Danish royal family: adultery, drunkenness and quarrels over the title. Danish Royal Family Claimed to be unfaithful

MARGRETE II Full name - Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid (born in 1940) Queen of Denmark since 1972. In some countries, on the occasion of the birthday of the head of state, national flags are hung on official buildings, but this is unlikely on private houses. And in Denmark

Chapter 4 Waldemar Atterdag, Margrethe and Eric of Pomerania (1340-1439) The North and the Baltic Sea basin around 1400 The restless and chaotic period that began in 1320 ended in complete political collapse. When Christopher died in 1332, the entire country was mortgaged to the Holsteins.

Margrethe and the Kalmar Union (1375-1412) When Valdemar died in 1375, the problem arose that the king did not leave behind any sons. His eldest daughter Ingeborg was married to a representative of the Mecklenburg ducal dynasty; she died around

The Monarchy of Queen Margrethe The Queen's relationship with the Danish nobility changed over time. In 1376 she had to make big concessions; Thus, the confiscations of the lands of the Jutland nobility, carried out by Valdemar more recently, were completely stopped or annulled.

On the eve of their visit to Moscow, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik gave exclusive interview first deputy general director ITAR-TASS to Mikhail Gusman for ITAR-TASS, " Russian newspaper" and the TV channel "Russia 24".

Mikhail Gusman: Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, thank you very much for the opportunity to meet you again. We are meeting on the eve of your state visit to Russia. You, Your Majesty, were in Russia many years ago. But this was another country - the Soviet Union. Today is your first visit to Russia. With what feelings do you travel to our country, to Russia? What do you expect from this visit?

Queen Margrethe II: We are looking forward to our state visit to Russia. It's been many, many years since I've been to Moscow, but my husband visited there a year ago. I have many friends who have been there last years, and we know that the country has undergone great development and is seeing great changes.

This is known in general, but many people have told me how interesting it is to see how this country is now flourishing, how Moscow is developing, how even more buildings in St. Petersburg have been restored, returned to their original colors and appearance. And this cannot but please those who, like me, like ancient buildings. The possibility of a visit to Russia at the present time has for both of us great importance. In this way we will be able to promote the establishment of ties between our countries that have known each other for a long time, right from the time they took notice of each other in ancient historical times, and it will be interesting for us to meet with the current Russia that I know about now only by hearsay.

Guzman: Your Royal Highness, as I know, you have already been to Moscow several times and you will have a special program in Moscow. What do you find most interesting in the upcoming program in Russia?

Prince Henrik: I have been to Russia several times since our official visit many years ago. During these trips I saw great developments taking place, especially industrial and social developments. And therefore, a large delegation of Danish industrialists who were interested in further establishing contacts with the Russians was created to travel with us. For this reason, I will participate in many meetings and symposia to see the prospects and gain hope for the further development of our economic relations.

Guzman: Your Majesties' official program is very eventful. But I also know: there will be a fairly large unofficial program. What do you find most attractive and most interesting in this informal part?

Queen Margrethe II: We plan to follow the walking routes that foreigners usually take and see the Kremlin cathedrals. This is what my great-great-aunt remembered, what she talked about when she was in Denmark, this was a dear memory for her and others during the Danish period of her life. And my father knew them. After your revolution, many Russians lived in Denmark and died here, and my father knew them well. And I think that she and her aunt loved each other very much. She was such a charming old lady. And a wonderful person. So for me, the fact that a few years ago you transported her coffin to St. Petersburg for reburial meant a lot! Because I understand what it would mean to my father. The unofficial part of our visit will take place in St. Petersburg after two days of official events. And we look forward to the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Empress Maria Feodorovna, who is known to us as Dagmara. She was my father's great-aunt, who knew her well. After the revolution, she fled to Denmark and lived here until her last days. As I said, my father knew her well and loved her, and I think the feelings were mutual. My father told me a lot about her, so for me she is not just a historical figure, she was a person whom I knew and knew well, and it will be very interesting for me in St. Petersburg also because, as I know, a lot has been done, to restore the buildings in which she lived in Russia for many, many years.

