Mary, the twins & their visitors

Graphic:Politiken. The new line of succession following the birth of the twins.

Let's get to some updating! After a long and eventful day at Rigshospitalet, Crown Princess Mary had some relative calm and rest on Saturday night, with Crown Prince Frederik by her side, reported Billed Bladet and B.T. Prince Christian and Princess Isabella have visited Mary and the twins, but did so through a different entrance so they didn't have to go past the waiting media. Frederik went to Amalienborg to pick them up to take them to the hospital. They were very excited to see their new siblings, Lene Balleby told TV2. The day after the birth saw friends of the Crown Prince Couple visiting Rigshospitalet. First was Caroline and Peter Heering (private secretary to Mary, Peter is an old friend of Frederik's), Tanja and Chris Minh Doky (lady-in-waiting to Mary and Chris is an old friend of Frederik), Anja Camilla Alajdi, friend and stylist to Mary and Otto Reedzt-Thott and Helle Reedzt-Thott (Mary is godmother to one of their sons). From B.T. who spoke to Mary's friend and stylist Anja Camilla Alajdi, "Mary is up already. She is doing well, she is doing really well and looks good," says Alajdi. She is equally impressed with the new little ones. "They are very dear, very sweet and still very small. But I think they are really adorable. They have lots of hair on their heads and have great coloring!" says Anja Alajdi. Frederik has spoken to Prince Joachim on the phone and Joachim has congratulated them. Joachim and Marie are abroad on a long-planned trip, about which the court has not given any details.
Monday morning: Alexandra has visited with Martin Jørgensen, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix. Countess Alexandra has reported to the press that Frederik is more tired than Mary. Susan and John Donaldson have also been spotted in the car park. TV2 article and clip in which Alexandra follows Nikolai's opinion that the little princess looks like Princess Isabella. Alexandra says they are looking very, very well.

• Strange fact : Mary has given birth on a Saturday each time she has given birth. In another twist, Mary herself was born on a Saturday on 5 February, 1972. Frederik was born on a Sunday.

• Gifts received by Mary include flowers and teddy bears for each twin from the Danish Prime Minister, and two little hand knitted jumpers from one of Mary's patronages the Danish Stroke Association

• Update 10 January 2011: Ekstra Bladet The Court has just announced that Mary will not go home from hospital today. The family will take at least another day in the clinical setting of Rigshospitalet.
  "They do not leave today," confirms the court's communications director, Lene Balleby, to [waiting press]. The court will in due course inform the press when the parents and the new little royals will be on show, so everyone can be ready to catch a glimpse of the yet unnamed twins. A large group of press people remain at the hospital reporting who is visiting the royal delivery room.
  
  ekstrabladet.dk can simultaneously report that the Crown Princess is making use of one room only. Reports that the Royal House used a large number of rooms are untrue. Mary has only one room at her disposal, and the rooms next to her are still available for births, said Rigshospitalet press department.

• The new line of succession was signed into law by Queen Margrethe on June 12, 2009 after votes across two parliaments and a referendum in June 2009. The first-born will be heir to the throne regardless of gender in future. The immediate consequence of this is that Princess Isabella will not be supplanted by her new little brother in the order of succession.
  

1) Caroline Heering, 2) Anja Camilla Alajdi, 3)Tanja and Chris Minh Doky, 4) Elisabeth and Christian Buchwald and their children, 5) John and Susan Donaldson, 6) Birgitte and Jeppe Handwerk, 7) Countess Alexandra, Martin Jørgensen, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix

Photos © Jeppe Michael Jensen/B.T., Ekstra Bladet, Claus Bech/B.T.

