Bulgarian visit ends

President Georgi Parvanov and Mrs Parvanova have ended their state visit to Denmark. Today has been occupied with political meetings with the Prime Minister of Denmark Anders Fogh Rasmussen at Christiansborg Palace/Folketinget which is the Danish paliament. Both leaders met and held a press conference where the E.U. and Denmark's reputation abroad were discussed. The Presidential couple returned to Bulgaria this afternoon.

There were no royal pictures today but just in case you would like to know why President Parvanov headed the first Bulgarian state visit to Denmark on the invitiation of the Queen and the Danish Government to look at a waste disposal plant among other things, have a look here. A little more info here You can always find lots of links to up-to-date Danish news here. At a meeting at the Folkentinget between President Georgi Parvanov and leaders of the political forces represented in Parliament, Folkentinget Speaker Christian Mejdahl confirmed that Denmark will ratify the EU Accession Treaty of Bulgaria and Romania before Parliament's summer recess, so a lot of important stuff was going on along with royal participation! And, this is some of what the Danes were looking at when they visited the Bulgarian exhibit at the National Museum. They are ancient funerial finds from tombs from 350 BC, some found only as recently as 2004 and 2005. Archeologists in Bulgaria are still investigating sites and finding new ones. The exhibition is until the end of April to mark the first state visit to Denmark. Just an aside, Prince Joachim was not present at the State Visit events because he has been in Greenland. We'll give you an update on the Joachim and Marie front soon.

Bulgarian concert and reception

It is Day 2 of the Bulgarian State Visit. President Georgi Parvanov and Mrs Zorka Parvanova are spending the day visiting Århus. They have travelled this morning to Århus Railway Station by special train followed by a reception at the Århus City Hall with the mayor and other dignitories plus a Bulgarian choir. During the day the President has visited an IT Centre in Katrinebjerg, a waste centre, the "Old Town" Århus (where there is an official lunch) and in the afternoon a meeting with the Bulgarian community in Århus (there are around 30,000 Bulgarians in Denmark). Mrs Zorka Parvanova visits the ARoS Århus Art Museum and ARoS 2.

The Bulgarian visitors return to Copenhagen by special train for the evening return arrangement of a concert and reception at the NationalMuseum and the Bulgarian exhibition. The Royal Family attend with other Danish dignitories and see the exhibition.



Some links:
visit Århus
Bulgaria.com
Destination Bulgaria
Bulgaria travel
EU on Bulgaria
CIA World Factbook on Bulgaria

Photos from the Gala banquet

You can check the menu and guest list here

Speech of HM Queen Margrethe, given in Danish at the gala banquet on March 29 in honour of HE Giorgi Parvanov, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Mrs. Parvanova, his wife, at Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen.

Mr. President, Mrs. Parvanova,

It is with great joy the Prince Consort and I welcome the President of Bulgaria and Mrs. Parvanova to Denmark today. We both reminisce about our visit to your lovely country, and hope to be able to reciprocate a little of the warm hospitality which met us everywhere during our state visit in Bulgaria in October 2000.

Bulgaria was the first Eastern European country to make formal connections to NATO, and from the very beginning, she participated actively in the co-operation within the guidelines of the Partnership for Peace accord. Therefore, general content prevailed when, in 2004, Bulgaria was welcomed as a valid member of the transatlantic defence alliance, and both before and after that, important Bulgarian contributions have been made to the advancement of security and stability in and outside of Bulgaria. Furthermore, Bulgaria early on sought relations with the European Union. As early as the spring of 1993, Bulgaria entered into partnership with the EU, and an application for membership was given at the end of 1995. In Denmark, we have followed, with respect and admiration, the efforts to obtain full membership in the many intervening years. Considerable support has been given from both the EU and the individual member countries in order to have come so far, that membership is now within reach, and also from Denmark, contributions have been made. But the most significant effort has been that of the Bulgarian society which, despite suffering privations, has been determined to maintain and continue the course of reform, however difficult the changes may seem. It cannot be easy for a society to, in a short amount of time, build so much, and get accustomed to so many new challenges; but it is impressive to see how not least the younger generations have gotten down to the work with energy and enterprise, and I know that the results are already felt everywhere.

During the restructuring of Bulgaria's international orientation, which the political breakthrough entailed, the efforts to obtain full memberships of NATO and the EU have been highly prioritised, and the preparations regarding this have occupied many resources. It is therefore admirable that, parallel herewith, there has been the energy - not least in the course of your presidency, Mr. President - to strongly assert the country in the broader, international collaboration. Thus, your country was elected as member of the United Nations' Security Counsil a couple of years ago, and in 2004, Bulgaria held the presidency of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The extensive, Bulgarian involvement is held in general respect.

Since the beginning of the 1990's, many new relations between our countries have arisen. The communication regarding finances and commerce has been increasing steadily; both the international and bilateral collaborations have established many personal contacts, and Bulgaria has become one of the preferred destinations for Danes. We have gotten to know one another! During our visit to Bulgaria, the Prince Consort and I had the opportunity of meeting both the present and the past of the country. The newly unearthed relics of antiquity that we saw, made an immense impression: A past so far away; and yet so tangibly near when you are standing in the Thracian royal tomb at Starosel. Danish researchers are working in close contact with their Bulgarian colleagues, and not many years ago, it was clear that one of our finest treasures from prehistoric Denmark, the great Gundestrup silver vat, must derive from the area at the river Danube which we now know as Bulgaria.

But it is not only the prerogative of researchers to feel drawn to your country, Mr. President. More than 70,000 Danish tourists visited Bulgaria in the year past, attracted by the sunlit shores of the Black Sea. The Danish fascination of the beauty of the Black Sea's shores is not a new phenomenon, I might add. One of our most beautiful stretches of coast is situated by Århus, the city which the President and his wife will visit tomorrow; a very popular resort has carried here, for more than a hundred years, the name of Varna, named by a returned naval captain in enthusiasm about the beautiful Black Sea shore. On his journey up the Danube, Hans Christian Andersen was moved by "the Bulgarian Land" as it was called in that age; one and a half centuries later, he was, so to speak, to return again, as Bulgaria, with great, personal commitment from you, Mrs. Parvanova, participated in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the fairytale writer's birth.

