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

Couples & kids @ christening

On February 2, 2008 Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and their children Prince Christian and Princess Isabella attended the christening of the daughter of their good friends Birgitte and Jeppe Handwerk's second daughter Palma. Another friend and well-known Danish actress Ellen Hillingsø is the godmother. The christening was atended by many well-known faces - friends in the close circle around Frederik and Mary and many of their children. Prince Joachim and Marie Cavalllier also attended. The christening was at the Garnison Church in Copenhagen (Felix attends the pre-school at the church).



Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Joachim and Marie Cavallier arriving at a private party in Copenhagen after the christening of their friends Birgitte and Jeppe Handwerk's daughter Palma (February 2, 2008)



Billed Bladet (Danish) 'Isabellas første barnedåb' - Isabella's first christening (apart from her own of course)
Kig Ind (Danish) 'Mary festede med Marie'
Hello magazine 'Royal other halves Mary and Marie show individual style sense'


Photos: Hello magazine


Her&Νu video clip (as always with this one, let it load and then watch)

Media wrap: Frederik's birthday

Current captain of the Dannebrog, Kai Rasch-Larsen, carries the little princess ashore after her first time aboard the royal yacht.

After the birthday/anniversary lunch on the Dannebrog last week Frederik, Mary and the children returned to Fredensborg. Three couples from among their closest friends joined Frederik and Mary in the evening for a small birthday get together at home.

Billed Bladet (no. 22, 1 June 2007) – Family celebration for Frederik

It was probably one of the quietest birthdays Crown Prince Frederik has had in all his 39 years. And despite the drizzling rain, it seemed like it was one of his best because it was celebrated with his family.

“Yes, [my birthday] has been celebrated by my wife, my son and my daughter. It’s been really, really lovely,” said Crown Prince Frederik with a happy smile as he arrived at Nordre Toldbod in Copenhagen with Crown Princess Mary, Prince Christian and the small 35 day old princess...

More than 150 onlookers defied the rain to catch a glimpse of the birthday boy and his family, and they did not wait in vain... Frederik received a lot of cheers and congratulations along the way, and holding Christian, who looked somewhat overwhelmed, he said thank you very much with a big smile, while he momentarily posed for the many photographers with Mary...

The waiting barge took the birthday boy, his little family and the nanny to the royal yacht Dannebrog, which had arrived in Copenhagen Harbour half an hour earlier from Århus to a salute of 27 shots with the regent couple onboard.

The same day as the Crown Prince turned 39, the DRF also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the launching of the royal yacht Dannebrog and her admission into the Danish navy as a royal ship. And so, the Queen and the Prince Consort had invited a few more than ten guests to lunch onboard ... including defence chief Jesper Helsøe and the three previous captains of the Dannebrog...

"It was nice to be onboard again. It was a good lunch,” said retired captain Viggo Hansen, who was accompanied by his colleagues ex-captains Steen Vestergaard and Svend-Aage Kundby-Nielsen, who after his years on the Dannebrog also served six years as the chief-of-court to Queen Ingrid.

Safe at home later in Chancellery House in Fredensborg, Frederik, Mary and the two children could rest a little, before the preparations for the birthday dinner in the evening. The dinner was small and private, with good friends Caroline and Peter Heering, Birgitte and Jeppe Handwerk and Frederik's tennis friend, medical consultant Christian Buchwald and his wife Elizabeth. (by Trine Larsen and translated by Muhler)

Guests arriving at Fredensborg 1) Christian and Elizabeth Buchwald 2) Peter Heering, Birgitte Handwerk:



Hello magazine 'Prince Frederik celebrates birthday aboard royal yacht'

Lillepigen update & news wrap

An overdue wrap of some of the stories and people from the time of the birth. The weekend before last Mary and Frederik had a party to welcome Lillepgen to the family's circle of friends (we will post this shortly). Also, doctors and the midwife visited the little princess at home the week before last and found she was doing very well with no signs of jaundice. At a recent red carpet awards appearance last weekend in Melbourne, Amber Petty said when asked that Mary had told her she was up more times through the night with Lille Prinsesse than she was with Christian. So to news... special thanks as always to Muhler and also ambiDK for translation.

