Friday, 12 November 2021, Munich, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: In the framework of the Danish State Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II travelled from Berlin to Bavaria, wherein she was received upon her aerial arrival to ‘Franz Josef Strauß Munich International Airport’ by Bavaria’s Minister for European Affairs, Melanie Huml. Thereafter Queen Margrethe II was whisked aways by automobile to Munich’s Residenz Palace, wherein she was officially welcomed by Premier of Bavaria, Dr. Markus Söder and the latter’s spouse, Karin Baumüller-Soder.
Queen Margrethe II was treated to a traditional red carpet welcome, supported by the Honorary Company of the Bavarian Mountain Rifles (Gebirgsschützen), the Tölz Boys’ Choir as well as a delegation of the Bavarian Traditional Costume Associations especially selected for the regal guest.
The Danish monarch signed the Golden Book of the Bavarian state government, and granted upon Premier Söder the Dannebrog Order (Dannebrogordenen), an order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by King Christian V, however, whose roots go back to an honorary ensign set up by King Valdemar II in 1219. In Danemark the order members are known as ‘white knights’. The order is named after the Danish flag, and is bestowed upon Danish citizens and foreign dignitaries for ‘meritorious civil or military service, for a particular contribution to the arts, sciences or business life, or for working for Danish interests’.
At the bilateral meeting which took place at the Porcelain Cabinet Room of the Residenz Palace, State Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann, Minister of Federal and Media Affairs, also partook.
The visit’s focus was the ‘Dano-German Year of Friendship 2020‘, which means to enhance cultural ties between the two countries. Hence Queen Margrethe II was taken to the Glyptothek, Munich’s oldest public museum, after her official welcome.
The Glyptothek was built by the Bavarian King Ludwig I to house his collection of Greek and Roman sculptures, and the museum includes works by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen commissioned by King Ludwig I.
During the visit, the museum’s director, Dr. Florian Knauß, showed The Queen around the exhibition. The visit to the Glyptothek follows the celebrations of Thorvaldsen’s 250th anniversary in 2020 and the recently concluded exhibition in Munich “Bertel Thorvaldsen und Ludwig 1”.
On Saturday, 13 November 2021, The Queen concluded her state visit with a visit to the Akademie der Bildenden Künste (Academy of Fine Arts) one of the world’s most renowned training centres for crafts and design. Upon her arrival, she was welcomed by Professor Karen Pontoppidan, among others.
In the Academy’s Gobelin Hall, Her Majesty attended a series of speeches as well as the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Academy and the Danish Arts Foundation on residencies at the Academy for Danish jewellery artists. Subsequently, The Queen visited the Academy’s jewellery workshops, where fellow Marie-Louise Kristensen presented her projects to the Danish head of state.
For further information:
Reception for Queen Margrethe II by the Bavarian Government at the Residenz Palace: https://www.bayern.de/buergerservice/mediathek/?fotoreihe=78434
Danish Royal House: https://www.kongehuset.dk/foto-video/statsbesoeg-i-tyskland-dag-3
