Christening of Prince Christian: January 21, 2006

[Danielle]

I am going to go out on a limb (and am anticipating tomatoes or eggs being thrown at me for this) and say that I liked Mary's headpiece. The colour could've been blue or white/cream, but there was a classic, nostalgic sixties look to it that I thought complimented Mary's hairstyle very well. And it didn't cover her face so that we could get a really good look of how lovingly she looked at her son and how she doted on him.

If you're going out on a limb, I will too. I actually loved the headpiece. I thought it was really beautiful and a lovely change to the usual head-garments royal women so often wear. It went wonderfully with her outfit, and as you said, we actually got to see her face. I saw one woman enter the chapel, but I couldn't see who it was because her massive hat covered her face. Some of them need safety signs attached to the front because they're so big. I would have also preferred real flowers as another member suggested, but the silk ones were still nice.

 

[kaydura0717]

I thought that the whole ceremony was lovely. When Prince Frederik got emotional I thought "awwww how sweet" it's nice to see royals showing emotions it makes them seem more vulnerable. I love the name but it was a given that it was going to be Christian.

 

[crisiñaki]

Were there representants of the British or Spanish Royal Families, I didn't see anyone from them...

It was very nice from Frederik to chose Pavlos as godfather, since they are family but sometimes the Greek seem to be closer to the Spanish than the Danes; hopefully this new bond would help to bring the family as close as it was on Queen Ingrid's days

 

[ews]

Any pics of Amber Petty? Also will their be official portrait photos released?

 

[Isabel]

I've mixed feeling about CP Mary. Her "hat" is horrible IMO, and the two pieces of the outfit don't match really with each other.
The little hero of the day is becoming cuter than after he was born. Maybe it will be like princess Amalia.

P.S. Alexandria: it's Berleburg, not Bereleberg. The full name is zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

I have mixed feelings about the headpiece. It wasn't exactly unattractive, but I don't think that it looked that great on Mary.

I thought that Mary's outfit was lovely. I loved that particular shade of blue on her. I agree with the person who commented, however, that the skirt was not the best choice for the season and weather.

 

[Margrethe II]

Loved the floral aigrette...was beautiful! Went with the hairstyle worn by the Cown Princess which was also gorgeous.

The outfit was wonderful I thought. the jacket and skirt totally looked great together.

I must say I did not like what Mette-Marit wore at all!! I often find her choice in clothes really very unflattering. They make her look lanky. I really like HRH the Crown Princess Mette-Marit, so I think that is why I get dissapointed by her choices.

"MII"

 

[norwegianne]

Were there representants of the British or Spanish Royal Families, I didn't see anyone from them...

It was very nice from Frederik to chose Pavlos as godfather, since they are family but sometimes the Greek seem to be closer to the Spanish than the Danes; hopefully this new bond would help to bring the family as close as it was on Queen Ingrid's days

The guestlist can be found earlier in this thread. But there wasn't any from the British or Spanish royal families there.

 

[paca]

I am not a huge fan of Mary's outfit and here is what I base my opinion on. I just want to say that I love the jacket and the skirt, but just not together. If you look really objectively it seems that she went into her closet and grabbed a piece from two different outfits. The jacket with its sharp, clean tailoring looks great and the dress with its print looks lovely for a summer day. But the jacket is sharp and tailored and the dress is pleated and flowing. The outfit does not look fluid from top to bottom. The jacket is almost heavy and the skirt is light and airy. Also, the edging on the jacket stands out.

I agree, it just didn't match. But worst of all was that silly flower things she was wearing on her head. To me it looked like it was a leftover bit from a 60s bathing hat. Very strange indeed.

The ceremony was very nice, the only thing I don't understand though is, why on earth did the organ play (as the guests were still waiting) Bach's "Tochter Zion" which is clearly a pre xmas piece. Other than that I thought the music was wonderful and also very calming for a baby. Bravo to the musicians.

Outfit wise I thought that from the Danish family PA was the absolutely most elegant woman.

 

[Alisa]

Over all the ceremony was quite beautiful. The church was decorated very elegantly and tastefully. The music was also really nice. Does anyone know the name of the song sung by the boy's choir that seemed to move everyone to tears?

