The Royal Correspondent

On December 29, 2010, HRH Crown Prince Frederik gave a speech and presented an award to Badminton player, Victor Axelsson, for the event known as  The Talent of the Year in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The ceremony was held at the JP/Politiken Hus (the Danish newspaper building, Jyllands-Posten); unfortunately there was a major problem prior to the event.  According to CNN.com:

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terror attack against a Danish newspaper, a spokesman for the Danish intelligence agency PET said Wednesday.

Thankfully, no one was hurt; however by the time HRH arrived the “… atmostsphere was tense…”  Ekstra Bladet reports:

Crown Prince Frederik arrived with several bodyguards promptly at 17:30 and went resolutely and fearlessly into the JP/Politiken’s House to deliver his speech for the young sporting talent.

To read the story in depth please click the links below.

Source and photo courtesy of Ekstra Bladet (by Thomas Lekfeldt) and CNN International

You may also watch a clip of HRH Crown Frederik speaking at Nyhederne.TV2.dk

On Sunday, December 26, 2010, Princess Natalie of Sayn-Wittengenstein-Berleburg and her husband, Mr. Alexander Johannsmann, baptized their son, Konstanin, at the Schloss Berleburg chapel.

Their son was named Konstantin Gustav Heinrich Richard, according to Princess Natalie who recently spoke with the Danish magazine, Billed Bladet.  The Princess notes how the names came about:

The name comes from the family on both sides.  In the daily he is called Konstanin, that’s one of my father’s names. Gustav named after my brother. Heinrich after  Alexander’s father and Richard after my father.

The godparents are HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, HH Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, and Ann-Kathrin Johannsmann, according to the German newspaper, Siegener-Zeitung.de.

Princess Nathalie and Alexander will have their much anticipated religious wedding sometime next year (2011) at Schloss Berleburg so stay tuned for details.

Source and Photo courtesy of  Siegener-Zeitung and Billed Bladet by Jesper Sunesen.

So, here we are… again.  Here are numbers 6 and 5.  :)

6.) Nikolaos and Tatiana’s Big Fat Hot Mess Greek Wedding.

Good heavens… where do I begin.  LOL.   This wedding was one big old hot mess.  From the screaming  and uncontrollable Greek royal watchers, to the lack of tight security, sweaty royal guests, slutty Paris Hiltonesque bridesmaids (dressed as Mermaids), a smug soon-to-be Princess with a slightly torn veil, and a too tanned orange- looking groom with new giant chicklet veneers.   This wedding had it all!  And, boy was it fun to watch!!

Royal guests who attended:

1. Spanish royal family (sans the amazing King Juan Carlos)
2. Danish royal family (sans Crown Prince Frederik)
3. Norwegian royal family (sans the King, Queen, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit)
4. Princely family of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (including the non-Princess Carina Axelsson who left the pre-wedding dinner party with Prince Carl Phillip of Sweden at 2am.  Prince Gustav was no where to be found.  SCANDAL!)
5. Swedish royal family (sans the King and Queen)
6. Empress Farah Pahlavi
7. Minor royals as well as nobles
8. Of course, the Greek royal family

Events this bad only happen every so often, and I’m glad I had a chance to view it as it happened.

Source and photos courtesy of  Gossip-tv.gr, Billed Bladet, Zimbio.com by Chris Jackson/Getty Images, and Svensk Damtidning.

5.)  HM Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s 70th Birthday Extravaganza!

This year Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark turned 70 years old, and to celebrate her birthday the Queen threw a lavish three day birthday celebration.  To say that these events were regal is an understatement.  All in all, the extravagant celebrations were just what royal watchers around the world waited for this year (along with the Swedish royal wedding.)

Events included a Gala dinner at Christianborg Palace, Gala concert, balcony wave from Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, a 6am birthday sing-a-long at Fredensborg Palace, and another private gala dinner at Fredensborg Palace outside of Copenhagen.  Yeah, it was a bit much, but what ever.   Attendees included Kings and Queens from a majority of royal houses in Europe, heirs to various thrones, non-reigning royals, Princely houses, nobles, politicians, and commoners.

Here are some photos from the gala concert in Copenhagen.

Videos:

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday at Fredensborg: Morning Sing-A-Long

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday at Fredensborg: Arrivals

Private Dinner at Fredensborg for Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday: Gala Concert Arrivals

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday: Gala Concert

Queen Margrethe\’s Birthday: Gala Concert Intermission

Source and Photos courtesy of Zimbio.com by Schiller Graphics/Getty Images Europe, Billed Bladet, Svensk Damtidning, Fyens.dk by KHAN TARIQ MIKKEL/POLFOTO, Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images, DayLife by REUTERS/Bob Strong.

Videos courtesy of DRF Gardern and Eurgus via You Tube .