Henri M.
Royal Highness
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2004
- Messages
- 1,896
- City
- Eindhoven / Maastricht
- Country
- Netherlands
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.