The Danish king had Frederick IX and his wife the Swedish princess ingrid three daughters. Margrethe, Benedict and Anna Maria.
Youngest married first Anna Maria. She was only eighteen when she became Queen of Greece. Alas, soon the monarchy in Greece was overthrown and Anna Maria for many years with her husband and children in exile. The second married a French diplomat, the eldest Margrethe, royal heiress. A few months after that, she married a German prince, the middle Benedict.

Queen Margrethe II with Prince Consort Henrik.

They say the couple is very interesting and eccentric in their own way. The Queen is a professional painter. The Prince Consort is not far behind her. They say that once he left Denmark indignantly, when, in the absence of his wife, not him, but Crown Prince Frederik was asked to replace her.

Acquaintance

In 1967, Crown Princess Margrethe married French diplomat Henri Marie Jean André in Copenhagen. The couple met in London, where the Crown Princess studied. It is said that upon learning that he was invited to a dinner, which will be attended by the Danish princess, Henri wanted to refuse. The young man imagined the princess boring, selfish and narcissistic. How glad the young man was to be wrong.

Engagement

Ring

A ring with two equivalent stones, as it were, emphasizes equality and equality in the royal family.

Young

The dress

The designer of the dress was the favorite of Queen Ingrid (Margrethe's mother) - Jørgen Bender.
By the way, Margrethe's sisters also chose the same designer. And her first daughter-in-law Alexandra followed the example of her mother-in-law.

Dress in the museum (without lace)

Let me remind you that brides from the Danish royal family get married in a vintage veil they inherited and sew dresses from family Irish lace.

Here you can see the dress itself, from which the lace was removed to sew the dress of her sister Benedicta.
Margrethe pinned on her dress a brooch in the shape of a daisy, which her mother wore to her wedding. It was a wedding gift from my father. The diamonds once belonged to Margrethe's grandmother, Crown Princess Margaret. Hence the family nickname "Daisy".

Bouquet
In her arms Margrethe carried a bouquet of daisies. They were also woven into the hair of the bridesmaids.

A six-meter train started from the shoulders and was the main highlight of the dress

Modern Danes can marry in a replica of the queen's wedding dress.

Diadem
Khedive of Egypt Tiara

This diadem was presented by the Egyptian Khedive to Queen Margrethe's grandmother, Princess Margaret. Since the princess met her future husband (Swedish King Gustav) in Egypt.

By the way, all the girls from the Danish royal family choose this diadem for their wedding. Crown Princess Mary was in another, her presence here showing the use of the family veil.
And now the full list of owners and brides

The first photo is Princess Margaret, the second is her daughter, Queen Ingrid.
Bride with father

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 50,000 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.

The Danish monarchy, one of the oldest in the world, is one of the most enduring and popular institutions in Denmark. The reigning queen, Her Majesty Margrethe II, belongs to the Glücksburg dynasty, the first representative of which came to the throne in 1863 after the end of the Oldenburg dynasty.

Composition of the Danish royal house
The Royal House of Denmark consists of: Queen Margrethe II; her husband, Prince Consort Henrik; Crown Prince Frederik; his wife, Crown Princess Mary; their children, Prince Christian and Princess Isabella; brother of the Crown Prince, Prince Joachim; his wife Princess Marie; their children, Prince Nicholas, Prince Felix and Prince Henrik; the Queen's sister, Princess Benedicte; the Queen's cousin, Princess Elizabeth.

Queen Margrethe II (b. April 16, 1940) is the eldest daughter of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid. After completing her secondary education in 1959, she continued her studies at the universities of Copenhagen, Cambridge, Aarhus, Sorbonne and London, where she studied archeology and political science. In 1967, Queen Margrethe was married to the French diplomat Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat (b. 1934). In Denmark, he became known as Prince Henrik. Margrethe and Henrik had sons, Frederik (b. 1968) and Joakim (b. 1969).

