$Unique_ID{bob00156} $Pretitle{} $Title{Denmark Queen Margrethe II} $Subtitle{} $Author{Nils Schiorring} $Affiliation{Press and Cultural Relations} $Subject{queen danish prince society margrethe denmark henrik de designed royal see tables } $Date{1988} $Log{See Table 1.*0015601.tab See Table 2.*0015602.tab } Title: Denmark Book: Fact Sheets on Denmark Author: Nils Schiorring Affiliation: Press and Cultural Relations Date: 1988 Queen Margrethe II There is no standard job description for reigning queens, the position is moulded and given substance by the person who is placed in one of the nation's most difficult positions by historic tradition and the constitution. But after considering the way Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has ruled the nation, most Danes would agree with the informal compliment that the Queen of Denmark is the world champion among Queens. She was only 31 years old when her father, King Frederik IX, died. The following day, January 15, 1972, she was proclaimed Queen, and in the years which have followed she has firmly and carefully adapted the constitutional monarchy to make it more up-to-date. At the more personal level the Queen has developed as an active artist and highly respected cultural personality, who has promoted a lively dialogue with the people of Denmark, and expressed the values and attitudes which unite the nation. The dual roles as head of state and artist have won the Queen great respect, and stimulated the special affectionate relationship which exists between the Danes and their monarch, and which is as difficult to explain to an outsider as the concepts behind Grundtvig's folk high school movement. It demands both talent and intelligence to be the Queen of a constitutional monarchy which has lost most of its content. Beyond doubt, and opinion surveys have confirmed the point repeatedly, the Queen would be a clear winner in a presidential election - if it were decided to end Europe's oldest monarchy. The Queen of Denmark has inherited an unbroken tradition built up over a thousand years, and she is not a mere figurehead. Queen Margrethe once said that more than anything she feared becoming "a spectator to life". So she has deliberately shared in the country's everyday living, almost on an equal footing with her fellow citizens. Margrethe Alexandrine Torhildur Ingrid, eldest daughter of King Frederik IX (1899-1972) and Queen Ingrid (b. in Sweden 1910), was born on April 16, 1940, precisely one week after the German occupation of Denmark. Her birth was "a ray of hope in a dark time" but the Constitution gave no indication that a future queen of Denmark had been born. Female succession in the monarchy was not introduced until 1953 by a referendum on constitutional changes. An extensive educational plan was prepared for the young princess, and it is generally agreed that Denmark possesses a very well educated and highly intelligent monarch. The future Queen matriculated in 1959, and since then she studied at universities in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Cambridge, Paris and London. Subjects like history, political science and economics are essential tools for a modern Queen, but her favourite was archaeology, and the Queen has often indicated that if she could have chosen her profession, she would have become an archaeologist. She has been an active participant in several excavations, including one in Rome together with her maternal grandfather, the late Swedish King Gustaf VI Adolf (1882-1973), and another of longer duration in Sudanese Nubia. If Queen Margrethe should ever become unemployed, she could probably also support herself as an active artist. In an interview the Queen said that she wanted to demonstrate that she could do more than the tasks given to her. After cultivating drawing and painting as a talented amateur in her youth, the Queen has developed into a competent artist. She has made use of a number of opportunities to work professionally, one occasion being her work as costume and stage designer for Radio Denmark's TV production of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep", where she took part as a regular member of the production crew. The fact that she "could be useful" as she later described it, was something of keen personal satisfaction to the Queen. Her work for the TV production has been displayed at exhibitions in Paris, New York and elsewhere, and several exhibitions of "the Queen's art" have been held in Denmark, presenting posters, stamps, illustrations, embroidery patterns and very lovely clerical garments. One of the most original contributions she has made was a series of illustrations for the British author John R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", which was the result of her personal correspondence with the author. Tolkien's incredible dream world was a challenge to the Queen's fantasy and creative inspiration, and under the pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer, she produced illustrations that impressed critics by "their frankness and combination of abstraction and stylized naturalism." The world of myth and legend has often