Mary checks in on anti-bullying project @ schools in Århus

"Is it not correct that you'll soon become a queen?" asked one of the boys in "Smilehullet" thoughtfully. The Crown Princess laughed a little and said, "I think there is more time to pass before that happens." All photos DR/Aarhus ST © Henning Bagger/Scanpix

Yesterday (November 29) Crown Princess Mary visited a kindergarten and a school in Århus where the Save the Children pilot project Free from Bullying has been put into practice. As we know from the launch of the anti-bullying program in Denmark, it was inspired by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation of Australia and Mary's visit yesterday was to have a chat with teachers and children to see how things are going, since she has been very closely involved with it since its inception. Indeed, it was Mary's idea to modify the Australian Better Buddies program for Denmark. The sharp-eyed will notice Caroline Heering accompanied Mary on this occasion. In a possible sign of how the ladies-in-waiting will share different tasks, it was in this instance that Caroline Heering was involved in this project from the beginning.





From Århus Stiftstidende: Crown Princess Mary informs herself about bullying in Tilst - Crown Princess Mary visits the integrated daycare and pre-school institutions 'Venøvej 7' and 'Smilehullet' in Tilst. She will pop in and talk with the teachers and the children on how the project "Free from Bullying" is working out. Next she will visit the school ' Skjoldhøjskolen'. The projects are inspired by the The Alannah and Madeline Foundation of Australia.
Århus Stiftstidende (in Danish) 'Fri for mobberi i Skjoldhøj' (Free from bullying in Skjoldhøj'
Jyllands Posten 'Mary mødte glade børn' - Mary meets happy kids:

By Kay Rasmussen 29 Nov 07
Crown Princess Mary visited the Skjold high school and two kindergardens for three hours in Tilst in order to see how far the Århus Municipality has progressed with the Save the Children's project "Free from bullying".
Crown Princess Mary met many happy and engaged children, when she visited Tilst yesterday for three hours.
As patron of the of the Save the Children's project "Free from bullying" she first visited the two kindergardens Venøvej 7 and Smilehullet (the Dimple!) and then ended with a visit to the Skjold high school.
Århus Muicipality together with Gentofte and Kolding municipalities are the three taking part in the pilot project for the prevention of bullying.
Massage and song - During the visit the Crown Princess had a first-hand look at how the campaign has progressed and how teachers and pupils do practical work on preventing bullying in day-care centres, for instance through massage, song and conversations.
"The Crown Princess contacted us two years ago at The Save the Children Fund and offered to contibute on a plan that she knew from Australia, and asked whether it was something for us to try in Denmark to help solve [problems of bullying].
We eagerly accepted her offer and ever since she has used her background knowledge from Australia and participated very actively in the development of the project, which in practice was implemented in February this year in three municipalities," explained Save the Children's director Mimi Jakobsen.
Examples - The Crown Princess was in Tilst to be able to see examples of how to work on influencing especially the youngest children to realise the idea that bullying is always wrong.
After the visits in the two kindergardens Mary went with the whole board from The Save the Children Fund to the Skjold high school, where [Mary] was invited to share in a tempting plate with bread, made at the school's canteen kitchen during a half-hour luch break.
Afterwards, there were 60 children gathered on chairs in the canteen and later nearly 100 more children took their place at the front to sing.
The children have worked on the songs for a while now, and the small voices entered into the task very well, helped by knowing the words by heart.
Like the leader of the after-school day care program, Jimmy Vistisen said "one doesn't tease another as much if they sing together with."
Mary was given a book with texts from some children as well as a CD with recordings of the three songs that the children from the school youth centre Frit, the Globe and Holmstrup House have recorded.
The children of course also got CDs, which will probably be under many Christmas trees.