Queen Margrethe is a supporter of openness in relations between the monarch and subjects. She attaches great importance to visiting all parts of the kingdom, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, during the annual summer cruises on the royal yacht Dannebrog (named after the Danish flag). Listening to the traditional speech of Queen Margrethe on the occasion of the New Year, every Dane feels that she is addressing him personally, and this strengthens the position of the monarchy. The queen's literary and artistic pursuits are wide: she paints pictures, creates church vestments, theatrical scenery and costumes, illustrates books and translates from Swedish into Danish and (in collaboration with her husband) from French into Danish.

Along with Queen Margrethe, Prince Consort Henrik pays great attention to literary activities. He graduated with a degree in French literature and Oriental languages, published several books, including the memoirs Destin oblige (1996), the collection of poems Cantabile (2000) , illustrated with collages performed by the queen, and a collection of poems "Whisper of the Wind" ("Murmures de vent", 2005). Moreover, the prince is a recognized author of cookbooks and an experienced wine grower. The Queen and her husband own vineyards and the Château de Caix in the Prince's birthplace in the province of Cahors (southwest France), where they usually spend the end of the summer. The Prince is a representative of several cultures at once, which is reflected in his wide international activities; his skills come in very handy in campaigns to help Danish exporters.

The heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim (also called Comte de Montpezat) received solid military training. In addition, the crown prince was trained in the elite corps of combat swimmers. Later he graduated from the Faculty of Political Science at Aarhus University, studied at Harvard University (USA), in other universities, and was in the diplomatic service. On May 14, 2004, the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson took place. Mary, who after marriage took the title of Crown Princess and Countess de Monpeza, was born in the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania, Hobart, in 1972. Frederick and Mary have a son, Prince Christian (b. 2005), and a daughter, Princess Isabella ( 2007). Prince Joachim owns Schackenborg Manor in Möltønder in southern Jutland. Having gained practical agricultural knowledge while working on a farm in Australia, Prince Joachim graduated from the Falster Academy of Agriculture. In 1995, he married Alexandra Christine Manley (b. 1964 in Hong Kong), who received the title of Princess Alexandra (now Countess of Frederiksborg). The marriage produced two sons, Prince Nicholas (b. 1999) and Prince Felix (b. 2002). In 2005, the couple divorced by mutual agreement. In 2008, Prince Joachim married Marie Agathe Odile Cavalier (b. 1976 in Paris), who now bears the title of Princess Marie, Comtesse de Monpezat. The couple had a son, Prince Henrik (b. 2009). Just like their parents, the children of Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim bear the title of Comte (Countess) de Montpezat.

History of the royal house
Reliable information about the birth of the Danish monarchy refers to the reign of Gorm the Old (d. 958). The position of the monarch was originally elective. However, in practice, the choice always fell on the eldest son of the reigning monarch. In return, the king was required to sign a coronation charter establishing a balance of power between the monarch and his subjects. In 1660-1661. Denmark was declared a hereditary monarchy, in 1665 the transition to absolutism was legally fixed by the adoption of the Royal Law, which determined the order of succession to the throne (primogeniture in the male line) and the broad prerogatives of royal power. The democratic constitution, adopted on June 5, 1849, changed the status of the monarchy from absolute to constitutional. The act of succession to the throne on March 27, 1953 opened the possibility of the transfer of the throne through the female line (in 1972, Queen Margrethe inherited the throne). A referendum on June 7, 2009 legalized the provision that the throne passes to the first child of the reigning monarch, regardless of gender.

The direct line of succession to the throne of the ancient Danish dynasty was interrupted with the sudden death in 1448 of Christopher III of Bavaria, who had no children. His successor was Count Christian Oldenburg, who was crowned King of Denmark under the name Christian I (1448). He belonged to one of the side branches of the original dynasty and became the founder of the royal house of Oldenburg (Oldenburg), which ruled until 1863, when the last representative of the dynasty, Frederick VII, died without heirs. According to the Act of Succession of 1853, the crown passed to his relative, Prince Christian of Glücksburg, a direct descendant of the Danish kings in the male line. He was crowned under the name of Christian IX and founded the Glücksburg (Glücksborg) dynasty that still reigns.

