Category Archives: Danish Royals

Ingrid of Sweden, Queen of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Ingrid of Sweden, Queen of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Ingrid of Sweden was born on March 28, 1910, at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. At the time of her birth her parents, the future King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught, were the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden. Ingrid’s mother was the daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, and therefore a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Ingrid was the only daughter and the third of her parents’ five children.

Ingrid had four brothers:

The infant princess was christened Ingrid Victoria Sofia Louise Margareta on May 5, 1910, at the Royal Chapel in the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Her godparents were:

In 1920, when Ingrid’s mother was eight months pregnant with her sixth child, she underwent mastoid surgery. An infection developed which killed Crown Princess Margaret, at the age of 38, and her unborn child on May 1, 1920. Ten-year-old Ingrid and four brothers ranging in age from three to fourteen years old were left motherless. In 1923, Ingrid’s father married Lady Louise Mountbatten, daughter of Prince Louis of Battenberg (later Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven) and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The couple remained childless and became King and Queen of Sweden in 1950.

Ingrid was well educated. She studied history, art history, and political science, and learned several languages. Long stays in Paris and Rome enhanced her knowledge of art and culture. Along with her father, stepmother, and brother Prince Bertil, Ingrid took a five-month journey through the Middle East in 1934-1935.

On March 15, 1935, Ingrid became engaged to Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, her third cousin. The couple was married at Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24, 1935.

Frederik and Ingrid ride through the streets after their wedding; Credit – Wikipedia

Ingrid and Frederik had three daughters:

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid lived at Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Ingrid quickly learned Danish and came especially to love Jutland, where Gråsten Palace became their summer home. During World War II, Ingrid took a very critical attitude towards Nazism. The popularity of the Danish royal family increased because they remained in Denmark despite the German occupation and stayed visible to the Danish people. Unaccompanied by a groom, Ingrid’s father-in-law King Christian X took a daily ride on his horse through Copenhagen. Ingrid was often seen riding her bicycle or pushing her eldest daughter Margrethe in her carriage through the streets of Copenhagen.

 

On April 20, 1947, King Christian X died and Ingrid’s husband acceded to the throne as King Frederik IX. Queen Ingrid reformed some outdated practices at court and created a more relaxed atmosphere. She was interested in gardening and art, and, after researching the original appearance of Gråsten Palace, she oversaw the renovations there.

 

King Frederik IX died on January 14, 1972, and his eldest daughter became Queen Margrethe II, the first female monarch of Denmark since Queen Margrethe I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375–1412 during the Kalmar Union.  That same year Ingrid was appointed Regent, the representative of her daughter when she was absent from Denmark. Since the Constitution of 1871, only the Crown Prince had been allowed to act as Regent in the absence of the Monarch. Ingrid had long been a patron of many social organizations, positions which she eventually left to her middle daughter Princess Benedikte as the years passed.

Above photo: Queen Ingrid kissing the bride at the 1999 wedding of her granddaughter Princess Alexia of Greece

On November 7, 2000, at Fredensborg Palace, Queen Ingrid died at the age of 90, surrounded by her three daughters and her ten grandchildren. She was buried beside her husband outside of Roskilde Cathedral.

Grave 1 Frederik IX of Denmark

Site of the graves of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid outside Roskilde Cathedral; Credit – Susan Flantzer

Grave 2 Frederik IX of Denmark

Grave of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid; Credit – Susan Flantzer

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King Frederik IX of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

King Frederik IX of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

King Frederik IX of Denmark was born on March 11, 1899, at Sorgenfri Palace in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. He was the elder of the two sons of the future King Christian X of Denmark and his wife Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. With Frederik’s birth, there were four generations of Danish kings alive: the current monarch and Frederik’s great-grandfather King Christian IX, his grandfather the future King Frederik VIII, his father the future King Christian X, and baby Frederik.

Four generations of kings; Credit – Wikipedia

On April 9, 1899, the infant prince was christened Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg. Frederik had an astounding 21 godparents including:

Frederik had only one sibling:

Frederik and his brother Knud; Credit – Wikipedia, United States Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Frederik was educated at the Royal Danish Naval Academy and the University of Copenhagen. He had a career in the Royal Danish Navy where he had several senior commands and attained the rank of Rear Admiral. Frederik is famous for having acquired several tattoos during his time in the navy.

