The Tsunami in South East Asia (Reactions of the Swedish Royals)

[GrandDuchess]

After more than 1 week (8 whole days) - the Crown Princess has decided that it might not be a good idea after all to be on vacation while her nation mourns... According to a press release from the Royal Court, she will now (1 week/8 days late...) interrupt her personal trip abroad and come home. As a Swede - this makes me angry - why is she coming home now, after all this time? To me she is 1 week late. I think that it's the Court staff that has gotten cold feets of how her vacation in these times would look in the media, and that they have managed to get her to make this decision (maybe after a little help from her parents?).

Here is the link to the press release from the Royal Court today, and here is my translation:

2005-01-03

The Crown Princess could because of a trip abroad not attend the televised fundraising manifestation together with her family this Saturday, but was represented by her siblings in attendance with the King and Queen. The Crown Princess sends her warmest greetings to the struck families and expresses her deep compassion in their great grief. At the visit to Astrid Lindgren’s Children’s Hospital, the King and Queen have also conveyed the youth’s deep sympathies.

The Royal Family have in different ways been involved in the struck families difficult situation by visiting the Crisis-and Family Centre at Arlanda Airport and spoken with both the returning people from Thailand and their close ones. The King has thought different appearances in the media conveyed his and the family’s feeling for the incomprehensible and hard.

The King hereby wished to than all committed and helping fellow beings for their fine and self-sacrificing efforts.

The Crown Princess will interrupt her trip and will return to Sweden.

[Lena]

So immodest it may sound, I have the strong feeling the Royal court is reading on Royal message boards!

[Larzen]

It was in the paper edition and it was a reader who had written a letter published on the "say what you mean page"

I agree, it is to late for both Haakon and Victoria, Im not impressed with Frederik either. One memorial service, walk in, sit down, walk out. When you compare them to the spanish royals in March Im ashamed. They visited the hospitals, went in demonstrations, attended memorial services and huged and greeted everyone present. The Scandinavians should have taken notes and should have shown more initiative, they really did not have to look far, only to their parents....

[Lena]

Originally Posted by Larzen

It was in the paper edition and it was a reader who had written a letter published on the "say what you mean page"

Thank you larzen. So it was a personal private opinion. Hmm.

[mixer2002de]

Originally Posted by Lena

So immodest it may sound, I have the strong feeling the Royal court is reading on Royal message boards!

I think its quite likely that the press chef of the royal court knows this hompage and reads the articles regularly. I think this is part of her job, if she does it good! If she does not, she should get replaced!

[Larzen]

Well, critesism of the norwegian royals often starts this way, someone writes a letter to the paper, and then the papers pick it up, interviews some royal reporters or some of the victims and then they have a story. Saying that they are returnig home now will stop some of the critesism which was bound to com and might still come, we will see what they write tomorrow...

[Lena]

Originally Posted by mixer2002de

I think its quite likely that the press chef of the royal court knows this hompage and reads the articles regularly. I think this is part of her job, if she does it good! If she does not, she should get replaced!

Maybe not replaced, but of course the Royal courts today should realise, that the internet becomes more and more important in forming opinions. It aren´t just the regular media (newspapers, magazines, TV...) anymore, which do that.
To search on boards on Royalty/politics/news...is also a great chance for the Royal courts to find out about the opinion of the ppl on the monarchy, their mistakes and how they can improve...

[Yennie]

When you compare them to the spanish royals in March Im ashamed. They visited the hospitals, went in demonstrations, attended memorial services and huged and greeted everyone present.

Yes, the actions of the spanish rf was admireable!
But I dont think you can compare this really. The horrible things that happend in Madrid was a terrorist act. People who killed innocent people.
This tsunami was a nature disaster, and no ones "fault", You know what I mean?

But I´m very happy that Victoria now is on her way back to Sweden, to show her support in this very sad time!

[GrandDuchess]

On the news today in Sweden – we could see a glimpse from the very touching and worthy ceremony on Phuket International Airport today, as the remains of 6 dead Swedes were placed on the ground in their coffins, draped in the Swedish flag. Only a very small group was present; a state delegation, the military plane’s crew, priests, aid workers and relatives. The two priests from the Church of Sweden had chosen a few bible quotes and psalms – the only thing that could be heard was the engine of the plane as one of the priests quoted a Swedish bishop (translated from Swedish, of course):

“God we call out to you in our despair, anxiety and grief. We do not understand how this could happen. We see how small we stand before the forces of nature”

After the short ceremony, the coffins were carried onto a Swedish military plane for transport home to Sweden. The people that carried the coffins were aid workers from State or voluntary organisations, and they cried openly as they carried the coffins onto the huge plane.

These were the first remains of many hundreds, or in the worst case thousand, Swedes (these 6 were the first which has stated death certificates and their identities have been established, and could thereby leave the country) that will be taken home for their final rest eventually, and for both Sweden as a nation and the family and friends of the dead – this will be a long and painful process, unique in the history of our country. Sweden has so far been spared of transports of this kind; it is unique for a large number of Swedes dying in another country and being transported back to their home country to be buried in Swedish soil (Sweden has been at peace for almost 200 years, btw).

Click here to see the report from the ceremony, from SVT's news

[Dennism]

Originally Posted by Alexandria

I think there is a lack of a backlash against Haakon and the other royals because the presence of their family hasn't been as evident or as at the forefront as the King and Queen of Sweden's.

Yes, this is true. The King and Queen of Norway have been at the forefront enough though so that people didn´t feel that it was odd that Haakon was not with them whereas the entire SRF was in the studio which is quite rare. And also that the King has done all that you have said he has.

[Dennism]

Sweden´s revised numbers are 52 dead, 2,322 missing. For the other Nordic nations they stand at:

Norway: 16 dead, 150 missing
Denmark: 7 dead, 69 missing
Finland: 5 dead, 186 missing
Iceland: 11 missing

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

After more than 1 week (8 whole days) - the Crown Princess has decided that it might not be a good idea after all to be on vacation while her nation mourns... According to a press release from the Royal Court, she will now (1 week/8 days late...) interrupt her personal trip abroad and come home. As a Swede - this makes me angry - why is she coming home now, after all this time? To me she is 1 week late. I think that it's the Court staff that has gotten cold feets of how her vacation in these times would look in the media, and that they have managed to get her to make this decision (maybe after a little help from her parents?).

Thanks for the update GrandDuchess.

Is it just me, or is it a bit sad and disappointing still that someone likely had to persuade Victoria to cut her personal trip short and tell her that the right thing to do would be to come home immediately?

She is not a six year old who needs to be coaxed to eat her carrots and peas. She is a grown (27 years old!) woman who should know better and should recognize the magnitude of this situation, especially when she sees or hears all that her parents are doing. Today her parents have again done even more by visiting a hospital where young children affected by the tragedy have been brought to to be treated, and not a peep out of Victoria, only that she is coming home.

It is indeed much too late; and I think Victoria will have a tremendous uphill battle to recoup her good reputation.

I had secretly hoped through all this that Victoria's "personal trip" would be trekking out to Thailand to aid in the efforts of rescue. To me, that would be the only thing to redeem Victoria at this point. But I guess since she hasn't turned up there, she really was on an R&R holiday.

Originally Posted by Yennie

Yes, the actions of the spanish rf was admireable!
But I dont think you can compare this really. The horrible things that happend in Madrid was a terrorist act. People who killed innocent people.
This tsunami was a nature disaster, and no ones "fault", You know what I mean?

For me, the fact that no one was at fault here versus the Spanish situation last March, which was the act of terrorists, does not change my opinon in the reactions of and the actions by the royals involved in both situations.

