Summary of article in Billed Bladet #47, 2018.
Written by Trine Larsen.
The grandest of the royal hunts was held recently at Grib Forest near Fredensborg.
While the gentlemen (and sometimes ladies) go hunting, QMII is hostess for an outing for the ladies.
That always involves something cultural, with QMII as a knowledgeable, and at times apparently also very talkative and enthusiastic, tour guide!
The ladies were basically a list of close friends of M&F:
Carina Axelsson.
Malou Skeel, from Birkelse Manor.
Baroness Helle Reedtz-Thott, from Gavnø Manor.
Birgitta Hillingsø, a close friend of QMII.
Countess Pernille Wedell, from Wedellsborg Manor.
Countess Kirsten Moltke, from Bregentved Estate (large farm/small manor.)
Princess Kelly, married to Prinz Hubertus of Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha.
Baroness Alexa von Malsen-Plessen, from Selsø-Lindholm Estate.
Countess Ulla Brockenhuus-Schack, from Giesengaard Estate. (A member of the Schack family who declined inheriting Schackenborg.)
Josephine Pontoppidan Nissen. (Really only a sweetheart to one of the hunters, but she belongs to one of the leading intellectual families of Copenhagen.)
Countess Stephanie Knuth, from Knuthenborg Manor.
It seems like Prince (Prinz) Gustav of Berleburg and Carina Axelsson stayed at Amalienborg with M&F, because QMII and the the other ladies drove in by bus from Fredensborg and joined Mary and Carina at Amalienborg.
Here the group was treated to an extensive tour at Amalienborg Museum, that is currently exhibiting the works by QMII as scenographer.
Then the group was subjec... eeh, I mean treated to even more art at Glyptoteket in Copenhagen.
After this busy forenoon the party went by bus to Fredensborg to a well deserved lunch, so that they could be ready for their menfolks returning from the hunt and the game parade outside the palace at 17.00.
Normally, it was PH who hosted the actual hunt, even if he didn't always take an active part in the hunt. Now that honor has passed to his son, Frederik.
In all seventeen had been invited for the hunt and there has been some changes. Normally those taking part belonged to the circle of friends around the Regent Couple, today that has gradually changed to the circle of friends around M&F.
Among them the wealthy businessman, Fritz Schur, who since the death of Mærsk Mckinney-Møller, has looked after the finances and investments of the Regent Couple, and I suspect now also M&F.
I'll return to the traditions about the game parade.
It is tradition the ladies come out and witness the game parade and also show respect for the animals.
Here it was observed that Frederik stayed close to his mother and on occasions supported her arm.
QMII, followed by M&F also thanked the employees, wardens and foresters who had helped at the hunt.
- The game actually belongs to the state, this being a state forest. That means the hunters must buy the animals they have shot if they wish to have the meat or heads as trophies. Otherwise the meat is sold to shops.
You can see the scans in the Frederik thread.
Now to the game parade.
I'm not a hunter myself so forgive any mistakes.
Denmark adhere to the Central European traditions regarding hunt and they are very elaborate and I don't know how old! Some of the traditions must be very old, because they seem pretty pagan to me.
Nowadays hunters tend to dress practical and in camouflage, but that is pretty recent. Only 50 years ago it was normal that a gentleman hunter dressed up for the occasion. The emphasis being well attired but still practical and that included a tie and a walking stick. PH, as you know was a master in "dressing up" for a hunt!
Depending on circumstances the hornblowers blow a tune to signal the start of the hunt.
While on the hunt, whether pyrsching (tracking the game) or standing on a designated spot, the hornblowers will play signals indicating "The hunt is over. Return." or "Cease fire and stop!"
After the hunt the game will be collected and broken. (Cut open and bled out).
The animals will then carefully be laid on a bed of fir-twigs surrounded by torches. And here the hornblowers will play a number of tunes. One of them being "End of the hunt", and when a tune is played in the honor of the game the gentlemen present will take off their hats. Ladies however do not take off their hats.
Here the tradition is shown in a brief video to kindergarten- and school children at Odder Museum, nor far from where I was born BTW.