Billed Bladet (no.17, 26 April 2007) a recap on the comments as Mary and Frederik left the hospital– We call her Lillepige.

The story tells how well Mary looked two days after giving birth when she and Frederik left Rigshospitalet with their little girl. Mary and Frederik answered the many press questions before returning home where Christian waited.
Mary was asked how was it to become a mother for the second time?
“It was really lovely. And I would like to say thanks right away for all the many good wishes. It’s lovely that so many have followed us so enthusiastically these past days."
Was it an easier birth than the last one?
“Yes, I must say that. It was easier, even though you probably shouldn’t use the word “easier” about a birth. It was also of shorter duration, so that was really great.”
The Crown Prince said that he shed a tear during the birth. Did you too?
“Yes, I don’t mind admitting that. I did. I shed a tear too."
What did you feel, when the Crown Prince said that is was a daughter?
“I think we noticed at the same time. And then the words came from both of us “It’s a girl!”. It was very surprising and lovely and very emotional.
Did you know it would be a girl?
“No, we didn’t. I actually thought it would be a girl. But we are very happy for having a healthy little daughter.”
What do you call your daughter?
“We just call her Lillepige right now."
How has the little princess managed so far?
“She has done so well.”
How does she sleep?
“Very well. She has been so good and very sweet towards her mother. She has only woken up once a night”.
How has Prince Christian coped with having a little sister?
“Christian is fond of her. He has been very brotherly towards her. He is very enthusiastic, he looks at her with great interest. It’s so lovely.”
How was Crown Prince Frederik during the birth. Was he the coach he brags about being?
“Yes, he was, he was a good support.”
Crown Prince Frederik. Have you given your wife a present?
“Yes, I have.”
What was it?
“It’s her, the little one there in her mothers arms”. (this is when Mary points to Lillepigen, pronounced softly like "lil-pea-ah")
Crown Princess Mary you had visitors very late the same day as you gave birth. Have you had more energy this time?
“Yes, I have I must say. It’s been lovely.”
Did you think about your mother when you had your little princess?
“Yes, I did. And I did that too, when I had Christian.”
Have you found a name for your daughter?
“We are considering some (names) but we haven’t quite figured it our yet.”
Will the little princess possibly be called Henrietta just like your mother?
“We will wait and see.”
Could one imagine one of the names being Greenlandic?
“We will not say anything about names right now. We have considered some, but have not yet made a final decision.”
Mary, you have a little son with blue eyes and fair hair. Who does the little princess resemble the most?
“That’s difficult to say right now, but she has her mother’s dark hair,” said Crown Princess Mary, while Frederik adds “Yes, she is very good looking.”
Do you think the children will have much fun with each other?
“Yes, they are pretty close in age, so it will be no wonder if they have a good relationship with each other.”
Are the children to share a room?
“I don’t think they will. Not more than for a few nights now and then, perhaps.”
The Crown Prince has said that Christian is aware of what a baby is. Can he say Baby?
“He has used that word a lot about his mother’s tummy. So yes, he can."
How many children are you going to have?
“We’ll just take one at the time, but we would very much like to have more.”
What is it that is so fantastic about having many children?
“It just creates so much love and I think they will have a lot of joy with each other. I know that from my own childhood.”
Do you think there will be jealousy between the children?
“No, I don’t think so. We will not treat them differently.”
Do you breastfeed your little girl just as you breastfed Prince Christian?
“Yes, I do.”
How is it to have a princess? It’s been so long since we last had a princess in Denmark?
“As I have said all along, the most important thing is to have a healthy child. But it certainly is nice to have one of either sex. And it’s a gift to have had the opportunity to become parents to a girl.”
What is the plan for the next couple of days?
“We are going home to relax and she will have all the care and food she needs. We are going home to feel like a family and generally take it easy.”
How are the grandparents?
“Very well. They are all both proud and very, very happy.”
What are you going to do now?
“We are going to settle in, our little daughter must learn to feel at home and see her brother again. We must find a routine and create an everyday life.” (with thanks to Muhler!)