Save the Children (in English)
Free from Bullying (in Danish) - the page for accessing materials and info about anti-bullying
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation
Better Buddies - One of our key prevention programs is the Better Buddies Framework, a whole-school initiative designed to create safe and caring school communities where bullying is reduced. We play an advocacy role and are a voice against childhood violence. The National Coalition Against Bullying (NCAB), a group of experts in the field of childhood bullying and the creation of safe schools and communities, is an initiative of the Foundation. NCAB provides expert knowledge so that we can deliver effective prevention and advocacy programs aimed at keeping children safe from violence.
See DRWs post Mary launches Save the Children anti-bullying project

DR1 video clip (0:33)
TV2 ØST (from top of the bulletin 2:45)
TV2 news clip (1:18) - At the end of this clip at Smilehullet (The Dimple) the questions went off course a bit. "Is it not correct that you'll soon become a queen?" asked one of the boys in "Smilehullet" thoughtfully. The Crown Princess laughed a little and said, "I think there is more time to pass before that happens."
DR1 news clip (2:07)

Christian keeps busy & a family move is a bit closer

All Amalienborg photos © Steen Brogaard

As well as lunch at Ida Davidsen's with the Siesbye's on November 16, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and Prince Christian attended a reception at their future Copenhagen home at Amalienborg Palace. The reception with the workers marked the end of major construction work on the Frederik VIII Mansion as part of the staged renovation of the building, which has not had any work done on it in more than 70 years. In Riddersalen (the Knight's Hall) they celebrated the conclusion of this part of the restoration with the workmen engaged on the project, which is not expected to be finished until autumn in 2009.


All Amalienborg photos Billed Bladet & ¡Hola! © Steen Brogaard


From Jyllands Posten/© Steen Brogaard

A bit of Amalienborg 101 below. Some aerial shots 1) shows the proximity to the harbour and the gardens next to the water, 2) the palace/mansion in the bottom of the picture is Frederik VIII's Palace or Brockdorff's which is being restored for Frederik and Mary and their family, 3) bottom right is Margrethe's and Henrik's, bottom left will be Frederik's and Mary's, top right is where Frederik and Mary, Joachim and Benedikte currently have apartments and it is also the location of the Amalienborg Museum, top left is the reception and guest palace and the scene of official functions, including "balcony scenes", 4) the facade of Frederik VIII's Palace, 5) a view from the harbour before Frederik and Mary were married, no work had begun on Queen Ingrid's and King Frederik's old Copenhagen home and Margrethe's and Henrik's was having some exterior restoration work done, 6) a view towards the new Opera House, Frederik's and Mary's on the top left and Margrethe's and Henrik's on top right, 7) a map!


Amalienborg - explains the history of the rococo buildings
Amalienborg and Amalienhavn
Frederik VIII's Palæ
Frederik VIII's Palace - from Frederik's and Mary's website

The Palaces and Properties Agency is responsible for the maintenance of the exterior and internal structure of the buildings, Europa Nostra has contributed to restoration of the facades during the 90s (helped by the good offices of ex-president Prince Henrik, no doubt) and the Royal Family is responsible for the cost of interior decoration, furnishings and including kitchens, bathrooms and other utility areas.

The Daily Telegraph - Sydney 'Hands-on mum Princess Mary grooms baby Prince Christian' (!)
¡Hola! 'Los Príncipes Federico y Mary con su hijo, el Príncipe Christian, supervisan las reformas de la que será su neuva residencia real'
New photos above and from Jyllands Posten - Topping-out ceremony with Frederik and Mary

By Else Boelskifte
Published 29 Nov 07
Prince Christian went along when the builders and craftsmen and his parents raised the roof tree the other day in connection with the renovation of Frederik VIII's Palace at Amalienborg.
The palace becomes Frederik's and Mary's official home when the extensive renovation works are completed during 2009.
Rafters and roof beams in the building are finished and that inspired a party, not only for those who were responsible for the roof, but with all the builders who are currently working on the renovation of the palace.
However, Mary and Frederik and their children will only stay at Amalienborg for a part of the year, just as the Queen and Prince Henrik do now [in winter].
Nice as the palace in capital is, it can't compete with Chancellery House in Fredensborg, which has a swimming pool and is, after all, a nicer place to be for Prince Christian and his little sister Isabella. This is even though it is thought the palace is endowed with some 70 square metres of roof terrace at the back of the building.
The budget for the renovation by the Palaces and Properties Agency has gone up and is now around 200 mill. DKK. [More serious structural and rising damp/wood rot problems were discovered in 2005] and in particular, the wings of the building were found to be in greater disrepair than expected.

