The Royal Run: 2019-2025


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Last evening Frederik and Mary were spotted on the quay in Copenhagen on their way out to the Royal Ship Dannebrog - which has sailed the Crown Prince Couple to Aarhus overnight. ❤️

Dannebrog arrives at Aarhus soon, where the Crown Prince walks OneMile with the Danes. Crown Princess Mary continues on to Aalborg, where she will both run the OneMile and the 5 km route with the Danes and 40 kids from the Christmas seals home.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BygJ4Pxowni/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BygMY_cIvur/

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I wish everyone - and you Muhler and family - a very good Royal Run today!

Frederik & Mary was spotted kissing goodbye before Frederik went to Aarhus and Mary went to Aalborg :wub:

http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2019_06/image.png.5282e012d1bdf754835b0ad014c84448.png


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Frederik arriving, and Mary on her way to Aalborg:
https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=dff5a63d6c64ba34b671cd003a37ae2b&oe=5D8FB88E
https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=5d3f872d65ba8f3e915c8be6d3590881&oe=5D8CAD6B
 
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Well, we are home.

There have been a few first at this Royal Run.
It's the first time a member of the DRF, Frederik, has interacted directly with the public via Instagram. And it's the first time one of the DRF children has posted something to the public on Instagram. Christian.

There will be a Royal Run next year as well. With one run taking place in Southern Jutland - in commemoration of that part of DK being reunited with DK in 1920. After having been lost to Germany since 1864.

More than 80.000 took part in the official runs, but an additional number ran in unofficial socalled side-Royal Runs. All in all at least 90.000 ran today in the official and unofficial events.
The event organizers have said if they had included all who wanted to take part, the number would have exceeded 200.000. But it had to be limited for safety and logistic reasons.

A third of those signing up today have never run before.

We arrived in Aarhus, and courtesy of a nephew of mine, we had no problems finding a place to park very close to both the start zone and Dannebrog, so we arrived in time to see Frederik on deck, albeit from some distance. So we couldn't see he being received. But a few minutes later he cycled right past us in a group of cyclists. Presumably those who received him.
We strolled up Aarhus Cathedral where the start and finishing lines were located and here Frederik gave a speech. We couldn't hear him though.
We decided to stroll a bit down the pedestrian street and when it was Frederik's turn to walk the one mile we were placed very well. He walked right past almost within arms reach.

The weather was great. A few drops falling from time to time, but neither too warm nor too cold.
What was even greater was the mood. It was fair-ground mood and it was so much a family event. But among those who had signed up, and those who simply came to have a look. But the crown wasn't overwhelming, fortunately. This is after all a bank-holiday here in DK, so many must have been doing something else.
Chatting with people, it's clear to me that this especially appealed to women, wives and sweethearts to be exact. Quite a few husbands had been press-ganged into signing up for Royal Run. ?
In short it was a big communal party. - And it's pretty certain the hotdog stands, beer sellers, restaurants and ice-cream vendors had a great day! After all you need to replenish your energy depots, right?

Frederik wasn't around when it was our time to start, presumably he was on his way to Copenhagen.
And by that time the live TV-coverage switched to Aalborg, where Mary had just arrived. So mother-in-law kept an eye on that on her phone.
We finished in a little less than an hour. A even though there was a good flow, it was a good idea not to include more, otherwise it would have been claustrophobic rather than a pleasure.
Then we joined up with the in-laws and after praising our daughter to high heaven, for being able to walk on her feet (her parents got no praise...) we strolled a bit down around the harbor to get some appetite before driving to a nice little place for a delicious and well deserved lunch.

It was during the lunch the women of the family agreed to sign us up for the five km walk next year as well. As I have an excellent relationship with my father-in-law and don't wish to ruin it by suggesting he should be physically active, I remained quiet in the background. :D
Then my otherwise angelic daughter turned to me and suggested I signed up for a five km run, or ten km, as I admittedly have run quite a lot when I was young... My father-in-law sat quietly in the background... :D

All in all a good family-outing-event and I won't mind taking part next year. Now, I just have to find a way to get out of that running-bit... :ermm:

It has been noticed and very positively so, that M&F's children ran on their own, among people and with a minimum of security.

ADDED:

Quite a few foreign residents had signed up as well.
In Aarhus it was a lot of Germans and in Aalborg it was in particular Rumanians.
 
