Melbourne was the next stop

Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and Christian spent the night and today in Melbourne. Mary's friend Amber Petty now lives back in Melbourne, so presumably they caught up, along with other friends from Mary's Melbourne days. The Crown Prince family are presumed to now be in Sydney. Where? We will see no doubt!

Crown Princess Mary is the patron of the The Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Read the Better Buddies Program 2006 and read about Walter Mikac and follow the links to find out why this is important to Mary. Also a link to the Aspendale Gardens Primary School and info about their student wellbeing/better buddies approach which Mary has helped connect to new programs in Denmark. Mary is involved in a working party for the Red Barnet/Save the Children Fund in Denmark to mobilise anti-bullying programs in Danish schools based on the model developed in Australia and promoted by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. If you have sharp eyes you will see John Bertram, the captain of Mary's boat in the pre-wedding match race in Copenhagen, who is involved with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.



November 29, 2006. Melbourne, VIC. Princess Mary visit to Aspendale Primary School. Crown Princess Mary saying goodbye and smiling at the childrens' parents waiting outside the grounds.



November 29, 2006. Melbourne, Vic. Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark visit Southbank precinct for lunch.


.... and some media reports.


From The Herald Sun (Melbourne):

Eat, drink and be Mary

Kelly Ryan and Chloe Adams
November 30, 2006 12:00am

CROWN Princess Mary proved she is the people's princess yesterday.
The royal popped in to a suburban state primary school and lunched on the balcony of a popular Melbourne cafe.
After flying into Melbourne on Jetstar the day before, Princess Mary looked cool and stylish in white pants and jacket as she strolled past stunned shoppers at Southbank.
Her casually dressed husband, Crown Prince Frederik, looked relaxed as he walked beside her.
The down-to-earth couple chose popular eatery Blue Train for a quick bite.
It was a sentimental visit for Mary, who used to lunch there when she worked for a nearby advertising agency.
While diners chatted in nearby seats unaware of the royal presence, the pair sat quietly at table 418.
They munched on a salad then had coffee.
Both sipped tap water with a slice of lemon.
Four plain-clothes security guards seated nearby blended in well until one was called on to escort the princess to the ladies' room.
Waitresses sighed with relief when the royals left, one quipping: "The boys have gone off to faint".
Mary spent the morning with excited children at Aspendale Gardens Primary School.
The surprise visit was a chance for her to learn first-hand about Better Buddies, a program initiative of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, of which she is international patron.
Designed to stop schoolyard bullying, Better Buddies matches older students with their younger classmates.
Alannah and Madeline Foundation chairman John Bertrand said the school was chosen as one of 700 across the nation to introduce the program.
Princess Mary plans to implement a variation of Better Buddies in Danish schools through Save the Children Denmark.
She proved a hit with the kids during her two-hour visit.
"It was fantastic. You know, she is quite a lady," Mr Bertrand said.
"She learnt a lot and she is very inquisitive and intelligent and the kids loved it.
"They were all struck with this woman of Denmark. The kids were just looking at her and interested in this young woman and were totally honest about the Better Buddies program.
"You can't fool kids -- they are straight to the point."
The princess visited several classes and asked the children questions.
"She was drilling down to understand how the program works and it was very exciting, I must say," Mr Bertrand said.
Prince Frederik spent the morning at St Kilda children's store Chalk n Cheese, where he bought clothing for son Christian.


From The Hobart Mercury:
Mary steps out in Melbourne

November 29, 2006 12:00am

CROWN Princess Mary tried to shun publicity when she made a surprise low key and private visit to a suburban primary school this morning.
The Danish royal who hails from Down Under popped in to Aspendale Gardens Primary School for a lesson on the Alannah and Madeline Foundation's Better Buddies program.
As International Patrol of the Foundation, the Crown Princess hopes to implement a variation of the Better Buddies Framework in Danish schools through Save the Children Denmark.
The program aims to reduce the incidence and effect of schoolyard bullying.
Alannah and Madeline Foundation chairman John Bertrand said Princess Mary was relaxed and delightful with the primary schoolchildren during her two hour visit.
Aspendale Gardens Primary was chosen for the royal visit because it was one of the first schools to adopt Better Buddies in which older students are given responsibility for the youngest kids in their school communities.
Excited children could be heard screaming in glee during Princess Mary's visit.
Shoppers at Melbourne's Southgate received a royal surprise when Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik visited today.

Seven News video clip (1:15) The day Princess Mary came to school 7News - Wed Nov 29 4:46 PM EST
Princess Mary has given a group of Melbourne school kids a thrill, surprising them with a visit to their school.

Sky News Australia Online:

Mary in Melbourne

Princess Mary has given a group of Melbourne school-kids a thrill with a surprise visit to Aspendale Gardens Primary School.
The tour was kept top secret operation, with the students only finding out about their special guest at the last moment.
Princess Mary was touring the school to learn about their 'Better Buddies' program, which is an anti-bullying scheme the Princess wants to take back to Denmark.
Melbourne is the second last destination for the Royals' Australian visit, before they head off to Sydney.

The Age (Melbourne)

Princess Mary 'staying in Melbourne'

November 29, 2006 - 6:24AM

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, along with their son Prince Christian, are believed to be staying in Melbourne.
The Danish royals are staying at Como in suburban South Yarra, according to News Limited.
Mary left Tasmania after spending six days with her family on a private visit.
The Hobart-born princess flew from Hobart to Melbourne with her 13-month-old son.
Crown Prince Frederik is believed to have left Hobart on Tuesday morning.
Royal protocol does not allow Frederik to fly with his son, who is second in line to the Danish throne.
Mary is expected to visit NSW before returning to Denmark early next month.
The royal family spent time in Hobart with Mary's sisters and browsed through galleries and market stalls in the city's historic Salamanca precinct.
The princess showed little sign of a baby bump despite recently announcing she will have her second child in May.
The family managed to evade the media for the final two days of the visit, spending time with Mary's relatives at an unknown location.
© 2006 AAP

From The Daily Telegraph - Sydney Confidential

No-frills Princess thrills

November 29, 2006 12:00

MAGDA Szubanski may be a crowd favourite for her hilarious Jetstar commercials.
But yesterday a no-frills Princess Mary and her royal son Christian proved the best advertisement for the domestic airline, hopping on board for the next leg of their Aussie adventure holiday.
Adding to her image of having the common touch, travelling cattle class like everyone else for the flight to Melbourne, the move also caught out a few paparazzi who expected the Danish royal to travel in private jet set style.
Crown Prince Fred got up early to give the waiting press the slip, travelling on a seperate flight - believed to meet royal protocol, which discourages the heir and spare from flying together.
The royal couple are expected to catch up with Mary's bridesmaid Amber Petty in Melbourne, before joining friends in Sydney later this week.

From The Courier Mail (Brisbane)

She's apples until next time

November 28, 2006 11:00pm

CROWN Princess Mary has farewelled Tasmania, after a six-day visit to the state, with a low-key departure yesterday.
The Tasmanian-born princess and her 13-month-old son Prince Christian left Hobart just before 3pm aboard a flight bound for Melbourne, while Prince Frederik is believed to have left the state earlier in the day.
Mary's departure wrapped up a six-day private stay by the royal trio, who spent time visiting the former Tasmanian schoolgirl's family.
Avoiding the departure lounge, Mary and Christian were driven on to the tarmac by a procession of vehicles, their black Audi 4WD flanked by Federal Police and security personnel.
Smiling, Mary stepped from the Audi, her dark hair, dangling earrings and long cream and black skirt blowing in the light breeze.
As aircrew loaded her luggage – including Christian's pram – on to the plane, the prince, dressed in a long-sleeve grey top and grey pants, looked to the sky as Mary pointed out a helicopter flying overhead.
Royal protocol does not allow Frederik to fly with his son, who is second in line to the Danish throne.

Next stop? Frederik, Mary & Christian leave Tasmania

Crown Princess Mary carries her son Prince Christian across the tarmac to her plane out of Hobart yesterday.

Media reports this afternoon Australian time are that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary with Prince Christian have left Tasmania.

The Hobart Mercury
Mary's no-fuss flight out

LINDA SMITH
November 29, 2006 12:00am

CROWN Princess Mary has farewelled Tasmania after a six-day visit to the state with a low-key departure from Hobart Airport yesterday.
The Tasmanian-born Princess and her 13-month-old son Prince Christian left just before 3pm yesterday aboard a Jetstar flight bound for Melbourne, while Crown Prince Frederik is believed to have left earlier in the day.
Mary's departure wrapped up a private stay by the royal trio, who spent time with the former Taroona schoolgirl's family.
Avoiding the departure lounge, Mary and Christian were driven onto the tarmac by a procession of vehicles, their black Audi 4WD flanked by Federal Police and security personnel.
Judy Owen, from Hobart, at the airport farewelling her son, said she was surprised the departure was so low key.
"I thought there would have been a few family members to wave her off, but obviously she just wanted to slip away quietly," Ms Owen said.
A smiling Mary stepped from the Audi, her dark hair, dangling earrings and long cream and black skirt blowing in the light breeze.
Reflecting the warm spring weather, Mary finished her outfit with an oatmeal-coloured cardigan over a white singlet, flat black shoes and some gold bangles.
With an oversized cream bag draped over one shoulder and Prince Christian on her hip, the pregnant princess -- who is expecting the couple's second child early in May -- showed little sign of a baby bump.
As aircrew loaded her luggage, including Christian's pram, onto the plane, the little prince, dressed in a long sleeve grey top and grey pants, excitedly looked to the sky as Mary pointed out a helicopter flying overhead.
Mary stopped to thank her driver before boarding, and the plane departed immediately.
The family are expected to spend time in New South Wales before returning to Denmark early next month.
Unlike Mary's arrival, when she was greeted by members of Tasmania's Danish community and waiting media, her departure was a secret, low-key affair.
The departure lounge was empty except for a handful of Tasmanians farewelling family and friends, and some, like avid royal watcher Ms Owen, were excited by their accidental brush with royalty.
"I'm a royalist and I particularly like her, I think she's really nice," she said of Mary.
She said her son would be pleased Mary was on his flight.
The royal couple last visited Australia in March last year, when Mary was two months pregnant with Christian.


From The Herald Sun (Melbourne)

Princess Mary winds up Tassie trip

November 28, 2006 03:54pm

CROWN Princess Mary has left Tasmania after spending six days with her family on a private visit.
The Hobart-born princess flew from Hobart to Melbourne this afternoon with her one-year-old son, Prince Christian.
She is expected to spend time in New South Wales before returning to Denmark early next month.
Crown Prince Frederik is believed to have left Hobart this morning.
Royal protocol does not allow Frederik to fly with his son, who is second in line to the Danish throne.
The royal family spent time in Hobart with Mary's sisters and browsed through galleries and market stalls in the city's historic Salamanca precinct.
The princess showed little sign of a baby bump despite recently announcing she will have her second child in May.
The family managed to evade the media for the final two days of the visit, spending time with Mary's relatives at an unknown location.