provided inspiration for the Queen. She has illustrated a number of sagas about legendary Danish kings, and the Christian message has also inspired the Queen's artistic abilities. Her interest in myths and archaeology led the Queen on to theology, and involvement in the issues of what or who is responsible for our life has resulted in a firm Lutheran Evangelical conviction. The Queen has received the prize awarded by the Danish Language Society. Her language is living, vibrant and often ironic, and she can express herself elegantly in all the main languages. This has encouraged her to attempt translation, and her artistic temperament combines well with her cultural background. In 1981, Denmark's largest book publishers, Gyldendal, published a Danish translation of the French author Simone de Beauvoir's "Tous les hommes sont mortels", a novel with a definite historic and intellectual presentation of its central theme. The translation was ascribed to H.M. Vejerbjerg, and the true identity of the translator only emerged some weeks later. The pseudonym concealed Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. The critics were agreed that the translation of this very difficult French prose was not merely faultless, it was in full accord with the quality and intellectual standard of the original work. Queen Margrethe has also provided a translation of another significant work, the trilogy by Sweden's Stig Stromholm on the decline of Rome, and in a comment on the Queen's active life, one of Denmark's leading newspapers said: "These translations would seem to have a clear literary aim. The Queen appears to be telling us that philosophy and history are more important than we are inclined to believe if we wish to understand ourselves. And it is probably time that someone told us exactly that." Queen Margrethe has received honorary doctorates at a number of foreign universities, and has lectured at the British Museum, London. It would be wrong to say that Queen Margrethe is an "easy" queen. She is an acute observer, and makes considerable demands upon herself, as well as others. Her temperament finds it difficult to accept the superficial. She is well-in-formed, and wants to be informed correctly. She makes demands upon her staff, who are challenged by her unusual personality, the unorthodox and artistic individual who is also driven by a very deep sense of duty towards the traditions of her office. Biography, Kraks Bla Bog (Who's Who), 1989 MARGRETHE II (Alexandrine, Torhildur, Ingrid) Queen of Denmark (decorations: Memorial Medal for 50th anniversary of HRH Queen Ingrid's arrival in Denmark; Memorial Medal Sept. 26, 1870-1970; Home Guard Badge of Merit; Home Guard 25-year Badge; Civil Defence League Badge of Honour) b. April 16, 1940 at Amalienborg; daughter of King Frederik IX (d. 1972) and Queen Ingrid; married June 10, 1967 at Holmens Kirke to Prince Henrik of Denmark (b. Henri-Marie-Jean-Andr*e Count de Laborde de Monpezat) b. June 11, 1934 at Talence, Gironde, France, son of Count Andr*e de Laborde de Monpezat and Countess Ren*ee de M., n*ee Doursenot. Ascended throne Jan 14, 1972 upon the death of King Frederik IX. Praeses for the College of Royal Orders; Master of the Order of the Elephant and Order of the Dannebrog. Zahles Skole; matriculation (private) 1959; Royal Women's Air Corps officer school 1959; Philosophy, Copenhagen University 1960; Diploma, Prehistoric Archaeology, Cambridge University 1960-61; Political Science, Aarhus Univ. 1961-62; Sorbonne 1963; London School of Economics 1965. Member of the Council of State April 16, 1958; Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. President of the Royal Society of Nordic Antiquaries; Chairman of the Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik Foundation: Founder of Queen Margrethe II's Archaeological Foundation; Patroness of the Royal Danish Society of Sciences, The Danish Bible Society, The Royal Orphanage, Crown Prince Frederik's Foundation (formed 1865), The Classen Trust, Civil Defence Federation (CFF), Queen Louise's Charity Society, Danish Society of Multiple Sclerosis, National Cancer Association, National Association for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Royal Agricultural Society, Funen Amt's Patriotic Society, Danish Land Development Service, Danish Jockey Club, Society for the Promotion of Physics, The Massmann Legacy Society, Royal Danish Geographic Society, Technological Institute, Jutland Technological Institute, Danish Handcraft Guild, Danish Development Society, Dansk Samvirke, Society of Martial Sciences, National Council of Danish Soldier Associations, Confederation of Danish Ex-servicemen, Joint Council of Danish Guard Associations, Danish Sports Association, Danish Olympic Committee, Denmark's Shooting, Gymnastics and Sports Associations, the National Union of Voluntary Boy and Girl Scouts, Royal Danish Yachtclub, The Society of 1888 for Dependents of Knights of the Dannebrog, Her daily routine is long and busy, involving a lot of travel both in Denmark and abroad. On the job, the Queen is always well-prepared, interested and well-dressed. In private, she prefers to