I really like this photo http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224736&d=1137861228

I thought it was cute how the godparents were gazing at the little prince. http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=56638590a2si.jpg

Now for the most important part:

The names-I thought they were very good choices. Christian Valdemar (my favorite) Henri John.

I liked the choice of Henri as it is Prince Henrik's original name, but it could also be a derivation in honor of Mary's mother Henrietta.

Now for the superficial post:

-It was quite interesting the range of colors that the guest wore for the christening. Some in light colors (Mary, Alexandra, Theodora), others neutral (Victoria, AlexandraBerl.), some in more evening appropriate colors (Mathilde, Queen Anne Marie..) and others in colors too dark for a christening (Jane,Mette-Marit). Very strange that they all show up in such colors for an 11:00 am christening.

Although, I was hoping that Mary would have worn a nice hat; I must say that the aigrette looked really good on her. The flowers looked soo delegate, that combined with the light make up and the contrast of her dark hair made her look beautiful. I really liked the color and the structure of the jacket. However the skirt of the dress was completely unmatched with the jacket. Had she worn a plain white skirt or the matching skirt for the jacket she would've looked perfect.

Princess Alexandra looked very elegant in her outfit, but in that photo of her walking up the steps it looked like she wasn't wearing anything beneath her coat.

I didn't like the outfit of the usually very elegant Princess Benedikte. I thought the rose pink clashed and made her very luxurious fur coat look a bit cheap.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit looked nice, except the suit was a bit too large for her. I thought her mini-Marilyn Monroe moment was funny. http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224681&d=1137851306

Crown Princess Victoria looked ok. The hat and jacket were nice but I thought that it was a bit too much when it was paired with the pleated skirt.

Princess Mathilde looked absolutely beautiful in red http://img484.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02840141bz.jpg

Princess Martha Louise also looked elegant in her purple outfit.
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224730&d=1137860954.

I thought Jane Donaldson looked great in her chocolate brown outfit and her very stylish hat.

The best dressed royal was easily Princess Alexandra of Berleburg, fascinator hat and all

 

[Paula**]

http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=01770148rs.jpg

who is that young lady?

 

[Scherezada]

The music at the Reception was played by the Band of the Royal Danish Life Guards:
H. C. Lumbye-Dream Pictures
E. Hartmann-Lullaby
Sebastian -In Denmark I was born
Fuzzy-Kronprins Frederiks Honnørmarch (Crown Prince Frederik’s Homage March)
N. W. Gade- Morning Song from ”Elverskud”
C. Debussy -Le Coin des Enfants, Sérénade a la Poupée, Golliwogg’s Cake Walk
P. Grainger-Children’s March
xxx- Gundagai Groove
J. P. E. Hartmann -Prince Christian’s March
H. C. Lumbye-Mary Galop

 

[kelly9480]

http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=01770148rs.jpg

who is that young lady?

Theodora of Greece, Fred's first cousin.

 

[Royal Fan]

awww they were both such sweet little Gentlemen at the Christening

 

[Saragli]

The baby looks so much like Mary. I never noticed it until now. Look at Danielles avatar when Christian is smiling and the resembelance is striking to me.

Which one was the song where the single choir boy song and it started God be good to me or something like that. I loved the music and I thought it was great.

 

[Lady Bluffton]

Vivian Leigh

For a long time, Mary has reminded me of someone else -- with her hair drawn back and her floral cap, it finally struck me -- Vivian Leigh!

Does anyone else see a resemblance from time to time depending on her expressions?

Also, is little Christian's eyes blue or brown? I couldn't tell.

(I agree with the majority of our community -- Mary's outfit was not suited to the weather or season and was not the best match. Why didn't she choose a beautiful blue wool coat dress with a lovely open neckline? CP Mathilde made a wise choice both in terms of fashion and weather.)

 

[Zonk]

I know this isn't the appropriate thread...but Princess Theodora is growing into a striking young lady. Imagine if she and Prince William hooked up I almost didn't recognize her at first!

And to get back to the original topic....while I liked Mary's hair piece..I agree the outfit she wore..while nice..wasn't approprite for the season. I think a beautiful wool coat dress (as mentioned by Lady Buffton) would have been lovely.

