Countess Alexandra and Martin Jørgensen Current Events Part 4 - October 2008

[Viv]

I no longer remember these reports in detail; the sources were not named, if I remember correctly; who would risk their future prospect of employment by publically criticizing their employer? I remember dismissing the rumours when they first appeared. It would be out of character for the then Princess Alexandra and the royal court to comment on the stories. I just made a mental note of the fact that noone from the Schackenborg environment ever rushed to Alexandra's defence! Later I decided that maybe there was some truth in this: a good friend of mine had on occasions been carrying out some services (sorry, I cannot be specific) for Alexandra when she was a princess, and my friend perceived her as "intimidating".

As for the theatre incident: all we've got is the footage from DR TV! It speaks for itself.

Nota bene: What has been said here does not detract from the good works of Alexandra. I respected her enormously and I was sad to see her leave the Danish royal family. I remember many saying that A & J were an odd couple when they first married, incompatible at that, Alexandra from the pulsating metropol HKG and Joachim far from the maddening crowd at Schackenborg. They were right, as it turned out!

viv

[Avicenna]

Well, my two cents of wisdom after having read all these posts about Alexandra being a snobbish personality. Though I have to admit that I do not know this incident in the theatre, never saw it on TV here.

But, and a huge BUT, couldn't it simply be that what is perceived as intimidating, is simply a goal-orientated, direct way to communicate? Someone who is used to be forthright in daily management life (and Alexandra was a successful business-woman) possibly cannot get rid of this character trait. She sure knows what she wants and she maybe only says it without fuss, no frills (hope this is the right expression in my dictionnary). Of course it never hurts to say please and be polite, and I am sure Alexandra is polite, but maybe in her own style which she was used as business-woman.

All my personal perception of course, just a thought.

[Tilla]

Can one intimidate someone who is not timit ?

[alex001]

Actually, one thing that's just occured to me about the being harsh to the servants is that Alexandra is from HK, which means that she may well have picked up some of the Chinese directness; as some of you may know, my parents are from HK and even now they almost never manage to be 'as polite as British'...despite having lived here for well over seventeen years now they still sometimes sound embarrassingly abrupt. I don't know much about Danish social norms, but certainly here we can sound rather rude, as we almost never say thanks or sometimes even please compared to the British, as we have an ingrained worry about 丢面子, or losing face.

http://hulegaard.dk/weblog/?cat=2220

Also, does this say that Alexandra insists that the nanny addresses Nikolai and Felix with some kind of formal 'you' or something?

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by alex001

Also, does this say that Alexandra insists that the nanny addresses Nikolai and Felix with some kind of formal 'you' or something?

It does, while reffering to the tittle-tallte magazine Her & Nu .

By the way the rules when adressing people with "De" or "Du" are that you use the form your counterpart uses. So most likely the Princes were adressing the Nanny with the form "De" as well - and perhaps Alexandras lesson in politeness was more directed towards her sons then towards the Nanny.

Anyway the form "De" is getting into use again in Denmark - especially among young peole. I experience this regularily when they use the form directed to me.

About the directness of the Chinese people. You are right Alex001. I used to live in China and picked up the directness. When I returned to Denmark I offended quit a few persons when being to direct. I love the Chinese way. They are so very honest and as you point out Alexandra might still be direct in the chinese way and this can offend some sensitive Danes. I know my directness - which I will never put aside - sometimes does.

[alex001]

Originally Posted by Lilla

It does, while reffering to the tittle-tallte magazine Her & Nu .

By the way the rules when adressing people with "De" or "Du" are that you use the form your counterpart uses. So most likely the Princes were adressing the Nanny with the form "De" as well - and perhaps Alexandras lesson in politeness was more directed towards her sons then towards the Nanny.

So it's more like an all-round politeness from both sides rather than the nanny 'looking up' ot her charges and addressing them as 'De'? Thanks for the additional info Lilla - just shows how the truth of even little things can be spun so that the ignorant (i.e. me) read it exactly the way they want it to be read, and without any extra information take it as correct.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by alex001

So it's more like an all-round politeness from both sides.