Guzman: Your Majesty, you often spend your holidays doing art. Maybe you can tell us something that you know in the field of Russian art, that you especially appreciate?

Queen Margrethe II: Well, many years ago, when I was doing some illustrations, I found that there were things that could inspire me a lot. These are illustrations for Russian fairy tales by the artist Bilibin. I'll show them to you, I think they must be very famous. I had a book in English - a collection of Russian fairy tales. It belonged to my mother. She loved her very much and was very attached to Russia. But this book has been translated into English language, and the tales were beautifully illustrated by Bilibin. It was the first time in my life that the illustrations were so clear. They were very simple. That's why I loved this book so much. It's not that I would recognize Bilibin's work if I saw it. But I know that in some ways the way he illustrated this book is what I like best. And, for example, last year I saw an exhibition that took place in London, it was dedicated to Diaghilev - stage models and costume designs for ballets. There I saw something similar, and it inspired me to a very high degree. I was absolutely in awe.

Guzman: Looking into history, we will see that the experience of Russian-Danish relations is unique for Europe. Russia and Denmark never actually fought. What, in your opinion, is the secret of this disposition of our countries, our peoples towards each other?

Queen Margrethe II: There may be many theories about how we have been able to maintain peace with each other for many centuries. This could be because we live in the same part of the world, and because we, in fact, had no contradictions, and one can only rejoice at this. Usually, contradictions arise with neighbors, but at the same time, it is easier to find compromises with neighbors.

Prince Henrik: We have many contacts with the peoples of the Baltic, and we obviously sympathize with each other, we have never fought with each other, and this also means something.

Guzman: Your Royal Highness, Your wife, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, in my opinion, has the most a large number of Russian roots than any other head of state in Europe. As far as I know, in your family history There is no Russian blood, and yet I have a question for you: what does Russia mean to you?

Prince Henrik: Russians are of great importance because they are a strong nation, a great and powerful people, who were perhaps feared, perhaps loved, but who have always been part of our general history. I can consider Russians and Russia as part of good friends in Europe and at the same time as a great nation.

Guzman: At the beginning of today's meeting, Your Majesty, you recalled some of your Russian relatives. Which of them comes to your mind first of all? With whom, let’s say, do you mentally communicate more often?

Queen Margrethe II: I must say that the closest relative related to Russia, or rather, the closest family ties connecting us with Russia, pass through my father’s grandmother, born princess Mecklenburg in Germany. Her mother, born in Russia, was Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, whom my father knew well and highly valued. She died long before I was born, and she was a person I knew a lot about. I knew that she really was from Russia. As for the rest, this is the empress whom we called Dagmara. She and I have common roots, she was the sister of my great-grandfather.

Guzman: Your Majesty, in January 2012 it will be 40 years since you ascended the throne. And this will, as I understand it, be a celebration for the Danes of the 40th anniversary of your royal reign. Looking back on this journey, what seems most significant to you? What would you like to remember now over these past 40 years?

Queen Margrethe II: It is hard to say. And it's really hard for me to realize that it's been 40 years since I became queen. Sometimes it seems to me that I became her a long time ago, and sometimes it seems to me that this happened only the day before yesterday, when my father died and I took his place. Generation follows generation, and it is difficult to name any specific event that seems significant. (addressing her husband) Can you remember anything special that you remember during these years? It's hard to name something specific.

Prince Henrik: For us, these are ordinary family events; our children got married and gave birth to grandchildren. For us, this is the most important thing, because we know that everything goes on, the race continues.

Guzman: Your Majesty, how do you see the significance of the monarchy in modern Denmark?

Queen Margrethe II: I think that one of the main goals of the monarchy is that it is able to unite people, unite the country. We represent modern traditions, but at the same time we are the living embodiment of history. And, as I personally think, the fact that we are all growing, that we were all once children, is very important. This happened to everyone, including my parents, my father, myself, and also my aunts. And as we grow up, we understand that we have a responsibility to the world and to our country. And anyone who lives in the country, of course, bears a huge responsibility to their country. And my husband and I are in a special position - we represent our country. And in a sense, we represent the history of our country. We have a huge responsibility. And I think this is a very significant responsibility. This is difficult, and this is what our lives are full of, and this means our sincere desire to live up to expectations.