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King Frederik IX showing off his physique and his tattoos; Photo Credit – http://cphpost.dk

In 1922, Frederik became engaged to his second cousin Princess Olga of Greece. However, the engagement was broken and Olga married Prince Paul of Yugoslavia. On March 15, 1935, Frederik became engaged to Princess Ingrid of Sweden, daughter of King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The couple were married at the Storkyrkan in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24, 1935

Frederik and Ingrid ride through the streets after their wedding; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Frederik and Ingrid had three daughters:

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Frederik and Ingrid’s firstborn child Margrethe was born within days of the German occupation of Denmark during World War II, and the little princess quickly became a bright spot in those terrible times. It was a common sight to see Frederik and Ingrid walking with Margrethe in her baby carriage through the streets of Copenhagen.

In 1947, Frederik succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father King Christian X. The Royal Ordinance of 1853 specified that the succession to the throne would be according to agnatic primogeniture, male succession, and the heir-presumptive to the throne was Hereditary Prince Knud, the King’s younger brother. Because of the unpopularity of Prince Knud and the belief that the 1853 succession law was outdated, the Danish Act of Succession was adopted on March 27, 1953. The new law allowed for female succession if the monarch had no sons. This enabled the daughters of King Frederik IX to supplant their uncle Knud in the line of succession. A 2009 succession law now allows for the succession of the firstborn child regardless of gender.

King Frederik and Queen Ingrid traveled on the royal yacht Dannebrog to most ports in Denmark and also to the Faroe Islands and Greenland. King Frederik IX had a warm, friendly personality and was able to break down the distance between the Danish people and the royal family. He once showed a TV reporter around Amalienborg Palace and said: “Yes, we live like other people. And here’s the tapestry hall.”

King Frederik and Queen Ingrid in 1950; Credit – Wikipedia; Photo: Sven Türck (1897-1954) Department of Maps, Print and Photographs, The Royal Library, Denmark

The king also had a great love for music and was a talented pianist and conductor. Several recordings of orchestral music originally heard on Danish radio conducted by King Frederik have been released on CDs.

Frederik IX CD

King Frederik IX Conducts the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra; Photo Credit – Amazon.com

In January 1972, shortly after Frederik had given his New Year speech, he became ill with flu-like symptoms. On January 3, 1972, he had a cardiac arrest and was rushed to Copenhagen Municipal Hospital. The king improved for a time but took a turn for the worse on January 11, and on January 14, 1972, King Frederik IX died at the age of 72.  Unlike other Danish monarchs who had been buried inside Roskilde Cathedral, the burial place of Danish monarchs in Roskilde, Denmark, Frederik wanted to be buried outside in sight of the sea. He was succeeded by his eldest daughter, Queen Margrethe II. Queen Ingrid survived her husband by 28 years. When she died on November 7, 2000, her remains were interred alongside him outside Roskilde Cathedral.

Two photos of the burial site were taken by this writer who can verify that the Roskilde Fjord can be seen from the site of the grave.

Grave 1 Frederik IX of Denmark

Site of King Frederik IX’s grave outside Roskilde Cathedral; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

Grave 2 Frederik IX of Denmark

Grave of King Frederik IX and his wife Queen Ingrid; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

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Kingdom of Denmark Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Alexandra of Denmark, Queen of the United Kingdom

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Alexandra of Denmark, Queen of the United Kingdom; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, was born Princess Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (full name Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia) on December 1, 1844, at the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the eldest daughter and the second of the six children of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel and was known in the family as Alix. In 1853, Alix’s father was confirmed as the successor of the childless King Frederik VII of Denmark and she was then Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Upon the death of King Frederik VII of Denmark in 1863, Alix’s father became King Christian IX of Denmark. Three of Alix’s five siblings became a monarch or a consort of a monarch.

