of meeting the Crown Princess at all. But the very first meeting was the beginning of a long road of love. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Consort Henrik of Denmark have been together for 50 years. Sometimes it is not easy for them, but wisdom and patience help to cope with difficulties.

Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid

Little Margareta with her parents.

She was born at Alienborg Castle in Copenhagen on 16 April 1940 to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid. By this time, the tiny Danish kingdom had been occupied by Nazi Germany for a week already. The birth of a baby in a couple of monarchs at such a difficult time for the country gave hope for the revival of a free country.

The baby's parents believed that Denmark should have a monarch who would receive an excellent education and be distinguished by intelligence and good manners. That is why, along with studying at a regular school, the future queen had to work hard at home, following all the instructions of the incoming teachers.

Young Princess Margarethe.

Higher education alone is not enough for a monarch, of course, and Princess Margaret, after studying philosophy at the University of Copenhagen, studied archeology at Cambridge, civics at Aarhus and the Sorbonne, and economics at the London School.

Together with her grandfather, the Swedish king, the young princess took part in excavations near Rome. It was Gustav VI Adolf who was the very first to note the far from mediocre artistic abilities of the girl.

Margareta at the excavations.

In 1953, Danish succession law was changed because the incumbent king had three daughters. The change in law allowed Margaret, as the eldest daughter of the king, to receive the title of crown princess.

Since 1958, Crown Princess Margaret became a member of the Council of State, which made her responsible for replacing her father at meetings and representing Denmark at the international level.
From that moment on, Margaret went on official visits to different countries, attended receptions and receptions. One of these receptions became a meeting place for the princess and her future husband.

Henri Marie Jean André, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat

Henri Marie Jean Andre.

The future Prince Consort of Denmark was born in Indochina on June 11, 1934. When the boy was 5 years old, the family returned to France to the family residence in Cahors, where young Henri went to school. He studied at the Jesuit College in Bordeaux, and then in high school already in Cahors.
In Hanoi, where the family left after the appointment of his father, Henri studied at a French gymnasium, after which he became a student at the Sorbonne. Here he successfully studied law and politics, while improving his knowledge of Chinese and Vietnamese at the National School of Oriental Languages. The Count de Laborde de Monpezat had his language practice in Hong Kong and Saigon.

Henri Marie Jean André in his youth.

After serving in the army and participating in the Algerian War, Henri successfully passes the exam and becomes an employee of the Asian Department of the French Foreign Ministry. Since 1963 he has held the position of third secretary at the French Embassy in London. It is in London that he will meet his future wife Margareta.

Princess Margarete and Prince Henrik in their youth.

When Henri was told that the crown princess of Denmark herself would be present at the dinner party to which he was invited, he was going to refuse the invitation decisively. It seemed to him that the princess must certainly be arrogant, arrogant, extremely capricious and very selfish.

However, reality did not at all correspond to his fantasies. At the reception, he saw a charming young lady with a charming smile, excellent manners and the ability to support any conversation.

When Henri arrived in Denmark, Margareta herself met him at the airport, not trusting anyone. She herself wanted to meet on Danish soil the one who had occupied all her thoughts lately. The tender meeting of the lovers left no doubt that it was going to the wedding. The very next day after Henri's arrival in Denmark, on October 5, 1966, the engagement of the Crown Princess of Denmark Margaret and Comte de Laborde de Monpeza was announced.

Wedding of Princess Margarete and Comte de Laborde de Monpezat.

They were married at Holmens Church in Copenhagen on June 10, 1967. As a result of the marriage, the princess' husband received the title of "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark".

Royal co-creation

In early 1972, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark ascended the throne following the death of her father. By this time, two children were already growing up in the family: Frederic and Joachim. Prince Henrik was somewhat weary of his second role under the queen, but he had the patience to devote his energies to raising children and creating. He writes and publishes collections of poems, finding in them consolation and peace for the soul.

However, the queen herself, realizing how difficult it is for her husband to play the supporting roles, involves him in joint work. Under the pseudonym of X. M. Weyerberg, translations of Simone de Beauvoir, a French writer, begin to be published in Denmark. Critics gave very flattering assessments of the quality of translation of books, not even realizing that under an inconspicuous pseudonym, the crowned persons of Denmark themselves were preparing for publication.

Queen Margarethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik with sons.

However, against the background of his bright and talented wife, Prince Henrik was losing. She paints pictures, illustrates books, draws scenery and costumes for theatrical productions. And he still remains only her husband, moreover, with the title of only a prince consort.

As much as the Danes love and exalt their queen, being proud of her talents and respecting her justice and openness, they are just as offended by the behavior of Prince Henrik, who is constantly offended by insufficient attention to himself.

Queen Margarethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik.

However, the Queen of Denmark has enough wisdom and patience so that Prince Henrik does not feel left out. In 2002, the prince was not appointed to perform royal duties in the absence of Margareta, entrusting them to the eldest son, Frederick. Offended by this turn, Prince Henrik went to the family estate in Cahors, but the queen immediately followed him. They spent some time together, after which they returned safely to Denmark.

And yet it is love.

And in 2016, Prince Henrik resigned as a member of the royal house and officially announced his retirement. However, Queen Margaret II herself does not care at all what status her husband is in. The main thing is that there are real feelings between them.

On the eve of their visit to Moscow, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik gave an exclusive interview to ITAR-TASS First Deputy General Director Mikhail Gusman for ITAR-TASS, Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Rossiya 24 TV channel.

Mikhail Gusman: Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, thank you very much for the opportunity to meet with you again. We are meeting on the eve of your state visit to Russia. You, Your Majesty, were in Russia many years ago. But it was another country - the Soviet Union. This is your first visit to Russia. With what feelings do you go to our country, to Russia? What do you expect from this visit?

Queen Margrethe II: We are looking forward to our state visit to Russia. Many, many years have passed since I was in Moscow, but my husband was there a year ago. I have many friends who have been there in recent years, and we know that there has been a lot of development in the country and big changes are visible.

