Engagement of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson: October 8, 2003

[anna]

Originally posted by Julia+Oct 9th, 2003 - 4:00 am--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Julia @ Oct 9th, 2003 - 4:00 am)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin-Alexandria@Oct 8th, 2003 - 7:52 pm


Really, I think Frederik likes this ring more than Mary does! He seemed to be showing it off a lot! Maybe he wanted the ring for himself?! 

Fred does seem to really like that ring, doesn't he???[/b][/quote]


Actually none of them fronted the ring - until the photographers started to shout : Show us the ring !

On the photosession with the parents before the couple's pressconferance - then Crown Prince Frederik made some funny faces to the media.

At the end of the pressconferance when the photographers asked them to move closer together and please show them the ring again.

On the rest of the afternoon photos of them - it certainly looks as if both of them kept the photographers' demand in mind

The official photos of them - with the coat - do show the ring - were those taken before or after the pressconferance ?
Adding later :
I can now answer that one myself : Those pics were taken at Amalienborg.

 

[hrhcp]

anna 
Posted: Oct 9th, 2003 - 7:21 am

(Julia @ Oct 9th, 2003 - 4:00 am)

(Alexandria @ Oct 8th, 2003 - 7:52 pm)
Really, I think Frederik likes this ring more than Mary does! He seemed to be showing it off a lot! Maybe he wanted the ring for himself?!

Fred does seem to really like that ring, doesn't he???

Actually none of them fronted the ring - until the photographers started to shout : Show us the ring !

On the photosession with the parents before the couple's pressconferance - then Crown Prince Frederik made some funny faces to the media.

At the end of the pressconferance when the photographers asked them to move closer together and please show them the ring again.

On the rest of the afternoon photos of them - it certainly looks as if both of them kept the photographers' demand in mind

The official photos of them - with the coat - do show the ring - were those taken before or after the pressconferance ?

Thank you Anna
for giving the 'real' details.

By the way, where did you got those details from?

 

[Julia]

Press Conference

Part III

www.rexfeatures.com

Pic 3: www.corbis.com (Originally posted by Jun5)

Pics 4-7: www.ibl.se (Originally posted by Alexandria)

 

[anna]

By the way, where did you got those details from?

I followed the danish tv throughout the day - understanding every word

 

[visitor]

Her Danish skills also disappointed me quite a bit. If I remember correctly, Alexandra was able to understand and answer the journalists questions in Danish, it may not have been perfect Danish but it was Danish none the less. I know that Danish is one of the hardest languages to speak and that reading Danish is a lot easier. That for me does not give her the excuse of not being able to speak Danish quite well. She has been in the country now for 14 months as she has said herself, what has she done in that time to perfect her Danish? From what I heard yesterday nothing! Alexandra had it easier yeas as she knows German but Mary has been living and working in Denmark for quite some time now. You would think that when she realized that her relationship was serious with Frederik she would have begun to take Danish classes such as Maxima did, even before moving to Brussels.

I agree in regards to her ability to speak Danish.

I think she looks wonderful in all the official engagement pictures - there's not a bad picture in the bunch. Her clothes, jewelry, hairstyle, etc. are all a matter of personal preference and no one will please everyone all the time. Maybe her engagement ring is just what she wants.

 

[hrhcp]

visitor 
Posted: Oct 9th, 2003 - 5:35 pm

Her Danish skills also disappointed me quite a bit. If I remember correctly, Alexandra was able to understand and answer the journalists questions in Danish, it may not have been perfect Danish but it was Danish none the less. I know that Danish is one of the hardest languages to speak and that reading Danish is a lot easier. That for me does not give her the excuse of not being able to speak Danish quite well. She has been in the country now for 14 months as she has said herself, what has she done in that time to perfect her Danish? From what I heard yesterday nothing! Alexandra had it easier yeas as she knows German but Mary has been living and working in Denmark for quite some time now. You would think that when she realized that her relationship was serious with Frederik she would have begun to take Danish classes such as Maxima did, even before moving to Brussels.

I agree in regards to her ability to speak Danish.

I think she looks wonderful in all the official engagement pictures - there's not a bad picture in the bunch. Her clothes, jewelry, hairstyle, etc. are all a matter of personal preference and no one will please everyone all the time. Maybe her engagement ring is just what she wants.

I wonder if Mary deliberately 'blew' her Danish speaking?
And naturally, being the future Crown Princess is a different role from 'crown princess in waiting' !!!

 

[Alexandria]

With all this discussion about Mary and Alexandra's mastery of the Danish language at the time of their engagement, I wonder how fluent Prince Henrik knew Danish at the time his engagement to Queen Margrethe was announced? I don't know much about the Danish language, but I imagine that French and Danish are not too similar the way Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are? And what was the criticism if Henrik was not very fluent in Danish? Were they as harsh as they are on Mary? And how fluently does he speak it now? I've read that apparently Queen Silvia isn't completley fluent in Swedish despite having lived there for 25+ years.

 

[Alva]

Originally posted by Alexandria@Oct 9th, 2003 - 7:14 pm
I've read that apparently Queen Silvia isn't completley fluent in Swedish despite having lived there for 25+ years.

I would say that Silvia is fluent in Swedish with some minor exeptions like picking "en/ett" right (for you who understand swedish) = un/une in french. That´s hard to know in swedish, no grammar rules really. She has quite a special accent though, really german and she is easy to imitate in that way

 

[Josefine]

one more picture of the ring

Unknown Source

 

[Josefine]

here you go.... something I did

 

[mcq]

Hola has just come out with a report about Mary's engagement ring. They pretty much repeated what other reports have said in the past that the stones were from Queen Ingrid. The one thing new that they did report however is that the diamond is a pure (aka flawless) diamond and that it is reportedly worth $12,000! This is completely unbelievable. After having seen the new picture posted by Josefine of the ring, the diamond in Mary's ring can in no way be worth that much. I do not doubt that it could very well be a flawless diamond but for the size of the diamond there is no way that it is valued at that price. I am around jewelry a lot since I make my own but only tend to use semi precious stones but my mother who is a certified gemologist knows all about diamonds, rubies and the like. I went to check up on some information about diamonds and how much they are worth and here is the break down:

Emerald cut diamond (D color, the highest, and internally flawless) = $3000/carat
Mary's diamond (took sizing from pictures) = 2 to 2.5 carats = $6000 - $7500

Emerald or octagon cut rubies (finest quality from Burma) = $200 - $250/ruby for a 1/2 to 1 carat ruby which is what Mary's appears to be from the photos

Platinum setting for ring = $1000 - $1500

Total cost for the ring = $7400 - $9500

The above amounts are how much the engagement ring would be priced at auction houses such as Christies and Sotheby's. So the diamond can in no way be worth $12000, the entire amount for the ring doesn't even come close to this. I think this is Hola's way of selling stories and making people get awestruck at the preciousness of the diamond when in fact it is far from the truth.

Also, the jeweler who made the ring should have known better and advised Frederik that rubies are never mounted in platinum but only in yellow gold as any other metal will destroy the ruby. For those of you who like jewelry, go to the jewelry forum or try looking for photos of ruby jewelry and you will notice that even if the band of a ring is in platinum or white gold, the setting of the ruby is always in yellow gold. This is standard rule of practice for all jewelers. Such a shame as the rubies on Mary's ring might be destroyed due to this simple error.

 

[Julia]

Since things have cooled down somewhat (well, at least I've had sometime to think about this week's events in Denmark) I thought it would be interesting to think about what we read and saw. Here is what I took away from the engagement of Frederik and Mary...

First of all I was impressed with the way that Mary handled herself in public. Despite being obviously nervous she did quite a good job with behaving herself like a future crown princess. It takes guts to to what she did and it's obvious that it's now having an impact on her. She's it. Her name will be on the lips of everyone in Denmark and she will be the talk of the royal circles for months and years to come. Perhaps she looked coy in the past but in those photos from the engagement I could see a different Mary. A Mary that was in awe of the sea of humanity that swayed before her. A Mary who knew how she should behave. A Mary that knew that her life as a semi-private citizen was over...a little sadness.

I think also perhaps Mary was feeling a little sad by not having her mum there to share such a monumental moment with her.

I think it doesn't matter what her hair looked like nor does it matter what she wore; the end result is most important and I think that in the coming months we will see a different Mary as she gets a feel for her role. By her wedding we should, hopefully, see a lovely, capable young woman blossoming in her role as future crown princess of Denmark.

 

[Binny]

Hi,

I can't help thinking that many people have taken a dislike to Mary because they sense that she is more in love with the glamour and the idea of becoming a princess than with the man she is going to marry?

I think she may be like Princess Diana. She appears 'fragile' now, but is actually very strong, and has a will of iron!

Time will tell...

I wish them luck, and hope the fairytale is what she expects it to be.

 

[Alexandria]

Some very interesting thoughts you pose Julia. Here are my two cents - though bear in mind that I am still quite skeptical about Mary ( ):

The Mary pre-engagement seemed like a brash, driven, attention grabbing woman. The Mary I saw in the pictures the day of the engagement seemed (besides the expected, natural nervousness) almost shy and hesitant. Maybe this was the result of her nervousness, but she didn't seem so brash or so much like a gold digger on the day of the engagement. She seemed, in fact, quite earnest in wanting to please all those who had stood outside the palace to cheer her on.

And she didn't seem to like (or bask) in the spotlight as much as I expected her to. Of course it was all probably quite overwhelming but underneath all those nerves there seemed not to be a secret liking or glint of adoration for all the admiration and fan fare for her.

Maybe I am getting soft for Mary ... or maybe I am too tired, but I felt sorry for Mary that day. It all seemed so incredibly overwhelming for her - as it would be for anyone - who was finally realizing the magnitude of the role she was undertaking. It wasn't just about a girl falling in love with a boy anymore. Or even about a girl who falls in love with a boy and moves halfway around the world to be with him. It was about a girl falling in love with a boy and making a complete 360 degree change in her life, from making a new home for herself, learning a new language, taking on a new (and lifelong) "job," losing her privacy and living under constant scrutiny for the rest of her life.

It is enough to boggle the mind for any one. I have to say that I don't envy Mary one bit - even if she does "have" Frederik, that nice engagement ring and some nice tiaras and jewels!

 

[Alexandria]

Press Conference

Part IV

All Photos Hasse Ferrold

www.imaginescandinavia.com

 

[Alexandria]

Balcony Appearance

Part V

www.imaginescandinavia.com & www.polfoto.dk

Pic 3: Credit Scandinavian Message Board

http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=k101484066sd.jpg

 

[rdennv]

Princess Benedikte with tears in her eyes ! why?

thank goodness he s finally getting married? or I don t like Mary. It is a bad day?

Just curious.

 

[Alexandria]

The same question was posed at the Scandinavian Royals message board and some of the suggestions for why Princess Benedikte was crying were:

1) happy/glad that Frederik had found love
2) happy/glad that with Frederik getting married there would be an heir to be born to Frederik and therefor succession to the throne (which they would have anyway with Joachim and his sons if Frederik did not get married or does not have kids)
3) emotionally fragile because her husband is ill
4) worried about her son Gustav's own love life - or lack there of
5) sad at the prospet of losing some of her responsibilties to the Crown now that Mary will be taking on more herself in the coming months and years
6) sad that her mother Ingrid could not be with them to see Frederik's engagement

 

[hrhcp]

Alexandria  Posted: Oct 11th, 2003 - 10:30 am

The same question was posed at the Scandinavian Royals message board and some of the suggestions for why Princess Benedikte was crying were:

Or
7) a combination of the above.

 

[visitor]

It all seemed so incredibly overwhelming for her - as it would be for anyone - who was finally realizing the magnitude of the role she was undertaking. It wasn't just about a girl falling in love with a boy anymore. Or even about a girl who falls in love with a boy and moves halfway around the world to be with him. It was about a girl falling in love with a boy and making a complete 360 degree change in her life, from making a new home for herself, learning a new language, taking on a new (and lifelong) "job," losing her privacy and living under constant scrutiny for the rest of her life.

It is enough to boggle the mind for any one.  I have to say that I don't envy Mary one bit - even if she does "have" Frederik, that nice engagement ring and some nice tiaras and jewels!

Usually working towards a goal - and this is not meant as a positive or negative, just a statement of fact - is very different from reaching a goal. This could be the start of something exciting for them both or a letdown because the engagement has happened and a lot of responsibilities will come crashing down.

 

[Alexandria]

What is the relationship between Mary and her step-mother Susan Moody?

Arriving at the Palace

www.polfoto.dk

 

[paulette]

Where is Princess Alexandra? How come its only Prince Joachim?

 

[moosey60]

It was very different from Joachim and Alexandra's engagement announcement...for one thing Alex and Joachim were obviously in love and it was very warm. They hugged and they were very attentive to eachother. They kissed...hugged, the whole caboozle. Mary and Frederik seemed very uncomfortable with eachother, they didn't seem as happy as J&A...not as warm. Somewhat cold...detached...

Geezums, I've just looked over the photos that I haven't seen? My god! That woman was looking at the camera the whole time Freddie was trying to play pattycake! (Interesting euphemism...inside joke ), moving on, geez, that woman seems a primadonna if I've ever seen one. My stars... , their affection seems to be luke-warm, freezing compared to the love Joachim displays for Alexandra. Ah, I guess we shouldn't compare the two, maybe there'll be nice pictures of the wedding..and not another one of Mary's little "Oh! Look at me!" shoots. How sad

 

[jun5]

Originally posted by moosey60@Oct 13th, 2003 - 2:42 pm
It was very different from Joachim and Alexandra's engagement announcement...for one thing Alex and Joachim were obviously in love and it was very warm. They hugged and they were very attentive to eachother. They kissed...hugged, the whole caboozle. Mary and Frederik seemed very uncomfortable with eachother, they didn't seem as happy as J&A...not as warm. Somewhat cold...detached...

Joachim and Alexandra kissed in their pressconferencs? Then why did Frederik And Mary hesitate to kiss?

 

[thissal]

Originally posted by jun5@Oct 13th, 2003 - 12:54 pm
Joachim and Alexandra kissed in their pressconferencs? Then why did Frederik And Mary hesitate to kiss?

Prince Joachim had a hug and a kiss for his future sister-in-law. Maybe he's just a kissy huggy kind of guy.

 

[hrhcp]

moosey60  Posted: Oct 13th, 2003 - 3:42 pm

... Mary and Frederik seemed very uncomfortable with each other, they didn't seem as happy as J&A...not as warm. Somewhat cold...detached...

And if they're self-conscious types with an aversion for the public stuff, I take it you would prefer to see a lot of artificial 'gush' ?

 

[lasu]

For all those people who are complaining that Mary seems cold, I would love to see them try to speak a foreign language in front of this crowd.

Josefine posted this earlier and I thought it was worth showing again. Would you really shove your tongue down your fianceé's throat with this many cameras on you?

 

[hrhcp]

lasu  Posted: Oct 13th, 2003 - 10:59 pm

For all those people who are complaining that Mary seems cold, I would love to see them try to speak a foreign language in front of this crowd.

Josefine posted this earlier and I thought it was worth showing again. Would you really shove your tongue down your fianceé's throat with this many cameras on you?

Good posting, Iasu,
And where you get so many people in a small room like this with all the hot lights, cameras and boom mikes, it gets hot pretty darned fast. Makes for (very) sweaty palms if hands are held !!!!

 

[moosey60]

Well, we'll have to make allowances for that. Evil, really. Was it that bad at Joachim and Alexandra's announcement? Naw, probablement not, she married the "spare", Mary's marrying the "heir". :flower:

 

[Just C]

Why does Mary never smile in these posed portraits (referring to two posts up in the formal wear and official engagement photos with royal family and with her parents)? This is her engagement, she should be happy! Everybody else in this photo from the formal dinner has some degree of smile or warmth except for Mary. She seems to be putting off an above it all, "Let them eat cake" attitude. She will need to work on how she presents herself to the masses if she wants to remain popular. The Danes are very nice, friendly people with a very egalitarian society, on the whole. If she comes off as too high and mighty, she will not gain the acceptance of the people. A big part of what the people love about QMII, Frederik, and Alexandra is their warmth and natural attitude (regal and down to earth at the same time).
In her "Star Maker" course she complained of not having any good pictures of herself. So, perhaps she thinks she photographs better not smiling. However she said in one of her engagement interviews, it was more important to let people get a sense of who she is rather than just stumble along in Danish. I think the same theory should be applied to her photos. It's more important to let people get a sense of who she is or her emotions (ie: happiness) than to have a stoic picture that she may think is more glamorous, or what have you. Otherwise people will get the sense that the somewhat cold, stoic looking person in the picture is exactly who she is. Who knows, maybe it is...