Mr. President, being a historian, you have, for a very long time, been committed to the welfare of your country, and by virtue of your present, prestigious office, you have contributed to the promotion of respect for your country, for her people and her ancient culture.

In the 75th year of diplomatic connections between Denmark and Bulgaria, I am pleased to see the many personal contacts which are created in these years, in different areas and different levels. They are part of promoting mutual understanding and sound connections between our countries.

Wishing for continuing happiness and progress for Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people, I raise my glass in order to, with the Prince Consort, propose a toast to the President of Bulgaria and Mrs. Parvanova.


Thanks to Lasse for the translation!

Bulgarian state visit begins

The Guard Hussars in procession from Christiansborg Palace to Amalienborg Palace.



Today begins a three day State Visit by the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov and his wife Mrs Zorka Parvanova. They have arrived in Copenhagen and been greeted at Kastrup Airport by Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. They have a program of many events in Copenhagen today and a State Banquet this evening and a return event tomorrow. We will bring you all the news and photos as they happen.

Link: Politiken

Update: The formal events of a state visit continue. Following the arrival at Copenhagen Airport the Royal Hussars escorted the motorcade from Christinsborg Palace to Amalienborg Palace. After arrival at Amalienborg Palace, official photos were taken in the Chinese Room at Amalienborg and gifts and decorations were exchanged. There has been a visit to the Opera. Later this afternoon there will be a Presidential Address to Danish Industry and a wreath laying ceremony at the Resistance Movement Cemetery, “Mindelunden”. In the later afternoon President Parvanov will give a Presidential Address to the Danish Foreign Policy Society. This will be followed by a meeting with the Bulgarian Community at the Royal Library around 5pm.

The State Banquet will be from 8pm at Amalienborg Palace. Some new photos from TV2 (Scanpix). You can see Princess Benedikte, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have joined proceedings:




Many more photos to come. Tomorrow the state visit moves to Århus, but we have a State Banquet before then!

Queen Ingrid's birthday 96 years ago today

This day is the birthday of Frederik's grandmother Queen Ingrid. Ingrid was born in Stockholm, Princess of Sweden, on 28 March 1910. Princess Ingrid Victoria Sofia Louise Margareta married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark on 24 May 1935, later King Frederik IX. Frederik IX died in 1972 when Queen Margrethe ascended to the throne. Queen Ingrid was the daughter of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf, later King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden (1882-1973) and Crown Princess Margaretha (Margaret of Connaught 1882-1920). Ingrid was a great-grandaughter of Queen Victoria through her mother, who died when Ingrid was 10 years old. Like the current Queen Margrethe, Ingrid's mother was known as Daisy.

Queen Ingrid is said to have had a particular understanding of the current Crown Prince Frederik and his struggle to come to terms with his role in life. Frederik met Mary in September 2000 as we know, and he was in Australia visiting her (still in secret) when he was called back to Denmark when Queen Ingrid's health took a sharp decline in November 2000. And so it was that Ingrid and Mary were never to meet, although Margrethe, Benedikte and Anne-Marie are said to believe that their beloved mother would have been very pleased and happy with Frederik's choice. Crown Princess Mary now wears the Queen Desirée Diamond and Ruby Parure, which belonged to Queen Ingrid along with other jewels left directly to Frederik by his grandmother for his wife. Mary's wedding veil was the one worn by Ingrid for her marriage. It came to Ingrid from her mother and has been worn by all of Ingrid's daughters and various grandaughters.



Some links:
Netty's In Memoriam
Ingrid of Sweden - Wikipedia
Queen Ingrid 1910-2000
Queen Ingrid stamps Denmark/Greenland
Worldroots.com enjoy many, many old photographs at Brigitte Gastel Lloyd's site
BBC report of Queen Ingrid's death

Crown Prince Frederik awards Anders Lassen Foundation grants

28 March 2006 at 11:30am HRH The Crown Prince awarded scholarships from the Anders Lassen Foundation in Christian VIII's palace, Amalienborg.

©Steen Brogaard

- Click here for more pictures
- Press Release (in Danish)

Press Release translation:

This year's Anders Lassen Foundation grant recipient is Captain John Fornal-Friis of the Jutland Dragoon Regiment on duty with The Danish Batallion in Iraq, group 6.

The Captain gets the Foundation's prize for doing an important military job and for his personal courage, and by his intelligent leadership and great creativity to have made personal relationships and secured stable networking with the civilian population in Iraq.

As a leader of the Danish Liason Group, the Captain has been the direct cause of the fact that the Danish Batallion and several of the British brigade units, were successfully able to execute a number of missions against terrorist- and anticoalition groups, which has reduced the number of roadbombs and shootings against the coalition forces, remarkably.

At the same time the Captain's work had enhanced the general safety for both the Iraqi people and the coalition forces.

"There will not be access for the press, but photos from the legacy presentation can be obtained on application to photographer Steen Brogaard"

Thanks to gudinde for the translation!

Prince Joachim update

Both Prince Joachim and his ex-wife Princess Alexandra have been busy with their various official duties during the last week. Princess Alexandra attented the 10 year anniversary dinner at the Arken Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen. A few days later Joachim and Alexandra attended the 300 year anniversary of the Garnisons Church in Copenhagen with their sons Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix (in some snow as they left!). Billed-Bladet has reported that one of their journalists asked Mary what she thought of the Joachim/Marie romance when she was on her shopping expedition last week with Christian and friends in Copenhagen. Mary is said to have replied she couldn't really comment but she is happy for them. Keep in mind there is a great deal of tabloid spin going on with this story, so we will keep you posted if the facts of who said what and when becomes clearer with time.

From Hello! magazine:

Alexandra lives life in the fast lane
27 MARCH 2006

Denmark's Princess Alexandra showed she has a taste for danger when she attended the annual UNICEF International Racing Festival in Copenhagen. Having donned a protective helmet, the elegant royal smiled with delight at the prospect of taking to the circuit at the city's Bella centre.



