Crown Princess Mary as Patron of the Danish Swimming Union: 2007 - 2017


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She looked great besides looking tired as she mentioned in an interview at one of her events.
The whistle around her neck was nice at the event & her waving the flag. It's always good to see royals doing something at an event rather than just watching/standing there.
 
Thanks for the pics and articles. :flowers:

Many of you may not realise it but Christiansborg Slot (*) (seat of the Parliament) is located on an island.
The layout is in the shape of a basic fortress, with bridges across moats in the shape of channels. There are no redoubt and the slot itself is not cunstructed as a castle but as a palace. The function is purely civillian as the seat of the central administration. - Just with a little military touch.
A funny little detail.

(*) Unfortunately the useful word "slot" (Schloss in German) cannot be translated directly to English, so here is a little DK lesson:
Borg = castle. A building that has or it's predecessor had a military function.
Hus = In the medieval defintion of the word: a solid stone house, often fortified. Also used about all stone castles back in medieval times.
Slot = A palatial building that is not a large palace, it can also mean a building resembling a castle but which has no military purpose, or mean a rural manor.
An archetypical definition of a "slot" is the Disneyland castle.
Palads = palace. A very large and grand building used as a residence.
Palæ = palais or urban mansion.
Herregård = small manor, which started as a farm or a large grand farm.

- You can learn a lot about the history of a building in Denmark by looking at the name.
 
Thankyou Muhler! I always enjoy your history lessons! Since I have been to Denmark, they now have so much more meaning.:flowers:
 
Thanks Marika and Terri Terri for the links.
Mary looks lovely, nice outfit. I love the way Mary gets involved and always shows a keen interest in all events.
 
After visiting the Care and Activity Centre is Mary in this moment visiting the Danish Swimming Federation Championships Short Course Championships in swimming.

I'm actually right now watching TV2's live coverage of the Danish Swimming Federation Championships.

Mary has just awarded medals and must say she looks fabulous in her red suit with white shirt :)

Here's some screenshots to the curious...


Article and pictures from B.T. from the Swimming Championships
Dansk EM-guld og verdensrekord efter stort drama - Svømning | www.bt.dk

HQ picture of "The Danish ladies in red and white" :)
http://www.bt.dk/sites/default/files-dk/node-images/34/7/7034004-emsvmning2013.jpg


Video
http://sporten.tv2.dk/2013-12-12-jublende-lykkelig-ottesen-det-er-det-vildeste

One more gallery from B.T. of Mary visits The Danish swimmers
Se billederne: Mary fejrede de danske guld-kvinder i Herning | www.bt.dk

Another gallery
Mary aux championnats de natation
 

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As a swimmer (from KVIK Kastrup like the lovely Jeanette Ottesen), I thoroughly appreciate Mary being the patron of the Danish Swimming Union and I think she does a tremendous amount of work. I love the picture (a selfie!) of her and Rikke Møller Pedersen (IMO the best Danish swimmer out there right now) :D
 
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Thanks Iceflower & JessRulz :flowers:

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #11, 2015.
Written by our man in the deep, Ulrik Ulriksen.

As part of her speech in connection with the start of the project: All should learn how to swim, Mary talked quite a lot about her family: "It's very natural for me to lend my support for this project, because swimming and water has meant a lot in my life. I have always felt a great pleasure in swimming and many of my loveliest memories was in and around water. Both from my own childhood and now from our own children.
I clearly remember when I learned how to swim. The sense of security and pride to be able to and (having) the freedom to explore and make the new element my playground, where I could be with my mates. It was totally wonderful.
Today I see that joy and curiosity in my own children when they encounter the water. Christian's crawl is progressing, so that he now lying well in the water with a strong momentum. And Isabella who at age two loved to jump in the water from the tilt without wings. You probably can't call it swimming, but Isabella moved her body through the water and in that way reached the edge of the basin.
And Vincent who prefer to be more under water than above water and Josephine who often express how she looks forward to the weather getting warmer, so that we can swim by the beach and in the swimming pool.
To me and my husband it is an enormous joy that water and swimming is so natural to our children. And as their farmor (paternal grandmother) says when she see them in the water: the apple doesn't fall far from the stem. That's like their dad when he was young... a tadpole.
We live in a country with hundreds of beaches to bathe from and lakes to bathe from. A country where you don't have to travel far to reach the first coastline (*) and waterfront. But one in every three adult Danes can't swim 200 meters and as such are not competent (**) swimmers according to the Nordic definition. That also applies to every child in two at around the age of seven.
Swimming is an important tool and something people can derive pleasure from throughout the life. All must learn how to swim".

