Prince Henrik's 75th Birthday: Songs, Parade & Gala - extra labels

Nanny #4: Helene

From 2008, Frederik & Mary hired a new nanny, called Helene who woulf focus mainly on Isabella.

Lene Balleby

1 January 2008

On the first of January, Lene Balleby started as the new Head of Communications at Danish Court, replacing Lis M. Frederiksen after 4 years of service. She's court's official spokesperson. Lene Balleby is still occupying this function today.

Balleby's job has been a very succesful one. She's managed to create and maintain a global image of Frederik and Mary as a down to earth loving couple, yet also giving them a professional image.

In Mary's case the focus has shifted from fashion and horses to Danish social causes, UN ambassadorships and support for women in third world countries. The obvious fact that a lot of money goes into Mary's impressive wardrobe has become a non topic because of a succesful "branding" of Mary's stylish representation of Denmark and the dignified preparation for her future role of queen.

photos below ©Agnès Colbert

Lene Balleby (°1958) is married to economist Erik Brink Andersen. They have two daughters and live in Hellerup.

                                   © Agnès Colbert

Balleby started her professional life as a teacher, but undertook a course in journalism in 1987. Later she also followed a management course at the Scandinavian International Management Institute in Copenhagen. 

Balleby previously worked as communications expert for Hafnias Bank and media concern Egmont. She then worked for the Danish embassy in Washington where she skillfully managed the "Mohammed cartoons" crisis in 2005.

Tanja Elise Kjærsgaard

Tanja Elise Kjærsgaard Doky (mostly just called "Tanja Doky") was Mary's lady-in-waiting from October 2007 untill May 2015.

In 2010 she also became Mary's private secretary.

Tanja studied languages and economics at Handelshøjskolen in Århus. Previous to her position at court, Tanja had been a communications advisor at Mærsk Line. She had also worked in PR for various firms in New York.

Tanja has been part of Mary's inner circle of Danish friends since her arrival in Denmark. Tanja was one of the guests at Mary's 30th birthday party at Amalienborg palace in 2002.

Tanja was married to jazz musician Chris Minh Doky, a close friend of Frederik's and thus a personal friend of the crown prince couple. In 2015 however the Doky marriage ended.

photo © Agnès Colbert

Tanja and her ex husband have two children: daughter Frida Ahn (°2003) and son Milo Tai (°2004).

At the same time her marriage ended, Tanja started a relationship with Christian Schonau, ???. This made her quit her job as Mary's lady-in-waiting. She the became head of communication for Mærsk Container Industry.

 photos below © Agnès Colbert

 

After having had her own home at about 500 meters from Christian's, Tanja moved in with him on the grounds of Amalienborg palace. Since then she's Mary's closest neighbour. 

Nanny #3: Ann Alicia Thunbo

In February 2007, crown prince Frederik and crown princess Mary employed nanny Ann Alicia Thunbo. Alicia had worked for Joachim & Alexandra since 2002, caring primarily for Felix.

A flexible arrangement about Alicia's services existed between Joachim & Frederik's families untill Isabella was born.

Early 2008 Mrs Thunbo stopped working as a nanny for Mary, when she was expecting her own baby.

Caroline Heering

8 March 2006

Communications chef Lis M. Fredriksen anounced that crown princess Mary would be working with a new lady-in-waiting starting from May 2006.

Countess Victoria Bernstorff-Gyldensteen, who had been accompanying Mary for 2 years, would be replaced by Mary's close friend Caroline Heering.

 Caroline & Peeter Heering at Mary & Frederik's wedding, 2004

Caroline would stay in this function for nearly 2 years. From 2007 to 2010 she would combine it with a new function as Mary's private secretary.

From 2010 untill 2014 she would dedicate herself to the Mary Foundation. She was Mary's official adviser in the Foundation.

In 2014 she officially took leave of her function at Maryfonden. She's still one of Mary's closest friends, and remains a board member of Mary Fonden.

Caroline Heering was born as Caroline Elisabeth Kjær in 1973 in one of Denmark's top notch families. Her father is Erik Wilhelm Kjær. Her mother, Helle Kirsten Flamand remarried in 1987 with count Ivar Frederik Moltke, who died of cancer barely a year later. Helle was pregnant when her second husband passed away while they were in Sydney.

Caroline later changed her name to Caroline Flamand. After her marriage it became Caroline Heering.

Helle Moltke acted as a "kammerdame" to queen Margrethe, so Caroline has always been acquainted with Danish court.

Caroline wearing the Heering family tiara

With her mother, Helle Moltke

Caroline has a sister, Marie Louise Flamand who's married to photographer Marc Høm,  and a half brother, Joachim Moltke - who will inherit his late father's estate.

With her sister, Marie Louise Høm

Jomfruens Egede, the rural estate that will belong to Joachim Moltke, and is now still officially managed by Helle Moltke

Caroline grew up at Lystrup manor, where she would later also host Mary's hen night.

Lystrup 

Peter Heering + girlfriend Caroline Flamand & Frederik + then girlfriend Maria Montell in Cahors

Caroline has a Masters Degree in Business from Copenhagen University. From 1999 to 2006 she worked as a manager for Unilever. 

She married Peter Heering, one of crown prince Frederik's best friends. The couple have two daughters: Emilie (°2002) and Rosemarie (°2005). Peter is godfather to princess Isabella and Caroline is godmother to prince Vincent. Crown prince Frederik in turn is godfather to Rosemarie Heering.

                                               Wedding day of Peter & Caroline Heering

The family lives in Hellerup, Copenhagen. They also own a holiday house in Blokhus on the Danish coast.

Emilie Heering in 2014, age 12

Emilie at Julie Fagerholt's store in Copenhagen, 2014

Caroline is part of Mary's closest circle of Danish friends, who've been there for her from her early days in Denmark, circa 2002