Showing posts with label Queen Margrethe II. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Queen Margrethe II. Show all posts

Saturday, January 13, 2024

‘She’s the Best’: Copenhagen Prepares for Queen Margrethe’s Abdication Day

THE GUARDIAN: Hotels and restaurants fully booked as thousands expected in Danish capital to farewell monarch of 52 years

Queen Margrethe travelling to Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen for the New Year's reception on 4 January. Photograph: Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters

On the streets of Copenhagen, the sound of drums boomed from the square and a blur of red and white flags came into view. People on cherrypickers tidied up buildings and staff at a department store replaced sales flags with the national one.

The arrival of a single police car, parked in the middle of the road, stopped traffic. Minutes later, the square filled with the sound of horses’ hooves on cobbles as riders arrived carrying brass instruments and silver swords followed by an empty carriage pulled by six horses. It was the rehearsal on Friday for the once-in-a-generation event set to unfold in little more than 48 hours: the formal abdication of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II.

Though preparations were under way in the capital, the coronation of the queen’s son, Crown Prince Frederik, will be understated – particularly in comparison to that of King Charles. In Denmark, there will be no jewel-encrusted crowns, golden coaches or fur robes. As has been the case since the introduction of the constitution in 1849, there will not even be a ceremony.

Instead, after a procession by Frederik and his wife, Mary, followed by the queen, to Christiansborg Palace, the proclamation will be delivered by the prime minister. At 3pm, Mette Frederiksen will appear on the balcony of the palace, the home of the Danish parliament, to announce the new monarch. » | Miranda Bryant in Copenhagen | Saturday, January 13, 2024

Friday, January 05, 2024

Queen Margrethe Takes Final Carriage Ride as Danish Monarch after Unexpected Abdication

Jan 4, 2024 | As Denmark’s reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe II took her final ride through Copenhagen in a gold-coated horse-drawn carriage on Thursday, 10 days before she is set to pass the throne on to her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik.

Crowned in 1972, serving for more than five decades, the beloved Queen Margrethe announced her intent to abdicate in her annual New Year’s Eve speech on a live television broadcast — shocking much of the nation.

“She has been a stable figure,” Danish church employee Bente Lindbak Pihl said on Thursday after attending the Queen’s final carriage ride in the country’s capital. “She has been a kind of big mother for all of us. She has been clever and inspiring.”

Queen Margrethe was not initially intended to become Denmark’s monarch, however, she became heir to her father, King Frederik IX, in 1953 at the age of 13, after a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne.



La reine Margrethe du Danemark a-t-elle abdiqué pour sauver le mariage de son fils, le prince Frederik? : Des spécialistes de la royauté ont suggéré dans les colonnes du Daily Mail, le lundi 1er janvier, que l'ancienne souveraine s’était mise en retrait pour redonner une chance à l'union entre le futur roi Frederik et la future reine consort Mary. Ce dernier est en effet visé par des rumeurs d'adultère. »

Tuesday, October 04, 2022

Danish Royal Family: Queen 'Sorry' after Stripping Grandchildren's Titles

Queen Margrethe II said she wanted to keep the monarch in "keeping with the times" | GETTY IMAGES

BBC: The Queen of Denmark has apologised after stripping four of her grandchildren of their royal titles - but has not reversed the decision.

Queen Margrethe II said she wanted the monarchy in "keeping with the times", that her decision had been a long time coming, and that it would "future-proof" the institution.

But she "underestimated" her family's reaction "and for that I am sorry".

The initial decision was announced last week, to begin next year.

"The titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued," the initial statement said. "Prince Joachim's descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future."

Prince Joachim - the younger son of Queen Margrethe - said he was upset by the change.

"It's never fun to see your children being mistreated like that," he told Ekstra Bladet. "They find themselves in a situation they do not understand." » | Merlyn Thomas, BBC News | Monday, October 3, 2022

Verwandter Artikel.

Danish Queen Apologizes After Stripping Royal Titles From 4 Grandchildren: Prince Joachim, the youngest of Queen Margrethe II’s two sons, has four children who will be affected by the change, which the queen said was “a necessary future-proofing of the monarchy.” »

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II Marks Five Decades on the Throne with Muted Celebrations

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II scales back her jubilee festivities in light of her UK counterpart’s -- and first cousin's -- death.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Says Queen Elizabeth II Made an 'Enormous Impression' on Her | ITV News | May 2022

ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson sat down with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark ahead of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. The two royals are the only two reigning queens in the world. Coincidentally, 2022 was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th Jubilee and it is the 50th Jubilee year for Her Majesty Queen Margrette II.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Queen Margrethe of Denmark: A Portrait (1974)


Portrait of the Danish royal family from 1974, featuring glimpses from the Queen's private and official daily life. The program was made in collaboration with the BBC and follows the Queen visiting the Faroe Islands, at the Swedish king's funeral and at the Queen's first New Year's Eve in 1974.

