General News about Frederik, Mary and Family 10: December 2011 - January 2013

[dee4855]

Is Vincent a redhead? He sure looks so in the picture.

 

[marfre]

Thanks for posting, nice that Mary and Frederik can go for a stroll without being bothered too much.

So it is Josephine with the hat on I thought it was Vincent.

 

[Roskilde]

Thanks for posting, nice that Mary and Frederik can go for a stroll without being bothered too much.

So it is Josephine with the hat on I thought it was Vincent.

The magazine BILLEDBLADET (where the pictures is from) writes that it is little Josephine with the hat on and little Vincent without.

Is Vincent a redhead? He sure looks so in the picture.

I'm sure that Vincent's hair color is equal to his siblings, just as we have seen in pictures recently. It must be the sun, which reflects the pictures.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Is Vincent a redhead? He sure looks so in the picture.

I think it might be the picture quality that makes him look redheaded, or as Roskilde said, bad lightening.
I can't imagine that little Vincent has red hair.

 

[Saschana]

I wasn't sure where to ask, so I'll do it here. Feel free to move my post

I seem to remember that about a year ago, the Danish coverage of Mary and Frederik's wedding was still available online. Sadly, I have lost the link. Does someone have the link, in case the videos are still online?! I would be very grateful!

 

[suztav]

Is Vincent a redhead? He sure looks so in the picture.

Seems like poor photo quality to me ... if you remember, Vincent's hair wa brownish just a few months ago at the Grasten photo session.

 

[nwinther]

Is Vincent a redhead? He sure looks so in the picture.

Knowing a bit about image colour, the picture is clearly too yellow. Although the light from the setting sun would be more yellow/reddish, it wouldn't be in this extreme degree.

This leads me to think that Vincent has lighter hair - blonde'ish, with the yellow light from the sun and the further yellow saturation of the image making it appear ginger.

OTOH, I seem to remember Joachim having a ginger streak in early pictures, just as I seem to recall Margrete looking slightly ginger i her teen-years (from pictures only).

 

[Muhler]

Translation of article in Billed Bladet #46, 2012.
Tapre Christian støttede mor – Brave Christian supported mother.
Written by Trine Larsen.

The grief was painted in the face of Crown Princess Mary when she arrived at Vinderød Kirke and hand in hand with Prince Christian they walked with heavy steps into the church to pay a last respect to her invaluable and highly treasured Lady’s Maid, Tina Jørgensen.
The lead-gray and rainy clouds hang heavily over the church when Mary with a protective and comforting arm on the shoulders of her seven year old son went into the church, where Tine Jørgensen’s mother, Jytte Jørgensen and the sister, Heidi, received Crown Princess Mary and Prince Christian, who sat on the front row next to the beautifully rose-adorned coffin during the solemn service.
In the beginning Crown Princess Mary struggled with her emotions and for a while managed to keep the tears in check, while she sat and caressed Prince Christian’s hand. But the emotions overpowered Mary and some point during the moving speech by the priest the Crown Princess could no longer hold back the tears. The many memories of the wonderful, sweet, funny, helpful and joyful Lady’s Maid, who for the past eight years dedicated her life to Mary and the children, became too much. Mary succumbed to the grief and let the tears run freely.
Several times she almost sobbing had to reach for her handkerchief and several times Prince Christian had to take his mother’s hand and comfort her. Also when Mary’s hairdresser and good friend of Tina Jørgensen, Søren Hedegaard (*), at some point cried openly, Prince Christian looked at him with his clear blue eyes and put his hand comforting and gently on his cheek.
This loving gesture from this little brave Prince gave not least Crown Princess Mary strength and she smiled with tearful eyes to her son, who managed the sorrowful occasion with bravour. Quiet but moved by all the sorrow shown by the adults, Prince Christian sat and said his own last goodbye to Tina Jørgensen, whom he has known all his life and to whom he was very close. Because Tina Jørgensen, who had no children, loved children and not least Prince Christian and the other royal children were incredibly close to her.
That Crown Princess Mary let Christian take time off from school and brought him with her to the church to say a last farewell to Tina Jørgensen, showed very clearly that the feelings were mutual.
The sorrow over the sudden and all too soon death of Tina Jørgensen was evident among all in the small church, where all the 240 seats were taken. A sea of flowers filled the room – just like the tunes of four psalms – which were sung while the family carried the coffin out of the church to the hearse. (**)

