MARGRETE II
Full name: Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid
(born 1940)
Queen of Denmark since 1972
In some countries, on the occasion of the birthday of the head of state, national flags are hung on official buildings, but this is unlikely to happen on private houses. And in Denmark they do it. And without any coercion. This happens every year on April 16, when the whole country celebrates the birthday of its Queen Margrethe II.
The popularity of royal families is greatly facilitated by the process of European integration. Borders are disappearing, state currencies, which have been replaced by the euro, have been given a long life. People are afraid of losing their national characteristics. And they see monarchs as almost the only salvation in this situation. Therefore, the Queen of Denmark, when going to an official meeting, always puts on an ancient folk costume - this flatters the feelings and pride of her subjects.
After the death of the famous Margrethe I, who united Denmark, Norway and Sweden under her banners, women in public affairs, if they were somehow significant, were only in the shadow of crowned men. For for almost 600 years only they could be the legitimate heirs to the Danish throne. Only in 1953 did the citizens of the kingdom ensure the transfer of dynastic rights also through the female line, voting in a referendum for changes in the constitution. And after 19 years, Margrethe II from the Glucksburg dynasty ascended the throne.
Margrethe, daughter of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid, was born in Copenhagen on April 16, 1940, exactly one week after Nazi Germany occupied her country. The Kingdom of Denmark did not have the strength to resist, so it surrendered almost without a fight. The baby immediately became the favorite of her compatriots, since the birth of a child in the family of the heir to the throne, when the country was under the heel of the occupiers, became a symbol of the hope of all Danes for revival.
Despite the fact that Margrethe was assigned to a regular high school for girls, home teachers made up for the shortcomings of universal education, based on the attitude of her parents: “Denmark deserves a highly educated, intelligent monarch.” After school, years of study followed at the universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Cambridge, Paris and London. A modern queen should understand economics, political science, history...
Margrethe chose to study history not in the quiet of libraries, but under the scorching sun of Egypt and Sudan. In excavations near Rome, the crown princess worked with her maternal grandfather, the Swedish king Gustav VI Adolf. He became the first critic of his granddaughter’s drawings, generous with compliments, and she drew, in her own words, “as long as she can remember.”
From 1958 to 1964, Margrethe traveled to five continents, covering a distance of 140 thousand km. One day in London she met the secretary of the French embassy, the brilliant officer Henri Jean-Marie André, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat. A few years later, on June 10, 1967, the Crown Princess, with the consent of the Danish parliament, married a former French diplomat. After the wedding, the Comte de Monpezat received the title of prince and the Danish name Henrik. The following year, the couple had their first son, Crown Prince Frederik, and in 1969, their second son, Prince Joachim.
Margrethe ascended the throne on January 14, 1972 at the age of 31 after the death of her 74-year-old father. That morning, Prime Minister Kragh led a young woman in a black dress onto the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and announced to the silent square: “King Frederick IX is dead. Long live Queen Margrethe II! Since then, it has continued the traditions of one of the most ancient European monarchies, whose founders in the middle of the 10th century. were King Gorm and his wife Tura. Since that distant time, the 1000-year-old Danish monarchy has never experienced the vicissitudes of popular anger in the form of all kinds of revolutions.
The Queen's motto: "God's help, the love of the people, the prosperity of Denmark." More than once she noted that she was trying to fulfill the duties of head of state “with a warm heart.” This is why they love her, although she is absolutely far from politics. Some, however, believe that the queen has only one drawback - she is a heavy smoker. The Danes even recently argued with their Swedish neighbors about this. Stockholm television presenter Hagge Geigert, for example, said that it was not appropriate for a national symbol to smoke in public. In response, the Danish writer Ebbe Reich recalled that the king of Sweden also smokes, but quietly. And the evening newspaper "B.T." added that he does this “like a schoolboy in the toilet.”
Her undoubted creative abilities also helped the queen win the sympathy of her subjects. Together with her husband, she translated several novels by the French writer Simone de Beauvoir into Danish. According to her, translating the complex psychological novel “All Men are Mortal” helped them “pass the long winter evenings in the royal palace.” Critics highly praised the skill of the translator X. M. Weyerberg, under whose name the crowned couple hid for the time being.
But Margrethe II is best known as an artist: under the pseudonym Ingahild Gratmer, she illustrated several books. In addition, the queen completed 70 drawings for the Danish edition of J.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, designed television plays, ballets, religious festivals, and also came up with “Christmas stamps”, which the Danes stick in addition to the usual ones on envelopes with New Year’s greetings.