Same story from The Daily Telegraph in Sydney.
Also The Sydney Morning Herald

Frederik & Mary at Anders Lassen Foundation awards

We posted here in our last roundup that Frederik had attended the award of the Crown Prince Frederik Scholarship of the Anders Lassen Foundation on November 9. We didn't have photos of that event at the time and we didn't know that Crown Princess Mary had attended the 10th anniversary dinner of the Foundation. The current issue of Billed Bladet (no.47) has a story and photos, so we thought we would have a retrospective coverage of this event.

Some general background: On the 9th November the Anders Lassen Foundation marked its 10th anniversary with a dinner in Copenhagen. Crown Prince Frederik, who is the patron for the foundation, took part along with Crown Princess Mary.
The handing out af grants normally takes place at a reception at Amalienborg Palace, but this year 62 guests celebrated the dinner at Hotel Phoenix. The Crown Prince handed out three grants. One grant for 25.000 DKK went to first luietenant of the reserve, Jacob Hou Larsen, who was wounded in August, a grant for 50.000 DKK to The Social Network of Jæger Corps and a grant for 35.000 DKK for a member of Jægerkorpset, who is still operational (i.e. still on his tour of duty, presumably in Afghanistan).
The Anders Lassen Foundation was started in 1996 on the initiative of Jæger (member of Jæger Corps) Nikolai Moltke-Leth, and since 1998 it has handed out a total of 17 grants. The tasks of the foundation, among other things, is to reward significant military efforts and to support and encourage wounded Danish personel. It is the Jæger Corps which administers the foundation which has taken its name from Major Anders Lassen. During the Second World War Anders Lassen served as a volunteer in the Special Boat Squadron - the legendary British special corps, which operated in the Mediterranian among other places. Major Lassen was killed on 9th April 1945 at Comacchio in Italy, where he single-handedly took out a German machine gun position. The 24 year old major was mortally wounded, but insisted on being left behind, so that the rest of the patrol could get away. Anders Lassen was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously - the highest military honor for British forces.
The chairman of the Anders Lassen Foundation, Poul Lynggaard, mentioned in his speech to the Crown Prince Couple and the other guests why the foundation has taken its name after the Danish major, "The Jæger Corps and Frømands Corps have a great admiration for the effort of Anders Lassen during the Second World War, both militarily and socially. He is a role model to look up to in the two corps".

And from from Billed Bladet this week we learn even more. Sixty two people gathered in the reception room in the basement beneath Hotel Phoenix in Copenhagen, including Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. It was a party which had not been announced in advance. It was kept secret because many participants of the party are serving in one of Denmark’s two special forces – Jægerkorpset (the Jaeger Corps) and the navy’s Frømandskorps (Frogman Corps - in which Frederik served, although he has trained in every part of the Danish military). The press was not invited either, however there was the military’s own photographer to record the event. The Crown Prince Couple was there because Frederik is the patron for the Anders Lassen Foundation and perhaps not least because the Crown Prince is a soldier himself. He knows what the Danish soldiers sent out in service of the peace go through and he knows how dangerous their mission often can be.
It was completely still in the room, when Crown Prince Frederik rose up and delivered his speech for the recipients of the grants. Then 61 people rose and applauded for the man sitting in his wheelchair receiving the tribute.
First lieutenant Jacob Hou Larsen, age 29, from Jydske Dragonregiment in Holstebro, ha been marked for life by the injuries sustained when he was wounded in Iraq. Three months earlier, on 16th August, he was on a patrol outside the town Al Qurnah in Iraq when the patrol came under fire. Only one shot from a firearm was fired and it struck Jacob Hou Larsen in the back, millimetres from the spine and he was quickly flown to the British military hospital in Basra.
In the following days his condition was critical and he underwent two major surgeries and was later transferred to Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.
Jacob Hou Larsen had his girlfriend Charlotte Pold by his side when Crown Prince Frederik presented him with the grant for 25.000 DKK from the Anders Lassen Foundation after a moving speech.
- “Jacob Hou Larsen has maintained a positive view on life and a never failing optimism despite the very difficult situation he was in after his severe injuries. Afterwards, during his treatment at Rigshospitalet he maintained a strong and level-headed view on life. It is a view that is enforced by the first lieutenant’s attitude and loyalty towards his comrades in the military”, said the Crown Prince in his speech.
“I’m proud and honoured to receive the grant”, said Jocob Hou Larsen to Billed Bladet.“Apart from that, there is not much I feel like saying right now. I’m now working on my rehabilitation. It’s a long process and it is still to be seen whether I’m paralysed for life”.

Billed Bladet also says Mary and Frederik have been busy lately. And in the middle of being busy they have also had to prepare for their journey to Australia with little Christian. But there had to be time for one particular party for the recipients of this year's Anders Lassen Foundation awards.
This year it’s ten years ago that the ex-captain in Jæger Corps, Nicolai Moltke-Leth (speaking in third photo), founded the Anders Lassen Foundation. The jubilee was celebrated with a gala-dinner at Hotel Phoenix in Copenhagen, where all the recipients of grants from the past ten years – except for one, who at present is on a mission abroad – and personnel from the two Danish elite forces, Jægerkorpset and Frømandskorpset were also present.
The party was the last the Crown Prince Couple managed to take part in before their visit to Mary’s family in Australia. It was obvious that they both wanted to be present before their private holiday in Mary’s homeland. Mary was happy to among those who payed tribute to the recipients of the evenings grants. It was also a relaxed and happy Frederik, who was among good colleagues. Crown Princess Mary was also relaxed and smiling throughout the entire evening. The pregnant Crown Princess looked stunning in brown colours, slim and and in fine shape. She enjoyed sparkling mineral water the whole evening. Only when she stood up, did a charming bump reveal that Mary is four months pregnant. The guests enjoyed a four course menu with wines, most of which were from Australia. In between the main course and the dessert the recipients of this year's grants were where honoured. (With thanks to Muhler for translation from Billed Bladet no. 47.)



We have also included a story and photos in the current Billed Bladet in our post about the launch of the Crown Princess Mary Rose in Hobart just before Mary's arrival. Sisters Jane and Patricia say they think of their mother every day. Click here to see the translated story and photos from the launch. (Many thanks once again to Muhler for translation!) Below, Jane and Patricia at the launch, Frederik arriving in Australia the evening before Mary and Christian, and, as we reported earlier, Mary went straight from the prize giving at Red Barnet here to the airport to fly to Australia.



Also, Hello! magazine has a story Mary merges in with the crowd on market trip

In Tasmania, somewhere.....

"We're going that way!"

The Hobart Mercury has reported that the Donaldsons have gone bush today for some wilderness experience, or perhaps beach house time on the east coast of Tasmania near Swansea.

Media bushed as Mary disappears

KATHY GRUBE
November 27, 2006 12:00am

THE Danish royals have disappeared into Tasmania's wilderness for a Donaldson family reunion.
Photos of Princess Mary, the former Hobart girl, have graced the Mercury front page and television news since she arrived in the state for a private family holiday last Wednesday.
But yesterday the royal clan eluded the media.
It is believed they left the West Hobart home of Mary's sister Jane Stephens early in the morning.
Although the destination is secret, it is thought Princess Mary, Prince Frederik and baby son Christian will spend the next few days at a remote location with the Donaldson clan.
Mary's father, Prof John Donaldson, who is now working at the University of Copenhagen, was spotted shopping with his royal daughter at Salamanca Market at the weekend, making it more likely the family has planned a secret getaway in the state.
And Prince Frederik was spotted stocking up on food for a barbecue at their nearby Hill Street Grocer on Saturday.
The royal couple also evaded media during their last Tasmanian trip in March 2005.
After a few days on Tasmania's East Coast for the wedding of Mary's cousin at Swansea, they disappeared for almost a week.
They were spotted one day at Strahan and were thought to have stayed at an exclusive trout fishing lodge at London Lakes on the Central Plateau.
There are rumours that the family may have booked out the secluded Blue Lake Lodge on the shore of Arthurs Lake.
Blue Lake Lodge, which has room for six guests,%

Mary goes to market

A kiss for Christian from mother Mary yesterday.
Photo in The Sun Herald: Per Groth

Family time in Hobart continues for the Donaldsons. Family members gathered are Jane and Craig Stephens and their children Alexander, Erin and Kate, Patricia and Scott Bailey and their daughter Mollie and Patricia's two older children Michael and Maddison, also John, Mary's brother, his wife Leanne and their daughters Sheree and Michelle and John Donaldson senior. There are other family members no doubt, but we haven't seen them in photos yet. Frederik and John (brother) have been out and about together and generally Mary seems determined to just be in her home town and enjoy the things she loves about her original home. Christian's nanny Mette Hansen (second photo below) is also out and about and obviously warmly embraced within the Donaldson clan.



From The Sunday Tasmanian:

If it's Saturday, it's Salamanca for Mary
by Kane Young
November 26, 2006 12:00am

[The Sunday Tasmanian is the Sunday version of The Hobart Mercury]
SALAMANCA shoppers got more than they bargained for yesterday as Princess Mary and her entourage descended on the market to pick up some mementos of home.
The princess, who arrived for a holiday on Wednesday, is believed to have made two trips to the market yesterday, browsing in the early morning before returning in the afternoon.
Pushing baby Prince Christian in a pram, she was surrounded by family members, including her father John Donaldson, and security guards.
But Crown Prince Frederik was nowhere to be seen during the afternoon shopping mission.
Princess Mary bought some Tasmanian memorabilia and looked at clothing and jewellery, shadowed by a horde of photographers and TV cameras.
As well as the professional media, many market patrons were seen pulling out mobile phones to take snapshots of the princess, and then calling friends to boast of their close encounter with royalty.
With her shopping done, Princess Mary stopped to accept gifts for Christian from members of the public before walking along Salamanca lawns and past the Silo Apartments to a black 4WD, parked near the CSIRO. [Australian Government Scientific and Research Organisation building in Hobart]
After loading Christian and her purchases into the car, Princess Mary waved and said hello to well-wishers before jumping behind the wheel, doing a U-turn and driving off through Battery Point.
Senator Guy Barnett said Tasmania should avoid becoming like Europe, where Mary and Frederik have "paparazzi chasing them down" everywhere they go.
"They've been very, very kind to Tasmania," he said. "We've got to now call it quits and let them enjoy their holiday."