After the sermon by the priest Janne Ståhl, the good friend of Tina Jørgensen, the actress Susan A. Olsen, read aloud from Suzanne Brøgger’s poem “Mrs. Tune”, which could just as well have been written especially for Tina. And when the family stood up and took their places at the coffin, they stood very still for a moment and while the singer Trine Gadeberg sang “Om lidt bliver her stille – In a moment it will be quiet” (***) a capella in church – the last succumbed and cried.
The tears were therefore still streaming down the cheeks and Crown Princess Mary needed a short moment to compose herself when she went out of the church – right behind the coffin and the nearest family, who on the ribbon of the litter-bouquet (****) had written: “There was always sunshine around you”.
Almost symbolic the sun burst through the clouds just as the large gathering stood in front of the hearse and paid a last respect with an utterly unique person, who brought sun and light into the lives of many.
For a long time Mary stood and struggled with the tears, while she held on to Prince Christian, then the doors to the hearse were closed and Crown Princess Mary could no longer control the emotions. While several formed a comforting circle around, she again let the tears run freely. Devastated over the loss of the ray of sunshine, Tina Jørgensen was in the daily life of the royal family.

(*) His spouse Preben Christensen was unable to attend, as his plane could not take off due to fog. I know Preben Christensen well enough to know that he would have been very unhappy about not being able to be there.

(**) Even though it’s a car, it’s nevertheless still called a hearse.

(***) Originally a song by Kim Larsen, it has become very popular at funerals. Kim Larsen - Om lidt blir her stille - YouTube

(****) In DK: a bårebuket = the bouquet on top of the coffin.

- Well, Billed Bladet showed a close up of Mary crying on the front page.
There is a word in Danish: følelsesporno = emotion-porn/emotional-porn, describing when something is wallowing in emotions. I don’t like that sort of things. I believe you should be allowed to grieve and also to be overcome by grief without ending up on a front page.

 

[MaggieDenmark]

- Well, Billed Bladet showed a close up of Mary crying on the front page.
There is a word in Danish: følelsesporno = emotion-porn/emotional-porn, describing when something is wallowing in emotions. I don’t like that sort of things. I believe you should be allowed to grieve and also to be overcome by grief without ending up on a front page.

And it is not only billed bladet that has these heartbreaking photos on their front page. I saw today several danish magazine that has a crying Mary on the front page I think like you that the press should leave Mary (and Tina Jørgensen's family and friends as well) alone to a funeral like this, but our royal family and especially our ultra popular Mary is good stuff for our media and magazines.

 

[JessRulz]

A series of posts have been removed as they did not comply with the forum rule regarding speculation:

I received a message from a moderator saying that my post had been removed because it contained speculation. We don't know the royals and we get all our information second hand, so isn't it all speculation?

Our rule about speculation is intended to prevent tabloid-type flights of fancy which often slip into outright fantasy and sometimes even libel. While we realise that much of the information posted in the threads is based on reports in the media which we can't verify, we expect posters to base their statements on published reports rather than on wishful thinking or unsubstantiated hearsay. The forum moderators have the final say about whether posts are unacceptably speculative. Disagreements with moderator decisions must take place via private message, not by arguing in the threads and certainly not by reposting deleted material.

As we have no way of knowing the true relationship between Mary and Tina, please refrain from creating possible scenarios. Further posts in this manner will also be removed.

Any questions should be directed to the moderating team.

 

[Muhler]

This and similar posts over the next few days may have to be moved to another thread but let's start here.

http://www.bt.dk/royale/miljoe-hykler-kronprinsen-byttede-el-bil-til-benzinsluger
BT has an article about a new book on the favorable presents and services the DRF recieve.
- It's common knowledge because the companies are queuing to have the royals be seen using their products. The same thing applies, as you know, to many other high profile celebs.
Anyway, a journalist, Jens Høvsgaard, has written a book called: "It costs a kingdom", about the presents and services the DRF gets.
I don't know Jens Høvsgaard, the name doesn't ring a bell.

BT apparantly tends to cover this more over the next few days and they start out with Frederik.

You may recall some time ago that Frederik inaugurated a chain of stations for recharching electric cars, the first of it's kind here in DK. - The aim of course being to cut down on the use of fossile fuel.
Frederik arrived in a (hot) electric car, Fisker Karma. - Which he had borrowed.
And according to the book he had actually returned that very same model to the company a few days before and exchanged it with a (petrol-gulping) Land Rover Discovery 4.

The author, Jens Høvsgaard says: "If the occasion demands an environmental-friendly car and profile, he likes to ornate himself with borrowed environmental-feathers (idiom) to prevent that the truth about his own CO2 consumption gets out. Not particularly wise for a man who would like to be taken serious and who is often profiling himself as caring for the environment. - Him not opting for the electric car and choosing a veritable environmental-sinner of a car exposes him as a pure environmental-hypocrite".

Søren W. Kruse, who is responsible for the DRF's economy cannot answer why Frederik opted for a Discovery and discarded the Fisker Karma: "I owe you a reply" (Common idiom).

- Well, in Frederik's defence I wouldn't have kept the electric car either, even if I had got it for free. The chain of recharging stations is still not sufficient to get anywhere without risking to run out of power and I don't know how it is in other countries, where I might drive like Sweden and Germany. By having a petrol/dielsel car I know I can drive anywhere and as far as I want until I run out of road.
More ironic perhaps is that with the current technology electric cars use comparatively more fossil fuel from manufacture and recharging the batteries than the average petrol car. We will eventually get there when an electric car will be genuinely more environmentally-friendly - and in not so many years. Of that I'm sure, but not now.
However, opting for a Discovery. Even if I was looking for an excuse for that I must confess I can't see the logic in that one. - Except that it's a cool car.

 

[ricarda]

You may recall some time ago that Frederik inaugurated a chain of stations for recharching electric cars, the first of it's kind here in DK. - The aim of course being to cut down on the use of fossile fuel.
Frederik arrived in a (hot) electric car, Fisker Karma. - Which he had borrowed.

And according to the book he had actually returned that very same model to the company a few days before and exchanged it with a (petrol-gulping) Land Rover Discovery 4.

Do you mean he got a car as a present just because he inaugurated a chain of stations for electric cars? I know royals get presents but usually they are smaller ones, aren't they? Accepting a present like that is IMO inappropriate and dangerous, no matter if it is Diesel or electric.

And what do you mean with "a few days before"?

 

[Muhler]

Well, my answer has to be a little careful.

The article says he acquired the electric car in the summer of 2011. Whether he bought it, borrowed it, leased it or whether it was a present and under what terms is not clear to me.

He returned the car shortly before inaugurating the recharging stations. Only to acquire a land rover, the Discovery.
He borrowed the very same model he had returned to the company, the Fisker Karma and arrived for the inauguration in that smart looking electric car.

And that's all I know until there are more details.

 

[Nordic]

Søren W. Kruse, who is responsible for the DRF's economy cannot answer why Frederik opted for a Discovery and discarded the Fisker Karma: "I owe you a reply" (Common idiom).

Article May 2012/Borsen: Her er kongehuset kronebiler
Søren W. Kruse: (In Danish):
"Kronprins Frederik lånte en Fisker Karma af den danske bildesigner Henrik Fisker i forbindelse med COP 15 i 2009. I 2011 købte han sin egen. Men nu har han altså besluttet at benytte sig af sin fortrydelsesret, fordi den ifølge økonomichef Søren W. Kruse teknisk stadig mangler lidt endnu"

 

[Muhler]

Thank you, Nordic, that cleared up that detail.

If you don't mind I'll translate:
Crown Prince Frederik borrowed a Fisker Karma by the Danish car designer Henrik Fisker in connection with COP 15 in 2009. In 2011 he bought his own. But now he has decided to use his right to return the car, because it according to chief of (the DRF's) economy, Søren W. Kruse, still has some way to go technically".


- So apparantly there were unsatisfactory technical deficiencies with the car.
I notice that the Discovery is not mentioned in the article. Børsen, which the article by Nordic is from, is the Danish equivalent to Financial Times, with a similar reputation.

 

[commoner]

Thank you, Nordic, that cleared up that detail.