Frederik looked very happy when sailed out to the Vædderen as part of the welcome home to the Galathea 3 Expedition. There were many congratulations to the new father as he headed out the Vædderen reported Billed Bladet (no.18, 3 May 2007) about the The happy smile of the Crown Prince.

“Congratulations Frederik,” shouted a handful of ice cream munching Snekkersten citizens to Frederik “Thank you very much, that is sweet of you.” Frederik was asked how the little princess was and Frederik replied she was very well and very sweet. He was asked how Crown Princess Mary was, to which he replied that she was also very well...

So, on the quay at Langelinie where the Crown Prince went ashore with the Galathea 3 Expedition there was happiness all around. Thousands of people received the crew of the expedition ship with some grand spectacle, a brass band and choir on the quay was enjoyed by the Crown Prince just as much as all the people waving Dannebrog flags. The good mood of the reception emphasised the happiness of the birth of the new little princess.

Frederik’s party continued during the following days when he opened a Galathea 3 exhibition at the Zoological Museum and again went to the Vædderen to present the research prize onboard. (a paraphrase of Ulrik Ulriksen's article and translated by Muhler)

Billed Bladet no.18, 3 May 2007 also reported on Henrik's delight with his adorable new grandchild. Prince Henrik is a happy man these days and it shows. On meeting Billed Bladet he jubilantly told about the many happy events in his life at the moment. He has become grandfather for the fourth time, and, this time to an adorable little princess. But also at the same time his beloved dachshund the three year old Vega has given birth to three small utterly enchanting puppies.

“It’s going really well with the small puppies, they are so dear and they are very fine looking,” said Prince Henrik to Billed Bladet. He could say the same about his new little grandchild, who so far is called “Lillepigen”, “Yes, she is also really fine looking and sweet and it’s all very blissful,” smiled the Prince Consort, who is in tip top shape both mentally and physically.

“I have just spent a day in Jutland to play tennis, I’m very fond of that,” said Prince Henrik as he hastened home to all the new members of the family, the new little princess in Kancellihuset and the three small puppies at Fredensborg Palace.

“And no, we are not going to keep any of the puppies, we already have three lovely dachshunds,” said the Prince Consort, but he certainly looked like he wished he could keep all of them if it was possible. (by Helle Skram de Fries and translated by Muhler)

Billed Bladet #18, 3 May 2007 (Christening with emphasis on love) has the story on Frederik and Mary choosing to christen Lillepigen at Fredensborg Palace Chapel. It’s in Fredensborg that they and their two children have their everyday lives ... Neither of them want to go to Copenhagen or anywhere else to baptise their daughter. So the christening will take place in Fredensborg where they feel they belong.

It will be a small close knit family who will be invited to christening. Frederik and Mary have lived in Kancellihuset since their wedding in May 2004 and for them the town and the area is the ideal spot. They can be themselves, they have a big house with a beautiful garden and they have the palace park where they can go for walks with their children. They are close to the city and yet at some distance.

For Crown Prince Frederik it also matters to him that his beloved grandmother, Queen Ingrid, lived in Kancellihuset before him. He has been there over many years and has memories of many happy moments. It was there in the house that he told his grandmother about the girl from Australia whom he wanted to marry, and it was in Fredensborg where Queen Ingrid and Crown Prince Frederik had many good and deep conversations.

It was also here Queen Ingrid lived to her death and the place has a colossal significance for Frederik. Queen Ingrid regularly attended Fredensborg Slotskirke and Crown Prince Frederik can hardly avoid remembering his grandmother when his daughter will be christened on Sunday July1st in the church. Just a year prior to her death in November 2000 Ingrid was the guest of honour at the christening of Prince Nikolai, and now the little new princess will have to be christened without the presence of her great grandmother.

