What is your opinion of Frederik and Mary

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Lena

And if we look at this thread (or the threads on Royal Blue or the CPEMB) then we all have to agree, that Mary is an extremely polarising Royal. People either dislike her or like her. There´s not much in between. At least not on the boards and in the press. I though guess the ordinary ppl in Denmark don´t care half as much as we do. They have gotten their wedding and the baby and will move on.

I disagree with this. I think that people's opinion on Mary vary across a spectrum. There are some people that really like her, some that dislike her, and others in between. One only has to look at this thread and see the plethora of opinions about Mary.

[Margrethe II]

Originally Posted by Lena

But the fashion things stood out, because she wanted it. As I´ve said I dunno, how this all will develop, but if you ask me, it was the worst start one could choose. And if we look at this thread (or the threads on Royal Blue or the CPEMB) then we all have to agree, that Mary is an extremely polarising Royal. People either dislike her or like her. There´s not much in between. At least not on the boards and in the press. I though guess the ordinary ppl in Denmark don´t care half as much as we do. They have gotten their wedding and the baby and will move on.

I disagree with you most strongly on many points made Lena...

And, I dont think so... Fashion stood out because the media wanted it to, not Mary.



"MII" :)

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Margrethe II

And, I dont think so... Fashion stood out because the media wanted it to, not Mary.

"MII" :)

If Lena is referring to "fashion" regarding shoots from Vogue, Dansk..etc Then I agree with her and see her point. Unless, you are assuming that Queen Margrethe dictated that Mary agree to do the fashion shoots.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Larzen

Another possible reason the fashion events get so much attention could be that in 2005 she attend 13-14 official fashion related events and several fashionshows in private as well, how many events did she attend for the heart association??

I don't think that is the reason. In 2005 she attended about 28 non-fashion patronage engagements, that is twice the amount of official fashion engagements she carried out.

My theory is that the magazine interviews and photoshoots that she did at the start of her career as a princess has negatively influenced a few posters perception of her. So much so that whenever they see her they think of "fashion", undermining other work that she has done in various areas.

[Margrethe II]

Originally Posted by Alisa

If Lena is referring to "fashion" regarding shoots from Vogue, Dansk..etc Then I agree with her and see her point. Unless, you are assuming that Queen Margrethe dictated that Mary agree to do the fashion shoots.

Oh no, in regards to fashion shoots for Australian Vogue etc, of course they were meant to be seen, that was their purpose. That is something I agree with...

Unlike many Alisa, making frequent assumptions isn't really my style or something I like to do often if it can be helped. HM the Queen, forcing her daughter in-law to do a fashion shoot? dear 'o' dear.lol.... I believe Margrethe would have supported it, absolutely! I wouldn't be at all surprised if HM the Queen had photo's from the shoots in and around her apartments alongside all other members of her family, but, it's merely a thought that could be credible & nothing more.

"MII"

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by Alisa

My theory is that the magazine interviews and photoshoots that she did at the start of her career as a princess has negatively influenced a few posters perception of her. So much so that whenever they see her they think of "fashion", undermining other work that she has done in various areas.

I think that this is a really good point Alisa.

The fashion shoots have really overshadowed (for some) the other good works and duties Mary has taken on and represented over the course of the last year and a half that have nothing to do with fashion.

On one level, we rarely see (reigning) princesses splashed across glossy fashion magazines with images specifically taken for the publication (as opposed to fashion magazines using paparazzi images or images taken at events) or giving interviews as Mary did for Vogue, Dansk, Women's Day, etc. While Mary made some insightful comments about her new role in these publications, the message that most (easily) saw was that she wanted to be a model and liked to dress up in pretty gowns. I'm not saying that this was the right inference to take, but as looks are the thing we notice first, it was the quickest impression to get without delving any further. So Mary's trio or so of photoshoots so closely together gave some people the impression that she liked media attention for herself and was purely about fashion.

Several years into their marriages, we have yet to see many of the other crown princesses posing in such publications (with the exception of the special Vanity Fair issue), so Mary's glossy photospreads were a novelty of sorts for royal watchers.