There is a very funny picture in the article of Mary sitting and watching children swimming, while she looks like she is pondering. And right next to her is a speech-booble-sign (you know, the cartoon thingies) is hanging with the text: How best to learn how to swim?

(*) In fact the longest distance you can have to the nearest beach in DK is less than 50 km.

(**) Here using competent in the English definition of the word. I.e. adequate. In Danish competent is very much a compliment, meaning very skilled.
 
Thanks Iceflower & JessRulz :flowers:

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #11, 2015.
Written by our man in the deep, Ulrik Ulriksen.

As part of her speech in connection with the start of the project: All should learn how to swim, Mary talked quite a lot about her family: "It's very natural for me to lend my support for this project, because swimming and water has meant a lot in my life. I have always felt a great pleasure in swimming and many of my loveliest memories was in and around water. Both from my own childhood and now from our own children.
I clearly remember when I learned how to swim. The sense of security and pride to be able to and (having) the freedom to explore and make the new element my playground, where I could be with my mates. It was totally wonderful.
Today I see that joy and curiosity in my own children when they encounter the water. Christian's crawl is progressing, so that he now lying well in the water with a strong momentum. And Isabella who at age two loved to jump in the water from the tilt without wings. You probably can't call it swimming, but Isabella moved her body through the water and in that way reached the edge of the basin.
And Vincent who prefer to be more under water than above water and Josephine who often express how she looks forward to the weather getting warmer, so that we can swim by the beach and in the swimming pool.
To me and my husband it is an enormous joy that water and swimming is so natural to our children. And as their farmor (paternal grandmother) says when she see them in the water: the apple doesn't fall far from the stem. That's like their dad when he was young... a tadpole.


(...)

As always thanks Muhler :flowers:

Always a delight to hear about the children and especially when each of the four and their personality is described by F&M.

They will doubtless be some active and sporting loving young people - just like mom and dad. As farmor Margrethe says the apple rarely falls far from the stem.
 
T
Today I see that joy and curiosity in my own children when they encounter the water. Christian's crawl is progressing, so that he now lying well in the water with a strong momentum. And Isabella who at age two loved to jump in the water from the tilt without wings. You probably can't call it swimming, but Isabella moved her body through the water and in that way reached the edge of the basin.
And Vincent who prefer to be more under water than above water and Josephine who often express how she looks forward to the weather getting warmer, so that we can swim by the beach and in the swimming pool.
To me and my husband it is an enormous joy that water and swimming is so natural to our children. And as their farmor (paternal grandmother) says when she see them in the water: the apple doesn't fall far from the stem. That's like their dad when he was young... a tadpole.

thanks:flowers:
love reading the little anecdotes on the kids, and of course i can imagine Isabella just jumping in the water with no care or fear :p

cute little note on the Queen comparing the grand kids to Frederik:flowers:
 
The newspaper Politiken has an article today in connection with the launching of the campaingn All should learn to swim.
No link, because you'll most likely have to log in.

But the article says that 97 % of Danes learn to swim before the age of fifteen, but hardly any adults, who for whatever reason haven't learned to swim as children, learn to swim.

And that is actually a very considerable number, because beforehand learning to swim depended on facilities being available nearby, whether the local municipality implemented swimming or whether the adults are now so old that swimming wasn't even on the schedule. Also, beforehand at least there were no special training for those who had a fear of water. They were left to themselves - or skipped class.
Now, special classes are being set up in order to get hold of those adults who never learned to swim.
 
At Reumert late last night in Copenhagen - this morning in North Jutland - Mary has been up early to catch a plane.

Today, Mary will participates as a patron of the Danish Swimming Union in the official inauguration of the new life-saving post on Tversted Strand in North Jutland at. 12:00.

During her visit, the Crown Princess will among other things be presented the new lifeguard tower, Mary will be responsible for the official opening and watch a lifesaving show. During the event, school students from Tversted School will participate and try out different life-saving exercises.

After the official inauguration of the lifeguard tower Crown Princess Mary will attend a lifesaving show where lifeguards salvages one in distress, and shows how to provide life-saving first aid. The show will end with good advise for safe driving around and in the water.