Guzman: I have a question for you, Your Royal Highness. How do you see the importance of the monarchy in modern Denmark?

Prince Henrik: I think, if I have to sum it up, it's continuity. The monarchy has its roots in a thousand-year, no, more than two-thousand-year history. But this is history, and it must continue, because the monarchy has its basis in history, and this basis is the family, why not, if the family is talented, and it is important that one generation succeeds another and so on in the future. She is a symbol of continuity, a symbol of history and, I would say, a symbol of stability, because we are politically independent, we are not chosen, and that is good. So we symbolize continuity. In addition, we represent the family, we are a symbol of the family, a symbol of the pinnacle of power. In fact, we do not have power, but we are representatives of power, a symbol of power. Thus, we follow the dictates of time, and we live on the cutting edge of the moment of time. As heirs to the monarchy, we cannot live in the 21st century as monarchs lived in the 18th or 19th centuries. We live as representatives of the monarchy in our time. And we have our responsibilities precisely because we are a symbol of power and a symbol of our country.

Queen Margrethe II: It's right. I think we can say that Crown Prince Frederik ( crown prince, son of the queen. - Approx. ed.) had the same opportunities that I had as a child. He grew up here in the country, in the royal family and with the same task. His royal roots are not only in the country, but also in the activities that he will eventually lead. He will be with us on our upcoming trip to Russia, and that makes me very happy. We enjoy traveling with him.

Guzman: Your Majesty, you once uttered the following slogan: “With love in God, love of the people.” How did this slogan come about? What meaning do you put into it today?

Queen Margrethe II: I made my motto the same way as my father and my grandparents did - I chose it myself. I thought about this for a long time when my father was still alive, before his death. For a long time I couldn’t make a decision, but I really wanted something from what was in my father’s motto - “With God for Denmark.” I really wanted to keep the word “God” in my motto, because such an activity is beyond my ability alone. In Denmark there was a king who gave the country (the Constitution) the Basic Law in 1849 - it was Frederick VII. His motto was “The love of the people is my strength.” In my opinion, it was a wonderful motto, and I believed that more important than my strength was the Strength of Denmark, this should be understood, and I understand it this way: with God's help and with the people's love, Denmark can be strong, but that is also what I must help Denmark become strong with the help of people's love. The motto turned out to be a bit long, but I tried to express in it things that are important to me, and it seems to me that I understand it the same way now, despite the fact that almost 40 years have passed.

Guzman: Your Majesty! Our conversation will be watched by millions of television viewers. We are meeting with you on the eve of your state visit to our country. Russians are waiting for you with an open heart. May I ask Your Majesty and You, Your Royal Highness, to directly address Russian television viewers, millions of Russians, and say a few words to them?

Queen Margrethe II: We are looking forward to our visit to Russia. It will be interesting to see your country again, as well as Moscow and St. Petersburg. We wish all the best to the Russian people and your entire country.

Guzman: I don’t know, Your Majesty, to what extent protocol allows an ordinary citizen to compliment the Queen, but this is the third time we are meeting you, and I would like to say that you look beautiful.

Queen Margrethe II: Thank you very much, I'm touched.

Guzman: And before thanking you for the conversation, let me present you with our modest souvenirs - a traditional Palekh box made by our masters.

Queen Margrethe II: Very beautiful, thank you very much, that’s very kind of you. Thank you very much.

Guzman: And this book is “Palaces of St. Petersburg” for you, Your Highness. I know that you are a big fan of our Northern capital. Let me hand it to you.

Prince Henrik: We will be glad to see Russia again and contribute to the deepening of friendship between the Russian people and the Danish people, as well as to expanding our knowledge about the ancient history of Russia and its modern history.

Queen Margrethe II: Thank you for this conversation too.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark celebrates her birthday today. She turns 74 years old. HELLO.RU congratulates the birthday girl and invites readers to learn 9 interesting facts about her.

Margrethe II

1. Margrethe II was born on April 16, 1940 in Denmark, in the royal palace of Amalienborg. She became the first-born in the family of King Frederick IX, who subsequently had two more daughters. Previously, in Denmark, the throne was passed on only through the male line, so when it became obvious that, for obvious reasons, only a woman could become the next ruler, the Danish law on succession to the throne had to be changed.

