Tag Archives: Danish royal family

Danish Royals, Royal Family of Denmark

Queen Mary of Denmark’s Father, Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson, Dies At 84.

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  • Photo courtesy of H.M. Queen Mary of Denmark/Det Danske Kongehus
  • Professor John Donaldson and Miss Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, May 14th, 2004.
  • Photo courtesy of H.M. The Queen, Hobart on 23 March 2026 ©/Det Danske Kongehus

This morning, the Royal Household of Denmark announced the passing of Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson, father of Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark. He was 84 years old.

Professor Donaldson passed away in Hobart, Tasmania.

In a statement, Her Majesty the Queen wrote:

“My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are grey. My beloved father has passed away. But I know that when the grief settles, the memories will brighten my day, and what will remain strongest is love and gratitude for everything he gave me and taught me.”

Born in Scotland on September 5th, 1941, Professor Donaldson was a Scottish-born Australian academic whose career was closely associated with the University of Tasmania in Hobart. He served as Professor of Applied Mathematics and was known for his work in statistics and numerical analysis, as well as for mentoring generations of students.

He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science with honours in Mathematics and Physics. Later that year, on August 31st, he married Henrietta Clark Horne in Port Seton, Scotland. The couple emigrated to Tasmania in November 1963, where Professor Donaldson continued his academic career.

In 1967, he completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics at the University of Tasmania under the supervision of Professor David Elliott. He subsequently joined the academic staff, serving as a lecturer in Applied Mathematics before later being appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science, a position he held until his retirement. 

His academic work focused particularly on numerical analysis, and his career demonstrated a sustained commitment to both research and teaching within the Australian university system.

Professor Donaldson and his first wife had four children: Jane Donaldson Stevens, Patricia Donaldson Bailey, John Stuart Donaldson Jr., and Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, now Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark.

Henrietta Donaldson passed away on November 20th, 1997. He later married the British-born novelist Susan Elizabeth Horwood, known under the pen name Susan Moody. 

Professor Donaldson is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren, including the four children of Their Majesties King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark.

A private memorial service for the late Professor John Dalgleish Donaldson will be held at a later date.

My deepest condolences to the late Professor Donaldson’s family and friends.

Danish Royals, Royal Family of Denmark

Princess Isabella of Denmark to Begin Military Training with Guard Hussar Regiment in August 2026

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Photo courtesy of Steen Evald/Kongehuset ©

In Copenhagen, the Head of Communications for the Royal Household of Denmark, Ms. Nina Z. Munch-Perrin, issued a press release to announce that Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Denmark will undertake her military conscription with the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse beginning in August 2026, following the completion of her upper secondary education.

The Princess will be among the first to serve under the Kingdom of Denmark’s reformed conscription system, established under the Forsvarsforlig 2024–2033, concluded in June 2023 between the Danish Government and a broad majority of political parties in the Folketinget.

The reform extends conscription from four months to eleven months, combining basic training with operational service, and forms part of a broader effort to strengthen military readiness in response to changing security conditions in Europe.

The Guard Hussar Regiment is the oldest regiment in the Danish Army, dating back to 1614, with the motto In Actis Esto Volucris.

Princess Isabella’s forthcoming service follows that of her brother and father. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Christian of Denmark completed his military training with the Guard Hussar Regiment in May 2025 and has since continued his military training as part of the lieutenant officer training program.

His Majesty King Frederik X began his military career in 1986, when he was the Crown Prince, with Den Kongelige Livgarde. In 1988, he was commissioned as a lieutenant of the reserve and served as a platoon commander with the Guard Hussar Regiment. He was promoted to first lieutenant of the reserve in 1989.

Danish Royals

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark’s Confirmation Set for April 18, 2026, at Fredensborg Palace

  • Photo courtesy of Det Danske Kongehust©
  • Photo courtesy of Det Danske Kongehust©
  • Photo courtesy of Det Danske Kongehust©
  • Photo courtesy of Det Danske Kongehust©

In Copenhagen, the Royal Household of Denmark has announced that His Royal Highness Prince Vincent of Denmark and Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine of Denmark will be confirmed on Saturday, April 18th, 2026, at Fredensborg Slotskirke at Fredensborg Slot.

The ceremony will be presided over by Bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulsen, Bishop of Aarhus, who serves as the Royal Household’s senior ecclesiastical adviser.

Fredensborg Slotskirke has, for more than a century, served as a central setting for confirmations within the royal family of Denmark. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark was confirmed there on April 1st, 1955, while His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark was confirmed there on May 28th, 1981. 

More recently, Fredensborg Slotskirke has also been the site of the confirmations of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Christian of Denmark on May 15th, 2021, and Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Denmark on April 30th, 2022.

As part of their preparation for confirmation, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark attended Sunday service at Fredensborg Slotskirke alongside Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark. The service was conducted by parish priest Hedda Salomonsen.

Headlines

Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway Receives Denmark’s Oldest Orders

On June 17, 2022, in a private ceremony at the Royal Palace in Oslo, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark presented the Order of the Elephant to Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway. The Crown Prince presented the Order on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on the occasion of Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 18th birthday.

Originating in the 15th century, the Order of the Elephant is the oldest and noblest Danish Order of Knights traditionally presented to royalty and Heads of State; moreover, the Order of the Elephant is only “on loan” to the recipient. Once an Elephant Knight passes away the Order must be returned to the Chapter of the Order; thus most of the Elephants have been in use several times.

The concrete Elephant has undergone a minor restoration for the occasion, where it has, among other things, been affixed to the Queen’s monogram, as an Elephant always wears the sitting monarch’s monogram when awarded.

Photos courtesy of the Danish royal court.

Headlines

TRHs Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark Release a New Statement Regarding Herlufsholm.

After the release of the controversial TV2 documentary, Herlufsholms Hemmeligheder (Herlufsholm’s Secrets) and the immediate fallout last month, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark released another statement regarding their eldest son, His Royal Highness Prince Christian of Denmark, attendance at the prestigious boarding school. Here is what they had to say:

“As parents, we are at the moment facing some difficult considerations about our oldest children’s schooling. It is discussed in many places – also here on our own social media. It makes an impression on us. We have previously stated that we as a family are burdened by the unfortunate situation at Herlufsholm, and that we will follow the changes that are obviously necessary. Here we will try to share some of our thoughts and put more words into the considerations we make as a family.

Bullying, violence, and abuse are never acceptable. We must respond to the painful and devastating events by insisting on changes that ensure a safe environment for all. And we must also acknowledge the courage of those who have shared their violent experiences.

At the same time, we are the parents of a son who is very happy to go to the school. And a daughter who has long been looking forward to starting in the same place.

The question is whether the two sides can go hand in hand; whether we as parents can let our children go to Herlufsholm and at the same time react and insist on changes that benefit all students at the school. There will be divided opinions about that. But for us, the answer depends both on the investigations that have been initiated and on the effect of the initiatives that the school already has decided on. In addition, we will look at the school’s upcoming initiatives, but also at what we as parents can demand and contribute. The goal must be a future Herlufsholm, where all students – no matter who they are – thrive and can feel safe based on healthy values.

Finally, we will continue to talk with our children, show them confidence and listen to their wishes. Their perspective will also have to be taken into account when making our decision about their future schooling. Like all other parents, we want to do the best for our children. At the same time, we are aware of our special position as Crown Prince Couple. Here and now we do not know all the answers. As a family, we need more knowledge to be able to make the right decision for our children.

The Crown Prince Couple “

As a result of the fallout, the Herlufsholm announced that the school has created a “Well-Being Manager” on site at the elite boarding school beginning on August 1, 2022. Per a Herlufsholm press release:

“We have put in place an academic staff member whose position will be a Well-Being Manager. Herlufsholm School has for a number of years had a focus on student well-being. We will increase the efforts further with the desire to ensure a good environment and necessary cultural changes to create a nurturing, safe everyday life for all students at the school.”

Headlines

HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark Returns to Germany.

On the morning of Tuesday, May 2022, Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark returned to Germany to attend the 100th-anniversary celebrations of the Duborg School in Flensburg.

Duborg School is part of the German school system for the Danish minority in South Schleswig and has a qualifying student exam for higher education in both Denmark and Germany.

During today’s event, there were musical performances, singing, and dancing according to the Danish royal court. After the celebrations, Princess Benedikte attended a luncheon at the Royal Danish Consulate General in Flensburg.

Photos courtesy of the Danish royal court

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HSH Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Will FINALLY Marry His Longtime Love, Miss Carina Axelsson!!

On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, the Danish royal court confirmed to the magazine, Billed Bladet, that His Serene Highness Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleberg will finally marry his longtime love, Miss Carina Lynn Axelsson! YAY!!

Prince Gustav and Miss Axelsson met at a dinner party in Paris in late 2003. In an interview with Billed Bladet, ten years ago, the prince — who is the only son of Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark and the late His Serene Highness Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg — recalled how he met Miss Axelsson:

“I had accepted an invitation to dinner by some friends in Germany. A couple of friends, one knew Carina and one knew me. It was a set-up. I had come to meet Carina and that second her mobile phone rang. All the mobile phones kept ringing throughout the dinner. After the dinner finished, Carina had turned on her phone again. I took her number and called her up from another part of the room and love began.”

Months later, Miss Axelsson moved into the stunning Schloss Berleburg in Bad Berleburg, Germany. Since then, Miss Axelsson has been warmly welcomed into the royal fold by the entire Danish royal family along with other reigning and non-reigning houses throughout Europe including the Swedish royal family and the Grand Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha. In fact, Miss Axelsson is godmother to His Highness Prince Philipp Hubertus Andreas Christian of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha, son of another American princess, Her Highness Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha.

For years, royal watchers were wondering why Prince Gustav and Miss Axelsson haven’t married. Unfortunately, there was a clause in his late grandfather’s, Prince Gustav Albrecht, Will that stated that his heir, which he deliberately passed to Prince Gustav not Prince Richard, had to marry an Aryan woman of noble descent.

Nonetheless, Prince Gustav and Miss Axelsson continued to attend all the glittering royal events throughout Europe including the wedding of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Mr. Daniel Westling in 2010 and the royal wedding between His Royal Highness Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Miss Tatiana Blatnik in 2010. The couple also attended baptisms, Danish royal family gatherings, birthday parties and much more.

On March 13, 2017, His Serene Highness Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg passed away at the age of 82. Everyone in the family were devasted by the loss of their beloved prince. Thereafter, Prince Gustav and Miss Axelsson were rarely seen in public together. As time went on, Miss Axelsson eventually moved to Dorset, England while Prince Gustav stayed at Schloss Berleburg in Germany to take care of the land and the house he inherited.

After the death of his father, Prince Gustav battled with his great-uncle, Prince Ludwig Ferdinand, in a German court regarding as to whom is the rightful heir to the estate of Schloss Berleburg and the private fortune worth 500 Million Euros ($527,795,000.00). On July 30, 2020, the German Higher Regional Court sided with Prince Gustav. Via a press release from the Higher Regional Court (translated):

“The inheritance dispute over the assets in the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg house has been decided: the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Hamm confirms the decision of the Bad Berleburg Agricultural Court from the first instance, so that Gustav Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is the legal heir. The 10th Civil Senate – Senate for Agricultural Matters – of the Hamm Higher Regional Court rejected the appeal against the decision of the Bad Berleburg Agricultural Court of April 18, 2019. With its decision of July 23, the Senate confirmed the decision of the Bad Berleburg Agricultural Court, which was largely correct in terms of its reasoning, after a – by law – non-public hearing of the persons involved in the process on July 14, 2020.”

As a result of the ruling, the prince was officially recognized as the heir to the estate and its vast lands throughout Germany. Moreover, the ruling also paved the way for Prince Gustav to marry his love, Carina.

Meanwhile, in Dorset, England, Miss Axelsson continued to publish her popular Young Adult book series, Model Undercover and Royal Rebel. She also is a keen gardener, has several cute dogs, and has an absolutely amazing cottage in Dorset.

Earlier this month, Prince Gustav and Miss Axelsson were photographed alongside Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark as they walked to the 50th birthday party for Mrs. Birgitte Handwerk. Royal watchers were thrilled to see Prince Gustav and Miss Axelsson together again in public. Many were wondering if they were a couple again or simply friends.

So, after 19 years the circle is complete. The prince finally gets his princess. And, finally, after 19 years Miss Axelsson will officially become Her Serene Highness Princess Carina of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg! Congrats!

Now, the question is: When is the wedding? Where will it take place? More importantly, will Miss Axelsson receive a fabulous new tiara? Stay tuned for updates!

**UPDATE: The couple will marry on June 4, 2022.