From The Sun Herald

Princess Mary in the market for a mystery

By Matthew Benns
November 26, 2006

CROWN Princess Mary took her son shopping at the markets of Hobart yesterday.
Happily mingling with crowds, the princess pushed son Christian, in a blue stroller, through the historic Salamanca Markets.
It was a relaxed Saturday morning for the princess, who is in Australia for a two-week personal visit with husband Crown Prince Frederik.
She was with sister Patricia Bailey, her two nieces and father John Donaldson for the trip to the markets. Like many husbands on holiday, Prince Frederik opted to duck the shopping trip.
Although it is a low-key visit, with the royals ignoring luxury hotels to stay at the West Hobart home of Mary's sister Jane Stephens, as many as four Danish bodyguards shadowed their every move.
The princess, who is three months pregnant, spent a great deal of time pondering earrings at one stall and colourful blankets at another.
She made a purchase that was carefully wrapped in a black plastic bag and plumped on top of the stroller for the rest of the shopping expedition.
Prince Christian stayed tucked up under a white blanket and only put in an appearance as his mum lifted him up, gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and popped the 13-month-old into a car.
The day before, the Danish royals had made their only official appearance of their visit with a photo call at Bonorong Wildlife Park, north of Hobart.
Prince Christian, nicknamed the kingaroo in Denmark, made an impression there with a swift kick to the head of a pademelon.

Frederik, Mary & Christian photocall

24 November, 2006. Crown Prince Frederik & Crown Princess Mary of Denmark pose with their son Prince Christian at a photo call held at Bonorong Park Wildlife Centre at the start of their private visit to Mary's hometown of Hobart, Tasmania. The couple are expected to spend at least a week visiting family in Tasmania, where Mary grew up.



NEW! Madeleine Glindorf's site (90 photos!)

Christian mixes with the locals

Today Crown Princess Mary took Prince Christian to the playground at her nieces' school near sister Jane Stephens' house with other family members before an afternoon appointment at a wildlife park outside Hobart for a media photo call.

From The Hobart Mercury:
Zoo time for royalty

PHILIPPA DUNCAN
November 25, 2006 12:00am

Right, young Prince Christian is fascinated by Bam Bam the pademelon at Bonorong Wiildlife Park yesterday.

LITTLE Prince Christian met some marsupials yesterday, but the future King of Denmark found the line of flashing cameras much more strange and foreign.
Mum and Dad tried to tempt their little boy with koalas, echidnas, blue-tongue lizards, wombat and a potoroo, but Christian preferred to point at the cameras.
He peered quizzically around his father's shoulder at the entranced members of the media.
The little boy came face to face with the sort of fuss and attention that will follow him for the rest of his life, and he took notice.
"He's not used to so many cameras," said Danish royal reporter Anna Johannesen.
"He would not have seen so many.
"At the christening he was not old enough (to notice them)."



Left, Prince Christian shrinks back from the blue tongue lizards as Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik watch.


Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik made their first and only official appearance yesterday afternoon when they visited Bonorong Wildlife Park at Brighton.
Mary and Frederik, who have perfected the art of acting normally in the face of a 30-metre line of photographers, joked that they often felt like they lived in a zoo.
"Especially today," observed Mary, who is displaying a tiny baby bump, to the fenced-off pack of more than 50 photographers, reporters and camera people.
"But it is you who are behind the fence."
Christian, who took his first public steps clutching dad's hand yesterday, will have to wait until next year to discover whether he has a brother or a sister.
The couple said they did not know, and did not want to know, the sex of their second child, who is due in early May.
Dressed stylishly in a grey cotton blouse with beige pants, the pregnant Mary fended off questions about whether she she was buying blue or pink for her new baby.
"We don't know the colour yet," she replied.
"We don't want to know," chipped in Frederik.
They posed for about 20 minutes for the cameras with their 13-month-old son before waving the royal goodbye.
One journalist asked Frederik whether the media intrusion had been OK.
"Yeah, so far, but we expect it to get better," the prince said hopefully, before driving off with his wife and son, trailed by a carload of burly security men.

TV2.dk video clip (1:00)

DR.dk video clip (00:40)

Seven Network News clip (1:40) 'Danish Royals spend a day at the zoo'

Nine News clip (2:00) 'Prince's furry friends'

Prince Christian meets native fauna in mum's homeland in Hello! magazine

ABC News Online 'Mary, Frederik take their Kingaroo to a wildlife park'

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

Daily Telegraph photo gallery (nice pics!)

TV2 photo gallery

TV2 article 'Prins Christian kælede med koala'

B.T. photo gallery

B.T. 'Mary og Frederik blandt koalaer og kænguruer'

Added:
Fyens Stiftstidende photo gallery

Politiken photo gallery

From The Sydney Morning Herald (with evidence, yet again, of a weird Herald headline! In case you need a primer it is supposed to be a twist on 'You're in trouble, Mary'):
Urine trouble, Mary

Andrew Darby in Hobart
November 24, 2006 - 9:35PM
Denmark's Crown Princess Mary introduced her toddler son to Tasmanian wildlife today, but the royal little boy seemed more enthralled by the photographers and camera crews who came along.

Mary and Crown Prince Frederik took 13-month-old Christian to a wildlife park outside Hobart.
About 70 members of the media stood behind a cordon to take pictures of the Danish trio as they posed with some very Australian icons.
A less than lens-shy Christian seemed more interested in the cameras and boom microphones and pointed to the media scrum several times only to be refocussed by his parents on the animals.
Rangers offered up blue-tongued lizards, a wombat and a range of other picturesque Aussie wildlife to the royal family.
But the visit soon took a comical turn as Mary dodged a spray of echidna urine and the offending animal was quickly taken away.
"Very close," said the princess, who being born in Australia should know the perils of appearing with local wildlife.
Rangers then returned with a small pademelon, a gentle and harmless type of wallaby, which was swiftly rewarded with a kick in the head from Christian.
Dressed stylishly in a grey cotton blouse with beige pants, the pregnant Mary fended off questions about whether she she was buying blue or pink for her new baby, due in March.
"We don't know the colour yet," she replied.
"We don't want to know," chipped in Frederik.
The heir to Denmark's throne and his Tasmanian-born wife are visiting her family for the first time since Christian's birth.
In a brief exchange they told reporters they were enjoying their stay but declined to elaborate on their holiday plans.
Today's picture opportunity was arranged in the hope that the media will leave the royal family alone for the rest of their time in Australia.
The irony of the location was not lost on journalists, one of whom cheekily asked Frederik if he felt he was the one in a zoo.
"What do you think," the prince called back.
The last word, however, went to Mary, as the royals' escape plan became clear.
"You're actually behind the fence," she told journalists, as the family made their escape and the media was left locked in the zoo for 20 minutes behind them. - with AAP

From The Hobart Mercury

Christian's first day at school

PHILIPPA DUNCAN
November 24, 2006 02:05pm

CROWN Princess Mary has shaken off the jetlag and was up early today to play with her son at a local West Hobart school.
Mary and a delighted 13-month-old Christian were spotted using the play equipment at the Lansdowne Crescent Primary School at 9am.
Mary's sister Jane Stephens, an unidentified blonde woman who flew in with Mary, two girls and a burly body guard completed the party.
Mary protectively nursed Christian in her lap on the swings while two federal police officers kept watch from a parked car 50m away.
Anybody who came near were questioned and asked to respect the Princess's privacy.
After about half an hour's play, a crowd of photographers had gathered and Mary decided it was time to leave.
The future Queen of Denmark, dressed in grey sweat pants, a casual black jacket and customary large sunglasses, pushed Christian up the hill to Jane's house, where she and Frederik have stayed since arriving in Hobart earlier this week.


From The Australian:
Princess Mary relaxes with family
By Robyn Grace
November 24, 2006
CROWN Princess Mary has hit the streets of West Hobart on the third day of her Australian family visit.
The Tasmanian-born princess looked comfortable as she pushed Prince Christian in a stroller through the West Hobart streets, where the Danish royals are staying.
Wearing grey pants, a black jacket and trainers, the pregnant princess looked relaxed as she enjoyed the morning stroll with her sister, Jane Stephens, and other family members.
Crown Prince Frederik left the house earlier in the morning, spending time at an unknown location before returning around midday.
The couple have arranged an official photo opportunity at an undisclosed location near Hobart this afternoon.
The photo call is the only official media event of their visit and the royals are expected to leave Hobart afterwards.
It is not known how long the couple, who married in 2004, are staying in Australia but the visit is also expected to include a stop in New South Wales.
Mary was living in Sydney when she met her husband during the 2000 Olympics. AAP

A few more photos from yesterday (and we will have more photos from the wildlife park soon):

Day two in Hobart

A media wrap of today's activities in Hobart.

From The Hobart Mercury:
Royals mosey down to Salamanca

KATHY GRUBE
November 24, 2006 12:00am

SHE was the picture-perfect mother, splashing in the fountain with her 13-month-old son while her husband shopped for board games.
The Danish royals ventured from their West Hobart base for a stroll through historic Salamanca in the late afternoon sunlight yesterday.
Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and their baby Christian joined Mary's two sisters and nieces for some fresh air and retail therapy after a day of relaxing at home.
Despite four body guards shadowing the family, the royals wandered almost unnoticed through Salamanca until a throng of television cameras and photographers gathered outside a shop in Salamanca Square.
First stop was Handmark Gallery where Mary made an unknown purchase.
Leaving Prince Frederik and his two Tasmanian nieces to investigate the puzzle and games store Socrates, Mary took little Christian to splash his hands in the Salamanca Square fountain.
Being at an easily distracted age, the jovial little Prince soon decided he wanted the pink plastic egg his cousin was holding, which she graciously handed over.
Twenty minutes later Prince Frederik returned to Mary's side with two bags of board games.
On their way back to the cars parked in Salamanca Place, the family browsed through locally made art at the Tasmania Shop and Gallery.
By this time a crowd of about 50 had gathered with cameras at the ready in the hope of catching sight of the royals.
Jess Rundle, 21, of West Hobart, and Razina Chivers, 21, of Mangalore, could not pass up the opportunity of speaking with the Princess.
"I was very nervous, but thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity so went up and introduced myself to her," Ms Chivers said.
"I asked if she would be in Tasmania long and she said she would be here for a couple of weeks.
"I told her that Jess and I worked at Maldini Cafe Restaurant and we invited her to come in one night for dinner.
"She asked me if the food was still good, and when I said yes, she told me she might come in for a meal."
With Prince Frederik walking ahead and Christian in his arms, Princess Mary stopped to chat to shop owners who had come out of their shops to see her.
The couple disappeared as quickly as they appeared, with Prince Frederik expertly securing Christian in the back seat of a black Audi station wagon while Mary packed away the pram.
She may live in a European castle and have personal servants, but Danish Crown Princess Mary is enjoying a down-to-earth family reunion in her home town of Hobart.
The three-month pregnant Mary, who told reporters that she was "extremely tired" from her flight, took it easy during her first full day of her private holiday in Tasmania, only venturing out for the stroll to Salamanca.
She spent most of the day chatting with relatives at her sister Jane Stephens' West Hobart home.
A barefoot Prince Frederik, who had arrived in Tasmania a day earlier, played with little Christian for most of the day.
The little Prince was clearly the centre of attention, with his Tasmanian cousins keen to capture his attention.
The indoor games extended to the outdoors briefly when Prince Frederik gently bounced Christian on the backyard trampoline with Mary's nieces. But a protective Mary, who was wary of photographers camped outside the house, called them back indoors.
The adults stayed indoors, although Mary's sisters made a few quick trips to re-stock supplies and run errands.
The royal couple and their son were expected to hold a press conference today.
From The Hobart Mercury photo gallery:




From National Nine News

Mary surprises shoppers with city stroll

Thursday Nov 23 18:52 AEDT
A refreshed Crown Princess Mary hit the streets of Hobart on Thursday, strolling through the city's historic Salamanca district with her family in tow.
The Danish royals delighted shoppers with a surprise appearance in the popular tourist precinct, a day after Mary and her year-old son Christian joined Crown Prince Frederik for a private family visit.
Accompanied by Frederik and her sisters, the Tasmanian-born princess made a purchase at the Handmark Gallery before browsing through other stores.
Wearing jeans and a cream sweater, Mary then sat patiently as Frederik continued to shop and Christian splashed his hands in the Salamanca Square fountain.
Media followed their every move as an even larger group of fans gathered to wish them well.
Razina Chivers, 21, of Mangalore near Hobart, greeted Mary as she shopped.
"I love her, I think she's beautiful," she said.
Spiro and Matina Parthenis were thrilled to have a brush with royalty during their holiday from Sydney.
"We knew she'd arrived and our friends jokingly sent SMS messages saying to say hello to Mary for us," Mrs Parthenis said.
Mary spent most of the second day of her Australian visit relaxing with family and taking in the sweeping city views from her sister's West Hobart home, where the royals are staying.
Frederik made a brief appearance outside the house on Thursday morning, bouncing Christian on a trampoline.
There was little other movement all day as Mary - who is pregnant with her second child - caught up with her sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, and some of their children.
A frustrated Mary declined to talk to the media as she struggled to load Christian's pram into their four-wheel-drive.
Frederik helped his wife with the pram before the family sped away, followed by their security.
The royal family's holiday plans are being kept tightly under wraps and a photo opportunity on Friday is the only official engagement planned during their stay.
©AAP 2006


Seven News:
Mary surprises shoppers with city stroll

Thursday November 23, 06:52 PM
A refreshed Crown Princess Mary hit the streets of Hobart on Thursday, strolling through the city's historic Salamanca district with her family in tow.
The Danish royals delighted shoppers with a surprise appearance in the popular tourist precinct, a day after Mary and her year-old son Christian joined Crown Prince Frederik for a private family visit.
Accompanied by Frederik and her sisters, the Tasmanian-born princess made a purchase at the Handmark Gallery before browsing through other stores.
Wearing jeans and a cream sweater, Mary then sat patiently as Frederik continued to shop and Christian splashed his hands in the Salamanca Square fountain.
Media followed their every move as an even larger group of fans gathered to wish them well.
Razina Chivers, 21, of Mangalore near Hobart, greeted Mary as she shopped.
"I love her, I think she's beautiful," she said.
Spiro and Matina Parthenis were thrilled to have a brush with royalty during their holiday from Sydney.
"We knew she'd arrived and our friends jokingly sent SMS messages saying to say hello to Mary for us," Mrs Parthenis said.
Mary spent most of the second day of her Australian visit relaxing with family and taking in the sweeping city views from her sister's West Hobart home, where the royals are staying.
Frederik made a brief appearance outside the house on Thursday morning, bouncing Christian on a trampoline.
There was little other movement all day as Mary - who is pregnant with her second child - caught up with her sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, and some of their children.
A frustrated Mary declined to talk to the media as she struggled to load Christian's pram into their four-wheel-drive.
Frederik helped his wife with the pram before the family sped away, followed by their security.
The royal family's holiday plans are being kept tightly under wraps and a photo opportunity on Friday is the only official engagement planned during their stay.

ABC News Online:
Royal trio do a spot of shopping

The Danish royals have been spotted out in public this afternoon, strolling through the shops of Hobart's Salamanca Place.
Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Christian are enjoying a week-long break with the Princess's relatives in Tasmania.
Having spent yesterday resting at the house of Princess Mary's sister, the royal trio have today ventured into the historic Salamanca precinct.
They wandered through toy shops and galleries.
Prince Christian also enjoyed a splash in the Salamanca Square Fountain.
Princess Mary's two sisters and some of her nieces joined them on the shopping trip.
They were being guarded by Tasmania Police dignitary protection officers.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark opens the door to speak to a journalist at her sister Jane Stephens' house in West Hobart, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006.


Ninemsn video clip (2:35) 'Princess Mary comes home'
Seven News video clip (0:28) 'Danish royals on private trip down under'

Some photos from POLFOTO (Abaca) 23 November:

From TV2 photo gallery which shows that Mary's brother, John Stuart Donaldson, (and presumably his family too) are at the Donaldson family gathering:

In Hobart...

Television evening news programs in Australia have shown the airport arrival footage from this morning and Frederik, Mary and Christian at sister Jane's house in West Hobart. It has just been reported on the Nine Network that Frederik, Mary and Christian are staying at Jane's house. Frederik spoke to a reporter pushing for an interview/info and he asked that they be left alone ('a fair go' in Ozspeak) and said that they would give a photo opportunity on Friday.

Also, from The Age (Melbourne) has similar info as earlier reports but adds that Frederik went shopping with Jane Stephens at a delicatessen before going to the airport this morning.

Mary, Frederik bring home their Kingaroo

November 22, 2006 - 11:18AM
Away from the formality of Denmark's royal palaces, Crown Princess Mary put her feet up in Hobart and showed her young son Australia for the first time.
Carrying 13-month old Prince Christian, a casually-dressed Mary got off a Qantas flight from Melbourne to be warmly embraced at Hobart airport by her waiting husband, Crown Prince Frederik.
The reunited royals looked like any other young family, and they are clearly hoping for a relaxed, private holiday, away from the media spotlight.
Later, speaking at the door of her sister Jane Stephens' home in West Hobart, Mary told AAP she "just wanted some time with family".
"I'm thrilled to be back and to see everyone, especially those who haven't seen Christian yet," she said, before retreating back inside the contemporary, glass-fronted home overlooking Hobart.
It is the Tasmanian-born Mary's first trip home to Australia since the birth of Christian, the half-Australian heir to the Danish throne who some have nicknamed Kingaroo.
And it's just a month since she announced she is expecting her second child, due in May.
Mary would not say how long she and Frederik plan to spend in Tasmania, although they are expected to stay with her sister Jane until at least Friday.
Mary looked relaxed and content as she caught up with nieces in the lounge area of the suburban home.
Although declaring she was "extremely tired" after her flight, she was excited to be reunited with Ms Stephens, her other sister, Patricia Bailey, and their families, she said.
A small media pack soon gathered outside the home but were asked by members of Tasmania's police dignitary protection squad to move on as the Danish royals "won't be going anywhere".
"Bearing in mind they have flown from the other side of the world ... the first thing they are looking for is bed," a spokesman said.
"They're in the family home and we'd ask you ... to respect that she is back at home on the first day of her holiday."
Mary and Frederik have agreed to one photo opportunity during their visit, in the hope the media will then respect their privacy.
It is not known when Frederik arrived in Hobart, but the future king of Denmark usually flies separately to his son, who is second in line to the Danish throne.
After his wife's arrival, the dashing prince surprised shoppers at a West Hobart delicatessen before returning to Ms Stephens' home with bags of groceries.
Earlier, passengers on the Melbourne flight were surprised to see Mary, who was dressed casually in jeans, a navy sweater and camel-coloured jacket.
Delighted Australian designer Liz Davenport sat three rows behind the princess.
"She was very casually dressed ... the perfect yummy mummy," she said.
Christian was well behaved during the flight and only one passenger approached Mary for a photograph, Ms Davenport said.
"Everybody was extremely respectful of her," she said.
"Just as an individual person catching a plane. She was treated with absolute respect."
In normally sedate West Hobart, Ms Stephens' neighbour, Romilda Amorosa, said she was so excited when Princess Mary arrived she forgot to put bicarb soda in her banana cake.
"She's beautiful," she said.
"She looks kind and gentle and beautiful."
Ms Amorosa watched bemused as the media waited for a glimpse of Mary.
"She deserves every bit of it (attention)," she said.
"We're proud of her because she's Tasmanian."
© 2006 AAP

and... from ABC News Online:

Tas police appeal for royal privacy
Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark have had a quiet and casual start to their Tasmanian holiday.
Crown Princess Mary and her son, Prince Christian, arrived in Hobart this morning. They were greeted by Crown Prince Frederick, who arrived on an earlier flight.
The Danish royals headed for the West Hobart home of Princess Mary's sister, Jane Stephens.
As the Princess and one-year-old Prince caught up with a large group of relatives, Prince Frederick popped down to a West Hobart delicatessen.
A customer was surprised to spot the Crown Prince helping Princess Mary's sister select ingredients for dinner.
Media waiting outside Mrs Stephens's house, meanwhile, have been asked to leave by Tasmania Police dignitary protection officers.
The royal visit has been anticipated for months and local media crews have been scrambling to get shots of the Crown Prince, Princess and their one-year-old son on their first day in Hobart.
While Princess Mary's young relatives have been happy to peek out at the waiting cameras, the royal couple have stayed behind closed doors most of the day.