King Christian IX of Denmark and his family (Front Row: Dagmar, Valdemar, Queen Louise, Thyra, Alexandra; Back Row: Frederik, King Christian, Vilhelm); Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert were seeking a bride for their eldest son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, known in the family as Bertie. Victoria and Albert’s eldest daughter Victoria, Princess Royal, Crown Princess of Prussia, known as Vicky in the family, was enlisted to help with the search. Princess Alexandra had originally been fifth on the list of potential brides. Vicky thought Alix would be the perfect match for Bertie and she sent back glowing reports of her to Victoria and Albert. Prince Albert concluded that Alix was “the only one to be chosen. Vicky then arranged the first meeting between Alix and Bertie in Speyer Cathedral on September 24, 1861. On September 9, 1862, after the death of his father in December 1861, Bertie proposed to Alix at the Royal Palace of Laeken, the home of his great-uncle King Leopold I of the Belgians.  The couple was married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on March 10, 1863. Queen Victoria, in perpetual mourning for Prince Albert, watched the ceremony from Catherine of Aragon’s Closet overlooking the left side of the altar.

Bertie and Alix on their wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

Within seven years, Alix had given birth to six children. All of Alix’s children were born prematurely. Late in her third pregnancy (with Louise), Alix became ill with rheumatic fever.  She safely gave birth without the use of the painkiller chloroform which her doctors thought would worsen her condition.  The bout of rheumatic fever continued after the baby’s birth and Alix was in such pain that she had to be constantly comforted by her lady-in-waiting, Lady Macclesfield. The rheumatic  fever threatened her life and left her with a permanent limp

 

As the Prince and Princess of Wales, Bertie and Alix lived at Marlborough House near Buckingham Palace in London and Sandringham House in Norfolk, England.  Sandringham House, purchased by Queen Victoria for Bertie and Alix, is still a privately owned residence of the British monarch.

Sandringham House; Credit – Wikipedia

Alix was a popular Princess of Wales and undertook many duties in support of her mother-in-law Queen Victoria, in the words of the Queen, “spare me the strain and fatigue of functions.” Queen Victoria further said of Alix, “She opens bazaars, attends concerts, visits hospitals in my place … she not only never complains, but endeavours to prove that she has enjoyed what to another would be a tiresome duty.” However, Alix’s increasing deafness caused by hereditary otosclerosis led to social isolation and she spent more time at home with her children and pets.

As a mother, Alix was extremely possessive, demanded complete devotion from her children, and insisted that they call her “Motherdear.”  Her three daughters were much plainer than their beautiful mother and very shy. Family members referred to them as “the whispering Walses.” Princess Victoria was never allowed to marry as her parents considered all her suitors unsuitable. She was destined to spend her life attending her mother who would ring a bell at all hours of the day and night to summon Victoria to her side. Princess Victoria’s cousin, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, described her as little more than “a glorified maid.”

On January 22, 1901, Queen Victoria died and Bertie, at the age of 59, finally became King. The coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra was held at Westminster Abbey on August 9, 1902.  Originally scheduled for June 26, it had to be postponed because the new king developed appendicitis.  Bertie and Alix began the idea of the royal family’s public appearances as we now know them during Queen Victoria’s withdrawal after her husband’s death, and they continued this during Bertie’s reign.

Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII on their coronation day; Credit – Wikipedia

During his marriage, Bertie had many mistresses. Alix knew about many of them and accepted them. Among the women, Bertie socialized with were: the actress Lillie Langtry; Lady Randolph Churchill (born Jennie Jerome in the USA, was the mother of Winston Churchill); Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick; actress Sarah Bernhardt; and Alice Keppel who was his last mistress.  Alice Keppel is the great-grandmother of Queen Camilla. When Bertie was on his deathbed, Alix sent for Alice Keppel and arranged for her to see the king during one of his periods of consciousness. When Bertie died on May 6, 1910, Alix quipped, “Now at least I know where he is.”

Toward the end of her life, Alix became almost completely deaf and suffered from mild senile dementia. She died of a heart attack at her beloved Sandringham House on November 20, 1925, just eleven days short of her 81st birthday. She was the longest-lived queen consort since Eleanor of Aquitaine and held that record until the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother who died at the age of 101. Alix’s remains were brought to London and the cortege proceeded through the streets in a snowstorm. Queen Alexandra was buried with her husband in a tomb on the south side of the sanctuary of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

 

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Prince Felix of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer

Prince Felix, second from the left, with his brother Prince Nikolai and his half-siblings Prince Henrik and Princess Athena; Credit – Credit: The Royal Danish House, 2020

Prince Felix of Denmark was born on July 22, 2002, at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the younger of the two sons of Prince Joachim of Denmark and his first wife Alexandra Manley, known as Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg since her divorce, and one of the eight grandchildren of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Prince Felix’s parents divorced in 2005 and have joint custody of their two sons. Both parents have remarried, although Alexandra has since divorced her second husband.

