Relationships between the Members of the Danish Royal Family

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

The day of the annual picture of the family the Royals are mostly smiling for the press.

But it does give a divided picture with the "rest" of the DRF incl. Joachim more or less staffage and everybody concentrating on Fred's family & QM. It would have looked better to do a shoot with them only because nobody seemed interested in the rest.

Don't think there is a rift though, both brothers are getting on with their own lifes & families. Not sure how close the families are (Marie - Mary & the cousins) but I am sure Joachim & Fred are still very close, being brought up in the DRF will unite forever

[greenways]

I did notice at Graasten shoot, and at other times, Fred and Mary do not seem to look at each other very much at all. They do not speak either. Is this my imagination? Just seems a bit odd, as when I am in a crowd with my husband, we often glance at each other or interact with each other in some casual way. It's natural to do that. Observation only.

[sjetajiem]

Well you are certainly the only one with that observation.
Even at the birth of the twins when they left the hospital there was joy but no unity, togetherness between the pair

[Tarlita]

Goodness with 4 kids to keep an eye on in front of the press, who has time to look ones spouse. Keeping the antics of Isabella under control and trying to get the twins to produce a smile for the cameras, I suspect kept them busy.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by sjetajiem

Even at the birth of the twins when they left the hospital there was joy but no unity, togetherness between the pair

Yes, there was.

I think the first is where Mary is thanking Frederik for helping her and doing "everything right"
http://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Jan2011/PPE11011475.jpg
http://www.ppe-agency.com/500px/Jan2011/PPE11011458.jpg

Just two quick examples.

[greenways]

Yes, they have a 4 kid's to cope with, I have children as well but I still manage to glance, say a word or smile at my husband. There is not much interaction between these two, it's been going on for a while, from my obs.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

Goodness with 4 kids to keep an eye on in front of the press, who has time to look ones spouse. Keeping the antics of Isabella under control and trying to get the twins to produce a smile for the cameras, I suspect kept them busy.

I'd agree here and in general I see F&M rather as pragmatic people, especially after 4 kids & 7 years of marriage. It doesnt come natural to anyone to show affection in public, why making an attempt to fake it.

What makes especially Fred so credible for me is that he doesnt fake anything in front of the camera and I believe that he is very popular with the Danes, despite other shortcomings that have been well discussed in other threads.

In general I dont think the SRF is any more or less dysfunctional as other RF's, the brothers will be close due to their upbringing but the rest will be as ordinary as in other families, its nice when you see each other but its also nice when ways are parting again.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

But it does give a divided picture with the "rest" of the DRF incl. Joachim more or less staffage and everybody concentrating on Fred's family & QM. It would have looked better to do a shoot with them only because nobody seemed interested in the rest.

I get you point BUT: The¨general idea with the Gråsten-gathering is the inclusion of the extended family and esp. an opportunity for a reunion of the Danish/Greek and German cousins who used to spend many a childhood vacation with grand mother Ingrid! In a way it echoes the former 'Fredensborg-days' of the late 19th century!

IMO the issue this year was the inclusion of the twins! Everybody is swooning over the twins, they definetely stole the picture so to speak! On the other hand could you imagine the comments had they not been included ??
------

And to those imagining a rift between Frederik and Mary: They have been married for seven years now and they are parents of four kids! Their priorities have changed and hopefully they have taken their relationship to a deeper level, other than staring at each other like lovesick teens! Besides I suppose that they have the odd disagreement like any other couple, but that's not necessarily what you 'see' in photos.
Come to think of it: It must be hell being surrounded by cameras, like it must be hell having your every facial expression scrutinized!

viv

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Viv

IMO the issue this year was the inclusion of the twins! Everybody is swooning over the twins, they definetely stole the picture so to speak! On the other hand could you imagine the comments had they not been included ??
------

I dont think there was, one can hardly see Joachims family or Benedikte etc anywhere near the twins, they are like cut off from the "core DRF" = M&H, F&M & kids who of course create all the interest.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I dont think there was, one can hardly see Joachims family or Benedikte etc anywhere near the twins, they are like cut off from the "core DRF" = M&H, F&M & kids who of course create all the interest.

Well again, you have a point! IMO they DRF press office need to tell the photographers that they should not focus on particular members of the family how tempting it may be! However I don't see that happening when the twins are present for a photo-opportunity!!
But then again, maybe the rest of the family understand the situation!

Viv

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Viv

------

And to those imagining a rift between Frederik and Mary: They have been married for seven years now and they are parents of four kids! Their priorities have changed and hopefully they have taken their relationship to a deeper level, other than staring at each other like lovesick teens!

viv

Exactly!
Mary and Frederik have not attended many events together these past 9 months, but there are lots of pics where they look at each other, smiling brightly, holding hands.

