View source for Wedding of Princess Margrethe and Henri de Laborde de Monpezat

{{Short description|1967 Danish royal wedding}}
{{Infobox event
| image        = File:Henrik-Prince-Consort-of-Denmark-and-Margrethe-II-of-Denmark-coming-out-of-church-after-their-wedding-391768320856.jpg
| caption      = Margrethe and Henri (Henrik) leave Holmen Church
| title        = Wedding of Princess Margrethe of Denmark and Henri de Laborde de Monpezat
| date         = 10 June 1967
| venue        = [[Holmen Church]]
| Location     = [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]]
| participants = [[Margrethe II|Princess Margrethe of Denmark]] (later Queen Margrethe II)<br>[[Prince Henrik of Denmark|Henri de Laborde de Monpezat]] (later Prince Henrik of Denmark)
}}
The wedding of [[Margrethe II|Princess Margrethe of Denmark]] (later Queen Margrethe II) and [[Prince Henrik of Denmark|Henri de Laborde de Monpezat]] (later Prince Henrik of Denmark) took place on Saturday, 10 June 1967, at the [[Holmen Church]] in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]].
==Engagement==
[[File:Henrik-Prince-Consort-of-Denmark-and-Queen-Margrethe-II-during-a-family-photograph-352042887969.jpg|thumb|left|Margrethe and Henri, with their families, at a photocall after the announcement of their engagement, 7 October 1966]]
Princess Margrethe, eldest daughter and heiress presumptive of [[Frederik IX of Denmark|King Frederik IX of Denmark]], first met French diplomat Henri de Laborde de Monpezat at a dinner at the [[Embassy of France, London|French embassy in London]] in 1965 while the princess was a student at the [[London School of Economics]].<ref name="Gay"/> The couple were seen embracing at [[Copenhagen Airport]] in September 1966. Their engagement was announced on 4 October 1966.<ref name="Delorme">{{cite news |last1=Delorme |first1=Philippe |title=France - Danemark : trois mariages royaux pour le meilleur et pour le pire... |url=https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/danemark/france-danemark-trois-mariages-royaux-pour-le-meilleur-et-pour-le-pire |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=Point de Vue |date=12 May 2024|language=French}}</ref>
That same day, the [[Folketing]] granted their consent to the union.{{CN|date=November 2024}} On the morning of 5 October, the King asked the [[Council of State (Denmark)|Council of State]] for their formal consent to the marriage, which was granted. The couple and their families appeared on the balcony of the [[Amalienborg]] and drove in open cars through the streets of Copenhagen to a luncheon at [[Fredensborg Palace]].{{CN|date=May 2024}}
Henri presented Princess Margrethe with a ''toi et moi'' style diamond engagement ring made by [[Van Cleef & Arpels]]. The ring features two square-cut diamonds mounted diagonally on a yellow gold band.{{CN|date=November 2024}}
The wedding was set for 25 May 1967, the day after Margrethe's parent's 32nd wedding anniversary, but was pushed back to June as her sister, [[Queen Anne-Marie of Greece|Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes]], was expecting. Her son, [[Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece]], was born on 20 May 1967.<ref>{{cite news|title=Heir to Throne Is Born To Greek Royal Couple|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0DE0DA153DE532A25752C2A9639C946691D6CF|access-date=3 May 2016|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=21 May 1967}}</ref>
===Pre-wedding celebrations===
[[File:Henrik-Prince-Consort-of-Denmark-and-Princess-Margrethe-waving-142365972603.jpg|thumb|right|Margrethe and Henri at the French Embassy in Copenhagen, 7 June 1967]]
Henri moved full-time to Copenhagen at the end of May 1967, he also converted from the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicim]] to [[Lutheranism]] and changed the spelling of his name from the French ''Henri'' to the Danish ''Henrik''.<ref name="Gay"/><ref name="Bonnet"/>
Several pre-wedding dinners, balls and galas were held in the couple's honour. This began when the King and Queen hosted a gala for the diplomatic corp at [[Christiansborg Palace]] on 30 May, followed by a special performance by the [[Royal Danish Ballet]] at the [[Royal Danish Theatre]] on 31 May, a gala for the Danish government at Christiansborg Palace on 2 June, a dinner at [[Fredensborg Palace]] to celebrate the engagement of Margrethe's sister, [[Princess Benedikte of Denmark|Princess Benedikte]], to [[Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg|Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg]] on 5 June, and a ball at the [[Embassy of France, Copenhagen|French Embassy]] on 7 June.{{CN|date=May 2024}}
==Wedding==
Princess Margrethe and Henri de Laborde de Monpezat were married on Saturday, 10 June 1967, at 17:00 local time at the [[Holmen Church]]. The [[Church of Denmark|Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark]] ceremony was performed by Erik Jensen, [[Diocese of Aalborg|Bishop of Aalborg]] and Chaplin of the Royal Court. The ceremony lasted just 20 minutes.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |title=Margrethe of Denmark Married to French Count; Royalty Among 900 at the Wedding of Heiress to Throne 800th Anniversary of Copenhagen Also Is Celebrated |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/06/11/archives/margrethe-of-denmark-married-to-french-count-royalty-among-900-at.html |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=11 June 1967}}</ref>