It doesn't matter what is the reason behind the crises, whether it be nature or human intent, it matters most what people do in such times. Both the Spanish and Swedish kings made televised broadcasts or public statements which in effect said that they understood the sorrow and plight of their fellow citizens and that their King was as sad as they were. In both cases we saw the queens of both nations take action: Queen Sofia visited a hospital that morning as well as attending a church service soon after followed by the memorial mass; Queen Silvia has made several public statements, attended several church services and a fundraiser to which she donated a private amount.

Felipe and the Infantas participated in a protest rally against the terrorist while Carl Phillip and Madeleine attended the fundraiser and made personal monetary contributions. Felipe and the Infantas along with their partners made visits to a hospital as well as attending a memorial mass, where they were photographed sobbing and in tears, and truly touched by the situation, just as we saw pictures of Madeline crying at the fundraiser.

Just because no one is "at fault" doesn't mean that there shouldn't be a reaction from our leaders. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and monsoons are not the fault of humans but that doesn't mean that our governments can sit idly back while such occurences devastate homes and lives, and not provide aid to those affected.

[Lena]

I agree with Alexandria (in fact I´ve even waited with going to bed until she has finished her post, so that I could agree again and read her fantastic post No, I don´t agree per se with Alexandria, but in the last days, I did a lot. I also want to add, that it aren´t just Alexandrias fantastic posts, which make this thread very interesting to read, but also the many opinions of the other appreciated members, who post here. This is-for a long time- one of the most successful threads in the Sweden-forum! )

I think we shouldn´t compare the tragedy in Spain and the one in South Asia. I can see your point, Yennie. Terrorism causes also a feeling of fear and an other kind of sadness, since we see to what human beings are able. I also don´t want to be so insolent to compare the feelings of the victims (relatives, friends...), I think we can all say, that to lose a beloved person is always a sad, shocking and terrible thing. And all mourning people need the support of others, that´s why I think all Royals should help as much as possible and should try a little bit to be like a "rock" (one rock of many...surely mostly mourners need the help of many, esp. of close ppl) for all the ppl "drowning" in a sea of pain.

Though I fear it´s in a way also a comparison of Spain and South Asia, I want to mention that much more money is needed to help all the people in South Asia. And here IMO again Royals could help to motivate people. Surely many feel the need to help without being motivated, but looking at all the many charity galas all over the world, we know that famous persons (to which I also count Royals) can help a lot to open the (money) wallets.

Yes, high likely Victoria was persuaded. It makes me really suspicously, that Haakon, MM and Victoria come back at the very same time. Either their holidays would have been over anyway (maybe they even were together), or someone or something has made them insecure in their decision to be on holiday in these times.

Last (trivial) thing: What is a(n) R&R-holiday??? Relaxing and reading-holiday? Relaxing and romance-holiday? Or in the case of Victoria running and romance-holiday?

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by Lena

R&R

"Rest and recuperation".

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by Lena

This is-for a long time- one of the most successful threads in the Sweden-forum! )

I am recently wondering why that is?

And all mourning people need the support of others, that´s why I think all Royals should help as much as possible

I'd say "closure" is a more appropriate term here. But .. you're right, the involvement of Royals assists in putting mourning to bed.

Yes, high likely Victoria was persuaded. It makes me really suspicously, that Haakon, MM and Victoria come back at the very same time.

Why should it make you "suspicious"?

The clamour for their return grows by the day, if not minute. All the same, the "damage" is done. They didn't return right away on their own.

However, in the case of Haakon, I seem to recall he and MM were in New York on their honeymoon when 9-11 happened, for which (memorial services, safety or otherwise) they "rushed" home.

[Dennism]

Originally Posted by hrhcp

However, in the case of Haakon, I seem to recall he and MM were in New York on their honeymoon when 9-11 happened, for which (memorial services, safety or otherwise) they "rushed" home.

Yes, that´s right. And now this tragedy in the Indian Ocean. So sad. It´s hard to believe.