Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0015/00156.txt

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$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]