Princess Alexandra as always looked lovely. Loved Mathilde and Martha Louise's outfits as well. Mette Marits was nice...but also a little too dark for me as well...but still appropriate. I loved the interaction between the godparents, the family, and baby Christian.

 

[Saragli]

Yea I know what you mean. I remember looking at some pics of her a while back and when I saw her today I thought she was one Nicholas girlfriend.

 

[ysbel]

Someone asked what music the choir was singing when Fred and Mary walked in with Christian.

On the royal website it says that the choir sang, "Her kommer,
Jesus, dine små" arranged by Michael Bojesen.

 

[bigheadshirmp]

i found this pic from bt.dk....

Nikolai greeting his grandmother

 

[lis]

Beautiful baby... I do not like the flowers on mary's head, terrible....

 

[Lady Bluffton]

One other thing...not to criticize, but was it just me or was Mary's hairstyle asymmetrical? Seemed like one side of the bun was larger than the other -- planned? Was it designed to balance out the flower cap? Daring, but symmetry would have been more chic.

 

[Royal Fan]

it was simply a wonderful ceremony there is no other way to pharse it Mary was so pretty Frederik so Proud and attentive and Victoria my goodness and it was so nice to see Haakon and Mette Marit as well

 

[Lady Bluffton]

Greece?

And one other thing before I sign off for the night -- I guess the Greek royal family loved the color scheme!

 

[Charlotte1]

I need to check to see if there is a godmother/godfather thread...I know Victoria is the godmother of Ingrid, Odyeeus (sp) and now...Christian.

CP Victoria isn't god-mother to Odysseus, she's god-mother to Pavlos' & MC's oldest son Contantinos. She's also god-mother to Princess Catharina-Amalia as well as Princess Ingrid Alexandra. She's a popular choice for god-mother!

 

[crisiñaki]

CP Victoria isn't god-mother to Odysseus, she's god-mother to Pavlos' & MC's oldest son Contantinos. She's also god-mother to Princess Catharina-Amalia as well as Princess Ingrid Alexandra. She's a popular choice for god-mother!

Yeah, my sister is godmother of 4 and now is yearning for her own, maybe the same is (hopefully) happening to Victoria, you never know

 

[purple_platinum]

this is Prince Christian's nanny, Mette on the christening (from polfoto)

 

[theprincess]

Great pictures! It seems like it was a very special day and a good time for everyone who attended. Prince Christian as expected!

fashion:
CP Mary: I loved the jacket, it was especially beautiful with the broche and i loved the colour, the skirt was okay but i would have liked to see Mary with a matching skirt/jacket combo for once...i love how Fred and Mary always match fashion-wise (his blue tie)...i also liked the headpiece, nice change from the traditional hats

CP Victoria: overall, one of her better outfits...but i agree with some people who said that she looked a little matronly

CP Marit-Mette: I didn't not like the all black, she looked as if she was attending a funeral...i agree that the ribbon she had in her hair was kinda girlish

 

[moosey60]

Is there a video of the christening available online?

 

[ews]

For a long time, Mary has reminded me of someone else -- with her hair drawn back and her floral cap, it finally struck me -- Vivian Leigh!

Does anyone else see a resemblance from time to time depending on her expressions?

Also, is little Christian's eyes blue or brown? I couldn't tell.

(I agree with the majority of our community -- Mary's outfit was not suited to the weather or season and was not the best match. Why didn't she choose a beautiful blue wool coat dress with a lovely open neckline? CP Mathilde made a wise choice both in terms of fashion and weather.)

It could be that because it was a happy occassion they wanted light colours, airy and bright in spite of the winter since it was an occassion of love and happiness. I think it was a lovely outfit in spite of the weather made it a very warm occasion.

I loved Mathilde's outfit, i wish she dressed more like that, she's so young but always dresses old which is lovely in some instances but she ages herself far too much when she's in her early 30s. I wonder if thats because Phillipe is mucholder than her so she needs to blend in and not look to young.

 

[Saragli]

For anybody who wants to watch the christening again go to the Discussion about the broadcasting thread on the second page. Somebody provided a link with directions on how to view the christening. It is on the NRK Nett-TV website and it has the whole christining on it as well as a bunch of other royal videos like Charles/Camillas, Felipe/Letizia and Fred/Marys wedding.