Prince Felix has an older brother:

He has two younger half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Marie Cavallier:

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On October 4, 2002, Prince Felix was christened at the Møgeltønder Church in Møgeltønder, Denmark where Prince Felix resided with his family at Schackenborg Castle.  He was given the names:

  • Felix: name his parents liked, means lucky and successful
  • Henrik: after his paternal grandfather
  • Valdemar: common royal Danish name, his father and his cousin Prince Christian also have Valdemar as one of their names.
  • Christian: common royal Danish name, it could also be for one of his godparents, Count Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

Prince Felix’s godparents were:

  • Count Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig
  • Oscar Davidsen Siesbye, a friend of his father
  • Damian Sibley
  • Martina Bent, his maternal aunt
  • Annick Boel
Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian. Danmarks yngste prins blev begavet med fire navne, da prins Joachim og prinsesse Alexandra fredag holdt barnedåb i Møgeltønder Kirke. Prins Joachim og prinsesse Alexandra med prins Nikolai og prins Felix på skødet.

Prince Felix’s christening; Photo Credit – Danish Monarchy, photographer: Jørgen Jessen, Scanpix

After attending preschool at the (Garrison Parish Church’s Preschool, link translated by Google Translator) which is very close to Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, Prince Felix continued his education at the Krebs School in Copenhagen, the same school his father, paternal uncle, and brother attended. He completed 9th grade at the Krebs School in June 2018. In August 2018, Felix started high school Gammel Hellerup Gymnasium (link in Danish).

 

Prince Felix was confirmed in the Church of Denmark on April 1, 2017, at the Fredensborg Palace Church by Royal Chaplain Erik Norman Svendsen. His mother and maternal grandmother attended along with members of the Danish Royal Family.

Learn more about royalty, past and present here.

Prince Nikolai of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer

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Prince Nikolai of Denmark was born on August 28, 1999, at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the elder of the two sons of Prince Joachim of Denmark and his first wife Alexandra Manley, known as Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg since her divorce, and the eldest of the eight grandchildren of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Prince Nikolai’s parents divorced in 2005 and have joint custody of their two sons. Both parents remarried, although Alexandra has since divorced her second husband. Nikolai’s mother, originally from Hong Kong, has remained in Denmark.

Prince Nikolai has a younger brother:

He has two younger half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Marie Cavallier:

 

Nikolai was christened in the chapel of Fredensborg Palace on November 6, 1999. He was given the names:

  • Nikolai: after Nicola Baird, his maternal aunt
  • William: after his maternal great-grandfather
  • Alexander: after his mother
  • Frederik: after Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, his paternal uncle

His godparents were:

6.11.1999. Prins Nikolais dåb i Fredensborg Slotskirke. Kgl konfessionarius Chr. Todberg forretter dåben. Fra v. ses Prins Henrik, Dronning Margrethe, Nicola Baird (Prinsesse Alexandras søster), Peter Steenstrup, læge Camilla Flinth, og foran Chr. Todberg, Prinsesse Alexandra med Prins Nikolai, samt Prins Joachim. Foto: Klaus Møller.

Christening of Prince Nikolai; Photo Credit – Danish Monarchy, photographer Keld Navntoft, Scanpix

When he was five years old, Prince Nikolai began attending the Krebs School in Copenhagen, the same school his father and uncle attended.  In 2014, Nikolai began to attend the Herlufsholm School in Næstved, Denmark about 80 kilometers south of Copenhagen.

Prince Nikolai was confirmed in the Church of Denmark on May 18, 2013, at Fredensborg Palace Church by Royal Chaplain Erik Norman Svendsen. In addition to parents and grandparents, all of Nikolai’s godparents were present at his confirmation.

