Prince Albert & Princess Charlene Current Events - Part 3: April 2013 - February 2015


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redtulip said:
I think Charlene doesn't speak French as there really is no absolute need for it. People in Monaco would know English anyway, so why bother? I don't blame her.
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:huh:

Sure, they may speak English, but imagine Mary refusing to learn Danish because the Scandi countries are good in it, so why bother? She would be under fire and rightly so.
Grace spoke French with an accent, and don´t forget she was brand new in Monaco, while Charlene lives now for 6-7 years there with a lot more support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmPgF1NXN5E

1:10 Grace speaking French. A bit unsure, but not bad at all after 4 years.
 
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redtulip said:
I think Charlene doesn't speak French as there really is no absolute need for it. People in Monaco would know English anyway, so why bother? I don't blame her.
!
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I think that one of the worst thinks for a foreign royal bride to do is NOT to learn her new countrie's language! It is like if she was not considering at all her people. I like Charlene, she seems to be a gentle person, but it will be a huge mistake if she does not do her utmost to learn properly french! My God, some occidental people learn arabic or chinese, and Charlene could not learn french!
 
There is this video after the engagement, prince Albert gave an interview for the fifth birthday of his reign. He presented Charlene to P

to patrick poivre d'Arvor. The interview was not prepared and Charlene tried to answer to the reporter, we see that she could answer simple words and she understood french but she had not enough vocabulary to answer an another question.

Albert, l'autre prince - Part 7 - YouTube

Last year, she had problems to prononce some words in the messsage of new year.

This year, she said her message very well her message. She kept to say the message of new year to the people of Monaco. She did not need to say the message with Albert. As I said, she is the one princess consort to wish the message of new year near her husband. People of Monaco were very pleased she wished a good new year and it is now the most important for them.
She must go on to learn french and it is untrue to say that she will not learn french. she said that it will take time to speak french but she will suceed. She has more difficultoes to learn french than princess grace. Some persons have difficulties to learn foreign languages but they will succeed in other things.
 
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Furstin Texas, thank you for posting the video!

I will gladly accept that nobody will probably agree with me, but I think Charlene (and Monaco) are different from royals in the other countries. Yes, if Mary didn't speak Danish (I still have doubts she actually does; she does pre-practiced comments), she would deserve having her head blast off.

Monaco, on the other hand, is not a real country in my thinking. It's a small glossy tax haven for those who have so much money they don't know what to do with it. Whole Monaco is about pretence and gold with marble. And I bet most people living there don't know French, so why should Charlene bother?

I don't mind people with accents when they speak any foreign language. We all have an accent of some sort.
 
I´m sure Albert likes to hear that he is head of a casino and not a country.
 
redtulip said:
Furstin Texas, thank you for posting the video!

I will gladly accept that nobody will probably agree with me, but I think Charlene (and Monaco) are different from royals in the other countries. Yes, if Mary didn't speak Danish (I still have doubts she actually does; she does pre-practiced comments), she would deserve having her head blast off.

Monaco, on the other hand, is not a real country in my thinking. It's a small glossy tax haven for those who have so much money they don't know what to do with it. Whole Monaco is about pretence and gold with marble. And I bet most people living there don't know French, so why should Charlene bother?

I don't mind people with accents when they speak any foreign language. We all have an accent of some sort.
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you dont think Mary speaks danish?
i think we have countless video of her doing so.
Now I dont speak danish, but from the danish members here, it does seem like does.

Charlene is the wife of the head of state and should learn to speak the language of that country. :flowers:
 
Albert the head of a casino? I think the head of the casino has earned his way there, unlike Albert.

And no offence intended, but I cannot take seriously a country of round 32,000 filthy rich people in an area of 3 miles in length and 1.5 miles in width. - Just my view.
 
(...)

As for Charlene; no problem with English! I do accept the official language is French, but I doubt anyone in Monaco has a problem with English. I really don't think it matters.
 
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redtulip said:
Albert the head of a casino? I think the head of the casino has earned his way there, unlike Albert.