It is. It you are adressed by "De" you answer back with "De". It would be plain rude to answer with "Du" . I can not imagine Alexandra to allow that kind of rudeness being preformed by two Princes of Denmark.

Originally Posted by alex001

- just shows how the truth of even little things can be spun so that the ignorant (i.e. me) read it exactly the way they want it to be read, and without any extra information take it as correct.

Yes, but for the tabloid magazienes there's a lot of money in writing this way.................

[alex001]

Originally Posted by Lilla

It is. It you are adressed by "De" you answer back with "De". It would be plain rude to answer with "Du" .

Okay, thanks!

Back to the subject of Alexandra herself, Viv, do you know if any of those photos are online as I've had a quick look but since I don't really know what I'm looking for I can't find anything?

And by the way, I've just discovered by chance what a fantastic Chinese name Alexandra has - I always thought it would be something hideous like yalishandela or alishanda but it's actually completely unconnected to her English name; it's wenyali/文雅麗, which means refined, beautiful, magnificent and elegant (the first one from the wenya and the last three from the li)...I want it!

[Viv]

Originally Posted by alex001

Also, does this say that Alexandra insists that the nanny addresses Nikolai and Felix with some kind of formal 'you' or something?

It has been mentioned somewhere that CP Frederik and Prince Joachim were addressed with the informal you (DU) when young (until they came of age, if I remember correctly). I doubt that Prince Joachim and his former wife would insist on their young children being addressed with the formal "De". Anything is possible of course, but I don't believe it!

Viv

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by Viv

I doubt that Prince Joachim and his former wife would insist on their young children being addressed with the formal "De". Anything is possible of course, but I don't believe it!

Viv

Let's hope it is not true It would be just way over the top to insist on children being addressed with a formal you - royal or not.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by UserDane

Let's hope it is not true It would be just way over the top to insist on children being addressed with a formal you - royal or not.

I agree UserDane. It would be over the top - which is also why I don't think it was the case when Alexandra was on holliday with the children this summer.

But if it was the case - I am sure the "De" would have been used as an all-round politeness from both sides. Anything else would be violating the grammar of the Danish language and it would be offending for the staf who would be called "Du" while having to answer with "De". It would be like reintroducing the middleages......

[alex001]

I'm not really sure whether this goes in the current events thread or the fashion thread, btu there's an article from Billed Bladet about how Alexandra has become more relaxed and daring in her clothes and how her life has become more anonymous these days.

Billed-Bladet - En grevindes stil - se Alexandra

[dazzling]

Alexandra and Martin attending the Madonna concert. Alexandra sporting a new hair cut.

original article and a translated version

[iceflower]

It's always so interesting to see and compare what a
difference such a haircut can make! In this case I think
it's quite nice and fresh


Here's another gallery of pics from their attendence at
the concert:

** Hot or Not? Grevinde Alexandras nye frisure **

Today, Countess Alexandra brought her sons to their
first day at school, pics can be found at the following
thread:

** Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik **

[sgl]

Here's another look at Alexandra and Martin at the Madonna concert:
TV 2 Vip - Alexandra har fået kort hår
http://www.noblesseetroyautes.com/nr01/?p=17268

[MelinaB.]

Alright,I'm sure they had some fun.But since we last saw Marie,it seems someone else had the last word here.Could you ever imagine a Countess/ex-Princess without a bra or with light blue eyeshadow or with such haircut?I couldn't...until today,of course.

[sirhon11234]

Wow she looks hot or stunning is the better word.

[iceflower]

Countess Alexandra and Martin Joergensen at the christening
of Oscar and Britt Davisen Siesbye's daughter in Copenhagen,
August 15, 2009 Prince Joachim and Princess Marie attended
as well.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** ppe gallery **

[rylt11]

Thank you for the pictures. They are nice and big. The ladies look very nice, despite the rain.

What is Oscar's complete name, and what is Britt's complete name?
I believe it is his mother, not hers, who makes the famous sandwiches, right, or do I have it all wrong?

[iceflower]

Their surname is Davisen Siesbye, rylt11, just as already
mentioned?!

Countess Alexandra out in Oesterbro in Copenhagen,
August 17, 2009


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** ppe **