Later she climbed into the cockpit of one of the sleek Formula One models. At the high profile charity event top drivers whizz paying guests around the circuit, fulfilling their dream to get a bite of the action experienced by the pros.

Alexandra's ex-husband Joachim is the patron of festival, which has raised £1.2 million since its inception seven years ago. It's the first time the pair will have coincided at a public engagement since the handsome prince spoke of his love for Marie Cavallier, the attractive French financier he's been seeing since last autumn.

If Alexandra felt any discomfort at running into her former spouse after he gave a candid newspaper interview describing himself as "radiating joy" because of the romance, it wasn't apparent. The pair have remained on amicable terms since their divorce was finalised nearly a year ago and the Hong Kong-born princess seemed to relish every bit of her day at the races.

Article source:
Hello! magazine

More about Joachim and Marie

MARCH 20 2006 - The Danish Prince Joachim came home Sunday from his trip in South East Asia. He was greated by the Danish press with pictures of Marie Cavallier when he visited the Car Show in the Bella Center in Copenhagen. He was asked if he was in love and he confirmed it.

Just because we haven't posted more here about the Danish press reaction to the 'outing' of Prince Joachim's girlfriend Marie Cavallier, doesn't mean that it doesn't continue in a bit of a frenzy, because it is!

As predicted, Joachim was greeted at Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport by rather a lot of press on his return from Thailand. Despite pages and pages of 'coverage' in Denmark's tabloid press there is no real advance in knowledge about the relationship. Some closer translation of Marie's words in the several interviews she has given so far reveal she has not been quite as forthcoming as the tabloid headlines and stories would suggest. An example is the headline about Marie wanting three children, it would appear Marie said she would like three children, but that whether it is with Joachim or not is still too early to tell. Marie has said she and Joachim are together and they will see what the future will bring.

Marie Cavallier in Geneva last week. Photo:B.T./Jeppe Michael Jensen

There is some conjecture about Alexandra, Joachim's ex-wife and mother of his two children Prince Nilolai and Prince Felix, possibly and supposedly being upset by the arrival of Marie on the scene, despite there being no evidence whatsovever that this is so. Marie is dissected for tabloid analysis and many pages are devoted to the royalty experts' interpretation of the romance. Joachim says he is happy and that 'things' will proceed in their own way but there is no talk of engagement. Even this is stringing things together, because the gentlemanly Joachim repeatedly declined to comment on the many questions asked of him by journalists. When he arrived back in Copenhagen last Sunday Joachim went straight from the airport to the Bella Centre for a racing festival (Joachim is very keen on motor sport) where racing drivers were raising money for UNICEF Danmark. At the Bella Centre Joachim was confronted by journalists and was noticeably awkward when presented with photographs of Marie.

Links and sources:
Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian
Danish Royal Family's official website with photogallery of Joachim's recent trip to Cambodia and Vietnam
Billed-Bladet on Joachim going to see Nikolai and Felix on Monday morning after his Sunday arrival in Copenhagen (at the Krebs School, where Frederik and Joachim also went to school as children)
Billed-Bladet (this week has 8 pages on Marie and the romance all up)
B.T.
Hello! magazine (in English)
SE og HØR
TV2 suggests Marie has talked a little too much to the media

Denmark's little prince goes shopping with Mary

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - 17 MARCH 2006. Crown Princess Mary goes shopping with Prince Christian. She was also accompanied by her new lady-in-waiting, Caroline Heering.

22 MARCH 2006

Wrapped up warmly against the cold in a cream cap and bootees, Denmark's Prince Christian looked eager to take in the sights and sounds of Copenhagen's streets on a recent shopping expedition with his mum Mary.

Strapped to his mother's front in a comfortable baby carrier, the royal youngster was well placed to observe the comings and goings of the Danish capital. The 34-year-old princess had also tucked the folds of her elegant beige shawl around her little prince to protect him from the bitter weather.

The outing was one of the first sightings of five-month-old Christian since his christening in January amid the splendour of Christianborg Palace Chapel with Europe's leading royals in attendance.

Although life hasn't exactly been quiet in the intervening period as the little one also accompanied his parents, Frederik and Mary on an official visit to the German state of Schleswig-Holstein in February. The trip was one of a number of engagements, which signalled the end of "maternity leave" for hard-working Mary.

Article and photos from: www.hellomagazine.com/royalty

1. DRWs feature: Australian visit 2005

Mary and Frederik, sunburned and fresh from a day's sailing, at Government House, Sydney on March 3, 2005 at a State Dinner hosted by the Governor Professor Marie Bashir. Frederik and Mary arrived at Government House during a wild Sydney electrical storm (dramatic, thunder, lightning!) but didn't look too worse for wear.

This time last year Mary and Frederik were leaving Australia to return to Denmark after a whirlwind visit which combined official events, Farr 40 sailing and private time with Mary's family and friends. For DRWs first special feature we revisit the fun of that first return to Australia for Mary and Frederik as Crown Princess and Crown Prince.

Frederik arrived solo in Sydney on 20 February to compete in the Farr 40 world championships. He was out on the water sailing in his boat Nanoq with the crew on 21 February, then sailed in the pre-championship races before the March 1-4 championship regatta. Nanoq means 'ice bear' in Greenlandic which is the polar bear that symbolises Greenland in Scandinavia. Frederik has a strong connection to Greenland following the Expedition Sirius 2000 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6. We got a good look at Frederik's shark tattoo which is the insignia of the Danish Navy's elite frogman corps and his other tattoo on his left bicep which features his navy nickname 'Pingo' (means penguin and hints at a famous Danish cartoon character). Frederik will compete in this year's Farr 40 regatta in Newport, Rhode Island in September and was pivotal in winning the competition to Denmark for 2007. In 2005 it was the first time Frederik had sailed the boat in competition and up against some of the toughest and best sailors in the world he came 25th (full CYCA results).

