European Royals (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Benelux, Spain etc.)

[pomeline]

Hi all,
As discussed on the Wales thread, I'm starting a new topic for royals in Europe now that we're waiting for the change of regent in Denmark on January 14th. I figured there might not be enough to talk about if we just make a separate thread for Denmark (and Sweden, Norway etc.) so this way we can discuss whatever is going on around Europe. Sorry to lump everyone in one thread but if there's need, feel free to split different countries into own threads.

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[pomeline]

Danish Royal House sure knows how to stretch out the New Year's celebrations... They have an old tradition for holding feasts on three days in two different palaces. This year's celebrations just ended yesterday. I'm not very well acquainted with the Danish traditions but I tried to find out.

January 1
Nytarstaffel/Kur Christian VII's Palace (20:00)
H.M. The Queen holds a New Year's dinner and table for the government, the Speaker of the Parliament, representatives of official Denmark, and the Court. Christian VII's Palace, Amalienborg The Crown Prince Couple, H.R.H. Prince Joachim and H.R.H. Princess Marie, and H.R.H. Princess Benedikte will participate.

The first "Nytårskur" (and "Nytårstaffel", maybe someone who is fluent in Danish could explain?) is held on January 1st in the Hall of Knights, Christian VII's Palace, Amalienborg, for the government, the country's top officials and the court's management.

January 3
- Nytarstaffel/Kur Christian VII's Palace (9:30)
- Nytarstaffel/Kur Christiansborg Castle (11:30)

The second this year was held on January 3rd for the Supreme Court, the Royal Life Guards and the Guard Hussar Regiment's officer corps in Christian VII's Palace, Amalienborg.

January 4
- H.M. The Queen is escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment's Horse Escort in the carriage (9:10)
- Nytarstaffel/Kur Christiansborg Castle (9:30)
- H.M. The Queen is escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment's Horse Escort in the carriage (13:30)

The third one was on January 4th for officers from the Defense Forces and the National Emergency Management Agency, for 1st, 2nd and 3rd rank and for invited representatives of major national organizations and the royal patronages at Christiansborg Castle.

Of course this year the events must've had some added excitement after Queen Margrethe's New Year's speech where she announced her abdication on January 14th and handing over the reigns to Crown Prince Frederik.

Here's some photos from day 1:

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary arriving

 

[pomeline]

Frederik's younger brother Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie




The Queen's sister Princess Benedikte



Queen Margrethe II

 

[pomeline]

Second event. Lots of talk about Fred & Mary looking less than happy. I don't know maybe they were tired.









As far as I can tell, none of the other royals were at this event.

 

[pomeline]

Third event. I think the Queen wore the same outfit as the day before.



This is probably my least favourite dress out of the three Mary wore this year.



Why do I get the feeling someone told them to smile after all the headlines about icy coldness between the two...




Not looking very happy...



That's all I can find so far of what went on.

 

[GingerAblaze]

The other thread mentioned something about the sister-in-law Princess Marie (Denmark) being troubled. Has anyone any insight?

 

[pomeline]

The other thread mentioned something about the sister-in-law Princess Marie (Denmark) being troubled. Has anyone any insight?

I'd like to know more about this too. I haven't followed Joachim's family that much in the past few years but from what I gather there's some animosity between the brothers and the wives and I have no idea why. What makes things more complicated is that Marge is of course taking Fred's side as he is her heir.

I've heard something about the brothers falling out after their father Prince Henrik died. As you might know Henrik was French like Marie and he was very close to both Joachim and Marie. I have heard father and son became especially close at the time Joachim divorced his first wife. Not that Henrik would've disliked the first wife Alexandra but he was no doubt delighted to welcome Marie because they could all speak French together and shared common interests. When Henrik was alive, Joachim's family including all his kids would have dinner regularly with Henrik & Marge. After he died, Marge didn't feel the need to continue this so they rarely saw her. She has never really been a warm mother but I don't know what she has against Joachim.

Everything seemed to be fine when Joachim and Marie married and I never suspected there was bad blood between the brothers and wives but who knows what has happened, power struggles? Some have suggested Mary disliked Marie getting so much attention and work and felt things were too competitive. Maybe she was jealous of Marie who learned Danish very quickly and assimilated well while her language skills and laziness have been criticised. She doesn't speak French and felt like an outsider. Some say she is the one who made Marge first deport Joachim to France and now to Washington D.C. arranging a post for him outside Denmark. When Marge stripped Joachim's kids of their titles, Mary's comment was "Change can be difficult and can really hurt. But this does not mean that the decision is not the right one."

Does anyone know the real deal? I am not sure my view on things is the correct one and would love to hear!

 

[CarryOn2020]

Although there has been and is much gossip about Fred&Mary, the DanishRF remains quite popular in Denmark. As always, take everything with a grain of salt.

