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

[American Dane]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

I echo your sentiments Tarlita. Muhler's contributions have added much to these forums, particularly the Danish threads in which I take much interest in reading.

I'm with Tarlita and Madame Royale, your translations are gems Muhler! I particularly love the trivia bits you include. Thanks/Tak!

[CrownPrincessJava]

"Impression: “We met Cherie Tsingas, age 42, and mother of three, who is so wild about Mary that she flew all the way from Sydney to Melbourne in the hope of meeting the Crown Princess. And she was lucky. When stood, ready with the camera, Mary walked straight up to her shook her hand. Afterwards Cherie stuttered that it was – the greatest day of my life”. (***)"
To our Danish friends - the flight from Sydney to Melbourne is about 1 hour. That made me laugh!

The reason why Mary and family are being left alone was that the Tasmanian government introduced a new law tightening police protection for dignitaries. ALL journalists, either international or local, must adhere to it, or they will be convicted.

Here's an example: Princess Mary's media pack warned about privacy laws | Herald Sun

[Muhler]

You are velcome all of you. It was my pleasure

I'm glad Mary's privacy (not to mention her family) is so well protected by law.

[Muhler]

Translation of the personal impressions of the photographer Hanne Juul.
In Billed Bladet #48, 2011.

Six days of travelling Australia with the CP-couple for full speed is now over and ahead awaits cold and storm in Denmark. It’s nice that I no longer each morning has to put almost ten kilos of photo-equipment, which is necessary in order to be able all the time to get the best pictures from all angles. I’ll also be great to get some food again – never before have I devoured so much Nupo-powder at the sink in my hotel room!
Most often we didn’t even have an hour in the room after finishing the day’s schedule, before having to go in order to be ready for the evening schedule. And that little break was used to recharge batteries, load pictures into the computer and dress for a little better clothing, so there wasn’t time for food.
But as always it’s been a great pleasure to travel with the CP-couple. Rarely have I laughed as much as these days surrounded by sweet colleagues from the Foreign Ministry in Denmark and local people from the official Australia.
I took a little more than 10.000 photos during the visit, many pictures of an extremely high-spirited Crown Princess, who always had surplus for a smile and a chat with everyone she met.
There have been obvious opportunities with possibilities for many good pictures, but there have also been surprises. Because when you, as an experienced photographer on royal trips, see an item on the agenda that is about opening an exhibition, you know well that there will hardly be any exciting pictures. But I was happily surprised when Mary, during the tour of the exhibition, merrily jumped on a bike and in stilettos and tight skirt created enough energy to blend a smoothie… that became the best shots of the day!
On the other hand I thought that the visit at the cancer hospital, where Mary was to meet a patient (whom we could photograph) would provide good pictures. We drove for almost an hour out there and (we) stood long and waited in front of the cancer stricken, but now cured, woman whom Mary was to meet. When the Crown Princess went to meet the woman, there was a man who stepped in between her and us… so we didn’t get one single picture! That happens.
I sit back with a lot of images on the retina, impressions, experiences of taste and scents – but most of all with an extremely satisfied sense of being Danish in a country, where you are so well received, wherever you go… and it’s not because of neither Utzon or H.C. Andersen.
No… Mary… they all know who she is.

Caption: https://picasaweb.google.com/1008659...30543047724114

In Canberra the weather was no hindrance for good pictures. During a visit to an area afflicted by forest fires, the onlookers had been standing for several hours in pouring rain in order to greet the CP-couple, who were to plant a tree. Beneath an umbrella and I high stilettos Mary walked along all the onlookers, while Frederik guided her around the worst lumps of dirt. It was a great sight to see all the happy faces under the umbrellas, and I actually found the entire scene quite touching.

Caption: https://picasaweb.google.com/1008659...30545330788962

The day where we were to visit a windmill park with the Crown Prince will not be remembered for the best photos. We were flown out in four private planes, 40 minutes from Melbourne and (then) driven far out in the countryside in a but in order to get to the windmill park. Unfortunately there hadn’t been time to put wing on one single mill at all; so it all mostly resembled some chimneys… do I have to say that it rained?

[marfre]

Thanks Muhler.
It was great to see how both the journalist and the photographer viewed the tour. By all accounts it was a very hectic visit as well as a very successful one.

So pleased that Mary has managed a few days of privacy, lets hope the same applies to the next week or so once Frederik arrives back (if he is not already).

