The Danish king had Frederick IX and his wife the Swedish princess ingrid three daughters. Margrethe, Benedict and Anna Maria.
Youngest married first Anna Maria. She was only eighteen when she became Queen of Greece. Alas, soon the monarchy in Greece was overthrown and Anna Maria for many years with her husband and children in exile. The second married a French diplomat, the eldest Margrethe, royal heiress. A few months after that, she married a German prince, the middle Benedict.

Queen Margrethe II with Prince Consort Henrik.

They say the couple is very interesting and eccentric in their own way. The Queen is a professional painter. The Prince Consort is not far behind her. They say that once he left Denmark indignantly, when, in the absence of his wife, not him, but Crown Prince Frederik was asked to replace her.

Acquaintance

In 1967, Crown Princess Margrethe married French diplomat Henri Marie Jean André in Copenhagen. The couple met in London, where the Crown Princess studied. It is said that upon learning that he was invited to a dinner, which will be attended by the Danish princess, Henri wanted to refuse. The young man imagined the princess boring, selfish and narcissistic. How glad the young man was to be wrong.

Engagement


Ring

A ring with two equivalent stones, as it were, emphasizes equality and equality in the royal family.

Young


Dress

The designer of the dress was the favorite of Queen Ingrid (Margrethe's mother) - Jørgen Bender.
By the way, Margrethe's sisters also chose the same designer. And her first daughter-in-law Alexandra followed the example of her mother-in-law.


Dress in the museum (without lace)

Let me remind you that brides from the Danish royal family get married in a vintage veil they inherited and sew dresses from family Irish lace.


Here you can see the dress itself, from which the lace was removed to sew the dress of her sister Benedicta.
Margrethe pinned on her dress a brooch in the shape of a daisy, which her mother wore to her wedding. It was a wedding gift from my father. The diamonds once belonged to Margrethe's grandmother, Crown Princess Margaret. Hence the family nickname "Daisy".

Bouquet
In her arms Margrethe carried a bouquet of daisies. They were also woven into the hair of the bridesmaids.

A six-meter train started from the shoulders and was the main highlight of the dress


Modern Danes can get married in a copy wedding dress queens.

Diadem
Khedive of Egypt Tiara

This diadem was presented by the Egyptian Khedive to Queen Margrethe's grandmother, Princess Margaret. Since the princess met her future husband (Swedish King Gustav) in Egypt.

By the way, all the girls from the Danish royal family choose this diadem for their wedding. Crown Princess Mary was in another, her presence here showing the use of the family veil.
And now full list owners and brides

The first photo is Princess Margaret, the second is her daughter, Queen Ingrid.
Bride with father

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

Margrethe II 2. In June 1967, at the age of 27, Margrethe II married the French diplomat Count Henri de Laborde de Montpeza. The couple's wedding took place in Copenhagen, and the wedding celebrations were held at Fredensborg Palace. After his marriage, Henry received the title of "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 appeared in 1968, he was the current heir to the throne, Prince Frederik. In 1969, Magrete gave birth to her second son, Prince Joachim.

4. Princess Margrethe ascended the throne on January 14, 1972, following the death of her father. She became the first female monarch in Denmark since the time of Queen Margrethe I, who ruled 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 subjects.

6. In 2012, Queen Margrethe II celebrated her 40th birthday on the throne. In honor of this event, a magnificent celebration was arranged in Denmark. Speaking about how she personally perceives such a serious date, Margrethe II notes that the main events over the years were not political for her, 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 the symbol of the family.

wedding of the heir apparent Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik surrounded by grandchildren 7. The Danish queen is fond of painting. During 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, as well as from Danish to French.