The beautiful palace church is regularly used by the DRF but it’s a centuries old tradition that the palace church can also be used by the congregation in the Asminde-rød-Grønholt parishes. That’s why there are regular services there nearly every Sunday and this year SES (which manages state properties) has announced that the church is open to the public from the 1st to 31st of July. That will probably have to be changed this year, so that the opening only starts the day after the christening on Monday July 2nd.

Even though the palace church look small and intimate it’s pretty roomy. When Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra invited guests to the christening of Nikolai on 6 November 1999, they had 154 guests and just as many are expected at the christening on July 1st. There will be guests from other European royal houses and both Frederik and Mary have a large family, and then there must also be room for many of their friends.

Just as with other big royal events, an announcement was sent out right after the birth on April 21 to the European royal houses about the upcoming christening so that those who will attend could have the date noted in their calendar. As it happens it’s a busy time Frederik and Mary have chosen. The summer vacation will have just started and many royals will go travelling. But a royal christening will probably make most postpone the vacation for a couple of days.

When Lillepigen will be christened on July 1st she will only be ten weeks old. She will easily fit into the grand christening gown in which most Danish princes and princesses have been christened through generations. It was almost not possible when Prince Christian was baptised on January 21st last year. He was then thirteen weeks old and a big boy. But as is known it was possible to dress him in the beautiful christening gown, which was originally sewn for King Christian X when he was christened in 1870.

At the baptism of Prince Christian last year it was not just a little boy, but also a future crown prince and king who was christened and so 323 guests were invited to Christiansborg Palace Church. All of "official Denmark" was represented and the baptism was just as much a state occasion as a family occasion. This time it’s about the family and what is near and dear that will mark the christening. (by Annelise Weimann and kindly translated by Muhler!)

Billed Bladet also notes that it is very unlikely that Countess Alexandra will be invited, although her children will of course be there. It is stated that as Alexandra rarely sees the DRF, Mary and Frederik feel no obligation to invite her. It is also thought it will be nothing less than a sensation if Marie Cavallier should be invited to the christening, because that would mean that she and Joachim are officially engaged before then. Such a sensation would overshadow the christening and Joachim would not do that to his brother.


Billed Bladet no. 17 2007 wrote about the Crown Prince Family being four now and that Prince Christian welcomed his baby sister. The Crown Prince Couple followed tradition and said hello to the people in front of the Chancellery House in Fredensborg.

Little Prince Christian was waiting impatiently with anticipation in the door to the Chancellery House next to Fredensborg Castle for their arrival: mum, dad and his new little sister. They would be together as a small, yet bigger, family after the previous days’ happenings, which can be hard to understand when you are just a year and a half old.

On the castle square outside, several hundred citizens from Fredensborg had gathered to welcome the town’s newest royal – in hope the that the Crown Prince Couple would do the same as they did when they returned home with the newborn Prince Christian and come out in front of the Chancellery House to present the family’s newest member.

And they were not let down. After a short wave to the gathered group of people, the trio went inside the Chancellery House – but then came out a moment later as a quartet. Little Prince Christian had been taken care of by grandparents John and Susan Donaldson – and he had a hard time containing his excitement to see mum and dad again.

The interest for the new little sister had some competition though from TV2’s news helicopter, which was flying above Fredensborg. That is something which a little boy understands, Prince Christian was pointing at the flying machine with excitement, until he saw the people on the castle square, who were waving small Dannebrog flags. Then the young man waved with all his might. Christian was concentrating so hard on waving to the many people who had gathered to congratulate them that he was not to be coaxed back inside easily. When daddy returned to the house and picked up Christian, he realised that the fun outside was about to end.

During this, his little sister slept calmly in mum’s arms – still unaware of the attention she was getting. But if she follows her brother’s example, it won’t be many months before she knows how to wave to the people.

Hands full

It was an intimate and tender moment when Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary came home to Fredensborg with Prince Christian. After they had shown their firstborn to the waiting local citizens, the Crown Prince Couple walked back to the Chancellery House. Frederik carried the little Christian, and Mary caressed both of them. In deep confidence, she put her right arm around Frederik’s shoulder while she caressed her baby with the left hand. On Monday morning [week before last], the picture was almost the same. The same but with a difference. Now, it was a family of four who came home. Crown Prince Frederik carried Christian, who had been waiting anxiously, and Mary carried their newborn daughter. The Crown Prince Couple’s happiness was as evident as last time, but there wasn’t time for all the same loving touches. Because now, there is two children to take care of and both Frederik and Mary have their hands full.

