Klik her for at se PDF'en - Air Greenland

The princess takes a holiday
By Niels Ole Qvist
When Mary Donaldson met Crown Prince Frederik in
2000, the Australian woman underwent an incredible
transformation. In order to live a normal life, she has had to get
used to constantly being in the public eye.
This was also the case, when she visited the gem of the coast,
Ilulissat, this summer to promote her No Bullying Project ”Kammagiitta”,
which has been implemented in schools and day care
facilities all over Greenland in cooperation with the Government
of Greenland.
But the Crown Princess fortunately found the time (outside
the official programme) to enjoy some privacy - without being
caught by nosy camera lenses.
Her stiletto heels were put away and she changed into hiking
boots. The royal silk dresses were replaced by worn jeans and a
woolly hat.
– Our hotel is something of a hide-away for celebrities and
Mary appreciated this privilege during her stay at the hotel,
tells director Erik Bjerregaard from Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat.
The first day of the royal visit was dedicated to private activities.
Mary went for a walk along the Ice Fjord and she spent a
part of the afternoon on the hotel’s terrace in bright sunshine
in the company of lady-in-waiting Caroline Heering. From the
lounge chair there was time to send e-mails and take photos of
the spectacular icebergs that constantly drift by on the fjord.
Next day, after the official programme (a visit to a school and a
day care centre in the village of Saqqaq), she was – again out of
the public eye – flown over Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Glacier),
which is the northern hemisphere’s most active glacier.
The trip in Air Greenland’s Bell 212 helicopter continued on to
the inland ice, where Mary took photos for the family album.
sHoppinG
On Mary’s third day in Greenland, the scheduled visit to a cri-
kAl Maryp meeqqat ittoortut ilassiorai.
Dk Mary hilser på et par betuttede børn.
GB Mary greets a couple of star struck children.
sis centre for women in Ilulissat was cancelled. The time was
spent shopping instead – in The Glacier Shop – and on a fishing
trip to the Ice Fjord where the Crown Princess was fortunate
enough to catch two cod.
Slightly frozen, but in good spirits, she returned to the hotel in
the afternoon and handed her catch over to the kitchen. The
cod was later part of the official dinner where it was served as
an appetizer to the menu which included deep-fried fillet of
musk ox and common mussels.
Out of the public eye, Mary also spent some time with Hotel
Arctic’s sled dogs. She fell in love with a small, 11 week old
puppy and hotel director Erik Bjerregaard ended up by giving
it to her.
– It is the hotel’s gift to the Crown Princess and of course it will
be named Mary. We have promised to take good care of it, until
she returns, says Erik Bjerregaard.
Mary was also able to enjoy some discretion at the hotel. In the
morning, she chose to take breakfast at the same buffet as all
the others and many of the foreign guests never noticed that
among them was one of the tabloid presses’ most photographed
women.
WitH tHe CHildren
Suluk’s reporter had the opportunity to speak with the Crown
Princess alone about the overwhelming reception. She particularly
noticed the way she was received by the children in
schools and day care centres.
– I have said to Frederik that of course our children should
see Greenland soon and I am really looking forward to it, said
Mary. She and Frederik have reciprocated the love of the Greenlandic
people by giving their twins, Vincent and Josephine, the
Greenlandic names Minik and Ivalo as middle names.
Suluk #04 Air Greenland Inflight Magazine 2012 21