TV2 Lene Balleby reports that Prince Christian and Princess Isabella have visited the twins, and were very excited. They came through a different entrance, away from the gathered press. "They've been there and they thought it was really exciting to see their new siblings," said the royal family's communications officer Lene Balleby to TV2.dk.
Jyllands Posten Mary's family in Hobart rejoice over birth "The family are really glad for Frederik and Mary. It makes us really very happy that the twins are healthy and happy and that all three have come through the birth well," says Mary's sister Jane Stephen to the Australian news bureau AAP... The story has filled much of Australia's news..."Australians can't get enough of this story," said Australian journalist Angela Cox to TV2 News. Also, Tasmania's premier, David Bartlett expressed happiness over the royal expansion. Mary's father, John Donaldson was in Denmark for the birth where he was looking after Isabella and Christian at Amalienborg.
B.T. Frederik stayed with Mary and the twins
B.T. Christian and Isabella met the twins and avoided the press Christian and Isabella have visited their new brother and sister for the first time. Little Prince Christian and Princess Isabella greeted their new siblings but it was without prying eyes! The Royal House chose to cheat the entire world press [huh? they are small children!] and smuggled those two little ones through Rigshospitalet's underground carpark entrance and from there directly up the elevator to the second floor, to Mary and the twins. In the afternoon daddy Frederik slipped out to Amalienborg to retrieve Christian and Isabella, to take them to Rigshospitalet and get a hug from mum and greet their new siblings for the first time. 
Berlingske Tidende When do the twins go home? It is still uncertain when Crown Prince Frederik is to leave the University Hospital with his wife and the twins. Normally, newborn twins are in hospital between between four and seven days but there are many factors which play a role. Many are eagerly awaiting news on when Crown Princess Mary leaves the hospital with the two tiny newborn twins, but when it happens can only be guessed... "It is a very individual thing when you're ready to go home, but you are probably a few days longer on average when you have twins born than a single birth. You have to have breastfeed working well, since it is two children who need food," says Marianne Skovby Rasmusson. [a midwife at another hospital] She explains that to be taken into account a variety of things - including how the mother is, whether the babies are well and whether they will eat...
Billed Bladet stories - most pages also have video clips on Billed Bladet's YouTube channel too:
Billed Bladet Frederik spent the night with Mary and twins 09 January 2011 | Jan Bergman After a long and eventful day at Rigshospitalet Crown Princess Mary could on Saturday evening go to sleep with the knowledge that her beloved husband was by her side. It is a mature father which Denmark has witnessed during these days, when Crown Prince Frederik stands as proud father and husband, and tells the world how wonderful and fantastic everything is with the twins' births. And it is not only in words, but also with actions that the Crown Prince shows his strength, maturity and quality as a loving father figure. Last night Crown Prince Frederik was at Rigshospitalet with his beloved wife and the couple's newborn twins. Crown Princess Mary has undeniably needed all the support and help she can get and her husband is there for her. With Crown Prince Frederik safely by her side, the Crown Princess spent her first night at the hospital fairly calm and rested.
Billed Bladet Caroline and Peter Heering visited in the late morning
Billed Bladet Joachim and Marie will not visit Mary in hospital because they are on a long-arranged trip overseas. Lene Balleby did not say where the prince and princess are. Billed Bladet Princess Isabella and Prince Christian have seen their new smaller siblings. 09 January 2011 | Henrik Salling For the first time since the twins' birth the Crown Prince Couple's family was gathered together on Sunday afternoon. Led by grandfather John Donaldson Princess Isabella and Prince Christian arrived at 2:20pm at Rigshospitalet to visit their two new siblings. According press chief Lene Balleby it was a good visit, and exciting to see their new little brother and little sister. Until the last there was doubt as to whether Prince Christian was healthy enough to visit his new siblings since he was suffering a cold. But today he was healthy enough to be in the vicinity of the two small ones. After a short visit they went home again to Amalienborg. After Christian's and Isabella's visits, it was Mary's lady-in-waiting Tanja Doky and her husband Chris Minh Doky who had the pleasure of visiting the Crown Prince Couple and their newborn twins.
Billed Bladet Stylist: Crown Princess Mary is out of bed 09 January 2011 | Anna Johannesen and Preben Petersen Crown Princess Mary has come along after the physically demanding twins' birth 24 hours ago. Crown Princess Mary's stylist Anja Camilla Alajdi said early Sunday afternoon that Mary is not bedridden any longer, and that the Crown Princess looks gorgeous. The stylist, who is responsible for the Crown Princess' look when she is out and about doing public tasks, was full of admiration for Mary, but she also had some words for the small twins. "The twins have Mary's colors, I think," said Anja Camilla Alajdi.
Billed Bladet see clip of today's visitors Caroline and Peter Heering, Tanja Doky with her husband Chris, Mary's stylist Anja Camilla Alajdi, friend Baron Otto Reedtz-Thott and Baroness Helle Reedtz-Thott and Frererik's long-time friend Christian Buchwald and his family.  