Some history:

Monarchy of Denmark - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Danish royal family - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Some gossip:

Meet the scandal-hit tattooed ‘party prince’ set to be Denmark's new King

HE’S the former “party prince” set to become the King of Denmark following his mother’s shock abdication after 52 years on the throne. Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary will take over when Qu…

www.thesun.co.uk

Queen Margrethe – royal title rows, cheating scandals and Lord of the Rings

On Sunday night, in her New Year's Eve speech, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made the surprise announcement she was abdicating the throne so her son could step up, marking an end to her 52 year reign

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[CarryOn2020]

Princess Mary - frequently, she is criticized because of the Botox, fillers, hairstyle, extreme dieting, etc.

See Queen Mary of Denmark's Style Evolution

The Queen of Denmark rewore a bold pink dress that she previously chose for another big royal event.

www.townandcountrymag.com

https://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/mary-crown-princess-of-denmark-style-file/image-gallery/01259d39141f2e84e0f68532bbe0ac83

From 2023:

Queen Mary of Denmark’s sensational style: celebrating the fashionable royal at 52, on her first birthday as queen

The Tasmanian-born Queen is as dazzling as ever

www.tatler.com

ETA: worth noting, the DRF encourages its members to marry people who are not from Denmark. Supposedly, that builds alliances.

 

[LittleStar88]

Fred sounds like he's exhausting to be married to. Poor Mary!

 

[youngster]

Some have suggested Mary disliked Marie getting so much attention and work and felt things were too competitive. Maybe she was jealous of Marie who learned Danish very quickly and assimilated well while her language skills and laziness have been criticised. She doesn't speak French and felt like an outsider.

I have never read anything about CP Mary being lazy. That's surprising to me. If anything, I've always thought of her as hard working. She is a regular in the Royalty Fashion Thread because she is always out and about at official engagements. I see far more of her than I do of Princess Marie, especially since the move to France. CP Mary also has had 4 young children to raise over the past 15 or so years. They aren't so very young anymore but that has to have consumed a great deal of her time as well.

I also just read in Wikipedia that she lived in Paris and worked as an English tutor before she married Frederick so I'd imagine she does speak some French perhaps? Not like a native of course.

 

[CarryOn2020]

From 2022:

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is sharing her thoughts on Queen Margrethe’s decision to strip four grandchildren of their current royal titles — and revealed that her own children may not keep their titles forever. The Queen’s decision does not change the titles for the four children of Crown Prince Frederik, who is heir to the throne, and Crown Princess Mary. Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and 11-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine will both continue to be part of the royal house.
Princess Mary spoke out about the news affecting her niece and nephews on Friday when she attended the opening of the 6th International Youth Conference “Re-imagine Youth Mental Health.”
“I can understand that it is a difficult decision to make and a very difficult decision to receive,” Princess Mary told reporters, according to Hello! magazine. “Change can be difficult and can really hurt. But this does not mean that the decision is not the right one.”
While Frederik and Mary’s son Prince Christian is second in line to the throne behind his father, their other children may not keep their royal titles forever.
“We will also look at our children’s titles when the time comes,” Crown Princess Mary, 50, said. “Today we do not know what the royal house will look like in Christian’s time, or when Christian’s time begins to approach.”

[From People]

Not my favorite sites, they may provide a different view about titles, etc. Comments are interesting. Is it really a law that older sons lose their titles at 25 and the younger kids at 18? Interesting, if true.

Cele|bitchy | Crown Princess Mary speaks about the title issue in the Danish royal family

Celebitchy is a daily gossip and entertainment blog, started in 2006, which also focuses on liberal politics, royal coverage and fashion.

www.celebitchy.com

 

[Lounorada]

Frederik's younger brother Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie

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I can't believe he is the younger brother, he looks older than the soon to be King.
Plus the two wives look so alike, they could pass as sisters!

Second event. Lots of talk about Fred & Mary looking less than happy. I don't know maybe they were tired.

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Why do I get the feeling someone told them to smile after all the headlines about icy coldness between the two...

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Not looking very happy...

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Has Mary been messing with her face? Her mouth area is starting to look off like Victoria Beckhams and her cheeks look very tight and puffy, like it's torture to smile.
That neutral/camel coloured skirt is horrendous. Who thought multiple horizontal seams across bland, ugly looking fabric would be a good look? The top half of that outfit is lovely.

 

[White Orchid]

Maybe her smile is eschew because of the fillers, or perhaps it just looks odd because she’s stuck, married to a philanderer.

 

[Starflower2305]

Hi all,
As discussed on the Wales thread, I'm starting a new topic for royals in Europe now that we're waiting for the change of regent in Denmark on January 14th. I figured there might not be enough to talk about if we just make a separate thread for Denmark (and Sweden, Norway etc.) so this way we can discuss whatever is going on around Europe. Sorry to lump everyone in one thread but if there's need, feel free to split different countries into own threads.

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Thank you @pomeline for starting this thread. I love the Royalty Fashion Thread, that has a place, so it'll be nice to chat about them here.