This is known in general, but many people told me how interesting it is to see how this country is now flourishing, how Moscow is developing, how even more buildings in St. Petersburg have been restored to their original color and appearance. And this cannot but please those who, like me, like old buildings. The possibility of a visit to Russia is of great importance for both of us at the present time. In this way we will be able to promote the establishment of ties between our countries that have known each other for a long time, right from the time they paid attention to each other in ancient historical times, and it will be interesting for us to meet with today's Russia, which I know about now just hearsay.

Guzman: Your Royal Highness, as I know you have already been to Moscow several times and you will have a special program in Moscow. And what do you think is the most interesting in the upcoming program in Russia?

Prince Henrik: I have been to Russia several times since our official visit many years ago. During these trips, I saw a great development take place, especially industrial and social development. And therefore, a large delegation of Danish industrialists was created to travel with us, who are interested in further establishing contacts with the Russians. For this reason, I will participate in many meetings and symposiums in order to see the prospects and gain hope for the further development of our economic relations.

Guzman: The official program of Your Majesties is very rich. But I also know that there will be a fairly large unofficial program. What do you find most attractive and most interesting in this unofficial part?

Queen Margrethe II: We are planning to follow the hiking trails that foreigners usually take, to see the cathedrals of the Kremlin. This is what my great-aunt great-grandmother remembered, what she talked about when she was in Denmark, it was a dear memory for her and others already in the Danish period of her life. And my father knew them. After your revolution, many Russians lived in Denmark and died here, and my father knew them well. And I think that she and her aunt were very fond of each other. She was such a charming old lady. And a wonderful person. So for me, the fact that a few years ago you moved her coffin to St. Petersburg for reburial meant a lot! Because I understand what that would mean for my father. The unofficial part of our visit will take place in St. Petersburg after two days of official events. And we look forward to the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Empress Maria Feodorovna, who is known to us under the name of Dagmar. She was the great aunt of my father, who knew her well. After the revolution, she fled to Denmark and lived here until her last days. As I said, my father knew her well and loved her, and I think the feelings were mutual. My father told me a lot about her, so for me she is not just a historical figure, she was a person whom I knew and knew well, and it will be very interesting for me in St. Petersburg also because, as I know, a lot has been done, to restore those buildings in which she lived in Russia for many, many years.

Guzman: Your Majesty, you often spend your holidays doing art. Maybe you can tell us something that you know in the field of Russian art, what do you especially appreciate?

Queen Margrethe II: Well, many years ago when I was doing some illustrations, I found that there are things that can inspire me a lot. These are illustrations for Russian fairy tales by the artist Bilibin. I'll show you them, I think they must be very famous. I had a book in English - a collection of Russian fairy tales. She belonged to my mother. She loved her very much, was very attached to Russia. But this book was translated into English, and the tales were beautifully illustrated by Bilibin. It was the first time in my life that the illustrations were so clear. They were very basic. That's why I loved this book so much. Not that I would recognize Bilibin's work if I saw them. But I know that in a way, the way he illustrated this book is what I like best. And, for example, last year I saw an exhibition that was held in London, it was dedicated to Diaghilev - stage models and costume designs for ballets. There I saw something similar, and it inspired me to a very high degree. I was absolutely in awe.

Guzman: Looking at history, we will see that the experience of Russian-Danish relations is unique in Europe. Russia and Denmark have never actually been at war. What, in your opinion, is the secret of this disposition of our countries, our peoples towards each other?

Queen Margrethe II: There may be many theories about how we have been able to keep peace with each other for many centuries. This could be both because we live in the same part of the world, and because we, in fact, had no contradictions, and this can only be rejoiced at. Usually contradictions arise with neighbors, but at the same time it is easier to find compromises with neighbors.

Prince Henrik: We have many contacts with the peoples of the Baltic, and we obviously sympathize with each other, we have never fought with each other, and this also means something.

Guzman: Your Royal Highness, Your wife, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, in my opinion, has more Russian roots than any other head of state in Europe. As far as I know, there is no Russian blood in your family history, and yet I have a question for you: what does Russia mean to you?

Prince Henrik: The Russians are of great importance because they are a strong nation, a great and powerful people, who may have been feared, perhaps loved, but which has always been a part of our common history. I can consider Russians and Russia as part of good friends in Europe and at the same time as a great nation.

Guzman: At the beginning of today's meeting, Your Majesty, you recalled some of your Russian relatives. Which of them comes to your mind first? With whom more often, let's say, do you mentally communicate?

Queen Margrethe II: I must say that the closest relative related to Russia, or rather, the closest family ties that bind us to Russia, run through my father's grandmother, a nee princess of Mecklenburg in Germany. Her mother, who was born in Russia, was the Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, whom my father knew well and highly valued. She died long before I was born, and she was a person I knew a lot about. I knew that she really was from Russia. And the rest is the Empress, whom we called Dagmara. We have common roots with her, she was the sister of my great-grandfather.

Guzman: Your Majesty, in January 2012 it will be 40 years since you ascended the throne. And it will be, as I understand it, for the Danes a celebration of the 40th anniversary of your royal reign. Looking back at this path, what do you think is the most significant? What would you like to remember now over the past 40 years?

Queen Margrethe II: It is hard to say. And it's really hard for me to realize that it's been 40 years since I became queen. Sometimes it seems to me that I became her a very long time ago, and sometimes it seems to me that it happened only the day before yesterday, when my father died and I took his place. Generation after generation, and it is difficult to name any particular event that seems significant. (turning to her husband) Can you remember anything special that you remember during these years? It is difficult to name something specific.

Prince Henrik: For us, these are ordinary family events, this is the fact that our children got married and gave birth to grandchildren. For us, this is the most important thing, because we know that everything goes on, the race continues.

Guzman: Your Majesty, how do you see the importance of the monarchy in modern Denmark?

Queen Margrethe II: I think that one of the main goals of the monarchy is that it is able to unite people, unite the country. We represent modern traditions, but at the same time we are a living embodiment of history. And, as I personally think, the fact that we all grow up, that we were all once children, is very important. It happened to everyone, including my parents, my father, me personally, and also my aunts. And, growing up, we understand that we are responsible to the world and to our country. And anyone who lives in the country, of course, has a huge responsibility to his country. And my husband and I are in a special position - we represent our country. And in a sense, we represent the history of our country. We have a huge responsibility. And I think this is a very significant responsibility. It is difficult, and our life is full of it, and this means our sincere desire to meet expectations.

Guzman: I have a question for you, Your Royal Highness. How do you see the importance of the monarchy in modern Denmark?

Prince Henrik: It seems to me, if I must summarize, that this is continuity. The monarchy has its roots in a thousand years, no, more than two thousand years, history. But this is history, and it must continue, because the monarchy has its basis in history, and this basis is the family, why not, if the family is talented, and it is important that one generation is replaced by another and so on in the future. She is a symbol of continuity, a symbol of history and, I would say, a symbol of stability, because we are politically independent, we are not elected, and that is good. So we symbolize continuity. In addition, we represent the family, we are a symbol of the family, a symbol of the pinnacle of power. In fact, we do not have power, but we are representatives of power, a symbol of power. Thus, we follow the dictates of the times and we live on the cutting edge of the moment. As heirs of the monarchy, we cannot live in the 21st century as monarchs lived in the 18th or 19th century. We live as representatives of the monarchy in our time. And we have our duties precisely because we are a symbol of power and a symbol of our country.

Queen Margrethe II: It's right. I think it can be said that Crown Prince Frederik (the crown prince, the son of the queen. - Approx. Aut.) had the same opportunities that I had in childhood. He grew up here in the country, in the royal family and with the same task. His royal roots are not only in the country, but also in the activities that he will eventually lead. He will be with us on our upcoming trip to Russia, which makes me very happy. We love traveling with him.

Guzman: Your Majesty, once you uttered the following slogan: "With love for God, love for the people." How did this slogan come about? What meaning do you put into it today?

Queen Margrethe II: I made my motto in the same way as my father and my grandparents did - I chose it myself. I thought about this for a long time when my father was still alive, before his death. For a long time I could not make any decision, but I really wanted something from what was in my father's motto - "With God for Denmark." I really wanted to keep the word "God" in my motto, because such an activity is not up to me alone. In Denmark, there was a king who gave the country (Constitution) the Basic Law in 1849 - it was Frederick VII. His motto was "The love of the people is my strength". In my opinion, it was a wonderful motto, and I believed that the Strength of Denmark was more important than my strength, it should have been understood, and I understand it this way: with God's help and with people's love, Denmark can be strong, but this is also what I should help Denmark to become strong with the help of people's love. The motto turned out to be longish, but I tried to express in it things that were essential for me, and it seems to me that I understand it the same way even now, despite the fact that almost 40 years have passed.

Guzman: Your Majesty! Our conversation will be watched by millions of viewers. We are meeting with you on the eve of your state visit to our country. The Russians are waiting for you with an open heart. May I ask Your Majesty and You, Your Royal Highness, to speak directly to the Russian TV viewers, millions of Russians, and say a few words to them?

Queen Margrethe II: We are looking forward to our visit to Russia. It will be interesting to see your country again, as well as Moscow and St. Petersburg. We wish all the best to the Russian people and your entire country.

Guzman: I don't know, Your Majesty, how much protocol allows a common citizen to compliment the Queen, but we are meeting with you for the third time, and I would like to say that you look great.

Queen Margrethe II: Thank you very much, I'm touched.

Guzman: And before thanking you for the conversation, let me present our modest souvenirs - you a traditional Palekh casket made by our masters.

Queen Margrethe II: Very nice, thank you very much, it's very kind of you. Thanks a lot.

Guzman: And this book - "Palaces of St. Petersburg" for you, Your Highness. I know that you are a big fan of our northern capital. Let me give it to you.

Prince Henrik: We will be glad to see Russia again and contribute to the deepening of friendship between the Russian people and the Danish people, as well as to the expansion of our knowledge of the ancient history of Russia and its recent history.

Queen Margrethe II: Thank you for this conversation too.

The Danish royal family has been getting a lot of media attention lately, especially as Prince Henrik (83) decided not to be buried next to his wife, Queen Margrethe (77).

But this is not the first time members of the neighboring country's royal family have been the subject of media sensationalism.

Already in the same year that the prince married Queen Margrethe, in 1967, he was unlucky with the media. The fact is that in a long interview with Berlingske Tidende he declared that women should not work full-time and that the head of the family was the husband.

Of course, he was criticized for such a statement, but in the same interview he also told what he thinks about raising children, in particular, comparing children and animals.

“Children are like dogs or horses. If you want to have a good relationship with them, they must be trained. I myself received slaps in the face, there is no great harm in this, ”he told the newspaper.

The 83-year-old prince retired last year and that has affected his appearances with the Queen. The last time the Danish prince surprised was in March, when the Danish royal couple were expecting a state visit from Belgian King Philip (57) and Queen Mathilde (44).

“He is looking forward to a state visit and will certainly be,” Queen Margrethe assured on Belgian television on the eve of the visit.

But he wasn't.

According to the Danish Berlingske Tidende, he left his wife alone for a three-day state visit to travel to Barcelona.

Prince Henrik has made it clear on numerous occasions that he feels insulted that he does not bear the title of king. Previously, the 83-year-old Prince Consort also expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that he "lives in the shadow of his wife."

bitten by dogs

The prince is known as a person with humor, positive. The energetic prince is very fond of animals, especially dogs, according to a Danish newspaper. BT.

But for the royal family and court, the prince's love seemed to mean more than just something nice.

The fact is that the royal gardener was bitten three times to the blood by the now deceased dog Henrik Evita. Bitten gardener forced to take tetanus shots (So ​​in the original - ed.) and be on sick leave.

In 2013, a gardener at Fredensborg Castle was also bitten. This time the dog Querida was at fault.

worthy person

Anders Johan Stavseng, expert on the royal family of Se og Hør magazine, says that the prince has always adorned the Danish royal family.

“Most people think that he is a little offended that he did not receive the title of king, although his wife is a queen, and he has some reasons for this,” Stavseng explains, and cites our own Queen Sonya as an example.

