Ah, I'm delighted you can watch them. ?
You can find the running commentaries around here:
https://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f231/danish-residences-general-discussion-19015-5.html
Back then I focused on the whole documentary and not just the interior furnishing and decoration.
I may go through the first documentary again, and focus on the interior, but lunch is coming up.
So this will have to suffice for now.
We start out with Amalienborg, or more correctly the relatively newly renovated representation mansion, that is one of the four mansions that constitute Amalienborg. QMII had been very hands on in regards to the furnishing and renovation. But her own mansion is also covered to some extent.
https://www.dr.dk/drtv/se/dronningens-slotte_-amalienborg_51714
02.20: We start in Christian VII's Mansion, build by Count Moltke, who was very rich and influential.
Moltekes Gemak, stueetagen = Moltke's room, groundfloor.
Now a guestroom.
Now Christian VII's mansion is representation and guestrooms. But in the 1800's it was the seat of the Foreign Ministry. Later kindergarten for Frederik and Joachim.
Renovated 1996.
(03:40) This is where QMII talks about while royals are willing to accept primitive conditions, guests from republics - nah.
In the 1700's the same fabric was used for curtains, walls, furnitures and bedspread.
QMII was from childhood very interested in furnishing and decoration of the homes and she was taught by Queen Ingrid.
There are three stories in each of the mansions. Ground floor (stuen), the first floor (which is grander, hence the name beletage) and second floor (mezzanin).
06:10 Mezzanin. Several guestrooms furnished by QMII.
Klunkeværelset, these furnitures stems from the West Indies and were brought back after 1917 after the sale of the Danish West Indies. This is quality mahogany!
07:00 The Secret Stairs, that are not at all secret, just tucked away a bit.
07:40 On the repos between the mazzanin and beletage. This is hi-fi anno 1760! The window opens and those in the room below can hear when a little group of musicians sit on the repos and play. The sound is very good.
Taffelsalen, beletage. This room was from the beginning meant as a dining room, so the wall-decoration depicts fish and animals that can end up on the table.
When eating dinner back then (1760) you were only issued one wineglass. When you wanted more wine, a servant took your glass, rinsed it in the sink and poured new, or the same wine, up for you.
12:30 Vestibulen. Here foreign dignitaries are received. This also where the cameras are positioned at the New Year Court.
QMII appreciate there is life on the square all year round.
15:00 The garden behind the mansion, established 1754 and now brought back to it's original state.
The two rectangles of grass are called by the Frenchification of the English words bowling-greene (don't ask me to write it in French!).
In QMII's childhood, she and her sisters and classmates sometimes went here to play ball, but back then it was only a lawn with a few trees.
Later she and her sister walked to school, regardless of the weather on Queen Ingrid's insistence, because that was healthy and fresh air and all that. Also through knee-deep snow on occasion.
18:00 Kongens salon, stueetagen = the King's Chamber, for the visiting head of state. Furnished by QMII, who insisted on a large bed. Now where to put such a thing with doors and windows all over the place? In the middle of the room.
But first we go through the office at disposal for the head of state.
Galleriet, beletage. Here the guests can mingle. The chairs and couches are not too deep, because that's a problem when wearing big gowns!
21:30 - A voliere in the back of the garden. It has not yet been restored, but it will be - or Frederik will ensure it will be.
Fløjlsgemakket, beletage (The Velvet Chamber)
The velvet was a present from the French King to Moltke. Restored in the 1990's. Here guests are received and shake hands with the DRF.
Riddersalen ( The Great Hall/Knights Hall). This is where the dinners take place and where the ladies of the DRF curtsy upon entering the room.
QMII's first New Year Court was when she was fifteen.
She hopes the Crown Princess will continue the tradition.
Rosen, beletage. - The outermost room. Here a good deal of what is left of the original table set of Flora Danica is displayed. The set was meant as a present for Tzarina Katharina of Russia, but she died so the DRF kept the set.
Kollonnaden. Build in 1794 from wood, because it was meant to be temporary.
30:00 Christian IX's Mansion. QMII's private residence.
Den blå forstue, beletage - the Blue Front Room.
QMII is very fond of the painting of PH. It encapsulates him.
Arbejdsværelset, stueetagen QMII's office, ground floor.
A nervous QMII giving her first New Year speech, from this office.
Here she on Wednesdays receive the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, separately. They sit in the couch where QMII is briefed.
Den gule salon - The Yellow Salon, which is a semi-private part of the mansion.
The gobelin on the wall was the wedding present from the government and Parliament.
The room is also used to receiving foreign prime ministers and such like. I.e. the notch below head of state.
34:50 a very shy Princess Margrethe to her first State Council when she turned eighteen.
At noon on her birthdays, she is cheered by the people and it was her dad who taught her to embrace the cheers. She is however a bit shy on her eighteenth birthday.
The first time she ever saw a guards parade, with drums and fifes, was in 1945 after the Liberation, when the Royal Lifeguard took over from the police in guarding Amalienborg. She was five years old.
Fanegemakket, stueetagen - the Colour Chamber, ground floor. Is where the colours of the Royal Lifeguards stand and are brought back after the guards have been relieved.
The latest colour bear QMII's monogram.
They were first brought over here on the evening of Frederik IX's death and QMII received the colours.
Around 42:00 you can tell QMII's confidence in Frederik being ready to take over, and pride.
At the very end. She forgot to return the microphone.
No, but the reception and meeting rooms they use on a pretty much daily basis, has a personal touch by the individual users.
I love the mix of traditional and personal.
