Category Archives: Danish Royals

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Photo: Per Morten Abrahamsen ©

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was born as Princess Margrethe Alexandrine Þorhildur Ingrid of Denmark and Iceland on April 16, 1940, at Frederik VIII’s Palace at the Amalienborg palace complex in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the eldest daughter of the future King Frederik IX of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden. Margrethe was also a Princess of Iceland until 1944 when Iceland became a Republic.

The infant princess was christened on May 14, 1940, in Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen. She was named Margrethe after her late maternal grandmother Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden, Alexandrine after her paternal grandmother Queen Alexandrine and Ingrid after her mother Crown Princess Ingrid. Since her paternal grandfather was also the King of Iceland, she was given an Icelandic name, Þórhildur (Thorhildur).

Her godparents were:

Queen Margrethe (middle) with her sisters Anne-Marie (left) and Benedikte (right); Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Margrethe has two sisters:

Embed from Getty Images 

In 1947, Margrethe’s grandfather died and her father became King Frederik IX. At the time, women were excluded from the line of succession. Having just three daughters, and unlikely that there would be more children, King Frederik’s heir presumptive was his younger brother, Prince Knud. Frederik soon began to work toward changing the succession laws in Denmark. Finally, in 1953, a new Act of Succession was passed, changing to male-preference cognatic primogeniture (meaning that sons would come before daughters, but in the absence of a son, Frederik’s daughters could succeed to the throne). Margrethe became the heiress-presumptive. Her uncle, Prince Knud who had held the title of Hereditary Prince of Denmark, was not very happy with the new laws, as he and his two sons were now pushed further down the line. In somewhat of a consolation, Knud was given the title Hereditary Prince Knud even though he was no longer the direct heir to the throne. However, Margrethe, as heiress-presumptive, was never given the title of Crown Princess.

Princess Margrethe began her education at the Zahle’s Skole in 1946 (privately tutored at Amalienborg Palace for the first three years). She spent a year at the North Foreland Lodge, in Hampshire, England, and then graduated from Zahle’s Skole in 1959. She then studied philosophy at the University of Copenhagen and received her degree in Prehistoric Archeology from Girton College of the University of Cambridge in 1961. She continued her studies at Aarhus University (1961-1962), The Sorbonne (1963) and the London School of Economics (1965).

On June 10, 1967, Princess Margrethe married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat at Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen, followed by a banquet at Fredensborg Palace. After the wedding, Henri became a Prince of Denmark and was known by the Danish version of his name, Henrik. Following a honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico, the couple took up residence at Amalienborg Palace, in Christian IX’s Palace (formerly Schack’s Palace).

Margrethe and Henrik had two sons:

photo: Radical Royalist

Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag proclaims Margrethe Queen of Denmark; photo: Radical Royalist

On January 14, 1972, King Frederik IX died after a brief illness. Margrethe ascended the Danish throne as Queen Margrethe II. The following day, in keeping with tradition, Margrethe was formally proclaimed Queen, by Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag, from the balcony at Christiansborg Palace. To the crowds gathered below, she gave a brief speech, expressing the nation’s grief at the loss of their King and the warm feelings held by all for her mother, Queen Ingrid in this time of loss. She asked for God’s help in assuming the duties that had been her father’s for nearly 25 years, as well as the confidence and support of the Danish people. After being joined briefly on the balcony by her husband, the couple traveled back to Amalienborg Palace where they again appeared on the balcony, this time with their two young sons.

In addition to her duties as Sovereign, Queen Margrethe always found time to express her passion for the arts. An avid painter and designer, she had her work displayed in exhibitions around the world, and some are part of permanent collections in several museums in Denmark. In addition to her painting, The Queen designed many sets and costumes for theater productions and provided illustrations for several books. She published translations of several foreign works.

The Danish Royal House announced on August 3, 2017, that Prince Henrik would not be buried with his wife Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, the traditional burial place of Danish royalty. On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Prince Henrik was suffering from dementia.  Prince Henrik died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 11:18 pm, at Fredensborg Palace at the age of 83. His wife Queen Margrethe II and their two sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim were at his side.

Queen Margrethe and her family in 2017; Photo Credit – The Danish Monarchy

On January 14, 2022, Queen Margrethe II marked fifty years on the Danish throne. She is the second longest-reigning Danish monarch after King Christian IV who reigned for 59 years, 330 days, from April 4, 1588 until February 28, 1648. As of January 14, 2022, the only current monarchs who reigned longer than Queen Margrethe II were Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (reigned since February 6, 1952) and Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (reigned since October 5, 1967).