I think that Mary's choice to make some Danish fashion houses among her patronages is a good one, as many have pointed out that fashion is a big part of Denmark's economy. To pose in Dansk and to speak about Danish fashion surely only contributes to her bringing greater attention to the Danish fashion industry. But I think had the photoshoots been spaced out, say one at the time, then one through the summer during Denmark's fashion week, the Mary is a fashion-maven impression might not be so lasting in the minds of some individuals.

But what can one do? The decision for those interviews and fashion shoots was made. Mary is not the sole one to blame -- others agreed to the decision(s), too. And if some people are hung up on the impression/image that Mary is only about fashion, I don't think that there is much that others who don't believe this can do to change their mind.

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Alexandria

So Mary's trio or so of photoshoots so closely together gave some people the impression that she liked media attention for herself and was purely about fashion.

Hmm, Alexandria, that's an interesting observation. I think one's perception of Mary can depend on when we started watching her.

I wasn't following royalty when Mary first got married. I first learned of her when I decided to catch up on the royals and remembered that Denmark had a fascinating Queen. So I checked out the Danish royal website and found two unusual but striking and very royal looking princesses in Alexandra and Mary.

I couldn't find much press on Mary and Fred in the U.S. - a clip of their wedding, a couple of small articles about their trip to Australia, and that's it. The wedding looked divine.

When I learned about the interview and the photoshoots, they were all in the far past. The interview did seem dumb but Mary wasn't giving interviews or photoshoots by the time I started watching her. I chalked it up to beginners mistakes. Since she obviously wasn't doing them anymore, she must have learned from her mistakes.

I can see why people would take a negative first impression from the photoshoots and interviews; if I had started watching Mary at that time, I may have been equally annoyed. But the impression they left with people wasn't part of the image that I saw of Mary herself when I started watching her and I haven't seen Mary foster that image since. So from the way I see it, that image is solely in the past and as far as I can tell its not part of the present Mary or part of the image that she herself is projecting now.

If I had started watching Mary earlier, my opinion of her might be different but I started watching her when her own activities were rather tame and not so provoking.

[lise]

I personally don't have anything against Frederik and Mary. After reading some of the posts on this thread I believe Mary is a victim of the age old saying "First impressions last".

After reading the opening post on this thread princess olga I don't think you can blame star stuck Aussies on Frederik and Mary winning a few popularity polls in Hello magazine because I'm an Aussie and I personally have never seen an issue of Hello magazine on sale in Australia.

[Lady Bluffton]

Don't get me wrong...girl "next door" marries her prince and they live happily ever after. Gosh, that's what has intrigued me about Mary ever since I first heard of her. Being a beautiful, striking woman doesn't hurt either. However, until the Lilleprinsen was born, I had only seen print photos of her. I watched via internet one of the Danish TV stations' footage of the little royal family leaving the hospital following the birth. Maybe she was under medication (I can only imagine) and trying to teeter totter in her heels (I am impressed by any woman tackling heels a scant three or four days after giving birth), but there was something about her walk that struck me as quite haughty and juvenile. "Look here! Look at me, look at me, ME!"

(Sorry, Mary, if you're reading this, but watch yourself sometime, that's the impression it gives.)

After viewing that footage, my wholehearted enthusiasm about Mary has had the wind taken out of me.

I'm sure she is perfectly delightful, but maybe the position has gone to her head. Psychologically, who wouldn't have the same experience?

[Warren]

Originally Posted by lise

...because I'm an Aussie and I personally have never seen an issue of Hello magazine on sale in Australia.

A bit off topic, but every newsagency that I have seen (Sydney CBD, Inner City and Eastern Suburbs) carries Hello! magazine. Maybe it's different in Adelaide.

[Margrethe II]

Could it also be that those of you who reside in the US are rather limited in regards to what you recieve and what you dont? I mean, it has often been stated that 'the US' doesn't really take an interest in the continental royals and so all that you manage to see is through forums such as these, with the occasional video link here and there...this could also create a view that isn't all that accurate at times...

"MII"

[azile]

Some of the comments in this thread have left me very disappointed.

So Mary is haughty and arrogant because she wore heels to present her son? If she had worn jeans, a sweatshirt and trainers, she would have been accused of being lazy and disrespectful. She can't win either way.

