State visit from The Arab Republic of Egypt

Photo: Kongehuset ©

At the invitation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen, His Excellency The President of The Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, pays a state visit to Denmark the days of 6-7 December 2024. 

Egypt is an important strategic partner for the EU and Denmark, including in the area of climate change. Danish-Egyptian ties extend back to 1922, and Denmark and Egypt have also collaborated for a long time with a focus on young people and job creation in Egypt in connection with the Danish-Arab Partnership programme.

In connection with the state visit 6-7 December 2024, Denmark’s relationship to Egypt will be strengthened as part of the government’s Africa strategy, “Africa’s century”. This is based on the desire for equal dialogue and cooperation with a view to strengthening Danish political, diplomatic and commercial engagement in Africa.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

HE The President of The Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, is on a state visit to Denmark the days of 6-7 December 2024 at the invitation of TM The King and The Queen.

Danish-Egyptian diplomatic ties extend all the way back to 1922, and Denmark and Egypt have collaborated a long time with a focus on young people and job creation in Egypt in connection with the Danish-Arab Partnership programme.

During the visit, The President will be accompanied by HE The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdel Atty, and HE The Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Hassan El-Khatib, as well as an Egyptian business delegation. On Sunday morning, The King and The Queen bid farewell to The President at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg.

PROGRAMME

At Amalienborg, Their Majesties the King and Queen received this morning His Excellency the President of Egypt 

The state visit began from the main staircase of Christian VII's Palace, where Their Majesties, together with the President, witnessed a passing of an honorary company of the Royal Life Guards on Amalienborg Palace Square. During the welcome, the Royal Life Guards' Band also performed the Egyptian national anthem.

Subsequently, the King and Queen and the President participated in the laying of a wreath at the Monument for Denmark's International Efforts after 1948 at the Citadel in Copenhagen. The King, Queen and President then drove back in a carriage from the Citadel to Amalienborg.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Official reception on Amalienborg Palace Square

09:00

The King and The Queen greet HE The President of Egypt at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg and, together with The President, watch a guard of honour from The Royal Life Guard formed for the occasion parade past on Amalienborg Palace Square. 

At the welcoming ceremony, The Band of The Royal Life Guard plays the national anthem of Egypt.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Wreath-laying ceremony at The Citadel

09:15

The King and The Queen and HE The President of Egypt participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument for Denmark’s International Effort since 1948 at The Citadel in Copenhagen. 

After the reception, The King and The Queen ride together with The President by coach to Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment’s Mounted Squadron. 

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Arrival at Christian VII’s Palace

09:40

The King and The Queen and HE The President of Egypt arrive in the coach escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment’s Mounted Squadron at Christian VII’s Palace, where The King and The Queen greet the Egyptian delegation in The Great Hall.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Christian VII's Palace was built during the years of 1750-1754 by Lord High Steward A.G. Moltke. When the royal family was left without a home after Christiansborg Palace burned in 1794, Christian the 7th bought the palace. Today, Christian VII’s Palace is used as a guest and representation palace, among other times when foreign heads of state pay state visits to Denmark.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Tête-à-têtes at Eigtveds Pakhus

13:00

HE The President of Egypt arrives at Eigtveds Pakhus and is greeted by Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The President participates in a number of tête-à-têtes with selected Danish business leaders.

Eigtveds Pakhus was built the years of 1748-50 under the guidance of court master builder Nicolai Eigtved, the architect behind Amalienborg and the planning of Frederiksstaden. Eigtved (1701-1754) was a distinguished Danish architect and court master builder, educated with support from Christian the 6th.

Today, Eigtveds Pakhus houses meeting, conference and representation rooms for, among others, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Business conference and launching of Danish-Egyptian trade forum

Together with His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, His Majesty the King launched this afternoon a Danish-Egyptian trade forum with the participation of Danish and Egyptian companies and decision-makers.

Egypt is an important strategic partner for Denmark and the EU, including in the climate field. Danish-Egyptian diplomatic ties date back to 1922, and Denmark and Egypt have also cooperated for a long time with a focus on youth and job creation in Egypt in connection with the Danish-Arab Partnership Program.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

14:10

HM The King arrives at Eigtveds Pakhus and meets up with HE The President of Egypt. Together, The King and The President introduce a Danish-Egyptian trade forum with the participation of Danish and Egyptian companies and decision-makers.

At the opening, The King and The President speak, among others.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

State Dinner at Christiansborg Palace

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Into the Hall of Servants and up the Royal Staircase, around 160 guests attended the Royal Couple's gala dinner in the Hall of Honour at Christiansborg Palace last night in honour of His Excellency the President of Egypt.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

Among the guests were, among others, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte, as well as members of the government, the Egyptian delegation, representatives of Danish and Egyptian business and representatives of the Court.

Before the gala dinner, the many guests had the opportunity to greet the President, Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses in the Velvet Suite.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

19:30

The King and The Queen host a state dinner at Christiansborg Palace in honour of HE The President of Egypt with the participation of TRH Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte as well as the government, the Egyptian delegation, representatives of Danish and Egyptian business, representatives of the Court, and others.

At the state dinner, there will be speeches by The King and The President.

His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi was photographed shortly before the gala dinner with Their Majesties the King and Queen in the Velvet Suite at Christiansborg Palace 

Photo: The Royal House ©️

Photo: Kongehuset ©

“The migratory birds have long since flown to Egypt. Down to more sunshine and warmer winds. Conditions that are not only to the birds’ advantage, but also offer great potential for wind and solar energy.”

Green technology, energy efficiency and sustainable fuels were among the topics discussed when His Majesty the King gave a speech this evening on the occasion of the incoming state visit from Egypt. His Excellency the President of Egypt, as is tradition, followed the King with a speech that concluded with “King Christian” by the Royal Life Guards Band.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

A scent of fir and flowers has spread in the Royal Reception Rooms at Christiansborg Palace, where Their Majesties the King and Queen are hosting a gala dinner tonight in honor of His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi 🇩🇰🌹🌲🇪🇬

The reddish color nuances of Christmas are repeated in the floral decorations. Frederik VI's dessert table is adorned with velvety red roses and bluish eucalyptus, both of which complement the colors of Bjørn Nørgaard's tapestries in the Great Hall.

The floral decorations also consist of elegant gold-sprayed heart grass. Her Majesty the Queen has helped select the flowers.

Photo: Kongehuset ©

During a state visit, it is traditional to hold a return event where the guest thanks the host country for the visit. So this evening, His Excellency the President of Egypt hosted a dinner at the country house Sølyst in Klampenborg 🇩🇰🇪🇬

Their Majesties the King and Queen were, together with Their Royal Highnesses Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte, the evening's guests of honor. In addition, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs also participated, among others.

The President of Egypt has today visited both the Danish Parliament and Marienborg. Tomorrow, His Excellency will bid farewell to Your Majesties before the President continues his tour of Scandinavia with an official visit to Norway.

Saturday, 7 December

Danish Parliament visit

09:00

HE The President of Egypt meets with, among others, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Søren Gade, at the Danish Parliament.

Following the arrival, The President is escorted to the Conversation Room, where The President greets a number of Danish Parliament members, gives a speech and takes part in a number of discussions. The Danish Parliament visit concludes with The President signing the parliament’s guest book.

Visit to Marienborg

12:20

HE The President of Egypt meets with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at Marienborg, where The President takes part in a working luncheon and signs the guest book, among other things.

Afterwards, The President and The Prime Minister take part in a press element in the Pavilion at Marienborg.

Marienborg was built around 1745 as private summer residence. The name originates from 1795, when the owner’s wife, Marie Lindencrone, had the place named after her. After changes in ownership, the property was bought in 1934 by Supreme Court solicitor C.L. David, who in 1960 bequeathed the buildings, the area and household goods to the state, which assumed ownership of Marienborg on 1 January 1962.

Today, Marienborg is used for, among other things, representative purposes by the Office of The Prime Minister.

Reciprocal arrangement at Sølyst

18:00

HE The President of Egypt holds a reciprocal arrangement at Sølyst with the participation of, among others, The King and The Queen and TRH Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte.

The country house Sølyst in Klampenborg was acquired in 1948 by the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society, which is among Denmark’s oldest associations. Its history can be traced back to 1443, but the society has probably existed longer than that.

Sunday, 8 December

Official farewell

09:30

The King and The Queen bid farewell to HE The President of Egypt at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg, where window panes will be signed. 

Photo: Kongehuset ©

The state visit from the Arab Republic of Egypt has ended, and this morning the Royal Couple said goodbye to His Excellency the President of Egypt at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg 

Before the President left Denmark and on to Norway, where His Excellency continues his tour of Scandinavia, the President of Egypt signed a window pane.

When guests, if they are of princely rank or heads of state, say goodbye during a state visit or official visit, they sign a window pane

From now on, the pane will hang in one of the royal palaces as a memento of the President's state visit to Denmark.

Photo: Kongehuset ©