B.T. Anja Camilla Alajdi reports that Mary is in top form. "Mary is up already. She is doing well, she is doing really well and looks good," says Alajdi to B.T.'s reporter. She is equally impressed with the new little ones. "They are very dear, very sweet and still very small. But I think they are really adorable. They have lots of hair on their heads and have great coloring!" says Anja Alajdi who left a beautiful bouquet with the twins' mother. Mary's stylist arrived immediately after another of Frederik's really good friends had visited. "They are great, everything is wonderful," as a very happy Christian Buchwald says.

The Sydney Morning Herald SMH does an ad for ugg boots: Royal order of the booties - hail Mary, mother of four
The Adelaide Adevertiser Mary plans twins' Aussie visit
Hello! magazine 'We call him Prince Elvis' jokes Prince Frederik as he announces arrival of twins
¡Hola! Los príncipes Christian e Isabella ya conocen a sus dos nuevos hermanos - Christian and Isabella have met their new brother and sister

DR.dk clip (2:02) the reporter talks about expecting the visit of Christian and Isabella and we see Christian Buchwald, his wife Elisabeth and their children visiting Mary, Frederik and the twins. The Buchwald children have grown since they visited Christian and then Isabella!
DR.dk clip (0:42) friends visiting the hospital
B.T. The Royal House's communications director Lene Balleby arrived at the hospital at 10am on Sunday. The newborn twins and their mother, Crown Princess Mary, are thriving. Sunday morning, just over a day after they were born, the court informs that all is well in the maternity room at Rigshospitalet. "Both mother and children are doing well and everything is as it should be," says communications director Lene Balleby. Throughout Saturday one visit followed another in close succession, when Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik and Mary's father, John Donaldson, came by to admire their two new grandchildren. Older brother Christian and sister Isabella had not greeted the twins on Saturday as Christian was unwell with a cold. The royal house did not confirm when they would visit. Parents of twins usually stay between four and seven days in the maternity ward and more days if the children are born by Caesarean section.Since Mary gave birth in the traditional manner without complications, she may be among the new mothers who choose to go home early. But as yet there has been no decision about when that will happen.

B.T. gallery visitors gallery with photos of Alexandra, Martin, Nikolai and Felix added Berlingske Tidende gallery the line of succession is the theme
Berlingske Tidende gallery day two's visitors to Mary and the twins
B.T. gallery of Mary through her twin pregnancy
B.T. gallery visitors to Rigshospitalet and then lots of family pics
Jyllands Posten gallery 8 January, after the birth
Jyllands Posten gallery Frederik and Mary and the children
Billed Bladet

7 News clip (1:42) Princess Mary's new arrivals (Angela Cox needs to check on on how to pronounce the name Christian)
9 News clip (1:33) Princess Mary gives birth to twins
9 News clip (2:43) Prince Frederik describes the birth of his twins
TV2 clip (2:03) about the Danish and the interantional media covering the twins' birth

thanks to gudinde, jema, mls, Vik, coco, kimberley and Alexmary

After the twins announcement...

Photo © Uffe Weng/B.T.

On the day the official announcement of Mary's twin pregnancy, Frederik was sailing in Marstrand in Sweden in the Dragon Gold Cup 2010 and told Ekstra Bladet that "It is a double miracle". From B.T. Frederik was reported saying it will be quite a handful having twins. He said he didn't know how it would be to be a father of four, he supposed he will find out in six months. Frederik also said he and Mary had never thought they would 'make two babies', confirming what the Danish Court spokesperson Lene Balleby had already stated to the media, that the twins were conceived naturally. Prince Henrik, also at the Dragon Cup, had happily told Billed Bladet that even triplets would also be welcome. B.T. also wanted to know if it will be the end of baby-making after January. Frederik laughed, said that was funny, didn't answer the question, but said they would take it quietly, one day at a time.



Photos © Uffe Weng/B.T.

The Monday after the announcement Mary took Christian and Isabella for their first day of the school year. They are still attending nursery school but joined their schoolmates in celebrating the first day of pre-school for their former school chums (school begins at age 7 in Denmark). Since Christian was born at the end of the year Frederik and Mary have decided to keep him with his peers, although some of the older children in his group started pre-school on the day.

Billed Bladet (No.32, 2010) Mary i skole med Christian og Isabella - Mary to school with Christian and Isabella
Week 32 is the start of the new school year for many children in Denmark. That also included those attending Dronning Louise's Børnehus (= kindergarten/nursery school) in Fredensborg, which Christian and Bella attend. The kindergarten re-opened Monday August 9th after the summer holidays and Mary drove her children there.
On the way they stopped to see the big children who were starting in school at the nearby public school. Other children and parents from the kindergarten had also shown up with flags in the school yard, including some mates of Christian and Isabella.
Christian is a big boy, almost five, and he could start in pre-school this year but Frederik and Mary have opted to wait another year. But some of his mates from kindergarten started this week. Christian was left with his mates and Mary and Isabella went over to some of her mates and from here they saw the pupils on the way to school. It's hardly a secret that Mary is pregnant and many wished her well or gave her a thumbs up. Then it was on to the kindergarten. Bella had to get used to the idea that summer holiday was over and it was time for a new year in the kindergarten. (by Ulrik Ulriksen)

Photos © Billed Bladet/Ole Bjørk 9 Aug 2010

Princess Marie hasn't escaped the festival of babies. The day after the official announcement of Mary's twin pregnancy she was asked about the matter when she christened a rose named for her at a rose festival in Bogense. Billed Bladet's Ken Richter writes the weather was great and so was the turnout when Princess Marie visited Bogense. The news about twins had just broken so Marie was naturally also asked about her plans, "I hope I'll have more children - but not right now". As for Mary's news she said, "It's so lovely and I'm really happy for them. They are really fortunate." As with Joachim, she was also told when the family was gathered at Gråsten at the end the end of the summer holidays. Marie christened the Princess Marie rose in the crowded town square. Beforehand Marie had been taken for a tour through the town, including an exhibition of christening gowns, and just in case she should have missed the point, cardboard storks had also been planted here and there.
And in case she still didn't get it, her father-in-law Prince Henrik had expressed his delight at soon becoming a grandfather of seven and added that he wouldn't mind at all if even more grandchildren came along. There is a Billed Bladet photo gallery here of Marie's visit to the rose festival in Bogense.

Princes Nikolai and Felix had their first day at school on August 9 too. According to a B.T. report Nikolai is beginning fifth grade and Felix is starting second grade at Krebs School, the alma mater of their father and Crown Prince Frederik. Their first day arrival, together with Countess Alexandra and Prince Joachim, can be seen in this gallery. The suntanned princes can be seen with Countess Alexandra and Martin Jørgensen arriving at school here.

Kristeligt Dagbladet photo gallery - a 'family album' series
TV2 clip - Frederik: "This is a miracle"
Photo gallery - pics of both Frederik and Henrik

Thanks Muhler!

The birth of the new Danish prince

The birth of the new prince to Princess Marie and Prince Joachim, which was at 4:57am, had gone to plan, which is to say a normal labour and natural birth without complications, although Princess Marie did have an epidural block. The baby is 3.032 kg and 49 cm and both mother and child are described as well. Princess Marie and Prince Joachim arrived late yesterday evening at Copenhagen's University Hospital maternity ward when labour pains began (see pic Joachim's car parked during the night outside the maternity ward below). Marie's due date was given as May 16th when the pregnancy announcement was made by the court but it is a bit of a convention to give an 'outside date' with an earlier delivery. One of the journalists asked who the boy resembles and Prince Joachim answered simply that the baby resembles a new-born boy. For Joachim, who is now a father for the third time, he said that "it is just moving - just touching every time".

Bookmakers are apparently laying odds on the little prince being called Albert (see story below)

Billed Bladet's Jon Bloch Skipper (royal historian) says Denmark's new prince can will be called Albert Marie Holger Frederik. Berlingske Tidende also suggests the same name

Friends Oscar and Britt Siesbye arrived at the University Hospital looking in high spirits to congratulate Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and took a gift of some of Ida Davidsen's famous open sandwiches six hours after the birth

Marie's father Alain Cavallier has arrived to visit his daughter and new grandson, according to Billed Bladet. Marie's father arrived with Joachim's private secretary Kurt Bache at Rigshospitalet and said he is very happy and eagerly looks forward to seeing the little baby

Prince Nikolai went to Krebs School as usual this morning, picked up by a friend's father, while Martin Jørgensen took a happy loooking Prince Felix to his class at Krebs

Prince Joachim called around to family and friends himself to give the news. Mary was congratulated on being an aunt by journalists. She said she is very happy but will not be at the hospital during today, she has three events scheduled and Crown Prince Frederik has one too, so they are likely to visit later

