Holmens Kirke, Copenhagen, July 31, 2004
After a long ride from the north of the Netherlands me and Gerben arrived in Copenhagen early in the morning of July 31. It was easy to find our way to Holmens Kirke, just opposite of Christiansborg Palace. At 9:15 also Stig from Denmark and Eric from Belgium joined us. Nothing had happened so far except for a royal car with someone from the royal court having a short stop at the church to check something. Guests - about 150 were invited - didn't start to arrive until after 10:00 and by then some journalists and photographers, mainly working for Danish magazines and newspapers had arrived also. Among the first guests were a big group of French family members and friends of the groom, Eric Patte, including his parents and his younger brother Laurent. Somewhat later we also discovered the first members of the Rosenborg family arriving. Good to have Stig with us who at least managed to recognise them. Among the guests was also Mrs Thyra Moes née Countess zu Castell-Castell, whose mother was a sister of the grandmother of the bride. She had brought all her four children with her with partners and one granddaughter. The bride's mother Countess Anne Dorte af Rosenborg and aunt Princess Elisabeth of Denmark arrived in a royal car with a Danish flag as a standard at the front.
Finally also the bride arrived in a royal limousine - that we had spotted in the stables at Christiansborg Palace earlier that morning - with the personal standard of the late Prince Knud of Denmark, grandfather of the bride, at the front. She was accompanied by her father Count Christian af Rosenborg and three bridal children: Anastasia and Ludwig af Rosenborg (children of her sister Camilla) and an unknown girl. The bride wore a strapless dress with gold embroidery and a short train designed by Karim, as well as a pretty short veil. She wore the brilliant diademe her mother had received from her parents-in-law when she married Prince Christian of Denmark, who became Count Christian af Rosenborg upon marriage. After having taken the time to pose for the photographers the bride entered church for a private service led by the retired Father Claus Harms, who had christened the bride at Holmens Kirke in 1975.
After a 45-minute wedding ceremony bride and groom left church. They took the time to pose for the photographers and didn't hesitate one second when it was asked if they could kiss each other. But too soon it was time for them to leave. By car they went somewhere to have a few official pictures taken, before entering a boat which would take them to their reception. Most of the guests however walked out of the church gate to the nearby waterfront to take the canal boat to the reception which was to be held at Trekroner, an island in the harbour of Copenhagen. In the evening a more intimate dinner and party took place in tents in the gardens of the annexe of Sorgenfri Castle in Kongens Lyngby where the bride's parents live.
All photos copyrighted by Netty Leistra.