General Questions and Information about the Danish Royal Family

[Somebody]

I looked up the word 'rigsforstander' in Statstidende and it only shows up for twice; both published on February 23. The first one was signed on February 10 announcing that Frederik will "insert (...) Her Majesty Queen Margrethe to, as regent (rigsforstander), lead the government in Our name from today until Our return. " because both he and the crown prince will be abroad. On the one signed on the 18th, his return was announced, including that he took over the leadership of the government again.

Statstidende

I Statstidende optages alle meddelelser, som i henhold til lovgivningen skal kundgøres i Statstidende. Statstidende udgives af Civilstyrelsen under Justitsministeriet. På statstidende.dk kan du søge og læse meddelelser, abonnere på søgninger og dagens udgave, samt anmode om optagelse af...

www.statstidende.dk

There are no results for either 'Regent' or 'Christian', so it seems that when Christian takes over is not included at all - I assume, because it is automatic as soon as Frederik is out of the country, so no special 'bill' needs to be passed/signed.

So, the advice to look it up in practice means that in hindsight (about 2 weeks later, when the king has already returned) you might find out who was acting head of state - but only if a rigsforstander was appointed, i.e., it is not Christian.

 

[Muhler]

Thanks.
Well, that's not particular impressive.

How is it possible to make a mess out of something so simple?
Most people on the planet are able to write an update on a public calendar. Some of us are required to do it in connection with our jobs - simply to make things run more smoothly.
Fortunately it's not long to bedtime, I'm getting a headache from shaking my head.

ADDED: Christian acting as Regent is automatic, and IIRC doesn't have to be announced. But the appointment of a Rigsforstander is exactly that, an appointment, and that must be announced in Statstidende.
Still, if Christian was Regent, why not mention it? It's an unnecessary secret. It's really none of our business why Christian was Regent, if he was, (it could be something as mundane as him making calls to Ullrich in the big phone in the bathroom.) but it is our business to know who formally runs the country at any given time.

 

[Muhler]

Were you not being serious when the beginning of your post said things were being changed for the better, @Muhler?

That's what the DRF has now announced after considerable criticism in the press. (Even DM is running a story about it.) - Let's hope it will change for the better from now on.

 

[polyesco]

That's what the DRF has now announced after considerable criticism in the press. (Even DM is running a story about it.) - Let's hope it will change for the better from now on.

"From now on, it will again be possible to get clarity on who is regent or head of state by looking in the Royal Household's calendar.
The Royal House informs BT"

So they tried something and learned from it. Good. I always liked when things are listed on calendars, although for many being Regent or Rigsforstander was no big deal. Now we know it is ; )

 

[tommy100]

So they announced the whole family were on holiday only for the flag to reveal that actually they hadn't? And people get in such a state over other royals PR. I'd go as far as to say that the DRF PR office lied, at the very least they knowingly allowed the media to report information that was not correct.

This is shocking IMO. It reflects poorly on the new King but also on the Communications Staff who should have stood up to him and said this simply won't do. I hope that is indeed the message sent to Fred otherwise the Comms team is at fault and needs replacing. No RF is well served by a team of "yes people".

 

[Izzie]

"From now on, it will again be possible to get clarity on who is regent or head of state by looking in the Royal Household's calendar.
The Royal House informs BT"

So they tried something and learned from it. Good. I always liked when things are listed on calendars, although for many being Regent or Rigsforstander was no big deal. Now we know it is ; )

I agree 100%. They tried to revise the way one thing was done when and like you said learned it maybe sounded easier in theory. Or, maybe they gave people too much credit and now realise they have to spell everything out for people. No harm done. So they just said okay we will go back to spelling it out on the calendar. They did not dig in their heels like maybe other RFs would have done regardless of how much people complained and asked questions.

 

[iceflower]

Princess Benedikte has a new lady in waiting, it was announced today:

Udnævnelse af ny hofdame for H.K.H. Prinsesse Benedikte

Den 1. april 2024 tiltræder grevinde, kammerherreinde Mette Louise Ahlefeldt-Laurvig som ny hofdame for H.K.H. Prinsesse Benedikte.Mette Louise Ahlefeldt-Laurvig afløser hofdame, kammerhe...

www.kongehuset.dk

 

[Muhler]

Both her new and former LiW are from old noble families.
The ever present Ahlefeldt-Laurvig family and the Iuel family (pronounced in English like yule as in yuletide).

 

[kalnel]

Isn't that Alexandra SWB's husband's family name?

 

[Henrik]

Isn't that Alexandra SWB's husband's family name?

That is correct. Princess Alexandra's husband, count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille, and Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig's husband, count Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, are first cousins.

 

[iceflower]

Posts about Princess Alexandra have been moved to her own thread at the Non-Reigning Houses subforum:

** Princess Alexandra of Berleburg and Family, Current Events Part 1: April 2004 - **

 

[Somebody]

How should we view Margrethe's status after the abdication? In the Netherlands, as queen Wilhelmina so poignantly explained at some point, a monarch who abdicated is considered constitutionally dead. However, it seems Margrethe is in some ways treated as if she is now in line to the throne again - as she is still stepping in as rigsforstander (acting Head of State). Was this officially approved on January 14 (as it was announced in advance that she would be able to) or was this automatic? For Mary, the Council of State had to officially approve.

H.M. Dronningen vil kunne indsættes som rigsforstander

H.M. Dronningen kan efter statsrådet den 14. januar 2024 indsættes som rigsforstander. Som rigsforstander vil Dronningen kunne varetage forpligtelserne som statsoverhoved, når både D.K.H....

www.kongehuset.dk

Press release: HRH The Crown Princess can act as regent

At today’s Council of State, Her Majesty The Queen got approval so that Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess can function as acting regent, starting today.During the Council of State, Th...

www.kongehuset.dk

 

[Tatiana Maria]

[...] However, it seems Margrethe is in some ways treated as if she is now in line to the throne again - as she is still stepping in as rigsforstander (acting Head of State). Was this officially approved on January 14 (as it was announced in advance that she would be able to) or was this automatic? For Mary, the Council of State had to officially approve.

H.M. Dronningen vil kunne indsættes som rigsforstander

H.M. Dronningen kan efter statsrådet den 14. januar 2024 indsættes som rigsforstander. Som rigsforstander vil Dronningen kunne varetage forpligtelserne som statsoverhoved, når både D.K.H....

www.kongehuset.dk

Press release: HRH The Crown Princess can act as regent

At today’s Council of State, Her Majesty The Queen got approval so that Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess can function as acting regent, starting today.During the Council of State, Th...

www.kongehuset.dk

The law on regency, which dates to 1871, does not in itself require the Council of State to approve the monarch's appointments of regents. The final sentence of section 1, paragraph 1, simply stipulates that when the King and the Heir to the Throne are both unable to conduct the Government, "he [the King] appoints a Rigsforstander [regent]".

LOV nr 25 af 11/02/1871, Statsministeriet

Lov om Regjeringens Førelse i Tilfælde af Kongens Umyndighed, Sygdom eller Fraværelse (* 1)

www.retsinformation.dk

My guess is that the Council of State's approval of the monarch's appointment of a Rigsforstander is related to the current unwritten convention that the King should not execute his powers independently, but only with the consent of the Government.

 

[Muhler]

That's very simple.
She is ex-Queen Margrethe.

And according to the DRF protocol, once a majesty always a majesty.

So she is Her Majesty (ex-)Queen Margrethe of Denmark. (Not to Denmark, because she's had her time.)

Her status and current rank is similar to the late Queen Ingrid.

In order of precedence QMII is now only outranked by King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian. But as she is Majesty, he will so to speak salute QMII first, and she will normally be accompanied by Christian when going in a procession. Until he gets married, in which case Christian's wife will outrank QMII.
When Isabella turns 18 she too will formally outrank QMII but as a courtesy (and because she is a Majesty) she will still be accompanied by Christian and as such walk before Isabella in a procession.
Had QMII been a mere princess, Isabella would accompany Christian in future processions, until one of them marry.
For the same reason QMII outranks Prince Joachim, even though he is in the Line of Succession, because she is Majesty.
The only time Joachim outranks QMII is when he acts as Rigsforstander.

You will see it very clearly come October at the Opening of the Parliament. The protocol on that day is followed to the letter. QMII will on that day be escorted by the fourth highest ranking member of the Presidium of the Parliament. And that will be a representative from the party with the third highest number of seats in the Parliament. Because the Chairman of the Parliament (and as such also the Chairman of the Presidium) is elected by the PMs from among themselves, while the rest of the members of the Presidium are represented by the parties with the highest number of seats.
On that day the DRF are not received by members of the government, because they are honored guests of the Parliament.

The King can appoint anyone to be a Rigsforstander (among those who have been approved to act as such), provided that person is a Danish citizen, is a member of the State Church and has signed a pledge to obey the Constitution. Who, when and why is not something the Parliament or government will interfere with once the formalities are in order.
If the Parliament and/or government has a problem with a person, that person will simply not be approved as Rigsforstander by the Monarch. Think PH.
King Frederik can appoint Benedikte as Rigsforstander, even if Queen Mary, Joachim and QMII are available. That's up to King Frederik alone.

 

[maria-olivia]

If the whole Royal family goes on holiday , QMII and Benedikte are available. Joachim will never leave Washington. The whole family must be very happy they moved before the Abdication.

 

[Izzie]

That's very simple.
She is ex-Queen Margrethe.

And according to the DRF protocol, once a majesty always a majesty.

So she is Her Majesty (ex-)Queen Margrethe of Denmark. (Not to Denmark, because she's had her time.)

Her status and current rank is similar to the late Queen Ingrid.

In order of precedence QMII is now only outranked by King Frederik, Queen Mary and Crown Prince Christian. But as she is Majesty, he will so to speak salute QMII first, and she will normally be accompanied by Christian when going in a procession. Until he gets married, in which case Christian's wife will outrank QMII.
When Isabella turns 18 she too will formally outrank QMII but as a courtesy (and because she is a Majesty) she will still be accompanied by Christian and as such walk before Isabella in a procession.
Had QMII been a mere princess, Isabella would accompany Christian in future processions, until one of them marry.
For the same reason QMII outranks Prince Joachim, even though he is in the Line of Succession, because she is Majesty.
The only time Joachim outranks QMII is when he acts as Rigsforstander.

You will see it very clearly come October at the Opening of the Parliament. The protocol on that day is followed to the letter. QMII will on that day be escorted by the fourth highest ranking member of the Presidium of the Parliament. And that will be a representative from the party with the third highest number of seats in the Parliament. Because the Chairman of the Parliament (and as such also the Chairman of the Presidium) is elected by the PMs from among themselves, while the rest of the members of the Presidium are represented by the parties with the highest number of seats.
On that day the DRF are not received by members of the government, because they are honored guests of the Parliament.

The King can appoint anyone to be a Rigsforstander (among those who have been approved to act as such), provided that person is a Danish citizen, is a member of the State Church and has signed a pledge to obey the Constitution. Who, when and why is not something the Parliament or government will interfere with once the formalities are in order.
If the Parliament and/or government has a problem with a person, that person will simply not be approved as Rigsforstander by the Monarch. Think PH.
King Frederik can appoint Benedikte as Rigsforstander, even if Queen Mary, Joachim and QMII are available. That's up to King Frederik alone.

Thank you for the clear and concise explanation and breakdown. Makes perfect sense.