School students from Tversted School will subsequently visit three exercise items where they get the opportunity to test roll with life buoy, a demonstration in lifesaving first aid as well as learning about the sand banks holes, and how to save themselves from them.

Information from Kongehuset:
Indvielse af ny livredningspost - Kongehuset


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ADDED:
Just watched the morning news who sent directly from there - better weather than in Copenhagen, where we have heavy rain, but there is still far to the Danish summer weather.

:previous:

And we have the first glimpse of Mary to the swim lifesaving event at Tversted Beach today :)

http://img.kaloo.ga/thumb?url=http:...f955ff2cd48a339ea15c&method=fit&size=1440x720
https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=e6a95716c1dd2ada093dc817566ef43f&oe=55F35128
https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=38f50c750fc797941cd4062ae4452cf5&oe=5626A341
https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=0c0c67481cffbce28fcf380d9cd3af13&oe=5631E832
http://www.skipperposten.dk/Images/Articles/220615133214-SkipperPosten-DSC_9065.JPG

Article: http://www.flaskeposten.nu/kronprinsesse-mary-indviede-i-dag-livreddertaarnet-i-tversted/#!

Mary officially opened the new lifeguard tower with (not a champagne bottle) but with a plastic bucket of sea water from Vesterhavet.

Many people have showed up and the car parks is filled to the brim. So even if you all can see how the Danish "summer weather" look like in the pictures ovenover - we Danes enjoy our summer - we and our Cpss Mary just put on our warm and practical clothes while we try to understand we are soon in July month :cool:

Nice pictures of Mary with the lifeguards on the beach:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIGxW7pWsAAOaPN.jpg:large
http://img.kaloo.ga/thumb?url=http:...f955ff2cd48a339ea15c&method=fit&size=1440x720

Article from BB:
Kronprinsesse Mary åbnede tårn for livreddere | Billed Bladet

Telling us (what I also though I could remember) that Mary herself has/had lifeguard certificate and wa a lifeguard in her young years in Australia.

So Mary knew what she talked about in her speech today.

*

Pia Holmen, director of the Danish Swimming Federation:

- "It's a great pleasure that Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary inaugurates the lifeguard tower and thereby helps to focus on water safety and the importance of being able to swim. As a former lifeguard herself and a competitive swimmer Crown Princess Mary is a really good role model."
 
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Thanks, Roskilde. :flowers:

Perhaps our Australian friends can explain?
Isn't this something there is a lot of focus on in Australia?
I.e. lifeguards, "life saving swimming tests" or whatever it's called. In the sense that it is almost a public enterprise like the volunteer firefighters.
So wouldn't this be something Mary is almost expected to be more than familiar with through her upbringing in Australia?

Surprisingly, while there have been public advise for us natives here in DK for decades. Permanently manned towers and certified more professional lifeguards is something fairly new. Despite the fact that the sea claims a few tourists each year.
 
13 great larger pictures from today :flowers:

0. http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...b3bfcf.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
1. http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...4b0bd5.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
2. http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...123064.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
3. https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=30e3ab4f6e6ecbc6eeeed209bd7f1709&oe=55E9B8DC
4. https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=fe0a8004521e320a3b359bf1bb5db45e&oe=5624A2F8
5. http://kongehuset.dk/materialemappe/gallerier/2015/juni/indvielse-af-ny-livredningspost/3.img
6. https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=2b60fb99aa3ff7eb626b4d77d79277d3&oe=55F043FA (A beautiful photo)
7. https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=48cbe49ddb76984329df69099ed4623d&oe=55EC2957
8. http://kongehuset.dk/materialemappe/gallerier/2015/juni/indvielse-af-ny-livredningspost/2.img
9. https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=00f1506c560981bd614212f22e3cadd4&oe=55E6E1B8
10. https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=48cbe49ddb76984329df69099ed4623d&oe=55EC2957
11. http://kongehuset.dk/materialemappe/gallerier/2015/juni/indvielse-af-ny-livredningspost/4.img
12. http://kongehuset.dk/materialemappe/gallerier/2015/juni/indvielse-af-ny-livredningspost/1.img

Gallery: Mary indviede livreddertårn - Galleri | Nordjyske.dk

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CP Mary in her speech:

- I splashed around in the sea already as two-three years old and I have great pleasure of swimming. But it is wise to know your own limitations and learn the five bathing rules.

