Summary of articles in Billed Bladet #22, 2017.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen & Marianne Singer.
(No scans, my scanner is out of order).
As you know the visit was very much about import and export of products, concepts and know-how.
More than 60 Danish businesses accompanied M&F to Sweden.
Sweden is the second largest export market for Danish products, but that market has dwindled in recent years, so this was very much an attempt to relaunch Danish products.
M&F flew into Stockholm and went aboard Dannebrog who was moored at one of the most prominent places in Stockholm. She served as a base for M&F and it was here they spend the first night, before the ship sailed on to Helsinki, where she served as a base for QMII.
The second night M&F spend at Haga Slott, which is V&D's private home.
Shortly after M&F boarded Dannebrog, V&D arrived, together with Carl-Phillip. This was outside the schedule and must be considered a private gettogether, before the official show began.
At this private meeting Victoria wore a shirt from Baum und Pferdgarten while Mary wore a dress by March 11.
Because V&D and M&F are personal friends the whole program was more relaxed and funny that it might otherwise have been, had they not been so close and the good rapport between the couples shined through and was very much evident in the many little gestures, laughs, eye-contacts and whatever happens when friends are together on the job.
Of course this was after all an official visit, so M&F naturally met King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia, as official representatives for Denmark. And as is proper on such occasions when the whole went to have lunch King Carl Gustav offered Mary his arm, while Frederik followed behind with Queen Silvia as his arm.
Two Danish government ministers accompanied M&F on the trip and they also attended the lunch, they were in return matched by two Swedish ministers, - so everything was proper according to the protocol.
At the gala dinner at Eric Ericssons Hall Victoria wore a dress by Jennifer Blom, a clutch by Bottega Veneta, shoes from Gianvito Rossi and earrings by Caroline Svedbom.
Mary wore a Dolce & Gabbana dress, shoes from Gianvito Rossi and earrings from Dulong Fine Jewelry.
At some point during the busy visit Mary and Victoria strolled through Stockholm to the Danish store, Ole Lynggaard. Here the owners daughter, Ella, presented Mary and Victoria with a bouquet - at the same time.
Victoria's outfit was from Baum und Pferdgarten and shoes from Rizzo. Mary's white and almost see-through outfit was from Max Mara.
Mary also wore a new specially designed brooch by Charlotte Lyngaard. It consists of hand-satinated (whatever that is) leaves in red-gold and small diamond-stutted (I think it's called. Help!) leaved in white-gold.
That covers the trivia of the visit.
In the documentary I linked to above it was mentioned that the two-couples had in fact more or less planned the whole thing themselves. I.e. they approved and co-ordinated the events and oversaw the details. In other words: It was their show, with minimal, if any, interference from QMII and King Carl Gustav.
It was also mentioned in the show by Frederik that they are on the phone with each other regularly.
The documentary didn't cover the actual visit that much, but it was very much a comparison between Frederik and Victoria and the very close bonds between the two of them.
Covering their upbringing and education and how they both have matured in their roles. Perhaps especially Frederik who previously was very uncomfortable in the public glare and very clearly did not relish the role of eventually becoming king. While Victoria has always been more at ease in her role, or natural if you prefer, while being very serious about her future role as queen.
But both faced difficulties in their early youth. Victoria developed anorexia, while Frederik had problems being a "turbo-prince" and his shyness.
However both have very much matured once they found their partners and got married. To the point that Victoria is without a doubt the most popular member of the SRF, perhaps most popular Swede. While Frederik has seen as being fully ready to take over from his mother.
- It was interesting for me to listen to Frederik giving his official speech at his eighteenth birthday. He spoke with a very posh accent back then, while he today speaks with what I will call a normal Copenhagener accent.
You should be able to watch it here:
https://www.dr.dk/tv/se/frederik-og...b/-/frederik-og-victoria-et-kongeligt-venskab
It's also obvious to me how beneficial the close relationship between M&F, V&D and Haakon and Mette-Marit and indeed King WA and Queen Maxima is.
The heirs have all had someone to talk to, to confide in, someone who truly understands them. While their spouses must also have benefitted enormously. Daniel and Mette-Marit have in common that they are both to be consorts in a country where they were born and grew up and where they have a past, and where people knew them.
While Mary and Maxima have in common that they both moved to a foreign country, a completely different language, a different culture and a to them almost unknown role.
- I may return to the docu later.