And no offence intended, but I cannot take seriously a country of round 32,000 filthy rich people in an area of 3 miles in length and 1.5 miles in width. - Just my view.
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You're not the only one with that view, redtulip, but the fact we live in such a big country might colour our views. 2.02 square km just does not a serious country make, in my opinion. And it's only got all those filthy rich people living there because there is no personal income tax and that's because of the success of the casino.

I can't get worked up about Charlene not bothering to make learning French a priority, either.
 
I readily agree! The distances down here do affect the way we think. But to think that a drive to my local shopping centre is longer than the length of a country is strange.

I would also imagine the age of multi-culturalism (is there a word like that) affects thinking in general. When Grace was in Monaco, the borders to all European countries were strict. These days, when you drive through Europe; how do you know you're in another country? The road signs change language, but that's all. Europe seems a big area with a multitude of languages, and "official" languages are neither here nor there.

It's in the past, I believe.
 
Red Tulip, your statement is very insulting to the Monegasque people. Monaco is a real country that has been in existence much longer than Australia. Just because it is a small country doesn't mean that their citizens are any less important than any other country. We all belong to the human race. Prince Albert works for the citizens of Monaco, many whose families have lived there for hundreds of years. People always forget about the actual citizens of Monaco. They only think about the wealthy non+citizens. The largest group of people living in Monaco are French, about 20%. The next largest group is the Monegasques, about 15% and the 3rd largest group is It alian, around 15%. 80% of their visitors are French. So it is important for Charlene to speak French, but I think her most important job is to attract visitors and business to Monaco. If she can do that without speaking French, I don't think the Monagasques will care.
 
Fürstin Taxis said:
I´m sure Albert likes to hear that he is head of a casino and not a country.
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Exactly. :cool: Monaco is a Principality with representation at the U.N. I think it's an insult to it's citizens and it's ruler to imply that they aren't a real country, and that it doesn't matter if the Princess Consort doesn't learn the official language!
 
Didn't say Monaco wasn't a real country, just that it's very small indeed. And it is. It's a teeny little principality they managed to squeeze a massive palace into and a casino.

My comments are not insulting at all, but if someone chooses to be insulted with something that never happened, so be it. I have no problem for it. I do think it's not desirable for anyone to think he/she is a spokesperson for a whole group of people, unless appointed to the position. But that's not a problem either.

Polyesco; I wasn't exaggerating.

I think Albert was extremely lucky to marry Charlene. I hope he realises it.
 
redtulip, you are right that it's a small country. But it's history is quite rich and complicated...linked with that of Spain, Italy and of course France and going back many hundreds of years(as noted by another poster). The Palace itself is almost 900 years old and the Grimaldi/Monaco entanglements at Louis XIV's Court of Versailles are particularly fascinating to read about.;)

It's far more than just a little promontory on the Med that houses a famous Casino!
 
I do think it's an interesting place, and beautiful to boot! Like all European countries, it has a long and interesting history. And who doesn't like great climate, beautiful people and a turquoise sea?

The palace itself is lovely (judging by the photos, as I haven't been there myself), and I like its colour pale pink. And I like to keep an eye on what Charlene is wearing :)

But it will still remain a pink meringue place where they have a F1 race once a year. However, that is not a bad thing; it just is.

Since this is a "current events" thread, maybe Charlene and Albert just should do something? In a language of their choice! :)
 
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redtulip said:
I readily agree! The distances down here do affect the way we think. But to think that a drive to my local shopping centre is longer than the length of a country is strange.

I would also imagine the age of multi-culturalism (is there a word like that) affects thinking in general. When Grace was in Monaco, the borders to all European countries were strict. These days, when you drive through Europe; how do you know you're in another country? The road signs change language, but that's all. Europe seems a big area with a multitude of languages, and "official" languages are neither here nor there.

It's in the past, I believe.
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Well then, everyone in the United States should prepare, by that argument most speak Spanish now. Perhaps everyone in Mexico should only learn English, it is so close to the US border...speak German in Germany? Why do so when you can drive to a French speaking state in hours....