Sunday, October 02, 2016

Interview with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark: 'I Would Not Say We Are a Multicultural Country'


SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: What is the job of today's European monarchs? Voicing political opinions on issues certainly isn't one of them, but Denmark's Queen Margrethe II wants to make an exception.

The path to our interview with the Danish queen takes us across a cobblestone courtyard and past a black Bentley with an open trunk, parked in the palace garage. Then we climb a winding oak staircase to the second floor of Amalienborg Palace, where the walls are adorned with French tapestries and oil portraits of the queen's ancestors. When Margrethe II, 76, greets us in her private library, there is a silver ashtray on the glass table in front of her. The queen, who is a professed chain smoker, has ruled her country for 44 years, and she is known as a down-to-earth and unpretentious person. On this day, she is wearing a simple white cotton dress with gold buttons, and earrings shaped like daisies. Margrethe II rarely gives interviews, and the queen makes a point of not discussing politics. » | Interview Conducted By Manfred Ertel and Britta Sandberg | Friday, September 30, 2016

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Danish Queen: “It Is Vital That We Give Islam Opposition”

In a book written by journalist Annelise Bistruphave, published in April 2005, the Danish Queen Margrethe II said:

JIHAD WATCH: ”We are challenged in these years by Islam, both globally and locally, and it is a challenge we have to take seriously. … There is something impressive about people for whom religion permeates life from morning to night, from cradle to grave. There are also Christians who feel that way. …

But it [Islam] is a challenge we have to take seriously. We simply let it flutter in too long because we are tolerant, and it’s not so nice. … We should oppose it, and one must sometimes take the risk of being called less flattering things, since there are certain things one should not tolerate. … It is vital that we give Islam opposition. The lax response that has prevailed for many years in Denmark is not enough.”


In a recent interview given in connection with the Queen’s 75th birthday, our beloved Margrethe says (translated by Nicolai Sennels, via 10news.dk):

Seen with the Queen’s eyes, an important part of the reaction to the terror must be that we stand firmly by the key freedoms that Denmark is founded upon – including freedom of expression – which makes it possible to speak, write and express one’s opinion freely.

“I know there are some who say that we must be careful, and of course we need to think before speaking, but we must certainly also say things the way we think they are. We should not hold back. If you do not speak out about problems they become worse,” said the Queen.

Fear should never be allowed to dominate, although the terrorists are prepared to use violence. » | Nicolai Sennels | Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

HELLO!: Queen Margrethe II has the reputation of being Europe's most intellectual monarch [;] a reflection, perhaps, of the fact that the Danish queen attended no fewer than five universities, including Cambridge. She is also the first reigning queen (her namesake Queen Margrethe I acted as regent for her five-year-old son Olaf when he was elected king in the 14th century) in a country which has been headed by the same family for 49 generations.

The arrival of Margrethe Alexandrine Thorhildur Ingrid Oldenburg on April 16, 1940, at Copenhagen's Amalienborg Palace, a week after the country had been invaded by German forces, was interpreted as a ray of hope by the Danish people. At birth she was not the heir to the throne, however. That position was held by her father's younger brother, as by Danish law only males could succeed, but in 1953 the constitution was amended, allowing females to ascend in the absence of male heirs.

Queen Margrethe of DenmarkPhotobucket
Photographs: Hello!

When the future of the 13-year-old princess the eldest of King Frederik IX's three daughters became clear, her royal training began in earnest. Initially educated at the palace, she received her school qualifications in 1959 before going on to study Political Science at numerous European universities. She spent 12 months at Copenhagen University, followed by a year's study of Archaeology at Cambridge. From there she enrolled at the prestigious Danish university Aarhus and attended the Sorbonne, rounding off her education at the London School of Economics in 1965. >>>

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, accompanied by her husband, Prince Henrik, marks her seventieth birthday at a gala dinner. Photo: Hello!

HELLO!: Queen Margrethe's 70th birthday celebrations kick off with glam gala dinner: The much-anticipated celebrations for Queen Margrethe's 70th birthday got underway in Copenhagen on Tuesday night with a glamorous gala banquet. >>> | Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tüchtige Königin: Dänemarks Margrethe II. wird 70

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Ein Prosit zum Geburtstag: Königin Margrethe II. von Dänemark feiert ihren 70. Geburtstag. Bild: NZZ Online

NZZ ONLINE: In Dänemark feiert Königin Margrethe II. heute ihren 70. Geburtstag. Margrethe bestieg den Thron im Jahr 1972 als junge Frau. Sie gilt als tüchtige Königin, die sich ausserdem mit Leib und Seele der Kunst verschrieben hat.