Prince Henrik has just arrived at the hospital with Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix - 4pm. Berlingske Tidende reports Prince Henrik saying the whole family is very happy and Prince Nikolai admitted he was a bit tense. Queen Margrethe has not yet visited as she is receiving the retiring Secretary General of NATO at Amalienborg

Gun salutes have been fired at Copenhagen's Sixtus Battery, at Kronborg Castle and in Aabenraa, Politiken reports

Many Danes are flying the flag and the Dannebrog went up early at Schackenborg Castle, the Jylland estate of Marie and Joachim and the new little prince. A stork has been installed in the Schackenborg garden recently in anticipation of the birth too

The mayor of Tønder municipality where Schackenborg is located has expressed happiness at the safe delivery and looks forward to the 'new life' in Tønder

Photos © Uffe Weng/B.T., Martin Høien/Billed Bladet, Nanna Kreutzmann/POLFOTO/Fyens.dk, Mikkel Møller Jørgensen/Berlingske Tidende, Jeppe Michael Jensen/Berlingske Tidende, Liselotte Sabroe/Berlingske Tidende, Bax Lindhardt/Berlingske Tidende, Jens Dige/POLFOTO/Politiken

Press release from the Chamberlain to Joachim and Marie, Kurt Bache:
A Prince is born
Amalienborg Palace, May 4, 2009
On Monday May 4, 2009 at 4.57 am Her Royal Highness Princess Marie gave birth to a healthy son at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen (Copenhagen University Hospital).
Weight: 3032 grs., length: 49 cm.
Mother and baby are doing fine.
His Royal Highness Prince Joachim was present at Rigshospitalet all the time.
Kurt Bache
Chamberlain, Colonel, Private Secretary
T.R.H. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie's Household

Press release:
The birth of a Royal Child
Amalienborg Palace, May 4, 2009
Throughout history, the birth of a Royal Child has been accompanied by traditions and official celebration. Today, the birth of a Royal Child is celebrated by gun salutes, and public authorities will fly the Danish flag, etc.
Salutes
After Her Royal Highness Princess Marie has given birth to a child, salutes will be fired from the Battery Sixtus on Holmen in Copenhagen and from Kronborg Castle at Helsingør. The four cannons used at the Battery Sixtus date back to 1944. They are operated by Navy personnel. The 17 cannons used at Kronborg Castle date back to 1766-1769. They are operated by gunners from the Army. In both places, black powder will be used.
Both Battery Sixtus and Kronborg Castle will fire 21-gun salutes. If the Princess gives birth before 12 noon, salutes will be fired the same day at 12 noon. If the Princess gives birth after 12 noon, the 21 shots will be fired the following day at 12 noon.
Cannon salutes have been used as a signal to announce great events throughout history. At the time of the Vikings, special signals in the form of beacons were used to announce important events.
Flying the Danish flag
Official Denmark celebrates the birthdays of specific members of the Royal Family by flying the Danish flag. This is also the case in connection with the birth of a Royal Child. If the Princess gives birth before 12 noon, flags will fly the same day from 12 noon. If the Princess gives birth after 12 noon, flags will fly the following day...(see remainder of the press release for blue gala uniform details for the Royal Danish Life Guards.)

