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 Margarete.

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 the 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.

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 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 any 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 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. Festive dinners, New Year's balls, public audiences of Her Majesty are held here.

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 permanence, 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

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 the 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 definite.

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 - "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 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 Russian television 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.