And from Billed Bladet 'Her skal vi bo, Christian' – We are going to live here, Christian:

The Crown Prince Couple took Prince Christian along when they held a topping up ceremony in Frederik VIII’s Palæ (mansion) at Amalienborg with the many craftsmen who, for a couple of years now, have worked hard in restoring the building. Mary and Frederik have long looked forward to moving in to the renovated mansion together with little Christian and Princess Isabella in the Autumn of 2009. And it is no less now, after having seen how grand the craftsmen have made the old Frederik VIII’s Mansion look already. New kitchen, new bathrooms, roof terrace and much more luxury will be completed in a year and a half from now.
While Princess Isabella was sleeping soundly during the entire reception, Christian had a cosy time with mum and dad and with the many craftsmen present at the reception at the palace. Mary diddle-diddled him on the nose and told him about the old palace. Christian listened to his mother, just as he listened to a couple of the many builders who came to say hello to him.
Crown Prince Frederik loves traditions and has a huge respect for the craftsmanship and the people who have toiled in order to make the mansion beautiful and more modern inside. That’s why he and Mary got a topping up ceremony up and running. A topping up ceremony is traditionally held when the walls are finished, the beams laid and the roof construction raised. The new construction is then decorated with garlands (in the shape of wreaths). The master craftsmen take care of the garlands and the building's owner pays for the reception for all who have taken part in the construction. Frederik had therefore brought port, marzipan ring cake, red sausages (a DK specialty) and beer and fizzy drinks ad libitum for all the craftsmen, who got a perfect end to a long workday. The Crown Prince Couple naturally proposed a toast to the workers and Frederik then gave a speech in which he thanked them and emphasised that he and the Crown Princess look forward to moving into their new home. Frederik, Mary and children will however not completely abandon Kancellihuset in Fredensborg, where they live now.
“The idea is that the Crown Prince Couple will live at Amalienborg a part of the year. Bur some of the time they will still live in Fredensborg where there are better possibilities for activities for their children,” says the DRF information chief, Lis M. Frederiksen.
Prince Christian will still attend a nursery in Fredensborg when he and the family move in at Amalienborg in Copenhagen, but a year or so later he will start school. In all probability he will be together with his cousins Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix at Krebs School, located only five minutes by car from Amalienborg. From a purely practical point of view it is therefore also an advantage for the Crown Prince Couple to move to the capital.
There are however other benefits as well. The newly renovated and restored mansion at Amalienborg for example has a 70 square metre roof terrace. It is large enough for the Crown Prince Couple to enjoy the weather and a BBQ-evening under open sky along with Christian and Isabella. And it will be little wonder if they won’t host a BBQ or two with their closest friends. There will also be a brand new kitchen of the Italian brand Olis, costing almost a million DKK. And then there will be a couple of sparkling new and grand children's bedrooms, naturally prepared for Prince Christian and Princess Isabella. (By Ulrik Ulriksen and kindly translated by Muhler!)

More hunting. Prince Henrik hosted the Grib Forest hunt yesterday. Frederik participated and when the results of the hunt were displayed at Fredensborg Palace, the Queen, Mary and Christian joined the proceedings as is traditional.


Photo: Claus Poulsen
Also see Søren Steffen's photo gallery
Our post on last year's Grib Skov hunt.

Added: Her&Νu video clip the Grib Skov hunt display (as usual, slow loader) - hear Christian exclaiming over the display

And in this week's edition of HER&NU it is reported that Princess Isabella eats oatmeal in the mornings, according to Frederik, who told the press yesterday morning before the hunt. He said that she sits and eats by herself, although perhaps with some hovering assistance from Mum or Dad. Seems inconsequential, but this is the kind of news you get about a seven-month-old! (thanks Benedikte!)

And today Crown Princess Mary has had another meeting concerning the ongoing work of the Mary Foundation, this time at home at the Chancellery House.

Alexandra @ UNICEF & Kristeligt Dagblad interview

Yesterday Countess Alexandra was at the UNICEF relaunch of the campaign against HIV/AIDS in Copenhagen (click above - 3:05)

See Nyhedsavisen 'Alexandra: Mine børn skal lære om velgørenhed' for the story (in Danish) - Alexandra: My children have to learn about charity (November 27th 2007 13:52) Countess Alexandra teaches her children about charity and about when it is important to help. That was what she told Avisen.dk when she talked together with others today about UNICEF's launch of a global campaign aimed at helping children affected by AIDS...

Added: See Countess Alexandra relaunches the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in Denmark (in English) from UNICEF

Recently Alexandra gave an interview on her religious ideas to the Christian oriented newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad. This is a little new for Alexandra to speak publically of being an actively religious person openly in this way. We have removed the translated interview at the request of the newspaper. If you would like to see the translation, please contact us by email.

Frederik @ 'Our Arctic Challenge' premiere

Crown Prince Frederik with Professor Jacqueline McGlade and photographer John McConnico. Photo © Anne Bang/Sermitsiaq.gl

Last Monday evening (November 26) Crown Prince Frederik attended the premiere of the film Our Arctic Challenge at the European Environment Agency's office in Copenhagen, which is an agency of the European Union.

From Sermitsiaq.gl - Crown Prince attends film premiere:

Crown Prince Frederik paid a royal visit to the opening of the film on the world's most demanding ski race, the SIKU Extreme Arctic Challenge

The European Environmental Agency in Copenhagen welcomed Crown Prince Frederik on Monday for the premiere of the world's most difficult ski race which takes place in Tasiilaq.

The organisers of the Siku Extreme Arctic Challenge and the European Environmental Agency hosted the event.

Every year the Danish film company Ace & Ace makes a film about the gruelling race, and Crown Prince Frederik, who was the patron of the race in 2001, was invited to oversee the premiere together with 32 diplomats and other guests.

The film's title this year is 'Our Arctic Challenge'.

'The film deals with climate change seen from an eastern Greenland angle but with an international perspective,' said Anders Stenbakken to Friday's edition of Sermitsiaq.

The film lasts 52 minutes and was recorded on Ammassalik Island in July, where two teams from the Environmental Agency participated in the race. One of the participants in the race was Jacqueline McGlade, who together with photographer John McConnico welcomed the Crown Prince.

Also see Sermitsiaq.gl for the story about John McConnico's photos - Prize-winning photographer displays pictures of eastern Greenland:

The Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist John McConnico opens a new exhibit on Greenland.
Photo © John McConnico
The world-famous photographer John McConnico visted Tasiilaq this past July in conjunction with the Siku Arctic Team Challenge. During his visit, McConnico snapped away at the local population and eastern Greenland’s bountiful landscapes.
The pictures from this journey will be on display at the office of the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen during the city’s annual Culture Night held Friday.
The exhibit, ‘Changing Climate - Changing People’, gathers the prize-winning photographer’s pictures from eastern Greenland for the first time.
McConnico has travelled several times to Greenland, most recently this past week where together with a journalist from The New York Times he visited southern Greenland and Nuuk to document climate change and the Inuits’ lifestyle in the Arctic.
As an Associated Press photographer, he has worked in over 75 countries the past 15 years.
The Copenhagen exhibit will be on display until Christmas.

Sermitsiaq.gl '10 hold klar til næste års strabadser i Tasiilaq' (in Danish) - SIKU Extreme Arctic Challenge 2008 is now open to sign up. Thursday November 15th the SIKU Extreme Arctic Challenge 2008 to take place on Ammassalik Island is now open for registration by intending participants. And already on the first day the race management in Tasiilaq received registrations from ten teams. The ten teams ready for next year's hardships in Tasiilaq come from Australia, England, the USA, Denmark and Greenland...This year's race was won by the Danish team ISI Solomon with the two Greenlandic teams Neriusaaq and Maniitsoq right on their heels. A film from the 2007 race "Our Arctic Challenge" will have its opening night on Monday November 26th in Copenhagen. Crown Prince Frederik, who was patron for the race in 2001, will be present at the opening night. The film will be shown later locally and on TV stations all over the world.

JP webTV clip (1:22)

European Environment Agency
Our Arctic Challenge about the premiere
Introduction to the documentary (1:29)

In 2000 Crown Prince Frederik went on a 2,800 km expedition in Greenland called Sirius 2000. You can see the film made during the expedition here. As for Expedition Sirius 2000, after the indoor life in Paris, Crown Prince Frederik went to Northern Greenland. He had volunteered as one of the six sledge drivers on the privately organised sledge expedition Sirius 2000. The expedition was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Sledge Patrol Sirius, which is responsible for the surveillance of North and North East Greenland and the enforcement of Danish sovereignty. The 2,800 kilometres journey lasted four months. The Danes were able to follow the journey through a series of television documentaries, where the Crown Prince himself talked about the hardships and the wonderful experiences of nature.

Frederik maintains his interest in Greenland as patron of the Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland, Galathea 3, the Greenlandic Society and various other activities in scientific, cultural and social areas (ie: Frederik's and Mary's charitable donations to children's projects in Greenland).

Mary @ Heart Association's Tivoli day out (plus)

Photo: TV2/Scanpix

Yesterday (November 25) Crown Princess Mary attended a day out for children with congenital heart failure and their families at Tivoli in Copenhagen. As patron of the Danish Heart Association Mary attended for the presentation of two research awards (the Heart Association has a strong research focus) and to celebrate a day out at Tivoli with the children who suffer congenital heart failure, a condition which the researchers are investigating. The two recipients of the scholarships from Hjertebarnsfonden to support their research are PhD students Signe Holm Larsen and Morten Olsen.



TV2 article (in Danish) Crown Princess Mary met children with congenital heart disease in the morning in Tivoli in Copenhagen. It was in connection with the Heart Association's award of research scholarships to two researchers who have specialised in childhood congenital heart disease. The Association's patron, the Crown Princess, was invited for the occasion of the presentation and was first received by some of the affected children, who gave her their hand made Christmas hearts.


Photos: TV2 (second pic) and remainder © Klavs Bo Christensen/Danish Heart Association

TV2 photo gallery
Søren Steffen's gallery

DR Update clip (0:50)
JP web TV (1:18)
TV2 video clip (0:38)
Berlingske Web TV (1:18)

On November 16 Frederik and Mary had lunch at Ida Davidsen's smørrebrød restaurant (Danish open sandwiches) in Copenhagen, just near Amalienborg. The owner of the restaurant is the mother of Prince Joachim's friend Oscar Siesbye, who now runs it. According to Billed Bladet the preparations for Joachim's stag night are in full swing. And so, some of the "accomplices" met at Ida Davidsen's. Present for lunch and wedding conspiracies were Oscar Davidsen Siesbye and his wife Britt with Frederik and Mary. They are ideal for the task, since Oscar is a very close friend of Joachim and Britt Siesbye is Marie's closest friend in Denmark. Frederik also knows Oscar pretty well from their school days, but they don't see each other regularly. The meeting is a bit unusual as Frederik's and Joachim's circles of friends don't overlap each other too much. It is entirely possible hens may also have been discussed!

Yes, it is hunting season again. Frederik went hunting (Søren Steffen's pics) on November 21

Last Wednesday (Nov 21) Crown Princess Mary was at a meeting with the management team of the Mary Foundation

Last Friday (Nov 23) Queen Margrethe had a formal audience with the newly elected government of Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Liberal/conservative coalition. Crown Prince Frederik was also present with his mother at Amalienborg Palace for the swearing in (see Jyllands Posten/The Copenhagen Post 'Ready, set? govern')