If you don't mind I'll translate:
Crown Prince Frederik borrowed a Fisker Karma by the Danish car designer Henrik Fisker in connection with COP 15 in 2009. In 2011 he bought his own. But now he has decided to use his right to return the car, because it according to chief of (the DRF's) economy, Søren W. Kruse, still has some way to go technically".


- So apparantly there were unsatisfactory technical deficiencies with the car.
I notice that the Discovery is not mentioned in the article. Børsen, which the article by Nordic is from, is the Danish equivalent to Financial Times, with a similar reputation.

Søren W. Kruse has to be diplomatic in his answer. Here may be a possible answer for returning the car.
An article from Dec. 2011 about the company having call the cars back in USA because of fear that car can catch fire.
Fiskers luksusbil kaldt retur i USA - Politiken.dk

An article from August the car catching fire twice this year - with video.
Ekstra Bladet - Fisker Karma bryder i brand - igen

An article from August that the company has to call all the cars back.
Berlingske Bilen - Fisker må tilbagekalde Karma

Apparently the car had difficulty getting approved as an electric car
Kun Kronprinsen kører Karma - Green | www.business.dk

The DRF probably can't be too open about why they returned the car, if there is a possibility that it will be too damaging for the company.

 

[nwinther]

*facepalm*

I get it, that if you are unsatisfied with a product you return it.

But Frederik has gone way beyond the traditional role of the Danish royals in his support of reducing co2 emissions - something that has been viewed as a somewhat political stance and not something the royals should be very outspoken about.

That's one thing to critizise.

But this hipocricy is blatant! At least have the decensy of changeing your wheels to a more moderate (fuel-consumption-wise) model.

And if it isn't hipocracy, it's stupidity (ignorance). And getting on a soap box, tooting a horn and then show ignorance about the subject, is a mortal sin next to hipocracy only.

Neither is excuseable!

I've always been wary about the wisdom - indeed intelligence - bestowed upon the Crown Prince. This only confirms my suspicions.

Now, this isn't a critizism of him getting a gas-guzzling Land Rover. I'm sure it's a nice car and if he would like it, then good on him.

But for goodness sake, don't preach reduced emmissions, etc. too.

Thank the maker for Crown Princess Mary.

 

[ricarda]

So this electric car was actually bought an then returned because it malfunctioned!
What has this story to do with the DRF receiving presents?

nwinther
I've always been wary about the wisdom - indeed intelligence - bestowed upon the Crown Prince. This only confirms my suspicions.
But for goodness sake, don't preach reduced emmissions, etc. too.
Thank the maker for Crown Princess Mary.

Well, Mary preaches "green" sustainable fashion and for the frist time wore a dress from H&M Conscious Collection at this event, while I would say 95% of her wardrobe is not made from used materials, not sustainable. (And H&M btw has a bad reputation regarding "child-labour.)

Shouldn't you be wary about the wisdom - indeed intelligence - bestowed upon CP Mary instead of thanking the maker for her?

I think both are willing to support good causes but it's always dangerous to preach something which you don't follow 100% yourself (and we knew that all along). The accusation of hypocracy is never far away.

But considering the fact that - according to Muhler - this author (or BT journalist) mentions a bought car in connection with "presents given to the DRF" makes me think that this whole article (or book) is quite unrelie- and questionable.

 

[Nordic]

Well, Mary preaches "green" sustainable fashion and for the frist time wore a dress from H&M Conscious Collection at this event, while I would say 95% of her wardrobe is not made from used materials, not sustainable. (And H&M btw has a bad reputation regarding "child-labour.)

She actually recycled the dress in question and had worn outfits from
Conscious Collection before that event, but other than that, you're probably right.

 

[ricarda]

Well, Mary shows her willingness by wearing "conscious" dresses once in a while. Frederik shows his willingness by actually buying an electric car (and he obviously had to return it for reasons he could not controll).

The question is: Should they show willingness? Should they engage themselves in such controversial topics at all?

 

[Muhler]

Oh yes, I think so.

It's politically a safe subject as the environment and promoting environmental consciousness and solutions has universal backing from both the politicians, the press and the general public here in DK.

However, if you promote yourself by having a great interest in the environment and also advocating environmental awareness - and then go out and purchase a petrol-gulping monster as a private vehicle, (as opposed to an official car, I doubt you can get many limos that aren't thirsty) then you must expect to be caught with your pants down, as Frederik has.
It's actually such a silly goof that it's comical.

However, BT continues along the line with presents to the DRF. With few specific examples, I notice. Hardly surprising as the DRF probably won't say anything and nor are the companies/organisations likely to say anything either.
They do however have some comments from experts on the subject.
Ekspert: Frederik og Mary skal huske at sige nej tak - Royale | www.bt.dk

A manager from a branding company, Kresten Schultz Jørgensen comments.
But the royals should be careful about not accepting too many gifts and mostly they should politely decline.
"They should say no to more than they accept. A lot of presents needs to be returned. Because it's not always the presenter give away the gift without expecting anything in return, when the businesses give away expensive commodities to the royals. It is a really good business/investment for the companies if they can get the Crown Princess to wear their clothes or if Frederik sits behind the wheel of their car.
It's branding on the very highest level. When someone recommends your product by using it, then it has an advertizing value that cannot be bought for money.

This isn't about price or usefulness. It's about signals and identity. And here is the very best fix point for other for other people who potentially will also use the product. (That sentence is garbled). The DRF is reknowned for not letting themselves having a special brand pulled over their heads and that's why it's amazing when it sometimes happens anyway.

Manager for a communications, Sune Bang, bureau comments.
The value of the royals is the utmost among celebrities. You don't get any higher. And there a serious lot of people who follow what they do. Some of those who presents gifts, do it because they support the way our society is build. And then there is the other part that is about wanting to take part in something that is attractive. You become a part of their story.

But won't the royals risk being accused of being bribed?
Sune Bang:
I believe the DRF is very conscious about not being used. The DRF handles that balance very professionally. They appear neither too poor, nor too extravagant. I have no knowledge about them misuding their position and exploiting their office/power
They have a good, healthy and Danish approach to their elevated status.
Both financially and emotionally the DRF pays. It makes life a little more funny for all the rest of us (*) and commercially I am not for a econd in doubt that the DRF pays.

Kresten Schultz:
The borderline goes where it is no longer a present, but where they become a part of a marketing-plan. There they must decline. I'm not an believer in the Pope being more pure than everybody else. It's obvious that they are sometimes misused and say yes to something they should have declined. Here the same rules applies as for ministers: That they should be above the marketing budgets of the companies.

(*) Even for those who are against the monarchy and complain about. Next to being delighted about something there is nothing like being grumpy.

Historically speaking royals have been showered with gift (and presented gifts en masse in return) since ancient time. Basically in order to suck up to the royals - and being noticed and to show off - without necessarily expecting anything in return. That has just continued to the present day.
There is a Danish idom: To feel pain in the butt, - when you are basically envious that someone get something for free or under favorable terms. I personally feel no "pain in my butt" that the DRF recieve presents, as they in my eyes know where the line goes, but it is a balance act.

------------------------------------------------------

To illustrate how the system goes when you want to bestow a favour on the royals here is a translation from my archive:

Billed Bladet #31, 2007-08-03.

Varm sommer med far og mor – Warm summer with mum and dad.

The holiday in Croatia was a present from Henry Jørgensen who would just so much like to show the CP couple his beloved Croatia. Henry had recommended Mary and Frederik to travel in September because it’s often damned hot (*) in July and August. But a late summer holiday did not fit into the schedule of the CP couple, so it was in July they brought Isabella and Christian on a cruise.
And Henry Jørgensen was right. Mary and Frederik’s holiday in Croatia became warm. Not least for their two small children who consequently most of the time was very lightly dressed. Little Princess Isabella usually with a little white sunhat over the dark locks, while big brother Christian settled with an unbuttoned shirt. When Crown Princess Mary carried her little daughter around she was dressed in a strapless light and airy dress of marine-blue fabric, while Frederik had chosen blue pirate-pants and a thin long-sleeved sweatshirt. (**) When the sun became too strong in the middle of the day everybody sheltered in the shadow on the deck of the yacht Seagull II, but even there it could become so hot that you had to jump into the sea once in a while. Prince Christian was naturally too small to do that, but fortunately there was a small Jacuzzi on the upper deck in which he could cool his feet.
The CP couple brought two couples of friends on the holiday to Croatia, Caroline and Peter Heering and Birgitte and Jeppe Handwerk. Their children too sweltered in the heat but they still enjoyed the days onboard, where India Handwerk and Prince Christian played well together.

