QMII has given another interview. This time in the radio to the respected foreign affairs correspondent, Steffen Gram.
And QMII has become more outspoken recently, while still retaining her diplomatic tact:
Dronningen om Ukraine-konflikten: Man tænker jo på Europa i 30'erne | Nyheder | DR
QMII attended the Normandy-commemorations last year, while the Ukraine crisis was hot and she was seated next to President Putin.
How do a Queen handle such a situation?
"One says a few polite words because one is a well-behaved person. - You shouldn't after all show a too sharp, cold shoulder, because that is also an act (diplomatic act).
I'm afraid I happened to speak a great deal more with President Hollande".
The Ukraine crisis is of course something QMII has pondered: "When you see what happens, it is not impossible to think about what happened in Europe towards the end of the 1930's".
However the situation is different today. Europe is more united and there is NATO. So there is no need to be intimidated.
"We must be very clear that this is not where we play with fire. Here we must try and see things in a sober manner, but not let us be cowed. The last thing we must do is to be afraid".
(Unfortunately I can't do her complete justice in regards to the subtleties of the language she is using. Suffice to say that few foreign ministers could do better).
She also talks about the Danish participation in peacekeeping and wars in recent decades.
The way the Danes have accepted casualties impress her. (*)
"Now I certainly sound like an old aunt, but I hadn't really believed we would be so mature about it - that is that is you are involved in that sort of things, then not everyone will return alive. But that was done in a very grand manner. That I think".
She is proud of the soldiers: "There was a lot of respect about the effort put in from the Danish side. We weren't that many, but we could do what we were supposed to.
We owe them a lot of respect all the young people, who has been out. Both in Iraq and in Helmand. Those who flew to Libya and those who are flying now (F16's bombing ISIS in Iraq). That is really well done".
She also speaks about the increasing globalization, which is both challenging and a bit frightening at the same time, But she also says easy now, coll it, it ain't as bad as it's made up to be.
(*) In fact, in contrast to practically all other countries in the coalition the public support for the war in Afghanistan, or perhaps rather the support for the troops, has consistently been very high until very recently, despite DK having the highest fatality rate per capita among the coalition forces.
Something that was noted and wondered at abroad.
ADDED:
PH is today still down with flu.
