Denmark’s Crown Prince Couple attends Flag Day comemmorations

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary attended Flag Day commemorations at Kastellet in Copenhagen on the first weekend of September.

Flag Day, which honours the Danish soldiers, foreign ministry and emergency services personnel who have been sent abroad for military or other missions, was established in 2009 and has been attended by members of the Danish Royal Family every year since 2011.

Upon arrival, Crown Prince Frederik inspected the troops while Crown Princess Mary walked behind. At the wreath-laying ceremony, several dignitaries laid wreathes and spoke, including Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Minster of Defence, Trine Bramsen.

Other dignitaries who laid wreathes, according to the Royal House, included “the Folketing, the Government, the Armed Forces, the Police, the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the Defense Attachés, Danish Veterans, Danish Soldiers and Navy Associations, the Armed Forces’ Main Cooperation Committee, the Police Association and the Emergency Management Association.”

According to the Danish Armed Forces’ website, Flag Day is “the day when Denmark’s emissaries are recognised for the efforts they have made and where the fallen are remembered. The day includes everyone who is or has been sent out from the Armed Forces, the Emergency Management Agency, the Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Health Service.”

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary also observed a flypast of F-16 jets and a performance of the song ‘I Was Born in Denmark’ by singer Pernille Rosendahl. Following the outdoor service, the couple attended a church service at Holmen’s Church.

The monument at the Kastellet (or Citadel, in English), was opened by Queen Margrethe in 2011 and includes an inscription that reads “A Time— A Man— A Place.” It honours the efforts of Danish personnel since 1948 and was inaugurated on Flag Day in 2011.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary usually attend the Flag Day service in Copenhagen, while Prince Joachim and Princess Marie attend events outside the capital city. However, since the couple moved to France, they have not taken part in events.

Flag Day also typically includes speeches from military personnel at the Christiansborg Castle Square, however this portion of the event had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, video greetings were pre-recorded and shared online.