[greenways]

I hope you are right when you say there are photo's of them smiling and holding hands, just not seen a lot lately. I have been married for 18 years, sure,things do change in a marriage, just hope I am wrong in what I 'see' when these two are together. Of course this is MY interpretation, just as your opinion is your interpretation. That's how democracy works, freedom of expression.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by greenways

I hope you are right when you say there are photo's of them smiling and holding hands, just not seen a lot lately.

In fact there has been plenty! They are often holding hands when they're without the kids, even on more formal occasions, the memorial service in Copenhagen Cathedral for the Norwegian victims springs to mind; they were holding hands most of the time!

Originally Posted by greenways

Of course this is MY interpretation, just as your opinion is your interpretation. That's how democracy works, freedom of expression

That's right - and yet there is a small difference: I live in the same country as Mary and Frederik! If something was the matter ..well, no, I wouldn't be the first to know , but because of Denmark's size geographically and populationwise rumours travel fast. IMO Fred and Mary will be able to hide the odd disagreement, but anything serious would soon be out of their control! Reporters will pick it up fast!

Viv

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Viv

IMO Fred and Mary will be able to hide the odd disagreement, but anything serious would soon be out of their control! Reporters will pick it up fast!

Viv

Wasnt it when Joachim & Alex divorced that it came to the surprise of almost everybody except the DRF?
And I think when it comes to the crown couple, danish media would be relucatant to write about a matrimonial crisis. Not that I think there is one, but I dont believe that rumours (or the lack of) in the media are a good indicator.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by greenways

I hope you are right when you say there are photo's of them smiling and holding hands, just not seen a lot lately.

I would't have said it, if I hadn't seen them.

Originally Posted by Viv

In fact there has been plenty! They are often holding hands when they're without the kids, even on more formal occasions, the memorial service in Copenhagen Cathedral for the Norwegian victims springs to mind; they were holding hands most of the time!
Viv

And photos from the birthday in Amsterdam, weddings in Berleburg and Monaco, Verbier and Aarhus.

I can think of several Danish tabloids that I think wouldn't keep quiet
in case of problems...

[nwinther]

It's safer to say that something is amiss, than that everything is OK. Once married, it can only go down hill. Staying together proves nothing, splitting up proves everything.

Personally, I have no reason to think anything is amiss - but if you like to gossip and speculate (and eventually be proven right), go with the unhappy marriage/divided brothers etc.

[Mirabel]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I dont think there was, one can hardly see Joachims family or Benedikte etc anywhere near the twins, they are like cut off from the "core DRF" = M&H, F&M & kids who of course create all the interest.

Well, that's only to be expected, imo. Frederik is the heir, not Joachim, plus he has those adorable children, complete with a set of brand-new twins!
Naturally they'll attract most of the photographers.

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by nwinther

It's safer to say that something is amiss, than that everything is OK. Once married, it can only go down hill. Staying together proves nothing, splitting up proves everything.

Personally, I have no reason to think anything is amiss - but if you like to gossip and speculate (and eventually be proven right), go with the unhappy marriage/divided brothers etc.

And eventually be proven right? There's no certainty of that. Just a bunch of avid royal watchers speculating because they can. People see what they want to see, that doesn't suggest there's any truth to it

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Wasnt it when Joachim & Alex
divorced that it came to the surprise of almost everybody except
the DRF?

No, the republican tabloid EkstraBladet ran the story several months
before the separation was announced. This caused the RF deferential
Billed Bladet to deny the story right up to the split! (The same
publication was more matter- of- fact under the former editor-in-chief,
who published a story in 1998 about evident problems in the Joachim-Alexandra marriage. That was around the time when Alexandra hissed
at Joachim at the royal theatre - for all TV-viewers to see!).

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

And I think when it comes to
the crown couple, danish media would be relucatant to write about a matrimonial crisis. Not that I think there is one, but I dont believe that rumours (or the lack of) in the media are a good indicator.

Yes, if we're talking 'Billed Bladet' ! If we exclude BB and the the
'serious' news papers other media wouldn't think twice about printing
a crisis story!

IMO many Danes are beginning to take a slighty more critical view
of their royal family. It's nothing threatening for the monarchy; I just
think that we are not quite as gullible and deferential as we used to
be.
At the end of the day I suppose that a bit of the mud from the 2005
divorce and the debate about CP Frederik, his involvement in the
Olympic Committee and his public performance in general has stuck
somehow.

That's how I perceive the situation from my vantage point; other
Danes may view it differently and I would appreciate if they come
forward!

Viv

[Duke of Marmalade]

Thanks for sharing your view, Viv