Die Chefin von Dänemarks nationalistischer Volkspartei, Pia Kjærsgaard, erinnerte sich in einem Streitgespräch, das sie mit dem marxistischen Dichter Henrik Nordbrandt führte, an eine Prinzenhochzeit. «Polizisten standen neben ihrem Dienstwagen, in dessen Fenstern dänische Fähnchen flatterten». Das habe ihr Herz erwärmt. Sie sei stolz auf eine Monarchie ohne Skandale als identitätsstiftendes Element. Auch der Republikaner Nordbrandt machte der Königin ein Kompliment: Vielleicht wäre die Monarchie schon abgeschafft, wenn Margrethe nicht «so tüchtig» wäre. Heute Freitag feiert die Königin ihren 70. Geburtstag mit einer Kutschenfahrt durch Kopenhagen. Eine Gegendemonstration von Republikanern auf dem Schlossplatz wurde verboten. >>> A. Kl. | Freitag, 18. April 2010

Related / Verbunden:

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Dänemark: Königin Margrethe wird 70 >>> Von Robert von Lucius | Freitag, 16. April 2010

VIDEOS – DOKUMENTAR: Die Königskinder: Frederik & Mary >>>

Princess Mary of Denmark >>>

Friday, April 16, 2010

Dänemark: Königin Margrethe wird 70

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Schon zehn Tage dauern die Festlichkeiten. Bild: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die dänische Königin, so heißt es, sei die am besten ausgebildete Königin der Welt. Und: Sie sei der Idealtyp eines Monarchen. Und: Sie sei die kunstsinnigste Königin. Zwei Superlative jedenfalls stehen fest: Margrethe II. von Dänemark ist die erste Frau seit sechs Jahrhunderten an der Spitze der ältesten Monarchie Europas. Und Umfragen bescheinigen ihr, das populärste Staatsoberhaupt der Welt zu sein. Über mehr als 30 Jahre hinweg erhielt sie Zustimmungsraten von mehr als 90 Prozent. Erst neuerdings mischen sich kritische Töne in die Begeisterung. Angeblich hoffen sogar schon die meisten Dänen, dass sie zugunsten ihres Sohnes auf den Thron verzichtet. Sie selbst gibt sich da nüchtern: Sie erfülle einen Beruf, eine Stellung für das ganze Leben.

So wird die dänische Nation an diesem Freitag zusammen mit ihr, dem Prinzgemahl Henrik und ihren beiden Söhnen Frederik und Joachim ihren siebzigsten Geburtstag feiern. Schon seit zehn Tagen läuft sich das Land dafür warm, mit Ausstellungseröffnungen, Galaabenden und Fernsehgesprächen. Die zierliche und dennoch robuste Königin wird sich nach einer Aufführung im Königlichen Theater am Vorabend mit ihrer Familie auf dem Balkon von Amalienborg und später des Rathauses zeigen, mit ihrer Kutsche durch Kopenhagen fahren und Schulkinder mit Pantomime und Chorgesang erfreuen. Bei den Auftritten wird sich die Zustimmung an der Lautstärke des neunfachen Geburtstags-“Hurra“ bemessen.

Wegen der umfassenden Flugverbote infolge der Vulkanasche konnte gestern allerdings weder das norwegische noch das schwedische Königspaar wie geplant in das „Hurra“ miteinstimmen. König Harald von Norwegen und das schwedische Königspaar Carl Gustav und Silvia stiegen auf den Zug um, damit sie wenigstens heute zur Geburtstagsfeier da sein können. Margarete war nicht zur Thronfolge bestimmt >>> Von Robert von Lucius | Freitag, 16. April 2010

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Straight talk from the Queen of Denmark (Source: Official Biography)

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Photo care of Google Images
"We are being challenged by Islam these years. Globally as well as locally. There is something impressive about people for whom religion imbues their existence, from dusk to dawn, from cradle to grave. There are also Christians who feel this way.

There is something endearing about people who give themselves up completely to their faith. But there is likewise something frightening about such a totality, which also is a feature of Islam.

A counterbalance has to be found, and one has to, at times, run the risk of having unflattering labels placed on you. For there are some things for which one should display no tolerance. And when we are tolerant, we must know whether it is because of convenience or conviction.

We should not be content with living next to each other. We should rather live together."
- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark


Profile: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Mark Alexander