Queen Margrethe stated several times that she had no intention of abdicating and that she viewed her position as a job for life. She recognized Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as a source of inspiration for her devotion to duty. Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in September 2022, Queen Margrethe had been the longest-reigning current European monarch.

Queen Margrethe II announces that she will abdicate during her New Year’s Speech

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

In two weeks time I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody – also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of “ailments” increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past.

In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation.

I have decided that now is the right time. On 14th January 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik.

Upon Queen Margrethe II’s abdication of January 14, 2024, her elder son and his wife became King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark. Frederik and Mary’s elder son became Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, the heir to the Danish throne. After her abdication, Margrethe held the style and title Her Majesty Queen Margrethe.

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Kingdom of Denmark Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Elisabeth of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Her Highness Princess Elisabeth Caroline-Mathilde Alexandrine Helena Olga Thyra Feodora Estrid Margrethe Désirée of Denmark was born May 8, 1935, at Sorgenfri Palace in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. She was the only daughter and the eldest of the three children of Prince Knud of Denmark, the younger son of King Christian X of Denmark, and Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark, the daughter of Prince Harald of Denmark who was the third son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark.

King Christian X with his wife and grandchildren – Standing in back, from left to right: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Ingolf, Princess Margrethe (later Queen Margrethe II), Front, from left to right: Prince Christian, Queen Alexandrine holding Princess Anne-Marie (later Queen Consort of Greece), Princess Benedikte, King Christian X

 

Princess Elisabeth had two younger brothers:

  • Count Ingolf of Rosenborg, born Prince Ingolf of Denmark (born 1940), married (1) Inge Terney, no children; Ingolf married without consent and therefore lost his royal style and title and his succession rights  (2) Sussie Hjorhøy, no children
  • Count Christian of Rosenborg, born Prince Christian of Denmark (1942 – 2013), married Anne Dorte Maltoft-Nielsen, had three daughters who are not in the line of succession; Christian married without consent and therefore lost his royal style and title and his succession rights

Elisabeth on the left and her family; Credit –danishroyalmediawatch.blogspot.com

At the time of her birth, her father was second in line to the Danish throne, behind his elder brother, the future King Frederik IX. However, Elisabeth was not in the line of succession as women were barred from the throne. This would all change when Elisabeth was 18. Her uncle had become King in 1947 and only had three daughters. It was expected that the throne would then pass to Elisabeth’s father Knud, and then his eldest son. However, King Frederik had the laws changed in 1953, allowing women to succeed to the throne. This moved Prince Knud down to 4th in line, but it also put Elisabeth on the list (following her elder brothers). Both of her brothers lost their succession rights, and royal status, upon marriage to commoners.

Following her secondary education, Princess Elisabeth attended Brillantmont International College in Switzerland and Suhr’s School of Home Economics. She also attended the Scandinavian Academy of International Fashion and Design for two years and took courses at the Tempo Type School in Copenhagen. Not receiving an appanage from the State, she took a job with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1956. Several times she was posted abroad – twice at the Danish Embassy in Washington DC and once at the Danish United Nations Mission in Geneva, Switzerland. She retired in 2001 after 45 years of employment.

 

Princess Elisabeth never married, perhaps to retain her position within the Danish Royal Family. Until her death, she was the last person in the line of succession to the Danish throne. Elisabeth had a long-term relationship with Claus Hermansen, a videographer, until his death in 1997. The couple lived at the Princess’ villa in Holte, north of Copenhagen. She served as Patron of several organizations in Denmark and was usually seen at most State events.  In 2015, she returned to her childhood home, Sorgenfri Palace, where she took up residence in a detached wing of the palace called Damebygningen.

Princess Elisabeth died on June 19, 2018, after a lengthy illness at the age of 83.  Her funeral service was held at the Lyngby Church in Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark where she was laid to rest beside Claus Hermansen.

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The Danish Counts of Rosenborg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Count Ingolf of Rosenborg with his wife, Countess Sussie (ctr) and sister Princess Elisabeth of Denmark. Photo: BilledBladet.dk

Count Ingolf of Rosenborg with his wife, Countess Sussie (ctr) and sister Princess Elisabeth of Denmark. Photo: BilledBladet.dk

To date, the title Count of Rosenborg has been granted to seven Danish princes, all of whom relinquished their position within the Royal Family upon marrying without official consent from the monarch.  The first three, Aage, Erik and Viggo, retained some of their royal status, however, the others lost all of their official connection to royalty, being delegated to the highest level of the Danish aristocracy.  

