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Margrethe II of Denmark

Born Copenhagen, 16 Apr 1940

6 facts1 source

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 16 Apr 1940

    Born in Copenhagen

  2. 1968–1969

    2 children are born

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During her lifetime

She has lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Copenhagen.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1940s · Margrethe II is born in Copenhagen

What people wore

Handmade dress during World War II

Due to wartime shortages, a dress for a 10-year-old girl was hand-sewn in 1943-44 for 35 kr using home-spun yarn from the family's rabbits and sheep.

Getting around

Bicycles were the most common transport

While cars became more accessible due to mass production, the bicycle remained the most common mode of transport for ordinary people.

Work

Common jobs for children and youth

Common jobs included grocery delivery boys (svajere), domestic servants, and agricultural laborers, with children frequently performing domestic chores or working on farms to supplement family income.

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.Around the world · 1939–1945

The Second World War. The deadliest war in history, from 1939 to 1945: some 70 million people died. Brazil sent 25,000 soldiers to fight in Italy.

Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent · public domain

Music

The Fanø dance tradition in Denmark

On the island of Fanø, a distinct tradition known as Fanø music and dance, including dances like sønderhoning and fannikedans, was performed throughout the 20th century using a set repertoire of about 120 melodies.

At the table

Cooking Porridge in a Haybox

Due to fuel rationing, families used an insulated box called a haybox (høkasse) to finish cooking porridge; after a short boil on the stove, the pot was placed in the haybox to cook for hours without using more gas.

News and letters

War Caused Significant Mail Delays

Due to war conditions and censorship, a letter sent from China in 1941 did not reach its recipient in Denmark until over two years later in 1943.