relax, dance ballet with friends, or go on long, exhausting ski trips with Norway's Crown Princess Sonja. They camp out in primitive huts, and the Queen does the cooking herself. In southern France at Cahors, the home district of Prince Henrik, the Queen and her Consort have restored a small mansion, and while Prince Henrik tends his vineyard the Queen naturally assumes the role of wife and housewife. Like any other French family, the couple have their holiday in August, and the Queen thoroughly enjoys going to the local market to choose her own vegetables. Over the years Queen Margrethe has been interviewed in a number of newspapers and magazines. On one of these occasions one of Denmark's more prominent writers, Thorkild Hansen, provided an affectionate and careful portrait of Danish Queen: "...and this long, grand woman who just cannot contain herself, or be quiet. Difficult to shock, but so easily hurt, obliging but totally without coquettishness, quick to open a conversation with that direct glance, serious and then cheerful once more and with a quick answer. She seems honest, unaffected, direct, very vocal and often self-ironic verging on the sarcastic. She is protective and authoritarian at the same time, anything but familiar but more influenced by family than most. And rumbling around under all that maternalism there is an unrest, a vehemence, drive, an urgency, a search to find the answer." Is a better description possible ? Most Danes would doubt it. The Monarchy: The Danish Monarchy is Europe's oldest. The first known members of the Danish Royal family, Gorm and Tyra, are known to have lived about the middle of the 10th century, and the Danish monarchy has continued in a direct line for more than 1,000 years without revolutions and in step with the passage of time and the nation itself. Some monarchs have shown a deep and sincere sense of duty towards the traditions of the Danish throne, but they have also perceived and accommodated the new trends which have impinged upon Danish history. Queen Margrethe tacitly indicates her acceptance of this in her motto: "Guds hjaelp, folkets kaerlighed, Danmarks styrke" (God's help, the people's love, Denmark's strength). Though the Queen's influence is largely symbolic in a constitutional monarchy, and although it could seem a contradiction, there is no doubt that the Danes consider the monarchy to be a defender of democracy. During the World War II occupation of Denmark the Queen's grandfather, King Christian X, rode on horseback through the streets of occupied Copenhagen, a highly visible symbol of the spirit of resistance to dictatorship. As Head of State, the Queen presides in the Council of State, since all acts must be signed by the Queen to become law. The Queen also heads negotiations on the formation of a new government. At the same time the Queen represents the historic memory of the people, a continuity and stability which emphasize values above the cut and thrust of everyday political debate. The Rescue Medal Society, and The Hans Christian Andersen Ballet Award. Royal Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London 1972; Doctor of Law honoris causa, Cambridge University 1975; awarded La M*edaille de la Chancellerie des Universit*es de Paris 1987; Honorary member, Kungl. Vitterheds Historie og Antikvitets Akademien, 1988. Drew the annual Christmas seal "Juleforberedelse i Himmelborgen" (Yuletide in the Castle of Heaven) 1970; designed three chasubles for Fredensborg Palace Chapel 1976; illustrated (pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer) J.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" 1977; drawings for "Danish Weather", a calendar for the Danish Handcraft Guild, 1978; illustrated (pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer) "Historierne om Regnar Lodbrog" (The Stories of Regnar Lodbrog) for the Danish UNICEF committee 1979; translated and prepared cover illustrations for Simone de Beauvoir's "Tous les hommes sont mortels" (translated in collaboration with Prince Henrik under the joint pseudonym H.M. Vejerbjerg,) 1981; illustrated "Bjarkemal" (Bjarke's Saga) (pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer), an anniversary book for the periodical SKALK 1957-82, 1982; designed Greenland's Christmas seal "Lys i morket" (Light in the dark) 1983; designed the annual Christmas spoon "Christ Child", 1984; designed embroidery of the year, "Forliebte folk i Holbergs Kobenhavn" (Infatuated Folk in Holberg's Copenhagen) 1984; designed special stamp "May 5, 1945-1985" for Danish Postal Department 1985; designed chasuble for Angmagssalik Church, Greenland, 1985; designed and embroidered chasuble for Kronborg Castle Chapel, 1985; designed and embroidered episcopal vestments for Helsingor Cathedral 1986; designed costumes for Radio Denmark television production "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" 1987; prepared drafts and designed four chasubles and four antependia for Haderslev Cathedral 1987-88; translated Swedish author Stig Stromholm's "Dalen" into Danish, 1988; designed the "Forget-me-not badge 1988" for the National Society for the Mentally Deficient, 