An Editorial Article about Mary Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.

Official portraits of The Royal Family
Photo: Dennis Stenild, Kongehuset ©

Today I am highlighting someone that I consider a wonderful example and a champion of the Danish and Australian people, Mary Elizabeth, Mary Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.  I am pleased to give you an editorial series that positively talks about Queen Mary and her achievements and the mark she has left for generations to come.  Today, I will be spotlighting areas of Queen Mary and the Royal Danish Court:

1. Princess Mary in her role as HM
   
2. History of the Danish Royal Family
   
3. Etiquette of Royal Families
   
4. Royal Dining Etiquette

Gala photos of The Crown Prince Family
Dennis Stenild, Kongehuset ©

​Queen Mary in Her Role as Her Majesty​
Why have I focused on Queen Mary today?  Many I speak to admire Queen Mary.  Who would have thought an Australian making their way into a notable Scandinavian royal family!  Well, she did it on the premises of love.  Let’s get to know the Queen Mary better.  Queen Mary was born Hobart, Tasmania, Australia as Mary Elizabeth Donaldson.  She is the youngest daughter parent to John Donaldson and Henrietta Donaldson; The Queen has two sisters and one brother.  Where is Tasmania you may ask?  It is a small island that makes up the seven states of Australia.  Tasmania is known as the ‘island of contrasts’ where you can hike on rugged mountains, bathe in cleanest coastlines, picnic in the calmest bays, walk in native forests and the eat freshest produce you can find in Australia.
 
The Crown Princess Early Years
The Queen’s early years began in Texas. Returning to Hobart, Mary attended school the University of Tasmania graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Law.  Her further education continued, working for advertising agencies in Melbourne, Australia.
 
Queen Mary was already well-travelled in her younger years and came from an emigree family that originated from Scotland.  After achieving a university education and working in her areas of expertise, she travelled throughout Europe and the United Kingdom which included Scotland.  Queen Mary worked in Scotland and for a short time in Paris, Melbourne and Sydney.

HRH The Crown Princess's post on International Women's Day
Photo Franne Voigt ©

​Queen Mary Today
Since her marriage The King Frederik of Denmark, Queen Mary has learnt to speak, fluently in Danish.  Danish is not an easy language to learn however over time she has been able to be accomplished in this Nordic language.  Her acceptance of the Danish culture can be seen in many family photos.  You will see her dressed in national costume wearing traditional clothing from The Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland.
 
The royal family resides with their family in Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg and in the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace.  To assist Queen Mary to accomplish her many roles and look after the day-to-day palace many routines, available to her the secretariat, service unit and household staff.  The staff assist her in making international visits, attend ceremonies, making visits to Danish forces around the world.
 
The Queen - The Advocate
Queen Mary is a passionate advocate for disadvantaged migrants, integration and fundraising projects, health and empowerment focusing on women, adolescent girls and children.  You can find her to be the patron of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Twins Research Australia, Healthcare Denmark, University of Tasmania, European Emergency Medical Services Congress, Danish Cultural Institute.  In 2007 Queen Mary announced the opening of the Mary Foundation which dedicates funds focusing on three areas such as bullying, well-being, domestic violence and loneliness.
 
After marriage in 2004, throughout her years, Queen Mary has displayed an elegant, timeless and classic style and has featured in Vanity Fair’s annual best-dressed list, Vogue Australia, Germany, Woman Weekly Australia.  She makes a point to wear Danish designers clothing and jewellery which has made famous brands such as Ole Lynggaard Jewellery, Copenhagen designer David Andersen.

Official Photos
Photo Dennis Stenild, Kongehuset ©

​Quick Peek Into The History of the Danish Royal Family
The Kingdom of Denmark was united by the 8th century under King Gudfred; however, from the 9th century onwards, it was reunited by the Viking king Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth as an elective monarchy. It then became hereditary from the 17th century onwards during the reign of Frederick III.
 