“She was automatically promoted to queen when Harald became king. Queen Margrethe could easily give her husband the title of king if she wanted to.”

“Despite everything, Margrethe rules,” he continues.

Stavseng thinks Prince Henrik is likely to be described as a worthy man who fought back in the name of equality.

Danish newspaper Extra Bladet took the same position a few years ago and, according to Stavseng, consistently refers to Henrik as King Henrik every time he is mentioned.

Another expert on the royal family believes that it is normal when the prince stands out a little, and in general: honor to him and praise for the fact that he dares to start a fight with his wife and the sedate Danish royal house.

“We should not forget that the sons of Queen Margrethe were not even allowed to marry Danes - both had to look for wives outside of Denmark,” he explains.

Claimed to be unfaithful

Several members of the Danish royal family, led by Prince Henrik, are eagerly discussed in the press.

In particular, last year, during the feud between 49-year-old Crown Prince Frederik, married to 45-year-old Australian Mary, and the Danish illustrated weekly Her&Nu, who reported that Frederik had cheated on his wife with an elite Danish prostitute.

The scandalous allegations, according to the newspaper Ekstra Bladet, belonged to a well-known "celebrity" sexologist named Jakob Olrik, who published a book in which an anonymous prostitute talks about sleeping with many famous men.

The woman, who is also a former lover of the writer, claims that she regularly received 50 thousand crowns from the heir to the Danish throne for sex.

Context

Integration is not meatballs for you

Berlingske 26.10.2016

A migrant does not automatically become a Dane

Berlingske 26.10.2016

Monarchy is a guarantee of stability

02/22/2017

For Sweden - at all times

Aftonbladet 04/17/2016 The Danish royal family reacted sharply to the accusations against the crown prince.

“The royal family always carefully considers how to respond to what is written about them in the media. This also applies to specific cases where offensive and untrue statements based on rumors and speculation are being circulated,” Lene Balleby, chief public relations officer, wrote to Metroexpress.

Was sent home by his wife

While on holiday in Skagen in 2008, the crown prince also caused a media frenzy. Then, allegedly, the prince got so drunk that his wife Mary, in the end, sent him home, according to the Danish magazine Se og Hør.

They say that Mary and Henrik arrived in Skagen at about half past two, but after an hour and a half, Frederik, allegedly, was completely drunk and started dancing.

Mary could not bear such behavior of the Crown Prince, and after another hour and a half she realized that she had had enough.

She asked him to pack his things and go home.

being late

It's no secret that etiquette in royal circles is of great importance. Therefore, many were surprised when Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary arrived late for the New Year's Eve banquet in 2012, and after the banqueting couple, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik.

Both reporters and viewers reacted to the late appearance of the crown prince and his wife, according to a Danish magazine. Se og Hor.

After that, many began to speculate: why was the couple late - until the chief of public relations, Lene Balleby, discovered the reason.

"God, the explanation is that it can happen even in the best families, even there they are late."

Doubtful Bridesmaid

In 2006, it became known that the Australian Mary Donaldson, the current wife of the crown prince, and then the girl with whom he was engaged, chose one rather dubious person as a bridesmaid at the royal wedding.

The fact is that her best friend Amber Petty (Amber Petty) had an affair with a very rich businessman Mark Alexander-Erber, who was previously associated with the Bandidos. In addition, when he began an affair with Petty, he was married and had small children.

The situation for the future Danish crown princess did not get better, as it became known that her friend would have to serve time in prison.

And yet, Stavseng explained Dagbladet that the crown prince is a very nice person.

“Although he gets into the media spotlight because of his behavior, it just proves that he is a completely ‘normal person’,” he said.

“Everyone has one or two speeding tickets on their conscience, everyone at least once, and even got drunk at a party. Anything else would be abnormal,” he adds.

Cheated with a photographer

During his 48-year life, the younger brother of the crown prince, Prince Joachim, also got from the media.

In 2005, he startled many when he and his then-wife, Princess Alexandra (children Prince Nicholas, 17, and Prince Felix, 15), announced they were divorcing after nine years of marriage.

The couple met at a party in Hong Kong at the end of 1994, and already in May of the following year, the prince fell to his knee and offered Alexandra a hand and heart during a romantic getaway in the Philippines.

And six months later, the wedding took place.

Alexandra quickly became the darling of the Danish people, she was known for her charity work and her ability to dress fashionably. But when the couple broke up, Alexandra, who had to part with the title of princess, quickly found happiness with photographer Martin Jørgensen, who is 14 years younger than her.

They allegedly fell in love during a trip to Thailand - Alexandra was married to Prince Joachim at the time.

Got drunk in the club

In 2004, Prince Joachim, who was in the dark, invited Martin to Schackenborg to take pictures for the program "My Home is My Castle", which was supposed to be shown in connection with Alexandra's 40th birthday.

In 2005, when Alexandra again took Jorgensen with her to China as a photographer, the Prince of Denmark gradually began to realize that he was losing her.

Journal Royal Family Expert Se og Hor explained Dagbladet that Joachim and Alexandra remained friends, but that before the divorce became a fact, photographs of the prince, who was clearly out of his mind, went around all of Europe.

A few years after the break with Alexandra, Prince Joachim had fun, stuck with young girls, rushed around in a car with children sitting in the back seat, until in 2008 he decided to settle down with Marie Cavallier.

“Now he has finally calmed down and found happiness again with his French princess Marie,” says Anders Johan Stavseng.

The prince was reported to the police

In 2004, Prince Joachim was reported to the police because of his auto recklessness. The pictures showed that the prince was driving along the Lyngbyveien at a speed of 140 km / h at a speed of 90. The photographer who reported the prince to the police believes that, quite possibly, the speed could reach up to 170 km / h.

Prince Joachim repeatedly "played king" on the road. In 1988, he was in a terrible car accident but survived. In 1992, the prince and his girlfriend were stopped by the police as they were returning from a party. She did not have a license and was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. In 1997, he was driving along the highway at a speed of 160 km/h.

Just two months before the wedding, Joachim again became the hero of a scandal when he was spotted drunk in one of the Copenhagen clubs for homosexuals.

