General News about the Danish Royal Family Part 1: December 2008 - January 2013

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #45, 2011.
Med farfar (*) til Hubertusjagt - With grandfather to Hubertus Hunt.
Written by Frodi Holm Knudsen.

As is tradition the DRF was represented at this years Hubertus Hunt, through Dyrehaven, close to Copenhagen.
Prince Henrik with his grandsons, Nikolai and Felix had lined up at the Erimitage Slot to view the spectacle.
Which is a simulated fox hunt, without foxes and hounds. 160 riders rode the 13 kilometres long route and (most) leaped over the 34 obstacles on the way. The absolute favorite, at least among the spectators, is the watergrave. This year the riders didn't dissapoint, several riders emerged from that particular obstacle soaking wet.
Apart from that there were also junior riders on their ponies. - They face a water obstacle as well... (We really need a diabolic smiley). However, being children they get a lot more sympathy from the spectators than the adults.
Anyway, Nikolai and Felix don't ride. (**) Felix, like the majority of onlookers paid a good deal of attention to the water-obstacle.

(*) Let's go through it again:
Farfar = paternal grandfather.
Morfar = maternal grandfather.
Bedstefar = grandfather in general.
Farmor = paternal grandmother.
Mormor = Maternal grandmother.
Bedstemor = grandmother in general.
Moster = your mother's sister.
Faster = Your father's sister.
Tante = aunt in general or aunt who has married into the family.
Morbror = Your mother's brother.
Farbror = Your father's brother.
Onkel = uncle in general or uncle who has married into the family.
Oldefar = great-grandfather.
Oldemor = great grandmother.
grandonkel = brother to your grandmother/grandfather.
grandtante = sister to your grandmother/grandfather.
- And so on, and so on and so....

(**) They are sons of their father, so I guess their attitude is: Horses do not have engines, nor a throttle, ergo horses serve no purpose.

[nwinther]

Originally Posted by Muhler

They are sons of their father, so I guess their attitude is: Horses do not have engines, nor a throttle, ergo horses serve no purpose.

Nah, it's just undignified driving something with only one horsepower.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by nwinther

Nah, it's just undignified driving something with only one horsepower.

Exactly. And you can't even do hoove-spin with those critters. - So who needs horses?

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Muhler

So who needs horses?

The royal family does - when they're being ferried around in their carriages!

( and here's a diabolic smiley for you - found him on the extended smiley selection )

viv

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Viv

The royal family does - when they're being ferried around in their carriages!

( and here's a diabolic smiley for you - found him on the extended smiley selection )

viv

Hmm, yeah well, I guess a carriage drawn by four Harleys would somehow spoil the picture. I think Nikolai and Felix would find it cool though.
That smiley will come in handy!

[Muhler]

A nice little gallery of members of the DRF laughing: https://picasaweb.google.com/1008659.../KongeligeGrin

Not sure pic #19 is a laugh though. That was from a visit to USA, in Colorado and Mary was positively freezing.
Here is another: http://www.box.com/s/4n88q7b6c08uaig8lk4p

[marfre]

Thanks for the link Muhler.

Great gallery I especially like number #13 -Mary and Frederik I think it was from their official visit to Iceland. It is such a feel good, happy picture.

[JessRulz]

Posts discussing the "De Kongelige Juveler" documentary have been moved to their own thread, http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...1-a-32248.html, which can now be found in the Royal Library 'Electronic Domain' subforum. Please continue the discussion there.

[JessRulz]

From the TRF Blog, written by Princess Robijn:

Danish Royal Court Renews Official Website

The Danish Royal Court has renewed and improved the official website of the Danish Royal family. In addition, they removed the website of the Danish Crown Prince Couple and instead added a link to the new official website.
The new website might take a little getting used to with the new design, but once your adjusted, you will be pleased. The main page (in Danish) is devided in “News”, “Calendar” and “Photo & video”. In addition, there are 5 options at the top of the page, “The monarchy in Denmark”, “The Royal family”, “Castles and the Royal Yacht”, Historical collections and “Organization and contact”.
The pictures at the website are now larger, of better quality and easier to find. For those interested in behind the scenes work, the part about the organisation of the Royal House has improved significantly. And there are many more new items to investigate.

www.kongehuset.dk

The new website looks very interesting - I especially like all the new historical/informative sections they've added. Hopefully they will regularly update the photo albums with photos from engagements as well.

[dazzling]

Lovely new site. Looks quite fresh and everything spread out nicely.

[Madame Royale]

The re-designed website requires some light attention to spelling and grammar when converted to it's english layout.

Interesting though.

[nwinther]

MASSIVE improvement on the website. Good on ya, mate.

[Muhler]

The serious newspaper Politiken has published a survey commisioned by the paper:
8 af 10 danskere vil bevare kongehuset - Politiken.dk

According to that survey 77% are in favour of keeping the monarchy, 16% want a republic.
A similar survey last year showed that 25% wanted a republic.

That makes us the most royalist people in Europe.

In the article there is a list of how the relationship between how people vote and how they feel about the monarchy. Nothing surprising here, except for Enheldslisten = The Unity List. - They are far left voters but nevertheless 36% are in favour of the monarchy.

Historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen comments: "That's really a huge figure in favour of the monarchy. Compared with other European countries Denmark is in the lead".

Jes Fabricious Møller, historian and specialist in the DRF: "I consider that a pretty secure basis to work from. The Queen can sleep safely at night".

In Norway 67% are in favour of keeping the monarchy. The difference between Norway and DK is explained with the DRF having become more modern, without going too far too soon.

Lars Hovbakke explains: "In other countries that has either taken place too fast or too slow. The support for the monarchy in Norway dropped when the Crown Prince married a single mother. That was a bit too modern and too common and that took away some of the glamour".

That Mary came from an ordinary/traditional (nuclear) family and at the same time was unknown to the Danes was an advantage:
"It's perfect that the Crown Prince married an ordinary girl, who at the same time comes from the other side of the globe. In that way there is something exotic about it, and there are no Danes who knew her before and have partied with her in highschool. It's a good balance between something ordinary/common and something different".

Jes Fabricius believes it is very much about the Monarch herself:
"The Queen is incredibly confident. What defines her reign is that she basically don't put a foot wrong. In contrast to her Swedish cousin King Carl Gustaf, who several times have said things which are close to interfering with the governing of the country. If he expresses an opinion that is not shared by the population, the hammer falls".
The handling of the divorce between Joachim and Alexandra was handled very well, thus avoiding it becoming a major scandal:
"Fortunately we don't know the details, because they are disciplined people, who have understood to handle the situation in a way, so that no one felt a need to air the dirty laundry in public".

Historian Jon Bloch Skipper says that you cannot view an institution as the monarchy with rational eyes:
"The support is not about the rational part of it. It's about emotions, identification and identity. The DRF provide consensus and the experience of being a part of a greater community (the tribal feeling, you know), no matter how fragmented the world can seem.
The DRF is something we all can relate to and have a feeling of belonging around it. That's important, because we live in an age of globalization. Our society has become multi-cultural, and we live many different sorts of lives. No matter whether you come from somewhere else or have lived here all your life, people have a need to be together about something".

Politically speaking being in favour of a republic is also a dead heering, which no party-leader to the right of the Unity List, wish to have anything to do with.
However the scale can easily tip the other way, that is very much up to Frederik, and as long as he stays clear of politics and does not reduce himself to becoming a mere celebrity he should be in the clear.

------

- I agree, Frederik is popular because he is folksy and approachable, however in my eyes, he is just on the line now and he should not go further. Ironically, I believe Mary can maintain the balance, she is more regal than Frederik.
It was the same thing with Queen Ingrid, she was very regal and dignified and maintained the balance with the more folksy Frederik IX.

There is also a list of the figures since 1972, where 42% were in favour of the monarchy.
In 2001 a staggering 93% were in favour. The historians believe at had to do with Alexandra and Joachim and the birth of Nikolai. I disagree. I believe it had to do with 9/11 and the prospect of war, which could (and did) involve Denmark. In that situation, you tend to turn to stable symbols, like the monarchy. That was also one of the reasons why the political landscape here in DK turned right, followed by ten years of a right wing government.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Muhler

- I agree, Frederik is popular because he is folksy and approachable, however in my eyes, he is just on the line now and he should not go further. Ironically, I believe Mary can maintain the balance, she is more regal than Frederik.
It was the same thing with Queen Ingrid, she was very regal and dignified and maintained the balance with the more folksy Frederik IX.