What a slight to the people of Monaco by such arguments! The country is small, so they do not matter? What is hundreds of years as the official language? Everyone should learn English to suit Charlene and her family? Yes, Charlene has yet to learn it after a decade (after 'learning' a second language she has not spoken in public, before leaving school in 8th grade and learning a handful of signs). So we know she CAN do it when she applies herself, by those proofs.

It is this 'small' country Charlene volunteered to adopt and bring most her family to. Monaco is a sovereign nation in the South of FRANCE. It is an active participant of the league of French Speaking nations. Albert speaks in French st the UN meetings for his people. His official statements are in French. Is this not a hint?

No one else in the Monaco government is without French skills, they would not be hired or elected. This "explanation" or support simply does the opposite in putting down the people of Monaco. Yes, she seems to be doing some good works but if she can not communicate (or only works with English speakers) then she too is losing out and worse marginalizing the people.

This is not the past. It is now.
 
I haven't seen redtulip making an argument, just expressing her opinion or belief. I bet we all have opinions that won't be shared by others, but stating them does not amount to a slight or insult to those about whom those opinions are held and stated.

I think that the real problem is stating opinions as though they are indisputable facts, or implying that anyone who holds a contrary opinion to the poster/speaker is wrong and should not express their thoughts.
 
melina premiere said:
Prince Albert and princess Charlene attended the fest of the swimmning school at Monaco this afternoon. Photo of the official page of FB

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...700945.-2207520000.1389202257.&type=3&theater

inauguration of a restaurant Nobu at Monaco this evening by Prince Albert and Peincess Charlene

photo on twitter

Instagram

With Robert De Niro at fairmont for the launching of Nobu

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bdet7WuIEAA1URM.jpg:large

I like a lot Robert de Niro
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Thank you for the link! - It's great that Charlene gets to be involved in swimming and young talents. They are close to her heart. She's doing a great job!

Roslyn said:
I haven't seen redtulip making an argument, just expressing her opinion or belief. I bet we all have opinions that won't be shared by others, but stating them does not amount to a slight or insult to those about whom those opinions are held and stated.

I think that the real problem is stating opinions as though they are indisputable facts, or implying that anyone who holds a contrary opinion to the poster/speaker is wrong and should not express their thoughts.
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I think this is very true.
I have run past who-knows-how-many drivers, and people in general. But I am yet to meet a person to say that he/she is NOT a good driver, or that he/she is NOT a tolerant person.
Where are the bad drivers and intolerant people? We all have heard of them, but has anyone met self-acclaimed bad drivers or intolerant people?

Where are they? Who are they?
 
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Maybe in the future any complaints and or criticism of Princess Charlene's French language skills should be posted in French
 
Thank you for the links! - The terra cotta dress Charlene is wearing is one of my favourites. She looks excellent.
 
agogo said:
Maybe in the future any complaints and or criticism of Princess Charlene's French language skills should be posted in French
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Excellent idea! :lol:

Thank you for those links to the pics at the Nobu event, iceflower. I really like that dress on Charlene. I love the colour and the style suits her very well.
 
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agogo said:
Maybe in the future any complaints and or criticism of Princess Charlene's French language skills should be posted in French
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As this is a English only board, no poster's skills are questioned but if we did post in French, how would Charlene understand the criticism? :whistling: How easy it is to attack posters we don't agree with by putting it off on them?
 
Booing said:
As this is a English only board, no poster's skills are questioned but if we did post in French, how would Charlene understand the criticism? :whistling: How easy it is to attack posters we don't agree with by putting it off on them?
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Ah! But perhaps those of us who do not speak or read French would simply not care.:devil2:
 
agogo said:
Maybe in the future any complaints and or criticism of Princess Charlene's French language skills should be posted in French
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Why? Charlene has a reason to learn French unlike many of the members here, and as far as I know we are on an English speaking board. Have not noticed it has changed.
 
Charlene has only been married for two years. She cannot be compared to Mary who has been married for 9 years.

According to Wikipedia, she does speak French.
 
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