Christian IX was nicknamed "the father-in-law of all Europe", and not by chance: his eldest daughter Alexandra was married to the King of England Edward VII, the middle daughter Dagmar was married to the Russian Emperor Alexander III, the youngest daughter of Tyr (Tyra) was married to Duke Ernst August Cumberland. Christian's son Wilhelm was crowned King of Greece in 1863 under the name George I, Christian's grandson Karl became King of Norway under the name Haakon VII. Thus, the Danish royal house had direct family ties with many of the ruling royal houses of Europe.

Christian IX died at the age of 87, and at the time of accession to the throne (1906) his son Frederick VIII was 63 years old. Frederick died in 1912, and both world wars fell during the reign of his successor, Christian X (1912-1947). Christian remained in popular memory as a king-rider. On horseback, he crossed the former state border in order to personally be present at the return of Denmark to Northern Schleswig in 1920. During the years of the German occupation of Denmark (1940-1945), despite his advanced age, he made daily horseback rides through the streets of Copenhagen, becoming for the Danes the personification of the unity of the nation .

Christian X was succeeded by his eldest son Frederik IX, who married in 1935 the Swedish princess Ingrid. Three daughters were born from this marriage: Margrethe (Queen Margrethe II), Benedict (b. 1944, married Prince Richard Sein-Wittgenstein-Berleburg in 1968), and Anne-Marie (b. 1946, married in 1964 Constantine II, then King of Greece). Frederick IX, unlike his father, took for granted the king's lack of real political power from the start. He and his family gave the monarchy a modern look, adapting it to democratic institutions. His good-natured manner and the joy with which he devoted himself to family concerns perfectly reflected the post-war values ​​​​of the Danes. At the same time, the grandeur and sense of distance inherent in the monarchy did not suffer at all. His eldest daughter, Queen Margrethe II, successfully continues this line, strengthening the popularity of the royal family and the monarchy. From what has been said, it is clear why the death of Frederick IX (1972) and Queen Ingrid (2000) was experienced as a national grief.

Tasks and duties of the monarch
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the monarch does not have the prerogative to take independent political action. The Queen signs all laws, but they come into force only when certified by the signature of one of the government ministers. As head of state, the Queen participates in the formation of the government. After consulting with representatives of political parties, she asks the leader of the party, which enjoys the support of the majority of the deputies of the Folketing (Parliament), to form a government. When the composition of the government is formed, the queen formally approves it.

According to the constitution, the queen is also the head of government and therefore presides over meetings of the State Council, where the laws adopted by the Folketing are signed, after which they come into force. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister regularly report to the Queen to keep her up to date with the latest political developments. The Queen receives foreign heads of state arriving on an official visit and pays state visits to other countries. She also officially appoints officials to government posts and dismisses them.

The Queen's main tasks are to represent Denmark abroad and to be the focus of what is happening inside the country. The participation of the Queen in the opening of the exhibition, the presence at the anniversary or at the commissioning of a new bridge, other events - these are some examples of the representative functions of Her Majesty. Often members of the royal family open overseas events to promote Danish exports. In addition, the queen regularly gives audiences, during which subjects get the right to talk with the monarch alone for several minutes.

Royal orders of chivalry
Queen Margrethe is the head of two royal knightly orders - the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog (Prince Henrik is the chancellor of these orders). The Order of the Elephant, whose history is believed to date back to the 15th century, is the most honored. Among the first knights of the order, there are mainly foreign rulers and representatives of the highest nobility. Today, the order is awarded exclusively to foreign heads of state and members of the royal family. The Order of the Dannebrog, named after the Danish flag, was established by King Christian V in 1671; in 1808, following the example of the French Order of the Legion of Honor, several degrees of distinction were introduced. Currently, the Order of the Dannebrog is awarded mainly to prominent citizens of Denmark.

The decision to award awards remains the prerogative of the head of the order, while the heraldic chamber, which is part of the royal court, is in charge of the day-to-day work. The circle of holders of the Order of the Dannebrog of the lower degrees and other orders awarded for services to Denmark is quite wide, so it will not be an exaggeration to say that these awards serve as another link between the royal house and subjects.