They are basically of the same age, while Emilie and Rosemarie Heering are a bit older. It can be presumed that the pregnant Birgitte Handwerk had her problems with enduring the heat.
The dream-vacation at sea was a present to the CP couple from the Dane, Henry Jørgensen, and because he is so enchanted by Croatia and the islands off Croatia, he had laid out a route in order fro Mary and Frederik and their friends to see as much of the beautiful places as at all possible.
Even though a lot of the islands are uninhabited you can easily go ashore, but whether the CP couple did that or whether they preferred to stay onboard with the little ones has not been disclosed to Henry Jørgensen yet.
The yacht Seagull II has Split as its homeport, but when the CP couple entered the ship lay for anchor off the small port of Zaton a little north of Dubrovnic. (***) A large rubber dinghy sailed them to the ship and it was also used when the vacation ended and everybody were to go ashore again – and home to Denmark.
Tanned and with one more experience in the bag.

Written by Anna Johannesen.

(*) Very true!

(**) Each time? It must be inconvenient to change into the appropriate attire each time you carry your child around. Sigh!

(***) Note that the spelling varies depending on the language. Just as Kosovo is Albanian, while Kosova is Serbian.

There is also a back ground feature on the 74 year old Henry Jørgensen who presented M&F with the cruise. He is himself married to a Croatian. They live for half the year in Denmark and in the other half in Croatia. Seagull II is owned by the wealthy Croatian Juroslav Buljubasic, but Henry J. has been in charge of refurbishing and rebuilding the ship for luxury cruises. The ship is also to his disposal for a period each year.
Henry J. wrote the court and proposed a cruise for the CP couple in the Adriatic. He was then summoned to a meeting at the office of the chief of court, Per Thornit. Mary’s LiW, Caroline Heering and a couple of gentlemen from PET were also present. He made it clear that this was just be considered a present without any conditions or other motives. Frederik joined the meeting later and they all agreed.
AJ: Have you heard from them after the returned?
- “Not yet, but PET has called and said that everything went well. They sailed behind them in a motorboat all the way”. (*)

Excerpt of an article written by Anna Johannesen.

(*) My guess is that in order to ensure more privacy for the CP couple and their friends and for practical reasons, not least when the PET officers are resting, a team from PET accompanied them to Croatia. The team would stay onboard the boat, while a couple of officers were on duty onboard the yacht at all times. The boat would very likely have been placed at the disposal of PET by Henry Jørgensen.

 

[nwinther]

Well, Mary preaches "green" sustainable fashion and for the frist time wore a dress from H&M Conscious Collection at this event, while I would say 95% of her wardrobe is not made from used materials, not sustainable. (And H&M btw has a bad reputation regarding "child-labour.)

Shouldn't you be wary about the wisdom - indeed intelligence - bestowed upon CP Mary instead of thanking the maker for her?

First off - Mary hasn't made it her "thing" to preach the environment. The Crown Prince has little else going for him.

Second - it's quite difficult for the ordinary citizen to figure out how much CO2 etc. goes into making a seemingly harmless piece of clothing. But you just need to make a quick glance at that car to realize it's a gas-guzzler. And if you want to know precisely, you can easily look up the numbers in the brochure.

Third - when Frederik bought the electric car, he probably didn't realize it took way more CO2 to produce that car, than it did the Land Rover he just got. Reason for that is, that few people know how complicated it actually is to get the ressources for making electric cars. And since it's quite obfuscated I can excuse that purchase of the electric car. And if the means justify the end, all the more so (doubling the embarrasment vis-a-vis buying the Land Rover).
The same goes for Mary's clothes. I don't expect a busy person to research every angle regarding how the clothes she wears is made and how much CO2, dye, softeners, bleach etc. is used. Just as with the car, it can be rather complicated to check every supplier in that chain.
Hence, I can forgive the apparant hipocracy re. Mary. But Frederik has attended school - he bloody well knows that a Land Rover is a bottomless pit when it comes to fuel. At least get a hybrid or something!

 

[ricarda]

First, if that article Muhler originally quoted can give misleading informations regarding bought (and not gifted) electric cars and reasons for returning that car then it can also give misleading informations about the other car (Land Rovers are usually used at the royal hunts which are official events, aren't they?).