Margrethe II 2. In June 1967, at the age of 27, Margrethe II married French diplomat Comte Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. The couple's wedding took place in Copenhagen, and the wedding celebrations took place at Fredensborg Palace. After his marriage, Henri received the title "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark".

Wedding of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, 1967

Margrethe II and Prince Henrik 3. The first child in the family of Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik was born in 1968, he became the current heir to the throne, Prince Frederik. In 1969, Magrete gave birth to her second son, Prince Joakim.

4. Princess Margrethe ascended the throne on January 14, 1972, after the death of her father. She became the first female monarch in Denmark since Queen Margrethe I, who reigned in the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

Margrethe II and Prince Henrik

5. Queen Margrethe II has repeatedly said that she admires Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. She is inspired by the way she treats her country and her subjects.

6. In 2012, Queen Margrethe II celebrated her 40th anniversary on the throne. In honor of this event, a magnificent celebration was organized in Denmark. Speaking about how she personally perceives such a serious date, Margrethe II notes that the main events over these years for her were not political, but family ones - the birth of children and then grandchildren. She compares the importance of the monarchy with family values:
The monarchy is a symbol of continuity, a symbol of history and, I would say, a symbol of stability, because we are politically independent, we are not elected, and this is good. In addition, we represent the family, we are a symbol of the family.

wedding of heir to the throne Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik surrounded by their grandchildren 7. Danish Queen enjoys painting. Over the years of her life, she held many art exhibitions, and her illustrations, which impressed J. Tolkien, were used for the Danish edition of The Lord of the Rings.

8. Margrethe II knows 5 languages: Danish, French, Swedish, English and German. And in collaboration with her husband, she translated a number of literary works from French to Danish and also from Danish to French.

9. Margrethe II’s sense of style was noted many times both by her subjects and abroad. She has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most stylish women countries.

Margrethe II

The Danish monarchy, one of the oldest in the world, is one of Denmark's most enduring and popular institutions. The reigning queen, Her Majesty Margrethe II, belongs to the Glucksburg dynasty, the first representative of which ascended the throne in 1863 after the end of the Oldenburg dynasty.

Composition of the Danish Royal House
The Royal House of Denmark includes: Queen Margrethe II; her husband, Prince Consort Henrik; Crown Prince Frederik; his wife Crown Princess Mary; their children, Prince Christian and Princess Isabella; the Crown Prince's brother, Prince Joachim; his wife Princess Marie; their children, Prince Nicholas, Prince Felix and Prince Henrik; the Queen's sister, Princess Benedicte; The Queen's cousin, Princess Elizabeth.

Queen Margrethe II (b. 16 April 1940) is the eldest daughter of King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid. Having completed her secondary education in 1959, she continued her studies at the universities of Copenhagen, Cambridge, Aarhus, Sorbonne and London, where she studied archeology and political science. In 1967, Queen Margrethe married the French diplomat Count Henri de Labor de Monpezat (b. 1934). In Denmark they began to call him Prince Henrik. Margrethe and Henrik had sons, Frederik (b. 1968) and Joakim (b. 1969).

Queen Margrethe is a supporter of openness in relations between the monarch and her subjects. She makes a point of visiting all parts of the kingdom, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, on her annual summer cruises on the royal yacht Dannebrog (named after the Danish flag). Listening to Queen Margrethe's traditional New Year's speech, every Dane feels that she is addressing him personally, and this strengthens the position of the monarchy. The Queen's literary and artistic activities range widely: she paints, creates church vestments, theater sets and costumes, illustrates books, and translates from Swedish to Danish and (in collaboration with her husband) from French to Danish.

Along with Queen Margrethe, Prince Consort Henrik pays great attention to literary activity. He received higher education in French literature and oriental languages, published several books, including a volume of memoirs “Destin oblige” (“Destin oblige”, 1996), a collection of poems “Cantabile” (“Cantabile”, 2000), illustrated with collages in performed by the queen, and a collection of poems “Whisper of the Wind” (“Murmures de vent”, 2005). Moreover, the prince is a recognized author of cookbooks and an experienced winegrower. The Queen and her husband own the vineyards and castle of Chateau de Caye in the prince's homeland in the province of Cahors (southwest France), where they usually spend the end of summer. The prince is a representative of several cultures at once, which is reflected in his wide international activities; his abilities come in handy in campaigns to promote Danish exporters.

The heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim (who also bear the title of Counts de Monpezat) received a substantial military training. In addition, the crown prince was trained in an elite corps of combat swimmers. Subsequently, he graduated from the Faculty of Political Science at Aarhus University, studied at Harvard University (USA), and at other universities, and was in the diplomatic service. On May 14, 2004, the wedding of Crown Prince Frederick and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson took place. Mary, who took the title of Crown Princess and Countess de Monpezat after her marriage, was born in the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania, Hobart, in 1972. Frederick and Mary have a son, Prince Christian (b. 2005), and a daughter, Princess Isabella ( born 2007). Prince Joachim owns the estate of Schackenborg in Möltønder in southern Jutland. Having acquired practical agricultural knowledge while working on a farm in Australia, Prince Joachim graduated from the academy Agriculture on Falster. In 1995, he married Alexandra Christina Manley (b. 1964 in Hong Kong), who received the title Princess Alexandra (now Countess of Frederiksborg). The marriage produced two sons, Prince Nicholas (b. 1999) and Prince Felix (b. 2002). In 2005, the couple divorced by mutual consent. In 2008, Prince Joachim married Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier (b. 1976 in Paris), now bearing the title Princess Marie, Countess de Monpezat. The couple had a son, Prince Henrik (b. 2009). Just like their parents, the children of Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim bear the title Comte (Countess) de Monpezat.

History of the Royal House
Reliable information about the origins of the Danish monarchy dates back to the reign of Gorm the Old (d. 958). The position of monarch was originally an elective one. However, in practice the choice always fell on the eldest son of the reigning monarch. In return, the king was required to sign a coronation charter, establishing the balance of power between the monarch and his subjects. In 1660-1661 Denmark was declared a hereditary monarchy; in 1665, the transition to absolutism was legally secured by the adoption of the Royal Law, which determined the order of succession to the throne (primogeniture in the male line) and the broad prerogatives of royal power. The democratic constitution, adopted on June 5, 1849, changed the status of the monarchy, turning it from absolute to constitutional. The Act of Succession to the Throne on March 27, 1953 opened the possibility of passing the throne through the female line (in 1972, Queen Margrethe inherited the throne). A referendum on June 7, 2009 legitimized the provision that the throne passes to the first child of the reigning monarch, regardless of gender.

The direct line of succession to the throne of the ancient Danish dynasty was interrupted with the sudden death in 1448 of Christopher III of Bavaria, who had no children. His successor was Count Christian of Oldenburg, who was crowned King of Denmark under the name Christian I (1448). He belonged to one of the collateral branches of the original dynasty and became the founder of the royal house of Oldenburg (Oldenborg), which ruled until 1863, when the last representative of the dynasty, Frederick VII, died without leaving heirs. According to the Act of Succession of 1853, the crown passed to his relative, Prince Christian Glücksburg, a direct male-line descendant of the Danish kings. He was crowned Christian IX and founded the still ruling dynasty of Glücksburg (Glücksborg).

Christian IX was nicknamed “the father-in-law of all Europe,” and it is no coincidence: his eldest daughter Alexandra was married to King Edward VII of England, his middle daughter Dagmar was married to the Russian Emperor Alexander III, youngest daughter Tyra (Thyra) - married to Duke Ernst Augustus of Cumberland. Christian's son Wilhelm was crowned King of Greece in 1863 under the name George I, Christian's grandson Karl became King of Norway under the name Haakon VII. Thus, the Danish royal house had direct family ties with many of the ruling royal houses of Europe.