Touchdown: Frederik, Mary & Christian in Hobart

Frederik arrived first, Mary and Christian have arrived a couple of hours ago. They are now at Mary's sister Jane Stephens' house in West Hobart having lunch and there is a media contingent there, so we can expect more of this kind of reporting as the day goes on.
National Nine News
Danish princess relaxing with family
Wednesday Nov 22 13:36 AEDT
Crown Princess Mary is relaxing with her family in Hobart after flying in for a private visit to Tasmania.
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik was waiting at Hobart airport to greet his casually-dressed wife, who arrived on a flight from Melbourne with her one-year-old son Prince Christian just before 10am (AEDT -OzEasternDaylightTime)) on Wednesday.
The couple embraced before Mary, dressed in jeans, a navy sweater and camel jacket, drove into Hobart in a four-wheel drive with Frederik and their son.
Photos from Nine News screencaps:



Our screencaps:


Ninemsn video clip of Mary's arrival (00:30 - sorry, plus a Qantas ad, it is from commercial TV)


From The Sydney Morning Herald
Princess in jeans touches down

November 22, 2006 - 12:00PM

Crown Princess Mary ... "She's not really your average woman, is she?"
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark flew into her home town of Hobart today for a long-anticipated private family visit.
The pregnant Mary and her son, Prince Christian, were among passengers aboard a Qantas flight from Melbourne which landed just before 10am (AEDT) today.
A casually dressed Mary was met on the tarmac by her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, and the couple embraced before driving away to an undisclosed destination.
It's not known when Frederik arrived, but he usually flies separately to his son, who is next in line to the Danish throne.
Mary, wearing jeans, a navy sweater and camel-coloured jacket, carried 13-month-old Christian to a four-wheel drive and buckled him into a rear seat.
The couple's visit comes around a month after Mary announced she was pregnant with their second child, which is due in early May.
The couple are expected to spend at least a week visiting family in Tasmania, where Mary grew up.
The royal couple last visited Australia in March last year, when Mary was two months' pregnant.
Passengers on the flight were surprised to find themselves in the presence of royalty.
"She's not really your average women, is she?" remarked Ken Greenwood, in Hobart on business.
Delighted Australian designer Liz Davenport, in town to launch her brand in Tasmania, sat three rows behind the princess.
"She was very casually dressed ... the perfect yummy mummy."
Ms Davenport said Christian was very well behaved during the flight and only one passenger approached Mary for a photograph.
"Everybody was extremely respectful of her," she said.
"Just as an individual person catching a plane. She was treated with absolute respect."
Kay Aspen, holidaying from New Zealand, said the princess looked "beautiful".
"When I saw her on the plane I thought how lucky are we." AAP

The Daily Telegraph (you gotta love the bit about the banana cake!):
Mary had a little lunch

November 22, 2006 12:00

CROWN Princess Mary is lunching with her family in Hobart today after flying in for a private visit to Tasmania.
The Australian-born Danish royal said she was "extremely tired'' after her flight, with one-year-old son Christian, and wanted to relax.
Waiting to welcome Mary and Christain - on his first trip to his family's home Down Under - at Hobart airport was their husband and father, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik.
Casually-dressed Mary arrived on a flight from Melbourne with Christian just before 10am.
The couple embraced before Mary, dressed in jeans, a navy sweater and camel jacket, drove into Hobart in a four-wheel drive with Frederik and their son.
Mary travelled to her sister's home in West Hobart where she relaxed with her nieces before speaking briefly to journalists.
The princess would not disclose the couple's holiday plans, saying simply she "just wanted some time with family''.
Mary, who is pregnant with her second child, would not say how long she was staying in Australia but said she was excited to be reunited with her two sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, and their families.
"I'm thrilled to be back and to see everyone, especially those who haven't seen Christian yet,'' said Mary, who grew up in Hobart.
Frederik arrived at the house shortly afterwards, entering through the back door.
Neighbours were stunned.
One, Romilda Amorosa, said she was so excited when Princess Mary arrived she forgot to put bicarb soda in her banana cake.
"She's beautiful,'' she said. "She looks kind and gentle and beautiful.''
Ms Amorosa watched in bemusement as the media contingent grew in front of her home.
"She deserves every bit of it (attention),'' she said. "We're proud of her because she's Tasmanian.''
Mary's family later erected screens inside her sister's home to shield them from the media's gaze.
The royal couple last visited Australia in March last year, when Mary was two months pregnant with Christian.

The Hobart Mercury report is similar to the AAP/Herald story and The Daily Telegraph story.

The Crown Princess Mary rose

We are entering an unpredictable stage with news of Frederik, Mary and Christian because they are now in the zone of "private holiday" -- but we did promise to post what we can. At the moment we are uncertain how much news we will get, we will just have to go with what we can. First, there is just a little news. Mary and Christian left Denmark right after Mary awarded the Save the Children prize yesterday and Frederik had left separately before them (the heirs do not fly together). It appears the first part of the visit will be in Tasmania. Second, there is a little news from the Australian end today with the launch of the Crown Princess Mary rose by Mary's older sister Jane Stephens (and one of Christian's godmothers). So, in the spirit of posting 'what we can', here is the story.

From The Hobart Mercury:

Princess Mary rose launched

Patricia Bailey and Jane Stephens, Crown Princess Mary's sisters, at the launch of the Crown Princess Mary Rose at the Wrest Point.

November 21, 2006 12:00am
CROWN Princess Mary is softly fragrant in ivory white, with an elegance resembling that of a silk rose.
The princess [rose] also enjoys sunny areas, a good, deep soak every week and a slurp of fertiliser every September and December.
A newly developed rose named in honour of Crown Princess Mary was launched in Hobart today, just days before the real Danish royals arrive in Tasmania.
And its developers are confident the "delicate but hardy" rose's beauty will rival its Hobart-born namesake.
"I think they'll stand equal," said Maureen Ross, marketing manager of South Australia's Ross Roses, which developed the flower.
It was developed in consultation with the princess and $1 from every sale will be donated to the Heart Foundation, at her request.
Princess Mary's mother died of a heart condition nine years ago.
Mary's sister, Jane Stephens, launched the rose today, telling a small audience she had planted three in her Hobart garden as a special memory of their mother.
"I do encourage people to have a look at the rose and hopefully buy one and pop it into their garden and think of not so much Crown Princess Mary, but what they can do to help their health and to look after themselves a wee bit better," she said.
Ms Stephens laughed when asked if it was strange for a rose to be named after her sister, who married Crown Prince Frederik after a fairytale romance in 2004.
"No, no," she said. "Not any more. A year ago yes, but not now."
The Hobart-based pharmacist refused to say more about her sister, who is due to arrive in Australia with Crown Prince Frederik and baby Christian some time this week.
However, she said the family was excited about the impending visit and "thrilled" about Mary's second pregnancy, announced last month.
Ms Ross said after the launch the rose epitomised the royals' fairytale romance.
"The rose always seems to embody romance and love and emotions and I think this is why it had to be a rose," she said.
"You couldn't say it had to be a dahlia or something."

From The Sydney Morning Herald:
Royal rose by any other name

Andrew Darby
November 22, 2006

CROWN Princess Mary is delicately scented and particularly hardy, all useful attributes for a Tasmanian destined to be Queen of Denmark.
For the former Mary Donaldson's family, the new rose named after her also symbolises a loss of a scale few appreciated before it was disclosed by her elder sister, Jane Stephens, yesterday.
"Our mother passed away nine years ago from a heart condition, and that passing left a tragic impact on our family and we still live with it every day," Ms Stephens said.
Henrietta Donaldson was a rose gardener in Hobart before her sudden death at the age of 56. Ms Stephens said her sister Mary was keen to support the Heart Foundation's initiative to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease. Money will go to its work from each rose sold.

And from ABC News Online:
Princess Mary rose to raise heart health awareness

The benefits of healthy eating and exercise have been extolled by the sister of Danish Crown Princess Mary at the launch of a rose named in the Princess's honour.
Princess Mary's sister, Jane Stephens, helped launch the white rose in Hobart this morning.
For the next 20 years, $1 from the sale of each Crown Princess Mary rose will be donated to the Tasmanian branch of the Heart Foundation to raise education and awareness of heart disease in women.
Mrs Stephens says their mother was only 56 when she died.
"Nine years ago my mother passed away from a heart-related condition so it has become close to my heart," she said.
"I do encourage people to have a look at the rose and hopefully buy one and pop it into their garden and think of, not so much Crown Princess Mary, but what they can do to look after their health and help themselves a wee bit better."

B.T. also has the story in Danish 'Australsk rose opkaldt efter Mary'

Added November 28: The current Billed Bladet (#47) has a feature on the launch of the rose and talked to Mary's sisters Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey. The translated story follows (many thanks Muhler!) plus photos published with the story.

We think of our mother each day.
“Mother loved roses and had many in her garden. Yesterday it was nine years ago that she died, but roses will always remind us of her. Through the roses she is still with us, and not a day goes by without us thinking about her”. It was Crown Princess Mary’s older sister, Jane Stephens, who cut the ribbon on Tuesday afternoon to launch the beautiful heart-shaped rose bed in front of the Wrest Point Hotel in Hobart, where 120 roses will bloom every year from now on. The rose which has been developed in South Australia is ivory coloured with a faint reddish glow and has the loveliest scent of honey. Just as Crown Princess Mary had a rose named after her last year in Denmark, Australians will now also have a “Crown Princess Mary Rose” and each time one is sold the Australian Heart Foundation in Tasmania will get one dollar towards the work of research and prevention of heart diseases.

Mary’s mother, Henrietta Donaldson, died after heart surgery in 1997 at only 56 years old.

“She was such a wonderful woman and there will always be so many questions, which you can only ask your mother”, said Jane, who like both Mary and her other sister, know how important it is to try and fight heart diseases.

“On average 220 Australian women die each week from heart disease. That’s 31 a day”, said the chairman of the Heart Foundation, Ian Gordon, who was the first speaker at the ceremony. It took place in bright sunshine, which Tasmanians had not been used to during the past days. During the weekend the temperature was not far above ten degrees C, but on Tuesday the summer showed itself again, which in particular delights Mary’s family, because they now for the next two weeks will be having a holiday with the Crown Prince Couple and their little Christian.

Mary’s other sister, Patricia, who also took part in the ceremony with her husband, Scott Bailey, told how both she and Jane have roses in the garden and that some will be shipped to Denmark.

“Roses are also Mary’s favorite flower”, she said.

That the family is looking forward to the visit from Denmark beamed from Mary’s sisters. Both along with their husbands have taken the next couple of weeks off from work, and Patricia said that their brother, John, will also come to Tasmania from Cairns in Queensland together with his wife and their two children.

“I haven’t seen Christian since the baptism and back then he was so very tiny”, said Patricia, who is never called anything but Trish in the family. “But I almost think that my children are even more excited . Michael is now 12, Madisson 11 and little Mollie is 4 years old. The two eldest will probably fight about holding him”, she said.

Jane, who is godmother to Christian also looked forward to the visit, just like her three children, Alexander, Erin and Kate. They were however not present at the rose-ceremony, as they had to attend their school.