Today the Danish Royal House is from a princely branch of the family Oldenborg and then Glücksburg. Christoffer III, in 1448, died, leaving no children and the Danish monarchy almost died out. Christian I was chosen from a branch of indirect family members. The reign of the Royal Family of Oldenborg lasted for over 415 years, reigning until 1863 when Frederik VII died childless.
 
Once again, a descendant from the junior branch of the House of Oldenburg was given the role to reign Denmark, Prince Christian IX of Glücksborg. He reigned from 1863 to 1906, and he has concurrently held the titles of Duke of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg. Christian's six children with Louise married into other European royal families, earning him the sobriquet "the father-in-law of Europe". His descendants' royal families were in Greece, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Spain, Yugoslavia and Romania.  Interestingly, The Act of Succession, 1953, permitted a female to reign, seeing Princess Margrethe become Queen in 1972.
 
Modern Day Denmark
Today Denmark has a constitutional institution. What does that mean? The monarch, HM The King, cannot independently perform political acts. The monarch must 'represent Denmark abroad and be a figurehead at home' and duties consisting of bestowing honours, appointing a prime minister, and family members attending ceremonial, diplomatic, and representational duties. The Kingdom includes Denmark and is not limited to Denmark itself; it includes autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

New Official Photos of The Crown Prince Family
​Photo Hasse Nielsen ©

​Like most royals, using protocols and etiquette features heavily in the Queen's life, whether at home or in public. Many may think somehow that the individual is already an expert, or a wand is waved, and a magical transformation occurs. The truth is that training and just plain hard work is the secret formula to flawlessly stepping into a royal house that is over 1000 years old. How did Queen Mary do it?
 
The Language Of Protocol
Protocol is essential for any royal house. Protocol is the official procedure of systems that guides behaviour and human order. Protocols between kingdoms, countries, and people allow for smooth relationships and interactions.
 
For example, if Queen Mary wanted to write to King Charles, and she knows him personally, there would be no need for her to write to the King's private secretary and address the letter to him.  Conversely, let's say she didn't know the King personally and wanted to communicate with him directly.  The protocol Queen Mary would use: the letter would begin with 'Sir' or 'May it please Your Majesty'. The first line would contain 'With my humble duty' and end the letter' I have the honour to remain, Sir, Your Majesty most humble and obedient servant'.
 
Protocol would dictate that upon being presented to King Charles at Buckingham Palace for a state visit, Queen Mary would curtsy, a short and dignified dip keeping eye contact or bow from the neck (not waist).  Conversely, if you are a Danish citizen, the Queen would stand and wait for you to bow or curtsey.  If the royal hand is extended, take it lightly and quickly, at the same time performing a dip or bow.
 
In Front Of The Camera
You will see Queen Mary using natural and elegant hand movements and always looking straight at the person interviewing her. Using hand gestures creates a natural body movement which then affects your voice it shows that she is confident, comfortable and conversational.

You will find many photos in the media of Queen Mary sitting at charities, presentations and royal visits, sitting visually perfect. Here is how she does it: when seated, the best deportment is sitting in the chair where you are not resting on the backrest. You are, in fact, a fist away and leaning 15 degrees forward, with a straight back. It's best not to have your back super straight, preferably relaxed and natural.  If the chair has armrests, remember to keep your arms in and lay your hands on your lap.  Using the armrest will hitch your shoulders up, making you look tense, and appear sloppy on camera.
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Foot placement is another consideration, affecting your posture and entire body deportment. Having the correct stance is best when talking in front of a camera. You can do this by placing one foot forward and the other back. All these techniques take practice, and the best approach is to use your camera to record yourself.
 
The Elegance of Etiquette
In all royal households worldwide, etiquette is a prominent feature that families follow. It is simply a code of polite behaviour. Royalty is the face and representative of their country; etiquette allows them to show kindness and mindfulness to people they meet. Etiquette covers many areas such as socialising, navigating a table setting, international customs, and business matters.
 
Queen Mary has always been authentically ‘herself.’  She shows actual genuine care and respect for the people of the kingdom of Denmark and Australia.  She has demonstrated flexibility In moving from Australia to her Homeland to make Denmark her new home.  Tenacity as a busy mother and wife…  Respect for the role that she married into for the rest of her life...  Queen Mary is a princess of grace, style and effortless beauty.  She has been able to manage etiquette protocol.  Royal life is a life of patroness and representative of the royal family, mother, wife, successfully and dutifully.

The 50 years anniversary of HM The Queen’s accession to the throne The Queen was celebrated at a private dinner by the closest family members
​Photo Keld Navntoft, Kongehuset ©

​Royal Invitations
If you or perhaps a charity or organisation, wanted the Queen to be a guest of honour, the invitation would best be made through a member of the royal household, like the Chief of Court of The Royal Household. The details they would require would be the event's nature, place, date, and time. The household manager always has to work alongside the secretarial and service unit.  They are professionals and would help you with your guest list, menu and form of dress, and whether the Royal guest(s) could accept the invitation.
 
The same attention to detail would also be seen and expected in return from you, if you had the good fortune of being invited to any type of royal meal by the Queen, or for the King. You would undoubtedly need to respond promptly to any “RSVP” request. You would need to respond formally, by hand written response, and you response would need to be sent within the required time. There is absolutely no texting nor emailing involved in responding to RSVP’s unless the invitation was texted or emailed to you. This is the same as if you have received a gift from someone.
 
This once-in-a-life-time type invitation may be for events at either of one of two of the Crowned couple's residences… Amalienborg Palace or Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace. In the time that lies between sending your acceptance and the actual day of your royal experience, you might want to brush up on your European dining techniques, so you don't worry whilst dining about your table manners and can focus on being a sociable and interested guest, conversationalist and listener.

New Royal Table Chairs
​Photo Keld Navntoft, Kongehuset ©

​Dining with Royalty
When being escorted into the royal dining room to the dining table, there will be a few things you will need to know. The dining table will undoubtedly be set with exquisite and expensive crystal, porcelain and silverware, so 'accidentally bumping' any dinnerware is not an option.
 
While you won’t be using any of the famed Flora Danica service, the food you’d be served would undoubtedly be served on porcelain by Royal Copenhagen, the makers of “Flora Danica.”  Two years ago, 2020, marked the 230th anniversary of the precious dinnerware. Still as enchanting as when initially imagined, the fine, hand painted porcelain, decorated with Danish flowers, remains one of the world’s most prestigious and luxurious dishes to dine on.
 
Every individual piece of Flora Danica is still carefully created by hand. Flora Danica has been used at many festive royal Danish occasions throughout the last two hundred years, however, there was always at least one piece lost at each event to breakage, so the exquisite dinnerware was retired from royal use by 2000.
 
The last time it was seen publicly and officially, it was the 1990 birthday party for Queen Ingrid. The collection - about 1530 pieces in total - is one of the most well preserved and maintained services in the world. It is now mainly used for exhibition.
 
Danish Food
Danish cooking and food, like all cultures, is a derivative of food that was foraged from the land, that came from trade, invasions and discoveries.  For centuries Denmark has had a paddock to plate culinaere.  Today, gastronomic travel the Scandinavian countries are popular to try the freshest of fresh seasonal produce such as ocean fish, root vegetables, cabbage, berries, potatoes, rye bread, smoked meat, pickled fish, cheeses, and cakes.
 
Some notable dishes that you might be served are: K"Rvelsuppe - Chervil Soup, Smørrebrød - Open Sandwiches, Stegt Flæsk Med Persillesovs - Crispy Pork With Parsley Sauce And Potatoes, Fiskefrikadeller - Pan-Fried Fish Patties, Rødgrød Med Fløde - Danish Red Berry Pudding, Dream Cake – Drømmekage.

HRH The Crown Princess's 50th birthday
Hasse Nielsen ©

​I hope that you have found this editorial series helpful and shown that Mary Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen is a truly wonderful example and most certainly her achievements and the mark she has left for generations to come.