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Prince Nikolai with his family and godparents on the day of his confirmation; Photo Credit – Danish Monarchy, photographer Steen Brogaard

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Prince Nikolai with his parents; Photo Credit – Danish Monarchy, photographer Steen Brogaard

In 2018, Nikolai became a fashion model with the Danish agency Scoop Models. He made his runway debut in February 2018 at Burberry’s show at London Fashion Week.  On June 26, 2018, Prince Nikolai graduated from the Herlufsholm School. In August 2018, he began a two-year military training program at the Hærens Sergentskole in Vard, Denmark but left after two months to concentrate on his modeling work. In 2019, Nikolai July 2019, began his studies for a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and Service Management at the Copenhagen Business School.

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Prince Nikolai with his stepmother Princess Marie and his father Prince Joachim

Learn more about royalty, past, and present here.

Crown Prince Christian of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

Crown Prince Christian of Denmark; Photo: ©Dennis Stenild 

Crown Prince Christian of Denmark was born on October 15, 2005, at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the oldest child of the four children and the elder of the two sons of King Frederik X of Denmark and his Australian-born wife Queen Mary of Denmark, born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson. Crown Prince Christian became the heir to the Danish throne on January 14, 2024, upon the abdcation of his grandmother Queen Margrethe II and the accession of his father as King Frederik X.

Prince Christian’s family: Princess Josephine, Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Vincent, Prince Christian (Update photo on January 14)

Crown Prince Christian has three siblings:

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On January 21, 2006, Christian was christened at the Christiansborg Palace Chapel in Copenhagen, Denmark by Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen. He was given the names Christian Valdemar Henri John:

Prince Christian had eight godparents:

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Prince Christian and his parents on his first day at Tranegårdskolen; Photo – Zimbio

On March 27, 2007, Christian began preschool at  Queen Louise’s Kindergarten in Fredensborg,  located 35 kilometers north of Copenhagen. He then started attending a public school, Tranegårdskolen (link in Danish) in Hellerup, Gentofte Municipality,  a Copenhagen suburban municipality, on August 12, 2011, the first member of the Danish royal family ever to attend a public school. In June 2021, Christian completed ninth grade at Tranegårdskolen. He began his upper secondary studies at Herlufsholm Gymnasium in Næstved, 80 kilometers south of Copenhagen, Denmark, in August 2021. Following the surface of allegations of sexual abuse and bullying at Herlufsholm Gymnasium not connected to the prince, Christian transferred Ordrup Gymnasium (link in Danish) in Gentofte, in August 2022 and graduated in June 2024.

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Prince Christian on his confirmation day

On May 15, 2021, Crown Prince Christian was confirmed in the Lutheran Evangelical Church at the Fredensborg Palace Chapel in Fredensborg, Denmark. The confirmation was celebrated in private due to COVID-19 restrictions.

For the 18th birthday of Prince Christian, which marked the beginning of his royal duties, Margrethe II hosted a banquet at Christianborg Palace. In attendance were members of the Danish royal family, including Christian’s parents, siblings, cousins and Princess Benedikte, and 200 members of the Danish public youth who had distinguished themselves in sport, art and culture. Additionally, Margrethe II invited eleven members of foreign royal families – Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Greece, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, the Crown Princess of Sweden, the Duke of Västergötland, the Duchess of Östergötland, the Princess of Orange and the Duchess of Brabant.[21] A photo was captured on the night that contained the future monarchs of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden

Left to right: Princess Isabella, Crown Prince Christian, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace after the proclamation of King Frederik X as King of Denmark.

On January 14, 2024, the day of the abdication of his grandmother Queen Margrethe II and the accession of his father King Frederik X, Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik, and Prince Christian met with the Council of State in the State Council Hall at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The succession of the Danish throne took place during the Council of State meeting at the moment when Queen Margrethe II signed a declaration of her abdication. Queen Margrethe then gave up her seat and offered her it to the new King. At the same time, the new heir to the throne, Crown Prince Christian, took the seat to the right of the King. After this, the visibly-moved Queen Margrethe said “Gud bevare kongen” (God save the king) and left the State Council Hall.

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Princess Marie of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Princess Marie of Denmark is the second wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Henri Laborde de Monpezat. She was born Marie Agathe Odile Cavailler on February 6, 1975, in Paris, the only child of Alain Cavallier and Françoise Moreau.