- It's so important we ensure our shorelines. We are fortunate in Denmark that there are never far to the ocean, but therefore it's also important we all learn to swim and learn to have a safe beach culture.

- The tower is a symbol of bathing safety and the sea is not always as quiet as it might seem, said Crown Princess Mary who herself has a past as a lifeguard.

Gallery from Kongehuset:
Indvielse af ny livredningspost - Kongehuset

Pictures and an article:
SKIPPERPOSTEN • Hirtshals lokale webavis

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DR video interview with Mary:
Livredderne står klar på affolkede strande | Nyheder | DR

The Danish bathing season has opened. Now we just missing the Danish summer weather! The water temperature and air temperature most of all invites to a woolen sweater and a big cup of tea.

But anyway, the mood was high today at Tversted beach:

Q: You came from a somewhat warmer country - could you be tempted to go swimming in this weather?

Mary: Yes I could.. or.. ah maybe not today. It may need to be up around the 18-19 degrees before I will consider it. But in fact, Tasmania, where I come from, there are about the same water temperatures. So I'm a little used to it.

Q: Now as a lifeguard yourselfes...

Mary: Ahh, I wouldn't call myself lifeguard today, it was for many many years ago, but I do have sat and patrolled at the beach as a lifeguard for many years ago.

Q: Are you tempted when you see the lifeguards in action?

Mary: I think it's exciting to watch and see how skilled and competent they are. It's very exciting to see.

This is from DR and TV2 has just sent a clip and a interview with Mary in the 18-News so I think we can expect coverage in the evening news on both DR and TV2 tonight.
 

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Beautiful little moment of Mary and a elderly lady today.

http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...fd067f.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...b698a4.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
http://sn.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/66/695066_930_9300_0_130_4271_2950_2.jpg

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Pictures from people posted on Facebook:

A Kristina Ølgaard Johansen writes and post these pictures:

Thanks for the visit at Tversted. Lovely with visits from a committed Crown Princess who takes the time to a photo too. No rush, plenty of time/inner calmness :heart: Have a very good summer."

https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=a7bdc821f8aed19a3d80372d566ae2f1&oe=562D28B0
https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=8477f6e93608c2a2c14f5871139704eb&oe=56295A7A

Lot's of coverage from today's event:

Pictures:
http://sn.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/63/695063_950_1200_0_52_4096_2829_2.jpg
http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...b3bfcf.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...fd067f.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...b698a4.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
http://sn.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/66/695066_950_1200_0_130_4271_2950_2.jpg
http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...e5b213.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black
http://sn.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/65/695065_930_9300_0_263_3436_2373_2.jpg
http://sn.dk/modules/xphoto/cache/58/695058_950_1200_48_0_3800_2626_2.jpg

The feature in tonight's news at DR:
https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/tv-avisen-med-sporten/tv-avisen-med-sporten-2015-06-22#!/00:18:04

Gallery from sn.dk:
sn.dk
 
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:previous:Lovely event. those pictures are sweet
 
A large gallery (use the arrow keys) from Mary's event yesterday:

Our Crown Prince has choosen so well with her! :)

https://www.facebook.com/2352278166...5227816664642/406577802862975/?type=1&theater

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Mary meeting people to the event:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=406531489534273&id=235227816664642

*

A local article:
http://www.flaskeposten.nu/trine-moedte-personligt-kronprinsesse-mary/

It seems like Mary had good time to enjoy the nature and the beach after the official programme. This local article tell Mary after the official programme ended went for a walk in the company of hairdresser Søren Hedegaard and his husband Preben Kristensen on the beach where they visited the ice cream shop. And Søren and Preben told that they always eat a big hot dog when they are in Tversted. Nice they went along on this event. Maybe they are go to spend their summer vacation in North Jutland?

It was also here the ice house owner's daughter met Mary and got a picture with her. - "They stopped up nicely when my daughter asked for a picture and said they had to come back one day. Mary was so smiling and calm and took the time and asked my daughter what her name was and we all wished each other a good summer", tells Dorthe Christensen.

Frederik's event tomorrow are also in North Jutland (Aalborg) and then it seems like the summer vacation starts for the Crown Prince family. Perhaps the entire Crown Prince family went along to North Jutland and will celebrate Midsummer (Sankt Hans evening) with the Skeel family tonight? Just a guess.



Love these pictures. A local media describes the elderly lady as an acquaintance of F&M.
Do you recognize her? I don't.