On Tuesday evening Crown Prince Frederik arrived at Hobart and yesterday he and the whole of Mary’s family could bid her and little Christian welcome to Tasmania. For security reasons the Crown Prince does not fly with his son.

If Prince Christian, who is now 13 months old still hasn’t taken his first step it will probably happen here on his mother’s island of birth, which hisb aunt Patricia thought would be “terrific”.

“Now we’ll see how it goes”, she said.

The citizens of Hobart have for weeks been guessing about where the Crown Prince Couple will stay during their time in Tasmania, but even though Jane and Patricia were asked the question several times, they didn’t reveal anything with even a single word.

“It’s a secret, and we are good at holding our tounges”, they said with a big smile.

Photos of Jane, Patricia, Craig Stephens and Scott Bailey. The second last photo is of Mary's uncle and aunt John and Roy Pugh and the last is Jane with the head of the Heart Foundation in Tasmania, Ian Gordon.

Mary at Children's Rights Prize

Today Crown Princess Mary has participated in the presentation of the Children's Rights Prize for 2006 for the Save the Children Fund in Copenhagen. The prize was awarded by Crown Princess Mary to psychologist Kirsten Ørgaard who has worked for some years with children in Greenland. The prize includes ad award of 30,000 DkK. Save the Children is a guardian of children's rights. Fundamental changes in attitude and behaviour are vital to protect children from the horrors of war, poverty, exploitation and abuse.
The members of the International Save the Children Alliance, as one worldwide movement for children, continue the relentless fight to keep this enormous challenge in the hearts and minds of everyone who can bring about benefits to the lives of children.
Save the Children played a vital role in drawing up of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child completed in 1989. The recognition of children's rights underpins everything that Save the Children does.



Crown Princess Mary's speech (in Danish)
International Save the Children Alliance
TV2 photo gallery

On the way to Australia

We thought we would give a quick update. Mary has appeared at a Save the Children prize giving this morning which is the last official duty marked in the Crown Prince Couple's calendar for this month (our post on that coming up soon). Meanwhile, Frederik, Mary and Christian are expected to be travelling to Australia, although actual details and information is scarce. It is a private visit of course but we will bring any information we can when it is available. For The Hobart Mercury it seems to be about booties as a shout out to Mary's last visit to Hobart when she was pregnant with Christian. From The Hobart Mercury:

Hobart stocks up

KATHY GRUBE
November 21, 2006 12:00am
Right, Pitter-pattering again: "Princess Mary'' booties displayed by Country Leather's Ben Gardam.
PREPARATIONS for Princess Mary's arrival are in full flow -- but it could be later in the week before she arrives in Hobart.
Speculation is rising that the royal party will spend at least a day in Sydney before travelling on to Tasmania with new Audi cars being detailed in readiness for the royals' arrival at both Sydney and Hobart airports.
A Hobart store that sold Princess Mary a pair of booties when she was secretly two months pregnant with her first child in March last year has stocked up on the Australian sheepskin booties in case the princess drops in again.
And a new rose named after the Hobart-born Danish princess will be officially released in Hobart today.
Princess Mary, who is travelling with husband Crown Prince Frederik and their 13-month-old son Christian, is three months pregnant with her second child. This is her first trip back to Australia after Christian's birth and she is expected to visit friends in Sydney before heading to Hobart to see family.
It is thought she will be in Hobart by Thursday.
Mary's sisters, Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, who still live in Hobart with their families, are believed to have taken time off work from Thursday onwards.
Country Leather co-owner Ben Gardam said there was a run on the $24 Melbourne-made booties after word got out about Princess Mary's purchase during the last visit.
"We sold quite a few in the weeks after her last visit," he said.
"We still get the occasional person coming in asking for them."
The booties come in blue, pink and chestnut.
Princess Mary bought a chestnut-coloured pair last time, but being just over three months pregnant on this visit she may already know the sex of her second baby.
A South Australian-bred, cream-and-honey rose named for Princess Mary will be unveiled in Hobart today and will raise money for the National Heart Foundation.
The Danish royals have consented to the name because $1 from the sale of each plant for the next 20 years will be donated to the Heart Foundation. Princess Mary's mother died from complications after heart surgery in 1997.
Although the couple stayed at Hobart's Government House during their official visit in 2005, it is thought they may stay at a hotel on this private visit.
A spokeswoman for the five-star Islington Hotel on Davey St would not comment when asked if Danish royalty were to be guests. The luxury hotel, which charges $400 to $550 a night, has just 11 guest rooms, an acre of gardens and a seven-metre conservatory where gourmet breakfasts are served.

Added: We know now (ie: later) that quite a bit of the speculation in this last story was inaccurate.

Frederik at sustainability awards

Today Crown Prince Frederik has attended the Royal Awards for Sustainability at Trekanten, Kalvebod Brygge, in Copenhagen. Frederik is the patron of the Royal Awards and has helped mark the final event of The Art of Recycling which involves children to think about and solve environmental problems through programs in their schools. The Art of Recycling is an annual event which focuses on limiting waste production in households. In 2001 there was a name change from The Princes' Award Foundation to The Royal Awards Foundation. It was originally named for its two patrons, Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. The organisation now represents a wide range of members from six countries representing many organisations - including members from corporations, local authorities, universities, NGOs, trade associations and unions.

Mary at children's grief conference

Today Crown Princess Mary has attended a Cancer Society conference in Copenhagen concerned with the grief of small children (0-6) affected by cancer illness and death.



Jyllands-Posten video clip (00:47)
B.T. video clip

Danish Royal roundup #11

Crown Princess Mary knew something we didn't - see below (but suspicions? we had a few!)

It is time to roundup the Danish royal news once again!

At the end of September (the 19th) The Queen and Prince Henrik celebrated the ending of the season for the Royal Yacht The Dannebrog, with various formalities including a salute from the Sixtus Battery and a lunch for the crew. As you can see a formal photo was also taken to mark the occasion. Captain Kai Rasch is next to the Queen and the second-in-command Ole Petersen is on Prince Henrik's left. The crew comprises officers and conscripts from the Danish Navy. As Queen regnant and commander in chief of the military, Queen Margrethe is 'in command' when on board. The Dannebrog sailed more than 10,500 nautical miles this last season which included an official visit to Athens. (Thanks Muhler)

We have mentioned it before but a reminder that the Royal Family has decided to spend Christmas at Fredensborg Palace this year. The custom of spending Christmas at Marselisborg will be broken, although there was a precedent for this when Queen Margrethe decided to have Christmas at Amalienborg Palace in 2000, the first year after Queen Ingrid's death. Frederik and Joachim spent all their childhood Christmases at Marselisborg, but it is now too small to accommodate all the family members who will gather. The Queen has invited her sisters Benedikte and Anne-Marie and their families, who will be able to accommodated at Fredensborg, unlike Marselisborg.
TV2 article

In an update of details about the royal Christmas, Bodil Cath of B.T. , says Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik will host Christmas Eve at Fredensborg and has invited 34 for the party. The entire family is invited, which means sisters, children, sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Princess Alexandra will not take part but will spend her Christmas with her partner Martin Jørgensen. Alexandra had Nikolai and Felix with her last year and this year it is Prince Joachim's turn for them to be with him. Cath says Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary also look forward to the family Christmas with little Prince Christian and the little new one to come.
Queen Margrethe has chosen to celebrate Christmas at Fredensborg for purely practical reasons: there are simply are not enough rooms at Marselisborg for the Queen's two sisters, Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie, their spouses Prince Richard and King Konstantin, their children and their families.
Margrethe and Henrik also always invite the pastor Reverend Peter Parkov. He is now 69 and has given his notice at Margrethe Church in Valby, Copenhagen, effective from December 1, 2006. In the past, after Reverend Parken gave his Christmas service, he used to take the train (3-3½ hours) to Århus to spend christmas with the royal family at Marselisborg. This year the road to the royal Christmas gathering will be somewhat shorter for him.
It has been quite a while since the different generations of the royal family have celebrated Christmas together around a big old fashioned Christmas tree at the palace -- the last occasions were when the late Queen Ingrid gathered her daughters and their families in The Chancellory House.
Those in the royal family who has been invited this year are:
Mary, Frederik, one year old Christian, Joachim and Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix.
From Germany Benedikte's entire family will come, including Prince Gustav with his girlfriend Carina Axelsson. She was introduced to the family this summer at Gråsten.
Princess Alexandra with her husband Count Jefferson and the children Count Richard, age seven and Countess Ingrid, age three.
Princess Nathalie, age 31, will attend without her boyfriend.
Also the entire Greek Royal Family is invited:
Anne-Marie and Konstantin with their children, children-in-law and seven grandchildren. They are Prince Philippos, age 20, Princess Theodora, age 23 and Prince Nikolaos, age 37 (his girlfriend Tatiana Blatnik will not attend, although she has been to Frederik's and Mary's wedding and Christian's christening). Crown Prince Pavlos and Marie-Chantal and their four children, Princess Maria-Olympia, age ten, Prince Konstantin-Alexios, age eight, Prince Achileas Andrea, age six and two year old Prince Odysseas Kimon.
From Spain will come the Greek Princess Alexia, her husband Carlos Morales and their children, four year old Arrietta, three year old Anna-Maria and one year old Carlos.
(Many thanks to Muhler for translation.)

If you would like to check out the European/Danish royal family tree, click on the link and follow the numbered tree links on the left hand navigation bar. This DR.dk program and history resource is based on Christian IX, the so-called 'father-in-law of Europe'. Send us an email if you would like details on how to order it.

French born Prince Consort Henrik of Denmark and French translator Alain Gnaedig ® share a light moment, when on Monday, 16 October 2006, Gnaedig was awarded the literature prize of the Francophone ambassadors in Denmark in the French Embassy in Copenhagen. The annual prize of around 1500 euro, instituted in 2001, was given to Gnaedig for his 2005 translation of Karen Blixen 's - alias Isak Dinesen - biography Out of Africa for the Gallimard publishing company. (Photos: EPA/Keld Navntoft)

October 16, 2006. Prince Henrik



Billed Bladet #43 reported Princess Alexandra went to London with Princes Nikolai and Felix and boyfriend Martin Jørgensen to visit her sister. The photos are of Princess Alexandra and sons, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai arriving back at Kastrup, Copenhagen International Airport, on 22 October 2006. They visited Alexandra's sister Martina who lives in London these days with husband Andrew and sons Joshua and Matthew. Martin Jørgensen had to return to Copenhagen a few hours earlier than Alexandra.




