Danish Royal Media Watch: May 2013

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

RIP: Count Christian of Rosenborg: Daisy's First Cousin Was Her Outcast: Make Up For It at the Funeral, Girl Since You Won't Fly the Flag Half Mast Over Amalienborg

Count Christian and Countess Anne-Dorte of Rosenborg

Last night at 11pm, Count Christian of Rosenborg passed away at Gentofte Hospital. He had been suffering from cancer and had endured 33 chemo treatments, to which his wife accompanied him every time, despite her own struggles with throat cancer. (Christian had smoked since he was eight years old.) Daisy's flag remains at full staff over Amalienborg Palace, nor with a black streamer atop her flag. The funeral will be held 29 May at 11am at Lyngby Kirke.

He was born 22 October 1942 at his parents' home, Sorgenfri (Sans Souci) Palace, as HH Prince Christian Frederik Franz Knud Harald Carl Oluf Gustav Georg Erik of Denmark and Iceland. His father was the younger brother and only sibling of Crown Prince Frederik, the future King Frederik IX (Derf's grandfather). As the throne was only inherited by men, even in the absence of male siblings, Christian's father Prince Knud was the Hereditary Prince and heir to the future King Frederik. Knud's oldest son Prince Ingolf was his father's heir and seen as the future of the Danish Royal Family. Knud had also married equally, a requirement of Danish royal house membership, to Princess Caroline-Mathilde, his first cousin.

All that changed in 1953 when the constitution was changed to allow women to inherit the throne in the absence of male siblings (but still with preference to younger males over their older sisters). There is strong anecdotal evidence that Queen Ingrid was the reason behind this change, wanting her awkward daughter Daisy to inherit the throne over her brother-in-law Prince Knud's less than glamourous brood.

In February 1971, Christian married Miss Anne-Dorte Nielsen. Since she was a commoner, Christian lost his styling of Highness and his title of prince. This was in accordance with house rules, despite an appeal by Prince Knud to his brother the king a few years earlier to allow Ingolf (and therefore later Christian) to retain his princely title. In 1967, despite the flawed argument that the Laborde de Monpezat's had a countly claim, the king had allowed Daisy to stay his heir by fudging the rules for her; King Frederik would not do that for his nephews. More reason to love badass Princess Elisabeth for never marrying and therefore keeping her title and her elephant!

Despite this precipitous fall from the social ladder all within the course of his early lifetime, Christian seemed to go on to have a happy family life. He and Anne-Dorte had twin girls Josephine and Camilla, and then a final child, Feodora. Despite the whispers that none of the girls were great beauties, they have all grown up to have partners and children and the extended family of Knud and Caroline-Mathilde seem to show up for each other and have a certain solidarity. That has surely been because of and in defiance of Daisy's (and her father's) somewhat outcast treatment of the Knud Brood.

Quite famously, Trine Villemann opened her royal tell-all 1015 Copenhagen K book with the story of Derfie and his cousin Josephine talking over the loud music at Club Vega during the "Youth Party" before Derf's disastrous wedding to Mary Boganson. Freddles told Josephine that he looked forward to catching up better at the reception and dinner after his wedding in a few days. That's when Josephine dropped the bomb that although she and her sisters and parents had been invited to the wedding, the girls and their husbands were not on the guestlist for the reception afterwards at Fredensborg. Awkward!

Daisy, your first cousin has died. He was born a Prince of Denmark. 100% royal blood. Can't say that about yer own grandbogans or even the beautiful Schackenborg grandchildren, despite their elegance and inner nobility. Please give him a proper send off. Make up for the cold-bloodedness of the treatment of Princess Caroline-Mathilde after Knud died when her guards were told to stand down as she arrived home from the funeral. Make Derfie go so he can say kind words to his "beloved" cousins. Let Ingolf and Elisabeth know that they too will get dignified send-offs. They don't have children, so you will be it.

