7 FACTS IN 7 DAYS

The world has turned upside down within just a few weeks. We all experience it diffidently - some keep calm, some are frustrated and others makes it work for the rest of us. I wish the best for all of you and your loved ones. Together, we will find a solution and work it through. 

The situation has also affected the royal family. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have arrived home from Verbier and are currently staying (isolated?) at Amalienborg. Yesterday, the court shared pictures of the Crown Prince talking with Red Cross Denmark, who makes an effort in this overwhelming moment of frustration. These pictures, taken by Prince Christian, shows the family is now home safe and sound.

Today, the court announced that both Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik's Foundation, and Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's Foundation have donated 750,000 DKK to Red Cross Denmark and their work in Denmark right now.

How to run a royal blog with a silent calendar? I have kept my writings low since the family temporarily moved to Verbier and I will continue to do so. Of course I will keep ou updated, but that is pretty much it. Still, we need a little something to cheer up the heavy air surrounding us. For the next 7 days I will share facts relating to the Crown Princess - a new one each day. So, keep an eye on this post, share your fun facts about her, let me know what you knew about and what came as a surprise.

● ● ● ● ●

Embed from Getty Images

First Fact 

She first wore this gown in 2004, when Romania officially visited Denmark. The pictures you see are four years later at the grand New Year Banquet at Amalienborg. What is interesting about this gown, is the stunning purple fabric. She purchased it at Salamanca market in Hobart, Tasmania and it was all captured on camera. Shortly before the wedding in May 2004 a documentary "Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, about the new Crown Princess aired. At 37:43 the fabric appears for the first time. If you never watched the documentary, now is the time, here! Henrik Hviid is the designer who transformed fabric into dreamy gown.

Embed from Getty Images

Second Fact

Throughout the years several flowers has been named after the Crown Princess - a geranium, a rose and a tulip. When she was about to marry her future husband, four different gardeners had the idea of making a new geranium and name it after Denmark's future Crown Princess. All four created a flower and Mary chose which one she liked the most. Apparently, she fell in love with a white one made by Linneman from Aarhus, here. Thirteen years later, in 2017, this specific geranium won title as "Flower of the Year". A yellow and creamy white rose shares its name with Crown Princess Mary. It was crated by Poulsen Roser in 2007. It bloom from June till November with its characteristic heavy roses, here. In 2009 a special pink tulip got its name after her. It was Baroness Helle Reedtz-Thott's idea to give the Crown Princess her very own tulip. Jan Van den Hoek, a Dutch expert on tulips, was the one to create this new variety later named by the Crown Princess at a ceremony at Gavnø Castle in 2009, here. All three flowers have won awards. We get why, right?

Embed from Getty Images

Third Fact
It is all about finding the right name to a newborn baby. Royals are christened with no last name in Denmark and with more names than the rest of us. Usually four. Mary's birth name is common knowledge, but actually she is named after her two grandmothers. Mary comes from her dad's mother: Mary Dalgleish and Elizabeth is after her mom's mother: Elizabeth Gibson Melrose. Also her two oldest children have names rooted in her Scottish and Australian heritage. Prince Christian's fourth name is John - the same as Mary's father: John Dalgleish Donaldson. And Princess Isabella's second name, Henrietta, is after Mary's own mother: Henrietta Clark Horne. Another little girl inherited a special name. That girl is Princess Estelle of Sweden. She was given the name 'Mary' after her godmother, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.

Embed from Getty Images

Fourth Fact

Getting married is related to lots of traditions and symbolism. I bet you are able to mention several things happening both before, under and after a wedding in the country where you live. One symbol tying the knot for most couples getting married, are the rings. Crown Princess Mary got two rings. Her engagement ring was designed by Crown Prince Frederik and is created by Mauricio Monteiro - a Brazilian jeweler. The ring features two red square cut rubies and larger white diamond. The colors are told to connect with the Danish flag. About ten years after the wedding, two more diamonds have been added. Maybe as a symbol of the twins? We like the thought, right? Her wedding ring is created by Royal Court Jeweler, Flemming Hertz. It is made of 24 princess cut diamonds and white gold from the Nalnuaq mine in Nanortalik in South Greenland. A princess cut is a relatively new way of shaping diamond. It goes back to the 60s. Crown Princess Mary's 24 princess cut diamonds have 76 individual cuts.

Embed from Getty Images

Fifth Fact

Working as much as the Crown Princess, you need a proper workspace. During the years we have seen plenty of pictures from her homeoffice both when the couple lived at Kancellihuset (Fredensborg) and from inside Amalienborg, here, here. Crown Princess Mary is surrounded by both art, the latest technology and a little nature. She fells comfortable in a purple office chair created by the famous Danish designer, Arne Jacobsen. The OXFORD Chair, here, comes with and without wheels and with and without armrest. The one keeping Crown Princess Mary comfortable have both details making it both practical and stylish. Matching the office chair, she have two others chairs also designed by Arne Jacobsen - the iconic Swan Chair, here. Behind her is an artwork by Erik A. Frandsen. It is called "Blomster. Fælledvej" (Flowers. Fælledvej) and is flowers in shape of a medalion, here.

Embed from Getty Images

Sixth Fact

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's lovestory is almost legendary. Even though the couple keep much in private, they are also known to share insight in their everyday life. Especially, their story of love seem to catch everybody's attention every time something new appears with the public. One thing known is that meanwhile Mary lived as any other young women in Australia and had fallen in love with a young man across the globe, they corresponded with each other by letters. She shared her love by writing him her favorite poem. A poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning called "How Do I love Thee?", here. A poem about love. In an interview for the Crown Prince Couple's Prizes 2011, she said: "It was a total declaration of love on my part". At more than one occasion she also shared that it is also her fathers favorite poem.