Prince Henrik's new Fredensborg wine:



Who? Me?
On October 17 Mary opened the Kopenhagen Studio (see the DRWs post here) and she was asked by Bodil Cath, royal reporter for B.T., Are you pregnant Mary? as she was leaving. Bodil Cath reported that the Crown Princess raised her eyebrow when she was confronted with the pregnancy rumours. Mary exclaimed "Oh!" a little despairingly and smiled, but kept her mouth sealed. Both Danish and overseas magazines (and the internet!) were speculating there was a new royal pregnancy, but, as usual Mary didn't reveal anything. Mary was also asked if she was looking forward to the up coming trip to Tasmania. "Yes, of course," she replied. What are you looking forward to the most? "What I am about to see now!" she said and Bodil Cath remarked that fashion is a business Mary is very involved with and further, that Mary didn't look pregnant at all! (Thanks Summer)

By Thursday October 26 the official announcement was made. Billed Bladet #44 has featured stories about the happy grandparents, Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik, Professor John Donaldson and Susan Donaldson as well a happy uncle, Prince Joachim.




Princess Benedikte attended the FEI World Cup Dressage as its patron, at Vilhelmsborg in Århus from 21-22 October. See World Cup Dressage 2006. Benedikte's younger daughter, Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, competed for Denmark and came fourth in the competition. Princess Nathalie competing:




Prince Henrik has been implicated, by mere mention of his name, in an art scandal. Henrik is not actually involved and police investigations continue without involving him. See this brief account in The Copenhagen Post.


October 23, 2006. Princess Alexandra turned the first turf to start the new building of the Museum of Modern Art ARKEN. The ARKEN expansion will go on until January 2008. The building of the extension will mean a majority of the museum’s galleries will be closed, however there will be a series of special exhibitions in the museum's exhibition areas, the Art Axis and in the Graphics Gallery.

TV2
Alexandra turning the first sod for ARKEN extension
Madeleine Glindorf's gallery


October 25, 2006. Princess Alexandra at RCT in Copenhagen.




October 23, 2006. Prince Henrik at a hunt in Lemvig.




October 24, 2006. Prince Henrik at the Jydske Dragoon Regiment.





November 3, 2006. Queen Margrethe inaugurated a new standard for the Danish Artillery Regiment and even hammered in the nail to display the standard herself.

A new book called Mary - a Princess with style has been published in Denmark and is selling well. The authors are Kig Ind's Jim Lyngvild, who is also a designer, and Ekstra Bladet's Jan Körner (both Danish tabloids). The authors claim Crown Princess Mary is now the best dressed woman in Denmark. The angle taken in the book seems to be that Mary has changed from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan under the influence of the Danish royal court. There are very short interviews with Mary's hairdresser Søren Hedegaard and her stylist Anja Camilla Aladji. There is a review of Mary's wardrobe from before and since she has become Crown Princess, although the authors had no actual confirmation as to designers and brands used by Mary from the court.

During publicity for the book, Lyngvild and Körner claim Mary has a changed style, which reflects the way her dress and her aura have changed since she became a part of the Danish Royal Family. They said she triggered a whole apparatus to change into a Princess when she arrived in Denmark 2002. Mary hired a make-up specialist and a stylist. She lost ten kilos and changed her style completely, they say. Now she is without doubt the superstar of the Danish Royal Family, according to Jim Lyngvild. A translation into English is underway and planned for publication next year. The cover photo is from a photo shoot and interview for Australian Vogue last year. We will be scanning and posting that interview and photo shoot soon and including it here on the blog as a reference of interest, especially for many of our non-Australian readers.


On November 2, 2006 Crown Prince Frederik participated in the 60th anniversary meeting of the Danish Foreign Policy Society. Frederik is patron of the Foreign Policy Society, which met at the University of Copenhagen.
The Danish Foreign Policy Society is a private, non-profit association which was founded in 1946 to stimulate public interest in and knowledge about international affairs. The Society´s patron is Crown Prince Frederik, with Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, former minister for foreign affairs as chairman and the executive director, Klaus Carsten Pedersen. The Society is non-government, non-partisan, and non-commercial. It takes no stand on political issues, but functions as an information centre, a point of contact, and a forum for enlightened debate. The Society currently has 1100 individual members, and further 300 persons are members via 75 institutional and corporate memberships.
(Photos by Lars Nybøll of POLFOTO)



Billed Bladet #45 reported comments by Frederik as he went into the University for this engagement. Like any loving and involved husband and father Frederik was present for Mary's first scan, says Billed Bladet. On being asked by reporters, Frederik remarked how wonderful it was for them to have their first glimpse of the new baby, complete with heartbeat and active movements. It will be good to be parents again said a happy and smiling Frederik, "When I saw the first pictures from the scan I felt enormous joy for our new miracle." In about six months time Frederik can call himself a 'father of two' after Mary has given birth again at Rigshospitalet.

A new ceiling fresco in the Fredensborg Castle Chapel has been celebrated by the Queen, Prince Henrik and others, including Mærsk McKinney Møller. Artist Per Kirkeby has completed a new ceiling fresco in the Chapel at Fredensborg Castle and it was inaugurated recently. The work was made possible by the support of Queen Margrethe's and Prince Henrik's Foundation and also the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller's Foundation. See Ny loftsmaleri i Fredensborg Slotskirke "New ceiling fresco in Fredensborg Castle Chapel" (in Danish).




November 06, 2006. Queen Margrethe visited the film studio Nordisk Films to help celebrate its 100th anniversary in Valby, Copenhagen.
See A century of the big bear in The Copenhagen Post




Once again Queen Margrethe is involved in her friend Susanne Heering's ballet school's Christmas production. The Queen has been designer and scenographer for many years now for family friend Susanne Heering's Danseinstitut. The ballet performance by the children, called Tolv med posten, will be based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairytales. The Queen has long been involved in this annual production and even donates cloth and bits and pieces of her own wardrobe for costumes and sets. This year the Queen has made the poster advertising the four days of performances to be held at Teatermuseet i Hofteatret at Christiansborg Ridebane. See Dronningens streg bag fortæppet in Jyllands-Posten (in Danish).


November 8, 2006: Prince Joachim has also been to Brussels but to visit NATO. Visit to NATO by Prince Joachim of Denmark - Prince Joachim met with the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for a bilateral meeting. (Photos courtesy NATO)



November 07, 2006. Prince Joachim of Denmark also took part in a memorial service of the Blue Berets and the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the first Danish UN command.
Earlier on October 31, 2006 Prince Joachim had formally awarded the travelling grant in remembrance of Queen Ingrid in Aabenraa.


On 9 November 2006 Princess Benedikte officially opened the "Børnehuset Columbus" as the patron of the National Association of Child Care Institutions.
See Madeleine Glindorf's gallery (Thanks Madeleine!)

On Thursday 9 November Crown Prince Frederik awarded scholarships from the Anders Lassen Foundation. See also Anders Lassen Fonden (in Danish).

First Lieutenant Jacob Hou Larsen has received a Foundation grant.

A grant was also awarded to the Jægerkorpset social network (in Danish) which is the army special forces. Frederik belonged to the navy special forces, Frømandskorpset, but he received part of his training, i.e. jump training at Jægerkorpset.

A third grant was awarded to First Sergeant Peter Petersen, from Jægerkorpset. He was wounded in Afghanistan this summer. He was wounded by schrapnel but insisted on staying with his unit. (Thanks to commoner and Muhler for this information).


A little news about Nathalie Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg from Billed Bladet. During interviews to promote the book written about her, Nathalie has revealed she is very happy both professionally and in her private life. Nathalie has a boyfriend, although she doesn't want to say too much yet, her parents have seen him but have not formally met him. Nathalie, 31, who seems very much besotted, said she is not sure who will marry first, herself or her brother Gustav. In a DR TV interview Nathalie said her boyfriend wasn't involved with horses. See DRWs Royal roundup #9 for info about the book. (Thanks elizabeth and Thor.)




November 5, 2006. Princess Benedikte presented the Prince Consort's Cup at the Hubertus Hunt in Dyrehaven (they don't hunt animals, they ride through a course minus hunted or huntees).




November 9, 2006. Queen Margrethe gave a formal lunch for the official visit of the Czech President Václav Klaus at Fredensborg Palace (the photos show the Queen greeting him and his wife Livia at Fredensborg). Crown Princess Mary was present at the lunch, and as we know, Mary recently visited the Czech Republic and met the presidential couple. See our DRWs coverage here and here. And, the Czech President Václav Klaus gave a lecture at the University of Copenhagen the same afternoon after the lunch. Václav Klaus discussed his views of Europe and the EU: Europe needs to change its ways, he suggests. Instead of overregulation, and the creeping development into a United States of Europe, EU needs to become an organisation focusing mainly on free trade between the cooperating member states.
• How does the EU become less bureaucratic?
• How to strike the right balance between free trade and social needs?
• What is the situation in Central Europe 2.5 years into EU membership?




And finally, a little catch up!

DRWs here: Caroline and Peter Heering were among the MTV Europe Awards crowd

DRWs here: Mary quick fast in Brussels!


Add to DRWs here: Gustav and Carina were with Frederik and Mary at the UEFA football match:

To end (see DRWs here) we have a little more detail about Carina and Gustav following the birthday party of Queen Ingrid's little brother Count Carl Johan Bernadotte (hence the Danish connection).
Billed Bladet #45 added some new info about the now 3-year relationship between Prince Gustav of Berleburg and Carina Axelsson. The theme of the story was how warmly she has been accepted into the royal fold of Gustav's family. There is still the problem of his grandfather's 100-year-old will, which stipulates the princes of Berleburg must marry an Aryan woman who is both noble and Protestant. Carina, 31, is a former model and a children's book author and is half Swedish and half Mexican by birth. Carina does not meet the 'requirements' of the will, but has quite rightly been warmly received by the whole royal family, the Berleburgs, the Danish royals and the Swedish royals. This was very evident, says Billed Bladet, when Gustav and Carina were at the 90th birthday for Count Carl Johan Bernadotte, Queen Ingrid's little brother, when he held a party in Bastad, Sweden, recently. Prince Gustav and Carina Axelsson drove together with Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik in a car from Denmark to the party in Sweden. On the way the cousins could exchange the latest news in their lives and share in each other's happiness.
At the party the couple were quickly found together with Crown Princess Victoria, who came alone to the party and it was clear Carina Axelsson was openly accepted and embraced by the Crown Prince Couple as well as the Swedish portion of the royal family.
Carina's pretty, discrete, uncomplicated and obliging manner seems to have charmed the family and most importantly but not least, Gustav's heart (yes, that is what it says). The couple's obvious happiness and compatability means an engagement can't be far away. The will of Prince Gustav's grandfather, Prince Gustav Albrecht, is still a problem until it is reversed by the German courts, where Prince Gustav and three other noble families are attempting to challenge the stipulations which are so odious.
Perhaps the couple's bond is stronger because of the adversity? They now live together in Prince Gustav's apartment at the castle in Berleburg and enjoy spending each day together. There was no mistaking their contagious happiness and clear love for each other at the Count's birthday party. (Thanks elizabeth.)


