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The State Visit of SKH Prince Floaris of Fryslân to the Kingdom of the Great Danes​

The worshipped regal and symbolic personification of the illustrious prowess of Danish heritage and national identity, His Majesty King Hans Gustav III, King of the Great Danes and of Midgard, the Rex Dania Magna, accompanied by Her Majesty The Queen Consort Birgitte, His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Sweyn - all regaled in full state dress replete with an abundance of golden braids, tassles, sashes, and medals, aside from the Queen who was resplendent without the male insignia - and the Statsminster Hr. Jens Peder Hillerød, wearing the top hat and tails traditional for all Statsministers to wear on state occasions, patiently awaited on a podium under a canopy outside Storkong Jørgens Slottet (The Palace of Great King Jørgen), the traditional and symbolic heart where all State Visits began.

The nation's media and an assembled congregation of the public of around 2000 watched their every gaze as a steady breeze rippled the canvas above their heads and the bearskins of the assembled royal lifeguards and caused their Dannebrogs, the Danish flags, to waffle in the wind.

They were dwarfed by the looming bronze statue of the Storkong himself holding a battle axe in one hand and holding aloft the severed head of a Holy German Empire general in another - declaring the twin virtues of independence and the overthrow of tyranny, something that on this state visit was symbolic for the Frisians as they had seen the end of three decades' worth of military rule and something the two could both relate to.

The newly restored head of state of the Principality of Fryslân, His Princely Majesty Prince Floaris, accompanied by the Frisian Prime Minister Friso Dijkstra arrived in the distance up to the podium, followed by an entourage of Frisian dignatories as they commenced their State Visit to the Danish kingdom.

The Prince of Fryslân emerged from a specially provided royal state car, clothed in the royal regalia of the restored Principality, to mount the steps to greet the Danish royal family, with the Frisian Prime Minister keeping a respectful distance behind his sovereign. The Prince greeted the reigning monarch of Viking descent, the modern Storkong, the welcome matched in kind as two sovereign heads of state would expect to do. The formalities and mutual warmth were extended as His Princely Highness respectfully bowed before the Queen Consort and The Crown Prince who waited in line of precedent. In rearguard, the Frisian Prime Minister respectfully shook hands and bowed before the symbols-in-flesh of the Danish monarchy, though the greeting with the Statsminister was more businesslike, they had important issues of their own to discuss.

Once the initial greetings were over the King and Prince stood to attention as the shock and awe offensive began. Massed drums rolled and the Kongelige Fanfaren, the royal fanfare, was blasted out by royal trumpeters on horseback, followed by the Frisian and the Danish national anthems before the Prince inspected a Guard of Honour accompanied by the Crown Prince as a 41 gun salute boomed out in the near distance.

Once the formalities were completed outside the Great King's Palace, the royal entourage clambered inside an open topped horse-drawn black state landau - the Prince seated beside the King in the main carriage, whilst the Queen Consort and Crown Prince followed behind in a second, surrounded by a mounted escort of 120 horses ridden by cavalry of the Royal Lifeguards, bedecked in livery, as they rode at canter-pace - medals and horse irons jangling, braids swaying back and forth, cavalrymen bouncing up and down on their horses, and horseshoes clattering - through the main thoroughfares of Christiansborg to the royal palace, Karlskrona Slot, as drums beat, trumpets sounded and brassed bands provided the mood music to the welcome as crowds cheered them on their procession.

 

[Fryslân]

Oh the dread and anxiety, the pageantry and statecraft, the pomp and circumstance; the overwhelming nature of it all. It was as intoxicating as it was terrifying. Though Floaris could not deny to himself the pleasure that he felt deep down. Already the Frisian press had dubbed him the "People's Prince" for his friendly, open manners and his ability to heal a fractured nation. The Danes of course were not aware of the deep political troubles in Fryslân; the desires of the loyalists of the old regime, the resurgence of the Frisian Reformed Church and the desires of many to punish those left over from the Regime. It was a powder-keg and a slowly simmering pot always threatening to boil over.

Floaris understood the value to the Frisian nation and the Frisian people state visits such as this, they were the chance to break the shackles of the past in a peaceful way by bringing prosperity to his ally and Prime Minister Friso Dijkstra. Yes, the Prince was supposed to be non-partisan and non-political but the Social-Liberals were the only party in Fryslân who had any hope of repairing the damage of the past and bringing Fryslân into modern times as a modern democracy. And thus, even in the midst of an election campaign, taking the Prime Minister on a highly publicised trip to Danmark. He was using the whirlwind tour of Great Engellex and Danmark as a way to keep the Prime Minister out of the political fray and rewarding the Social-Liberals with valuable deals and international prestige.

Friso checked himself in his pocket mirror as the state car pulled up the Storkong Jørgens Slottet. The building was as grand as the Danish Monarchy and the Danes had not stopped at anything at bringing the pomp and circumstance.

Excellent, thought Floaris, this will surely make the 18h00 news in Grins.

Floaris stepped out of the car and turned around the exciting crowd and put on his best grin and waved to the jubilant crowd. Floaris was a striking figure, extremely Frisian in features; with his nearly white blond hair under his military hat that bared the emblem of the Princely Armed Forces (Prinslik Leger) and the deep blue, almost black uniform was cut to fit his tight and tall frame. At nearly 1,90m he was a recognisable royal. He walked up the steps of the palace, keeping his posture as firm as he could and as control as he could.

