Engagement of Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill; October 25, 2012

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by MarNoe

As someone with Irish ancestry, I will be waiting to see just how, or if, Chris is connected to "the O'Neill" of Ireland. I'm sure it won't be long before the genealogists are hard at it!

I've got Irish ancestry too (my grandmother is Irish), and I'll be very excited if it is the Irish branch.

[principessa]

Many are speaking of Chris as a "mother-in-law-dream", but Madeleine is also a "mother-in-law-dream", isn't she?

[ashelen]

Originally Posted by Jacknch

Just seen the video and I think Chris is Very handsome indeed with a very lovely voice!! I can see why people are concerned regarding the length of their courtship but I doubt Madeleine would jump into the wrong situation without being sure he's right for her given the Jonas affaire.

I really don't think he is handsome, actually her prevous finace I thought was very handsome and beautiful eyes, but it is all in the eye of the beholder! hope she will be happy with him that's what is more mportant!

[CrownPrincess5]

Originally Posted by ashelen

I really don't think he is handsome, actually her prevous finace I thought was very handsome and beautiful eyes, but it is all in the eye of the beholder! hope she will be happy with him that's what is more mportant!

And the handsome fiance screwed her over. Chris is not very good looking, but maybe he has a great heart and as I get older I'm starting to realize a mans integrity, his heart, his ambition are all super important. So maybe Chris makes up for his lack of good looks in other areas...at least I hope:)

[LadyFinn]

Women, parties - and fast transactions
So Chris O'Neill lived jet-set life before Madde
Kvinnor, fester – & snabba affärer Nyheter Aftonbladet

Hides his millions - in tax paradise
How Chris O'Neill's company earns money on crises and economic chaos
Döljer sina miljoner – i paradiset Nyheter Aftonbladet

En aktivist i kungafamiljen
Translation

O'Neills arbete kan gå stick i stäv med hovet SvD
Translation

Covers of some german magazines due to the engagement
http://www.pressekatalog.de/coverg/F...12_2000547.jpg
http://www.pressekatalog.de/coverg/D...12_2000606.jpg
http://www.pressekatalog.de/coverg/d...12_2000592.jpg
http://www.pressekatalog.de/coverg/D..._910253275.jpg

[Viv]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Women, parties - and fast transactions
So Chris O'Neill lived jet-set life before Madde
Kvinnor, fester – & snabba affärer Nyheter Aftonbladet

I wouldn't worry about this; 37-year olds usually have a track record, Madeleine has a track record too!!
What's a bit more worrying IMHO is that both seem to have a natural liking to the glamorous, jet setty type of life; Chris has enjoyed NYC high society life and 'Madde' used to be dubbed the "Stureplan-princess" after an area in Stockholm with expensive restaurants, bars and clubs. They also share a liking of the fast tracks in the Alps, etcetera, you complete the list! Are they willing to curb this jet set environment with all its temptations if the SRF expect them to lead a -sort of - royal existence?

IMO the SRF still needs the younger royals like Madeleine and Carl Philip to to represent the 'firm' to some extend. There's not enough of them to write Madeleine off and let her lead her own life.

Chris and Madeleine are rooted in social strata where the virtues of a say middle class marriage are not strictly necessary for practical, social or economical ends! If they split new contenders will be happy to queue up to fill the vacancy.
Let's hope that Chris and Madde are indeed 'soul mates' !

Oh, by the way: IMO Chris is good looking!

Viv

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by HereditaryPrincess

I've got Irish ancestry too (my grandmother is Irish), and I'll be very excited if it is the Irish branch.

I'll see what I can find out on Chris O'Neil's Irish roots

[HereditaryPrincess]

I found out on Wikipedia that there's a Baron O' Neill and an Earl O' Neill in the Irish peerage, I'm looking forward into seeing if Chris is related to any of those...

[nascarlucy]

It's always interesting when someone does a family tree or history what comes up. It's very interesting how many Americans especially those in the upper crust are related to nobility and royalty. If Chris is related to Baron O'Neill or Earl O'Neill (I would guess he's distantly related to them if he is), well it's interesting).

Many royals and those of nobility have jet-set lifestyles, some of course more than others. Until recent times, no one criticized them for this. I don't see anything wrong with it or why some people are critical of it, unless they overdo it. There is a balance between royal duty and excessive jet-set lifestyle.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by HereditaryPrincess

I found out on Wikipedia that there's a Baron O' Neill and an Earl O' Neill in the Irish peerage, I'm looking forward into seeing if Chris is related to any of those...

If so, his mother surely would have made sure anyone knows about that relation...

[nascarlucy]

Unless she didn't know which is quite possible especially if the link is very distant (several times removed for example).

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Well, Victoria and Daniel had a press conference. The swedish royal reporters think that Madeleine didn't want to have a press conference because somebody would have asked something about Jonas.

As far as I can recall, there were no questions allowed at the DV press conference. It could have been done this way or the reporters could have been briefed not to ask about Jonas. I am sure this would have been ok for the press, only asking sugary questions.

A press conference would have been much better than the silly video. But then, Madeleine is already quite far away from the Swedish people.

[Eve2Eden]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

As far as I can recall, there were no questions allowed at the DV press conference.

I'm pretty sure questions were asked.

[LadyFinn]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

As far as I can recall, there were no questions allowed at the DV press conference. It could have been done this way or the reporters could have been briefed not to ask about Jonas. I am sure this would have been ok for the press, only asking sugary questions.

A press conference would have been much better than the silly video. But then, Madeleine is already quite far away from the Swedish people.

Reporters made many questions to Victoria and Daniel. Here is only a part of the press conference.

Victoria och Daniel förlovar sig del 2 - YouTube

At Aftonbladet Klick!
Madde's crazy luxury life with Chris
The marriage makes her even richer
http://gfx.aftonbladet-cdn.se/image/....+09.14.55.jpg

[Anne2]

their lives as jetsetters don't particularly worry me provided they can turn the page. I am more concerned about Chris' banking connected to tax paradise places, just hope some scandal does not come out of this like laundring of drug money. I understand the enthusiasm of Qu Silvia thinking of his generosity for her foundation. Not terribly classy.

[bulldog bread]

I'm British.
When Chris O'Neill spoke - I was quite surprised, thought he was American.
Knew immediately from his voice that he was a 'toff'.

But he's not one of the upper class twit types known of in this country, here is a documentary on the type:

Upper Class Twit of the Year YouTube - YouTube

The class isn't highly thought of here in the UK.
Definition:

Toff - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Although I come from Northern England, where people are a bit 'rough & ready', so maybe I'm being a bit harsh.

Seems a nice chap really.
We are all lumbered with the class we are born into really - aren't we?
Working class meself.

[LadyFinn]

Now the news from the swedish press are in finnish press also
"Chris is a professional in tax avoidance"
Näin Madden kihlattu kiertää veroja! Kuninkaalliset Iltalehti.fi

[Meraude]

I would think that part of the reason why there is such a scrutiny into Chris' background by the press here now is that they didn't check out Jonas very well, they "bought" him as being the perfect future son-in-law without any flaws when he and Madeleine got engaged.

[doric44]

Originally Posted by Meraude

I would think that part of the reason why there is such a scrutiny into Chris' background by the press here now is that they didn't check out Jonas very well, they "bought" him as being the perfect future son-in-law without any flaws when he and Madeleine got engaged.

its because he is a foreigner and a banker who the hedge fund he works for has assets in the cayman islands and the left wing media love to go after story's like that

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Now the news from the swedish press are in finnish press also
"Chris is a professional in tax avoidance"
Näin Madden kihlattu kiertää veroja! Kuninkaalliset Iltalehti.fi

I assume that means he does his job well. It is after all one of the reason people hire investment bankers, accountants and tax lawyers.....to make sure you make as much income as possible and pay the least amount of taxation legally possible.