The royal regalia include: the crown, scepter, orb, sword and sacred vessel with the world, as well as the chains of the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog, which the monarch puts on on special occasions. The oldest regalia is the sword of King Christian III (1551). Since 1680, the royal regalia have been kept in Rosenborg Castle (Copenhagen).
During the period of the election of royal power, regalia were used during the coronation ceremony: priests and representatives of the nobility hoisted a crown on the head of the king as a sign that they conferred royal powers on behalf of the whole people. After the transition to absolute monarchy (1660-1661), the coronation was replaced by the ceremony of chrismation: from now on, the monarch is not elected by the people, he is God's anointed.

For the anointing ceremony of Christian V in 1671, instead of the old crown in the form of an open ring, which was used to crown elected kings, a new crown in the form of a closed hoop was made. To emphasize his absolute power, the monarch himself put on the crown, after which he was anointed in the church with holy oil from a sacred vessel. With the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1849, the anointing ceremony was abolished. Now the accession to the throne of a new monarch is proclaimed by the Prime Minister from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Copenhagen) - the residence of the Prime Minister, Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Royal residences
Starting from the 15th century, Copenhagen Castle gradually turned into the main royal residence. OK. In 1730 Christiansborg Palace was erected in its place. After a fire in 1794, the king moved to Amalienborg Palace, which is still the main royal residence. In the rebuilt Christiansborg there is a royal wing, where the reception halls are located. It hosts festive dinners, New Year's balls, public audiences of Her Majesty.

Amalienborg is the name of a complex of four palaces built along the perimeter of an octagonal square, the center of which is the equestrian statue of King Frederick V (sculptor J.-F.-J. Saly). The complex was the center of Frederiksstaden - a residential quarter for representatives of the highest aristocracy, founded in 1749 on the occasion of the tercentenary of the Oldenburg dynasty. All four palaces in turn served as the royal residence. Now the palace of Christian VII (originally the palace of Chief Marshal Moltke, bought by King Christian VII after the fire in Christiansborg) is used mainly for ceremonial purposes. The Palace of Christian IX (originally built for Hans Schack, the adopted son of Oberhof Marshal Moltke) serves as the residence of Queen Margrethe and the Prince Consort. The Palace of Frederick VIII (built for Baron Brockdorf) after the completion of repairs became the residence of Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary. Previously, Frederick IX and his wife, Queen Ingrid, lived in this palace. The palaces of the Amalienborg complex and the Yellow Palace, located nearby, also house the administrative and economic services of the royal court.

The favorite summer residence of the Queen and the Prince Consort is Fredensborg Castle (North Zealand). This country palace in the Italian Baroque style was built by King Frederick IV in 1720-1722. on the occasion of the end of the Northern War (its name means "peace palace"). It was here that Christian IX gathered his huge family every summer: representatives of the royal houses of Europe gathered here for the “Fredensborg days”. Today, receptions are held in the palace in honor of state visits and family celebrations are celebrated. The Queen and the Prince Consort also have Marselisborg (Aarhus) Palace at their disposal, which was used during the stay of the royal couple in Jutland. Interestingly, this palace, whose architecture plays on baroque motifs, was a gift from the people of Denmark on the occasion of the marriage of Prince Christian (future King Christian X) and Princess Alexandrine (1898).

The small Rosenborg Palace in the center of Copenhagen and the Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød, built by Christian IV in the early 17th century, were also periodically used as royal residences. Now they have been turned into museums. Rosenborg holds the treasures of the Danish crown; Frederiksborg, rebuilt after a fire in 1859, became a museum of national history. Finally, among the royal residences is Grosten Palace (South Jutland), the right to use which was presented by the Danish state to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid in 1935 on the occasion of their marriage.

royal court
Compared to other royal houses, the Danish royal court is relatively modest: the ceremonial is limited to only the most necessary and devoid of ostentatious pomp. Traditional splendor can be seen only on especially solemn occasions: state visits, royal weddings, important anniversaries. The total staff of the royal court does not exceed 140 people, whose services are paid according to the so-called. civil list - the amount allocated by the state for the maintenance of the royal family and the royal court. Significant funds are allocated for the needs of the royal family (about 90 million Danish kroner).