  • 1914 – HRH Prince Aage of Denmark – eldest son of Prince Valdemar (son of King Christian IX) became His Highness Prince Aage, Count of Rosenborg
  • 1924 – HRH Prince Erik of Denmark – third son of Prince Valdemar (son of King Christian IX) became His Highness Prince Erik, Count of Rosenborg
  • 1924 – HRH Prince Viggo of Denmark – fourth son of Prince Valdemar (son of King Christian IX) became His Highness Prince Viggo, Count of Rosenborg
  • 1948 – HH Prince Oluf of Denmark– younger son of Prince Harald (son of King Frederik VIII) became His Excellency Count Oluf of Rosenborg
  • 1949 – HH Prince Flemming of Denmark – son of Prince Axel (son of Prince Valdemar – son of King Christian IX) became His Excellency Count Flemming of Rosenborg
  • 1968 – HH Prince Ingolf of Denmark – elder son of Prince Knud (son of King Christian X) became His Excellency Count Ingolf of Rosenborg
  • 1971 – HH Prince Christian of Denmark – younger son of Prince Knud (son of King Christian X) became His Excellency Count Christian of Rosenborg

The first three all gave up their status during the reign of King Christian X, their first cousin.  He allowed them to retain the title of Prince (without the “of Denmark” designation), with the lesser style of His Highness.  This was limited to them and their wives only and did not pass to their children.  However, the Rosenborg title was granted to them with the provision that it would pass down through male-line descendants.  Sons continue to carry the title, while daughters retain it until such time as they marry.  

However, by 1948 when Prince Oluf relinquished his status, there was a new King on the throne -Frederik IX.  Privately, the King was more accepting of ‘unequal’ marriages, however, he feared that giving his consent would encourage previous royals who had lost their titles to re-claim their royal status and succession rights.  So Princes Oluf, Flemming, Ingolf, and Christian all gave up their royal status completely and became simply His Excellency Count XX of Rosenborg.  No longer considered part of the Royal House or Royal Family, they were relegated to the top level of the Danish aristocracy.  

The last surviving (of the seven initially granted the title) is Count Ingolf of Rosenborg.  Count Ingolf and his wife Countess Sussie undertake no official duties but are usually seen at family functions and occasionally at State events.  Despite his non-royal status, Ingolf continues to receive an appanage from the State. His brother Christian did not receive this, nor did his sister Princess Elisabeth who remained in the line of succession.  

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Accession of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014, updated 2024

King Frederik IX with the future Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik photo source: www.statesnet.dk; photo credit: Polfoto

King Frederik IX with the future Queen Margrethe II and the future King Frederik X
photo source: www.statensnet.dk; photo credit: Polfoto

January 14, 1972 – Accession of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

January 14 marks the anniversary of the death of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and the accession of his eldest daughter as Queen Margrethe II. King Frederik had come to the throne in 1947, upon the death of his father, King Christian X. He and his wife, the former Princess Ingrid of Sweden had three daughters, and at the time, only men were permitted to succeed to the Danish throne. Frederik’s brother, Prince Knud was the heir presumptive. However, shortly after coming to the throne in 1947, King Frederik IX began the process of having the constitution changed to allow the succession to pass to his daughters. It would take six years, but in 1953, the Danish Constitution was changed. A new Act of Succession allowed for the throne to pass to his daughters, should there not be any sons. The young Princess Margrethe became the heiress presumptive, with her younger sisters next in line.

The King’s brother, Prince Knud, was given the title Hereditary Prince Knud which he held for the remainder of his life. Prince Knud had three children, Elisabeth, Ingolf, and Christian. Princess Elisabeth remains in the line of succession (being eligible because of the new Act of Succession in 1953), holding the last position in the list. Both Ingolf and Christian relinquished their succession rights, as well as their royal titles and status, upon marriage. Both were created Counts of Rosenborg by their uncle.

On the evening of January 14, 1972, after a brief illness and a heart attack, King Frederick IX died, surrounded by his family. His remains were taken to Amalienborg Palace for several days, before being moved to the chapel at Christiansborg Palace where he would lay in state for several days leading up to his funeral, held on January 24th.

Proclamation of the Queen by the Prince Minister; Credit: Order of Sartorial Splendor

Meanwhile, the young Princess Margrethe had become Queen. On the morning of January 15th, following tradition, the new Queen was proclaimed by the Prime Minister from the balcony at Christiansborg Palace. To the crowds gathered below, she gave a brief speech, expressing the nation’s grief at the loss of their King and the warm feelings held by all for her mother, Queen Ingrid in this time of loss. She asked for God’s help in assuming the duties that had been her father’s for nearly 25 years, as well as the confidence and support of the Danish people.

Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik with their sons

Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik with their sons

The new Queen was then joined on the balcony by her husband, Prince Henrik before the couple returned by carriage to Amalienborg Palace. There, they again appeared on the balcony, along with their two young sons, the new Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.

Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 2022, Queen Margrethe II had been the longest-serving monarch in Europe and the second longest-serving monarch in the world following  Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei.

Although Queen Margrethe stated several times that she had no intention of abdicating and that she viewed her position as a job for life and recognized Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as a source of inspiration for her devotion to duty, in her New Year’s Speech on December 31, 2023, Queen Margrethe announced that she will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024 – the 52nd anniversary of her accession. Her elder son, Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, will become the new King and Queen of Denmark.

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Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Queen of Denmark

by Emily McMahon and Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2013

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1879, in the city of Schwerin, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Alexandrine Auguste was the eldest daughter and the eldest of the three children of Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia.

Alexandrine had one brother and one sister:

Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia with her three children, circa 1890; left to right: Cecilie, Alexandrine, Friedrich Franz, Grand Duchess Anastasia; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

It was in the French city Cannes, located on the French Riviera, that Alexandrine met her future husband, the future King Christian X of Denmark.  Because of the poor health of Alexandrine’s father, the family spent much time in warm climates including Cannes where they had a large estate, Villa Wenden.  Grand Duchess Anastasia had a poor reputation for her dislike of her adopted country and her extravagances.  She also had an illegitimate child during her widowhood. Although concern there were concerns for Alexandrine’s and Cecilie’s futures due to their mother’s lifestyle, both made impressive marriages. It was Anastasia who urged Alexandrine to marry the future King Christian X of Denmark, to which Alexandrine complied. The two were married in Cannes, France (her mother’s preferred residence) in 1898. Christian and Alexandrine were married in Cannes, France on April 26, 1898.

Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Christian of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

The couple had two sons:

Prince Frederik and Prince Knud, 1912; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Christian and Alexandrine received the newly built Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus as a wedding present from the Danish public, but it was not completed until 1902. The couple made Christian VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg their Copenhagen base. The couple also spent a considerable amount of time at Sorgenfri Palace just outside Copenhagen. It was at Sorgenfri that both of the couple’s children, the future Frederik IX and Knud, were born.

Marselisborg Palace; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Christian and Alexandrine were devoted to one another and enjoyed a happy marriage. The couple became king and queen of Denmark in 1912. While their popularity waxed and waned throughout Christian’s rule, he and Alexandrine are generally viewed successful as king and queen. Prior to the World Wars, Alexandrine and Christian traveled extensively, often returning to Cannes where they met and married.

Alexandrine was somewhat shy and disliked the ceremonial and public aspects of being queen. She preferred more solitary activities and was known for her talents in needlework and for her avid interest in gardening. She also had a deep appreciation for music and was the patron of several musical organizations. Her eldest son Frederik shared his mother’s passion for music.

At the start of the German occupation of Denmark during World War II, it was unknown whether Alexandrine’s sympathies would ally with her native country or her adoptive one. Alexandrine proved herself loyal to Denmark by working with various relief organizations to bring aid to the Danes affected by the occupation. She also received General Kaupisch, the German head of the occupation, with a less than warm welcome. Alexandrine and her husband were lauded by the Danish public for their devotion to the country during wartime. Alexandrine was also able to save the sizable Danish royal jewel collection from Nazi looters by hiding it in churches and even farmhouses.

King Christian X with his wife Queen Alexandrine and grandchildren – Standing in back, from left to right: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Ingolf, Princess Margrethe (later Queen Margrethe II), Front, from left to right: Prince Christian, Queen Alexandrine holding Princess Anne-Marie (later Queen Consort of Greece), Princess Benedikte, King Christian X

 

Alexandrine was widowed in 1947. During her time as dowager queen, she devoted most of her time to charitable causes, particularly those dedicated to children. She was known simply as Queen Alexandrine until her own death in 1952, the first former queen to forgo the title of Dowager Queen.

On December 28, 1952, Alexandrine died in her sleep four days after her 73rd birthday,  at a hospice, Saint Lukas Foundation in Hellerup, Denmark. She had undergone an intestinal operation a week and a half before her death. At her funeral, her son Frederik conducted her favorite song, Edvard Grieg’s “Springtime.” Alexandrine is buried with her husband in the Glücksburger Chapel at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark.