He greeted the elderly Danish king with utmost respect and warmth, deep in his brain he was nervous he would goof something up as this way his first state visit. He bowed before the Queen Consort and the Crown Prince. He noticed that he had caught the eye of the Crown Prince. He resisted the urge to smile and in the end something strange and awkward came over his face. Thankfully, the drum rolls and the loudness of the anthems drowned out any residual awkwardness. He stood to attend and saluted the Danish and Frisian anthems during the anthems, as it was customary in Fryslân.

Floaris and the Crown Prince began their inspection of the Guards, Floaris focused all his energy on solemning looking through the Guards and not AT the guards. Especially with the Frisian press trying their luck with the guards and the fences, he could not afford any picture that would appear even slightly unbecoming.

They survived the inspection but even while looking solemn and controlled during the inspection, Floaris had caught a few looks of the Crown Prince, a few very pleasurable looks. He greeted the Crown Prince at the end of the inspection and entered the Carriage with the Danish King. This was always his favourite part and quickly ensured his uniform was completely crisp.

 

[Danmark]

The State Banquet was a grandiose, imposing and glittering occasion steeped in the immense Great Hall of St Holger, titled after one of the patron saints of the kingdom. The oak-beamed and pannelled Hall was bedecked in the hanging Danish military regimental flags recounting battles of yore. The entire directly-related royal family had attended, as was customary when welcoming foreign heads of state : the King and Queen Consort of the Great Danes - Her Majesty this time regaled in a diamond and sapphire encrusted diadem and blue-grey crushed velvet dress, and the sextet of Princes - Crown Prince Sweyn, Prince's Lauritz, with his wife Princess Ingeborg, Constantine, Christian, Jørgen and Sebastian.

A vast, broad, exquisitely carved and French-polished oak and rosewood banquetting table, which required a team of the Royal Household's staff to physically climb onto in order to clean it with specially-designed polishing devices attached to their knees, was laid out for the occasion complete with neat flower arrangements, candelabras, and the best dining service arranged for the guests.

Directly behind where the royal party were seated, the overlapping and drooped Scanian-crossed cloths of the two nations - dark red and white bowing into the yellow, blue and white with petite crimson hearts. Prince Floaris was in the centre, sandwiched between the Crown Prince and the King. To the King's right, sat the Queen Consort with two princes to her right. To the Crown Prince's left sat three of the remaining progeny of Hans Gustav III. Opposite the heads of state and their relatives, sat the Statsminister and the Prime Minister of the two countries - with plenty of business to discuss. If the monarchical regalia to contrast against the relative plainness of the government members weren't enough, the seating arrangement reflected the divide and separation between heads of state and heads of government. They were together but they were, afterall, clear and separate things.

The great and good of Frysk and Danish high society were hob-nobbing and there was a cacophony of voices in what was a highly formal and somewhat typically stilted event. Suddenly from up in a balcony high up in the rafters - a huge drum-roll and a gust of blaring trumpets which echoed across the Great Hall, enough to make the hairs on the back of the neck stand on end, announcing that the King would speak.

The King stood and spoke with an aristocratic Danish guttural twang and with a strong and commanding voice befitting his 70 years. It was an accent barely noticeable to outsiders and non-Danes who simply took it as 'Danish'.

"Your Princely Majesty", the King turned to Floaris and nodded, "Your Majesty", he turned to the Queen Consort who received and reciprocated the nod, "Your royal highnesses, lords, ladies and gentleman. It gives me immense pleasure to welcome here today His Princely Majesty Prince Floaris of Fryslân to the Realm of the Great Danes. His Princely Majesty is most welcome among us here and I extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the people and the state of my country."

"Your visit here today is the commencement of a virgin era between our two nations after so many years of dislocation and drift. Never before have we had the opportunity of extending the hand of friendship to you and your country in a spirit of warmness, sincerity and mutual affection."

"We are well aware of the calamities have befallen your nation until the most recent of times. Your nation has been through thick and thin. But even in your darkest days, my people have demonstrated an affection for the proud Frysk people and watched as you and your people held their heads in honorable and magnanimous stoicism and demonstrated immense tenacity against adversity. Contrary to appearances, our two nations have much in common, a shared narrative that I am sure will be regaled, both nations that have sought to struggle with their past and their place in the world, a narrative that is woven through us in the rich, colourful and illustrious tapestry of history".

"My country is a true friend to Fryslân. As you come to our shores today and visit its many corners, I am sure that the warmth and admiration will be demonstrated to you wherever you go".

"I also wish to extend my welcome to the Honourable Friso Dijkstra, your prime minister, and the countless guests that have come to accompany you on your State Visit. As my nation seeks to show its support and to the people of Fryslân, my Statsminister and my government are expected to explore the many paths of friendship and beneficience.

"I am delighted and more than confident that Dano-Frysk friendship shall be with us for many years, anchored firmly in the bounty of fortune and as the glorious light is shone upon our peoples."

"Let us stand as I propose a toast. Your Princely Majesty...."

There was a mass shuffling and scuffling of chairs as people got up to stand as the Hans Gustav III held up a wine glass, looked at the Prince, smiled and nodded as the glasses clinked.

They all resumed their seats. Crown Prince Sweyn seemed to think that his country's honoured visitor seemed nervous and over-awed which touched him a little and which he privately though rather adorable. Prince Floaris seemed a rather sophisticated and well-groomed man though one somewhat new to grand state occasions, almost fretful he would fluff his lines and embarrass himself. Sweyn leaned over to mutter discretely to the Fryskman.

"Your Princely Majesty, do not be too alarmed. The formalities shall soon be over but, first, it will be now your turn to speak. Bottoms up!"

No sooner had he spoken the words than another blast of trumpets and bass and kettle drums rumbled and droned out across the Hall.

Prince Floaris arose to speak.



OOC: Fanfare used from Spotify:

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