The Queen visits JYSK in Germany

As part of Her Majesty's official visit to South Schleswig, the Queen paid a visit to JYSK's regional head office in Handewitt on Friday, 6 September.

During a brief moment without strong winds and pouring rain, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark arrived exactly as planned on Friday, 6 September at 12:10pm, where she was welcomed by, among others, Jan Bøgh, CEO & President of JYSK, and Christian Schirmer, Country Manager of Dänisches Bettenlager in Germany. The daughter of the Country Manager had the honour of handing the Queen a bouquet.

On the staircases inside the reception, many employees were ready to welcome The Majesty. With flags in their hands – Danish, German and blue-and-white JYSK flags – the employees gave the Queen a warm welcome during a visit that many had looked forward to with great expectations.

A special day in the reception

One of them was Yvonne Tschirner, who usually works as a receptionist. She is therefore accustomed to receving lots of guests at the regional head office.

“Today was a very special day with a very special guest. I have been looking forward to this since I found out two weeks ago that the Queen was coming. I am used to many guests coming and going, but today there were quite a lot today, so it was a special experience,” says Yvonne, who has one year in JYSK.

In the reception, where many both Danish and German media had gathered, the Queen was introduced to two bed environments: a typical German one with floral print and delicate, pink colours as well as a typical Scandinavian one in darker shades and with a more minimalist expression.

Her Majesty received an eiderdown duvet and a pillow from JYSK. Three Danish handball players from SG Flensburg-Handewitt, which JYSK sponsors - Lasse Svan Hansen, Simon Hald and Anders Zachariassen - also handed over autographed player jerseys with the names of all the Queen's grandchildren.

Afterwards, The Majesty was escorted into a specially decorated VIP room, where Jan Bøgh and Åge Nielsen – who in 1984 helped open Dänisches Bettenlager in Germany and who have since been part of the management – briefly presented JYSK's development from one to more than 2,800 stores in 40 years. Here, The Queen also had an opportunity to feel and experience the difference in pillow sizes and designs in different European countries.

A great honour to have a royal visit

The last time Jan Bøgh met Her Majesty was at the opening in 2008 of JYSK's distribution centre in Uldum, Denmark, and before today's visit he very much looked forward to greeting her again.

“It is a great honour to receive a visit from The Queen, and it is something we can be proud of. After all, she doesn't visit that many companies during such an official trip. I am sure that the positive light that both JYSK and Lars Larsen are perceived in by the Queen makes her want to visit us. Of course that makes us really happy,” says Jan Bøgh.

After the royal visit, which lasted about half an hour, Yvonne Tschirner was very impressed with The Queen:

“There was a very special atmosphere when she entered the reception. A tense atmosphere, but in a really positive way. I wish we had had the opportunity to say 'tschüss' to her before she left, but it is in any case an experience I will remember forever.”