Some reactions:
Avisen.dk had earlier reported Princess Marie's arrival at hospital with the court's public relations manager, Lene Balleby confirming Prince Joachim drove the princess himself early in the evening. BilledBladet's Trine Larsen told TV2 news the princess had been experiencing labour pains for a while.
DR.dk 'Tillykke fra Løkke - og de andre' - Congratulations from Løkke - and the others
Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen wishes Princess Marie and Prince Joachim congratulations on the birth of the little prince.
"On the government's behalf I'd like to wish Her Royal Highness Princess Marie, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim and the entire royal family a big congratulations," the prime minister said in a press release.
"All of Denmark is happy at the event," it says.
The conservative party leader, deputy prime minister Lene Espersen, also sends her congratulations to the new royal parents.
"It's a big event for all of Denmark with news of a new little member of the Royal Family. But it's first of all a happy event for the prince and the princess to have become parents to a lovely little boy, and for Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai to have a little brother. We wish all the best to Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and their family," says Lene Espersen in a press release.
The Danish People's Party also says it is a big day.
The party leader, Pia Kjærsgaard, sends warmest congratulations to Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and the whole royal house. "In the Danish People's Party we wish the new parents a big congratulations with the new little prince and bid him a hearty welcome. It's a great, happy event for the royal family and for the whole country, and it's very fine that the little prince has chosen a historical day to be born - the day of liberation evening," Pia Kjærsgaard says.
DR.dk 'Psykolog til prinseparret: Kommunikér' - The psychologist to the prince couple: Communicate
With the birth early this morning of the new boy prince, Prins Joachim now has children with two different women.
That means that he has to relate to the the children's mothers very well, who may have different positions on everything from how the children dress to what they must and musn't do.
There's hard work ahead according to Renate Sommerstad, a registered psychologist who frequently works with blended families in her practice, Prince Joachim has to prepare for what it is to suddenly have children in different places.
"Prince Joachim now has a completely new family composition. That means that he and Princess Marie have to put the work gloves on, so that the things will work between the families. They need to be good at communicating and backing out if there is something problematic, because otherwise one frustration after another means it can become quite difficult," says Renate Sommerstad.
"Allow the boys to create bonds immediately, it's important that the prince couple understands how to bring the three small princes together, even though they have different mothers. It's important that the prince couple give the two bigger boys room to get to know the new little brother in their won time and way. And not least, listen to what they say," emphasises Renate Sommerstad, "because otherwise there is a risk of jealous feelings towards the little one," she continues.
"Patience is the road forward. After all, there are many Danish families that live with children in multiple homes. The best Prince Joachim and Princess Marie can do is to prepare from the start. They are to be patient, open to input and most importantly of all, communicate. They will then do well because it's a wonderful gift they just got," Renate Sommerstad says.
Joachim has two boys, Prince Nikolai, 9, and Prince Felix, 7, who he had with Countess Alexandra during their ten year marriage.
In May last year Prince Joachim was married for the second time and has now got a child with Marie Cavallier.

TV2 'Bookmaker satser på prins Albert' - Bookmaker gambles on Prince Albert
What is the child to be called?
It's now the great question after Prince Joachim and Princess Marie became parents to a boy this morning.
The bookmaking company Unibet gives the lowest odds that the child will be called Albert as a first name.
That gives a payout 50 to one if the prince is baptized Albert Marie Holger Frederik, while Waldemar Holger André Christian will give odds 100 to one.
Each of the royal grandchildren of Queen Margrethe have four names.
One of the names Christian, Frederik or Joachim will probably be included.
Marie's French ancestors will also likely be represented in the name.
Marie's father is called Alain Cavallier, so that maybe Alain will be in in the name.
Seven out of ten users on news.tv2.dk thought that it'd would be a girl when we did a quick poll when it emerged that Marie was pregnant.
It can also be mentioned that it gives the money 250 to 1 the prince will be called Nebukadnezer and just 25 to 1 he will be named Børge.

Billed Bladet 'Maries far er ankommet til Riget' - Marie's father has arrived at the hospital
04 May 2009 | Jan Bergman
Prinsesse Marie's father, Alain Cavallier, became a maternal grandfather when Denmark's little new prince was born.
Now he has come to the maternity ward in order to see his grandchild.
Alain Cavallier had scarecely woken when he received the message that his daughter had given birth to a healthy son.
Alain therefore hurried to Copenhagen and already landed at 1pm on an SAS flight from Paris.
He went directly to University Hospital where he had to see both his daughter and his first grandchild.
"I am very happy and look forward fantastically to seeing the little baby," said the happy, new maternal grandfather.

Billed Bladet 'Marie, Joachim og den ny prins fik besøg' - Marie, Joachim and the new prince have visitors
04 May 2009 | Jan Bergman
Denmark's new prince is scarcely six hours old and has already got visitors - Joachim's and Marie's close friends Oscar Siesbye and his wife Britt, have visited Rigshospitalet.
Princess Marie and Prince Joachim have hardly had time to rest their eyes since the the birth and now friends have started to visit the hospital to congratulate the couple on their little new prince.
And naturally Britt and Oscar Siesbye brought a little tempatation for the palate in the form of open sandwiches from Oscar's mother, Ida Davidsen's famous business in St. Kongensgade.
Ekstra Bladet 'Joachim ringede til tante Mary' - Joachim called Aunt Mary
Crown Princess Mary is happy about her new nephew, whom she still hasn't still seen.
Joachim himself called round and told the happy news.
"Thank you so much," Mary smiled, when ekstrabladet.dk wished her congratulations with the little new nephew.
The Crown Princess hasn't yet had time for a visit at the University Hospital of Copenhagen since she was in Næstved this morning to name a tulip at Gavnø Slot, and has just now arrived at the State Museum for Art to participate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' and the UN's Population Fund's event "The art to save a mother".
But both she and husband Crown Prince Frederik are expected to hit the road for the maternity ward later today.
The Crown Princess didn't have a lot of time for talk before the event at Statens Museum for art, but she however managed to report how she got the good news.
"I really got it from my brother-in-law," she says to ekstrabladet.dk