I can't imagine how ANY of today's princesses have any energy or motivation to get up and face the world in the light of such negativism. They are damned if they do and equally damned if they don't. What a frustrating, lonely and isolating existence. I wonder how many of us could survive with comments like those in this thread hurled our way every single day... very few I suspect. What a horrible way to live.

The fact is that NONE of us know Mary. None of us have REALLY met her. None of us can call her our friend. None of us have heard her friends and family speak about the many things they love so much about her. We can only guess, wonder, imagine and speculate her true character and motivation through SMALL glimpses we see in the media. We all know that the media is questionably objective at the BEST of times and that all of Mary's movements are carefully manoevered by a palace PR team whose job it is to spin, spin, spin.

Mary isn't going anywhere. The birth of Lilleprinsen completely solidifies her role. The sooner we all accept this reality, the better.

Like her or don't like her- that's up to you. Let's just stop complaining endlessly about her. Please.

Eliza

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Margrethe II

Could it also be that those of you who reside in the US are rather limited in regards to what you recieve and what you dont?

That's not only possible, MII, its a matter of fact!

But the lack of information can work both ways. Generally when they do report what little they do about Fred and Mary the mainstream news coverage in the U.S. is mostly positive or at worst neutral. So if we go by the mainstream news coverage, we're left asking what is everyone so hot and bothered about. But if we get our initial impressions by what's posted in the forums, our impressions can be quite different.

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Lady Bluffton

but there was something about her walk that struck me as quite haughty and juvenile. "Look here! Look at me, look at me, ME!"

Interesting you say that Lady Bluffton because when I saw the footage, I saw Mary looking at her baby most of the time and smiling. If anything, to me that shouted, Look at HIM, look at HIM, isn't HE adorable? And what first mother wouldn't?

The look between mother and child was so captivating, I could care less how Mary walked when she got out of the hospital.

BTW, I see you're from my home state. :)

[Toledo]

Originally Posted by Margrethe II

Could it also be that those of you who reside in the US are rather limited in regards to what you recieve and what you dont? I mean, it has often been stated that 'the US' doesn't really take an interest in the continental royals and so all that you manage to see is through forums such as these, with the occasional video link here and there...this could also create a view that isn't all that accurate at times...

"MII"

I hardly see any mention of Mary in the USA except in spanish magazines like Vanidades, that caters to the Latin American communities. They seem to have a strong interest in Royals from Europe like Letizia and Mary like in their recent article on Christmas at the Royal Houses. But in general, unless is a scandal related to Monaco's (Princess Grace) kids no one reports on royals.

On the polarization thing, those who don't like her don't need a reason to attack her, they just do. For me, from what I've seen on pictures and messages posted by people who are from the area she lived with her family, she seems to be quite a charming young lady that is doing quite well despite learning as an adult a new language, new customs and adapting to a very busy lifestyle. I like that she is extremely feminine in every pose she makes, from head to toe, and she has a smile that is the best ice breaker anywhere.

[Harmony]

I like Frederik and Mary . They don't bother me. Same with other Princes and Princesses.I may not have interest in them but I don't bother about them and they don't bother me either.

Originally Posted by Larzen
Another possible reason the fashion events get so much attention could be that in 2005 she attend 13-14 official fashion related events and several fashionshows in private as well, how many events did she attend for the heart association??

It can be done.The Heart Association could have that much attention like the Copenhagen International Fashiom Fair if they held exhibitions twice a year running for a few days with scores of programmes daily. I am sure Mary will then attend as many as she could like CIFF.

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by lise

I personally don't have anything against Frederik and Mary. After reading some of the posts on this thread I believe Mary is a victim of the age old saying "First impressions last".

I think that's a good point lise. And is it just me, or has it seemed to be extra difficult for Mary to climb out of that image that has gripped people's minds for so long?

You would think that a year after those photoshoots and interviews -- and a pretty big year at that with successful overseas trips to New York, Japan, Australia, Greeland and a baby who will one day be king -- that image would be erased by now, or in the least a faded memory. But many people still cling to the Mary is a model/Mary is a clotheshorse image.

I wonder what it would take to change people's mind that she cares about clothes to the length that most people do: She wants to look good/professional when she goes about her royal duties. Or even if you add that she is interested in fashion and the latest trends but not consumed by it, would that erase the Mary/fashion link?