Frederik in some sailing action for the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, Sydney, March 1 - 4, 2005


Links:
CYCA: Rolex Farr 40 Worlds 2005
Farr 40 World Championship
Regatta News

Then came Mary, and they were two

Mary flew into Sydney on February 25 with much anticipation for her arrival. She then went to the Shangri-La Hotel and 2 at Circular Quay where the Danish visitors were staying and to be re-united with Frederik. As an aside, we now know Mary was pregnant at the time of the visit. The next day Mary engaged in some private activities while Frederik was still sailing and before the official part of the visit began. Mary was said to be a little nervous about returning to her mother country as a newly-minted royal, according to an admission in an interview in the Danish fashion industry magazine »Dansk«, but she needn't have worried as she, and Frederik, were greeted warmly everywhere they went. Mary and Frederik attended a cocktail party at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia at Rushcutters Bay at the end of the Farr 40 championship. The sailing theme continued at a return Match Race between Mary and Frederik on Sydney Harbour which mirrored the race before the May 2004 wedding in Copenhagen.

Mary won the first time round as we know and then she won the second, but she did have some impressive sailing help both times. On February 28 Frederik and Mary attended a State Lunch at Governor Macquarie Tower with the NSW politerati. Frederik made a speech to the Premier of New South Wales: "Since arriving in Sydney I’ve spent most of my time on the water. However, yesterday on the water was something very special...."

Mary and Frederik attended the Australian Red Cross 90th Anniversary Gala Ball and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 (the Danish Royal Family has a long association with the Danish version). On March 4 Mary visited the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Insitute in Darlinghurst. Mary attended the VCCRI royal ball, for which she is the Honorary Life Governor. Frederik and Mary attended a State Dinner at the Gothic Government House, in the Royal Botanic Gardens. In his speech Frederik said: "The crown princess and I have looked very much forward to our time in Australia. A time that in many ways is remarkably different from our previous trips to Australia. And the difference lies primarily in the fact that today we visit Australia as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark..."
Link: the Sydney Opera House

Mary also sat for a portrait by Jiawei Shen commissioned to hang in the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. This is the portrait which will travel to Denmark shortly to be exhibited at the Frederiksborg Museum.


Frederik and Mary celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen at the Opera House and they unveiled a new bust in Observatory Park in The Rocks (which is also the place they met in September 2000). This is Frederik's speech to appoint HCA 2005 ambassadors in Sydney. Mary went to the Children's Hospital at Westmead, a Red Cross refuge in Coogee and both were at a fundraiser for cancer research and on a visit to the Danish Church at Pennant Hills. They went book shopping in their down time, went to various cafes and restaurants and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge.




Continued in part 2
The DRWs team.

2. DRWs feature: Australian visit 2005

continues... Canberra, Melbourne and Tasmania

Then the royal couple headed for Canberra where there was more mixing with the national politerati at Parliament House, the Governor-General, they visited the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum of Australia and they signed an agreement of co-operation between the Australian National University and the University of Copenhagen. Frederik and Mary visited the Prime Minister John Howard at his Canberra residence The Lodge. Frederik made a speech at the state dinner at Government House (Yarralumla) and they caught a kangaroo hop past in the grounds of Yarralumla.


Then it was off to Melbourne where Frederik and Mary were greeted enthusiastically in Federation Square with Premier Steve Bracks by their side while opening a city to city link between Melbourne and Copenhagen. They also attended a reception and it was revealed which Australian Rules football team Mary supported (Carlton).


Frederik and Mary then flew to Mary's home state of Tasmania. Here they attended a Chocolate Lovers' fundraiser and state reception combined for Save the Children Australia at Wrest Point in Hobart. Two of Mary's nieces performed along with other children in the light-hearted spirit of the evening, while Frederik (who is patron of Save the Children Denmark) gave his last speech:
"...For obvious personal reasons, Tasmania has a special place in our hearts...". Frederik and Mary planted trees, gave a press conference (half in English, half in Danish) and visited the Port Arthur Historic Site before finishing the official part of the visit to join some of Mary's family on a short holiday in the Tasmanian wilderness visiting Cradle Mountain, Strahan, the Gordon River and the West Coast.
After the private family time, the royal couple flew to Sydney from Hobart and then home to Denmark via Bangkok. They forged new contact and relationships between all sorts of institutions and organisations in Australia and Denmark (in health, education, culture and tourism) and left Australia with a significant number of Australians wanting them as 'our royals'. And, finally, who can forget the Fruit Tingles? The Australian sweets which Mary said she missed in a pre-visit interview with Andrew Denton on Enough Rope (transcript) were cleared out from the shops in some places to give to Mary in every form possible, including as a bouquet!


It was quite a trip!
The DRWs team.

Joachim and Marie? a media storm erupts

+=?
Prince Joachim is finishing his trip to Cambodia and Vietnam as patron of Care Denmark while the attention of the Danish media has shifted to his love-life and Marie Cavallier in Geneva. Of course Joachim's visit has been successful in bringing attention to the work of Care Denmark, but the media following Joachim on his trip has not had any real comment from him, he just laughed and said he was happy, which can mean any number of things. They would love more from him but that is not to be. Meanwhile in Geneva the Danish tabloid media is in hot pursuit of Marie Cavallier and her dog. At the moment it is still difficult to tell much about whether this is a serious relationship despite the tabloid press painting it that way. We wait and watch. So, in the interests of following the story as it unfolds, here is a wrap up of the final reports about Joachim in Asia and the 'Marie media storm'.

Some links to Danish stories about Prince Joachim's trip which has focused on Care projects to combat poverty by building hygeine and economic sustainability within communities and to support HIV affected orphans and mothers:
ScandAsia.dk 1 (ScandAsia reports in English)
ScandAsia. dk 2
ScandAsia.dk Jakob Holm's wrap-up of Joachim's visit which ends today. No doubt there will be media at the airport when Joachim flies back into Copenhagen on the 19th! This report says how the object of the visit has been rather upstaged by the Marie Cavallier news at home in Denmark.
Joachim at a Vietnamese pig farm 1 and 2 (both in English)
B.T.(15 March 2006) about visiting a fish factory project.
B.T. (16 March 2006) "I am very happy" fullstop
There are many other reports in the Danish press about Joachim's visit, but these links give the idea. Now to the deluge of reports from 'project get the girlfriend'.

