Frederik and Mary Visit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany: September 27-28, 2010

[lancchick]

Video from yesterday: Prinz und Prinzessin in Stralsund - Leute heute - ZDFmediathek - ZDF Mediathek

When I saw the pictures of Mary feeding the penguins, I was shocked they made a pregnant woman in high heels go into that enclosure. Talk about risky, although she handled it really well.

 

[Muhler]

Video: VIDEO: Mary besgte krftsyge brn - TV 2 Nyhederne

Thank you, Asturiana

Mary cannot speak German, so she is dependant on a interpreter and she is asked about that.
She explains: "It fine. She is actually very impressive. She is very good at it". (*)

Later on she visited a ward for children suffering from cancer and she said afterwards: "It weighs heavily on your heart but at the same time it's very rewarding and inspiring to hear/learn about their strength. That they look forward to getting better, to get out of here and back to their friends".

(*) Another indication that Mary is now almost "native" in her command of Danish, are the number of words she interjects in her sentences. Fillers, which are unnecessary but natural to a native speaker, who is just babbling along. That has in particular been the case within the past year or so.
There are lots of "fillers" in the Danish language which adds to the nuances of a sentence. Whereas English tend to be more precise, relying more on the meaning of the words, rather than intonation and other subtleties, which are so important in spoken Danish.
That is something that can really confuse foreigners, who can miss or misunderstand the meaning of a sentence, because he/she didn't pay attention to words that acts a "fillers" or alternatively to the way the sentence was said.
It's pretty complicated and difficult to explain for someone who hasn't experienced it.

ADDED.
Hmm. Time for a DK lesson perhaps.
Let's break down what Mary said: "Det går fint. Hun er faktisk meget imponerende. Hun er faktisk meget god til det". Okay, if we remove the fill-word, faktisk. What she said would be this: "It's fine. She is very impressive. She is very good at it".
It still makes perfect sense, right?
But to a Dane it can sound like she is making an evaluation or alternatively like her reply is a bit cold or stand-offish. So a native, and Mary, interjects the word "faktisk" to soften her remarks. So now she is saying something positive about the interpreter, but it's not an evaluation.
Do you understand the nuance explained here?

 

[Sternchen]

When I saw the pictures of Mary feeding the penguins, I was shocked they made a pregnant woman in high heels go into that enclosure. Talk about risky, although she handled it really well.

Well they weren't standing behind her, forcing her in with a gun pointing at her head...

She decided for herself that she wanted to go in

Looks like she didn't make much of an effort to-day. her hair seems greasy, her make-up is badly applied and those pants seem like they could belong to Frederik.
Must do better.

Seems that you saw footage of a different event from the rest of us

 

[greenways]

I take nothing away from Mary, in terms of being quite capable of looking after herself - I'm all for it. However, how would Fred feel if Mary had fallen and she or the babies were hurt, surely it's not worth the risk. You don't have to fall far to do a lot of damage. Maybe, between them Mary has requested he doesn't fuss, I don't know. But looking from the outside in, just seems a bit cold.

 

[Emmily]

Thank you, Asturiana

Mary cannot speak German, so she is dependant on a interpreter and she is asked about that.
She explains: "It fine. She is actually very impressive. She is very good at it". (*)

Later on she visited a ward for children suffering from cancer and she said afterwards: "It weighs heavily on your heart but at the same time it's very rewarding and inspiring to hear/learn about their strength. That they look forward to getting better, to get out of here and back to their friends".

(*) Another indication that Mary is now almost "native" in her command of Danish, are the number of words she interjects in her sentences. Fillers, which are unnecessary but natural to a native speaker, who is just babbling along. That has in particular been the case within the past year or so.
There are lots of "fillers" in the Danish language which adds to the nuances of a sentence. Whereas English tend to be more precise, relying more on the meaning of the words, rather than intonation and other subtleties, which are so important in spoken Danish.
That is something that can really confuse foreigners, who can miss or misunderstand the meaning of a sentence, because he/she didn't pay attention to words that acts a "fillers" or alternatively to the way the sentence was said.
It's pretty complicated and difficult to explain for someone who hasn't experienced it.

ADDED.
Hmm. Time for a DK lesson perhaps.
Let's break down what Mary said: "Det går fint. Hun er faktisk meget imponerende. Hun er faktisk meget god til det". Okay, if we remove the fill-word, faktisk. What she said would be this: "It's fine. She is very impressive. She is very good at it".
It still makes perfect sense, right?
But to a Dane it can sound like she is making an evaluation or alternatively like her reply is a bit cold or stand-offish. So a native, and Mary, interjects the word "faktisk" to soften her remarks. So now she is saying something positive about the interpreter, but it's not an evaluation.
Do you understand the nuance explained here?

That's really interesting! I understand the explanation. Is Danish one of the more difficult languages to learn because of these "fillers"?

 

[Terri Terri]

I take nothing away from Mary, in terms of being quite capable of looking after herself - I'm all for it. However, how would Fred feel if Mary had fallen and she or the babies were hurt, surely it's not worth the risk. You don't have to fall far to do a lot of damage. Maybe, between them Mary has requested he doesn't fuss, I don't know. But looking from the outside in, just seems a bit cold.

The point is that she didn't and she was obviously perfectly capable of walking down 5 stairs from the airplane while holding on to the handrail. She also walked on very uneven ground while feeding the penguins and she walked on cobbled streets. She's not fragile or sick! Mary chose to wear high heels - she could have worn flat shoes instead. In addition, when the situation warranted it, Frederik held Mary's hand while they walked on cobbled and very uneven streets http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture/picture/22584526.html but it wasn't all the time as it wasn't necessary.

There are millions of pregnant women all over the world who go through pregnancy quite normally and they walk up and down stairs on their own!

 

[greenways]

I guess there's no right or wrong when it comes to opinion's, but I do love a man when he acts like a gentleman!!

 

[Terri Terri]

True! Its just our opinions! I don't see in these instances where CP Frederik was not being gentleman. We'll agree to disagree!

 

[greenways]

As we say in Australia, no worries!!

 

[Maura724]

While Mary was coming down the steps of the plane, Fred was already greeting people. Mary is pregnant, in high heels, surely the chivalris thing to do would be to watch and make sure she didn't trip.

I totally agree with you, greenways, even if no one else does. I'm very old-fashioned, I like chivalrous gestures, I like to see a gentleman make a fuss over a lady, and I think he should have been much more attentive here.

On the other hand, since all I've seen is a still photo, I guess it's possible that he was watching her and just looked away for a second, the second the photo was taking. Or it's very possible that Mary doesn't want him to make a fuss about her and has told him so, and Fred is smart enough to know better than to argue with her while she's pregnant.

I love Mary's jacket - she's worn it before, maybe to the opening of Parliament, and I've always really liked it. But I think Fred really needs to lose the beard - he doesn't have the right face for it and was much more handsome before.

 

[Katrianna]

Great pictures and video, thanks everyone!

 

[Muhler]

That's really interesting! I understand the explanation. Is Danish one of the more difficult languages to learn because of these "fillers"?

Difficult to say for me as a native. But I guess it is.

The almost constant use of irony in spoken every-day Danish is certainly a problem for many foreigners.
Though perhaps not so much for Mary, because Danish and Australian humour is so very similar.
It is certainly a problem for many Swedes and we are afterall neighbours.

 

[avrilo]

I really think he needs shaving or at least trimming that beard, he looks unclean

 

[Muhler]

I really think he needs shaving or at least trimming that beard, he looks unclean

For the moment yes. Give him a couple of weeks more and it'll look better.

I think it suits him. He looks more mature with a beard.
Frederik is one of those men, who are blessed/cursed with a youthful look.
That's one of the advantages with being a man, signs of age adds character.

 

[Princess Luna]

I really think he needs shaving or at least trimming that beard, he looks unclean

I think he looks great

 

[Muhler]

An intesting gallery from Billed Bladet, for those who are interested in a detailed look at Mary's hair, clutch, earrings, shoes and wrist-balls-golden-thingy

http://www.billedbladet.dk/Kongelige/Artic...%20slottet.aspx

- The bearded dude next to her is apparantly not that interesting....

 

[Marika86]

Article and photo gallery on "Hello"

 

[Muhler]

Article and photo gallery on "Hello"

Thank you, Marika

Princess Mary and Prince Frederick on their final day of their German tour
That is one impressive beer mug!

The tall gentleman behind the montre is Bertel Haarder. He is Minister for Interior and Health. He is one of the most experienced and influential of the current government ministers. Frederik will have met him many times during his whole adult life.
I believe he was a minster when Frederik attended the State Council for the first time when he turned eighteen.

 

[Katrianna]

Looks like the Crown Couple enjoyed themselves, of course, the crowds loved them also. It must mean much to the people that Frederik visits the home of his Great-Grandmother and to him also.

 

[dazzling]

The overall of the visit looked exciting. There were different things besides only official events & visit. The walk in the market must of been interesting and the local music.

 

[Tarlita]

Watching the video of Mary with the crowd on day 2, I see someone held up an Australian flag and another gave her a small stuffed koala bear. So there might have been a few aussie ex pats in the area. Lovely to see an interested crowd of people turn out on a cold week day.
If Fred smiled more it would be better, as he has devasting charm when he chooses to use it.

 

[Muhler]

Plenty of DRF stuff in Billed Bladet this week.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #39, 2010.
Mary lavede sjov med pingvinerne - Mary had fun with the penquins.
Written by Anna Johannesen.

Monday Mary and Frederik visited the Ozeaneaum in Stralsund, with them went mayor Alexander Badrow.
On the roof nine Humbolds penquins resided and they viewed the commotion in their usual aloof manner and acted cool.
After being handed a bucket with heerings M&F proceeded to feed the well dressed birds. But perhaps less well mannered, because in their eagerness one of the penquins bit Mary in her finger.
Mary smiled: "It certainly isn't every day you are allowed to feed penquins. - There will be something to tell the children, when I come home".
Who was enjoying the feeding session most, M&F or the penquins is difficult to say.
Frederik, alias Pingo, whistled to get some attention and laughed: "It appears we are communicating".

Apparantly the penquins retreated because Mary ended the whole thing by throwing the remaining heerings up in the air: "Come here, you"!

On the way out Mary encountered some kindergarten children (one of the equipped with a plastic tiara) standing around an aquarium with starfish. Mary said: "Oh, may I see", and put her finger down to the starfish, impressing the children.
After that she and the children chatted lively standing around the aquarium. Mary in Danish, the children in German. (No interpreter around).

The article offers no explanation as to why Mary was wearing a reddish plant on her head.

---------------

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #39, 2010.
Her blev min oldemor født - Here my great-grandmother was born.
Written by Anna Johannesen.

M&F also went for a guided tour of Schwerin Schloss, where Frederik's great-grandmother, the late Queen Alexandrine, was born.
With them Minister President Erwin Sellering and his wife Britta. They are newly wed.
To Frederik it was "fanstistic" being there himself, as he has often heard about Schwerin Schloss.
Among a number of documents related to the Danish royal family was the marriage contract between Alexandrine and Prince Christian (later Christian X), signed by Christian IX in 1913.
Today it's the seat of the parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommeren.

Frederik speaks German, Mary don't, so she had an interpreter by her side for much of the visit.

There were crowds (*) out to see M&F, okay mostly Mary, and mostly her belly, and most were surprised at how little could be seen.

(*) One of them being an Australian and he handed Mary a Koala bear. I know, I know! But Koalas are called Koala Beras in German and Danish...

 

[Emmily]

"The article offers no explanation as to why Mary was wearing a reddish plant on her head."

Muhler, this made me laugh

 

[Commonconsort]

I think he looks great

Me too ! ageing very well IMO

 

[Tarlita]

Thanks Muhler for the BB information. Anna Johannesen has a good job following the royal couple around. Do you think Mary and Anna have ever had a private conversation. They would know each other reasonably well by now I would imagine.

 

[Muhler]

Thanks Muhler for the BB information. Anna Johannesen has a good job following the royal couple around. Do you think Mary and Anna have ever had a private conversation. They would know each other reasonably well by now I would imagine.

You are welcome Tarlita & Emmily.

They know each other as well as you can without being one on one, I'd say.

They may exchange a few words from time to time, but I don't think Mary chat about more private matters. She is pretty closed in that respect and probably wisely so.
I am in no doubt that Mary know, respect and appreciate Anna Johannesen by now.
Frederik is very protective about his family, according to what Mary herself has said about him.
It is my impression that Mary and Frederik are very careful in regards to the press. Which is why the two most experienced of the BB reporters deal with them.

Prince Henrik has clearly developed a kind of trust, bordering on friendship with two of the BB journalists, Anna Johannesen being one of them.

There are different reporters more or less specialising in particular members of the DRF. And that of course includes establishing a kind of working relationship that hopefully will evolve into trust.

From what I have observed:
Anna Johannesen and Annelise Weimann, deal with the Regent Couple and Mary and Frederik.

Trine Larsen, deal with Alexandra, Nikolai and Felix and Joachim and Marie, when they are together. She has a very good working relationship with Joachim and Alexandra.

Henrik Salling, appears to have developed a good rapport with Marie and she seems to be more open towards him than other journalists.

Ulrik Ulriksen and Helle Skram de Friis are at present a kind of all-round royal reporters, who also have other jobs to attend to.

Ken Richter deal with the DRF when they are in western Denmark. Interestingly they appear to be willing to talk to him. My guess is that it is very much because he simply reports what is actually going on, quote them correctly and leave the speculations on a minimum

 

[Tarlita]

Thanks Muhler for the info. I guess the royals do have to develop some sort of relationship with the press. Just as politicians and celebrities do. After all everyone has a job to do. I guess it becomes sticky when the press start to speculate and editorialize, and end up making false statements. But the pubic can usually read between the lines when it comes to tricky reporting. I know Anna Johannesen has been following Fred since he was a teenager. A TV channel here did a short doco on her here when Mary & Fred visited the Zoo in Tasmana.

 

[ashelen]

I wonder how is the organization everytime the have a trip, i mean with their luggage, their cloths , make up etc....... just would be nice to know, may be it would be some good tips for traveling, like me today i am in a hotel for bussines and i forgot the charger for the cell phone, i will have to go and buy one tomorrow! I was taking all my nice clothees from the suitcase, all wrinkle!......just wondering.............. would love to have what she has so tomorrow for my meeting I would love stunning like !

 

[Marika86]

Photogallery about their visit on "Berlingske.dk"

Mary viser maven frem i Tyskland | www.berlingske.dk

 

[Muhler]

I wonder how is the organization everytime the have a trip, i mean with their luggage, their cloths , make up etc....... just would be nice to know, may be it would be some good tips for traveling, like me today i am in a hotel for bussines and i forgot the charger for the cell phone, i will have to go and buy one tomorrow! I was taking all my nice clothees from the suitcase, all wrinkle!......just wondering.............. would love to have what she has so tomorrow for my meeting I would love stunning like !

Do you mean what to wear? Or who takes care of their clothes?

Often Mary and Frederik bring with them a maid and a valet to take care of their wardrobe. And in Mary's case she also brings her her hairdresser, Søren Hedegaard.
I don't think that was the case on this visit. Mary's outfit were after all pretty straightforward and Frederik can just jump into a suit and tie and that's it.
Apart from that. Large hotels or host nations provide butler service to deal with such things.

As for what to wear. From what I've learned from the behind the scenes docus about the DRF:
The programme for the visit is determined. Then outfits for Mary (or rather her workclothes, because that's basically what it is) are selected based on what is appropriate at a given event. Either something new is bought or something is recycled.
When that is done, the finer details in connection with each event are determined and the host nation recieve some information on what colours Mary is wearing and what style of outfit, so that bouquets matching her outfit can be planned. That happens a considerable time in advance.
So the details regarding an outfit are in place up to several weeks in advance.

Sorry if my explanations are too detailed, but what is obvious to me, may not be obvious to everybody else.

(*) That would have avoided an incident in Japan, when Frederik was young. He had a big hole in one of his socks. Clearly Frederik just put on a sock. A small hole? Never mind. Except that he was required to take off his shoes and that holes in socks tend to grow bigger. So he sat there with a big hole in his sock in the full glare of the media.