Tombs of Alexandrine and her husband at Roskilde Cathedral; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

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Kingdom of Denmark Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Louisa of Great Britain, Queen of Denmark and Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2013

Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Louisa of Great Britain was born on December 18, 1724, at Leicester House in London, England.  Her father was the future King George II of Great Britain and her mother was Caroline of Ansbach.  Louisa was the fifth daughter and the youngest child of her parents’ eight children:

Louisa was christened on December 22, 1724, at Leicester House in London, England. Her godparents were:

Louisa’s husband, King Frederik V; Credit – Wikipedia

On December 11, 1743, in Altona, Duchy of Holstein, now in Germany, the 19-year-old princess married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Norway, the son and heir of King Christian VI of Denmark and Norway.  King Christian hoped that this marriage would cause the British government to support his or his son’s claim to the Swedish throne.  Furthermore, the Danish government hoped (incorrectly) that marriage would put a damper on Crown Prince Frederik’s affairs and drunkenness.  The couple got along reasonably well and although Frederick continued his affairs, Louisa pretended not to notice them.  The couple had five children:

Louisa was popular with the Danish people and was interested in music, dance, and theater.  The Danish people greatly appreciated Louisa’s efforts to learn and speak Danish and her insistence that her children learn Danish, a rarity in an almost German-language Danish court.

Louisa’s husband succeeded his father as King Frederik V in 1746, but sadly Louisa died only five years later at the age of 27.  While pregnant with her sixth child, Louise died due to complications from a miscarriage on December 19, 1751, a day after her 27th birthday, at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was buried in Roskilde Cathedral, the burial place of the kings and queens of Denmark, in Roskilde, Denmark.

Tomb of Queen Louisa; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

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Kingdom of Denmark Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Thyra of Denmark, Crown Princess of Hanover

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2013

Thyra of Denmark, Crown Princess of Hanover; Credit – Wikipedia

Thyra was the youngest of the three daughters and fifth child of the six children of King Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse-Kassel. She was born on September 29, 1853, at the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark where the family lived in relatively humble circumstances. Her father Christian had been chosen as the heir to the childless King Frederik VIII shortly before Thyra’s birth.

Thyra had five siblings:

Christian IX, King of Denmark and his family by Georg Emil Hansen, albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862, NPG x74402 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Encouraged by the prominent marriages her elder daughters had made, Louise had the same hopes for Thyra. However, before any serious marriage negotiations could take place, Thyra had fallen in love with a Danish cavalry officer Vilhelm Frimann Marcher. Louise evidently knew of Thyra’s attachment to Marcher but considered it a harmless adolescent flirtation. However, by the summer of 1871, it was clear that the “flirtation” had blossomed into a full-blown affair and that Thyra was pregnant with Marcher’s child.

News of Thyra’s pregnancy was restricted to the family as it could be lethal to her reputation. Arrangements were made to send Thyra to Greece to visit her brother George, where she could have the baby in relative anonymity, and then the baby could be given to a Greek family. Thyra gave birth to a daughter in Greece (some claim Glücksburg Castle) on November 8, 1871. It is believed that Thyra convinced her family to let the baby be adopted by a Danish couple, rather than a Greek one. The story of Thyra’s pregnancy has never been confirmed by the Danish court.

Marcher was allegedly distraught over losing Thyra and his child. Although he was said to have told Thyra’s father he would marry Thyra, this was refused due to Marcher’s low rank. Marcher may have had a second confrontation with Christian in early 1872 that resulted in a verbal altercation. Whatever the case, Marcher died by suicide on January 4, 1872. There is no record of Thyra’s reaction to his death.

Following her involvement with Marcher, Thyra was one of the leading candidates for a bride for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, the third son of Queen Victoria. The two had met as children in the early 1860s when Thyra’s sister Alexandra married Arthur’s brother, the Prince of Wales. Thyra’s sister and brother-in-law strongly supported the match, with Alexandra cleverly mentioning that Thyra treasured a note Arthur had given her in 1863. Although Thyra and Arthur met a few times in preparation for a possible engagement, Queen Victoria eventually decided that a second British-Danish union would interfere with her pro-German leanings. Arthur went on to marry a Prussian princess in 1878.

Thyra traveled to the United Kingdom during the winter of 1875 to spend Christmas with the family of her sister Alexandra at Sandringham in Norfolk, England. Also visiting the family was Ernst Augustus, Crown Prince of the defunct throne of Hanover. Although he was without a throne and not considered handsome, Ernst Augustus had a kind and easygoing manner. He was also lucky enough to keep a large amount of his fortune despite his exile from Hanover. However, the Prussians did not view a union between Denmark and Hanover favorably at that time. Both had lost considerable (or all, in the case of Hanover) territory to Prussia in the aftermath of the war.