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Granddad John Donaldson and Marys sister, Patricia, are at Amalienborg cheering with the Crown Prince family on all the Danes:
https://www.billedbladet.dk/sites/billedbladet.dk/files/styles/full_height_12grid/public/john.jpg

Frederik and Mary ❤️
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiOR2rHuSp/?utm_source=ig_embed

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And here dear members: TV2 video with Christian, Bella, Vincent and Josephine being interviewed after their run:

All 4 children were SO COOL AND BRAVE today - they has a blast ?

Kronprins Frederik tog imod sine børn ved målstregen i Royal Run i København - TV 2

"While the Crown Prince was cycling around the routes, Crown Princess Mary and all four children, together with Crown Princess Mary's father and sister, stood for hours and cheered and gave high fives to all the Danes when they came to the finish line at Amalienborg's Palace Square.

Now Mary has went inside to put the twins to bed while Frederik with the two oldest, Christian and Isabella, cheers for the rest."

Pictures of Mary and kids cheering:

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Frederik cheering ang giving water to the runners along the route:
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiesRfAdgr/
 
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Granddad John Donaldson and Marys sister, Patricia, are at Amalienborg cheering with the Crown Prince family on all the Danes:
https://www.billedbladet.dk/sites/billedbladet.dk/files/styles/full_height_12grid/public/john.jpg

Frederik and Mary ❤️
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiOR2rHuSp/?utm_source=ig_embed

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And here dear members: TV2 video with Christian, Bella, Vincent and Josephine being interviewed after their run:

All 4 children were SO COOL AND BRAVE today - they has a blast ?

Kronprins Frederik tog imod sine børn ved målstregen i Royal Run i København - TV 2

Christian's voice has changed! Growing up so fast.
 
Thanks, Roskilde.

All four children talked to the press.
Christian first, with a voice that is close to cracking, telling how nice and encouraging it was with people cheering them along.
They had trained beforehand - a little.

Isabella, who came in third. She says she did what she could and she wanted to avoid starting to walk. And instead running all the way and it gives so much energy to be cheered along.

Josephine, who came in last. It was hard last yer, but this year? - That was also really, really hard!

Vincent who finished the one mile in fine time. - It was a lot of fun and very hard.

- It seems Vincent was game for trying the ten Km run.

In the other clip, Frederik told that there will be a run next year, also in Southern Jutland, and here Isabella interjected pretty insistently: Gråsten!

ADDED:

Daily Mail has the story:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...letes-Royal-Run-charity-alongside-family.html

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A 41 pic gallery from Aarhus Stiftstidende: https://stiften.dk/article_gallery/583242
 
From the comments I heard and read, there is no question at all that had it not been for Frederik (as well as his family) and his deep commitment to this event, there is no way in this world even half would have signed on. And certainly not people who usually don't exercise.
This has also helped to cement the fact that Frederik is in the minds of now most Danes is closing in on becoming the main figure in the DRF, with Mary close behind.
QMII is still there, oh yes! But it is increasingly Frederik who calls the shots, Frederik whom people look to. - Again with Mary close behind.

What also made Royal Run an even bigger success this year, was that this year it was much more inclusive.
It incorporated the option for people to walk, and to walk a short distance i.e. one mile - which is something almost everyone can manage. After all two wearing exo-skeletons completed the one mile.
As well as a manageable medium distance. i.e. five kilometers that is also a distance almost everyone can manage.
- That no doubt got even more up from the couch than last year.

After all walking, even a short distance is better than sitting.

What also made Royal Run such a success is that it very much appeals to women. It's a social event, where everyone can attend, while having a cozy time. And if the wife or girlfriend wish to attend Royal Run and wish for her husband or boyfriend to go as well - he will go. That's how it works. ;)
It has been estimated that around 60 % of those signing up were women.

That doesn't mean it doesn't appeal to men as well. A group of men, whether they are spurred on by their better halves or not, can easily agree on walking a certain distance or running a shorter distance. And then it becomes a commitment.
The Royal Run is unusual in the sense that I will say that for most time wasn't important. It was taking part and belonging to a social group that mattered. Everything was done in order for people having the opportunity to attach themselves to a loose group, no matter the level.
The fitness-Nazis were few and far between. They had their own 10 km run they could sign up for, so they didn't bother everybody else.

