Relationships between the Members of the Danish Royal Family

[MARG]

To me the kids look happy and outgoing and if things were tense at home I am sure they would show some signs. But it is impossible to gauge the depth or intensity of the passion of a couple from a snapshot or a 5 minute video.

Is Mary supposed to hang on Fred's arm like a simpering halfwit to prove she really "loves" him? Is Fred supposed to kiss her hand and grin witlessly to prove that he really "loves" her?

What signs and signals will satisfy the unreasonable and insensitive demand for "Proof of Love"?

Sometimes I dispair of my fellow man (or woman)!

[HRHHermione]

Originally Posted by greenways

Once again, I'm not looking for adoring glances or subtle touches - just normal 'people' interaction. It's missing!

I'd wager they're very different in private. Look how fun and spontaneous their kids can be- Princess Isabella never fails to entertain.

No way is that child the product of a stiff environment without normal people interaction.

I don't blame Mary for being reserved in public. Having your every move followed in the press would be nerve wracking. A good poker face is a pretty big part of being a successful royal, methinks.

[greenways]

Don't despair for me, I'm not living in a war torn country or just lost a family member, we are only talking about photo's and interpretation of them. Just saw pics of the couple at a wedding last weekend, there was normal interaction, very happy about that, glad to be proven wrong.

[Juliette2]

Hi! Can someone point me to a discussion of the relationship between Joachim and Frederik? Do they get along? Somehow I don't think that they do very much...I bet this has been discussed here!

[Penny Royalty]

I like that people care about the Danish family. Something I want to say is that they seem normal to the naked eye. I think Mary and Fred are both used to being an answer for their homeland which involves the camera on and off. I think experience from generation to generation enables them to become natural at most of what they do publicly. From what I can see more power to them. They seem to have good intentions and it may show.

My inner most feeling is that they promote the country and have a good tangent. I hope they continue as an example. Whether through good and through bad, through right and wrong, they, like everyone, learn and can make life greater through nature/nurture. I have a feeling they do great and maybe it's owed to dedication and their ancestors. I hope we don't loose track of where we came from. I think we can learn from the way of life of before. Peace.

[American Dane]

Originally Posted by Juliette2

Hi! Can someone point me to a discussion of the relationship between Joachim and Frederik? Do they get along? Somehow I don't think that they do very much...I bet this has been discussed here!

Hi Juliette2,

In a thread for the 2008 book 'Frederik' our Danish members go into detail what both Joachim and Frederik said about their relationship and why it cooled right after Joachim's divorce.
I think if you take a look for it, it'll answer a lot of your questions

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by greenways

Just saw pics of the couple at a wedding last weekend, there was normal interaction, very happy about that, glad to be proven wrong.

Not that there hasn't been pics like that during these past months, but here's
a couple from yesterday just for you

Au sein du couple princier, la complicité est totale. Le prince Frederik de Danemark, son épouse
Picture details

[greenways]

Thanks Nordic, very nice photos.

[marta19pl]

Originally Posted by American Dane

Hi Juliette2,

In a thread for the 2008 book 'Frederik' our Danish members go into detail what both Joachim and Frederik said about their relationship and why it cooled right after Joachim's divorce.
I think if you take a look for it, it'll answer a lot of your questions

Could you write something about that???

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by marta19pl

Could you write something about that???

Here's the thread,
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ark-17134.html

[Juliette2]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

Here's the thread,
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ark-17134.html

Thanks American Dane and Lumutqueen!!

[Grandduchess24]

So eveythings ok right between Joachim's wife and his ex right I just hope that Joachim and Alexandra divorced on good terms because I dont want to see a fight between Marie and Alexandra

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Grandduchess24

So eveythings ok right between Joachim's wife and his ex right I just hope that Joachim and Alexandra divorced on good terms because I dont want to see a fight between Marie and Alexandra

By all accounts they appear to have a good relationship. It doesn't look like our Marie has to be dragged kicking and screaming along, when they are visiting Alexandra in her home. - On the other hand, I don't think they are on the phone every month.
Joachim and Martin also appear to have a good relationship, perhaps helped by the fact that Nikolai and Felix obviously are very fond of him.

The only fights I think we are likely to see between Alexandra and Marie will take place in the gossip magazines.
La belle Marie after all come from a family that has divorced and remarried.

[Muhler]

From time to time you can read about a strained relationship between Mary and our Marie.
Well, judging from this pic Mary is either incredibly good at hiding her feelings - or they have a good relationship.
Is there cold air between the sisters-in-law - Nah, don't think so....jpg - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

[dazzling]

Originally Posted by Muhler

From time to time you can read about a strained relationship between Mary and our Marie.
Well, judging from this pic Mary is either incredibly good at hiding her feelings - or they have a good relationship.
Is there cold air between the sisters-in-law - Nah, don't think so....jpg - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

I have not seen one picture that looks like Mary and Marie have a strained relationship. All picture so far have seemed that they have a good relationship and do seem to be comfortable in each others presence.
Its interesting how sometimes stories like to write about things that don't have much proof to just to sell. Maybe they should back up their articles with facts :big grin:
Do these articles come out when Mary and Marie are attending the same event or randomly these stories come out?

[Duke of Marmalade]

I dont think there is any strain on the relationship Mary - Marie either. They are too different in personality and position. Mary is CP and loves the attention and everything that goes with it. Marie is the second wife of the second son and loves being Lady of the Manor in Schackenborg, doing what has to be done as Princess of Denmark but nothing more. I dont think they meet very often and if they do its fine, one certainly doesnt feel threatened by the other.

I can imagine that it would be quite different in case Alex was still in Marie's position this relationship clearly had the potential to become bitchy

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by dazzling

Do these articles come out when Mary and Marie are attending the same event or randomly these stories come out?

Randomly, I'd say.
The last story I recall was something about Mary having a bad relationship with Joachim and that was in a German mag.
The Australian mags used to be pretty imaginative as well but I haven't seen any "dramatic" headlines for some time. On the other hand you see fewer and fewer stories from Australian mags here on this forum.... So, who knows...
Or perhaps they are learning?
- Yeah, I believe in Santa Claus as well

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I dont think there is any strain on the relationship Mary - Marie either. They are too different in personality and position. Mary is CP and loves the attention and everything that goes with it. Marie is the second wife of the second son and loves being Lady of the Manor in Schackenborg, doing what has to be done as Princess of Denmark but nothing more. I dont think they meet very often and if they do its fine, one certainly doesnt feel threatened by the other.

I can imagine that it would be quite different in case Alex was still in Marie's position this relationship clearly had the potential to become bitchy

You may have a point in the sense that Mary and Alexandra are more alike, IMO. They are both strongwilled women with a perfectionist streak, something at least Mary has admitted to. Which is probably why they are both labbeled "perfect princess" by so many. The main difference as I see it was that Alexandra continued the more conservative line of the DRF back then in 1990's, while Mary (followed by Frederik) opened things up and made the DRF more approachable.
Would an Alexandra, still in place, have curbed Mary's approach during the first couple of years? Who knows? Now she ended up having the stage to herself, so she could do things her way, instead of looking at a more experienced sister-in-law. - It worked.
I'm not sure either they would have been close, they are too much alike. I believe it more likely they would have ended up deeply respecting each other.

Our Marie is another matter, she entered the field when Mary was established and I too doubt she ever had any ambitions about competing with Mary. She's simply Marie and what you see is what you get, for good or for worse.
Mary and Alexandra will never be caught unprepared at an event - that could happen to Marie. But she would simply laugh it off I think - and get completely away with it!

Mary and Marie is a great combination, because they are so different. They appeal both to different segments of the population but also to different sides of people in general (that's what they do to me).
The combination Mary and Alexandra would, I fear, have lead to constant comparisons because they are more alike.

The same thing applies to Frederik and Joachim. Joachim's more conservative and correct approach versus Frederik's more folksy appeal and easygoing manner. A good combination.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Alex basically acted as CP before Mary came on the scene and would have had to step back in terms of quality of events and limelight in order not to overshadow the new CP.

As you said, they may have ended up respecting each other but the beginning would have been very difficult, in that respect Mary was lucky that one strong princess was on her way out when another was on her way in and the strong princess who was out was only replaced by a princess who had no interest in following into the perfectionist and ambitious footsteps of her predessessor.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Alex basically acted as CP before Mary came on the scene and would have had to step back in terms of quality of events and limelight in order not to overshadow the new CP.

As you said, they may have ended up respecting each other but the beginning would have been very difficult, in that respect Mary was lucky that one strong princess was on her way out when another was on her way in and the strong princess who was out was only replaced by a princess who had no interest in following into the perfectionist and ambitious footsteps of her predessessor.

Yeah, I think you pretty much nailed it.

Another thing is that I believe Alexandra would have maintained a much higher public profile, than our Marie - who is still in the process of finding her role.
The competition, at least in the eyes of the public (not to mention the magazines, good grief!) would have been much fiercer between Mary and Alexandra (no matter their personal relationship) at least until a kind of balance had been established.

Mary is also very much influenced by Frederik, in the sense that when he is around she's much less aware of her role. She is much more relaxed even to the point of being almost girlish. Her perfectionist streak takes second place. And that is something that is so very appealing to so many, me included.
Mary resembles QMII in the sense that they are both very good at their jobs, but when they are on the job with their husbands, that's when we often see the true QMII and Mary bubble up.

Marie is so fortunate that she seems to thrive at Schackenborg as well as Copenhagen, where, as I understand it, Alexandra is more of a big-city girl.
Result: Marie really has become "the lady of the manor". She and Joachim are the "royals of Southern Jutland" to a large extent. Simply because she, Marie, is there.
It's strange, come to think of it.
The lord of the manor is around - yeah, okay. Now the lady of the manor is here as well - and that matters locally!
Do you understand this, almost feudal, mindset I'm trying to convey?

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Mary and Alexandra will never be caught unprepared at an event - that could happen to Marie. But she would simply laugh it off I think - and get completely away with it!

Yes, but would Mary get away with things like that ? I doubt it. It's no surprise that she tries to do the best she can in her situation, whether she is a perfectionist or not.

Marie's life as a princess seems to be sooo much easier than Mary's...
She doesn't have half the demands on her, that Mary has. I have always had the impression that Marie is the one enjoying the attention (and nothing wrong with that) and that Mary has learnt to live with it, because she has to.