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

Margrethe II

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

Composition of the Danish royal house
The Royal House of Denmark consists of: Queen Margrethe II; her husband, Prince Consort Henrik; Crown Prince Frederik; his wife, Crown Princess Mary; their children, Prince Christian and Princess Isabella; brother of the Crown Prince, 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) - eldest daughter King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid. After completing 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 was married to the French diplomat Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat (b. 1934). In Denmark, he became known as 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 subjects. She gives great importance so that during the annual summer cruises on the royal yacht Dannebrog (named after the Danish flag) to visit all parts of the kingdom, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Listening to the traditional speech of Queen Margrethe on the occasion of the New Year, every Dane feels that she is addressing him personally, and this strengthens the position of the monarchy. The queen's literary and artistic pursuits are wide: she paints pictures, creates church vestments, theatrical scenery and costumes, illustrates books and translates from Swedish into Danish and (in collaboration with her husband) from French into Danish.

Along with Queen Margrethe, Prince Consort Henrik pays great attention to literary activity. He received higher education by specialty" French literature and Oriental languages, has published several books, including the memoirs Destin oblige (1996), the collection of poems Cantabile (2000), illustrated with collages performed by the queen, and the collection poems "Whisper of the Wind" ("Murmures de vent", 2005). Moreover, the prince is a recognized author of cookbooks and an experienced wine grower. The Queen and her husband own vineyards and the Château de Caix in the Prince's birthplace in the province of Cahors (southwest France), where they usually spend the end of the summer. The prince is a representative of several cultures at once, which is reflected in his broad international activities; his skills come in very handy in campaigns to help Danish exporters.

The heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim (also bearing the title of Comtes de Montpezat) received a solid military training. In addition, the crown prince was trained in the elite corps of combat swimmers. Later he graduated from the Faculty of Political Science at Aarhus University, studied at Harvard University (USA), in other universities, and was in the diplomatic service. On May 14, 2004, the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson took place. Mary, who after marriage took the title of Crown Princess and Countess de Monpeza, 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 ( 2007). Prince Joachim owns Schackenborg Manor in Möltønder in southern Jutland. Having gained practical agricultural knowledge while working on a farm in Australia, Prince Joachim graduated from the Falster Academy of Agriculture. In 1995, he married Alexandra Christine Manley (b. 1964 in Hong Kong), who received the title of 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 agreement. In 2008, Prince Joachim married Marie Agathe Odile Cavalier (b. 1976 in Paris), who now bears the title of Princess Marie, Comtesse 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 of Comte (Countess) de Montpezat.

History of the royal house
Reliable information about the birth of the Danish monarchy refers to the reign of Gorm the Old (d. 958). The position of the monarch was originally elective. 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 a 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 fixed 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 from absolute to constitutional. The act of succession to the throne on March 27, 1953 opened the possibility of the transfer of the throne through the female line (in 1972, Queen Margrethe inherited the throne). A referendum on June 7, 2009 legalized 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 Oldenburg, who was crowned King of Denmark under the name Christian I (1448). He belonged to one of the side branches of the original dynasty and became the founder of the royal house of Oldenburg (Oldenburg), which ruled until 1863, when the last representative of the dynasty, Frederick VII, died without heirs. According to the Act of Succession of 1853, the crown passed to his relative, Prince Christian of Glücksburg, a direct descendant of the Danish kings in the male line. He was crowned under the name of Christian IX and founded the Glücksburg (Glücksborg) dynasty that still reigns.

Christian IX was nicknamed "the father-in-law of all Europe", and not by chance: his eldest daughter Alexandra was married to the King of England Edward VII, the middle daughter Dagmar was married to the Russian Emperor Alexander III, youngest daughter Tyra (Tira) - married to Duke Ernst August 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 accession to the throne (1906) his son Frederick VIII was 63 years old. Frederick died in 1912, and both world wars fell during the reign of his successor, Christian X (1912-1947). Christian stayed in people's memory like a king-rider. On horseback he crossed the former state border in order to personally be present at the return of Denmark to Northern Schleswig in 1920. During the years of the German occupation of Denmark (1940-1945), despite his advanced 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 Frederik IX, who married in 1935 the Swedish princess Ingrid. Three daughters were born from this marriage: Margrethe (Queen Margrethe II), Benedict (b. 1944, married Prince Richard Sein-Wittgenstein-Berleburg in 1968), 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 absence of a real political power. He and his family gave the monarchy a 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 grandeur 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 national grief.

Tasks and duties 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 when 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, which enjoys the support of the majority of the deputies of the Folketing (Parliament), to form a government. When the composition of the government is formed, the queen formally approves it.

According to the constitution, the queen is also the head of government and therefore presides over meetings of the State Council, where the laws adopted by the Folketing are signed, after which they come into force. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister regularly report to the Queen to keep her up to date with the latest political developments. The queen takes over foreign countries arriving on an official visit and pays state visits to other countries. She also officially appoints officials to government posts and dismisses them.

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

Royal orders of chivalry
Queen Margrethe is the head of two royal knightly orders - the Order of the Elephant and the 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 honored. Among the first knights of the order, there are mainly foreign rulers and representatives of the highest nobility. Today, 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 example of the French Order of the Legion of Honor, several degrees of distinction were introduced. Currently, the Order of the Dannebrog is awarded mainly to prominent citizens of Denmark.

The decision to award awards remains the prerogative of the head of the order, while the heraldic chamber, which is part of the royal court, is in charge of the day-to-day work. The circle of holders of the Dannebrog Order of the 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 subjects.

The royal regalia include: a crown, a scepter, an orb, a sword and a sacred vessel with peace, as well as the chains of the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog, which the monarch puts on in special occasions. The oldest regalia is the sword of King Christian III (1551). Since 1680, the royal regalia have been kept in Rosenborg Castle (Copenhagen).
During the period of the election of royal power, regalia were used during the coronation ceremony: priests and representatives of the nobility hoisted a crown on the head of the king as a sign that they conferred royal powers on behalf of the whole people. After switching to absolute monarchy(1660-1661) the coronation was replaced by the chrismation ceremony: 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 in 1849 constitutional monarchy the anointing ceremony was abolished. Now the accession to the throne of a new monarch is proclaimed by the Prime Minister from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Copenhagen) - the residence of the Prime Minister, Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Royal residences
Starting from the 15th century, Copenhagen Castle gradually turned into the main royal residence. OK. In 1730 Christiansborg Palace was erected in its place. After a fire in 1794, the king moved to Amalienborg Palace, which is still the main royal residence. In the rebuilt Christiansborg there is a royal wing, where the reception halls are located. It hosts festive dinners, New Year's balls, public audiences of Her Majesty.

Amalienborg is the name of a complex of four palaces built along 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 in turn served as the royal residence. Now the palace of Christian VII (originally the palace of Chief Marshal Moltke, bought by King Christian VII after the fire in Christiansborg) is used mainly for ceremonial purposes. Palace of Christian IX (originally built for Hans Shack, adopted son Chief Marshal Moltke) serves as the residence of Queen Margrethe and the Prince Consort. Palace of Frederick VIII (built for Baron Brockdorf) after completion repair work became the residence of Crown Prince Frederik 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 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 "peace palace"). It was here that every summer Christian IX gathered his huge family: representatives of the royal houses of Europe gathered here for the "Fredensborg days". Today, receptions are held in the palace in honor of state visits and family celebrations are celebrated. The Queen and the Prince Consort also have Marselisborg (Aarhus) Palace at their disposal, which was used during the stay of the royal couple in Jutland. It is interesting that this palace, whose architecture plays on baroque motifs, was a gift from the people of Denmark on the occasion of the marriage of Prince Christian (future King Christian X) and Princess Alexandrine (1898).

The small Rosenborg Palace in the center of Copenhagen and the Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød, built by Christian IV in the early 17th century, were also periodically used as royal residences. Now they have been turned into museums. Rosenborg holds the treasures of the Danish crown; Frederiksborg, rebuilt after a fire in 1859, has become a museum national history. Finally, among the royal residences is Grosten Palace (South Jutland), the right to use which was presented 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 ceremonial is limited to only the most necessary and devoid of ostentatious pomp. Traditional splendor can be seen only on especially solemn 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 the royal court. Significant funds are allocated for the needs of the royal family (about 90 million Danish kroner).

In a time when fundamental values ​​are becoming international and rapidly changing, the Danish royal family remains an important symbol of national unity and stability in a transforming world. Of course, it is important that the monarchy has deep traditional roots. But not only this explains its special position. The royal house shows the ability to adapt to modern realities without sacrificing such traditional values ​​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 backbone of the monarchy as a form of government.

Professor Knud Jespersen

Additional Information
Royal court administration
Hofmarskallatet
Det Gule Palæ
Amaliegade 18
DK-1256 Copenhagen K
(+45) 3340 1010

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

Mikhail Gusman: Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, thank you very much for the opportunity to meet with you again. We are meeting on the eve of your state visit to Russia. You, Your Majesty, were in Russia many years ago. But it was a different country - Soviet Union. This is your first visit to Russia. With what feelings do you go 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. Many, many years have passed since I was in Moscow, but my husband was there a year ago. I have many friends who have been there last years and we know that there has been a lot of development in the country and big changes are visible.

This is known in general, but many people 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 to their original colors and appearance. And this cannot but please those who, like me, like old buildings. The possibility of a visit to Russia is of great importance for both of us at the present time. 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 since they drew attention to each other in ancient historical times, and it will be interesting for us to meet with the current Russia, which I know about now just 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. And what do you think is the 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 a great development take place, especially industrial and social development. And therefore, a large delegation of Danish industrialists was created to travel with us, who are interested in further establishing contacts with the Russians. For this reason, I will participate in many meetings and symposiums in order to see the prospects and gain hope for the further development of our economic relations.

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

Queen Margrethe II: We are planning to follow the hiking trails that foreigners usually take, to see the cathedrals of the Kremlin. This is what my great-aunt great-grandmother remembered, what she talked about when she was in Denmark, it was a dear memory for her and others already in 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 were very fond of each other. She was such a charming old lady. And wonderful person. So for me, the fact that a few years ago you moved her coffin to St. Petersburg for reburial meant a lot! Because I understand what that would mean for 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 under the name of Dagmar. She was the great aunt of my father, who knew her well. After the revolution, she fled to Denmark and lived here until her death. 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 those 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, what do you especially appreciate?

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

Guzman: Looking at history, we will see that the experience of Russian-Danish relations is unique in Europe. Russia and Denmark have never actually been at war. 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 keep peace with each other for many centuries. This could be both because we live in the same part of the world, and because we, in fact, had no contradictions, and this can only be rejoiced at. 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 more 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: The Russians are of great importance because they are a strong nation, a great and powerful people, who, perhaps, were afraid, perhaps loved, but which has always been a part of our common 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? With whom more often, let's say, do you mentally communicate?

Queen Margrethe II: I must say that the closest relative related to Russia, or rather, the closest family ties that bind us to Russia, run through my father's grandmother, a nee princess of Mecklenburg in Germany. Her mother, who was born in Russia, was the 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. And the rest is the Empress, whom we called Dagmara. We have common roots with her, 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 it will be, as I understand it, for the Danes a celebration of the 40th anniversary of your royal reign. Looking back at this path, what do you think is the most significant? What would you like to remember now over the 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 very long time ago, and sometimes it seems to me that it happened only the day before yesterday, when my father died and I took his place. Generation after generation, and it is difficult to name any particular event that seems significant. (turning to her husband) Can you remember anything special that you remember during these years? It is difficult to name something definite.

Prince Henrik: For us, these are ordinary family events, this is the fact that 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 importance 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 a living embodiment of history. And, as I personally think, the fact that we all grow up, that we were all once children, is very important. It happened to everyone, including my parents, my father, me personally, and also my aunts. And, growing up, we understand that we are responsible to the world and to our country. And anyone who lives in the country, of course, has a huge responsibility to his 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. It is difficult, and our life is full of it, and this means our sincere desire to meet 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: It seems to me, if I must summarize, that this is continuity. The monarchy has its roots in a thousand years, no, more than two thousand years, 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 is replaced by 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 elected, 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 the times and we live on the cutting edge of the moment. As heirs of the monarchy, we cannot live in the 21st century as monarchs lived in the 18th or 19th century. We live as representatives of the monarchy in our time. And we have our duties 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. auth.) had the same opportunities that I had in childhood. 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, which makes me very happy. We love traveling with him.

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

Queen Margrethe II: I made my motto in 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 could not make any 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 not up to me alone. In Denmark, there was a king who gave the country (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 the Strength of Denmark was more important than my strength, it should have been understood, and I understand it this way: with God's help and with people's love, Denmark can be strong, but this is also what I should help Denmark to become strong with the help of people's love. The motto turned out to be longish, but I tried to express in it things that were essential for me, and it seems to me that I understand it the same way even now, despite the fact that almost 40 years have passed.

Guzman: Your Majesty! Our conversation will be watched by millions of viewers. We are meeting with you on the eve of your state visit to our country. The Russians are waiting for you with an open heart. May I ask Your Majesty and You, Your Royal Highness, to speak directly to the Russian TV 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, how much protocol allows a common citizen to compliment the Queen, but we are meeting with you for the third time, and I would like to say that you look great.

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

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

Queen Margrethe II: Very nice, thank you very much, it's very kind of you. Many thanks.

Guzman: And this book - "Palaces of St. Petersburg" for you, Your Highness. I know that you are a big fan of our northern capital. Let me give it to you.

Prince Henrik: We will be happy to see Russia again and help deepen the friendship between the Russian people and the Danish people, as well as expand our knowledge of ancient history Russia and its recent history.

Queen Margrethe II: Thank you for this conversation too.

MARGRET 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 to happen on private homes. And they do it in Denmark. And without any coercion. This happens every year on April 16, when the whole country celebrates the birthday of its Queen Margrethe II.

The popularity of royal families is greatly facilitated by the process of European integration. Borders disappear, ordered to live long state currencies that replaced the euro. People are afraid of losing their national identity. And they see the monarchs as almost the only salvation in this situation. Therefore, the Queen of Denmark, going to an official meeting, always puts on an old folk costume - this flatters the feelings and pride of her subjects.

After the death of the famous Margrethe I, who united Denmark, Norway and Sweden under her banners, women in public affairs, if they were somehow significant, were only in the shadow of crowned men. For for almost 600 years only they could be the legitimate heirs to the Danish throne. Only in 1953 did the citizens of the kingdom ensure the transfer of dynastic rights also through the female line, voting in a referendum for a change in the constitution. And after 19 years, Margrethe II from the Glücksburg dynasty ascended the throne.

Margrethe, daughter of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid, was born in Copenhagen on April 16, 1940, exactly one week after Nazi Germany occupied her country. The Kingdom of Denmark did not have the strength to resist, and therefore it surrendered almost without a fight. The baby immediately became the favorite of her compatriots, since the birth of a child in the family of the heir to the throne, when the country was under the heel of the invaders, became a symbol of the hope of all Danes for revival.

Despite the fact that Margrethe was assigned to a regular girls' high school, home teachers made up for the flaws of universal education, based on the attitude of her parents: "Denmark deserves a highly educated, intelligent monarch." After school, years of study followed at the universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Cambridge, Paris and London. A modern queen should understand economics, political science, history ...

Margrethe chose to study history not in the silence of libraries, but under the scorching sun of Egypt and Sudan. In excavations near Rome, the Crown Princess worked with her maternal grandfather, King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden. He became the first critic of his granddaughter's drawings, generous with compliments, and she painted, in her own words, "as long as she can remember herself."

From 1958 to 1964, Margrethe traveled five continents, covering a distance of 140,000 km. Once in London, she met the secretary of the French embassy, ​​the brilliant officer Henri Jean Marie André, Comte de Laborde de Monpeza. A few years later, on June 10, 1967, with the consent of the Danish Parliament, the Crown Princess married a former French diplomat. After the wedding, the Comte de Monpezat received the title of prince and the Danish name Henrik. AT next year the first son, Crown Prince Frederik, was born to the spouses, and in 1969, the second son, Prince Joachim.

Margrethe ascended the throne on January 14, 1972 at the age of 31 after the death of her 74-year-old father. That morning, Prime Minister Krag led a young woman in a black dress to the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and announced to the silent square: “King Frederick IX is dead. Long live Queen Margrethe II!" Since then, it has continued the traditions of one of the most ancient European monarchies, the founders of which in the middle of the 10th century. were King Gorm and his wife Tura. Since that distant time, the 1000-year-old Danish monarchy has never experienced the vicissitudes of popular anger in the form of all kinds of revolutions.

The Queen's motto is "God's help, the love of the people, the prosperity of Denmark." More than once she noted that she was trying to fulfill the duties of the head of state "with a warm heart." For this, they love her, although she is absolutely far from politics. Some, however, believe that the queen has the only drawback - she is a heavy smoker. On this occasion, the Danes even recently bickered with their Swedish neighbors. Stockholm TV presenter Hagge Geigert, for example, stated that national symbol not allowed to smoke in public. In response, the Danish writer Ebbe Reich recalled that the king of Sweden also smokes, but quietly. And the evening newspaper "B.T." she added that he does it, "like a schoolboy in the toilet."

Her undoubted creative abilities also helped the queen win the sympathy of her subjects. Together with her husband, she translated into Danish several novels by the French writer Simone de Beauvoir. According to her, translating the complex psychological novel All Men Are Mortal helped them "pass the long winter evenings in the royal palace." Critics highly appreciated the skill of the translator X. M. Weyerberg, under whose name the crowned couple was hidden for the time being.

But most of all, Margrethe II is known as an artist: under the pseudonym Ingachild Gratmer, she illustrated several books. In addition, the queen made 70 drawings for the Danish edition of J. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, designed television shows, ballets, religious festivities, and also came up with "Christmas stamps" that the Danes stick in addition to the usual ones on envelopes with New Year's greetings.

In addition to a fairly active official representative activity as the head of Denmark, Margrethe II is actively involved in the cultural, educational and charitable sphere. She is a notable figure in the humanitarian field not only in her own country, but also within the Northern region as a whole. The Queen receives $6.75 million a year from the state. This money is used to support the royal family, whose very modest fortune - $ 15 million - is placed in securities.

In one of the public opinion polls, the majority of Danes admitted that the monarchy in its current form serves as a guarantor of democracy in the country. And it's not just that the royal house is a direct link to history, on the strong roots of which national pride grows. The queen herself plays a leading role here. Her throne speeches and addresses to the people by no means always make hearts tremble with joy. Often there are reproaches in relation to those who, reveling in their own well-being, forget about their suffering compatriots. She does not ignore the negative attitude towards foreign workers in the country. Even the government can become the object of its criticism.

The scale and charm of the personality of Margrethe II contributed to the fact that even now the prestige of the crown in Denmark is very high, especially in comparison with the royal courts of their large and small neighbors, shaken by all sorts of scandals and sensations from the gossip column. In 2002, all of Denmark widely and solemnly celebrated the 30th anniversary of the reign of the successor of the Glücksburg dynasty, closely associated in the past with the Romanov dynasty.

In mid-June 2003, Margrethe II intends to pay a state visit to Russia and take part in events marking the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. This visit is connected with the historical and noble mission of appeasement. Recently, an official proposal was received from Moscow to Copenhagen on the reburial of the remains of the Danish princess Dagmar, mother of Nicholas II, Empress Maria Feodorovna, in the imperial tomb of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. She succeeded to the throne with her husband Alexander III in 1881 after spending 15 years in Russia as Grand Duchess. After the revolution, Maria Feodorovna returned to Denmark, where she rested in 1928, and her remains rest in the royal tomb in the cathedral in Roskilde. In her will, she asked to be buried in Russia when "the right time comes." Apparently, that time has come.

From book 100 famous women author Sklyarenko Valentina Markovna

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