Christian IX died at the age of 87, and at the time of his accession to the throne (1906), his son Frederick VIII was 63 years old. Frederick died in 1912, during the reign of his successor, Christian X (1912-1947), during both world wars. Christian remained in people's memory as the horse-king. On horseback, he crossed the former state border to personally be present at the return of Northern Schleswig to Denmark in 1920. During the years of the German occupation of Denmark (1940-1945), despite his venerable age, he made daily horseback rides through the streets of Copenhagen, becoming for the Danes the personification of the unity of the nation .

Christian X was succeeded by his eldest son Frederick IX, who married in 1935 Swedish princess Ingrid. From this marriage three daughters were born: Margrethe (Queen Margrethe II), Benedikte (b. 1944, in 1968 married Prince Richard of Sein-Wittgenstein-Berleburg), and Anne-Marie (b. 1946, married in 1964 Constantine II, then King of Greece). Frederick IX, unlike his father, from the very beginning took for granted the king's lack of real political power. He and his family gave the monarchy modern look, adapting it to democratic institutions. His good-natured manner and the joy with which he devoted himself to family concerns perfectly reflected the post-war values ​​of the Danes. At the same time, the greatness and sense of distance inherent in the monarchy did not suffer at all. His eldest daughter, Queen Margrethe II, successfully continues this line, strengthening the popularity of the royal family and the monarchy. From what has been said, it is clear why the death of Frederick IX (1972) and Queen Ingrid (2000) was experienced as a nationwide grief.

Tasks and responsibilities of the monarch
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy. This means that the monarch does not have the prerogative to take independent political action. The Queen signs all laws, but they come into force only after being certified by the signature of one of the government ministers. As head of state, the Queen participates in the formation of the government. After consulting with representatives of political parties, she asks the leader of the party that has the support of the majority of the Folketing (parliament) deputies to form a government. When the government is formed, the queen officially approves it.

According to the constitution, the Queen is also the head of government and therefore presides over meetings of the Council of State, where laws adopted by the Folketing are signed and then come into force. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary report regularly to the Queen to keep her up to date political events. The Queen receives foreign heads of state on official visits and makes state visits to other countries. It also officially appoints officials to government positions and dismisses them.

The Queen's main tasks are to represent Denmark abroad and to be the focus of what is happening within the country. The Queen's participation in the opening of an exhibition, presence at an anniversary or the commissioning of a new bridge, and other events are some examples of Her Majesty's representative functions. Often members of the royal family open foreign events that promote Danish exports. In addition, the queen regularly gives audiences, during which subjects have the right to talk with the monarch in private for a few minutes.

Royal Orders of Chivalry
Queen Margrethe is the head of two royal knightly orders– Order of the Elephant and Order of the Dannebrog (Prince Henrik is the chancellor of these orders). The Order of the Elephant, whose history is believed to date back to the 15th century, is the most honorable. Among the first holders of the order there are mainly foreign rulers and representatives of the highest nobility. These days, the order is awarded exclusively to foreign heads of state and members of the royal family. The Order of the Dannebrog, named after the Danish flag, was established by King Christian V in 1671; in 1808, following the model of the French Legion of Honor, several degrees of distinction were introduced. Currently, the Order of the Dannebrog is awarded mainly to distinguished citizens Denmark.

The decision to award awards remains the prerogative of the head of the order, with the day-to-day work being carried out by the Chamber of Heraldic Affairs, which is part of the royal court. The range of recipients of the Order of the Dannebrog in lower degrees and other orders awarded for services to Denmark is quite wide, so it is not an exaggeration to say that these awards serve as another link between the royal house and its subjects.

The royal regalia includes the crown, scepter, orb, sword and sacred chrism vessel, as well as the chains of the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog, which the monarch wears on special occasions. The oldest regalia is the sword of King Christian III (1551). Since 1680, the royal regalia has been kept in Rosenborg Castle (Copenhagen).
During the period of elective royal power, regalia were used during the coronation ceremony: priests and representatives of the nobility placed the crown on the head of the king as a sign that they were entrusting royal powers to him on behalf of all the people. After the transition to an absolute monarchy (1660-1661), the coronation was replaced by the ceremony of anointing: from now on the monarch is not elected by the people, he is God's anointed.