Marie received her primary education in Paris, and following her parents’ divorce, she moved to Switzerland with her mother. She then enrolled at the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Villars-sur-Ollen, Switzerland, graduating in 1993. She initially studied economics at a university in Geneva, and then international business and economics at Babson College in Massachusetts from 1995-1997. She then attended Manhattan Marymount College in New York, graduating in 1999 with her Bachelor’s Degree. During her education, she worked in the public relations department at Estee Lauder in Paris (1994), and ING Numismatic Group in Geneva (1997), in addition to teaching French.

Following college, Marie worked for several advertising agencies, first in New York and then in Paris. In 2004, she returned to Geneva, working for Reuters for a year, and then from 2005 until 2007, working again with ING Numismatic Group.

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Marie was first seen with Prince Joachim while on holiday in the late summer of 2005. Over the next two years, they were seen together often, and in the spring of 2007, Marie joined the Danish Royal Family for Easter at Marselisborg Palace where she reportedly met the Queen for the first time. In October 2007, it was announced that Joachim and Marie were engaged, following the Queen’s formal consent. Prior to her marriage, Marie was a French citizen and belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. Marie joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church and became a Danish citizen before her marriage. Joachim and Marie were married on May 24, 2008, at the Møgeltønder Church (link in Danish) in South Jutland, Denmark followed by the wedding banquet at Schackenborg Castle.

Marie and Joachim have two children:

Princess Marie is also stepmother to Prince Joachim’s two sons from his first marriage:

Queen Margrethe II decided that as of January 1, 2023, the children of Prince Joachim would no longer hold the style and title of His/Her Prince/Princess. Instead, they will hold the title Count/Countess of Monpezat, with the style of His/Her Excellency. This slimming down is in keeping with recent changes in other royal families and will allow Prince Joachim’s children to pursue more independent lives and careers. The Monpezat titles come from the Queen’s late husband, Prince Henrik, who was Count of Monpezat. In 2008, Queen Margrethe granted the title to her sons and their descendants as well.

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Princess Marie has been an active member of the Danish Royal Family, taking on several patronages, including the National Association for Autism, The Danish Ski Federation, Danish Epilepsy Association, Kattegatcentret, the AIDS Foundation, and The Danish National Commission for UNESCO. In addition to her native French, Marie speaks Danish, English, Italian, and Spanish.

During the summer of 2019, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and their two children moved to Paris, France, where Joachim began studies in France’s highest-ranking military leadership education at École Militaire. In September 2020, Prince Joachim started work as the defense attaché at the Danish Embassy in Paris. During the summer of 2023, Princess Marie and her family moved to Washington, DC in the United States where Prince Joachim will work as the defense attaché at the Danish Embassy.

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Prince Joachim of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the younger son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Henri Laborde de Monpezat. He was born on June 7, 1969, at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He was christened on July 15, 1969, at Aarhus Cathedral in Aarhus, Denmark. His godparents were:

Prince Joachim has one brother:

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Prince Joachim began his education privately at Amalienborg Palace before attending the Krebs School in Copenhagen. He spent a year at L’École des Roches, a boarding school in Normandy, France before graduating from the Øregård Gymnasium, in Hellerup, just north of Copenhagen, in 1986.

Following a gap year spent working on a farm in Australia, Prince Joachim began his military training in 1987, as a recruit in the Queen’s Own Regiment. After becoming a Lieutenant in 1989, he served as a Platoon Commander in the Prince’s Own Regiment until 1990. From 1996 to 2004, with the rank of Captain, he commanded a tank squadron in the Prince’s Own Regiment. He was promoted to Major in 2005, and then Lt. Colonel in 2001. He served as chief of the Liaison Officers Group in Total Defence Region Fyn, Syd, and Sønderjylland. (source: The Danish Royal House). In addition, during this time he studied agricultural management from 1991-1993, and worked at the A.P. Møller Maersk Group, in Hong Kong and France, to further his business education, from 1993-1995.

It was while working in Hong Kong that Prince Joachim met his first wife, Alexandra Manley. After a whirlwind romance, their engagement was announced in May 1995. They married on November 18, 1995, at the Frederiksborg Palace Chapel in Hillerød, Denmark and took up residence at Schackenborg Castle in Møgeltønder, South Jutland.