[Muhler]

And we have the latest on Mary from an Australian paper: Mary catches up with local pals | Herald Sun
In short: the entire family is now together.
While Frederik was in Vietnam, Mary was in Melbourne with some friends and she has been shopping.

Originally Posted by marfre

Thanks Muhler.
It was great to see how both the journalist and the photographer viewed the tour. By all accounts it was a very hectic visit as well as a very successful one.

So pleased that Mary has managed a few days of privacy, lets hope the same applies to the next week or so once Frederik arrives back (if he is not already).

You are welcome

Indeed. It also give us an idea how hectic it was for M&F. Even though they are prepared from home.
Up in the morning, shower, eat, have a look at the twins.
Prepare for the days events, put on warpaint, in the case of Mary.
Being briefed, told who to meet, what to do, where to go and so on.
Meet people.
Off to the event.
Being on from the second they get out of the car.
Off to next event, being briefed, told who to meet...

At the end of the day, put your feet up for a moment, meet people, have lunch, check on the twins, phone home, refresh your warpaint, being briefed before the events in the evening, told who to meet...
Off again, looking your very best and being on constantly for the next few hours.
Setteling down late at night, after checking on the twins, to catch your breath and process the events of the day, before going to bed. Only to get up early the next day.

[Emmily]

Thanks, Muhler! How long now will they be visiting Mary's family before heading back to Denmark?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Emmily

Thanks, Muhler! How long now will they be visiting Mary's family before heading back to Denmark?

You are welcome.

A couple of weeks or so. They are expected back by mid December.

[JessRulz]

I wonder if Frederik will pop over to Perth on the way back to Copenhagen for the ISAF Sailing Worlds?

Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships

[ashelen]

so overall a trip of 3 weeks, great for them! it is nice to spend some time with family and the 4 kids together, pity we can not see photos! Christian will have to do some catch up with the school but i am sure will not be difficult in the worst escenario he will get a tuttor to catch up! just I think is ashamed Fred can not be there she is alwasys with his family so it would have been nice him with her family!

[FasterB]

CP Frederik will join his wife and children later - in fact he has already joined them.

[Roskilde]

Originally Posted by JessRulz

I wonder if Frederik will pop over to Perth on the way back to Copenhagen for the ISAF Sailing Worlds?

Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships

I don't think so.
I can remember that Frederik, during their trip, was asked by a reporter, whether he should sail or not while they were in Australia. He replied: "No, not this time. It's only family time."


And it is only me who really really is pleased that M+F and the children seem to enjoy a little vacation in peace for papparazi and at the same time really miss seeing them? :)

[Sun Lion]

Hi Everyone - this was almost a year ago of course, but I thought I would share my experience of seeing CP Mary and CP Frederick "in the flesh", as it had elements that I'd not picked up on about royal tours before, from magazine articles, TV reports and the internet. (Plus it was a fab thing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.)

I was lucky to see somewhere on the internet that M/F were to be at the Customs House around lunchtime on the Sunday of their first official day.
I say lucky because the papers were full of them attending "Sculpture by the Sea" and that is where the crowds went. Also lucky because I live within walking distance of Circular Quay, (and even closer to the Govenor General's Sydney residence "Admiralty House" where they stayed the night with the twins.)

"Admiralty House" is a large sandstone mansion with beautiful stained glass windows and shares the grounds with the Prime Minister's Sydney residence "Kiribilli House" which is very pleasant in itself, but which is not on such a grand scale. (Have been in both - one day a year they hold an open day, usually November - big crowds.)

It was one of those Sydney days when a very strong, very warm wind was blowing. It actually turned into bad weather later in the day when M/F made their crossing from the end of Garden Island across to Kiribilli to see the Govenor General and had their photo-call with the twins.

I didn't tell my husband CP Mary was in town and would be just across the Harbour, but we often walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for brunch/lunch in the Rocks, so off we went.

The Rocks area is Sydney's oldest and runs into Circular Quay were Customs House is located. Circular Quay is where all the ferries for the Harbour come and go and where there is an elevated train station and an elevated roadway above that again. It has tons of buskers and is always crowded, especially on a sunny Sunday. Plus this day there was a cruise ship docked so the whole atmosphere was very festive and busy - especially because of how warm it was. (M/F have stayed in the "Shangri La" hotel overlooking all this on earlier trips - before they stayed out at Manly when they had the two older children with them.)




There are normally chairs and tables outside Customs House but these had been moved out of the way, so we sat at an outdoor cafe just across to the side and had lunch. Then I left my husband with his coffee and went across to where the railings had been put up - I didn't want to miss out on a front row view. Needn't have worried though as I think only a few of us knew M/F where due there. (My husband said all the people at the cafe rushed across when M/F pulled up - they too were there to see them. He was left alone amongst all the empty tables.)

Before these diners joined us, a lady came past giving the few people there a Danish flag to wave.

I took a few area/atmosphere photos while I was waiting. The whole of the upper balcony of Customs House was filled with photographers - with their tripods and large lenses - so many.

I got a very good position near the entrance and had a chat with a local lady and a Danish lady who noticed all the Danish flags and came over and asked us what was going on.

We told her M/F were due any minute, and she told us a few things about how popular the Royal Family is in Denmark etc.

When CP Mary walked passed us I stopped taking photos so I could see Mary "for real" - if you know what I mean - and was just starting to take photos again when this lady shouted out in Danish to Mary what she later told us was - "Enjoy your holiday!!!!"

I was so startled I jumped out of my skin and that photo, which would have been a nice close up as Mary smiled right at us - we were a seperate little group of three women - is so blurred as I got such a fright. I don't know if Mary got a fright or not. She might have been suprised to hear Danish - I was suprised at the volume.


[QUOTE=Sun Lion;1476200][QUOTE=Muhler;1339095]
"As far as I can tell, the security detail is all Australian. Except for the airport I couldn't recognice any PET officer around. That's different from the last visit and indeed visits in general."


Right on the dot M/F arrived coming from behind us with many motorcycle outriders, official cars and police cars. Everyone started taking photos - the professionals and us amatuers.

I thought a lot of the security people around the official party were Danish.

(They didn't strike me as Australian. There were a lot of Australians about, but they were in Australian police uniforms etc.) The people around M/F looked like they had done this constantly and were very adept at it.

At one stage, as Mary walked up our side, I was about to get a very nice photo of her when an enormous man in sunnies, scanning the people on our side ahead of her, stepped in front of her. Got a nice shot of him I guess. They were all extremely well dressed - understated, but very "together" in their suits.

Mary got out of the car on the side facing us and eveybody shook hands at the car, then slowly made their way up to us and the entrance.

People called out and cheered of course and I was struck by Mary's composure. (That's why I got so many nice shots I think - very un-rushed walk and lots of waving this side and that.)

If you know the official photos, the lady in the bright blue outfit is Sydney's Lord Mayor. Our Danish companion said the tallish chap in the official group was Copenhagen's Mayor.

I was paying so much attention to Mary I didn't look at Frederick - or indeed anyone else at all in the group as they walked past.

(I'll continue below.)

[Sun Lion]

The party paused for a moment at the entrance. Mary acknowledged the people calling out to her - very relaxed and smiling. By this time the photographers on the balcony could not see them, they were underneath them.

Then they went inside and I went back and collected my husband from the cafe and we crossed the street and went to one of the ice-cream shops on Circular Quay. We took our ice-creams back across to the Customs House area where there are some permanent benches and sat and ate those while watching all the security/escort people milling around.

I went down and took a few photos of all the motorcycles and the official cars.

The sight of these vehicles and the people in uniform, with the railings, and the people with the flags, caught the eye of everyone coming from the ferries and trains. Lots of people asked what was going on. Every time we told some-one it was M/F and that they were just across the way in the Customs House, they were excitied and so the crowds began to build up and up as people decided to wait to see them leave.





I, with hubby now in tow and not compaining - he'd had a coffe and a feed - went back to the entrance area of Customs House, but now on the other side.

We spoke with a very nice Mary fan there - (a member of this forum, I recognise her posts re this day) - while we waited for M/F to re-appear.

All the photographers on the balcony left - no doubt to be in position for M/F's arrival at Garden Island. This meant they missed the photos we amatuers got of the massive build up of people underneath Circular Quay station.

It was not that crowded along the path where we were, but was very jostling and packed on the other side of the cars as people realised what was going on and didn't want to miss out on seeing the Royal couple.

The official party came out and walked down towards the cars on the other side from us, stopping to shake people's hands.

I missed being a part of this by now being on the other side, but it ended up being good as people moved off as M/F walked on down towards their transport. This meant I was able to follow down on my side and get some more good photos. (The people on the side M/F were facing didn't leave as much.)

I got some good photos of M/F greeting and shaking the hands of the crowd under the train station. People were also crowded around the windows above looking out at the action as they waited for their train.



M/F were in no rush, and spent quite a bit of time with the crowds and with the officials before getting into the cars.

I was able to get some nice photos pretty close up as I'd climbed onto a concrete block above the people in front of me, and M/F lingered so long.

And I know I'll sound a bit up myself, but Mary smiled and waved directly to me as she got in her car.

I'm not sure if she recognised me from earlier in the day when I was standing alone with the two other ladies - and saw again my bright blue top or if she thought I was Danish from the lady in that trio singing out to her in Danish.

Anyway, I was swept up in it all and of course smiled and waved back and enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

(Below I'll post a few more details and then the silly thing I did.)


A few details -

1)While we were waiting outside with our ice-creams many, many very well dressed people arrived at short intervals and were escorted inside. Even Pauline Hanson for the Aussies on this forum.

(I read later that Pauline was involved in the "Starry Starry Night" Gala at the end of the tour, so I guess this was a chance for M/F to meet/greet/thank various people behind the scenes - people from the Australian Danish community perhaps. Lots of people went in and a lot of young people, and as people went in, those who had arrived ahead of them came out.)

2)I've read criticism of Mary's outfit on this occassion, but believe me when she stepped out of that car I thought she was so smart as that wind was so warm and so strong and she had her hair tied back off her face and looked so cool and appropriate for the conditions. (I myself had dressed as lightly as possible, but I was wilting and she looked so "right" in that clothing.)

3)I knew that after Garden Island M/F were going to "Admiratly House" and I thought, they won't go by car - I could have walked around and seen them go in - they will go by water. But what did I do, I was home by the time they were leaving Garden Island and I could have looked out my window and seen them board and come across before going around the corner to the landing there, but I was so engrossed in looking at my photos that I forgot to look up. Oh well, I don't think I can top my Mary experience as it was, and I'm not expecting to get the chance to be that close again. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I really had my eyes opened to the professionalism and "otherness" of being royal. The whole atmosphere/attitude of those involved - as opposed to those of us watching - was really impressive.

Cheers, Sun Lion.

[polyesco]

thank you Sun Lion for the first hand accounts
it always nice to read

[Sun Lion]

Thanks for the flowers polyesco.

If I can figure out how to show a photo I'll put some up of Mary "lost" in the crowds underneath Circular Quay station. (Something not caught by the official photographers who had left by that time.)

Cheers, Sun Lion.

[Muhler]

A wonderful account Sunny Lion and very well written.

Are you writing for a living?
Please keep posting.

Are you considering doing some Mary spotting here in DK at some point?
Another member got a surprise recently when they encountered Mary going for a morning run not far from Amalienborg.

[Sun Lion]

Originally Posted by Muhler

"A wonderful account Sunny Lion and very well written.

Are you writing for a living?
Please keep posting.

Are you considering doing some Mary spotting here in DK at some point?
Another member got a surprise recently when they encountered Mary going for a morning run not far from Amalienborg."

Thank you for the flowers Muhler. Not writing for a living, but enjoyed writing about a happy experience and enjoyed sharing it.

I'm home recovering from a broken ankle, and that is why I've had the time to post my Mary experiences - was busy being a worker bee at the time Mary and Frederick actually visited last year, and had to keep going on the hamster wheel. Quieter life at the moment.

Would love to keep posting, but probably don't have any more stories until Mary comes back down our way. I think you must be the one in the hot seat for all the latest on Mary, being on each other's door-steps.

Would love to visit Denmark - it looks very beautiful on Google Maps. (I'm always on that checking out different places.)

Until recently my only knowledge of your country was the Danny Kaye "Hans Christian Anderson" movie and a Disney ballet movie set there, and The Little Mermaid statue of course, and a few years ago a doco about the cute gardening houses people have - so not a lot.

Nice to know Mary is free to get out and about and do normal things and not be hemmed in. Hope Ziggy was getting a workout too.

Cheers for now, I'll post again when I have something to add to the discussion, or a question to ask. Sun Lion.

P.S. - did you manage to locate Mary's sister's place? Hope so.