Day 1. Official state visit from France

August, Tuesday 28th

For four days we enjoyed an official visit to the Faroe Islands along with the entire Crown Prince family. We followed each step and enjoyed each one of them. It was a pleasure sharing all this with you. The visit was something we had been looking forward to in a very long time. Suddenly it was all over. Fortunately we did not have to wait long for another exciting event. Because on August 28th the Queen hosted an official state visit from France.

The French Presidential couple arrived to Copenhagen airport in the morning on Tuesday 28th. They were warmly welcomed by the Crown Prince couple at Kastellet in Copenhagen. Both couple's showed their respect to missing and/or lost soldiers with a wreath. Following the Presidential couple was officially welcomed by Queen Margrethe at Amalienborg. The Crown Prince couple, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte did also attend the welcoming ceremony.

Mrs Macron was then invited to attend a lunch with the Crown Princess at Frederik VIIIs Palace at Amalienborg. The two of them met earlier in 2017 to discuss equality in Denmark and a future meeting was settled. Once again the topic about equality was brought up. On this occasion the Crown Princess had specially invited four other guests to attend the lunch - four guest with the purpose to enlighten about equality issues, a status and - challenges.

Crown Princess Mary and Mrs Macron also had the pleasure to join each other for yet another visit. The two of them visited the Design School at Holmen in Copenhagen. They were given a guided tour around the facilities, was introduced to the school and their work. Especially sustainability and sustainable fashion solution are something the schools students work with in their everday's.

Meanwhile the French President met with Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, visited the Royal Library and the Black Diamond. He also joined Crown Prince Frederik for a boat trip in Copenhagen Harbor.

Apparently the Crown Princess had a meeting with Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary General on Tuesday as well, here. Amina Mohammed is former special advisor to Ban Ki-moon. UN's 17 world goals - in particular goal number five about equality, was discussed during the meeting that took place at Amalienborg in Copenhagen. The conversation between was also focused on women-and girls rights and opportunities.





Mary was shining like a red rose when welcoming the French Presidential couple at Kastellet in Copenhagen. Somehow I expected something completely else. That is what make Mary and her style so exciting - you never know what she is going to wear. She had chosen a bright red dress from Raquel Diniz. I learned about the dress from Heaven who also told me that Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway dazzled in the exact same dress in 2017, here. Do you like the dress? I do. Much indeed.

The Danish Crown Princess was not the only one embracing a red outfit. Mrs Macron shone wearing a matching red dress and coat. Meanwhile Princess Marie wore a red long-sleeved red blouse and a black skirt.

She accessorized her new Raquel Diniz dress with diamond earrings from Ole Lynggaard worn a several other occasion. The same goes with the beautiful leaf Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen brooch. Her two golden bracelets are from Cartier and Dulong Fine Jewelry. As shoes she had chosen an old pair of python pumps from Gianvito Rossi. Incredible match to the red dress, right? Another interesting accessory is the brand new bright red clutch bag. I had a Danish designer in mind when Kate share her finding with me. She managed to identify Mary's new clutch bag as LIN8. I am simply in love with this creation.

With a magnificent hairstyle, beautiful makeup and red nail polish, she managed to amaze me deeply. Mary really knows how to make a great impression.

Dress ● Raquel Diniz Armonia Silk-Georgette Dress
Earrings ● Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen Winter Frost Earrings
Brooch ● Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen Leaf Brooch
Bracelet ● Cartier Love Bracelet
Bracelet ● Dulong Fine Jewelry Esme Bracelet
Bag ● LIN8 The Classic JLM
Shoes ● Gianvito Rossi

● ● ● ● ●

- Gala dinner -
With Queen Margrethe as host of this official state visit from the French Presidential couple, she also hosted a gala dinner in the evening. Guests from both Danish and French public were invited to attend the dinner, which took place in the Banquet Hall at Christiansborg castle in Copenhagen. The arrival and part of the dinner was broadcasted live on Danish television. I watched only the arrival but it was an incredible sight. Princess Benedikte arrived first from the royal family, followed by Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, then the Crown Prince couple and Queen Margrethe. The French Presidential couple arrived last. Especially the arrival of the Crown Prince couple amazed me. It always look so gracious.

All guests were then greeted with a handshake and the evening was about to begin. As host the Queen gave a welcoming speech which can be watched down below. The French President followed her with his own speech. Dinner was then serviced. I imagine it being a wonderful evening for all attending the event.





By the commentators many blue dresses were predicted. That is why I hoped for anything else than a blue dress for Mary or any of the other Danish royal women. And we got... no blue gowns at all. Queen Margrethe stunned in a purple gown featuring black lace. Princess Marie wore what I think is a brand new gown with a wide neckline and little train. I hear that her tiara is new and presumably a gift from her husband on occasion of their 10th anniversary. Princess Benedikte impressed in a lovely dusty pink floral evening gown.

What's then about Mary? As the only royal woman wearing white, she showed up in a reused Lasse Spangenberg Copenhagen evening gown. Yet with few altercations. A black piece of fabric has been added across her right shoulder. It then works as a short train. I will leave the commenting about this alterting to you. Mary wore this floral gown at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Mary Foundation, here.

She embraced the evening outfit with a black Sergio Rossi box clutch and black pumps from Gianvito Rossi. Other than this I see her wearing the incredible ruby parure inherited from Queen Ingrid. She wore both tiara, earrings, bracelet and a single hairpiece. If any of you manage to find a picture of her hairstyle, please share it with me. I would really like to get a better look of her stunning hairstyle.

Gown  Lasse Spangenberg Copenhagen Mikado Silk Dress
Tiara  The Ruby Parure
Earrings  The Ruby Parure
Bracelet  The Ruby Parure
Hairpiece  The Ruby Parure
Clutch  Sergio Rossi
Shoes  Gianvito Rossi Mesh-Paneled Suede Pumps

10 comments:

  1. Hi Henriette. Photo of hairstyle:
    https://bt.bmcdn.dk/media/cache/resolve/image_1240/image/118/1186704/21944458-hj.jpg

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  2. Elegant and fantastic. Nice to see Pss Marie wearing a new Tiara love it a lot.Every Lady is top notch could not be better.

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    1. Princess Marie amazed me too in her new evening gown and brand new tiara. Seems like the two of them (the tiara and her) get along really well.

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  3. Henriette:

    I think, through out the visit of the French President and his wife, CP Mary chose to pay homage to the French by wearing the colors of their flag, red, white and blue. The gown worn to the gala, is white and blue- at least that is what it looks like in the photos. A very smart move--I have never noticed this before. In addition, the dress worn at the gala is the same style of another of her gowns, which is a Jesper Horving creation, which initially was a lace top, but redone in a one-shoulder with a train. What say you? By the way, I also notice that the chignon worn by CP Mary at the start of the visit, was not one of her usual styles. I first saw it when she visited the Faroe islands. I like it a lot.


    A question about seating at the gala. I notice that the seating for the gala was done differently this time-- instead of small round tables it was two long tables. I was looking to see whether the table formed the letter "H" but could not. Does the Queen sign off on the state gala dinner arrangements or is there a standard arrangement which goes for all state gala dinners? If you can't answer, I will understand.

    Lastly, some how it seem that this was a state visit where the heirs "subbed" for the Queen more than usual...

    Regards,

    RW.

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    1. I only thought little about her wearing the French national colours, but you are right. She wore all three colours - also at the dinner. Though the dress is white featuring a black floral print (not blue as it way seems). But she wore the blue ribbon instead. With the altering her gown looks a lot like the one made by Jesper Høvring and other of her evening gown.

      About the tables. You are right that guests are often seated around round tables. I believe the reason why this is not the case this time, is because not that many guests were invited - it was a "small" gathering. The round tables makes it possible for many more people to stay in the same room which, by the way is why the Banquet Hall at Christansborg Castle is often chosen to these dinners. Hope it makes seems.

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    2. Henriette:

      Thank you for answering my question as regards the choice of rectangular vs round tables. I know this is more or less a fashion blog, however, for me it is a great way to learn about Denmark, and you are the best as you are living it.

      I love the fact the designer of CP Mary's gown was able to take one gown and create a new way for her to wear it. This is unusual unless one adds a cloak or a short jacket or a bolero jacket. However in this instance the designer just added a scarfed which also served as a train in a solid color, which gave the gown a completely new look and voila!! I love that "thinking out of the box" because it is different and inspirational. I was also thinking that perhaps this is just a temporary addition, that it perhaps is just fastened with hooks which allows for it to removed. In any event, it was a very clever and economical way to get multiply uses out of the gown.

      Lastly, it must have been and especially poignant state visit for the DRF having recently lost Prince Henrik who is of French lineage!!

      Thanks again for all you do. Keep up the good work.

      Regards,

      RW.

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    3. I am happy to answer any question you may have, also if it does not include fashion of any kind. Glad it helped you.

      The addition of her evening gown could indeed be a temporary kinda solution to make it more "suitable" for the occasion. It is not that I do not like the addition, but somehow the dress looks more heavy with its new scarf. Hopefully we will get to see soon again. Then I may have adjusted to the changing ;)

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  4. It was unusal that two princesses and first lady chose one colour but probably it happened because France and Denmark has red as national colour.Morning dress was perfect.Earlier I really appreciate this project of Diniz which Mette Marit wore but now I like it much more.Mary makes dress perfect.
    But evening gown disappointed me.I prefer earlier version of gown without scarf-short train (?).I like this style and I love similar blue gown from Hovring but it doesn 't fit to floral fabric. I must say that Marie took a first place not only by new tiara.

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    1. I was amazed to see both women dress in almost the exact same colour, but it makes good sense. Red is in fact one of the national colours for both countries. And red suits most women.
      Always a treat to see two royal women wear the same dress - as goes with her new Raquel Diniz dress. I can't really tell which one I like most. Both Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Mary wear it beautifully.

      The new addition on her evening gown also bothers me a bit... I don't dislike it, though it looks a bit misplaced. Maybe another time at another event it will come out better.
      Princess Marie in her gown and new tiara differently stunned many of us. She looked comfortable and seemed like she was feeling great in what she wore.

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