Danish Military Etiquette

“The worst thing about military establishments is their cultivation of false standards and their insistence on caste distinctions essentially undemocratic and unnecessary for discipline and efficiency. The American army and navy fortunately have less of that sort of thing than foreign establishments, yet more than they ought to have.” – Danish military uniforms of 1940 – image source, Pinterest

Manners Changing for the Military Ranks

The labor government of Denmark is smashing many precedents, especially military and social precedents. Laust Rasmussen, Minister of Defense, is one of the leading smashers. Here is something that gave the professional military officers a shock the other day: 

The Minister of Defense, on his way to army maneuvers in an official automobile, wanted a cup of coffee and stopped at an inn for it. Doing what seemed to him a perfectly natural and obvious thing, he invited his chauffeur to sit down at the table with him. When he reached the maneuvering field, he found that the news of his amazing conduct had preceded him, and the general staff was scandalized. A pompous officer in gold braid informed Minister Rasmussen that such things simply were not done. For which the Minister replied: “Why, that chap driving my car is an engineer in private life, and I'm a linotyper, you know, so we’re on about the same footing. Now, General, if it had been you driving my car, it would have been different. Then I couldn’t have got a cup of coffee.” 

The professional man probably failed to get the satire. But the Minister’s example ought to set a new precedent, in Denmark and elsewhere. Men are more than titles, even in the army, and courtesy is more than gold braid. The worst thing about military establishments is their cultivation of false standards and their insistence on caste distinctions essentially undemocratic and unnecessary for discipline and efficiency. The American army and navy fortunately have less of that sort of thing than foreign establishments, yet more than they ought to have. – San Pedro Pilot, 1924

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Scandinavian Etiquette Formalities

At the end of the Danish dinner party, the hostess will stand in the doorway and shake hands with every guest while he murmurs, “Thank you for the food”... Royal Copenhagen dinnerware– Photo source, Pinterest

Some feel that etiquette in Scandinavia is a thing to be dreaded, especially in Sweden. Even the former should address a person by his full diplomatic, political, professional or commercial title. Thus, one meets Mr. the Assistant to the Bank Manager Wirseen or Mr. the Former Manufacturer of Blood Sausage Olson. 

Denmark is far less formal, both in speech and attire, but at the end of the dinner party, the hostess will stand in the doorway and shake hands with every guest while he murmurs, “Thank you for the food,” to which she answers, “I hope it will become you well.” – Lompoc Review, 1930

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

A Royal Gaffe and King’s Displeasure

Danish King Christian IX – Christian IX was the King of Denmark from 1862 until his death in 1906. Wed to his second cousin, Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel, he was nicknamed “the father-in-law of Europe” after their six children married into other royal families across the continent. His reign was marred by political disputes early on, making him tremendously unpopular with his subjects. However, toward the end of his 44 year reign he was viewed in a much more popular light, giving him an iconic status by the time of his death.

From ‘The Gossip’ the following story is told of a visit by Captain Alexander Murray, of the American Navy, to the King of Denmark: The King remarked to his guests that this was a residence he had owned while a private gentleman, and he was sure they would appreciate his receiving them there as a higher compliment and a greater sense of his friendship for their country than if he had treated them with more ceremony. This country house was built of white marble, with French windows opening upon a verdant lawn, and in size and appointment not much superior to the country residence of some of our merchant princes. 

After the preliminary course had been dispatched, his Majesty filled an immense goblet and, with a grand sweep of his arm, designed as a signal to the band stationed on the lawn in full view of the windows, he proposed, “The United States of America!” Crash went the instruments, but to the horror of all present, instead of pouring forth, as had been intended, one of Columbia’snational airs, they struck up a ponderous melody of “Scandinavia.” The King said “never a word,” but putting down his glass he strode through the open window on to the lawn, and seised the bandmaster by the collar, kicked him around the inclosure several times, and dismissing him at last with a rigorous shake, walked quietly back to his seat. 