After meeting Ernst Augustus, Thyra was considered as a second wife of King Willem III of the Netherlands. Willem’s first wife, Sophie had died in 1877, leaving him with two surviving sons who had not (and would not) produce children. In his sixties, Willem needed a younger princess who could bear him further children. Willem, however, had a reputation as a shameless womanizer. His questionable moral character coupled with his age led Thyra to refuse William. He did find his younger princess in Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, who married Willem and became the mother of his successor Queen Wilhelmina.

Thyra’s hopes of marriage kept coming back to Ernst Augustus, who apparently knew of Thyra’s illegitimate child and still wished to marry her. Thyra’s parents, along with the Princess of Wales, arranged a meeting in Frankfurt between Thyra and Ernst Augustus in early 1878 and the two became engaged.

Schloss Cumberland, Thyra and Ernst Augustus’ home in Gmunden, Austria; Credit – By Pepito Tey – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22858180

On December 21, 1878, Thyra and Ernst Augustus were married at the Christiansborg Palace Chapel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Following the wedding, Thyra and Ernst Augustus made their home in exile at Schloss Cumberland (link in German) in Gmunden, Austria, the home they built and where they raised six children:

Thyra with her husband and children; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

According to some sources, Thyra struggled with periodic bouts of mental illness during her marriage. Additionally, Ernst Augustus was somewhat asocial and disliked gatherings, which isolated the family. Nonetheless, the marriage was a happy one that lasted until Ernst Augustus’ death in 1923.

Thyra in the 1900s; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Although she never officially became a queen like her sisters, Thyra was the titular queen consort of Hanover as her husband had never renounced his rights to the throne. She also counts among her descendants the late King Constantine II of Greece, his sister Queen Sofia of Spain, and Queen Sofia’s son King Felipe VI of Spain, and future Spanish monarchs. Thyra died at Schloss Cumberland in Gmunden, Austria on February 26, 1933, and is buried with her husband in the family mausoleum in Gmunden.

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Anne-Marie of Denmark, Queen of the Hellenes

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2013

Anne-Marie of Denmark, Queen of the Hellenes; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark was born August 30, 1946, at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, the youngest of the three daughters of the future King Frederik IX of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden, daughter of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, and his first wife Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, born Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria  At the time of her birth, Anne-Marie’s grandfather King Christian X was King of Denmark.

Anne-Marie has two elder siblings:

Embed from Getty Images 

The princess was christened Anne-Marie Dagmar Ingrid on August 30, 1946, at the Holmen Church in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her godparents were:

Before Anne-Marie’s first birthday occurred, her grandfather died and her father became King of Denmark. Her childhood was spent in three family homes – Amalienborg Palace, Graasten Palace, and Fredensborg Castle.  From 1952 – 1961, Anne-Marie attended Zahle’s Skole, a private school in Copenhagen, the same school her sisters attended.  In 1961, she spent a year at an English boarding school in Switzerland, the Chatelard School for Girls.  From 1963 – 1964, Anne-Marie attended a Swiss finishing school, Institut Le Mesnil, to improve her French.  She also speaks English and Danish and learned Greek after her marriage.

Anne-Marie first met Crown Prince Constantine of Greece in 1959, when he visited Copenhagen on a trip with his parents, King Paul I and Queen Frederica of Greece.   Anne-Marie met him again in Denmark in 1961 and Constantine declared to his parents that he intended to marry her. In 1962, Constantine’s elder sister Sophia married Prince Juan Carlos of Spain in Athens, Greece. Anne-Marie was a bridesmaid and Queen Frederica noted that at the reception, her son “would dance only with Anne-Marie.”  It was at that wedding that Constantine and Anne-Marie realized that they were falling in love. Constantine proposed during a sailing holiday in Norway, but the engagement announcement was postponed for six months because of Anne-Marie’s young age.  In March 1964, King Paul I died and Constantine succeeded his father as King Constantine II.

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Six months after his accession, on September 18, 1964, Constantine married 18-year-old Anne-Marie in a lavish ceremony in Athens.  Upon marriage, she became Queen of the Hellenes and relinquished her place in the line of succession to the Danish throne. Prior to the wedding, Anne-Marie converted to Greek Orthodoxy. Anne-Marie and Constantine are third cousins twice, sharing both King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom as common ancestors.

Anne-Marie and Constantine had five children:

King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie’s 50th wedding anniversary; Credit – https://www.greekroyalfamily.gr/

As Queen, Anne-Marie established “Her Majesty’s Fund” to provide aid to people in rural areas throughout Greece. Unfortunately, her tenure as Queen did not last very long. Following a coup in 1967, the Greek royal family went into exile, living in Rome for several years before moving to Denmark and then finally settling in the United Kingdom. While in exile, King Constantine was deposed and the monarchy was formally abolished in 1974.

Anne-Marie, with her husband, established the Hellenic College of London in 1980, a Greek boarding school that her younger children attended. The following year, they were permitted to return to Greece for the funeral and burial of Queen Frederika, however, they were made to leave immediately afterward. In 2003, following reimbursement by the Greek government for properties seized from the royal family, the Anna-Maria Foundation was established with the funds from the reimbursement. Constantine had stated that whatever amount the court ordered would be donated in its entirety for the creation of a foundation so the funds would be returned to the Greek people. The foundation, of which Queen Anne-Marie is president, provides aid and assistance to victims of natural disasters in Greece.  The settlement of the property dispute also allowed Anne-Marie and Constantine to visit Greece and purchase a summer home in Portocheli, Peloponnese, Greece.  In 2013, former King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie permanently returned to reside in Greece.

Anne-Marie’s husband King Constantine II, the former King of Greece, died at Hygeia Hospital in Athens, Greece on January 10, 2023, at the age of 82. He had been admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital a couple of days earlier due to a stroke.

 

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Prince Henrik of Denmark, husband of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

by Emily McMahon and Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2013

photo: The Danish Monarchy, photographer: Jacob Jørgensen

photo: The Danish Monarchy, photographer: Jacob Jørgensen

Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat was born on June 11, 1934, in Talence, France. His parents, Count André de Laborde de Monpezat and Renee Doursenot, were members of the French nobility. Renee had previously been civilly married to another man before her marriage to Andre. Her first marriage allowed Renee to marry Andre religiously in 1934, but the couple did not marry civilly until 1948. Henri was the second of eight siblings, however, three of his siblings died in childhood.

Henri began his education at home with a private tutor, continuing on at a Jesuit school in Bordeaux, France. Henri spent several years of his childhood in Vietnam, then under French control, where his father ran a newspaper. He attended a French school in Hanoi, where he took an interest in Vietnamese and Chinese languages. Henri recalled his childhood as a very happy and extravagant colonial life, living in a big house with his parents, siblings, and a nanny.

 Henri as a baby with his two-year-old sister Françoise in Vietnam

 

Henri’s love for Southeast Asia continued into his adolescence and adulthood, as he continued his education at schools in Saigon and Hong Kong. He also studied at Paris University, earning a master’s degree in French literature. Henri was also awarded a diploma in Oriental languages from Ecole Nationale de Langues Oriental.

Henri’s developed a wide variety of interests ranging from flying planes to collecting Chinese porcelain to sailing. Like his future wife, Henri was multi-lingual from an early age. In addition to French, Danish, and English, Henri was fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese.  After a brief stint in the military, Henri entered the French foreign services. At the time he met Princess Margrethe of Denmark, eldest daughter of King Frederik IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden in 1965, Henri was working as the third secretary at the French embassy in the Department of Oriental Affairs in London.

While studying at the London School of Economics in 1965, Margrethe was invited to a dinner at the French embassy. As an employee of the embassy at the time, Henri was expected to attend but was ambivalent about meeting the Danish princess by whom he was to be seated. Henri later said that to his surprise he found Margrethe interesting from their first meeting, but was a bit intimidated by her and said little during the dinner as a result. Margrethe said she had no real impression of Henri from their first meeting.

Margrethe and Henri were both guests at a wedding shortly after the first dinner. The two chatted at the wedding reception and on the plane ride back to London, as they were seated together once again. Upon their return to London, Margrethe and Henri gradually began seeing more and more – and growing mutual fonder – of one another.

The couple kept a low profile for more than a year, made easier by the fact that Margrethe was not as well known in the United Kingdom. Their relationship was so private that upon the news that an engagement announcement was imminent, most Danes had no idea their princess had been exclusively dating anyone. Margrethe’s father Frederik was later to say to his daughter of her courtship with Henri, “He came, he saw, and you conquered.”

 

On June 10, 1967, Princess Margrethe married Henri at the Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen,  Denmark, followed by a banquet at Fredensborg Palace. After a honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico, the couple took up residence at Amalienborg Palace, in Christian IX’s Palace (formerly Schack’s Palace).

The couple had two sons:

 

After the wedding, Henri became a Prince of Denmark and was known by the Danish version of his name, Henrik. On January 14, 1972, King Frederik IX died after a brief illness and Henrik’s wife ascended the Danish throne as Queen Margrethe II. In April 2016, Henrik renounced the title of Prince Consort, which he had been given in 2005.  He retired from public life and decided to participate in limited official events. Although Henrik remained close to Margrethe, he was vocal about the difficulties he experienced as a male consort (a historically female role) in terms of his personal income and his role in the affairs of the country.

Henrik published several books of poetry in his native language as well as additional books in Danish. Henrik and his wife owned Chateau de Cayx, a wine estate in southern France, where the two spent part of their summers.

The Danish Royal House announced on August 3, 2017, that Prince Henrik would not be buried with his wife Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, the traditional burial place of Danish royalty. The press release read:

The Royal House has announced today that His Royal Highness Prince Henrik does not want to be buried in Roskilde Cathedral, as it had been planned. The Prince’s decision implies that he will not be buried next to Her Majesty The Queen in the sarcophagus that Professor and sculptor Bjørn Nørgaard has prepared. The Queen has been aware of the decision for some time and supports the decision. The Prince’s decision does not change the Queen’s funeral plans. It has been stated in the media that the Prince wants to be buried in France. This is not correct. The Prince still wishes to be buried in Denmark, but the arrangements are not yet in place.

On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Prince Henrik was suffering from dementia. Prince Henrik was hospitalized on January 28, 2018. Later it was determined that he had a benign tumor in his left lung. On February 9, 2018, the Danish Royal Court announced that his condition had severely deteriorated. Crown Prince Frederik returned home from the Winter Olympics in South Korea which he was attending as a member of the International Olympic Committee. On February 13, 2018, Prince Henrik was transferred from the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen to Fredensborg Castle, where he wished to stay during his remaining time.

Prince Henrik died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 11:18 pm, at Fredensborg Palace at the age of 83.  His wife Queen Margrethe II and their two sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim were at his side.

Prince Henrik’s funeral was held on Tuesday, February 20th in the Palace Chapel at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.  Per his wishes, it was a private service, with family and close friends in attendance.  His remains were cremated, with half of his ashes spread over the Danish seas, and the other half interred in the private garden at Fredensborg Castle.

Prince Henrik and his family in 2017; Photo Credit – The Danish Monarchy

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Kingdom of Denmark Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

by Emily McMahon and Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2013

 

The second of three daughters of King Frederick IX of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden, daughter of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, and his first wife Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, born Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Benedikte of Denmark was born on April 29, 1944, at the Frederick VIII Palace in Amalienborg Palace complex in Copenhagen during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. As the Danish military was prohibited from performing the usual salute, a Danish resistance group set off 21 bombs in a Copenhagen park to mark the occasion of her birth.  At the time of her birth, her grandfather King Christian X sat upon the throne of Denmark.

The infant princess was christened with the names Benedikte Astrid Ingeborg Ingrid on May 24, 1944, in Holmens Church in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Her godparents were:

Princess Benedikte has two sisters:

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During her childhood, Benedikte attended local Danish schools. She also joined the Girl Guides, beginning her association with Danish scouting that has continued to this day. Benedikte also developed a lifelong love of horses, owning several while still in her teens. In her early 20s, Benedikte began performing royal duties. She visited the United States in 1965 and also began working for organizations dedicated to assisting the disabled.

Benedikte served as a bridesmaid for her cousin Princess Birgitta of Sweden at her wedding to Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern in 1961, and later for Princess Sophia of Greece when she married Prince Juan Carlos of Spain in 1962. At the 1966 wedding of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands to Claus von Amsberg, Benedikte met German Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and they began dating. The couple announced their engagement in 1967 shortly before the marriage of her sister Margrethe to Henri de Laborde of Monpezat. Benedikte and Richard married on the evening of February 3, 1968, in the Chapel of Fredensborg Palace, followed by a banquet.

 

The couple took up residence at Berleburg Castle in Germany, the groom’s ancestral home.

The couple had three children:

Benedikte’s daughter Nathalie competed for Denmark in the Equestrian Team and Individual Dressage in the 2008/Bejing and 2012/London Summer Olympics. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Nathalie won a Bronze Medal in Team Dressage.

Princess Nathalie competing in the Olympics

Still in the line of succession to the Danish throne, Princess Benedikte remains a very active member of the Danish Royal House. She is the patron of several organizations in Denmark and appears at most State and official functions, and represents the Danish crown at various events. While she remains in the line of succession, her children are not. At the time of the wedding,  her father King Frederik IX had decreed that to be in the succession, any children must be raised in Denmark. As the children were raised in Germany, they hold no succession rights.  Princess Benedikte’s husband Prince Richard died at his home, Berleburg Castle, in Bad Berleburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on March 13, 2017, at the age of 82.

 

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.