Agree 100%! Being folksy & approachable is fine, but it shouldnt cross the line to becoming the court jester. Mary can only balance to a certain degree, at the end of the day Frederik will be the Head of State, not Mary. I believe that at some point Frederik will have to pull himself together and even though he might still have certain shortcomings, people want to see that he makes an effort to do his best.

[marfre]

Thanks Muhler
77% is a great result for the DRF.

Muhler, DR has a video it translates to something like 'A year with the Royal Family or maybe Royal House' I was wondering if perhaps you may have seen this video and if so, if you could possibly find it in your kind heart to give us a quick translation. It would be very much appreciated.

Sorry, I would post the link if I knew how.

[Tarlita]

From an outsiders point of view, if I may; I think Frederik and Mary will make a well balanced team together. Frederik as king will have the experience to be taken seriously and Mary will add her conciensousness. [Oops forgot how to spell it.] I think they will do just fine together. After all other regent couples have been thrown in the deep end when young and have managed brilliantly albeit with hiccups along the way. And of course you can never please all of the people all of the time. But they could please the majority and win over the sceptics with time.

[Patra]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

From an outsiders point of view, if I may; I think Frederik and Mary will make a well balanced team together. Frederik as king will have the experience to be taken seriously and Mary will add her conciensousness. [Oops forgot how to spell it.] I think they will do just fine together. After all other regent couples have been thrown in the deep end when young and have managed brilliantly albeit with hiccups along the way. And of course you can never please all of the people all of the time. But they could please the majority and win over the sceptics with time.

I couldnt agree more, Frederik and Mary strike an excellent balance IMO. Getting married and having a family has seemed to matue the crown prince as well.

[agami.pearl]

IMO Frederic is not the most hardworking Danish royal or the best prepared for the role of king among his European colleagues. Mary is better but she will be 'only' Queen Consort. I think that both need more time to prepare to take over rule.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by marfre

Thanks Muhler
77% is a great result for the DRF.

Muhler, DR has a video it translates to something like 'A year with the Royal Family or maybe Royal House' I was wondering if perhaps you may have seen this video and if so, if you could possibly find it in your kind heart to give us a quick translation. It would be very much appreciated.

Sorry, I would post the link if I knew how.

You mean as in a yearly review?
Sure.

However, I can't find such a video. Perhaps someone else can help locating the link?

I watched the yearly review on TV2 and that was actually very good, with reporters being interviewed about their impressions behind the scenes, not least of Mary, when she was about to go on live TV from the Ethiopia. She was very nervous indeed.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Muhler

- I agree, Frederik is popular because he is folksy and approachable, however in my eyes, he is just on the line now and he should not go further. Ironically, I believe Mary can maintain the balance, she is more regal than Frederik.

Thanks for the summary, Muhler. I'm also convinved that Mary has a good influence on Frederik. However I'm not sure whether she's the more 'regal'; she might be in appearance but not in essence! At the end of the day she was a bourgeois foreigner who married into a royal family. It must be a daunting experience, and she is very careful not to put a foot wrong (and so far she hasn't, IMO). She appears to be on her guard in several situations and it will take another few years before she's completely at ease in her role!
Frederik on the other hand, while he may appear 'folksy' and be folksy to a small degree, he's just doing what characterizes many born royals: they don't think about what they're doing because they're royals! IMO it's inbreed in their character.

Originally Posted by Muhler

It was the same thing with Queen Ingrid, she was very regal and dignified and maintained the balance with the more folksy Frederik IX.

The 'end result might' be the same, but the prerequisites are different! Princess Ingrid knew ('thought')from early on that she was destined to become queen as one of her brothers once told! Ingrid was a product of the Swedish royal family who at the time were very aware of their station and their dynastic rules. When reading her bios I get the impression that the Danish heir apparent was not on top of her shortlist, she did refuse his first proposal.

viv