What is your opinion of Frederik and Mary

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Aurora810

Sorry, forgive my ignorance. But I'm not understanding this phrase. What does it mean exactly? Does it mean she would be good at small talk but that she would be very respectful and not ask too many personal questions. I'm confused, sorry!

In a way yes, Mary, I think would be charming and nice but never let the conversation get too embarassing or personal.

However, that is not only what my grandmother meant, when she said this she was referring to a person who was very observant of others and generally didn't physically come to close to your space or give you any reason to be startled by what they did. They didn't yell unexpectedly or make quick big movements while sitting beside you. Its hard to explain.

Some people come right up at you almost in your face; others hang back a bit. Mary appears that she hangs back a bit and that can be very welcome and needed sometimes.

[Aurora810]

Originally Posted by ysbel

In a way yes, Mary, I think would be charming and nice but never let the conversation get too embarassing or personal.

However, that is not only what my grandmother meant, when she said this she was referring to a person who was very observant of others and generally didn't physically come to close to your space or give you any reason to be startled by what they did. They didn't yell unexpectedly or make quick big movements while sitting beside you. Its hard to explain.

Some people come right up at you almost in your face; others hang back a bit. Mary appears that she hangs back a bit and that can be very welcome and needed sometimes.

Alright, thanks ysbel. So I guess I was on the right track with what I thought. And I agree with your assessment of Mary in this regard.

[tabbitha]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

I can't see Christian being terribly affected by the photograph in years to come.

I can't either - if he is upset then he has REAL issues . I somehow think being KING will be of a greater worry than cake on your face- bless him.... let him have fun now....

[msleiman]

I don't think that Christian will be affected by the photo! As far as I know most children at one year old have the same photo. I have one of myself ,with my first birthday cake. All three of my children have the same type of photo. Mary is doing the same a MOST mothers, she is just being called out for it. There is nothing wrong with it!!!!

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by msleiman

I don't think that Christian will be affected by the photo! As far as I know most children at one year old have the same photo. I have one of myself ,with my first birthday cake. All three of my children have the same type of photo. Mary is doing the same a MOST mothers, she is just being called out for it. There is nothing wrong with it!!!!

Yes but do most mothers prominently display these silly photos at their work where their boss, their boss' boss, colleagues, and clients can see? I havent' seen this many pictures like this at work where colleagues prominently post pictures of their children. Its always the nice outfit taken by a photographer at the department store or maybe a picture of the kids on a beach on vacation but I haven't seen too many silly pictures of kids at work. In a conservative professional situation, I think parents want to show off their children in their best light. Privately among friends, parents may want to show the silly face of their child but not in a professional environment.

When royals publish photos, its part of their professional work and profile. How many government photo releases from a head of state have included a picture of a child with birthday cake smeared over his face? Its seems too undignified for a department of the government.

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Yes but do most mothers prominently display these silly photos at their work where their boss, their boss' boss, colleagues, and clients can see? I havent' seen this many pictures like this at work where colleagues prominently post pictures of their children. Its always the nice outfit taken by a photographer at the department store or maybe a picture of the kids on a beach on vacation but I haven't seen too many silly pictures of kids at work. In a conservative professional situation, I think parents want to show off their children in their best light.

Well, years ago I worked at IBM here ind Denmark - and I had a picture of my then 3 year old daughter who on a hot summer's day had discarded all her clothes and thrown herself on a couple of pillows out in the garden, her hair a total mess, wearing her new sunglasses, a toy water pistol and a big grin. It was - is - a gorgeous picture and I received so many compliments for it - because it just oozed happiness. And that was the way I liked to show off my daughter.
I think it is inherently difficult to make silly pictures of children - but then again I don't really care much for 'posed' pictures of children, I must admit.

[Lizy]

Originally Posted by ysbel

When royals publish photos, its part of their professional work and profile. How many government photo releases from a head of state have included a picture of a child with birthday cake smeared over his face? Its seems too undignified for a department of the government.

Mary can't win! She's accused of being formal, icy, regal etc and then gets criticised when photos, showing fun and enjoyment are released.I really don't think that the photos are undignified. They provide a snapshot into their family life and show that prince Christian is a typical, messy, little toddler.
I also wasn't aware that the royal family were a government department.

[Aurora810]

My 2 cents about the cake issue

Sometimes when I look at this family I see obviously the very "regal/royal" side and other times I see the "silly, lets allow our child to be a child" side. That being said I think(but I don't know for sure) that the Queen is more traditional and likes things that way, likes things more "regal". But yet we have 2 thirty-something parents one of which was a commoner and probably sees things differently and the other that was raised royal but that doesn't want to see his child raised too incredibly "royal" and in too strict of a manner. I think Fred and Mary have a little bit of a fun side to them and a more easygoing/light approach when it comes to their kid(soon kids).

That being said I think that there are times when Fred and Mary see it as important to show that they and Christian are typical. That despite being royals they still do things in a similar way that others do things. But at the same time they both understand that there is a high standard in an RF and therefore they also are able to showcase a more "dignified" (for lack of a better word) way of showing Christian. An example of that would be his daycare appearance, that was not silly Christian. He looked so grown up to me like a little mini-man.

I certainly see both sides of this cake issue. But all I'm saying is that Fred and Mary I think want us(the public) to see them as not so strict and regal all the time. I think they want a little bit of a balance between the 2 sides. Unfortunately there is no way for them to please everyone. So will be attracted to the balance of the 2 sides and others want their royals to always display a higher standard. Just my opinion.

[ldt20]

Aurora810, I agree with what you are saying and would like to add my two cents to the "Fred-is-lazy-doesn't-work-as-much-as-Mary" topic.

I think people forget that Frederick one day will become King. While many of his duties are to go out and be present in official engagements, etc. he also has other duties that for example Mary will never have. While Queen Margrethe has been recovering from her surgeries, Frederick has been the one taking many of her duties which in many occassion are not photographed, so we can't see Frederick performing them.

Originally Posted by Aurora810

Really you think Fred slows down Mary's pace? I'm not sure I understand what you are saying, Princess Olga.

I think that in recent months I would even go so far as to say for most of their marriage. Mary has been working a lot and not always alongside Fred. She does a lot on her own. And I'll admit I have at times been upset with Fred and considered him lazy but then a few weeks ago I thought about things differently. Denmark knows Fred. They've watched him grow up and they've even had plenty of years to watch him as an adult crown prince without a wife. Now however, he has a wife and they need Mary to get to know Denmark as well as Denmark needs to get to know her. So I have been thinking in recent months and when she does things alone and without Fred it is an intentional thing to help showcase Mary to the Danish people. So since I thought of that aspect I have lightened up on Fred not working so much. However, in the months and year or so ahead I think we may see her step back just a little but I'm not sure. I think she is a workerbee and can balance the kids, being a wife, and being a Princess of Denmark.

[Smilla]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Yes but do most mothers prominently display these silly photos at their work where their boss, their boss' boss, colleagues, and clients can see? I havent' seen this many pictures like this at work where colleagues prominently post pictures of their children. Its always the nice outfit taken by a photographer at the department store or maybe a picture of the kids on a beach on vacation but I haven't seen too many silly pictures of kids at work. In a conservative professional situation, I think parents want to show off their children in their best light. Privately among friends, parents may want to show the silly face of their child but not in a professional environment.

When royals publish photos, its part of their professional work and profile. How many government photo releases from a head of state have included a picture of a child with birthday cake smeared over his face? Its seems too undignified for a department of the government.

Oh, isn't it hypocritical to pretend that one's child must be a little angel, well-dressed and immaculate at all times, just because one has a diginfied position to live up to? Can a picture of a child with a chocolate-y face really hurt you in a "conservative professional situation"? Will your boss be naive enough to judge your performance based on that picture of your child doing what children often - and normally - do (getting chocolate in their faces)? Hopefully not!
Why not show Christian doing "real-life" stuff? Nobody will think the worse of the DRF for that, I hope!

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by Aurora810

My 2 cents about the cake issue

Sometimes when I look at this family I see obviously the very "regal/royal" side and other times I see the "silly, lets allow our child to be a child" side. That being said I think(but I don't know for sure) that the Queen is more traditional and likes things that way, likes things more "regal". But yet we have 2 thirty-something parents one of which was a commoner and probably sees things differently and the other that was raised royal but that doesn't want to see his child raised too incredibly "royal" and in too strict of a manner. I think Fred and Mary have a little bit of a fun side to them and a more easygoing/light approach when it comes to their kid(soon kids).

That being said I think that there are times when Fred and Mary see it as important to show that they and Christian are typical. That despite being royals they still do things in a similar way that others do things. But at the same time they both understand that there is a high standard in an RF and therefore they also are able to showcase a more "dignified" (for lack of a better word) way of showing Christian. An example of that would be his daycare appearance, that was not silly Christian. He looked so grown up to me like a little mini-man.

I certainly see both sides of this cake issue. But all I'm saying is that Fred and Mary I think want us(the public) to see them as not so strict and regal all the time. I think they want a little bit of a balance between the 2 sides. Unfortunately there is no way for them to please everyone. So will be attracted to the balance of the 2 sides and others want their royals to always display a higher standard. Just my opinion.

But there is not that much difference with other royal parents, like the Oranges or the Asturias, isn't it? Maybe the one House (the Oranges) do the presentation, registration and baptism with some more traditional decorum, but in essence also they want to give their children a youth as normal as possible.

[Mandy]

This thread was created to give members an opportunity to present their views and opinions of CP Frederik and CP Mary and to keep these discussions out of the current events threads, however, it has now gone completely off track... the entire DRF is being discussed ... some members are challenged because of their nationality... just to name a few off-topic discussions.

As a result, this thread is now closed, but it doesn't mean that these topics can now find their way into the current events threads. All off-topic posts in the current events threads will be subject to deletion.

Danish Forum Moderators