Billed-Bladet 'the interview' (see previous post) and Billed-Bladet editorial giving a thumbs up to Marie (somewhat premature?)
Belinske Tidende 'Here is Marie' with Billed-Bladet's scoop
The down-market Ekstra Bladet 1 and 2 gets in on the act
The Copenhagen Post oversteps the mark? (in English)
Jyllans-Posten (in Danish)
B.T. "I want three kids" (!) (in Danish)

If you think Marie looks a little like Mary, you are not alone. According to B.T it is the talk of Denmark. Well, we will see because, as 'they' say, time will tell!

Mysterious French girl revealed

The French girl who was recently photographed on the steps of HRH Prince Joachim's estate Schakenborg in Denmark, has given an interview to Anna Johannesen, a reporter from the Danish magazine Billed-Bladet where the interview was exclusively published on March 16, regarding her relationship with the Danish prince.

The name of the girl is Marie Cavallier. Born and raised in Paris, she has both lived and studied abroad in the course of her 30 year long life. At the age of 13, her parents divorced and she and her mother moved to Switzerland. Today, she lives in Geneva and works in finance, but before that, she studied in Boston, USA, and worked in the computer business in New York. She has known Prince Joachim for two years, but has never met any other members of the Danish Royal Family than HH Prince Nikolai, whom she met during his skiing vacation in Val Torens with his father.

In the interview, Ms Cavallier states that: "Prince Joachim is a lovely human being. He is warm, sweet and very affectionate. He has gone through a very difficult time with a lot of hardships, but he is also a very patient and honest person. I love him very much". If things between the Prince and Ms. Cavallier are as serious as it would seem, maybe Denmark will have yet another Princess Marie from France!

Article and magazine cover from: www.billedbladet.dk

Thanks to Lasse for the translation and editing!

Prince Joachim in Vietnam for Care Denmark

Prince Joachim is continuing his visit to Cambodia and Vietnam as patron (protector) of Care Denmark.

Prince Joachim Spends First Day in
Vietnam In Familiar Territory
Prince Joachim
changed his role from prince to farmer when he visited CARE projects in
Vietnam.

By Jakob Holm

14 March 2006

On his first day in Vietnam, the Danish Prince found himself in familiar territory
visiting poor Khmer minorities on the Mekong Delta tending their land. The prince, a farmer himself, was in familiar territory exploring agricultural projects in the Mekong Delta, but the children patiently waiting to see a real prince seemed unable to point out the Prince among the visiting Danish delegation.

Prince Joachim in his t-shirt was just as sweaty and his shoelaces just as muddy as the rest of the delegation. He did however arrive with a police escort and his bodyguard was always close by him, so not knowing who he was the prince looked more like a volunteer helper than a regal member of the Danish Royal Family.

Prince Joachim visited a pig farm as part of his itinerary and did not restrict his questions to the normal courteous homilies one might expect from royalty. The Prince, who has an agricultural education and manages the Schackenborg estate whose primary function is agricultural production, could not hide his own interest in life on the land. "How many of the pigs survive birth? How old are they? When exactly are they taken away? Where do they go?" the Prince enquired. The questions kept coming and Prince Joachim listened carefully to the answers – something that the journalists, who normally follow the prince closely, did not. The journalists instead, realising that the Prince would keep asking questions for quite some time politely chose to move away to discuss other subjects. Later when the Prince visited a household of women weavers, he showed the same kind of interest and wanted to know about the production in some detail. But his tight schedule took no account for an attention to detail, with his entourage constantly looking at their watches. “Now we really need to head back to the cars,” one said, grasping his schedule tightly in her hand.


Couldn't hide the enthusiasm
Visiting the many projects that CARE Denmark had started in the poor areas in the Mekong Delta the Prince did not try to hide his enthusiasm. Despite the many signs warning about HIV and the wooden sculptures in the temples - some even missing an arm because someone needed the wood to make a cooking fire, Prince Joachim focused on the positive things. “I always try to see the sunny side, no matter how tragic a
story. I always try to see the good, instead of focusing on how bad things are. I focus on how to make things better,” he explained to reporters.

One project the delegation visited was the purchase of 1,000 small water-cleaning systems to assist a small city's water supply. The systems are developed by the Danish company Osprey Systems and clean water using solar energy. "That is a nifty little invention – using this they don’t have to cut down their forests to boil the water,” the much-impressed Prince said.


From: ScandAsia.vn
Original news and photo source: B.T.
Link: Care Danmark

Some housekeeping

Some of you might have noticed that your comments are not posted im­me­di­ately. The reason is that during the past week we've been receiving 'spam' comments. They're offensive and not suitable for this blog which is why we decided to moderate them. We'll try to post your comments within 24 hours. There may be a little delay sometimes and that is because this is not our full-time job and we are not online 24/7, so please be patient if you don't see your comment posted im­me­di­ately.

We want to take this op­por­tun­ity to thank all the people who con­tinu­ously help us with the blog. We ap­pre­ci­ate all your comments, tips, trans­la­tions and photos. We don't gain money from this, this a hobby for us, and we enjoy bringing you news of the DRF.

We also wanted to let you know, we have a new email address: drws.blog@gmail.com
It fits our layout a little better and we are always happy to hear from you if you want to contact us. We really ap­pre­ci­ate your comments com­mend­ing the blog.

The DRWs team.

Prince Joachim visits CARE projects in Cambodia and Vietnam

During a 14-day trip Danish Prince Joachim will visit Danish supported projects in Cambodia and Vietnam.

