Danish Royals Out and About Before Opening of Parliament Tomorrow

Several members of the Danish Royal Family have been out and about on official business, ahead of the opening of the 2011 Danish Parliamentary Session tomorrow, October 4th.

On Saturday, October 1st, Princess Marie continued with her civil defence training, by participating in an international rescue training course. The course took place at the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Technical College in Tinglev, which is around half an hour’s drive west of Schackenborg Castle; and was hosted by the DEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue group. Marie was given instructions on how international units work to rescue people trapped by earthquakes, floods and explosions.

That evening, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary presented the 2011 edition of the ‘Kronprinsparrets Kulturpris‘ (this year simply named, ‘Kronprinsparrets Priser’ as there were three prizes awarded). The event took place at the Concert Hall in Aarhus, and this year the Kulturpris awarded 500,000DKK to architect Bjarke Ingels. Smaller prizes of 50,000DKK were awarded to Josephine Klougart, a Danish writer, and rock band The William Blakes. Crown Princess Mary wore a recycled Prada cocktail dress, which has previously been worn on three occassions.

Then yesterday, October 2nd, Marie was present at the annual anniversary gala held at the Tivoli Congress Hall in honour of the AIDS Foudation. The gala was also a celebration of Danish actress Susse Wold’s twenty-five years as President of the AIDS Foundation. The pregnant Princess, who is due in January with her secnd child, recycled a blue MaxMara evening gown first worn in July 2008.

And earlier today, Crown Princess Mary was in Aalborg, where she inaugurated a new project of The Mary Foundation at the Danalien Kindergarten. The project, LæseLeg, is designed to encourage parents and teachers to read aloud to their children or students. It aims to encourage what is termed ‘reader conversation’ – discussion throughout the reading of the book to stimulate children’s vocabularies and communicative skills. Princess Mary spoke with children at the kindergarten, before listening to some stories herself and helping to hand out cake for dessert. She also told of her own children’s requests for books to be read aloud to them again: “Isabella often says, insistently, ‘Read it again’.” LæseLeg is being trialled in nine kindergartens within three municipalities around Denmark, before it is hopefully expanded to all Danish kindergartens in Summer 2012.

Tomorro’s opening of parliament, which is to be attended by the entire Danish Royal Family, will see Denmark’s first female Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, give her first speech as Prime Minister, following her appointment to the post by Queen Margrethe II earlier today. Thorning-Schmidt was granted an audience with the Queen, informing her that she wished and was able to form a government. The Queen then met with the previous Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the individuals who will make up the new ministry. A second audience with Thorning-Schmidt then took place, also attended by Crown Prince Frederik, and Queen Margrethe granted the request to form a new government.

Filed under Denmark
Tagged Anniversary, Awards, Children, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Culture, Education, Fashion, Government, HIV/AIDS, Margrethe II of Denmark, Military Training, Parliament, Patronage, Prime Minister L.L. Rasmussen of Denmark, Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark, Princess Marie of Denmark, The Mary Foundation.