Moreover I don't see why driving a Land Rover is more a silly goof than wearing a lot of unsustainable expensive outfits. Either you do what you preach or you don't. In that respect I would agree that F&M are both a bit hypocritical (and so are many many others involved in this "politically safe" subject).

Actually I find those BT articles quite hypocritical too.
First we hear about a book on the subject of gifts for the royals (with the title "It costs a kingdom").
Then there is an article about 2 cars which were actually bought and not gifted (though the article doesn't make this quite clear).
And then there is an article which demands the royals should say no more often and states that the DRF is doing well in this respect - at the same time? It seems BT wasn't quite sure how far to go.

And this trip to Croatia you brought up, Muhler, is actually one the CP Couple got heavily critizised for. So if anything IMO this is an example how it should not be.

First off - Mary hasn't made it her "thing" to preach the environment. The Crown Prince has little else going for him.

Second - it's quite difficult for the ordinary citizen to figure out how much CO2 etc. goes into making a seemingly harmless piece of clothing. But you just need to make a quick glance at that car to realize it's a gas-guzzler. And if you want to know precisely, you can easily look up the numbers in the brochure.

Third - when Frederik bought the electric car, he probably didn't realize it took way more CO2 to produce that car, than it did the Land Rover he just got. Reason for that is, that few people know how complicated it actually is to get the ressources for making electric cars. And since it's quite obfuscated I can excuse that purchase of the electric car. And if the means justify the end, all the more so (doubling the embarrasment vis-a-vis buying the Land Rover).
The same goes for Mary's clothes. I don't expect a busy person to research every angle regarding how the clothes she wears is made and how much CO2, dye, softeners, bleach etc. is used. Just as with the car, it can be rather complicated to check every supplier in that chain.
Hence, I can forgive the apparant hipocracy re. Mary. But Frederik has attended school - he bloody well knows that a Land Rover is a bottomless pit when it comes to fuel. At least get a hybrid or something!

First - Mary too has made it her thing to preach the environment. And I don't agree that Frederik has little else going for him.
Second - Do you suggest it's not a goof because the ordinary citizen can't figure it out? This is about promoting the environment and not about what the ordinary citizen can figure out. The aim is to raise awareness (so that the ordinary citizen can figure out more).
Third - If they (both Mary and Frederik) don't know enough about a topic they should stay away from promoting it. And I assume the Land Rover is also used by Mary (who has attended school as well). That reminds me of Mary getting critizised for an expensive kitchen as if Frederik wouldn't use/need that kitchen as well.

I know you dislike Frederik.
I dislike double standards.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Mary too has made it her thing to preach the environment.

Nope, I'm sorry but the environment is much more Frederik's thing than it is Mary's.

 

[Muhler]

BT is out to sell papers and get hits.

One of the well-tried ways to do that is, in this case, to put a less than flattering angle on the DRF in the hope that the readers will be outraged - which will lead to more hits and so on. They try that with pretty sensationalist headlines and as you point out they are not doing a good job.

Back to the landrover. Unless you have a job that requires you to have a four-wheel drive, or regularly drive in rural Sweden, or have a large estate to manage you really don't need one here in DK.
For hunts? No, the local foresters have such cars which you can borrow or use and the roads are so good that you can easily get to whatever hunt you want to attend in an ordinary car.
I believe that Frederik purchased this car, because it's big and spacious and mostly because it's cool.
It's just what a family of four plus a dog could use, you might argue. Yes, but you can get similar, more environmentally sound cars that will do fine as a modern family car. - And cheaper as well.

M&F can buy all the land rovers they want but Frederik can't buy such (private) cars and at the same time be an advocate for us all doing an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. That naturally hurts his credibillity.

As for the DRF recieving presents, I'm fine with that. It's no secret that the DRF does a lot to, almost aggresively, promote Danish commerce. If M&F recieve a pram from a Danish company and is seen using it and that increases the sale and thereby create jobs, I'm all for it.

I decided to post the BT articles in order to give readers here a look at the critisism the DRF some times gets. And that's healthy, I think. The DRF are humans, they cannot walk on water.
Whether that critisism is fair or well founded is debatable - and that's what we do now.