By Jakob Holm

On March 6 Danish Prince Joachim landed in Siem Reap in Cambodia after a brief stop over in Bangkok where he was joined by among others, Danish Ambassador for Thailand and Cambodia, Ulrik Helweg-Larsen. The Danish Prince leads a delegation that will visit CARE Denmark and DANIDA projects in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Also among the delegation are CARE General Secretary Niels Tofte, chairman of CARE Denmark Gunhild Lange, deputy chairman Andreas Hastrup and DANIDA’s representative in Cambodia, Mogens Laumand Christensen.
In Cambodia the prince will visit projects run by CARE Denmark and some of DANIDA’s agricultural projects in the two countries. In Vietnam he will also visit private companies that have invested in Vietnam with help from DANIDA.
After using Monday to settle in Cambodia; The Prince spend most of Tuesday visiting Angkor Wat. Wednesday the program changed and Prince Joachim started visiting the CARE- and Danida-projects.
The Prince says he is eager to visit different places during the trip.
“I look forward to meeting the CARE employees working with the different projects. CARE Denmark does a great job in the fight against poverty,” Prince Joachim told Care Denmark before he started the trip.
The Prince is a patron for CARE Denmark and so far he has visited six countries where CARE Denmark has projects.

HIV, orphans and clean water
In Cambodia HIV is a big problem with 3.5 percent of the adult population infected. Prince Joachim is Thursday (9th March) to visit a CARE Denmark sponsored children’s home for HIV-affected and orphaned children in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. The home also treats pregnant women, who are infected with HIV.
The home makes sure that the children and women get the right treatment. By doing this it decreases the possibility that pregnant women will pass on the disease to their children.
After a week in Cambodia the prince will continue to Vietnam on the 12th of March.
In the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta the prince is to see how the population there has been helped by CARE Denmark projects. CARE projects lend money so that the locals are able to buy a pig or cow. Clean drinking water is also a big problem in Vietnam, and Care Denmark runs a pilot project where they invested in 1000 small water cleaning units, which cleans water using solar energy.
The units are designed by a Dane and are produced by the occupants of a slum in South Africa, and according to the plan Prince Joachim will be present when the machinery has its Asian debut in Vietnam.

Creates attention
The prince’s visit helps draw attention to the many projects in Cambodia and Vietnam, the importance of which are underlined by Niels Tofte general secretary of CARE Denmark.
“It is important to have Prince Joachim as a patron. When he visits our projects it provides the employees and locals a wonderful boost to continue the important work they do. At the same time it also means a lot in back in Denmark when Prince Joachim is here. It tells the Danes about the CARE Denmark projects they wouldn’t normally hear of,” the general secretary said.
The Prince will head back to Denmark March 19th.

Article source: http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?news_id=2217&coun_code=dk
Links: http://www.care.dk/forside
You can read the press release in the Embassy of Denmark, Hanoi website
and you can find more photos in: http://www.jutlandpress.dk/
UPDATE: more photos of Prince Joachim in Vietnam and Cambodia here www.picturepress-europe.com

Subject: Mary!

The Sydney Morning Herald today reports on some artistic pursuits:

Portrait of man on train about to paint Princess Mary


Chosen to paint the official Danish portrait of Princess Mary ... Australian artist Ralph Heimans as he painted himself riding on the Metro in Paris. His royal work will be taken to Copenhagen next week.

By Valerie Lawson
March 11, 2006

IN a Paris studio, the final brushstrokes have been made on Princess Mary. Next week, she will embark on a hush hush journey to Denmark.
Not the princess herself, but Denmark's first official portrait of Mary, painted by Ralph Heimans, 35, an Australian artist who lives in Paris.
During the nine months that Heimans has been travelling to Copenhagen for the sittings, there has been a total clampdown on news of the painting and preparations for the unveiling.
The Danish authorities have recently recruited Jeremy Mitchell, public affairs manager at the Australian high commission in London, to co-ordinate publicity for the event, to be held on April 7 at the Museum of National History, based in Frederiksborg Castle, near Copenhagen.
Heimans said the Danish Government wanted "everything done through diplomatic channels, through safe channels. They wanted to make sure things were controlled. This is the official portrait for Denmark".
He said that the work will be "an amazingly different sort of portrait … It's going to be exciting in that regard".
A brief mention in Danish on the Museum of National History website reveals that the portrait will be "drawing up the lines between her old and new country, and in this way, [will] underline her special background".
Heimans, who has painted Justice Michael Kirby, Tom Uren, arts benefactor Caroline Simpson and Bill Waterhouse, among many others, is a past finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
Working on commission, he has painted a great many lawyers, among them Robert Stitt, QC. In England, he said, QCs "line up" to have their portraits painted by him. He has been commissioned by the European Court in Luxembourg, the Australian Army and the Supreme Court of NSW.
Heimans was one of a small number of Australian artists whose names were put forward to the Danish museum by Andrew Sayers, director of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. The gallery has three Heimans works in its collection.
Last year it commissioned another portrait of Princess Mary. The Sydney artist Jiawei Shen painted a lifesize, formal portrait, showing the princess in a long blue dress.
The portrait was hung in the gallery last October.
A press report of Shen's commission also briefly mentioned that Heimans was to paint Princess Mary. According to Heimans, this sent the Danish authorities into a flurry.
They decided that no further news of his portrait would appear until the publicity campaign begins, in about a week.
The Heimans portrait of Princess Mary, along with Shen's portrait, will be the focus of an exhibition called Australian Visit at Denmark's Museum of National History.
The exhibition, also opening on April 7, includes more than 50 portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, among them those of Kylie Minogue, Dame Joan Sutherland, Elle Macpherson, Rupert Murdoch, Gough Whitlam, Germaine Greer, Rolf Harris and Ian Thorpe. smh.com.au




Jaiwei Shen's portrait of Mary painted last year is currently hanging at its home in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, but it will soon make the journey to Denmark for the exhibition at the National History Museum at Frederiksborg Castle.

Links:
Ralph Heimans' homepage
Jaiwei Shen

Mary attends Heart Association anniversary

Today Mary attended the anniversary event of The Danish Heart Association. It is celebrating more than 40 years as an organisation working for heart patients' interests, prevention and research. Mary is patron of the association and it is a particularly meaningful organisation for her because her mother died on 20 November 1997 following a heart operation. Mary also has a connection to the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, Australia, as an Honorary Life Governor.