===Music===
Princess Margrethe and her father walked down the aisle to a sixteenth-century musical setting of [[Psalm 42]]. Two hymns were sung during the service. The couple left the church to [[Charles-Marie Widor]]'s "Toccata" from ''[[Symphony for Organ No. 5|Symphonie pour orgue No. 5]]''.<ref name="Delorme"/>
===Attire===
Princess Margrethe wore a silk wedding gown with a six-meter train by Danish fashion designer [[Jørgen Bender]]. She wore the Irish lace veil her maternal grandmother, [[Princess Margaret of Connaught]], wore at [[Wedding of Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Margaret|her wedding]] in 1905. She also wore the diamond tiara by [[Cartier (jeweler)|Cartier]] her grandmother had received as a wedding gift from the [[Abbas II of Egypt|Khedive of Egypt]] and a diamond daisy brooch belonging to her mother made with diamonds that had belonged to Margaret of Connaught.<ref name="Gay">{{cite news |last1=Gay |first1=Danielle |title=Inside Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik’s 1967 wedding |url=https://www.vogue.com.au/brides/trends/inside-queen-margrethe-ii-and-prince-henriks-1967-wedding/image-gallery/1956b7724b275a5e9d1fbf059b6738c6 |access-date=30 December 2023 |work=Vogue |date=9 June 2019}}</ref>
Henri wore [[White tie|evening dress]] with the riband and star of the [[Order of the Elephant]], which King Frederik IX had bestowed upon him that day.{{CN|date=May 2024}}
===Attendants===
Princess Margrethe had four teenage bridesmaids: Kristin Dahl, Countess Désirée of Rosenborg (daughter of [[Count Flemming of Rosenborg]]), Anne and Carina Oxholm Tillisch. Henri's best man was his brother Etienne de Laborde de Monpezat.
===Reception===
The wedding reception for 400 guests was held at [[Fredensborg Palace]].<ref name="NYT"/> The now Prince Henrik gave a speech where he stated his new wife was the "single most beautiful adornment" in the "blooming garden" that is Denmark. This was referenced during his funeral when he requested floral arrangements in the Christiansborg Palace Chapel be arranged like a blooming garden.<ref name="Delorme"/>
==Guests==
The wedding was attended by members of the couple's families, foreign royal families, and Danish and French dignitaries. The bride's sister and brother-in-law, [[Queen Anne-Marie of Greece|Queen Anne-Marie]] and [[Constantine II of Greece|King Constantine II of Greece]], were notably absent due to political instability in their country following a [[Greek junta#Coup d'état of 21 April|coup d'état]] on 21 April 1967.<ref name="Mateos Sáinz de Medrano"/> Queen Ingrid placed photos of the Greek royal couple around Fredensborg Palace during the reception to ensure their absence was felt.<ref name="Mateos Sáinz de Medrano">{{cite book |last1=Mateos Sáinz de Medrano |first1=Ricardo |title=La Familia de la Reina Sofía: La Dinastía griega, la Casa de Hannover y los reales primos de Europa |date=2004 |publisher=La Esfera de los Libros |location=Madrid |isbn=978-84-9734-195-0 |page=369 |language=Spanish}}</ref> Notable guests in attendance included:<ref name="Bonnet">{{cite news |last1=Bonnet |first1=Dominique |title=Le jour où ... la princesse Margrethe de Danemark épousait son beau diplomate français |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Royal-Blog/Il-y-a-50-ans-la-princesse-Margrethe-epousait-son-beau-diplomate-francais-1281584 |access-date=30 August 2024 |work=Paris Match |date=10 June 2017 |language=French}}</ref>
===Relatives of the bride===
====Danish royal family====
* The [[Frederik IX of Denmark|King]] and [[Ingrid of Sweden|Queen of Denmark]], ''the bride's parents''
** [[Princess Benedikte of Denmark]] and the [[Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg|Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg]], ''the bride's sister and her fiancé''
* The [[Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark|Hereditary Prince]] and [[Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark|Hereditary Princess of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal uncle and aunt''
** [[Princess Elisabeth of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin''
** [[Count Ingolf of Rosenborg|Prince Ingolf of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin''
** [[Count Christian of Rosenborg|Prince Christian of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin''
* [[Prince Gorm of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin once removed''
* [[Count Oluf of Rosenborg|Count]] and Countess Oluf of Rosenborg, ''the bride's paternal first cousin once removed and his wife''
* Mr and Mrs Christian Castenskjold, ''the bride's second cousin once removed and his wife''
* Count and Countess Valdemar of Rosenborg, ''the bride's paternal second cousin once removed and his wife''
* [[Princess Margaretha of Sweden|Princess Axel of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin once removed (and widow of [[Prince Axel of Denmark|the bride's first cousin twice removed]])''
** [[Prince Georg of Denmark|Prince]] and [[Anne Bowes-Lyon|Princess Georg of Denmark]], ''the bride's paternal second cousin and his wife''
** [[Count Flemming of Rosenborg|Count]] and Countess Flemming of Rosenborg, ''the bride's paternal second cousin and his wife''
*** Countess Désirée of Rosenborg, ''the bride's paternal second cousin once removed''
* Countess Alexandra, Mrs Ivar Vind, and Mr Ivar Vind, ''the bride's paternal second cousin once removed and her husband''
* Count and Countess Christian of Rosenborg, ''the bride's paternal second cousin once removed and his wife''
* [[Prince Viggo, Count of Rosenborg]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin twice removed''
* [[Princess Margaret of Denmark|Princess René of Bourbon-Parma]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin twice removed''
====Swedish royal family====
* The [[Gustaf VI Adolf|King of Sweden]], ''the bride's maternal grandfather''
** The [[Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Duchess of Västerbotten]], ''the bride's maternal aunt-by-marriage''
*** [[Princess Margaretha, Mrs Ambler]], and Mr [[John Ambler]], ''the bride's maternal first cousin and her husband''
*** [[Princess Birgitta of Sweden|Princess Birgitta]] and [[Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern]], ''the bride's maternal first cousin and her husband''
*** [[Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld]], and [[Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld]], ''the bride's maternal first cousin and her husband''
*** [[Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson|Princess Christina of Sweden]], ''the bride's maternal first cousin''
*** The [[Carl XVI Gustaf|Crown Prince of Sweden]], ''the bride's maternal first cousin''
** [[Sigvard Bernadotte|Count]] and [[Marianne Bernadotte|Countess Sigvard Bernadotte of Wisborg]], ''the bride's maternal uncle and aunt''
** The [[Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland|Duke of Halland]],  ''the bride's maternal uncle''
** [[Carl Johan Bernadotte|Count]] and [[Kerstin Bernadotte|Countess Carl Johan Bernadotte of Wisborg]],  ''the bride's maternal uncle and aunt''
===Relatives of the groom===
* André and Renée de Laborde de Monpezat, ''the groom's parents''
** Françoise Bardin, ''the groom's sister''
** Maurille Beauvillain, ''the groom's sister''
** Étienne de Laborde de Monpezat, ''the groom's brother''
** Jean-Baptiste de Laborde de Monpezat, ''the groom's brother''
===Foreign royal guests===
====Members of reigning royal houses====
* {{Flagicon|Belgium}} The [[Baudouin of Belgium|King]] and [[Fabiola of Belgium|Queen of the Belgians]], ''the bride's paternal second cousin and his wife''
* {{Flagicon|Luxembourg}} The [[Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke]] and [[Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium|Grand Duchess of Luxembourg]], ''the bride's maternal third cousin once removed and paternal second cousin''
* {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} The [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Queen of the Netherlands]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin twice removed''
** {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Princess Beatrix]] and [[Prince Claus of the Netherlands]], ''the bride's paternal second cousin once removed and her husband''
* {{Flagicon|Norway}} The [[Olav V|King of Norway]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin once removed''
** {{Flagicon|Norway}} The [[Harald V|Crown Prince of Norway]], ''the bride's paternal second cousin''
* {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark|Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent]], ''the bride's paternal second cousin once removed'' (representing the [[Elizabeth II|Queen of the United Kingdom]])
* {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} Captain [[Alexander Ramsay of Mar]] and the [[Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun|Mistress of Saltoun]], ''the bride's maternal first cousin once removed and his wife''
====Members of non-reigning royal houses====
* The [[Juan Carlos I|Prince]] and [[Queen Sofía of Spain|Princess of Asturias]], ''the bride's third cousins''
* The [[Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia|Prince]] and [[Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia|Princess of Prussia]], ''the bride's paternal first cousin once removed and maternal second cousin once removed''
* [[Duke Christian Louis of Mecklenburg|Duke]] and Duchess Christian of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, ''the bride's paternal first cousin once removed and maternal third cousin''
* [[Tatiana Radziwiłł|Princess Tatiana Radziwiłł]] and Dr Jean Henri Fruchaud, ''the bride's paternal third cousin and her husband''
==See also==
* [[Wedding of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and Mary Donaldson]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Danish royal weddings}}
[[Category:Margrethe II]]
[[Category:Danish royal weddings|Margrethe]]
[[Category:1960s in Copenhagen]]
[[Category:June 1967 events in Europe]]
[[Category:Royal weddings in the 20th century|Margrethe]]
[[Category:Events in Copenhagen]]