Baby Prince Christian with his two royal parents in the christening gown of Danish kings

Prince Knud's three children

King Christian, Queen Alexandrine, and their six grandchildren: Elisabeth, Margrethe, Ingolf, Christian, Benedikte and baby Anne-Marie

The rejected branch of the royal family: Prince Knud, Princess Caroline-Mathilde and their three children, Princess Elisabeth, Prince Ingolf and Prince Christian

Older brother Ingolf at the wheel, Christian in back

Being pushed by older brother Ingolf in a scouting go-kart race

Princes Ingolf and Christian with their father Prince Knud

At Sorgenfri (Madam's post-divorce residence hopefully) with older brother Ingolf

Engagement with commoner Anne-Dorte Maltoft-Nielsen

Outside of Lyngby Kirke for his wedding, with his father Prince Knud in 1971

Marriage of Count Christian with Anne-Dorte

After the birth of twins Camilla and Josephine, with Prince Knud and Princess Caroline-Mathilde

After the birth of Countess Feodora

At Countess Feodora's christening

The whole family at Skagen

With (former) Court Master of Ceremonies Christian Eugen Olsen and his wife Birgitte

At Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra's wedding reception at Frederiksberg Slot

Countess Josephine's wedding to Thomas Schmidt at Lyngby Kirke

At Countess Feodora's wedding to Frenchman Eric Patte at Holmens Kirke

At the pre-wedding event at the Royal Danish Theatre on 13 May 2004

At Daisy's 40th Jubilee at Christiansborg Slot

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Prince Nikolai's Confirmation at Fredensborg Castle: Dignified, Tasteful, and Slightly British

Following royal tradition, His Highness Prince Nikolai was confirmed at 11:30 this morning in Fredensborg Castle Chapel where several generations of royal heirs have been confirmed throughout the years. As Daisy's eldest grandson, Nikolai was the beneficiary - even if at his age he doesn't think so - of Farmor's royal spotlight and was confirmed solo in front of his family, friends and godparents.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex made the trip, Crown Prince Frederik was also at his side, as were the other godparents Peter Steenstrup, Camilla Bredholt and Nicola Baird, his maternal aunt. About 40 guests were present, according to BT. Edward and Sophie arrived Friday and stayed overnight in the psychedelic palace in Copenhagen. That's interesting, considering Kancellihuset is at Fredensborg where all the events take place. So, Mary's at Kancellihuset so that the kids have room to frolick, and Fred's staying at Amalienborg? I guess that's how they divvied it up. Or it was just a way for Mary to keep the royal gargoyles away from the British royals lest they judge their badly mannered behaviour?

Alexandra looks wonderful, and very proud. Martin's suit is still a smidge too small, Marie looks great, and fine with the spotlight being on others. Martin's parents were also there, a nice touch since his father has produced so many royal films, including the Marymentary. Grandmother Christa Manley was also there with her third daughter Martina.

Berlingske was so impressed, they put a photo gallery and article on their front page!

Video: Danish Royal Website

Article: Berlingske

Prince Nikolai Was Confirmed Alone

The traditions of the royal family were followed to the letter today, when Prince Nikolai as the eldest grandson Saturday was confirmed in Fredensborg Palace Church.
Like his father and uncle, Nikolai was also confirmed at age 13. And Joachim and Alexandra's eldest son is also the only confirmand, which was confirmed in the white chapel Saturday. For such is the tradition for the Danish royal family.But it is not as strange or elevated as it seems according to the royal family's priest and royal confessor, Erik Norman Svendsen."It is an old tradition that the royal family will be confirmed separately. But what I think is a sensible decision. For anyone may well imagine what will happen to an ordinary communion Sunday in an ordinary church if the entire royal family entered. So it was no longer confirmed children who were in the centre but the family," says Erik Norman Svendsen.The royal confirmations occurs only in the presence of the immediate family and in very private forms - thus, when Prince Nikolai today stepped into the adult world by confirming his baptism in the Christian faith."The confirmation is in itself the same way as the day his companions were confirmed in the Garrison Church. I hold course a speech to the confirmand, the priest always does this, but here it becomes to him alone. And it can not be avoided becoming more personal", told Norman Svendsen before confirmation, which he calls completely normal.As Norman Svendsen was the royal family's priest until 2008, this is how he got to know Nikolai. But it is been in the confirmation classes, which he has given that the priest has gotten closer to Joachim and Alexandra's oldest son."He is both smart and cute. He has picked up so much in class. He is not afraid to ask questions. And he has been engaged. So it has been a pleasure," says Erik Norman Svendsen, who also participated in the confirmation lunch at Fredensborg Palace immediately after the ecclesiastical event.