A mature Mary

It was a young and happy Crown Princess Mary who showed her firstborn in October 2005 at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. Prince Christian, the heir to the throne, made his mother’s happiness greater and her life richer. It is a Mary just as beautiful and lovely who has just become mother of two young children, but it has changed her life that she is now a mother in a bigger Crown Prince Family.
Mary has developed a lot since she had Prince Christian. She has become more mature and she has changed both her looks and her thoughts about life. There was something young and straightforward about Mary and her long loose hair when she left Rigshospitalet with Prince Christian and Crown Prince Frederik by her side in October 2005. A lovely smile and happy eyes ... gave the impression of a very young woman, who was beginning a new chapter of her life. The birth was long and hard, but Mary was young, only 33 years old then, and the pain was quickly forgotten.
...Mary has all the help she could need around her. But becoming a mother and the many thoughts that gives you is a process she has to get through on her own. It changes her view of life no matter what and the happy smile also contains an experience and maturity, which has never been there before. It suited Mary to become a mother for the first time. It suits her even more to become one again... (thanks ambiDK!)

Billed Bladet once more (busy week in the newsroom!) Happy grandfather- Christian slept in the backseat
JohnDonaldson was a proud and happy grandfather who visited Rigshospitalet last Sunday [week ago] to see his new little royal grandchild, Denmark’s new princess.
Grandfather Donaldson chose one of the back entrances to the hospital when he arrived for a visit from Århus, where he lives and works.
But John Donaldson spent the whole morning visiting his youngest daughter, who had given birth to his 10th grandchild the day before - the seventh little girl.
As the youngest sibling of four, three sisters and a brother, Crown Princess Mary is also the last one to have children, so there is an age difference of 14 years between Donaldson’s oldest grandchild and the new little princess.
While John Donaldson admired his youngest grandchild during his visit, he also had an opportunity to be with little Prince Christian who was also visiting his mother and his little sister.

Grandfather was the babysitter
Even though the little princess has been kind to her mother, according to Mary, the many visits to the room did tire her, so at lunchtime John Donaldson drove with Crown Prince Frederik home to Fredensborg to eat lunch and let little Prince Christian take a nap.
But the one and a half year old Prince started on the nap early sitting in the back seat behind grandfather Donaldson and with dad behind the wheel, he was asleep in his car seat when they drove up to the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Castle.
After lunch, Crown Prince Frederik put his son in the baby jogger and together with the dog Ziggy and his father-in-law, Crown Prince Frederik took a long walk in the Castle Gardens. Even though it was cold Ziggy had to be walked and it gave Frederik the opportunity to spend some time with John Donaldson.
John Donaldson spent the night at the Chancellery House and so he stood in the door with Prince Christian when Mary and Frederik came back to Fredensborg on Monday with their new little princess. (thanks ambiDK!)

Alexandra jubilant: a cousin for Nikolai and Felix

Countess Alexandra went to the Experimentarium with her husband Martin Jørgensen and her two boys when the Crown Princess gave birth to the new little princess. So the Countess heard the news as soon as she was back home in the house on Svanemøllevej.
It is also from there that she – like the rest of Denmark – followed the little princess’ first two days of life on TV.
" I am really happy for the Crown Prince Couple and it is a great pleasure for me that everything has gone so well and that they have a little princess. It is lovely for them.
Felix and Nikolai liked the fact that they have a new cousin and the boys have been talking about how they look forward to seeing the new little baby all weekend, says Alexandra.
Exactly when the two young princes will have the opportunity to say hello to their royal cousin is still unsure, but it will happen soon when the little princess is settled in her home in the Chancellery House. (many thanks ambiDK!)