In addition to quite active official representative activities as the head of Denmark, Margrethe II is energetically involved in the cultural, educational and charitable sphere. She is a significant figure in the humanitarian field not only in her country, but also within the Northern region as a whole. The Queen receives $6.75 million a year from the state. This money goes to support the royal family, whose very modest fortune - $15 million - is invested in securities.
In one public opinion poll, the majority of Danes admitted that the monarchy in its current form serves as a guarantor of democracy in the country. And the point is not only that the royal house is a direct connection with history, on the strong roots of which national pride grows. The Queen herself plays a leading role here. Her speeches from the throne and addresses to the people do not always make hearts tremble with joy. They often contain reproaches towards those who, reveling in their own well-being, forget about their suffering compatriots. She does not ignore the negative attitude towards foreign workers in the country. Even the government may become the target of her criticism.
The scale and charm of Margrethe II’s personality contributed to the fact that even now the prestige of the crown in Denmark is very high, especially in comparison with the royal courts of its large and small neighbors, shaken by all sorts of scandals and sensations from the gossip column. In 2002, all of Denmark widely and solemnly celebrated the 30th anniversary of the reign of the successor of the Glucksburg dynasty, which was closely connected in the past with the house of the Romanovs.
In mid-June 2003, Margrethe II intends to visit Russia on a state visit and take part in events celebrating the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. This visit is associated with a historical and noble mission of pacification. Recently, an official proposal was received from Moscow to Copenhagen to rebury the remains of the Danish princess Dagmar, mother of Nicholas II, Empress Maria Feodorovna, in the imperial tomb of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. She ascended the throne with her husband Alexander III in 1881, after spending 15 years in Russia as Grand Duchess. After the revolution, Maria Feodorovna returned to Denmark, where she rested in 1928, and her remains rest in the royal tomb in the cathedral in Roskilde. In her will, she asked to be buried in Russia when “the right time comes.” Apparently, that time has come.
From the book 100 famous women author Sklyarenko Valentina MarkovnaMARGRETE II Full name - Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid (born in 1940) Queen of Denmark since 1972. In some countries, on the occasion of the birthday of the head of state, national flags are hung on official buildings, but this is unlikely on private houses. And in Denmark
From the book History of Denmark by Paludan HelgeChapter 4 Waldemar Atterdag, Margrethe and Eric of Pomerania (1340-1439) The North and the Baltic Sea basin around 1400 The restless and chaotic period that began in 1320 ended in complete political collapse. When Christopher died in 1332, the entire country was mortgaged to the Holsteins.
From the book History of Denmark by Paludan HelgeMargrethe and the Kalmar Union (1375-1412) When Valdemar died in 1375, the problem arose that the king did not leave behind any sons. His eldest daughter Ingeborg was married to a representative of the Mecklenburg ducal dynasty; she died around
From the book History of Denmark by Paludan HelgeThe Monarchy of Queen Margrethe The Queen's relationship with the Danish nobility changed over time. In 1376 she had to make big concessions; Thus, the confiscations of the lands of the Jutland nobility, carried out by Valdemar more recently, were completely stopped or annulled.
Denmark is a country led by a king. A constitutional monarchy means that the sovereign reigns but does not rule. The king acts as a state symbol, but does not have a serious influence on politics. Nevertheless, the kings and queens of Denmark have ruled the country for almost a thousand years, and the current ruler, Margrethe II, is greatly respected and loved by her people. Her eldest son will inherit the throne
Birth
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Denmark was born in May 1968. He became the first-born in the family of the Danish Crown Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik. Frederick's mother was not supposed to inherit the throne, because according to the law of the country, the crown was passed on only to a male heir. King Frederick IX of Denmark had no sons, so he was forced to change the system of succession to the throne. As a result of the transformation, women were given equal rights with men, and Margrethe became the heir. This inheritance system is still in effect in the country.
Prince Frederik was born in the royal palace of Amalienborg, and his baptism took place in Holmens Church. The boy was named after his grandfather, and among his godparents were royalty from other countries. They were Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Duchess Josephine of Luxembourg.
Education
The prince, being the heir to the country, received an excellent education. As a child, Frederick, along with his younger brother Joachim, was home-schooled, and at the age of 8 he went to a comprehensive school, where he studied among ordinary children. Then he studied for several years in a closed private boarding house in Normandy, and also graduated from high school in Copenhagen.
