Queen Margrethe II Birthday!

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark celebrated her birthday yesterday, April 16th. As part of the tradition of celebration here in Denmark, the royal family comes out onto the palace balcony (their city palace, Amalienborg) and wave to the masses outside.

Naturally as a mad fan of all things royal, I was there standing, camera in hand and a Danish and American flag together to be waved. While not a national holiday (tomorrow is the national holiday, something called Prayer day?), there were lots of little children around, I'd say 70% of the crowd was under the age of 10. But I was NOT the only tourist there, thank you very much (but I was the only one who screamed like a banshee, hee hee). These Danes are much quieter than us Americans, they clapped and cheered respectfully for the Queen, but I know if the same thing had happened in the States, chances are good we would have created more of a raucous. The above picture is my view of the Royal family (I got a good look at the Australian-born Crown Princess, very pretty!).

The whole thing was done in 1/2 an hour, the Queen and family came out three times and once the crowd sang parts of the Danish version of Happy Birthday (much more complicated than our American version, I've heard it a couple of times and the only part I can remember is the end where you chant, "hoo-ahh," three times). This is a picture of a little baby boy all dressed up for the event, in the traditional Danish Royal Guard outfit. His family was kind enough to let me and some friends snap his pick...so cute!