Politiken
Associated Press
ABC Online
Brisbane Times
The Copenhagen Post
The Huffington Post
Politiken (English)
Monsters & Critics

Hello magazine 'It's a boy for Princess Marie and Prince Joachim of Denmark'
20 minuten.ch - the news in Switzerland (German)
ABC.es 'Marie de Dinamarca ha dado a luz a su primer hijo'
¡Hola! 'Marie de Dinamarca ha dado a luz a su primer hijo'

Fyens.dk gallery
Billed Bladet gallery

JP.TV - Jyllands Posten clip of the news conference this morning (05:16)
JV webTV (03:12) - the press conference with the medical team, Morten Hedegaard, Consultant at Rigshospitalet, Birgitte Hillerup, midwife and Peter Damm, Professor
EB.TV (02:20) Marie's father Alain Cavallier arriving
EB.TV (01:22) - Prince Henrik arriving to visit with Princes Nikolai and Felix

Happy 69th birthday for Queen Margrethe!

Queen Margrethe is celebrating her 69th birthday today and has appeared on the Amalienborg balcony to greet, and be greeted, by thousands in Amalienborg Palace Square. The Queen was joined by Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary with Christian and Isabella, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Nikolai and Felix.



Photos © Hanne Juul/BilledBladet, Keld Navntoft/Berlingske Tidende (including lead photo), Jens Dige/POLFOTO/Fyens Stiftstidende, Peter Grosen/SeogHør.

Berlingske Tidende 'Dronningen fejret på Amalienborg' - The Queen popular on Amalienborg
Mikkel Sander Rydzy | April 16th 2009
Thousands were [at Amalienborg] at noon to shout hurrah! for Queen Margrethe, who turns 69 years old today.
Kindergarten children, pensioners and tourists with ready-to-shoot digital cameras made up the large assembly gathered together on Amalienborgs Slotsplads to pay tribute to Queen Margrethe shortly after noon today.
Together with husband, children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren the now 69-year-old Queen and birthday girl appeared on the balcony to the delight of the crowd.
The royal waves from the balcony were reciprocated with eager flag waving while thousands joined in cheers that the Queen herself 'conducted'.
Among those who attended was Anne Sophie Hollesen, who had brought her three children Laura, Sebastian and Carl Christian along in a Christiania bicycle. "We have come in to say congratulations to the Queen, and it isn't the first time we have beene here," Anne Sophie Hollesen says to berlingske.dk.
The two older children are free from Krebs School for the royal birthday...both Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim went there and Prince Joachim's eldest son, Nikolai is in 4th grade...
From their place in the crowd it may be difficult to catch a decent glimpse of the Queen. Maybe for this reason it's not entirely easy to decide the birthday person's age.
"I think that she will stay 100," 6-year-old big brother Sebastian says.
Big sister Laura, seven, is a little closer to the correct number.
"I think she turns 67," she says after a bit of time to think it over.
Their mother must admit that she isn't certain about the answer.
But it is in fact 69 years that Denmark's Queen reaches today.
Billed Bladet 'Hele familien bag dronningen på balkonen'
The Copenhagen Post 'Thousands wish Queen happy birthday

Berlingske Tidende gallery
Berlingske Tidende gallery - the Queen's year in review
MSN Starlounge gallery
Billed Bladet's gallery - the Queen as grandmother
B.T. Queen's birthday gallery
TV2 gallery
Fyens Stifstidende gallery

JP webTV (01:44)
DR.dk clip
TV2 clip (02:50)
SeogHør clip (01:47 - the article says it is getting crowded on the balcony but all eventually fit in, including Marie's pregnant tummy, and Isabella was especially happy to wave at the crowd - scroll down page for clip)