Queen Margrethe of Denmark and her sister Princess Benedikte arrived in Dresden, capital of the German state of Saxony, and ancient royal capital and residence, for a two day visit. Queen and Princess were welcomed at the Dresden airport by Saxony’s Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich and his wife Veronika.
First stop on the royal itinerary was the restored ‘Frauenkirche’ (Church of Our Lady), which was destroyed by fire bombing towards the end of the World War II and was only rebuild in recent years.
While Dresden was under communist East German administration the ruins served as poignant reminder of the war, but after German reunification in 1990 it was decided to restore the magnificent church to its former glory.
Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte attended a performance of ‘Giselle’ by the Royal Danish Ballet at the world famous Semper Opera building, accompanied again by Saxony’s first couple.
High point of the culturally inspired visit is the opening of an extraordinary exhibition in the ‘Fürstengalerie’ in the former royal residence, Dresdner Residenzschloss, of art work from both the Danish and Saxon royal collections.
The 'Schloss', also restored to its former glory, is the former residence of the Electors and Kings of Saxony.
The exhibition ‘Mit Fortuna übers Meer’ gives an overview of the many ties between both countries and royal houses: through marriages and military alliances. King Frederik IV of Denmark cemented thos e ties in 1709 when he stayed one month in Dresden. © HJ; Photos by GPD © AP; More on the royal palace of Dresden: click here
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