Danish Royal Watchers: 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: