Frederik & Mary's Official/Business Visit to Australia; November 19th-26th, 2011

[CrownPrincessJava]

Originally Posted by Muhler

So, educate me. Is Mary speaking with a Tasmanian accent, a Sydney accent or a kind of BBC-newsreader-Australian?

She has an Eastern Australian accent, i.e. a Sydneysider. I'm from South Australia and our accents are closer to English since South Australia wasn't settled by convicts. NSW, Victoria and Tasmania have more of a cockney(?) accent. You can tell she grew up in the Eastern part of Australia

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by camelot23ca

I think there have been plenty of times when Mary rather than Frederik was the focus of attention even in Denmark. He's never seemed to mind. Frederik doesn't seem to crave or even enjoy the spotlight, and I've sometimes wondered if he's not a little relieved to have a partner who takes some of the most intense attention off him.

I agree. Sometimes he seems relieved that it is not him in the focus but his wife. No anger here from his side, rather the opposite.

[Frelinghighness]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Princess at the ball on MSN Video

A news clip, where Mary is heard giving a speech.
I gotta hear your comments on that.
I realise there must be a lot of regional accents in Australia and I can't tell the difference, but when I listen to Mary speaking English and the news reporters, there is litterally a world's difference.

For those who lament the decline of regional accents, listen to the range of Australian accents! To my US ears, they all sound Australian, some we would characterize as "thicker" accents than others, just means harder for us to understand (like the Prime Minister! or the Scottish!

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by CrownPrincessJava

She has an Eastern Australian accent, i.e. a Sydneysider. I'm from South Australia and our accents are closer to English since South Australia wasn't settled by convicts. NSW, Victoria and Tasmania have more of a cockney(?) accent. You can tell she grew up in the Eastern part of Australia

The further west you go, the more 'english' they sound.

I certainly wouldn't describe my accent nor those of the people I'm related too, associate with or know as being 'cockney'. Not in the slightest :)

I do however get the point you're trying to make and there is, depending on a range of factors, a slight difference in diction.

Mary speaking English and the news reporters, there is litterally a world's difference.

News reporters are renowned for altering their voice to some degree, normally drawing out sentences and adding depth to the execution of words. Apparently, it makes them appear serious and professional.

Where as Mary is rather delicately spoken and articulates herself with caution. Her voice is, certainly to my ear, considerably clear, polished and rather indistinct in terms of regional influence which I believe has more to do with her adoption of the Danish language.

[American Dane]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Mary is a royal who has attracted a lot of interest on her visit, but I'd not classify that as celebrity, certainly not in light of what that appears to suggest nowadays.

And in Australia Mary is not in our media on a day to day basis, not even on a weekly basis. Only in the leadup to the visit had Mary again started to front the covers of a few women's magazines. That will no doubt die down again after the visit is over and until something notable happens or something sensationalised is reported yet again as "fact". Being a commodity of the media is not something that can be necessarily helped if you hold a high profiled position in society, but the disparity between who is a popularized celebrity and those who live their lives according to the dynastic institution's they are born and married into is considerably great. The monarchy's existance represents an entirely different platform of meaning and cannot be sensibly drawn into such comparison.

Granted although an example, I still find it rather odd to compare the finaticism of Oprah maniacs (or any celebrity for that matter) to a grandmother, mother and daughter (3 generations) picking flowers from their garden in the hope they may be fortunate enough to give them to Mary herself. Modern day celebrity culture does not inspire that kind of wholesome interest or any sense of community pride.

And a notable point has here been made. Oprah is treated (worshipped) like an American version of 'royalty', but doesn't come close to the real deal. There are people who live their lives according to her advice and the mere fact she breathes has people going ga ga. She's a 'guru' and an emotional crutch for millions in America and around the world who perhaps need a therapist or counsellor, moreso than an Oprah Book Club membership.

That's not to detract from the good works she has done in her life, but she is the personification of celebrity.

Thank you Madame Royale for an excellent post, I completely agree. It would've been very weird if a home-grown Australian royal didn't attract this much attention in Australia. Having people in the country of your birth and where you were raised be proud of you and want to see you is not celebrity IMO...

[dazzling]

Picture gallery
http://www.b.dk/billedeserier/mary-s...ldsramte-boern

IMG_1449.MOV - YouTube

[ricarda]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I guess the DRF set on Mary's star/celebrity quality for survival. Will it work out? Is it good or bad? Who knows. Other royal houses try the survival strategy of the CPs as business couple but at some point people will find out that royals are powerless and only do or read speeches of what the government tells them.

I guess the celebrity strategy is not more or less risky than others, sad but true.

I think this (setting on star qualities of one/two members for survival) is much more true for the Dutch RF (Maxima) or the British RF (William&Kate) than for the Danish RF.

Whether Mary is popular in Australia or not, does IMO have no effect on the survival of the DRF in the end. Their popularity in Denmark is what counts. And in DK IMO the DRF clearly sets on a "family strategy" - as could be seen in the documentary of 2009 - and as they always have done since Frederik&Ingrid.
And although Mary has added to the DRF's popularity (not least by giving birth to 4 cute kids) - I don't think that Queen Margrethe's or CP Frederik's popularity is based on Mary's star qualities. I don't want to belittle Mary's achievements but it's a fact that she married into a very popular royal family to begin with (IIRC the DRF had the highest approval ratings of all European RF in 2004).

Besides, this visit to Australia was definitely a business visit - as has been mentioned in the Australian media as well. They were there to "mark the strong cultural and commercial cooperation between Australia and Denmark" and that's exactly what they did IMO. (I actually think that their official visit in 2005 had much more of a "star/celebrity" feeling to it.)

[Muhler]

Thanks for the comments about Mary's Australian and your info on Australian accents. That's something I personally find very interesting. - And I've learned something. Not a bad way to start a day.

Now that the official part of the visit is over, what are your thoughts?

From the hip:
I'm very glad and pleased to see the genuine warmth and interest M&F, Mary in particular, was recieved with by the Australians. While still respecting the role Mary has now, I.e. an official royal representative for Denmark.
There were however a couple of times when I looked and heard some the onlookers and thought: Easy now, Mary is still a mortal.

I thought Mary handled herself with grace and warmth. She was genuine and natural, yet professional.
Pride is such a strong word but it comes close. In any way it confirmed what I believe. Mary is queen material.
Frederik deserve a bit of praise as well. He stood back and allowed Mary the center stage. He seemed confident and I noticed from the few clips I heard that he spoke English without his usually very heavy accent. Presumably from being surrounded almost 24/7 by English speakers. I also think his laid back style and interaction with children suited this visit.
In short: M&F passed the dress rehersal and they are more than ready to take over.

I think this presented M&F and thus the DRF and as a consequence Denmark (and Danish products) in a very positive light in the eyes of the Australians. In that respect as well M&F succeeded.

Now, from Googling news stories it's very difficult to get an idea about how this visit was covered and how big an interest there really was in the Australian media. My impression is that it was covered fairly well and that there was a good deal of general interest. Am I off the mark?

[CrownPrincessJava]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

The further west you go, the more 'english' they sound.

I certainly wouldn't describe my accent nor those of the people I'm related too, associate with or know as being 'cockney'. Not in the slightest :)

I do however get the point you're trying to make and there is, depending on a range of factors, a slight difference in diction.
.

Could be worse - you could sound like a Queenslander!

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by Muhler

My impression is that it was covered fairly well and that there was a good deal of general interest. Am I off the mark?

The visit made news coverage every morning, midday, afternooon and evening. Also morning chatshows and article pieces in the main papers.

This visit attracted a lot of press and a good deal of interest by all accounts.

Could be worse - you could sound like a Queenslander!

.lol...cheeky

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Lady Rosie

Certainly William and The Queen
attract crowds but we don't seem to identify with them as "one
of us". I remember when M & F toured in 2005 ( i think) at the
same period as Charles, the Danes attracted far
bigger crowds..

I remember this too! The PoW went to Australia in the time
leading up to his wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles, and he found
himself eclipsed by Frederik and Mary!
I remember that the UK Guardian newspaper did a piece on the
clash, musing over the idea of renaming the particular part of OZ New South Denmark!
IMO it was bad timing on of part of St. James' Palace, or wherever
the Pow's court is. It's should be a nobrainer that a local girl
turned princess would attract attention on her first official visit
to her native country. Apparently the British forgot to think so in
their planning!

Originally Posted by Lady Rosie

We certainly love the royal family here and it is part of our DNA. But Mary seems to make it more real for us and we are very happy for the wonderful union of M & F and family.

Thanks Lady Rosie, also to the other Australian members! It's interesting to read what the reception has actually been like in Australia. Parts of the Danish press are sometimes reporting DRF events in a rosy light - well, sometimes too rosy for my taste. I like my royal family but I never thought that they would attract crowds like William and Kate and Charles & Diana in their days.

viv

[American Dane]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

The visit made news coverage every morning, midday, afternooon and evening. Also morning chatshows and article pieces in the main papers.

This visit attracted a lot of press and a good deal of interest by all accounts.

Plus there was actual attention paid to the Danish products and services that Mary and Frederik were supporting (besides the comments on fashion, etc.)

I'd like to say a huge thank you to my fellow Australians who kept me abreast of Frederik and Mary's events when I couldn't go myself Thanks!

[Fanvanmaxima]

Today is a private day? Or is Frederik already in Vietnam?

[Muhler]

Billed-Bladet - Video: Kronprinsparret tager afsked med Australien

According to this video diary from Billed Bladet Christian and Bella has arrived in Australia with their nanny.
In the next issue there will be a long interview with M&F. (You need not watch the video).

Thanks, Madame Royale That means there has been considerably more coverage, and more comprehensive coverage than I thought.

[CrownPrincessJava]

Princess on her way home Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania

Only part they have wrong is that Frederick isn't in Australia.

[ashelen]

Newscom - Multimedia for Websites and Publishers


didn'tthis person gotto close to her her hand on her hair!!!wow!!!!!!

[Daria_S]

Originally Posted by dazzling

Picture gallery
Mary strålede til velgørenhedsfest for voldsramte børn | www.b.dk

Thank you so much for the pictures and the video. I love looking at images of Mary with children. She's so natural with them; there's no hint of any awkwardness. I bet she's a wonderful, and hands-on Mom to her own four little ones.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by ashelen

Newscom - Multimedia for Websites and ,
didn'tthis person gotto close to her her hand on her hair!!!wow!!!!!!

This woman positively grabbed Mary by the head...

[Madame Royale]

Mary was spied shopping today on Chapel Street, South Yarra. It's largely considered Melbourne's executive fashion and food strip with it's designer label boutiques and pricey bistro's.

Children's clothing stores and several boutiques are said to have caught the eye of Denmark's Crown Princess.

[Daria_S]

Originally Posted by ashelen

Newscom - Multimedia for Websites and Publishers


didn'tthis person gotto close to her her hand on her hair!!!wow!!!!!!

That's positively intrusive . I guess some people will never know the meaning of 'personal space'.