Latest news with #OrderoftheDannebrog
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
King Frederick extends olive branch to his nephews after their royal titles were removed
Digital Reporter Reilly Sullivan has commented on Denmark's King Frederick's recent move to grant a special royal honour to his nephews. The Danish monarch awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog to Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat, two years after they were stripped of their princely titles by their grandmother, former Queen Margrethe II, in January 2023. 'It was a very controversial decision, but it reflected what King Charles also seems to support — a more streamlined monarchy,' Mr Sullivan told Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power. 'She took this action because the Danish royal family functions best when it remains small, and she felt it was becoming too extended with so many cousins and nephews. That decision did not go down well at all. 'Now, two years on, I think King Frederick is correcting that mistake. It's a smart and thoughtful move.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stripped of Their Royal Titles, King Frederick Makes a Surprise Move for His Nephews
On his 57th birthday this week, King Frederik of Denmark bestowed the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog on his nephews Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat The ancient order of chivalry is used today to recognize notable Danes for their service or contributions to their country Nikolai and Felix had their princely titles stripped by their grandmother Queen Margrethe in 2022, just before she abdicated the throne King Frederik of Denmark may have celebrated his 57th birthday this week, but he marked the occasion by bestowing gifts on two of his nephews. On May 26, the Danish monarch presented Count Nikolai of Monpezat and Count Felix of Monpezat with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. The presentation took place at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. The Order of the Dannebrog is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by King Christian V. While once limited to 50 noblemen, the order is used today to recognize notable Danes for their service or contributions to their country. The official Instagram account of the Danish royal family documented the occasion, noting,"As a result of the appointment, the counts — like other Danish recipients of the Grand Cross — must have prepared a personal knight shield. When finished, it will be hung in the Knight Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød." Nikolai also took to his personal Instagram page, saying he was "very honored to have received the Order of the Dannebrog yesterday from my uncle on his birthday." Nikolai and Felix are the eldest sons of Prince Joachim, the younger brother of the King. They are Joachim's only children with his first wife, Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg. The couple divorced in 2005, and Prince Joachim married Princess Marie of Denmark in 2008. They also have two children, Count Henrik and Countess Athena of Monpezat. Prince Joachim's children were originally also princes and princesses, also titled with "His/Her Highness." However, in September 2022, Queen Margrethe announced that she would be stripping Joachim's children of those titles, demoting them to "His/Her Excellency" and the count/countess moniker. However, the four children maintain their place in the Danish line of succession. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In her unexpected announcement, the Queen shared that she wished to "create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent" without the responsibilities related to the Royal House of Denmark. In March 2024, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie gave an interview to The Washington Post in Washington, D.C., where the prince works as a defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy. They admitted that they had "complicated" feelings about how the Queen's announcement was handled. "We weren't happy about the way it happened," Princess Marie said. "But it's a family thing. It's complicated." In addition to their titles, Joachim and Marie also shared that they felt their children had lost their given names. "It's their identity since they were born," Marie added. "So it's more than just what people see as a title." Regardless, Prince Joachim said in the interview, "We've moved on." They have also supported Queen Margrethe, King Frederik and other family members at various events since. King Frederik assumed the throne in January 2024, following Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate. The former monarch was recently hospitalized, and cited her health as a reason for stepping down when she announced her plans in 2023. "In February this year, I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me," she said, in part. "Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation. I have decided that now is the right time." Read the original article on People
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Obituaries: Robin Salvesen, senior executive at Christian Salvesen who was devoted to public service and family
Robin Salvesen, shipping industrialist. Born: 4 May, 1935 in Edinburgh. Died: 10 March, 2025 in Haddington, aged 89 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Robin Salvesen, who has died at the age of 89, was a shipping industrialist and fourth-generation scion of the Scots-Norwegian Christian Salvesen family business. Robin Salvesen was a member of The Royal Company of Archers and a 'Pillar of Leith' A quietly spoken, courteous man, he was Vice Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian, a kirk elder, a Territorial Army major with the Royal Scots, a Conservative local councillor, a keen market gardener and a record 82-prize-winning bowman with The Royal Company of Archers, the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For 25 years he was Consul General for Denmark in Edinburgh and Leith, for which he was created Knight First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog (the Danish flag). Other awards include the Scouting Silver Acorn and being named a 'Pillar of Leith' alongside businessman Sir Tom Farmer and Hibs legend Pat Stanton. Salvesen was the father of seven children and 19 grandchildren. His dedication to public service, shared with his wife Sari, saw them entertain a hugely diverse mix of contacts at Eaglescairnie, the family home near Haddington. An engineer by training, Salvesen held several senior executive and board positions in Christian Salvesen, the Leith-based firm founded in 1872 by his Norwegian great-grandfather Salve Christian Frederik Salvesen. Originally shipbrokers, the firm switched focus to become the world's largest whaling business. From 1909 to 1963, it made its fortune in Antarctic waters from a base at Leith Harbour on South Georgia, 800 miles south-east of the Falklands. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The mainstay of Salvesen's career was his leadership of Christian Salvesen's marine division, latterly focused on UK coastal transport. His knowledge, experience, and interpersonal skills found many outlets: negotiating the dockers' disputes of the 1970s and 80s, helping adapt the fleet for the North Sea oil industry and helping pioneer company shipbuilding at the Sumitomo yard near Tokyo. During Salvesen's career, much of it under the leadership of his cousin Max Harper Gow, Christian Salvesen became one of the largest family-owned businesses in the UK before floating on the stock exchange in 1985. The firm innovated aggressively, especially in cold storage, power generation and logistics. For decades, its giant white lorries seemed ubiquitous on roads across Britain and Europe. In 2007, the name disappeared following a merger with a French rival. Outside the business, from which he retired as a non-executive director in 2002, Salvesen held many positions related to seafaring, including the General Council of British Shipping, Lloyds Register of Shipping, the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and the Lights Advisory Committee, which deals with lighthouses and navigation buoys. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Robin Salvesen was born in Edinburgh in 1935 and brought up in Bonnington House near Kirknewton, now the home of Jupiter Artland. He was educated at Cargilfield and Fettes, where he played in an undefeated rugby first XV. He served in the 5th Battalion Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment during National Service. His posting was to Ibadan, 75 miles north-east of Lagos. Among his trials in this hot and mosquito-ridden posting was overseeing the transfer of his company from Lagos back to barracks on bumpy roads in three-ton trucks full of soldiers, wives, children, cockerels and other livestock. In 1956, he went up to University College, Oxford, where he met Sari (née Clarke). The open house offered to students at Oxford's Iona Society by Rev Raymond Bailey and his wife Mary inspired their own approach. Their son-in-law, the Rev Keith Ross, holds up their ecumenical partnership as an inspiration to practically minded Christians. In his 2003 memoir Ship's Husband, Salvesen describes how, when he joined in 1959, he had to learn the business from the bottom up. He was dispatched as an engineer on six-month trading voyages. The first was on the giant whaling factory ship Southern Venturer en route from Norway to South Georgia. It was an arduous but exciting apprenticeship in icy, gale-tossed waters amid oil, whale blood and blubber. On one occasion, the engines were stilled while the ship's surgeon successfully removed a speck of metal from his eye with an improvised instrument. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Otherwise, the family name afforded him no special privileges. One often-told story has it that, introducing himself to the foreman: 'I'm Robin Salvesen,' got the answer, 'Aren't we all. Now what's your name?'. Over 60 years at Eaglescairnie, the Salvesens welcomed Territorial Army training camps, Training for Ministry weekends, overseas business colleagues, scout groups, church groups and teenage reel parties, where Sgt Ash of the TA policed the drinks table. In later life, he was an active elder at St Mary's, Haddington, valuing his visits to the 15-30 homes of his 'district'. Other good causes included King George's Fund for Sailors (now Seafarers UK), the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland and contributing to improved conditions at Scots Veteran Residences. An honour guard of the High Constables of Leith attended his funeral. Salvesen loved to be outside, whether in the market garden, at archery matches, shooting, walking the dog, fishing, family croquet, tennis, golf or playing with the children. In his final years, he enjoyed sitting in the sun watching the cows in the field, birds passing and trees swaying in the breeze. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Robin Salvesen is survived by Sari, his four daughters and two sons. His youngest son Iver died in 2016, aged 47, of heart failure while carrying out voluntary work in Tanzania. His younger brother Alastair, also a prominent Scots businessman and generous philanthropist, predeceased him by three months. Obituaries