Frederick received his higher education at one of the best universities in the world - Harvard, where he studied social sciences. He earned a degree in political science in his homeland at the Danish University of Aarhus. In addition to his native language, the prince also speaks English, French and German.
Social activity
As a member of the royal family and the next king of Denmark, the crown prince has no right to influence the political life of the country. But he takes part in social activities, actively involved in charity work. In his youth he was first secretary at the Danish embassy in France.
The future king of Denmark is now the country's regent during the absence of his mother Margrethe II, and also participates in meetings of the Council of State and the opening of parliament. His wife is the patron of her own charitable foundation, which deals with the problems of socially isolated people. The legacy couple provide support to people affected by domestic violence, bullying or loneliness. The fund was opened with money that the country gave to the couple on their wedding day.
Frederick is a big sports fan, so he patronizes outstanding athletes in every possible way. He regularly attends various competitions, including the Olympic Games, where he actively supports his country. Participated in two expeditions: to Mongolia and Greenland. In the latter he spent 4 months, being in harsh polar conditions.
Military career
Like the next king of Denmark, Frederick is an officer of all types of Danish troops. He served in the Navy and Air Force. The Crown Prince is also the commander of many regiments and platoons.
While serving in an elite naval unit of combat swimmers, Frederick received the nickname Penguin. Due to the air trapped under the swimming suit, he simply glided through the water for a long time.
Personal life
From his youth, Frederick was famous for his many lovers. Breaking off relations with his girls, the prince continually found himself on the pages of newspapers and magazines. One day he even planned to marry the Danish rock singer Maria Montel, which caused a huge scandal in Russia. There were rumors that his mother was very outraged by her son’s prank and threatened him with deprivation of his rights to the throne. It is unknown how Frederick himself reacted to this, but his relationship with Montel soon faded away.
However, now Frederick is considered an exemplary family man. He met his wife, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 14 years ago during the Olympics in Australia. The romance proceeded quite stormily, and after 2 years the couple announced their engagement.
Frederick is the future king of Denmark, so it was assumed that he would marry a woman. But Princess Mary, née Donaldson, is not one of the aristocrats. Her father taught mathematics at an Australian university, and her mother died long before the lovers met. The princess herself received a law degree and worked in an advertising agency. After meeting the prince, she was forced to move first to Europe and then to Denmark, where Mary worked as an English teacher.
The engagement of Frederick and Mary became known in October 2003, and the wedding itself took place in May 2004. An event of this magnitude brought together many royalty in Copenhagen, as well as a large number of tourists. The wedding was broadcast live on central television. Mary Donaldson was given the title Her Royal Highness Crown Princess of Denmark on her wedding day. She also accepted the Lutheran faith and renounced becoming a full resident of Denmark.
Children
Despite his reputation as a heroic lover, Frederick has been happily married for 12 years. Together with Princess Mary, they are the parents of 4 children.
The couple's first child was born a year after the wedding. It is assumed that he will subsequently inherit the throne as King Christian XI of Denmark. Following him in 2007, Princess Isabella was born, third in line to the Danish throne after her father and older brother.
In 2010, the royal court announced that Mary was pregnant again. And already at the beginning of the next year, the Crown Princess gave birth to twins (a boy and a girl), who were named Vincent and Josephine.
The kings of Denmark have ruled for a thousand years now, and Frederick will join the list in a few years. We can only hope that he will become an excellent sovereign for his people, because for this he has everything he needs: a good education, active social activities and a strong family.
Margrethe II(Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, dat. Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid) - Queen of Denmark since January 14, 1972, head of the Danish state.
Place of Birth. Education. Queen Margrethe II was born on April 16, 1940 at Amalienborg Palace. Her parents are King Frederick IX of Denmark and Queen Ingrid, née Princess of Sweden. The Queen is the third granddaughter of King Christian X. She was named after Crown Princess Margaret of Connaught of Sweden, her maternal grandmother.
One of the queen's names, Thorhildur, is Icelandic and contains the characteristic Icelandic letter "Þ", because at the time of her birth Iceland was part of the Kingdom of Denmark, until 1944.
The Queen was baptized on May 14, 1940 in the Holmens Church (Danish: Holmens Kirke), and confirmed on April 1, 1955 in the Fredensborg Palace Church.
From 1946-1955 - secondary school "Zahles Skole", Copenhagen, including private education until 1949.
From 1955-1956 - "North Foreland Lodge", a boarding school in Hampshire, England.
In 1960 - studied philosophy at the University of Copenhagen.
From 1960-1961 - studying archeology at the University of Cambridge.
From 1962-1962 - studying social science at the University of Aarhus.
In 1963 - studied social science at the Sorbonne.
In 1965 - studied at the London School of Economics.
In addition to her native Danish, Margrethe speaks French, Swedish, English and German.
Army. From 1958 to 1970, Margrethe was a recruit in the women's section of the Air Squadron, where during this period she studied various aspects of military affairs.
She has close relationships with some units of the British Army: since 1972, Margrethe II has been the chief of the British regiment, and since 1992 - the Royal Welsh Regiment.
He is the Supreme Commander of the Danish Armed Forces.
Accession to the throne. Since the right of succession to the throne passed through the male line, and Frederick IX had only daughters, it became necessary to change the law of succession to the throne (introduced on 27 March 1953), which allowed Margrethe, Princess of Denmark, to assume the title of Crown Princess and subsequently assume the throne.
On 16 April 1958, Crown Princess Margrethe became a member of the Council of State and was given the responsibility of holding meetings of the Council in the absence of Frederick IX.
Hobbies. The Queen is seriously interested in painting, works in various genres (drawing, engraving, textiles, watercolors, graphics, decoupage, set design, embroidery, book illustration (including a series of illustrations for “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien). Most Her work has been exhibited both in Denmark and abroad, and is also represented in the State Museum of Art, the ARoS Art Museum (Aarhus) and the State Collection of Drawings (Køge).The Tolkien Ensemble uses Margrethe's drawings as album covers, with her permission.
Exhibitions: The Queen's artwork has been shown on numerous occasions in Denmark and abroad. Sketches, models and costumes for the ballet "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" were exhibited in Copenhagen, Odense and Paris between 1988 and 1990. Works for the ballet "Folk Song" - Aarhus 1991, Washington 1992, National Museum, Copenhagen 2005, Riga 2005. A series of sketches and costumes for various productions were exhibited in Edinburgh in 2005.
Family. On June 10, 1967, then-Crown Princess Margrethe married the French diplomat Count Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat (born June 11, 1934, near Bordeaux), who on the occasion of the marriage received the title “His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark.” The wedding took place at Holmens Church in Copenhagen, and the wedding celebrations took place at Fredensborg Palace.
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik have two sons: Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian (born 26 May 1968) and Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian (born 7 June 1969).
He had no intention of meeting the Crown Princess. But the very first meeting was the beginning of a long road of love. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Consort Henrik of Denmark have been together for 50 years. Sometimes it can be difficult for them, but wisdom and patience help them cope with difficulties.
Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid
She was born at Alienborg Castle in Copenhagen on April 16, 1940, to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid. By this time, the tiny Danish kingdom had been occupied by Nazi Germany for a week. The birth of a baby among a couple of monarchs in such a difficult time for the country gave hope for the revival of a free country.
The baby’s parents believed that Denmark should have a monarch who would receive an excellent education and be distinguished by intelligence and good manners. That is why, along with studying at a regular school, the future queen had to study hard at home, following all the instructions of visiting teachers.
Higher education alone is naturally not enough for a monarch, and Princess Margaret, after studying philosophy at the University of Copenhagen, studied archeology at Cambridge, social science at Aarhus and the Sorbonne, and economics at the London School.
Together with her grandfather, the Swedish king, the young princess took part in excavations near Rome. It was Gustav VI Adolf who was the first to note the girl’s far from mediocre artistic abilities.
In 1953, the Danish law of succession to the throne was changed because the current king had three daughters. A change in the law allowed Margaret, as the king's eldest daughter, to receive the title of crown princess.
From 1958, Crown Princess Margaret became a member of the Council of State, which gave her the responsibility of replacing her father at meetings and representing Denmark internationally.
From that moment on, Margaret went on official visits to different countries, attended receptions and parties. One of these receptions became the meeting place for the princess and her future husband.
Henri Marie Jean André, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat
The future Prince Consort of Denmark was born in Indochina on June 11, 1934. When the boy was 5 years old, the family returned to France to the family residence in Cahors, where young Henri went to school. He studied at the Jesuit College in Bordeaux, and then at high school in Cahors.
In Hanoi, where the family left after his father's appointment, Henri studied at a French gymnasium, after which he became a student at the Sorbonne. Here he successfully studied law and politics, while improving his knowledge of Chinese and Vietnamese at the National School of Oriental Languages. Comte de Laborde de Monpezat's language practice took place in Hong Kong and Saigon.
After serving in the army and participating in the Algerian War, Henri successfully passes the exam and becomes an employee of the Asian Department of the French Foreign Ministry. Since 1963, he has held the position of third secretary at the French Embassy in London. It was in London that he would meet his future wife Margarete.
It was love
When Henri was told that the Crown Princess of Denmark herself would be present at the dinner party to which he was invited, he was about to resolutely refuse the invitation. It seemed to him that the princess must certainly be arrogant, arrogant, extremely capricious and very selfish.
However, reality did not at all correspond to his fantasies. At the reception, he saw a charming young lady with a charming smile, excellent manners and the ability to support any conversation.
When Henri arrived in Denmark, Margarete herself met him at the airport, not trusting anyone. She herself wanted to meet on Danish soil the one who had occupied all her thoughts lately. The tender meeting of the lovers left no doubt that things were heading towards a wedding. The very next day after Henri arrived in Denmark, on October 5, 1966, the engagement of Crown Princess Margarete of Denmark and Comte de Laborde de Monpeza was announced.
They were married in Holmens Church in Copenhagen on June 10, 1967. As a result of the marriage, the princess's husband received the title "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark."
Royal co-creation
In early 1972, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark ascended the throne after the death of her father. By this time, two children were already growing up in the family: Frederic and Joakim. Prince Henrik was somewhat burdened by his second role under the queen, but he had enough patience to direct his energies to raising children and creativity. He writes and publishes collections of poetry, finding in them solace and peace of mind.
However, the queen herself, realizing how difficult it is for her husband to play a secondary role, involves him in joint creativity. Under the pseudonym of X. M. Weyerberg, translations of Simone de Beauvoir, a French writer, begin to be published in Denmark. Critics gave very flattering assessments of the quality of the translation of the books, not even realizing that under an inconspicuous pseudonym, the crowned persons of Denmark themselves were preparing for publication.
Wisdom and patience
However, against the backdrop of his bright and talented wife, Prince Henrik was losing. She paints pictures, illustrates books, and designs scenery and costumes for theatrical productions. But he still remains only her husband, and with the title of only Prince Consort.
As much as the Danes love and extol their queen, being proud of her talents and respecting her for her fairness and openness, they are also offended by the behavior of Prince Henrik, who is constantly offended by the lack of attention to himself.
However, the Queen of Denmark has enough wisdom and patience so that Prince Henrik does not feel left out. In 2002, the prince was not appointed to perform royal duties in Margarete's absence, entrusting them to his eldest son, Frederic. Offended by this turn, Prince Henrik went to the family estate in Cahors, but the queen immediately followed him. They spent some time together, after which they returned safely to Denmark.
And in 2016, Prince Henrik resigned as a member of the royal house and officially announced his retirement. However, Queen Margaret II herself does not care at all what status her husband is. The main thing is that there are real feelings between them.
And yet kings can easily afford to marry for love. Margrethe II still loves her husband, and the Norwegian love story confirms that even the throne cannot replace real feelings.
On this day, back in 1972, as a result of a sad event - the death of her father Frederick IX, Margrethe Alexandrina Thorhildur Ingrid ascended the throne of Denmark, becoming Queen Margrethe II.
The father, having no sons, declared his eldest daughter as his successor during his lifetime (in 1953 the law on succession to the throne was changed; previously, succession to the throne passed through the male line and the heir was Frederick’s younger brother, the extremely unpopular Prince Canute).
Margrethe in 1966
As you can see, Margrethe II’s great-grandmother Anastasia Mikhailovna was a Russian Grand Duchess, daughter of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, son of Nicholas I. 
Margrethe in 1966
The queen was 32 years old at the time of her accession to the throne. She was married and had two young sons, Frederic (four years old) and Joakim (three years old). 
The queen's mother, Igrid of Sweden, outlived her husband the king by 28 years and died in 2000.
The Queen has two younger sisters - Benedicta of Denmark and Anne Maria of Denmark. 
Left (January 1972)
It seems impossible to smile in such a situation. But it was necessary and she smiled. 
(1972)
And yet the custom of inheriting the throne in this way is very cruel. The monarchs of the Netherlands are right when they abdicate in favor of a child and retire to nurse their grandchildren. In this case, the moment of the heir's rise is not overshadowed by grief.
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