Joachim & Marie to have 2008 May wedding

Photo: Hello

The Danish Royal Court has announced the date of Prince Joachim's and Marie Cavallier's wedding to be 24 May 2008. It is to be held in the village church of Møgeltønder where Schackenborg Manor is located near the border with Germany in Southern Jutland. The church has a capacity of around 500. The ceremony will be conducted by Erik Norman Svendsen, the same bishop who married Frederik and Mary and christened Christian and Isabella. The wedding banquet will be a private one at Schackenborg Manor. Prince Felix was christened in the Møgeltønder Church and it has also been noted that the date of the wedding is the same as that of Joachim's grandfather, Frederik IX (then Crown Prince), and grandmother (Ingrid, Princess to Sweden) in Stockholm in 1935. The church in Møgeltønder was built c. 1200. From 1661 and until 1970, when it became the property of the congregation, it belonged to the owners of Schackenborg Castle. It is an unusual example of a church which has not been altered significantly in 500 years.


Last weekend Frederik, Mary, Christian and Isabella visited Schackenborg and spent some family time with Joachim, Marie, Nikolai and Felix, reports Se og Hør and Billed Bladet. The two brothers were said to have enjoyed the late autumn weather and each other's company together and the princes and their families spent time out and about in the fresh air and natural beauty at Schackenborg. Nikolai, Felix, Christian and Isabella went on a trip out to the castle's home farm, where they could "study" all the exciting farm machines at close quarters. The weekend's visit quashes speculation about friction in the royal family, it is reported.

Wedding between H.R.H. Prince Joachim and Miss Marie Cavallier

Amalienborg, November 21st 2007

The wedding between His Royal Highness Prince Joachim and Miss Marie Cavallier will take place on Saturday May 24th 2008. Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen will officiate at the wedding in the church of Møgeltønder, Southern Jutland.

After the marriage ceremony a private wedding banquet will be held at Schackenborg Castle, Møgeltønder.

Ove Ullerup
Lord Chamberlain

DR1 video clip (1:18)
DR1 video clip (1:14)
TV2 video clip (1:30)
TV Syd video clip (1:42)
Møgeltønder Church (Danish)
Location of Møgeltønder fom the local Møgeltønder Castle Hotel




Photo gallery of exterior of the church
Photo gallery of interior of church
The present church in Møgeltønder is about 800 years old. The church is thought to be the third Christian church on this site.
Until the reformation, Møgeltønder church belonged to the bishop in Ribe. After the reformation, the church eventually became connected to Schackenborg Manor as part of the entailed estate in Møgeltønder in 1661. The church's affiliation to the entailed estate has had great influence on the church as it has been both a parish church and chapel for the estate. In particular the Schack family has put its mark on the church. In 1970 the church was transferred to freehold, i.e. it became an ordinary parish church. At the time there began a long restoration which lasted until 1988 and cost about DKK 17 million. It was during the restoration the church was converted back to the appearance it had in 1740.

Schackenborg Manor, where we can expect some work to be done on the gates. The gates, with the joint monogram of Joachim and Alexandra, were a wedding gift from the Queen:



Joachim og Marie bliver gift 24. maj DR
Kongeligt bryllup i Møgeltønder TV2
Joachim og Marie skal giftes 24. maj B.T.
Denmark's prince to marry Frenchwoman news.com.au
Joachim's fiancée Marie gets to know her future in-laws Hello

Mary @ 2007 sprint swim challenge

Photo: Local Eyes

Last Thursday evening Crown Princess Mary attended the Wonderful Copenhagen Challenge 2007, a swimming meet in Øbro Swimming Centre, Østerbro in Copenhagen. Mary is the patron of the Danish Swimming Federation, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Australian Eamon Sullivan won the 50 metre sprint and Australian Karina Leane came second in her event.

Politiken reports the challenge was a sprint race with a competitive field. A feature of the Challenge was yet another showdown between Swedish star Stefan Nystrand and the Australian Eamon Sullivan in one of a series of FINA World Cup races in Europe in the lead up to the World Cup in Berlin this weekend.

Søren Steffen's gallery (big cheques, in size at least!!)

Nystrand sets new European record
The Australian perspective:
Sullivan second in 50m freestyle sprint
Sullivan travels faster, further
The flying freestyler