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The traditional wedding waltz just before midnight

15. maj 2004 13:13

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary dance the traditional wedding waltz
Foto: DR, © DR

The official wedding day began when lunch was served at two different locations. Part of the royal family who was in Copenhagen had lunch at the Royal yacht ‘Dannebrog’. The guests who were in Fredensborg had lunch there.

After lunch the royal family and the family of Crown Princess Mary gathered at Amalienborg, where the last preparations before the wedding took place.

The wedding ceremony
Just before 4 p.m. a clearly moved Crown Prince Frederik stood at the altar in the Church of Our Lady.

He exchanged many remarks with the best man and brother, Prince Joachim, but still had to drop a tear when Crown Princess Mary appeared in the church.

At 4:46 p.m. first one, and then the other, said yes. Denmark now had its new Crown Princess. Frederik now had his Mary.

The Princess and the Prince.
Foto: DR, © DR

Coach ride
After the ceremony, the ride went through the streets of Copenhagen, where around 100.000 persons had taken position to cheer the couple.

And when the couple finally arrived at the balcony at Amalienborg, they were cheered by more than 20.000 persons. Both the Danish and the Australian flags were waved.

The wedding party
The wedding party at Fredensborg castle began a little behind schedule.

Prince Henrik, who warmly welcomed his new daughter-in-law into the family, gave the welcome speech. Queen Margrethe, who was the next to give a speech, did the same.

- Your bright mind illuminates your way, Queen Margrethe said.

The next person to give a speech was the bride’s father, John Donaldson, who made the roof lift when he com-pared the meeting between Frederik and Mary, to the Scots meeting with the Vikings 800 years ago.

The Crown Prince gave a moving speech. He declared his love to Mary and the last words of the speech made tears appear on Crown Princess Mary’s cheeks.

The wedding waltz
One of the last activities on the evening’s program was the wedding waltz. According to etiquette, the dance must take place before midnight, which the wedding couple made just in time.

Despite the dinner being behind schedule, the many guests and the couple had time get into the Dome Hall just before midnight, were the dancing was to take place.

According to Danish tradition, the waltz was danced to Niels W. Gade’s melody from August Bournonville’s 'A Folk Tale'.

The Crown Prince couple danced with big smiles on their lips, while the many guests applauded to the music.

The evening ended officially with a large, beautiful and very romantic firework display. It lit the sky over Fredensborg castle in red, white and blue colours - the colours of the Danish and Australian flag.

At 2.17 pm the couple left Fredensborg Castle for their honeymoon.