The event will be in the Christian VII's/Moltke's Palace at Amalienborg, in which Mary, Frederik and Christian have an apartment as their Copenhagen base.

According to the Danish version of the association's website, Mary will present honours and research funds to researchers into heart valve diseases.

Thanks to the wonderful Lasse for the translation of Crown Princess Mary's speech!

Little more than a year ago, my work for the Heart Association began. It is of great importance to me that the research of heart disease remains something we understand the necessity of, and remains something we support.
I am therefore very happy today, on the occasion of the birthday of the Danish Heart Association, to be able to give five researchers the very necessary means to their vital work.
Lene Hyldgaard Pedersen has done a great piece of work for young people, born with heart disease. Her effort has already meant a better life quality for young people suffering from heart disease.
Jordi Dahl and Morten Dahlsgaard work in different fields with improving the treatment of people with serious heart valve disease.
Thomas Sangild Sørensen is, in his research, on the track of how new technology can be used to diagnose and treat heart disease.
Vibeke Guldbrand Rasmussen works with heart disease which strikes patients already fighting another, severe illness.
All of the five researchers show great commitment and a significant ability to finding new ways in the treatment of exactly heart valve disease. A group of disease which sadly strikes more and more.
By fighting the consequences of serious heart disease, we help not only the sick individual. We also help the many family members whose lives are changed when a loved one is struck by a severe illness.
It is my hope that the effort of researches will in time benefit many heart patients and their families.
To the researchers I would like to say thank you for your commitment and will - and enjoy your work!

You can read the original Danish version in the official website.



EDIT: We're quite late with this, but we just wanted to let you know the wonderful Lasse, has shared his translation of Queen Margrethe's New Year speech with us. You can read it here.

Mary has a new lady-in-waiting

It has been announced on Frederik and Mary's website in a press release that Mary will have a new hofdame (lady-in-waiting). She is Caroline Heering who is a longstanding friend of Frederik and Mary.



The Crown Prince Couple's website indicates there will be an overlap between Caroline Heering's appointment (from 1 March 2006) and Mary's lady-in-waiting of two years, Countess Victoria Bernstorff-Gyldensteen, who will conclude her contract in April.

Countess Victoria Bernstorff-Gyldensteen is an American from New Jersey originally, who married a Danish count and settled in Denmark. Victoria experienced a similar path to Mary by adopting a new life in a new country, learnt a notoriously difficult language and had children. In the two years of her appointment Victoria has travelled with Mary to many places in Denmark, to New York and to Australia. Mary and Victoria share an interest in golf. Victoria has become a familiar figure by Mary's side at many events.

Caroline Heering is married to Peter Heering who is a childhood friend of Frederik. The couple is close to Mary and Frederik. Caroline has been accustomed to be in the 'royal circle'. Caroline and Peter have two young daughters.

So, we will see a new face with Mary when she is doing her solo engagements.

Mary @ psychiatry conference

Denmark's B.T. has reported on yesterday's jubilee conference for the Danish Mental Health Fund which was attended by Mary as their patron.

The day-long conference addressed the question 'The Future of Psychiatry' to mark the organisation's 10th anniversay. B.T. reported that Crown Princess Mary awarded the Foundation's annual prize to former Danish prime minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. Mary left the proceedings several times during the day to breastfeed and be with Prince Christian who was in a room nearby.



* Little Prince Christian joined his mother at work. Mary left the conference a couple of times during the day to breastfeed. While Mary was at the conference, the nanny Mette Hansen took prince Christian for a walk in the pram.

Mary @ Danish Mental Health Fund annivarsary

Today, Crown Princess Mary attended an all day event for one of her
patronages (she has 18). It is a jubilee to mark the Danish Mental Health Fund's 10th anniversary.



Click here to watch the video.

Crown Princess Mary presented a prize to former Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen:




Also, last Wednesday (March 1) Mary attended a non-publicised meeting of the Danish Heart Association, so no photos.

What's up?

Left, Skaugum outside Oslo.

Frederik, Mary and Christian have spent the weekend at the home of the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway, actually an organic farm outside of Oslo. We don't really have photos of the goings on because the Norwegian couple's home Skaugum is a private property. Likewise with the christening, there were no arrival and departure photos because all the proceedings were inside the Royal Palace in Oslo. It was extremely cold in Oslo over the weekend (around -16 to -8!)so not too amenable to the outdoor life!

This is the christening gift by the Nowegian Government to Prince Sverre Magnus. His art appreciation starts early!

Good friends Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja of Norway are now together on their annual skiing holiday.

Right, as Sverre Magnus is held by his grandmother Queen Sonja, Ingrid, the future queen of Norway takes in the christening from the stairs while her half-brother Marius checks her out.

Here are some news reports....

A pre-christening story from Hello! magazine.


A prince and his heir take to the air

by Fiona Hudson in London
5 March 2006




Denmark's newest royal hit the road again yesterday as his parents took him on his second official visit outside Denmark.
Crown Prince Frederik and Australian-born Princess Mary arrived in Norway with four-month-old Christian for Europe's latest royal christening.
Looking happy and relaxed, the prince carted his first-born across the airport tarmac in an expensive-looking baby capsule amid low-key security.
Rosy-cheeked Prince Christian was well rugged up against the cold.
One of the endearing features of the royal couple has been Prince Frederik's willingness to be seen in public as a doting father.
The royals were in Oslo for the christening of Prince Sverre Magnus, son of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The Norwegians were among the host of royals and other dignitaries who recently attended Christian's own christening.
Last month his parents took him on a whistle-stop tour to Germany.
A proposed trip to Australia has been put off until 2007.
From Sydney's The Daily Telegraph.

