Lister

Text: Anja Bencke

”Okay let’s do the royal wave, girls.” The whole royal family is lined up on the red carpet in front of their royal chambers on camping area L65 and wave their right hands in the characteristic wrists-turned-inwards-way. They are all here – Queen Margrethe, Prince Henrik and all of their children, children-in-law and grandchildren.

They had been a little worried about coming to the festival, since the newly held referendum on the succession to the throne revealed a certain resistance against the royal. But apparently that part of the population isn’t here, for the whole family feel very loved at the festival according to Queen Margrethe.  

Royal style at the festival
Behind the masked the royal faces are 11 girls from Roskilde. They know each other from their time at high-school and have shared the same camp since 2002. In the previous years their camps have been rather shabby, so something new had to happen this year. The camp has been named Camp Royal Family, and the girls have brought genuine royal style with them to the festival including dresses, royal crowns, Orders of the Elephant made of play dough and the whole kitchen sink.

They read “Billed-Bladet” (Danish sensational magazine), sing the national anthem and play the King game, which of course includes childrens’ questions for little Prince Christian.
The camp has received a lot of attention, and the girls have already gained a lot of acquaintances inthe camping area. They are especially fond of the Camp People of the Sea, whereas they definitely don’t care much for Camp Desperate Housewives. ”They come from a country that doesn’t even HAVE a royal family,” insists a royalist with contempt in her voice.

Jokke is a disgrace
Royal food has also been taken care of in the camp with royal-cans and redwine from the French chateau of Prince Henrik. The royal family is actually feeling so good at Roskilde Festival that they don’t miss their usual summer residence at all.

A little infighting can also be seen, when Prince Joachim stumbles over the tapestries and falls onto the golden table. Immediately the whole royal family are down on him. ”Hey Jokke, you’re reeling around,” says his nephew, and Queen Margrethe dryly points out, that he’s a disgrace for the monarchy. She is a lot friendlier when asked for a comment on the election of Camp Royal Family as camp of the day.
”With all my heart: thank you. And of course… God bless Roskilde Festival.”

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