But the wedding took place anyway, and so far the marriage of the Danish prince and his wife is very successful. They have a son - Prince Henrik (8 years old) and a daughter - Princess Athena (5 years old).

shocking smoking

And the journalists did not ignore the Queen herself. When the Danish royal family vacationed at the idyllic Gråsten slott in Denmark in 2015, Margtete wowed many by smoking two cigarettes during a press conference.

The fact that the Queen was smoking in the vicinity of her grandchildren made the international press wide-eyed.

“Put out your cigarette butt, grandma! The stubbornly smoking Queen Margrethe of Denmark takes a puff in front of the young children of Crown Princess Mary so actively that even her eyebrows rise, ”the British newspaper wrote at the time. Daily Mail.

The queen has been observed repeatedly with a cigarette in her hands. In 2001, things went so far that Belgian professor Hugo Keteloot blamed the queen for indirectly contributing to the death rate among young smokers in Denmark, wrote one internet source.

Prince Henrik was so hurt by these statements that in a meeting with the press later that day, when the Belgian professor made his allegations, he took his wife under his protection:

“I believe, and I can speak on this topic, since I myself quit smoking, that you should not fall under the influence of political correctness. This is the dumbest thing I've heard because political correctness leads to neopuritanism, and that's not what anyone wants."

“Let people die from smoking if they want to. This is their own business. I say this because I quit smoking. By the way, Queen Ingrid, who died at 90, smoked more than her daughter, so this does not prove anything, ”he added.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.

[literary version]

MARGRETTE II:

“We, monarchs, always stay with our country…”

Margrethe Alexandrina Thorildur Ingrid - from the dynasty of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.
Eldest daughter of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid.
She was born on April 16, 1940 at Amalienborg Palace.
Since January 14, 1972 - Queen of Denmark.

STROKE TO THE PORTRAIT

Margrethe Alexandrina Thorildur Ingrid, the eldest daughter of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid, belongs to the dynasty of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The second woman on the Danish throne.

Of all the monarchies in existence today in the world, the Danish one is the oldest. She is 1100 years old! The first king was named Gorm the Old, he died in 940. In more than a thousand years, 54 kings have succeeded the Danish throne. And only two women ruled among them - Margrethe I, who at the end of the 14th century held the title of ruler of three kingdoms - Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but she was never a queen. And Margrethe II, who became the first woman in the history of the Danish monarchical dynasty, who inherited the power of her father.

On April 16, 1940, at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, exactly one week after Denmark was occupied by the Nazis, King Christian had a granddaughter, Margrethe, the first-born in the family of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid. The birth of the future Danish queen was for many Danes a symbolic ray of light in the darkness of occupation, the only hope for a better future.

However, up to 13 years, i.e. until 1953, the young princess had no idea that she could ascend the throne: the Danish Constitution forbade females from occupying the throne, and for more than 600 years men used this privilege. But after two more daughters were born in the royal family, it was decided to amend the Constitution. After a popular referendum held in 1953, as a result of which women received the right to inherit the throne, Margrethe became crown princess.

Already on April 16, 1958, Margrethe took a seat in the State Council next to her father.

Based on the parental attitude “Denmark deserves a highly educated, intelligent monarch,” the future queen received a very good all-round education.

In 1959, after graduating from one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Copenhagen, the Enzalis Margrethe School, she passed the entrance exams to the University of Copenhagen, where she studied until 1960.

She studied at the School of Air Squadron Leaders of the Danish Women's Corps. Then she studied philosophy, economics, political sciences, administrative law, history and archeology at the Universities of Cambridge (1960-1961), the Danish University of Aarhus (1961-1962), the Sorbonne (1963) and at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Sciences (1965).

Margrethe chose to study archeology and history not in the silence of libraries, but at excavations. First - on the territory of Denmark, later under the hot rays of the sun in Egypt and Sudan, where she worked with her maternal grandfather - the Swedish king Gustav VI Adolf. It is to him that she owes her love for archeology. But not only. Gustav Adolf was the first to notice and encourage his granddaughter's love of drawing. And she painted, in her own words, "for as long as she can remember herself."

Thus, from 1958 to 1964, Margrethe traveled 5 continents, covering a total of 140 thousand kilometers.

The Danes saw their princess as a queen when, on January 14, 1972, a tearful young woman under a black veil stepped onto the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, and Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag proclaimed to the hushed square: “King Frederik IX is dead! Long live Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II."

Queen Margrethe, according to the Constitution, is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Denmark, has the rank of Major in the Air Force. He explains his commitment to aviation with the desire to “keep justice” - after all, before it, the Danish kings preferred only the army and navy.

The Queen's motto: "God's help, people's love, prosperity for Denmark!"

The Queen's primary duties are to preside over meetings of the Council of State, as no law can see the light of day without the Queen's signature. She also accepts credentials from ambassadors, meets visiting heads of foreign states.

One of the Queen's main tasks, she said, is to adequately represent Denmark on foreign trips. The routes of Margrethe's annual travels stretch for tens of thousands of kilometers - from Greenland to Australia.

In 1975, the Dannebrog family royal yacht moored in Leningrad. Margrethe II was the first European queen who arrived in our country after 1917. In Moscow, she met with N.V. Podgorny, A.N. Kosygin, then visited Georgia.

The international activity of the royal couple is not only protocol. The couple created the Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik Foundation, designed to encourage interesting and unusual international projects in the field of culture, health and business.

The Queen has many honorary titles and awards, heads many Foundations and Academies. She is the President of the Society of Old Norse Literature and Arts, the founder of the Archaeological Foundation of Queen Margrethe II. Under her patronage are the Danish Royal Scientific Society, the Danish Bible Society, the Royal Orphanage, the Queen Louise Society for Refugees, the Danish National Olympic Committee, the Danish Royal Geographical Society, etc. She is a member of the London Society of Antiquities, an honorary member of the University of Cambridge, an honorary doctorate from the University of London and the University of Reykjavik, etc. He is a laureate of the Danish Literary Prize. She has been awarded the Greek Order of Salvation, the Greek Order of St. Olga and St. Sophia 1st Class, the British Order of the Garter, the Grand Star of the Austrian Order of Merit and many other awards.

Without relying on the help of advisers and referents, Margrethe herself prepares the texts of her speeches and speeches, including the traditional New Year's address to her people. Her throne speeches are not always laudatory - they often contain reproaches against those who, reveling in their well-being, forget about their suffering compatriots. She does not ignore the negative attitude towards foreign workers in the country, sometimes the target of her criticism is the government.

According to those who worked with Queen Margrethe, it is difficult to call her an "easy" leader. She is extremely observant and demanding of herself and others. Can't stand superficial people. Its special requirement is the reliability of the information provided.

The topic for countless jokes and friendly cartoons is Margrethe's long-standing addiction to fashionable hats of various styles and sizes. Instead of dressing like most royals with understated elegance, Margrethe prefers a hand-crafted "fantasy explosion" style, with hand-made flowered hats as the main element. However, the queen cannot be reproached for her lack of taste - in 1990, a special international jury recognized her as the most elegant statesman in the world. In addition, as officially announced, the most educated head of state in the world.

In the service, the queen is dressed in a businesslike manner. However, having finished with official duties, she is not averse to dancing or even going on a ski trip. As a companion, she prefers to invite the Norwegian Queen Sonya.

Margrethe, or Daisy, as her subjects affectionately call her, is an avid smoker who prefers strong Greek Karelia cigarettes, popular in the military environment. That, however, does not prevent her as chairman of the Danish Lung Association from giving lectures on the dangers of smoking. When one of the listeners once drew her attention to such inconsistency, she said: "And you do as I say, and not as I do."

Sociological polls have been repeatedly conducted in Denmark, during which the popularity of the monarchy, and in particular Queen Margrethe, has been clarified. It turned out that never before has a monarch in Denmark enjoyed such deafening popularity - 95 percent of Danes rate her work as "brilliant" or "good." Well, if suddenly the inhabitants of Denmark would refuse the monarchical form of government, then of all the living politicians, the queen would still be the most real contender for the highest state post in the country.

In any case, Margrethe would not be in danger of unemployment ...

In 1981, the publishing house "Guldendal" published a translation of a complex psychological novel on the historical theme of the Frenchwoman Simone de Beauvoir "All men are mortal." Critics highly appreciated the skill of the "translator H.M. Weyerberg", not suspecting that this was a pseudonym for the royal couple.

The Danish monarch is a wonderful illustrator, painter, designer, who has a large number of exhibitions in the country and abroad. Stamps are issued based on her sketches, and reproductions of the Queen's paintings are sold throughout Denmark.

And finally, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is a happy mother and wife. She met her future husband, Henri-Marie-Jean-Andre, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat, in London, where he worked in the diplomatic field as secretary of the French embassy.

According to the queen, it was love at first sight, love with a capital letter. “It was as if something exploded in the sky ...” Margrethe recalled.

“When I saw her for the first time at a reception in London, I realized that this girl needed to be thawed out,” the husband shares his impressions of the first meeting with the princess in his memoirs entitled “Fate Obliges”.

After the marriage, which took place on June 10, 1967, Henri converted from Catholicism to Lutheranism and received the title of Prince Henrik of Denmark.

Life in a new quality was not easy for the Frenchman - there was a total reincarnation - a change of nationality, faith, work, name. Suffice it to say that the Danish newspapers then reacted immediately to the appearance of a new member of the royal family, placing ads on the pages like: “There is a prince consort. Job required." So, in particular, the prince himself, recalling the story of his “marriage to Denmark”, laments that the “honeymoon with the Danish people” had barely ended, when they began to poison him literally for everything, even for the remaining habit of smoking French “Galoise”, instead of to switch to the local brand "Prince".

Nevertheless, Prince Henrik is far from an ordinary person: he speaks Chinese, Vietnamese, English and Danish. He is an excellent pianist, pilot, sailor. Actively participates in charitable activities.

However, it is no secret that the prince's heart is still in his native France, where he was born on June 11, 1934 in the Gironde department near Bordeaux. Every year the family spends their summer holidays in the prince's domain, in a castle near Cahors.

The royal couple have two sons - Crown Prince Frederik (born May 26, 1968) - heir to the throne and Prince Joachim (born June 7, 1969).

Frederick, a handsome young man, would be called King Frederick X of Denmark, the sixth member of the House of Glücksburg to inherit the throne in a straight line. At the age of 18, he was trained in the elite corps of the Danish army of marines, having withstood a competition of 75 people for a place where training is tougher than that of the famous American "green berets". “If I knew what I would have to experience, I don’t know if I would go there. There was a lot of things that can make you turn gray, ”Frederic shares his memories. From the age of 18, Frederick has the right to replace the queen during her absence. The crown prince studied at the University of Aarhus, where he studied political science, then at Harvard. They say about him that he will not miss the opportunity to drive through the streets of Copenhagen in a sports car, delighting the ubiquitous paparazzi with his adventures. He is fond of extreme sports: marathons, dog sled races along the most dangerous routes, travels a lot.

Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian - the Queen's youngest son - captain of the reserve of the Royal Guard, a graduate of the Agrarian Academy. At the helm of the combine it looks as natural as on the parquet floors of the capital. Been to Russia many times. He met his wife - once a British subject Alexandra Christina Mansley, and now Princess Alexandra - in Hong Kong in 1994, when she was 31 and he was 26 years old. In 1995, the wedding took place. Chinese Alexandra immediately won the hearts of the Danes - an elegant business woman, she studies Danish for 3 hours.

“I will tell you a story that I myself heard in childhood. Every time, as I remembered it later, it seemed to me better and better: after all, the same thing happens with stories as with many people, and they get better and better over the years, and this is so good!”

(Hans Christian Andersen)

Mikhail GUSMAN:Your Majesty turned thirty this year years since you became queen. Thirty years ago, in 1972, you made your first speech to the Danes. What were you thinking at that moment?

QUEEN:... I remember it was a very cold winter day. And I was simply amazed at how many people gathered on the palace square in front of Christiansborg to congratulate me. I made a short speech, I don't remember the whole speech today, but I promised my country and my people, the Danes, to serve their interests , what my whole life will be devoted to in the future. My father knew that one day I would be his successor. And on that day I realized that what he had been preparing me with such joy had come to pass. Therefore, I was not so much overcome with grief as imbued with the solemnity of the moment, because now I had to try to justify the hopes and expectations of my father.

“In the kingdom where you and I are, there is a princess who is so smart that it’s impossible to say!”

(Hans Christian Andersen)

M.G.:You have studied a variety of sciences. All- which one is closest toyour heart?

QUEEN: I didn’t get a serious education in any one area of ​​knowledge, I don’t have, for example, a university diploma, but my eldest son, by the way, does. In my younger years, when I was studying, archeology attracted me most of all.

M.G.:Your Majesty, to this dayday the royal houses are connected by close, moreover, family ties. Here we are recently had the honor of speaking with your cousin, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who, by the way, sent his regards to you. He knew that we would have a meeting with you. How often do you meet with your close relatives - colleagues at the royal house?

QUEEN: As far as European royal families are concerned, we are all related. Someone closer (for example, the Swedish king, my cousin, his father was my mother's brother). We also have very close family ties with the Norwegian king, partly through the Swedish royal house, and directly through the Danish one. And, besides, we are all, of course, very good friends, so we often meet, not only in connection with some family events, but also on other occasions ... Such meetings take place in the same way as meetings between close relatives in any family.

“It was in Copenhagen, on East Street, not far from the New royal square. A large society gathered in one house - sometimes everything- still have to receive guests ... By the way, we were talking about the Middle Ages, and many found that in those days life was much better than it is now. Yes Yes!"

(Hans Christian Andersen)

Whether life was better in the Middle Ages or not is not for us to judge. But still, It must be admitted that many modern traditions originated precisely in Middle Ages!

M.G.: It is probably very interesting to note that the first agreement between Denmark and Russia was called the "agreement of love and brotherhood." What is it in - yours in whatthe secret of such unique relations between countries that, being neighborsso many years, never fought? After all, between Denmark and Russia there has never beenwar, thank God!

QUEEN: Relations between our countries have a very long and complicated history. There are a number of details or, one might say, historical factors, nuances, thanks to which we have always maintained peace with each other. And although it is between our closest neighbors that the most serious contradictions arise, we are very fortunate that peace reigned in our relations for five hundred years. This is primarily due to the very intensive trade between Denmark and Russia. And trade needs peace.

Official relations between Denmark and Russia were established on November 8, 1493 thanks to a treaty signed by King Hans of Denmark and Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow. Already at the beginning XVI century, the Danes opened their own trading yards in Novgorod and Ivangorod. It was beneficial for Denmark to have allies against the Swedes mighty empire in the east. And Russia had its own interest - Denmark owned the gates to the oceans.

"Far- far beyond the sea lies a country as beautiful as this. There- then we live. But the road there is long; need to fly across the sea, and there is not a single island along the way where they could spend the night.

(Hans Christian Andersen)

In 1716, to discuss a joint plan of action against the Swedes, Peter I came to the Danish King Frederick IV. This was the first official visit of the head of the Russian state in the history of Denmark. Frederick IV received the Russian Tsar and Empress Catherine- royally!

In the 19th century, the Russian monarchy became directly related to the Danish monarchical house. Youngest daughter of King Christian IX and the Queen Louise Princess Dagmar, under the name of Maria Feodorovna, became the wife of Grand Duke Alexander, the future Russian emperor Alexander III. It can be seen that it was not for nothing that Father Dagmar Christian IX was called "father-in-law Europe"! His eldest daughter Alexandra became the Queen of Great Britain, the wife of King Edward VII, and his son George became the King of Greece!

QUEEN: The father-in-law of Europe, who was my great-great-grandfather Christian IX, used to spend the spring and fall and part of the summer at Fredensborg Castle, just over half an hour from Copenhagen. There, in Fredensborg, he usually gathered his large family from all over Europe. Empress Dagmar came, although officially she was called Maria Feodorovna. I know that history, or rather, our family legends, says: Alexander liked to be there and enjoy peace in the absence of annoying attention from the guards, spend time with relatives in the park.

M.G.: It is very symbolic that we are sitting with you in the room of your palace near the portrait of Maria Feodorovna, Empress of Russia, mother of the last Tsar - Nicholas II.

QUEEN: Empress Dagmar is well remembered in Denmark. And everyone, including members of our family, is glad that she is not forgotten in Russia. Still quite young, she arrived in Russia, which she immediately felt as her new homeland. And not only because she converted to Orthodoxy. She was well aware that when marrying in a foreign country, you need to try to perceive it as your own. And she did it with all her heart.

My father remembered her. After all, after the revolution, she came to Denmark and lived here the rest of her days, that is, a good nine years.

Empress Maria Feodorovna is buried in Roskilde, one of beautiful cathedrals. Here lie the ashes of 20 kings and 17 queens. Denmark, and among them - the sarcophagus of the medieval ruler Margrethe I. The entrance to the tomb is available only to members of the royal family. We were given a high honor by the great-great-grandson of Nicholas I and second cousin of Nicholas II, prince of imperial blood Dmitry Romanovich Romanov. He personally accompanied us to tomb of Empress Maria Feodorovna.

M.G.: Now there is a lot of talk about the fact that the Romanov family, in particular Prince Dmitry Romanovich Romanov, who lives in Denmark, are in favor of transferring the remains of Maria Feodorovna from the crypt in Roskilde to the Peter and Paul FortressSaint- Petersburg. How do you feel about it?

QUEEN: The discussion of the possibility of transferring her ashes to St. Petersburg seems to us very important. And I believe that reburial will be a completely natural step if we can find the right solution to this issue.

M.G.:Both historically and geographically, among Russian cities, the closest toDenmark's neighbor is St.- Petersburg. Our northern capital will soon becelebrate its tercentenary. As Denmark plans, the Danish royal courttake part in this event?

QUEEN: The Prince and I intend to pay a state visit to Russia in 2003 in June - and, naturally, we will visit St. Petersburg primarily in connection with the planned celebrations.

“Many tales are told by storks to their chicks ... It’s enough for kids to say “crible, crable, plurre- murre", but the chicks are older demand something from a fairy tale- something more, at least in order to She mentioned their own family. One of the most beautiful tales known to storks, we all know.”

(Hans Christian Andersen)

M.G.: Your Majesty, this year marks thirty-five years of your happy family life. I understand that all Danes know the beautiful story of your affair with your spouse, then a young French diplomat. But tell this wonderful beautiful story for Russian readers.

QUEEN: The prince and I met in London, where he worked at the French Embassy, ​​and I came to England for a few months - that's how we met. And something happened that can happen when two people meet. And we... no, you know, it's not easy to talk about it. Nevertheless, after a very short time, we realized that we really liked each other, that we were in love and became really close people. I told my parents that I met a man whom I would like to marry and who also wants to marry me. My father gave us his consent, which was necessary, since the marriage of the heir to the throne is approved by the king in conjunction with the Council of State. So thirty-five years ago - it happened in the month of June - we got married.

Soon a boy was born to Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik - Crown Prince Frederick. Saved photo: future queen holds the future king in his arms. But for the mother, he, above all, son, firstborn. A year later, Prince Joachim was born to the royal couple. The sons have grown up. The eldest, Crown Prince Frederik, travels extensively, as does his queen.- mother in her youth, and presents her country abroad. His fate was determined at birth, and the youngest had to find his place in life. And Joachim became... a farmer.

QUEEN: Many years ago, our good friends who did not have their own children, here in Denmark, had a small beautiful estate with a beautiful estate and a well-established economy. And they decided within a few years to pass all this on to our youngest son, who was then still a little boy. We agreed ... Joachim is very pleased that he, like his older brother, has his own duties. After all, the eldest son in the royal family, the eldest child (in our case, the eldest son Frederick) is the heir to the throne, and this is his duty, his duty. Although we are talking about the future, because no one is given to know when a brick will fall on my head.

From my point of view, both the younger Joachim and the senior Crown Prince Frederik were equally helped by the fact that Joachim also had his own duties. And I think that both boys have benefited from this both personally and in terms of relationships with each other. The sons have become truly close people, their sense of responsibility has grown stronger, they have become even more friends.

Duty, responsibility - these are the main words for the monarch. But this one the monarch is also a wife and mother, and now a grandmother - Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra gave Margrethe the grandchildren of Nicholas and Felix! And, of course, our interlocutor sometimes wants to at least for a moment to be just a woman, a caring wife and mother, a hospitable mistress of the house, go to the market. This is exactly what the queen does when she comes on vacation to France, where between Bordeaux and Toulouse, in the famous town of Cahors, with her husband Prince Henrik there is a castle.

QUEEN: As for cooking, it's not my forte. But when we are in France, the prince, my husband, often cooks himself and does it excellently.

And Prince Henrik is a noble winemaker. It has excellent vineyards. Every year these vineyards give the royal family up to one hundred and twenty thousand bottles of fine wine.

QUEEN: The prince and I very often treat our guests to his wines at official receptions, especially in recent years, as the production of these wines is getting better and better, which we are both very proud of.

M.G.: But I know about another passion of yours, Your Majesty. Together with your husband, you translated into Danish a novel by the famous French writer Simone de Beauvoir. Are there Russians among your favorite writers?

QUEEN: Tolstoy's "War and Peace" gave me great pleasure. And Solzhenitsyn's works, many of which are familiar to me, made a great impression on me.

M.G.: Well, if the conversation turned to literature, we, of course, cannot help but recall one great Danish writer, whose name is known without translation in all countries of the world. They are read to the children of the entire planet.I'm talking about the great Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, whose bicentennial in 2005 will becelebrate all of Denmark.

QUEEN: I am looking forward to this anniversary, when there will be a great variety of activities. And I am pleased to know that this event, apparently, will be celebrated in many other countries of the world. For example, I know that his fairy tales are very popular in Russia.

“Most of all, the Little Mermaid loved to listen to stories about people living on earth. The old grandmother had to tell her everything she knew about ships and cities, about people and animals. Especially occupied and the Little Mermaid was surprised that the flowers on the earth smelled - not like here, in sea!"

(Hans Christian Andersen)

Did you know that colorful decoupages, a kind of collages, pages of the Danish edition of The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and Seven Gothic Tales by the most popular Danish writer Karen Blixen, made by the Queen of Denmark herself! The fact is that painting and design are her old hobbies. Based on Andersen's fairy tales, Her Majesty designed a playing deck of cards, which is in every Danish home.

In addition, the queen is fond of scenography and theatrical costume. For the television production of Andersen's fairy tale "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep", the scenery and costumes are made according to personal sketches Queen Margrethe II.

M.G.:In connection with your interest in theatrical costumes, I want to give you,Your Majesty, a book about the history of Russian costume and Russian theatersuit.

QUEEN: What a wonderful gift! Very interesting. Thank you very much, thank you.

M.G.: Your Majesty, at the end of our conversations, we always ask the same question: what does power taste like? And what, in your opinion, is the purpose of the monarchy in our days?

QUEEN: I don't like the wording "taste of power", this expression cuts my ear. In my opinion, the main purpose of the monarchy is to maintain continuity, especially since we are talking about a time when it is sometimes difficult for a person to find his roots, to find some kind of support, and in this case, the roots of the country, embodied in the monarchy, come to the fore, for we monarchs always remain with our country.

“The help of God, the love of the people, the strength of Denmark” - with this motto thirty years ago Margrethe II ascended the throne. And everything came true! Denmark one of the three richest countries in the world. Decided in this country housing issue, no corruption, the lowest level in Europe unemployment. Isn't this a fairy tale?

Danish schools do not give grades, and this is the philosophy: knowledge must be not ostentatious, but durable. The special pride of the Danes is respect to their history, their language. Children know their ancestry until 13 knee. You can go into any house in the center of Copenhagen and ask who lived in it, for example, in 1795. And you will be brought carefully kept books, where everything will be written. And this also has what- that is fabulous.