There were also a number of Side-Royal Runs. Arranged locally, sometimes incorporating novel themes. Like five kilometer run for dog-owners with their dogs. Or if the dogs couldn't cope, a five kilometer walk with the dogs. The main thing was taking part.
As we all know, far from all dogs walk five kilometers a day! And the same thing goes for their owners...
I don't think that will be incorporated in the bigger events though, simply because it makes many dogs nervous having too many people and dogs around. But on a local level, it's bound to spread.
But that wasn't the only thing. Soldiers stationed abroad did their own Royal Run, as far as security permitted. Even at the Thule Base in Greenland, where a lot of the Americans stationed there joined their Danish colleagues.

It's a good thing you have to sign up for the event and buy a ticket. That means you are more committed. Otherwise it's pretty tempting to forget about training and also to skip if it rains.

This is an event where the CP-couple really mingle with people from all sorts of backgrounds and all sorts of places and of all ages. Wearing a number and running gear, means are all pretty much uniform, so the social and economical divides vanish.
The whole family taking part in the crowd with a minimum of security is a huge impact! It means so much to so many.
That Frederik is stellar when it comes to interacting with people on a personal level, even if it's just giving a high-five or posing for a selfie, certainly doesn't diminish the whole thing!
So PR-wise this simply cannot be underestimated.

The One Mile run in Copenhagen today is now the largest of it's kind in the world. Some 17.000 took part.
 
Such a wonderful day yesterday was ❤️ From the morning to the evening. The entire Royal Run broadcasted live on TV all day.

TV2 article: The Crown Prince gathered again Denmark for Royal Run: A dream has come true

Kronprinsen samlede igen Danmark til Royal Run: - En drøm er gået i opfyldelse - TV 2

Crown Prince Frederik invited the Danes to Royal Run for the second year in a row at Royal Run 2019.

Over 82,000 Danes ran with Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and their children in four Danish cities.

And it was a day with good weather, community, exercise and lots of smiles. Just as the Crown Prince had wished.

- It is another dream that has come true after the success last year. It is great to see that there is so much support for Royal Run from all ages, all sizes and at all distances, the Crown Prince said shortly before the last race in Copenhagen and revealed that he can already say now that there will be Royal Run again next year.


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Some sweet moments in the Crown Prince family during the day:
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2019_06/image.png.5282e012d1bdf754835b0ad014c84448.png
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiOR2rHuSp/?utm_source=ig_embed
http://content.invisioncic.com/r388...humb.png.ff22cfbdd1f403edb7bf98da890b2be3.png
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2019_06/image.png.c657e4a7150529947cedbce75421234f.png
https://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Jun2019/PPE19061006.jpg
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiHgc_giDj/
https://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Jun2019/PPE19061037.jpg
https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=e320820d819fa7935060ea7b4af0f7e9&oe=5D8CB9F3
https://scontent-ams4-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=3f059fee8de24501f01fc3b7fd1cb59d&oe=5D8D6549
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByjDHhaB8Bz/?utm_source=ig_embed
https://www.instagram.com/p/Byiq2MuBEBE/?utm_source=ig_embed
 
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Thanks Roskilde and Muhler for the Danish perspective and insights. A truly great event that I'm happy will be repeated.

Frederik and Mary and the kids must have given 100s of hugs and photos yesterday. They really mingled with all. Its exciting to read about all the first time runners.

The DRF website has 3 really nice galleries from today
Royal Run i København/Frederiksberg | Kongehuset
 
You bet, Polyesco!

I haven't checked, but I understand the DRF Instagram account has exploded with positive feedback.

ADDED: A very nice BB video, showing that the twins are after all only eight, not least Vincent...
Christian is tall! And considering that his mother isn't exactly short...
And Bella, she is so much daddy's girl. She is obviously very fond of her father!
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongeli...oernene-overraskede-loeberne-paa-slotspladsen

ADDITION:
A great photo of Josephine, courtesy of New Idea: https://www.newidea.com.au/media/59440/mary-3.jpeg?width=720&center=0.0,0.0

And a great finishing photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/ByilinhASgE/?utm_source=ig_embed
Everyone who has children will be very familiar with that sight!
 
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Lovely photos of the family. It looks like it was a great event for everyone and they all seemed to be in their element! Love that Christian got to post his first photo on the DRF's official Instagram account, too.
 
that's a cute picture of Josephine from New Idea.
A close up of Isabella,
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3b/d5/50/3bd55069f802bd03abda7604648c30ad.jpg

another gallery
https://amtsavisen.dk/oestjylland/Se-billederne-Royalt-loeb-i-midtbyens-gader/artikel/448376
what a tremendous success!

and big brother "helping" little brother come inside :D
https://www.instagram.com/p/Byiq2MuBEBE/?utm_source=ig_embed

the excess food and water went to the local food bank
https://www.royalrun.dk/nyheder/res...LKMajHakkAasHnRmGBYLayeZh9xS2x6gFtd0NYeuIY_2c

”Royal Run is well on its way to becoming a permanent folk party, and we are pleased that with our presence all over the country, we can contribute to reducing food waste and conveying the food to socially vulnerable people. in the middle of this folk party and that we can contribute to this good event, ”
 
I love that this is turning into an annual event for the family. The four children continue to impress me! It’s difficult for some adults to be both poised and natural, without being overly familiar, and yet the Danish kids seem to have it mastered already. I like that their parents trust them to interact with the public by themselves, even though the media seems to be everywhere. And the kids rose to the occasion beautifully.
 
Thank you Muhler for your posts especially 283 being a first hand account of your day. I really enjoyed your descriptions. Also Polyesco and Roskilde for your contributions.
It sounds like a great day out for most families and couples and chances to meet new people and make friends and a chance to see the royals. So pleased the Donaldsons were able to be there. It's great they get the chance to catch up with Fred and Mary and the kids.
 
The Royal Run 2019 was a wonderful day and all the people I have talked to at the day and afterwards think we have the world's best Crown Prince, the world's best Crown Princess and that they have the world's coolest children.
All Danes could follow 'Royal Run' live-broadcasted on TV from morning to evening and therefore we all could follow it closely. :flowers:

I have three special moments I will mention in chronological time of the day:

1. Mary's race with the kids from the Christmas Homes:
Experiencing Mary running in Aalborg was a touching experience. She first ran 5 km with the Danes before she afterwards ran OneMile together with 40 children from the Christmas Homes (along with everyone else too). You see Mary taking very good care of the children, guiding them and giving good support to the kids while they run. Just before the finish line you can see that Mary discovers not all 40 children are along and on the helicopter-pictures you can see Mary turns around, runs toward the stream, back to the children who cannot follow with the rest. She runs to them, encourages them with good words; "We are almost there, you can do it, you can do more than you think'." Mary runs over the finish line at the last one after all children have crossed it. A loving sight.

A little clip here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Byh1dtRgxHZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again

2. The children's run in Copenhagen:
Christian sprinted and was quickly over the finish line, not as fast as he could I think - we could see him several times along the way looking back for his siblings.
The real sprinter was little Vincent. He reached the finish line shortly after his big brother. He ran the OneMile really fast for an only 8 year old boy - it was also lovingly noticed in the TV studio.
Isabella ran steadily, concentrating on not stopping and she ran safely over the finish line.
But little Josephine was the one I lost my heart to during that race :D
Josephine is a dance girl, but I don't think she is as sporty as the rest of the family. Last year she told TV2 that: "I think it was hard." This year she told TV2 that: "It was really really hard." :D
She sprinted off with her siblings at the beginning, but fell behind. You could see she struggled a little eventually which the TV studio lovingly smiled at and Josephine was clearly the one who was happiest to finally reach the finish line :lol: With a big smile, but easily exhausted she ran into her father's embrace. She sure was very happy to reach that finish line. It was very cute. Her siblings cheerfully cheered on her.

Some pictures of the moment:
https://ibb.co/pn95YxT
https://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Jun2019/PPE19061028.jpg
http://content.invisioncic.com/r38859/monthly_2019_06/image.png.c657e4a7150529947cedbce75421234f.png
https://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Jun2019/PPE19061006.jpg
https://ibb.co/DDMGKNm

Video:

(Many have also mentioned how well-behaved and eloquent the four children are. Frederik and Mary always allow them to talk to the TV stations without a filter. They are so sweet and they are allowed to just be children and who they are.)

3. Frederik shared water around the routes:
In how many countries do we see a Crown Prince standing in the streets sharing out waterbottles to the runners? While his wife and children are down at the street cheering and giving high fives to the running people? This is something the Danes love the Crown Prince Couple very much for. That they actually pay tribute to the population - and not the other way around. As usual with royalty.

A little clip:
 
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Thanks, Roskilde.
And you are welcome, Tarlita.

Trivia from Billed Bladet #24, 2019.

The Royal Run 2019 has been covered pretty well here, so I will only add a few details.

The One Mile run in Copenhagen is now the largest in the world with more than 19.000 taking part.

Vincent ran the One Mile in an impressive time for a boy his age, a little more than eight minutes.

Frederik cycled the 10 Km run, back and forth and handed out water and posed for countless selfies, as well as cheering at the finishing line as the rear guard came, with him was not least daddy's girl, Bella.

When the four children had finished the One Mile run, Frederik was asked how he thought his children had done on a scale from 1-10. Well, there should always be room for improvement, so a 9. - To the loud protests of his children, who believed they deserved a 10.

Morfar, John Donaldson was also at Amalienborg during the run, alongside moster, Patricia Bailey. And after having finished their One Mile run, the four children went over to John Donaldson to show of their medals and get a hug.

Later on, during the 10 km run, Mary had returned to Copenhagen and stood at the finishing line with her children, including mother's little boy, Christian.
Since the runners wore their names as well a numbers on the belly, the family cheered people along by name.
They also handed out high fives, as well as posed for selfies. But a big runner came along and gave Mary a high five that counted! She had to step away for a moment and tend to her hand. - Ouch!
A number of close friends of the family also passed Mary and her children. - Jeppe Handwerk, Johan and Rebecca Wedell-Wedellsborg and Christian Buchwald.

In Aarhus more than 16.000 ran along. That's roughly 5% of the entire population of Aarhus municipality even though many would have come from other parts of DK - including us.

In Aalborg more than 13.000 ran.

Mary started by running five kilometers in 26 minutes 56 seconds. She did admit afterwards that her legs were a bit heavy towards the end.
Shortly after she ran a One Mile race with obese children from a Christmas Seal Home, as well as children who have intellectual challenges.
And as Roskilde pointed out, no one were left behind. Mary returned repeatedly to pick up the stragglers.

You can find the scans here:
https://app.box.com/s/jgdfcskhe5fnaxvcxx2s3zn7b1gyymvg
 
Bravo Muhler and family!:flowers: Thanks for your report and well done on participating in the Run:flowers:Such a wonderful initiative and a great incentive to start moving. I do wonder whether newcomers to Denmark also participated (following the Crown Princess' example):ermm:
 
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Bravo Muhler and family!:flowers: Thanks for your report and well done on participating in the Run:flowers:Such a wonderful initiative and a great incentive to start moving. I do wonder whether newcomers to Denmark also participated (following the Crown Princess' example):ermm:

You are welcome. ?

Truth to be told the vast majority who ran in Aarhus looked very European.
There were however many foreign students who ran. Both in Aarhus and Aalborg.
How things were in Copenhagen, I have no idea.
 
"When participants in the Royal Run 2020 cross the finish line, they will receive a redesigned medal around their neck.
The appearance of the medal has just been revealed, and here H.K.H. The Crown Prince it presented. In addition to being made of zinc, the medal has a cord woven from recycled plastic. The Royal Run will be launched on June 1 in Sønderborg and then continue in Aalborg and Odense as well as Copenhagen and Frederiksberg. In addition, Royal Run will again be held at Bornholm, though without royal participation. Four days before the launch goes to Royal Run 2020, H.K.H. Crown Prince of Greenland to kick off the Royal Run in the capital Nuuk."
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Rhy6egM-j/?utm_source=ig_embed

Lovely pic!
https://scontent.fhen1-1.fna.fbcdn....=995ac75c27cc214f458e7e8c2303bed3&oe=5E82F06B

Beautiful and sustainable design
Crown Prince Frederik has just presented the medal on the Royal's social media and it is made of zinc and seven centimeters in diameter.

Sustainability has also been envisaged in the medal, with the medal cord being woven from recycled plastic and smaller than in previous years to reduce the carbon
footprint.
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/kronprins-frederik-har-spaendende-nyt-om-royal-run
 
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:previous:

Personale message from Frederik, Mary and children:

‘We have all in the family been looking forward to take on our running shoes for the Royal Run. However, due to the current situation with COVID-19/coronavirus, we unfortunately have to postpone this year's running party to September 6 in Denmark and August 30 in Greenland.

We would like to encourage all running people - young and old - to maintain the joy and enthusiasm for exercise, to follow the recommendations of the authorities and to have patience.

We all six hope that the Royal Run can become a major gathering after the summer holiday and that everyone will take care of themselves - and each other.“

And with a lovely new photo of the Crown Prince family:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KG6PB...d&ig_mid=0E99DB98-8355-4D49-AF7F-3171D95B25A8

 
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