Frederik went sailing while Willem-Alexander had a birthday party

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

It wasn't a state matter so it's really not that important IMO, though a shame if F and M did turn down an invitation when they had nothing better to do.

I don't understand the argument that they had nothing better to do It is many many months since it was first mentioned that the Farr 40 World Championship would have some of its races in Copenhagen harbour - and that Frederik and several others had worked hard to attract the competition to Denmark; so how on earth was he to know that his Dutch colleague would celebrate his 40th birthday 3 or 4 months after his actual birthday? I would consider it a greater snub to the organisation in Denmark behind the competition if he just said 'sorry guys; I know we have all have been working our *** out to secure this competition, but this birthday invite just came up....".
The condition for participating in this event is that each yacht must be driven by its amateur owner/helmsman. So a decision to go to Holland instead would affect others than himself - notably the crew of 9 or 10 other people.

In this link - Farr 40 Worlds - Home - from September 2006 - it says at the bottom of the article that "The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is in its ninth year and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Copenhagen, Denmark in the summer of 2007".

So what is so wrong with honouring an obligation that is at least one year old??

[lise]

Originally Posted by UserDane

So what is so wrong with honouring an obligation that is at least one year old??

Nothing, I think it would have been offensive to the ogranisers of the Farr 40 World Championship if he didn't compete.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

It depends if an invitation was snubbed in my opinion. If Frederick and Mary were invited, turned it down and the only reason was a jaunt in a boat then it's a snub to Willem and Maxima but it isn't a snub to the Dutch as it's hardly a contradiction of foreign policy or government spat. It's more like a family falling out if there is any falling out and I dont think attendance at a birthday party provides a measuring stick for suitability as monarch and just as CP Victoria can be held up as dutiful for going, she could also be criticised for jetting to every party there is. It wasn't a state matter so it's really not that important IMO, though a shame if F and M did turn down an invitation when they had nothing better to do.

Participation in the World Championships in Farr40 is a "jaunt in a boat" now? Frederik was instrumental in bringing these championships to Copenhagen, is an honorary member of the yacht club that was hosting the event, and has a boat that was participating. To say "I'm not participating because I have to attend a birthday party, which was postponed in the first place because the wife of the birthday boy gave birth..." wouldn't have shown much team-spirit to his team-mates.

If he hadn't been competing, but sailed for leisure, I would have understood the critique. But as it is... not really.

King Harald misses his own wife's birthday most years because of the way it is situated in the middle of the competitive sailing season - but few here on these boards are in an uproar about that.

[Henri M.]

Ach... let us hope to see The Crown Prince and -Princess of Norway in the Netherlands when the Prince of Orange will assume the kingship. I look forward to see the Danish couple attending the festivities and the Enthronement ceremony.

In January Queen Beatrix will celebrate her 70th birthday. It is not known yet if something special will be organized. But in such a case I expect Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik to attend, for several reasons of course.

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

I look forward to see the Danish couple attending the festivities and the Enthronement ceremony.

Are you comparing a Enthronement ceremony to a private birthday party?...

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by Regina

Are you comparing a Enthronement ceremony to a private birthday party?...

No. But the Enthronement Ceremony is just half an hour. Around this there usually is a whole week(end) of activities including banquets, balls and whatever.

Should Crown Prince Frederik cancel a regatta to attend a 'superficial' ball in the Royal Palace Amsterdam for an Enthronement Ceremony a few days later? If we start to think this way, we better quit the whole thing.

The same can be said about the Corps Diplomatique visiting Queen Margrethe II or President Cavaco Silva (Portugal), to bring their best wishes for the New Year. Shall we quit the whole nonsens? Haven't those ambassadors better things to do? Can't they send a greeting card to the royal or presidential palace? Isn't that far more economical than to put on a frock and stand in the queue?

That is exactly the same way of thinking. Still these sort of events are valued moments of interaction and networking. There is nothing wrong when a person who is, like Frederik, one of the very handful hereditary successors left in today's world and celebrating his crown year (40th birthday) on a special way, to attend this. Even it is purely en courteoisie.

[biboquinhas]

Sailling for him is a very important thing, just like a job, he is competing, not pleasure and if he had this schedule for a long time (this races are all schedule from the beginning of the season) I don't think we should critizice him for not beeing present at this private birthday party, lets hope now that Willem-Alexander don't get angry with them!! Lets hope that!

[stellad]

I did not refer to Prince William twiddling his thumbs but Fred. Be that as it may, quite a few of you put it so rightly Fred played a huge part in getting the sailing championship in Denmark way before Prince William's birthday so there was no way he would not participate. I'm sure that Prince William would be understanding of that.

Stellad

[HMTLove23]

Maybe Frederik had it planned to be sailing at the same time as the party.

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by HMTLove23

Maybe Frederik had it planned to be sailing at the same time as the party.

The logic in that is...?

As UserDane has already mentioned...

In this link - Farr 40 Worlds - Home - from September 2006 - it says at the bottom of the article that "The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is in its ninth year and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Copenhagen, Denmark in the summer of 2007".

It might also show a light how important some royal houses are considered all depending on whether they were invited or not.

That is a rather naive basis as to whether foreign royals were invited or not. If adhering to that "ideology", then Denmark being the oldest monarchy in continental Europe would have most certainly been in attendance.

[Aurora810]

I really think that all royal houses reigning and non-reigning had people that were invited that seems like the only fair thing to do. But I'm just guessing. I don't think that one can read anything into certain royals attending and certain ones not attending. That's just my opinion. Maybe people that didn't show were just busy, after all royal or not we all have pretty busy lives.

[princess olga]

Here's my 2 cents on this one.

At first glance, my thoughts were: wel geez, this guy is CP which means a big part of his job is schmoozing with other CPs and what does he do? He goes sailing!

Well, I adjusted my opinion on this one because as others have pointed out: this is not just some sailing event.

Rather, Frederik personally did a lot of 'corporate development' in ensuring the event taking place in Copenhagen. That means it's completely logical that he attended the event. He is after all as it seems, <the> person responsible for bringing the event to his country!

Plus, the other thing of course is that he would likely have attended Alex's b-day party if it had taken place at the original date. The fact the date had to be changed was beyond the control of Frederik, who already had a prior commitment - and stuck to it.

I'm not arguing CPs should push corporate events or anything, but in this case, the guy stuck with the commitment he'd made as the main organizer/champion of a big event. So I can certainly understand his sticking to that commitment in this case.

[Aurora810]

If Willem's party had been closer to his actual birthday, I still doubt that Fred would have attended. I'm not Danish I don't know how the people would respond to that. But lets remember it wasn't just Ariane that was born during this time frame of when Willem's actual birthday was. Fred's daughter Isabella was born on April 21st. And Felipe's daughter was born on April 29th. Had the party originally been in April it is almost certain both Fred and Felipe would have missed the birthday party.

I don't know but I can't imagine Fred leaving Mary with a 6 day old daughter and Christian to attend a birthday party. Like I said before I'm not Danish but I would think that would draw some criticism had that happened.

However, one thing I'm almost certain of is that if the party had been in April and Fred cancelled due to Isabella's birth, this thread would not exist. Because surely everyone would be understanding to that!

p.s this is only my opinion but I doubt the party was postponed due to only Ariane's birth it could also be likely that these other births played a small part in deciding to postpone the party.

[Drottning]

I don't think that Frederik's and Mary's absence from the party has any sort of hidden meaning to it. He had a previously scheduled event. Plain and simple. I am sure that Willem-Alexander understood. What was Frederik supposed to have done? Cancel his participation in a regatta he was playing a vital role in? And as for Mary not going, obviously supporting her husband was of more importance. Nothing wrong in that! Their will be plenty of more parties for them to go to.

[billie-jo]

i agree that he had too say in denmark.
billie-jo

[Siepie]

I can understand Frederik not attending, I guess. But why wasn't Mary there then? She wasn't on that sailing boat right?

[JessRulz]

Originally Posted by Siepie

I can understand Frederik not attending, I guess. But why wasn't Mary there then? She wasn't on that sailing boat right?

Mary was there watching Frederik sail with Christian and Isabella

[Siepie]

Originally Posted by JessRulz

Mary was there watching Frederik sail with Christian and Isabella

Well, actually I think she wasn't totally unable to skip that. She could have attended the birthday party. I know she breastfeeds Isabella, but she could have taken Isabella with her or leave her at home with a fridge full of bottles with milk. But maybe she thought it wasn't that important to attend and skip watching Frederik sailing for it. Who knows.

[Henri M.]

Anyway. I suspect there are no hard feelings with Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima. Maybe the Danes will spend a weekend wirh the Oranges on the private sail yacht. On on the Friesian lakes or something.

[ricarda]

Originally Posted by Siepie

Well, actually I think she wasn't totally unable to skip that. She could have attended the birthday party. I know she breastfeeds Isabella, but she could have taken Isabella with her or leave her at home with a fridge full of bottles with milk. But maybe she thought it wasn't that important to attend and skip watching Frederik sailing for it. Who knows.

Mary attended the prize-giving ceremony together with Frederik that evening.
Plus, she is breastfeeding Isabella. I don't think it's ok to expose a baby to all that stress for one evening only.
And Mary already attended a royal birthday party without Frederik (the Swedish one last year), she didn't look as if she felt very comfortable all on her own among the royal couples back then. Nobody likes to be the third wheel on the bycicle.
Plus, it made the absence of Frederik even more visible and the result of her single appearance were rumours about marriage problems - in German and Australian media at least.

So, I personally totally understand why she did not attend the birthday party alone and chose to support her husband instead. I would have done the same if I were in her shoes. There will be other birthdayparties, no doubt.