 

[ricarda]

Nope, I'm sorry but the environment is much more Frederik's thing than it is Mary's.

But it is Mary's thing, regarding fashion. It was in 2009 and again this year. She even gave an interview to CNN about it.

Muhler
M&F can buy all the land rovers they want but Frederik can't buy such (private) cars and at the same time be an advocate for us all doing an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. That naturally hurts his credibillity.

I agree with that. But I think it goes for Mary as well. How credible is it to promote "green fashion" when your wardrobe is filled with "un-green" fashion (and much more of it than the average woman has). That's why I asked if they should engage themselves in this topic at all.

Muhler
Back to the landrover. Unless you have a job that requires you to have a four-wheel drive, or regularly drive in rural Sweden, or have a large estate to manage you really don't need one here in DK.
For hunts? No, the local foresters have such cars which you can borrow or use and the roads are so good that you can easily get to whatever hunt you want to attend in an ordinary car.
I believe that Frederik purchased this car, because it's big and spacious and mostly because it's cool.

Well, Prince Henrik seems to have one too (and uses it at hunts). And I remember an article about Joachim speeding in a Land Rover with his two little sons in the back shortly after the divorce from Alexandra was announced (you might of course argue that he is managing an estate).
We can only speculate about this car on the basis of a very unrelieable article (as you mentioned yourself the article in Borsen has nothing about a Land Rover). Fact is we don't know for what reasons it was purchased and if it is a private car or not. And what you believe is what you believe...

 

[Muhler]

I think I'll pass on the fashion thing you mention. My knowledge about the subject is less than impressive.
I will however mention that I don't believe Mary intentionally disregard environmentally unsound issues in that industry.

Yes, I have seen Prince Henrik in a four-wheel drive. I don't know how old it is.
In his defence I will say that he is not an outspoken advocate for the environment and also that he has problems with his back.

Joachim has an estate to run and he has to be able to drive around on gravel roads all year round.

I based my assumptions on why Frederik (yes, it's still daddy who mostly choose the car) chose the Discovery on why I would choose it, could I afford the petrol-bill and the taxes.
Aaaand before anyone mentions the word envious, let me point out that I wouldn't want the Discovery if someone gave it to me for free. It's simply too expensive to run.

 

[polyesco]

I agree that some criticism can be good, but to say that Frederik "has nothing else going for him". is unfair. His events dont get the publicity that Mary does but IMO he is doing a good job.

I think he is doing a good job as an advocate for the environment but that doesnt mean he is perfect and doing everything 100%. that will be near impossible to do. Some major advocates for the climate also are proud owners of private jets and multiple houses .

Trading in the electric car for a bigger car, might have just been the family man thinking that a sports car for two might not be such a great idea, and instead want a bigger car for a family of 6 with Ziggy.

Accepting gifts for royals must be a thin line they must walk on, but i dont think the DRF have much to worry about.

 

[Nordic]

Has the DRF/F&M (since they are always the ones targeted, even if J&M also get prams, cars and stuff as presents) ever commented on what/when/how their policy on this gift business is and wouldn't that be the "bosses" (The Queen) policy?

These articles give only one side of the story: "Mary gets huuuge amounts of clothes for free", "free cars" (IIRC, only the wedding presents), "luxury trips" (that one) etc etc.
Oh yes, I read that some nappy company gave the twins a years supply of dipers when they were born...

How do we know that Mary doesn't pay for most of the outfits that she gets, that she doesn't borrow some of the stuff for official visits and so on??

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Has the DRF/F&M (since they are always the ones targeted, even if J&M also get prams, cars and stuff as presents) ever commented on what/when/how their policy on this gift business is and wouldn't that be the "bosses" (The Queen) policy?

This has actually bothered me for a while now, I know Frederik is the heir and obviously that equals much more publicity and focus than Joachim will ever get. That being said, Joachim and Marie are members of the royal family too, why only concentrate the criticism on Frederik and Mary? This has nothing to do with me liking Frederik and Mary, I do, but justice must be justice, and it can't always be them who are being slaughtered for accepting free gifts.

On another note and speaking of the diapers, just by the way, when Frederik and Mary were offered a years (I think) supply of diapers at the time of Christian's birth, they kindly refused it. I can't remember if they did the same with the twins though.