They had two sons:

Joachim and Alexandra separated in 2004 and were divorced the following year. Alexandra retained her title Princess of Denmark, with the lower style of Her Highness until her remarriage in 2007. In addition, the Queen had granted her the personal title of Countess of Frederiksborg with the style of Excellency, and Alexandra is now known as Her Excellency Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg. Alexandra still occasionally attends events with the Danish royal family.

Queen Margrethe II decided that as of January 1, 2023, the four children of Prince Joachim would no longer hold the style and title of His/Her Prince/Princess. Instead, they will hold the title Count/Countess of Monpezat, with the style of His/Her Excellency. This slimming down is in keeping with recent changes in other royal families and will allow Prince Joachim’s children to pursue more independent lives and careers. The Monpezat titles come from the Queen’s late husband, Prince Henrik, who was Count of Monpezat. In 2008, Queen Margrethe granted the title to her sons and their descendants as well.

In October 2007, Prince Joachim announced his engagement to Marie Cavallier. The couple was married on May 24, 2008, at the Møgeltønder Church (link in Danish) in South Jutland, Denmark.

They had two children:

Prince Joachim and his family celebrating his son Felix’s 18th birthday on July 22, 2020; Photo Credit – Danish Royal House Instagram

Prince Joachim has had a military career since 1988. During the summer of 2019, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and their two children moved to Paris, France, where Joachim began studies in France’s highest-ranking military leadership education at École Militaire. In September 2020, Prince Joachim started work as the defense attaché at the Danish Embassy in Paris. With the appointment, Joachim received the permanent rank of brigadier general. During the summer of 2023, Joachim and his family moved to Washington, DC in the United States where he will work as the defense attaché at the Danish Embassy.

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Queen Mary of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Wikipedia

photo: Wikipedia

Queen Mary of Denmark, the wife of King Frederik X of Denmark, was born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson was born on February 5, 1972, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. She is the youngest of four children of Professor John Donaldson and Henrietta Horne. Mary’s mother passed away in 1997 and her father was remarried to British novelist Susan Horwood (aka Susan Moody).

Mary began her education in Houston, Texas, where the family was living at the time. The family returned to Tasmania and Mary continued her schooling there. Following the completion of her secondary education, she enrolled in the University of Tasmania and received a degree in Commerce and Law. She also received graduate certifications in Advertising and Marketing and worked in those fields in Australia and Scotland.

 

In September 2000, during the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Mary met the future King Frederik X of Denmark, then the Crown Prince of Denmark, on an evening out with some mutual friends. The two quickly began a relationship and Frederik made several private trips to Australia. As her relationship with Frederik became more serious, Mary left Australia, first working in Paris, France as an English tutor before moving to Denmark and working for Microsoft. Their engagement was announced in October 2003, after Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe II of Denmark had given her formal consent to the marriage. Mary and Frederik were married on May 14, 2004, at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Danish Royal Family on balcony of Christansborg Palace on the day of King Frederik X’ accession to the throne. Left to right: Princess Isabella, Crown Prince Christian, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent

Mary and Frederik reside at Amalienborg (Frederik VIII’s Palace) and the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace with their four children:

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Along with what must surely have been a busy family life, as Crown Princess of Denmark, Mary served as Patron to a large number of Danish organizations. While these cover a large number of areas, many have to do with health and social care issues. Internationally, she worked with the World Health Organization and was patron of the United Nations Population Fund.

King Frederik X and Queen Mary on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace after Frederik’s accession to the thone of Denmark

In her New Year’s Speech on December 31, 2023, Mary’s mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II announced that she will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her accession. On that day, Frederik and Mary became King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark. Mary is the first Australian-born person to be queen of a monarchy.

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King Frederik X of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

King Frederik X of Denmark was born on May 26, 1968, at the Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital) in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the elder son of the two sons of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. At the time of his birth, his mother was heiress-presumptive to her father King Frederik IX.

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Frederik was christened with the names Frederik André Henrik Christian on June 24, 1968, at Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was named after:

  • Frederik: his maternal grandfather King Frederick IX
  • André: his paternal grandfather André de Laborde de Monpezat
  • Henrik: his father Prince Henrik
  • Christian: his maternal great-grandfather King Christian X

Frederik’s godparents were:

Frederik has one younger brother:

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In January 1972, his grandfather passed away and his mother became Queen. The young Frederik, not yet four years old, became the youngest Crown Prince in Europe. Crown Prince Frederik began his education privately at Amalienborg Palace before attending the Krebs School in Copenhagen. He spent a year at L’École des Roches, a boarding school in Normandy, France before completing his secondary education at the Øregård Gymnasium, in Hellerup, just north of Copenhagen.