Meanwhile, a bit of cultural exchange has been reported in Australia and Denmark:

Danes flock to see land where Mary was born

By Phillip Hudson
March 5, 2006

THE fairytale marriage of Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik to Australian-born Mary Donaldson has created a tourism boom.
Since the prince found his bride in a pub during the Sydney Olympics, there has been a 23 per cent leap in the number of Danes visiting Australia.
Last year Danish tourist arrivals increased by 10 per cent to 22,597 people . Although it was just a fraction of the 5.5million visitors to Australia in 2005, the rise is against the trend for Europe and is being attributed to just one person.
"I am 100 per cent quite sure this is because of the royal wedding," says Danish consul- general Jorgen Mollegaard Kristensen. "So many people want to see where the Crown Princess was born and where she came from."
Many Danes were curious about Australia because they had seen so much about it on TV.
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said Tourism Australia had tried to capitalise on the publicity, particularly by attracting Danish backpackers.
"With her glamour and down-to-earth style, Princess Mary has proved a real success for Danish tourism to Australia," Ms Bailey said.
"In Denmark, awareness and interest in Australia has skyrocketed and more and more Danes are now making the trek Down Under. Last year's royal visit was very successful, with the accompanying Danish media beaming fantastic images back into Europe."
Asked if other Danes hoped to find their husband or wife in Australia, Mr Kristensen replied: "It could easily be so." But he also said Australians could be looking for love in Denmark. "I have girls call me and ask, How do I find a Danish prince?'," he said.
The Bureau of Statistics said since 2001 there had been a 37 per cent rise in the number of Australians visiting Denmark.
From Sydney's The Sun Herald/SMH and Denmark's B.T.

It has also been reported in Tasmania's Hobart Mercury that preliminary visits and meetings anticipate a sister city relationship between Hobart and Viborg. Both are the second oldest cities in their respective countries.
Links: Discover Tasmania 2 3 4 5 6 7 and Viborg 2 3 4 5 6

Photos from the christening of Sverre Magnus

This handout picture shows the Norwegian Royal family and guests posing at the Royal Palace prior to the baptising ceremony of Prince Sverre Magnus. First row from left Countess Ruth, H.M. Queen Margrethe of Denmark H.K.H. Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway, H.K.H. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway Marius Borg Hoiby, H.M. Queen Sonja of Norway and Princess Ragnhild. Second row from left, Johan Martin Ferner, Princess Astrid, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, H.M. King Harald of Norway Crown Prince Haakon of Norway with Prince Sverre Magnus, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Leah Isadora Behn, Princess Martha Louise of Norway, Maud Angelica Behn and Ari Behn. Third row from left Bjorn Steinsland, Espen Hoiby, Princess M‡xima of Netherlands, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Princess Rosario of Bulgaria, Prince Kyril of Bulgaria and Marianne Gjellestad.

Norwegian TV link

If you want to watch the Norwegian christening go to :

NRK Nett TV

Click on 'Klikk her for å åpne NRK Nett-TV' . It is 1 hr 10 min.

_____________________________________________________________
The above link will take you to the replay of the christening posted by Norwegian TV.

For a taste before we get more photos, these images are from NRK TV:

Little Prince Sverre Magnus, he was not a happy little baby for part of the service.

The Norwegian Crown Princely family, Haakon, Ingrid, Mette-Marit, Marius and baby Magnus.

The beginning of the ceremony, you can see Queen Margrethe, Frederik and Mary on the left of the picture.

They've arrived!

March 3, 2006. Royals arrive at Oslo airport for the Christening of Prince Sverre Magnus.

Frederik at Seaman's Society 150th anniversary

Christianshavn, Copenhagen. March 2, 2006 - Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark is presented with a teddy bear in Royal Guard uniform by Chairman Carsten Nielsen for his baby son, Prince Christian, when the 150th anniversary of The Seamen's Home was celebrated. The home, which was renovated in 2001, contains 83 apartments for seamen and seamen's widows.

Off to Norway tomorrow

Left, the Royal Palace, Oslo, Norway.

This weekend Frederik, Mary, Christian and Queen Margrethe are going to Oslo in Norway to attend the christening of Crown Prince Haakon's and Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son Sverre Magnus, born 3 December 2005. So here are some links to give you some advance FYI.

The Royal House of Norway has announced Prince Sverre Magnus’s godparents:
The godparents chosen by Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess for their son Prince Sverre Magnus will be Her Majesty The Queen, Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Her Royal Highness Princess Rosario of Bulgaria, Mr. Espen Høiby, Mr. Bjørn Steinsland and Ms. Marianne Gjellestad.

The christening ceremony will be held in the chapel inside the Royal Palace (and guided tour) in Oslo. Get to know the Norwegian Royal Family, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and Princess Rosario of Bulgaria. Espen Høiby is CPss Mette-Marit's brother, while Bjørn Steinsland and Marianne Gjellestad are friends of Haakon and Mette-Marit. Read about the christening here in Aftenposten.

On Saturday (daytime) when Norwegian television webcasts the christening, we will post a link here if you want to watch in real time. The NRK webcast will begin at 11.50am local time. This is a World Clock time zone converter so you can work out the time of the christening in your time zone. In the meantime, you might be interested to check out NRK TV, The Norway Post and Aftenposten (all in English).

Frederik, Mary and Christian will go to Norway tomorrow and stay until Sunday. Frederik was 'best man' to Haakon when he married Mette-Marit and he is godfather to their first child and heir to the throne, Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The Danish and Norwegian royal families have very close links, both historical and personal.

Frederik, Mary & Christian go to a christening....

Frederik, Mary and Christian attended the christening celebration of little India Handwerk last Saturday according to Billed-Bladet this week.

India's parents Jeppe and Birgitte are friends of Frederik and Mary, indeed, Jeppe is one of Christian's godfathers. Little India was christened at Kastels Church in Copenhagen with 100 guests present. Christian wasn't actually at the christening ceremony in the church, but Mary picked him up from Amalienborg and took him to the reception afterwards. Frederik is one of India's godparents. Jeppe Handwerk is Frederik's best friend of longstanding.



Left, last summer in France, above, recently at Schackenborg.

Meanwhile, Frederik's divorced brother Prince Joachim has had his suspected girlfriend to visit at his manor house Schackenborg says Billed-Bladet. We will see how this story develops!