A good day to be born
...From this year on, April 21 will be added to the list of national festive days. The buses in Copenhagen will have small flags on them and Dannebrog (the flag) will be on all official buildings when the third person on the list of heirs to the Danish throne will celebrate her birthday every year.
But the date is also a historical day for royals in other ways.
The new little princess’ great-great-great-aunt, England’s Queen Elizabeth, was also born on April 21 81 years ago. And one of the history’s great women, the Russian Empress Catherine the Great, was born on the same date as Denmark’s Lillepige in 1729 [not quite true, she was born on May 2, the April 21 date is based on the old Julian Calendar].
Among the “almost royal persons” the princess shares her birthday with Countess Danner, who was born as Louise Rasmussen on this date in 1815 – and ended up as the wife to the left hand [mistress] of King Christian VII.
Finally, the Lillepige’s great-grandfather, Queen Margrethe’s father King Frederik IX, was proclaimed king on April 21 in 1947. Sixty years later exactly, his great-granddaughter saw the light of the day and so there is another reason to hoist Dannebrog. (thanks ambiDK!)

Sisters Patricia and Jane: Mary called after delivery

Crown Princess Mary called her siblings in Australia to tell them about the little new princess.

"Mary called me just after she had given birth and told me the wonderful news, that she had had a little girl. She also said that everything had gone well. She was naturally very happy and all of us in the family are pleased." Crown Princess Mary’s sister Jane Stephens is very happy when she tells about her new little niece. She has three kids of her own and so she knows how happy Mary is right now. She thinks it is impressive that Mary herself called shortly after the happy event. The last time Mary gave birth, in October 2005, big sister Jane quickly went for a visit to the Chancellery House.
"Of course I will be visiting this time as well, but I don’t know when. But I am looking forward to seeing the little princess and I’m thrilled."
Crown Princess Mary’s other sister Patricia Bailey also received a phone call from Mary too.
"I am so happy for Mary and Frederik that they also have a daughter now. It is just perfect," says Patricia, who is usually called Trish. "I think it’s wonderful that they have had number two and I am so happy for Christian as well. It is a good thing for him that he has got a sister." Trish is also planning a trip to Denmark in connection with the birth. "But I haven’t decided when to go yet," says Trish. (thanks ambiDK)

Everybody wanted to see the Princess - Mary’s many visitors
There was great joy that everything had gone well and that a little new princess had been born, among Mary's and Frederik’s closest circle of friends.
Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik were the first ones to visit on Saturday night, only three hours after the birth of the little princess but they were hardly out of the door before the Crown Prince Couple’s good friends Peter Heering and his wife Caroline, who is Mary’s lady-in-waiting, arrived.
Later on, the Crown Prince’s best friend Jeppe Handwerk and his wife Birgitte visited, and the three pairs of friends had a good time together and admired the little princess until both the Heerings and Handwerks left Rigshospitalet together to let the Crown Princess rest and spend some time with her little daughter and Frederik on her own.
The next morning, the next visitors arrived. Mary’s father John Donaldson came as well as little Prince Christian and when it was clear to see that Mary and the little princess would stay at the maternity ward for another day, guests and gifts and beautiful flowers started arriving.

Jeppe Handwerk and his wife Birgitte would not say anything, not before or after they had visited the little princess, but they were smiling. The couple has a daughter of the same age as Prince Christian. Birgitte also gave birth to her daughter, India, at the Rigshospitalet maternity ward, and even in the same pink room where Mary gave birth to her princess.

When Christian, Elisabeth, Ida, Andreas and Anna Buchwalk visited "It was a cosy visit," said consultant Christian Buchwald, who is Crown Prince Frederik’s tennis partner and coach. Christian brought his wife Elisabeth and the couple’s three children Ida, Andreas and Anna with him to visit.


The Crown Prince Couple’s good friend Peter Warnøe brought his daughters, Barbara, 11, and Bjørk, 5, with him. They said that they owe the little princess a gift, as the shops had just closed. And they also revealed that during their visit, Prince Christian had treated his little sister with a hard hand, like a real big brother.


Caroline Heering, Mary’s lady-in-waiting, was among the last ones who left the room on Saturday and among the first ones to come for a visit on Sunday. The Crown Princess is doing fantasticly well and the little princess is so fine and cute. And yes, I have held her, smiled a happy Caroline Heering, who is a mother of two girls aged five and two.

The Baron couple Helle and Otto Reedtz-Thott came for a visit with a beautiful bouquet of tulips from their own fine castle garden at Gavnø Castle. "It is a very, very beautiful little girl and we are happy for the Crown Prince Couple, said Helle Reedtz-Thott on the way out from the visit.

Flowers from Joachim: already by Saturday afternoon, Prince Joachim sent a wonderful pink bouquet to his sister-in-law Crown Princess Mary to congratulate her on the birth of the princess. The bouquet was handed in by the Royal Court’s usual flower supplier, Beering House of Flowers, and the owner Bjarne Als, who had done the bouquet himself, and delivered flowers from himself as well, which contained a little teddy bear for the newborn princess.

Julie Møslgaard, who Crown Prince Frederik has known since the happy days at Øregård Gymnasium (high school), dropped by for a short visit at Rigshospitalet. She brought a secret gift for her shopping friend Mary and a little kiss for the newborn Princess. Julie visited the Crown Prince Couple late on Sunday night, so she only stayed for a French (?) visit.

(above all from Billed Bladet and kindly translated by ambiDK)

* For our reader who asked about the baby blanket used by Mary to leave hospital with both Christian and Lillepigen it seems it was from Mormor.nu Perhaps you can tell us knitted or crochet?


The description: the beautiful baby blanket of the danish crown prince. Old irish pattern
Materials: Alpaca
Color: White
Size: 1 x 1 meter Mormor.nu

A new Danish princess: update

Peter and Caroline Heering visit the hospital

* B.T. (in Danish) 'Viste prinsessen frem' says that at 9:30 in the evening Caroline and Peter Heering and Jeppe and Birgitte Handwerk visited the hospital.

* In its news coverage TV2 had shown the room where Mary is (obviously filmed beforehand), a simple room painted pink with two beds and a crib for the baby.

* Frederik cut the umbilical cord

* DR TV video clip (9:00)

* TV2 video clip (7:00) includes an interview with the chief editor of Billed Bladet the name of the new little princess is likely to include Ingrid for Frederik's grandmother and Henrietta for Mary's mother, shows the Queen and Prince Henrik's arrival at Rigshospitalet by car and anticipates their appearance in the foyer.

* DRTV video clip

* DRTV article (in Danish) 'En glad far til en rigtig prinsesse' the little princess has dark eyes and hair and pages of congratulations from the public (also in Danish)

* TV2 article (in Danish) 'Dronningen: En sød ny prinsesse' The Queen: a sweet new princess'

* TV2 article (in Danish) 'Den 21. april og de kongelige' (in Danish) the new little princess shares her birthday with Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Catherine the Great of Russia (Katerina II) among others

* Politiken (in Danish) 'Politiske lykønskninger til prinsessen' congratulations from Danish politicians, including the Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen

* Politiken (in Danish) 'Glad regentpar på barselsbesøg' about the happy royal grandparents who were babysitting Prince Christian at Fredensborg while Mary and Frederik went to hospital

* Politiken (in Danish) 'Jordemoder: En bedårende prinsesse' the midwife Birgitte Hillerup: an enchanting princess speaking about the birth and lovely new princess



* Channel 4 Britain 'Princess gives birth to daughter'

* TV2 News 15:45 (Mary is at the hospital)

*TV2 News 17:05

* TV2

* DR TV some charming video of Frederik and Joachim with the Queen and Prince Henrik as children, Christian's birth and the new line of succession
(Frederik, Christian, new little princess, Joachim, Nikolai, Felix, Benedikte, Elisabeth)
(thanks jema!)

It is around 7:30am Sunday in Copenhagen at the time of this post, so we will see what the new day brings....

Added: (thanks Mayflower!)
Sunrise news clip (0:30) Seven Network (Australia)

ABC Online 'Prince Frederik expresses 'great joy' at birth of daughter'

Århus Stiftstidende (in Danish) 'Danmark har fået en ny prinsesse'

A tale of two holidays.....

Mary and Christian at Château de Cayx last week.

The end of July means the end of the summer holidays for Frederik, Mary and Joachim. The Queen and Prince Henrik will have a break (most probably at Château de Cayx, as is their custom) and Frederik will act as regent while the Queen is away after the family festivities at Gråsten.

So, what news? Well, there is some. Billed Bladet (a generally reliable source on matters royal) has reported this week that Prince Joachim and Marie Cavallier have ended their relationship. Marie Cavallier has told a Billed Bladet journalist that they are no longer dating while walking with her from her local patisserie in Geneva. She said they had agreed to separate and as two reasonable adults, it was not a problem. The Billed Bladet reporter said she seemed pensive and suggested they ask Prince Joachim if they wanted more information. (Somehow, we doubt he will give it!)

Although they end as good friends she said it is always difficult to say goodbye to someone with whom you have shared inner feelings, joys and sorrows. The photos from Billed Bladet # 30 show Marie returning from the patisserie with her dog Apple and Prince Joachim returning from Geneva to Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen, last Sunday.



Also confirmed in The Copenhagen Post 'Long distance ends Prince's relationship'

The holiday of Frederik, Mary, Christian and Ziggy is another story. The Crown Prince family began by visiting John and Susan Donaldson in Nyhavn in Copenhagen (see the post here). They went to a Robbie Williams concert with friends in Copenhagen (see here). Frederik was in high spirits when asked by a journalist who the fan was. He teasingly 'hinted' it was Mary and 'the girls' and did a bit of mimicking of the Robbie Williams style.

The family then visited Mary's former lady-in-waiting Victoria Bernstorff-Glydensteen and her husband Frants at their estate on North Funen. They then went to Marselisborg Castle near Aarhus and visited Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. After this they went to stay at the farm of friends Jørgen and Marie Louise Skeel. Frederik played football and Helle Reedtz-Thott was among the visiting friends. After this stay they went to the coast of north Jutland at Blokhus and spent time at the beach with friends (see here). Some of the friends included Ditlev Ahlefeldt-Laurvig and Jean Mensah and Ellen Hillingsø and husband Christoffer Castenskiold.

This last week the family has been in southern France at the Château de Cayx with Jeppe and Birgitte Handwerk and their baby daughter. They were with Frederik and Mary at the château (and Grandfather's vineyard) last year too, but both couples now have children and they have been having a relaxed time being with the babies without staff (or nanny), looking after themselves, shopping in the market town in the mornings, swimming and cooking on the barbecue on the terrace in the evenings. Jeppe Handwerk was a fellow frogman with Frederik and Birgitte and Mary had their babies three weeks apart. Billed Bladet points out in this week's edition that Christian is the centre of Mary's and Frederik's lives and that this is in stark contrast to Frederik's upbringing. They say this is something new which Mary has introduced to the Danish royal family. They only leave Christian to be cared for by his nanny when it is absolutely necessary, so while they are on holidays they have all their time to enjoy with their son. At the beginning of the month Prince Joachim was at the château with Nikolai and Felix and their two nannies. This is a different situation though, as Joachim is now on his own.

Mary and Birgitte flew to France with Christian and the Handwerk's daughter India, while Frederik and Jeppe travelled separately driving in Frederik's Audi Q7 from Denmark. Mary always travels separately from Frederik with Christian because the two heirs cannot travel together for safety/security reasons. Next Tuesday Frederik, Mary and Christian (and, yes, Ziggy!) will arrive at Gråsten for the family gathering, just as it was in Queen Ingrid's day. (With thanks to Muhler.)
Following are photos from beginning to end of the Crown Prince family holiday. Scans are from Billed Bladet, Se og Hør, Kig Ind and Her & Nu. The photo of the couple with baby is a file photo of Jeppe and Birgitte Handwerk with baby India from Billed Bladet.