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Frederik then began his military training, serving as a recruit in the Queen’s Life Guard Regiment of the Danish Army. After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, he became a Platoon Commander in the Royal Danish Hussar Regiment. The following year, in 1989, he was promoted to First Lieutenant.

Also in 1989, he began his studies in Political Science at the University of Aarhus. During this time, he spent a year at Harvard University in the United States, enrolled under the name Frederik Henriksen, and took a three-month position with the Danish United Nations mission in New York City. In 1995, he received his Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Aarhus.

Frederik returned to military service, training with the Royal Danish Navy Frogman Corps in 1995. He continues to be involved with all branches of the Danish forces, holding the ranks of Colonel in the Danish Army and Air Force, and Commander in the Danish Navy. The Crown Prince also served for a year as First Secretary to the Danish Embassy in Paris, and after further training at the Royal Danish Defence College, served as a Staff Officer at Defence Command. Since 2003, he has also been a lecturer at the Defence College’s Institute of Strategy.

Upon his accession to the throne on January 14, 2024, King Frederik was appointed to the highest military rank in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force respectively. As admiral and general, he is now of the same rank as the Chief of Defence.

 

In September 2000, during the Olympic Games in Sydney, Frederik met Mary Donaldson on an evening out with some mutual friends. The two quickly began a relationship, with Frederik making several private trips to Australia before Mary eventually relocated to Denmark. Their engagement was announced in October 2003, after Queen Margrethe had given her formal consent to the marriage. Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004, at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Frederik and Mary reside at Amalienborg (Frederik VIII’s Palace) and the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace with their four children:

As Crown Prince, along with his military activities, Frederik undertook many official duties on behalf of his mother, both in Denmark and around the world. He is the patron of numerous organizations and charities, with many focusing on sports and health, as well as scientific research. An outspoken advocate for energy sustainability, Frederik has taken part in many international events to bring attention to the challenges of climate change, including participating in several expeditions with his fellow Scandinavian heirs Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

A very avid sportsman, Frederik has participated in several international sailing competitions, and run marathons in Denmark, France, and the United States. In 2013, he was the first royal to compete in an Ironman competition. In 2009, Frederik became a member of the International Olympic Committee. Upon completion of his term in 2021, Frederik became an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.

 In her New Year’s Speech on December 31, 2023, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe II announced that she will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024 – the 52nd anniversary of her accession.

On January 14, 2024, the day of the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II and his accession to the Danish throne, Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik, and Frederik’s elder son Prince Christian met with the Council of State in the State Council Hall at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The succession of the Danish throne took place during the Council of State meeting at the moment when Queen Margrethe II signed a declaration of her abdication. Queen Margrethe then gave up her seat and offered her it to the new King. At the same time, the new heir to the throne, Crown Prince Christian, took the seat to the right of the King. After this, the visibly-moved Queen Margrethe said “Gud bevare kongen” (God save the king) and left the State Council Hall.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed King Frederik X’s accession to the throne

Shortly after, King Frederik X stepped out on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed his accession to the throne. According to Danish state custom, the Prime Minister proclaimed three times: “Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has abdicated. Long live His Majesty King Frederik X!” This was followed by the traditional ninefold cheer from the crowd of tens of thousands who turned out to witness the proclamation.

King Frederik X spoke after his proclamation as Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stood next to him

King Frederik X gave a short speech and announced his motto, “Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.” King Frederik X said,”My mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, has ruled Denmark for 52 years. For half a century, she has followed the times with our common heritage as a starting point. She will always be remembered as a Monarch beyond the ordinary. Like few, my mother has managed to be at one with her kingdom. Today, the throne passes on. My hope is to become an unifying king of tomorrow. It’s a task I’ve been waiting for all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. It is a deed I will take pains to carry out and carry through the position I have been entrusted with. I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone.”

Left to right: Princess Isabella, Crown Prince Christian, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace after the proclamation of King Frederik X as King of Denmark.

After his speech, King Frederik X was joined on the balcony by his family: Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

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