A large and nice gallery from Royalista showing Mary's delightful personality :flowers:
And also showing the weather is definitely better in Jutland than in Zealand these days...

GALLERY: Mary gives new lifeguard tower the green light | Royalista

Here's a picture of Mary's new LIW, Christine Hansen:

https://scontent-ams2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=f6c45064b1d60146509e50ab4d0a50f3&oe=55EDBD17
 
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Thanks, Roskilde.:flowers:

A video summary from BB of what happened when Mary went to the west coast. (It sounds like Ken Richter to me).http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/video-kronprinsesse-mary-paa-kold-tur-til-stranden

The tower Mary visited is one of 37 towers sponsored by the Tryg Foundation (perhaps others as well) complete with certified and well equipped lifeguards.

Upon arriving Mary quickly realized that it wasn't that warm a day, and not least on the west coast where it always windy!
She saw the lifeguards in action, they are otherwise pretty idle these days as the water temperature isn't something to write home about!
But local school children were also involved, some of them demonstrating how to throw a lifesaver - with varying degree of success...
Then she had a chat with the children.

For a couple of years Danish Swimming Union has been involved in a campaign where all should learn to swim. It is a sad fact that despite there being no where in Denmark further than 50 km from a coast, fewer are actually learning how to swim than beforehand. Swimming is still mandatory in schools but too many never really learn to swim because they come up with all sorts of excuses to skip, simply because they are embarrassed of being naked with others.

ADDED: A large Royalista gallery: http://royalista.com/108595/gallery-mary-gives-new-lifeguard-tower-green-light/
 
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Summary of article in Billed Bladet #26, 2015.
Written by Ken Richter.

Mary went to the west coast of Jutland the other day. The entire west coast is basically one long beach and as such an extremely popular destination for Danes and tourists alike, in particular Germans.
In her capacity as patron for the Danish Swimming Association and supported by the Tryg Foundation Mary went there to partly inaugurate the 37th fully equipped and permanently manned life towers. The equipment, organization, training and design is directly inspired by the lifeguard system in Australia.

Another part of the visit was to put more focus on an ongoing campaign to encourage all Danes, children in particular to be proficient swimmers and if possible also to proficient enough to help a person in distress in the water.

Mary inaugurated the new life tower, by pouring seawater on the tower. Then she got a demonstration of the skills of the lifeguards and local children also showed her the basics they had learned.

It was a slightly chilly day though. 16 degrees C, with the water being 15 degrees C = about 60 degrees F.

Mary said: "No matter where you are in Denmark, it's not far to the water and that's why it's important to teach children to swim and when they bathe, the parents should a vigilant eye on them.
Myself I began to splash in the water when I was two-three years old and I have since then been fond of swimming.
The water should preferably be 18-19 degrees C (= 64-65 F)".

Mary has worked as a lifeguard many years ago: "But, oh dear, that's long ago and I am not going to be an expert on that any longer(*). I'm delighted to see how skilled and competent the lifeguards are and it's nice to hear that there is an exchange of lifeguards between Australia and Denmark".

The water was actually very calm that day and that is not always the case on the West Coast, there is a reason why a part of the West Coast is known among surfers as Cold Hawaii.

This was also the first day on the job for Mary's new LiW, Christine Pii Hansen.

(*) Help English speakers. The expression used here is "ikke gøre mig klog på". I cannot be translated correctly to "not being an expert", but more something like not wanting to appear to wise about a subject you are not really that good at. I.e. like me talking in a knowledgeable manner about fashion.
So, what expression would be the best translation? :)
 
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:previous:thank you Muhler

I would use the phrase "Im no expert" :flowers:
 
HRH The Crown Princess, as patron of the Danish Swimming Federation, attends the Olympic qualification Danish Open. April 15, 2016

and what a lovely surprise. Frederik is with her
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t...g?ig_cache_key=MTIyOTA3NDAyMDg4ODE0MDMxMg==.2

Mary attended as patron but she has the wonderful support of her husband by her side.
what a cute couple
http://imageupper.com/s02/1/8/M1460744580317348_2.jpg
:wub:

http://imageupper.com/s02/1/8/M1460744580317348_3.jpg
http://imageupper.com/s02/1/8/M1460744580317348_4.jpg
http://imageupper.com/s03/1/4/L1460744699315307_1.jpg
 
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