1988; lithographies for the Danish Red Cross, 1988. Exhibition of drafts and finished work from the period 1970-1988 in the drawing collection of Koge Museum of Art, and the Glass Museum, Ebeltoft, 1988. Awarded the Danish Language Society Prize, 1989. Queen Margrethe has product-developed the Danish monarchy from a representative role to a more active participant in society, and it has become stronger than ever. This has been shown in many ways, including opinion surveys. But the Queen has also challenged her countrymen by speaking out very clearly on matters they probably did not wish to hear, like intolerance and attitudes towards foreigners. It is usually in the annual New Year speech on radio and television that the Queen makes her more personal comments on current affairs. These speeches have often stimulated and challenged society into discussion on social developments. The Queen and Consort are both industrious travelling ambassadors for Danish business and cultural life, and through organizations like the Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik Foundation they contribute to social welfare activities and to many cultural activities. Prince Henrik: The marriage of the French diplomat, Henri-Marie-Jean-Andr*e, Count de Laborde de Monpezat (b. June 11, 1934) to the Heir to the Danish Throne in 1967 brought a complete change in his life. He changed name, to Prince Henrik of Denmark, but he also changed nationality, faith, language and job. It was difficult, but he had decided that "you must take the woman you love - love is more important." They were married, and his charm and intelligence quickly won him a position in his new homeland. Princess Margrethe met the man in her life while on a visit to London, where the young French Count was a secretary at the French Embassy. The Queen has later confessed that "the sky just exploded" at their first meeting, and for the Queen Prince Henrik is not merely a life's companion, but a partner able to challenge the Queen's sharp mind. A very strong team. On their many official journeys, and in their daily life there is a quick interplay between these two very gifted and well-read people. Prince Henrik was born in Talence, in south-west France, the home of his family. His grandfather went to Indo-China in 1894, and founded several industrial enterprises. His son, Andr*e inherited his father's business and Prince Henrik spent his first years in Indo-China, returning with his family in 1938 to the family's chateau Le Cayrou near Cahors. He later returned with his father to Hanoi, and took his university-entrance examination there. A natural linguist, he speaks Chinese and Vietnamese, Henri chose a diplomatic career. He studied law and political science at the Sorbonne in Paris, but was also interested in music and painting. This broad training has proved ideal for a Danish Prince Consort. Prince Henrik's activities have concentrated particularly upon promoting Danish exports, and his role as a delegate for the Danish Red Cross has allowed him to use his wide international experience and diplomatic skills, furthermore the Prince Consort is President of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Denmark. Prince Henrik is an active pilot, a first-class yachtsman, and an excellent pianist. He writes poetry, paints and together with the Queen has translated Simone de Beauvoir's philosophical novel, "Tous les hommes sont mortels." Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim Queen Margrethe once said that her elder son, Crown Prince Frederik (b. May 26, 1968), "must find the boots that fit him." A clear signal that the young prince, who will become Denmark's King Frederik X, must be allowed to develop his own personality, although like his parents he must be given a thorough but broad education. The Crown Prince and his younger brother, Prince Joachim (b. June 7, 1969) attended a private school, but matriculated from an ordinary college, and subsequently served in National Service. Crown Prince Frederik, who served with the Royal Guards Regiment in Naestved, has been transferred to the reserve as a first lieutenant but maintains his links to the Army. His civilian training included a period spent with one of the largest wine-producing companies in California, and a number of study visits to American authorities and institutions. Like his mother, he chose Aarhus University to study law and political science. As a guest student he is registered with two faculties, to study constitutional law, economy, international affairs and conceptual history. After matriculating, Prince Joachim worked on a farm in Australia, and is to study farming, since he will inherit the estate Schackenborg Slot in southern Jutland. Prince Joachim is presently serving as an officer of the reserve of the Prince's Regiment, Viborg. Both the Queen and her Consort have sought to give the two princes the most "normal" upbringing possible, and bring them in contact with all sectors of Danish society. [See Table 1.: Queen Margrethe II's visits abroad] [See Table 2.: State visits by Heads to State of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik]