Danish crown prince and princess plan visit to Grand View
Amy McEltree
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
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Ritz, along with the rest of the Grand View community, will be visited by the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark Tuesday, at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 24, beginning at the Humphrey Center and traveling to the Rasmussen Center.
Stopping for a detour on their way to Dana College in Nebraska, Frederik André Henrik Christian, Prince of Denmark, Crown Prince, Count of Monpezat, and Mary Elizabeth, Crown Princess, Countess of Monpezat, will arrive on Grand View's campus at 9 a.m.
Lucas Casey, executive assistant to the president, is overseeing the event.
Casey said the couple will arrive at the Humphrey Center, where all members of the Grand View community will be invited to gather, and the couple will take part in activities with other Danish Americans on campus.
After viewing the Humphrey Center, the couple will walk down Grand View Avenue to the Rasmussen Center, where Ritz will greet them.
Ritz was chosen to greet the couple because of his Danish descent, among other qualities. Ritz is a soccer player at Grand View; a sport the prince is very interested in. Also, Ritz is a design student, and Casey said Denmark has a well-regarded design school Grand View is trying to make connections with.
President Henning will walk the couple through the design area of the Rasmussen Center, and will end at the lounge in the building. Here, Henning will give a short speech, followed by a very brief speech, probably no longer than five minutes Casey said, by the prince.
Casey said Ritz is very excited for the opportunity.
"It would be like you or I studying abroad and our president going over there to meet us," Casey said.
The Crown Prince and Princess are traveling to Dana College for a Danish reunion. Casey said the president of Dana College knew of Grand View's Danish heritage, and suggested to the Danish Embassy that the Crown Prince and Princess make a stop at Grand View's campus.
The couple will be flying in by private jet from Chicago, and will depart the Des Moines' Airport to Omaha Nebraska for similar activities there.
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