In a time when fundamental values ​​are becoming international and changing rapidly, the Danish royal family remains an important symbol of national unity and stability in a transforming world. Of course, it is important that the monarchy has deep traditional roots. But not only this explains its special position. The royal house shows the ability to adapt to modern realities without sacrificing such traditional values ​​as constancy, respect for tradition, a sense of duty and responsibility for the nation - values ​​that, from a historical point of view, have always been the backbone of the monarchy as a form of government.

Professor Knud Jespersen

Additional Information
Royal court administration
Hofmarskallatet
Det Gule Palæ
Amaliegade 18
DK-1256 Copenhagen K
(+45) 3340 1010

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 Crown Princess Margareta of Denmark 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 creativity. 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 the 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 fairness 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.

Margrethe II(Margrethe Alexandrine Thorhildur Ingrid, Dan. Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid) - Queen of Denmark since January 14, 1972, head of the Danish state.

Place of Birth. Education. Queen Margrethe II was born on 16 April 1940 at Amalienborg Palace. Her parents are King Frederick IX of Denmark and Queen Ingrid, born Princess of Sweden. The Queen is the third granddaughter of King Christian X. She was named after Crown Princess Margaret of Connaught of Sweden, her maternal grandmother.

One of the queen's names, Thorhildur, is Icelandic and contains the characteristic Icelandic letter "Þ", because at the time of her birth, Iceland was part of the Kingdom of Denmark, until 1944.

The Queen was baptized on May 14, 1940 in Holmens Church (Danish Holmens Kirke), confirmed on April 1, 1955 in the church of Fredensborg Palace.

From 1946-1955 - a comprehensive school "Zahles Skole", Copenhagen, including until 1949 - private education.

From 1955-1956 - "North Foreland Lodge", a boarding school in Hampshire, England.

In 1960 - the study of philosophy at the University of Copenhagen.

From 1960-1961 - the study of archeology at the University of Cambridge.

From 1962-1962 - studying social science at the University of Aarhus.

In 1963 - the study of social science at the Sorbonne.

In 1965 - studying at the London School of Economics.

In addition to her native Danish, Margrethe speaks French, Swedish, English and German.

Army. In the years 1958-1970, Margrethe was a recruit for the women's section of the Air Squadron, where during this period she studied various aspects of military affairs.

She has close relationships with some units of the British army: since 1972, Margrethe II has been the chief of the British regiment, and since 1992, the Royal Welsh Regiment.

He is the Supreme Commander of the Danish Armed Forces.

Accession to the throne. Since the right to the throne passed through the male line, and Frederick IX had only daughters, it became necessary to change the law of succession to the throne (introduced on March 27, 1953), which allowed Margrethe, Princess of Denmark, to assume the title of crown princess and subsequently accede to the throne.

On April 16, 1958, Crown Princess Margrethe became a member of the Council of State and was entrusted with the duty of holding Council meetings in the absence of Frederick IX.

Hobbies. The Queen is seriously interested in painting, works in various genres (drawing, engraving, textiles, watercolor, graphics, decoupage, set design, embroidery, book illustration (including a series of illustrations for The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien). her work has been exhibited both in Denmark and abroad, and is also represented in the State Museum of Art, the ARoS Art Museum (Aarhus) and the State Drawings Collection (Køge).The Tolkien Ensemble uses Margrethe's drawings as the covers of their albums, with her permission.

Exhibitions: The art work of the Queen has been shown at exhibitions in Denmark and abroad on numerous occasions. Sketches, models and costumes for the ballet "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" were exhibited in Copenhagen, Odense and Paris during the period 1988-1990. Works for the ballet "Folk Song" - Aarhus 1991, Washington 1992, National Museum, Copenhagen 2005, Riga 2005. A series of sketches and costumes for various productions was exhibited in Edinburgh in 2005.

Family. On June 10, 1967, the then Crown Princess Margrethe married French diplomat Count Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat (born June 11, 1934, near Bordeaux), who, on the occasion of his marriage, received the title "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark". The wedding took place at Holmens Church in Copenhagen, and the wedding celebrations took place at Fredensborg Palace.

Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik have two sons: Crown Prince Frederik Andre Henrik Christian (born May 26, 1968) and Prince Joakim Holger Waldemar Christian (born June 7, 1969).