For the anointing ceremony of Christian V in 1671, instead of the old crown in the form of an open ring, which was used to crown elected kings, a new crown in the form of a closed hoop was made. To emphasize his absolute power, the monarch himself put on the crown, after which he was anointed in the church with holy oil from a sacred vessel. With the establishment of the constitutional monarchy in 1849, the anointing ceremony was abolished. Now the accession to the throne of the new monarch is proclaimed by the Prime Minister from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Copenhagen) - the residence of the Prime Minister, Parliament and Supreme Court.

Royal residences
Beginning in the 15th century, Copenhagen Castle gradually became the main royal residence. OK. In 1730, Christiansborg Palace was erected in its place. After the fire of 1794, the king moved to Amalienborg Palace, which is still the main royal residence. The rebuilt Christiansborg has a royal wing where the reception halls are located. Festive dinners, New Year's balls, and public audiences of Her Majesty are held here.

Amalienborg is the name of a complex of four palaces built around the perimeter of an octagonal square, the center of which is the equestrian statue of King Frederick V (sculptor J.-F.-J. Saly). The complex was the center of Frederiksstaden - a residential quarter for representatives of the highest aristocracy, founded in 1749 on the occasion of the tercentenary of the Oldenburg dynasty. All four palaces served in turn as the royal residence. Nowadays, the Palace of Christian VII (originally the palace of Chief Marshal Moltke, purchased by King Christian VII after the fire in Christiansborg) is used mainly for ceremonial purposes. Palace of Christian IX (originally built for Hans Schack, adopted son Chief Marshal Moltke) serves as the residence of Queen Margrethe and the Prince Consort. The Palace of Frederick VIII (built for Baron Brockdorff) after the completion of renovation work became the residence of Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary. Previously, Frederick IX and his wife, Queen Ingrid, lived in this palace. The palaces of the Amalienborg complex and the Yellow Palace, located nearby, also house the administrative and economic services of the royal court.

The favorite summer residence of the Queen and the Prince Consort is located at Fredensborg Castle (North Zealand). This country palace in the Italian Baroque style was built by King Frederick IV in 1720-1722. on the occasion of the end of the Northern War (its name means “palace of peace”). It was here that Christian IX gathered his huge family every summer: representatives of the royal houses of Europe came here for the “Fredensborg days”. Today, the palace hosts receptions in honor of state visits and family celebrations. The Queen and the Prince Consort also have at their disposal the Marselisborg Palace (Aarhus), which was used during the royal couple's stay in Jutland. It is interesting that this palace, whose architecture plays on Baroque motifs, became a gift from the people of Denmark on the occasion of the marriage of Prince Christian (the future King Christian X) and Princess Alexandrina (1898).

The small Rosenborg Palace in the center of Copenhagen and the Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød, built by Christian IV at the beginning of the 17th century, were also periodically used as royal residences. Now they have been turned into museums. Rosenborg houses the treasures of the Danish crown; Frederiksborg, rebuilt after the fire of 1859, became a museum of national history. Finally, the royal residences include Grosten Palace (South Jutland), the use of which was granted by the Danish state to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid in 1935 on the occasion of their marriage.

Royal Court
Compared to other royal houses, the Danish royal court is relatively modest: the ceremony is limited to only the most necessary and devoid of ostentatious pomp. Traditional splendor can only be seen on particularly special occasions: state visits, royal weddings, important anniversaries. The total staff of the royal court does not exceed 140 people, whose services are paid according to the so-called. civil list - the amount allocated by the state for the maintenance of the royal family and royal court. Significant funds are allocated for the needs of the royal family (approx. 90 million Danish kroner).

In a time when fundamental values ​​are internationalized and rapidly changing, the Danish Royal Family remains an important symbol of national unity and stability in a changing world. Of course, it is important that the monarchy has deep traditional roots. But this is not the only reason for her special position. Royal House demonstrates the ability to adapt to modern realities without sacrificing traditional values ​​such as constancy, respect for tradition, a sense of duty and responsibility for the nation - values ​​that, from a historical point of view, have always been the basis of the monarchy as a form of government.

Professor Knud Jespersen

Additional Information
Administration of the Royal Household
Hofmarskallatet
Det Gule Palæ
Amaliegade 18
DK-1256 Copenhagen K
(+45) 3340 1010