Some larger versions and new scanned photos from Billed Bladet to add to the DRWs post here:

Frederik at ISAF conference in Helsinki

Crown Prince Frederik is attending the International Sailing Federation's 2006 annual conference, which this year is being held in Helsinki in Finland. The conference is all this week, but Frederik, who is a member of the ISAF's (International Sailing Federation) Events Committee, is in Helsinki for two days, 7-8 November 2006.

November 7, 2006. Greece's Queen Anne Marie and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik speak at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards gala dinner in Helsinki.


From top: Frederik with his aunt Queen Anne-Marie at the awards dinner during the conference, Frederik with Alessandra Sessini of Italy, Paige Railey, USA, female winner and HM King Constantine of Greece, Gary Jobson, Arnaud Boetsch, Rolex S.A., Mike Sanderson, male winner and HM King Constantine of Greece.
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2006 Rolex/last two photos Carlo Borlenghi

ISAF Annual Conference 2006
World's best sailors humbled by their awards Paige Railey (USA) and Mike Sanderson (New Zealand) - click on photo of winners
Regatta News

Right, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the Events Committee meeting.
Added:World Cup Receives Support
The Event Committee and the Offshore Committee met in Helsinki, Finland today as the major topics of this year’s ISAF Annual Conference came under the spotlight. The debate centred around the Olympic Games and a potential World Cup series for the Olympic Classes.

Mary at Heart Association research conference

Today Crown Princess Mary has attended a Heart Association Research Conference focusing on women and heart disease. Mary is the patron of the Danish Heart Association which has centred this conference on new research on women and heart vessel disease at The Black Diamond, which is part of The Royal Library in Copenhagen.



Programme for Heart Association research conference

Frederik and Mary at the EU in Brussels

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have been to Brussels to visit European Union institutions today. During their one-day visit Frederik and Mary began at the Danish Embassy first thing, then they met E.U. Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel (a Danish representative) and other commissioners, Rehn, Hübner, Wallström and Potočnik. During the afternoon they visited the European Union Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess spent time in the cabinet of Danish representative, Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, to get an insight into the workings of the Commission. Later in the day the Crown Prince Couple also met future chairman of the EU Parliament, Mr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary are welcomed by the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary - General of the Council, Spanish Javier Solana, prior a meeting at EU council in Brussels.



Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary visiting Mariann Fischer Boel, Danish EU-Commissioner in charge of Agriculture and Rural Development.



Swede Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, welcomes Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary at the EU Commission's Headquarters in Brussels.


EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomes Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary in his office at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels.



New!
The Council of the Europian Union
Visit of the Crown Prince Frederik Crown Princess Mary (11 photos)
Meeting with EU High Representative Javier Solana (8 photos)
The EU at a glance
Politiken video clip (2:00)
EB webTV (2:00 video clip)



TV2 photo gallery
Added: The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 'Glowing Princess steps out' (pity they have an error! it was a one day visit)The Telegraph's photo gallery
And new: Pregnant Mary fulfils duties on Brussels trip in Hello! magazine

Also, Billed Bladet #45 reports that Frederik stayed in Brussels overnight while Mary returned to Denmark the same day.

Fred 'n Snoop in MTV fracas

Crown Prince Frederik had an 'interesting' evening on Friday, emerging reports have revealed. Rapper and avid herbalist, Snoop Dogg, in Copenhagen for the MTV Europe Awards, attempted 'to clear the room' at an MTV after party on Friday night - a room in which Frederik and his friends were.

The Mirror's (U.K.) version:
4 November 2006
DOGG BITES PRINCE
Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley
WITH his 32-strong entourage and flunkeys, he is used to being treated like royalty.
But when Snoop Dogg bumped into the real thing, there was only going to be one winner. Partying after the MTV European Music Awards in Copenhagen on Thursday, the rapper had a bust-up with... the Crown Prince of Denmark.
It came after Snoop demanded that his heavies clear the men from the VIP room at Oil Restaurant and Bar to allow more women inside.
Unbeknown to him, Prince Frederik, 38, was one such "undesirable", who was quietly sipping champagne in the corner.
His Royal Highness' armed bodyguards were none too pleased either and made their feelings known.
"It was all about to kick off with both camps squaring up to each other and Prince Frederik looking on in horror," says our mole.
"But then a member of staff had a word to Snoop's people and they realised the gravity of the situation.
"Snoop went over to apologise and things were eventually smoothed over."
And if that was a bit of a party-pooper, it only got worse for the bad-boy rapper after local cops raided the bar and confiscated a stash of weed.
We watched as they introduced themselves to his people, who then handed over the drugs." The police didn't want a scene, especially with the Crown Prince there, so didn't go in heavy-handed," adds our mole. "Snoop's people knew the game was up and promptly handed it over."
But Snoop wasn't pleased. The 35-year-old - arrested last month in the US when officers found cannabis and a weapon in his car - spent the rest of the party in a foul mood.
The star even refused to sing on stage as had been planned, so Nelly Furtado filled in instead. A mole said: "He sat stony-faced. Not even some specially selected sexy women in the VIP section cheered him up."
Meanwhile, other guests were having a great time, with Keane, The Killers and Jenson Button all partying the night away.
The bash, which cost Nike and Interscope Records a million kronos (£90,000), saw guests quaffing hundreds of bottles of Veuve Clicquot and Remy-Martin cognac.
Bet they all felt wuff in the morning!The Mirror

The day before the awards Mary visited the hotel where Australian friends were staying. Mary did not go to the awards or the party with Frederik.

B.T. had earlier reported on Mary's visit to the hotel where the MTV stars were staying. Mary was smiling when she arrived with her lady-in-waiting Caroline Heering for a short half hour visit.Mary farwelled a woman at the hotel door as she left. Mary was heard to wish the woman a good time while in Copenhagen and said she would see her tomorrow (that was at the football in Parken). Mary and Frederik know the band Jet from Australia who were at the hotel, but it is not certain who she visited. (Thanks Santa)

November 2, 2006. Mary and Caroline Heering make a quick visit to Hotel Skt Petri.



November 3, 2006. Crown Prince Frederik leaving the MTV after party at the Copenhagen Nightclub Oil. The Billed Bladet scans show Caroline and Peter Heering were also present.




Mary minglede med MTV-stjernerne TV2 story in Danish about Mary's visit to the hotel where MTV guests were staying. As you can see, Mary and Caroline Heering visited after they had been to the 5oth Anniversary of the Danish Refugee Council. Reports suggest Mary was visiting the Australian retro rock group Jet, although this is not certain. Jet was in Copenhagen for the awards. She kissed the woman in the doorway of the hotel goodbye as she left in the royal Krone 8 car.

MTV spotlight hits Copenhagen The Copenhagen Post
Cool night, hot beats at MTV show The Copenhagen Post
Ekstra Bladet has also reported on Frederik's attendance at the night club Oil and the 'incident' Snoop ville smide Frede ud fra fest" about the rapper Snoop Dogg wanting to make the Crown Prince of Denmark leave the venue where he was partying last Thursday evening. Frederik's security detail quickly talked some sense into the rapper, who later apologised to the Crown Prince.

Frederik launches new law publication for schools

Today Crown Prince Frederik has attended the release of new schools material on humanitarian international law. The launch of the new publication was at a school in Islev in Copenhagen.



DR.dk video clip (02:26)
Crown Prince Frederik's speech (in Danish)

Frederik and Mary at the football

B.T. reports Frederik and Mary went to Parken last night to see FCK (FC København) and Manchester United. FCK won 1-0. Earlier Mary and Caroline Heering are said by B.T. to have visited the hotel where MTV guests are staying. An Australian band, Jet, known to Mary and Frederik from Sydney, is staying there. The MTV Europe Music Awards are in Copenhagen tomorrow, this year hosted by Justin Timberlake. Also along with Frederik and Mary at the football were Prince Gustav and his girlfriend Carina Axelsson.

TV2 article - FCK created a sensation in Parken 'FCK skabte sensationen i Parken' (in Danish)
Added! Red Devils eat FCK dust The Copenhagen Post
This news even reached the sports bulletin in Sydney news yesterday! The game that is, nothing about Mary.
Also: MTV spotlight hits Copenhagen The Copenhagen Post

Frederik at Defence Force Academy anniversary

Crown Prince Frederik has been to the Defence Force Academy today to join the celebration of the 176th anniversary of the College at the Svanemøllens Barracks in Copenhagen. Frederik has a history with the Defence Academy through his experience of military training and also as a lecturer in defence policy. Also present and speaking was the Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. We can see the weather has well and truly turned to winter. All photos from the Defence Forces Academy website taken by Bodil Hallstrøm Aasted.

Mary at 50th anniversary of Danish Refugee Council

Crown Princess Mary has attended the 50th anniversary of the Danish Refugee Council today. Mary is patron of the organisation and has presented awards for a drawing competition as part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary. The Danish Refugee Council has the noble aim to protect refugees and internally displaced people against persecution and to give lasting assistance in the form of relief and other humanitarian aid. Its activities include rehabilitation, removal of landmines, support for repatriation as well as working towards longterm solutions for refugees and the displaced.



Madeleine Glindorf's gallery - 45 photos!
Jubilæumsreception photos

Danish royals at 90th birthday in Sweden

Mary, Carina Axelsson, Frederik, Victoria and Gustaf at the party.

Danish royals attended the 90th birthday celebration of Count Carl Johan Bernadotte last night (October 31) in Båstad, in Scania in southern Sweden. Count Carl Johan Bernadotte is the uncle of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf. Carl Johan and his wife Gunnila invited 80 guests to the birthday dinner at Hotell Skansen in Båstad, including members of both the Swedish and Danish royal families. Royals present included King Carl Gustaf, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Queen Margrethe, Princess Benedikte and her husband Prince Richard zu-Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleberg , Queen Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and Gustav, Prince zu-Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (eldest son of Benedikte and Richard) and his girlfriend (not yet royal) Carina Axelsson.



All POLFOTO photos by Stefan Lindblom of Stella Pictures.

Photos in order from the top: Crown Princess Victoria, Queen Margrethe, Princess Benedikte, Queen Anne-Marie, Prince Gustav and Carina Axelsson, Gunnila and Carl Johan Bernadotte, Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik.

Helsingbords Dagblad (Swedish)
Aftonbladet (Swedish)

From Billed Bladet #45: