Alexandra & Martin: it is big news

Billed-Bladet's front cover this week. It is their story which broke the news after they informed they would go public this week.

The news of Alexandra's re-marriage has been big news in Denmark in all media. It appears Billed Bladet had worked the story and told the Danish royal court it was going to go to press and publish the story in its Thursday edition. Billed Bladet's Annelise Weimann called the court on Wednesday for comment. It appears the court has made the official announcement because of Billed Bladet's decision to print the story, although it is remotely possible the timing was a co-incidence. Not likely though.

There is speculation that Alexandra may get a high-paid job which could compensate for the loss of income through payment of tax. There is still other speculation that Alexandra may be pregnant (suggested by sociologist Emilia van Hauen on Danish television last night). Billed Bladet says Alexandra has already begun to cut her household staff, one nanny has been dismissed and Alexandra's private secretary will finish her job with Alexandra, although Lord Chamberlain Ove Ullerup has not given a definite date for this yet. Ullerup has also been non-commital about Alexandra's future security arrangements, according to Berlingske Tidende.

The already established custody arrangements regarding Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix will remain, with Prince Joachim paying child support for the boys as has been the case since the divorce. Joachim and Alexandra have been exemplary in focusing on the interests of their boys throughout the separation and divorce and share parenting with a great deal of goodwill and co-operation.

Martin works for his father's company JJFilms. JJFilms makes a wide range of material including in the past a number of films for the Danish royal house. Martin (sound) and his father (director) worked on the program Mary Elizabeth Donaldson shown before Mary's and Frederik's wedding in 2004 in Denmark and Australia. Jacob Jørgensen's JJFilms has made at least three programs featuring Alexandra in 2000, 2003 and 2004. There is a fourteen year age difference between Martin and Alexandra.

Martin and Alexandra met in 1999 during a JJFilms production about 'Prince Joachim: the Farmer Prince'. Another film project followed in 2003 with the CARE Denmark production of Alexandra in Thailand, and then again in 2004 JJFilms was at Schackenborg Castle again to make 'Princess Alexandra: my home is my castle'. A house was purchased by a company owned by Joachim in 2004 (on the eve of Frederik's and Mary's wedding) for Alexandra and their children in Copenhagen and then later in the same year the court announced the separation of Joachim and Alexandra. During 2005 the divorce is finalised, Alexandra moved into the renovated house with Nikolai and Felix and JJFilms made a film of her trip to Shanghai for Danish businesses. Alexandra and Martin holidayed together in Italy and Queen Margrethe confirmed Alexandra had a new 'friend' during the summer press conference. Alexandra, Martin, Nikolai, Felix and Alexandra's parents holidayed at her uncle's place in Greece. Then in 2006 Alexandra and Martin appeared openly in public together at a friend's wedding (Joachim was present too). In 2007 Prince Joachim invited everyone (Alexandra, Martin, Marie Cavallier,the children and friends) to a New Year party at his apartment in Amalienborg, and then, on 7 February 2007 the court announced Alexandra and Martin will marry on March 3.

JJFilms Danish royal film catalogue

Photos in today's Billed Bladet spread on Alexandra and Martin. Christine Lyng is in the photo with Alexandra below:



Billed Bladet's Alexandra & Martin phot gallery

A good summary of the news so far from The Sydney Morning Herald:

Denmark's Princess Alexandra to remarry

Hong Kong-born Princess Alexandra of Denmark, 42, will give up her royal title to marry her boyfriend Martin Joergensen, 27, next month. Photo: AP

February 8, 2007 - 9:29AM
Denmark's Hong Kong-born Princess Alexandra, who divorced Prince Joachim in April 2005, will marry her companion of two years Martin Joergensen on March 3, the royal palace has announced.
Joergensen, 27, who is 15 years' younger than the 42-year-old princess, is a photographer who has done several portraits of the Danish royal family.
The wedding will be private and Alexandra will no longer be considered a member of the royal family after the marriage, a palace statement said.
Her name and title will become "Alexandra Christina, countess of Frederiksborg".
Alexandra Christine Manley married Prince Joachim, 37, the second son of Queen Margrethe, in November 1995 in Copenhagen and they had two children together, princes Nikolai, 7, and Felix, 4.
Since the divorce the children have lived with their mother about three kilometres from the Amalienborg Palace, where they will continue to live with Alexandra and Joergensen after their union.
The Danish Parliament decided in 2004 to grant the princess her own civil list, or budget for life, removing her from the prince's so-called appanage.
The money has until now been tax-free and indexed on the rate of inflation.
Her civil list, which for 2007 totals 1.9 million kroner ($426,000), will be reviewed after the wedding and she will in future have to pay taxes on the income.
AFPSMH

From The Copenhagen Post:

Princess Alexandra to wed

07.02.2007

Princess Alexandra plans to marry her partner since 2005, photographer Martin Jørgensen.
Soon to be merely a countess, Princess Alexandra will marry photographer Martin Jørgensen on 3 March, losing her status as a member of the royal family.
The announcement was made via a press release from Lord Chamberlain Ove Ullerup of Amalienborg Palace. Jørgensen is 28 years old - 14 years younger than the princess - and is a friend of the princess's ex-husband, Prince Joachim.
The marriage means that Alexandra will no longer carry the title of princess and will after the wedding be known in the royal court as Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg.
Princess Alexandra will continue to receive an annuity from the government of some DKK 1.75 million, but will lose her tax exempt status. A tax expert, who wished to remain anonymous, told B.T. newspaper that the princess's decision to marry may cost her up to 74 percent of her disposable income after taxes.
Ullerup told public broadcaster DR that it is possible the princess would take on a salaried job.
'There will be a lot of new issues for her to deal with and I don't think she's decided anything yet herself. But it can't be ruled out.'
Ullerup said Princess Alexandra will continue to serve some of the organisations for which she is currently patron.
'She will make contact to certain patronages to discuss the future. There are some she has worked closer with, but I can't say with which ones she will continue.'
Jørgensen will reportedly move into Princess Alexandra's villa in northeast Copenhagen after the wedding.

From Pravda's frontpage:

Danish Princess Alexandra to remarry, lose royal title

02/07/2007 18:29

Hong Kong-born Princess Alexandra of Denmark, divorced from a Danish prince, will give up her royal title to marry her boyfriend next month, the royal palace said Wednesday.
Alexandra, 42, will marry 28-year-old photographer Martin Joergensen in a private ceremony on March 3, a statement from Lord Chamberlain Ove Ullerup announced.
Alexandra married Prince Joachim, the younger brother of Crown Prince Frederik, in November 1995. The couple separated in 2004 and divorced the following year the first divorce in the Danish royal family since 1846.
Marrying Joergensen, Alexandra can no longer call herself princess and ceases to be a member of the royal family. However, she will retain the title of Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg, Ullerup said.
After the wedding the bride and groom will live in Alexandra's villa in Oesterbro, a suburb of Copenhagen, with her two sons, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, reports AP.
Alexandra will continue to receive her royal allowance of about 1.9 million Danish kroner (US$330,000 or EUR250,000) a year, but will be subject to tax and other duties like other Danish citizens, Ullerup said.
The Danish monarchy is one of the world's oldest, and the royal family traces its lineage back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 959.


Hello! magazine - Alexandra to wed her handsome prince charming