Frederik turns 40: orangerie party - extra labels

Graasten photoshoot

3rd August 2007

The royals posed outside Graasten castle for the annual photoshoot.

video: 

Mary wore a new dress by CCDK Copenhagen.

Carina Axelsson was wearing the same Heartmade jacket Mary wore to Legoland a day earlier.

Graasten holidays: Legoland + concert

2nd August 2007

Frederik & Mary took Christian to Legoland. They were joined by Alexandra von Berleburg and her two children, Richard and Ingrid.

Mary told the press Christian likes to play with Duplo and builds high stacks with it.

Mary wore a new jacket by Heartmade.

Her new earrings were by Marianne Dulong.

In the evening queen Margrethe hosted a classical concert at the chapel of Graasten castle for which the family members got together.

Mary wore a new dress by Hugo Boss.

She wore her monogrammed diamond Cenius & Bach earrings with a new, amethyst pendant.

Graasten holidays: summer ballet

31st July 2007

The royals who had gathered at Graasten palace for the holidays came to see the traditional "summer ballet" in Sønderborg: an open air sneak preview of the Royal Danish Ballet's new season.

Princess Isabella's christening - extra labels

Prince Christian's christening

21 January 2006

At a little over 3 months old, Mary & Frederik's son was christened at Christiansborg Slotskirke in Copenhagen. The church adjacent to Parliament is used by the Danish royals on solemn occasions. The christening of the heir to the heir was a stately affair with 321 guests - Mary's other children were christened in smaller ceremonies, in other churches.

Royal guests:

Princes Nikolai and Felix arrived with their mother, but sat with their father during the service.

Mary's brother John & his family weren't present. But her sisters Jane and Patricia were, just like her father & stepmom. John & Susan Donaldson were at the time living in Denmark - John was a guest professor in mathematics at the university of Aarhus.

Amber Petty, seated next to Rose Gad

Stylist Anja Camilla Alajdi

Julie Mølsgaard, baroness Caroline Iuel-Brockdorff & her then husband Rory Fleming.

Ellen Hillingsø & husband Christoffer Castenskiold. Ellen's wearing a skirt by Malene Birger that Mary would also wear a month later during an official visit to Hamburg, Germany.

Rose Gad & husband Holger Foss

 Caroline & Peter Heering

Mary's lady-in-waiting countess Victoria & husband count Frants Bernstorff-Gyldensteen 

Rikke Juel (expecting her 2nd child) & husband Michael Brandt.

More guests and their hats:

Nanny Mette Hansen helped out.

Despite it being a very cold and snowy day Mary was dressed lightly. She wore the jacket of a new suit by Birgit Hallstein, combined with a new skirt by Hugo Boss and an impressive antique brooch that was a christening gift from queen Margrethe.

The sapphire, diamond and pearl brooch is a royal heirloom that was passed down from the Swedish princess Margaretha to her daughter, queen Ingrid of Denmark, who in turn gave it to her daughter, queen Margrethe of Denmark.

Mary would wear the same hairpiece at the christening of her other children.

During the 1 hour ceremony that began at 11:00, the baby was officially named

"Christian Valdemar Henri John"

very much to everyone's expectation.

Little Christian has 8 sponsors:
- Jane Stephens
- prince Joachim
- crown prince Haakon and crown princess Mette-Marit of Norway
- crown princess Victoria of Sweden
- prince Pavlos of Greece
- Jeppe Handwerk
- Hamish Campbell

 

Prince Christian wore the traditional Danish royal christening gown that was made for Christian X in 1870. Afterwards the gown and baptismal font (in silver from 1660, only used for royals) went on display in the museum at Amalienborg palace.

Video: resumé of the christening

After the christening, a reception was held at Christiansborg's guest hall. Mary revealed to the press that chosing the name had not been easy, that Christian slept well at night and that his pet name was little man, "lille mand".

video:

The crown prince couple only made a brief stop at the reception. After a break it was time for Steen Evald to take official photos.

In the late afternoon the young family was back home at Kancellihuset in Fredesborg where they hosted a christening gala for 65 guests, mainly beloninging to their own generation.

Among them:

- princess Märtha Louise, crown prince Haakon & crown princess Mette-Marit of Norway
- crown princess Victoria of Sweden
- princess Marie Chantal of Greece, princess Alexia of Greece
- princess Alexandra von Berleburg (without her husband, who was stuck in Paris because of the bad weather)
- baron Otto Reedtz-Thott & his wife Helle (who arrived in their chauffeur driven Rolls Royce)
- Jeppe & Birgitte Handwerk
- baroness Caroline Iuel-Brockdorff & her then husband Rory Fleming (they had come over from London where they lived).

Queen Margrethe & prince Henrik were also there.

The party concluded with fireworks.