As may be supposed, a sudden silence toll upon the assembled company, the code of etiquette furnishing no rule or precedent whereby guests might guide themselves when royal hosts kicked their band-masters. Our worthy representatives relied upon a state of masterly inactivity, and fortunately the delinquent leader soon scrambled to his place and gave them a full blast of Democratic harmony. – Sacramento Daily Union, 1871

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Royal Danes Skip Etiquette

American explorer Frederick A. Cook claimed he reached the North Pole on April 21, 1908, a year before the American explorer Robert Peary reached the pole. – A mere 3 months later, by December of 1909, a commission of the University of Copenhagen, ruled that Cook had not proven that he reached the pole. In 1911 Cook published a memoir of his expedition, continuing to assert their success. His 1906 claim and accounts of having reached the summit of Denali has also since been discredited.

  Explorer Dined by King and Queen    
Pole Finder Gives Proof of Statement 

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Royal Family Shows Faith in Arctic Conqueror 

Discoverer Awarded Unusual Honors by Royals

(Associated Press) Copenhagen, Sept. 5.— Frederick A. Cook dined tonight with King Frederick at the summer palace, a few miles outside of Copenhagen. The King summoned Dr. Cook to an audience yesterday as a formal courtesy. They had an hour's talk, and, while these Royal audiences, according to etiquette, can be minutely described by members of Court. Dr. Cook made such an impression on the King that the latter immediately instructed the Court Chamberlain to summon the explorer to dine with him tonight. 

The King invited Dr. Cook to meet him yesterday only after, having the government make the closest possible investigation into the merits of his story. All Danish explorers were asked to give their opinions of Dr. Cook's claims, before the audience was granted, and their verdict was unanimously in his favor. The honor is unusual. The dinner was entirely the result of the King's personal opinion regarding the explorer, who had the seat on the King's right – an honor which Danes cannot remember having been accorded another private person. 

The dinner passed off quietly, as is customary on Sunday in the Royal household, but after dinner there was a regular rush around Dr. Cook, who started a succinct recital of his adventures. One after another of the Royal personages plied him with questions and marked their intelligent appreciation of conditions in arctic seas and then waited eagerly while the explorer answered, always without hesitation. 

Prince Waldemar, brother of the King, who is a scientific sailor, was extremely interested in the currents about the pole and the condition of the sea. Prince and Princess George of Greece also made pertinent inquiries. The King and Queen and everybody were so greatly interested in the story, that they remained in the drawing room much longer than is their custom. As Dr. Cook retired with Minister Egan, he was the center of a congratulatory group. It was easy to he seen that the Royal family had implicit faith in him.– Los Angeles Herald, 1909

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia  

Etiquette According to One Queen

Louise of Hesse-Kassel was Queen of Denmark. She died in 1898 – At the royal table, to which her children were not admitted before their tenth year, they were not allowed to ask for anything, but had to wait until they were served, according to age, by the steward. If something was served which they did not like, they were forbidden to open their mouths about it, and had to eat a little of it for “politeness' sake,” and out of regard for table manners. “Those who are to rule in the world, must first taste rule themselves, and find out what it means to obey without murmur,” said the Queen.

Denmark’s Late-Queen and Mother... One of the Oldest and Best-Liked Royalties of the Old World 

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Strict Discipline Under Which Her Children Were Brought Up 

It was said of the late Queen Louise of Denmark, that next to Queen Victoria, she of all women in Europe exerted the strongest influence in the politics of the continent. “She is the female Bismarck of Europe!” exclaimed Bismarck himself once, in admiration of her diplomacy and political foresight. Her daughters became Princess of Wales, Empress of Russia and Duchess of Cumberland. One of her sons is the King of Greece; another, the Crown Prince, married the daughter of the rich Carl XV, King of Sweden, and the third is the husband of the Princess of Orleans, the daughter of the Duke of Chartres. These alliances put into the hands of Queen Louise many wires, whereby she kept in touch with Russia, England and France.

King Christian, being too easy-going, the Queen took upon herself the task of educating and disciplining her children. She was both their mother and their Queen. She taught her daughters housekeeping, dressmaking and the art of spending money. The sons were trained to keep an account of every penny they spent out of their weekly allowance, to dress plainly, and to be courteous to inferiors. 

A writer, a Danish Baron, thus describes the Queen's family discipline: While a mere boy, her eldest son, the Crown Prince, was caught trying to get the better of one of the sentries of the Royal Guard, of whom the little Prince demanded that he should present arms to him. According to Court etiquette, a royal child is entitled to a “shoulder arms” salute until its confirmation, when “present arms” is the salute given. The boy Prince demanded the latter salute, but the sentry stuck to his orders. The Queen obliged the Prince to go down and ask the soldier's pardon “for unbefitting attitude and rudeness,” and having done this properly, he was locked into his room for two days. 

At the royal table, to which her children were not admitted before their tenth year, they were not allowed to ask for anything, but had to wait until they were served, according to age, by the steward. If something was served which they did not like, they were forbidden to open their mouths about it, and had to eat a little of it for “politeness' sake,” and out of regard for table manners. “Those who are to rule in the world, must first taste rule themselves, and find out what it means to obey without murmur,” said the Queen.

When her youngest son, Prince Waldemar, married the Princess of Orleans, the young lady at once moved about in the castle as though she did not know that there was a Queen above her. During a hunt, the Princess’s horse fell, and gathering her skirts “rather high,” the intrepid girl jumped the ditch herself and took another horse. The Queen found it out. The following morning, the Princess woke to find herself a prisoner in her own bedroom. A message from the Queen was handed her by a sentry, informing her that by jumping the ditch in such fashion, she had been guilty of breach of Court etiquette, and must consider herself a prisoner for seven days.

Another time, the saucy Princess drove out with the royal children, and dismissed her driver and footman at the first Inn outside the city. Somehow the horses got frightened, overturned the carriage and “spilled” the Princess and the children on the highway. They were picked up by a peasant, who brought them to the city. The Princess laughed, the children cried, and the Queen ordered the arrest of the Princess at once, and detained her in her bedroom for fourteen days. I may add that by this time Princess Marie is fully cured, and is doubtless now mourning the loss of Grandma Louise, who was, after all, a splendid teacher. – Sausalito News, 1899

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Etiquette Breach Grounds Princess

Queen Louise of Hesse-Kassel in centre, with her daughter Alexandra, Princess of Wales, and granddaughter Louise

The Incorrigible Princess d'Orleans

When the Queen of Denmark's youngest son, Prince Valdemar, married the Princess d'Orleans, this incorrigible young woman at once evinced her inborn desire for independence, and moved about in the castle as though she never knew that there was a Queen above her. During a hunt the Princess' horse fell, and, gathering her skirts "rather high," the intrepid girl jumped the ditch herself and took another horse. The Queen found it out. The following morning the Princess woke up to find herself a prisoner in her own bedroom. 

A message from the Queen was handed her by a sentry, informing her that by jumping the ditch in such fashion she was guilty of breach of Court etiquette, and had to consider herself a prisoner for seven days. Another time the saucy Princess drove out with the Royal children, and dismissed her driver and footman at the first inn outside the city. Somehow the horses got frightened, overturned the carriage and "spilled" the Princess and the children on the highway. They were picked up by a peasant, who brought them to the city. The Princess laughed, the children cried, and the Queen ordered the arrest of the Princess at once, and detained her in her bedroom for fourteen consecutive days.—Boston Evening Transcript, 1898

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Moderator and Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

A Danish Queen's Etiquette

Louise of Hesse-Kassel (Louise Wilhelmine Frederikke Caroline Auguste Julie), was Queen of Denmark, as the wife of King Christian IX of Denmark. She died in 1898

She Made the Little Prince Apologize

The Queen of Denmark was strict as a military commander and tolerated no opposition to her will or moderation of such punishment as she dealt out to her children. While a mere boy her eldest son, the Crown Prince, was caught one day trying to bamboozle one of the sentries of the Royal Guard, of whom the little Prince demanded that he should present arms for him. 

According to court etiquette, a royal child is entitled to a “shoulder arms” salute until his confirmation, when “present arms” is the salute to be given by all sentries. The boy Prince demanded the latter salute, but the sentry stuck to his orders and refused to obey the request. 

The Queen obliged the Prince to go down and ask the soldier’s pardon “for unbefitting attitude and rudeness,” and having done this properly, he was locked into his room for two consecutive days. —Boston Transcript, 1898

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia