What is your opinion of Frederik and Mary

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by mandyy

Double Victory for Denmark's Darling in our Royal Vote
... The Danish couple doesn't need to dress up to win public favour, though, as the results of two hellomagazine.com polls prove that they, along with their new baby boy, are among Europe's most popular royals.............
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty...ryandfrederik/

Photo from HELLO magazine

You know what I seriously don't understand about that? How come they are so, so very popular?! Is it because all the star-struck Aussie readers of Hello are voting as if their lives depended on it?

Seriously, when I think about what I know about Frederik as a person, it really is not much.

1. Is he smart? Dunno. The one interview with him I read had only one interesting thing to say, which was that he as a child felt distant from his parents. But that was it. Not someone with an interesting vision, imho.

2. Is he good looking? Mwah. He's ok looking but certainly not better looking than the other princes in the poll, Haakon and Felipe of Spain.

3. Mary.
Is she prettier, smarter, nicer or otherwise more special than, say, Letizia of Spain or Maxima of the Netherlands? What are Mary's redeeming qualities? She's not artistic and eccentric like Margarethe, she's not of the exotic beauty of her ex sister in law. Heck, she doesn't even work as hard (ok, not yet) as Alexandra.

I know liking someone (especially having only the media as a source) is in the eye of the beholder, but come on, what on the planet is just so special about this prettyfied girl-next-door over an obivously smart girl like Letizia, or an obviously gregarious and social girl like Maxima?

Why oh why, is really my question, is Mary so lionized? I'm mystified... I take it I must have some perhaps obvious blind spot when it comes to this, in my view, average-on-all-fronts couple.

The only reason I see for liking her is, weirdly, her father: he seems to be a down to earth kind of guy, a bit no nonsense. Maybe she is like him and is down to earth and that's what people like about her?

[regardez]

i think they just have more publicity than the other royals you mentioned. I knew about Mary before I became interested in royalty, but had never heard of the other ones.

But this is a chicken and egg question. Are they more popular because they have more publicity? Or do they have more publicity because they are more popular? I think people really like the cinderella type stories.

I was drawn to it because of the cross-atlantic relationship and the fact that she had to move to a totally different country and learn a new language for love. And has done a really good job for her new country.

[GlitteringTiaras]

I think the answer is obvious. Those who voted on the online poll as to who is the most popular royal (or whatever the question was) was due to many Danish supporters who voted over and over again and over again. Frankly, it's no big deal to me. I don't dislike the couple nor do I find exciting or amazing. My feeling is pretty much in the middle.

In the States, the Danish couple is pretty much non-exsistant unlike the British royal family.

So to sum up, well there really isn't much to sum up.:) Sorry to say.


Also, I think the reason why some are attracted to the couple is due to the brilliant PR work on both sides (Danmark and Australia). Here we have two semi-good looking people who met at the biggest competition event in the world. They met by chance and began a long distance relationship. The girl gives up everything to follow her heart. Her new country accepts her and soon they are married. Add a dash of fairytale spice and VIOLA! a reporter has a great story. The press did an excellant job of selling the story to it's readers, and let's be honest, most people love a good romance story. There's nothing wrong with it until people become bored with it. Then the knives come out. Let's hope this never happens. Not because some want to see this fairytale happiness end, but because mainly the immediate two will end up hurt.

Let's hope the PR fairytale overdrive will fade and let the Danish couple grow naturally, happy or not. They are after all two people in an extraordinary situation. Let them be. Let them live their lives together as normally they can. That's what I would want to read and wish for the couple. Don't you?

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

I think the answer is obvious. Those who voted on the online poll as to who is the most popular royal (or whatever the question was) was due to many Danish supporters who voted over and over again and over again. ..

Yes, but let's face it, there are way way less Danish folks than there are Aussies (never mind other Common Wealth folk) who read Hello, I't think?!

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

Frankly, it's no big deal to me. I don't dislike the couple nor do I find exciting or amazing. My feeling is pretty much in the middle.

Well, so the PR didn't work on you evidently.
Neither did it on me, as I'm with you on this: I fail to see the wow-factor of this couple. Unlike Felipe of Spain, ambitious and accomplished Letizia, intelligent and --seemingly-- kind Maxima, or even the controversial Mette Marit, what I see when I see Mary and Fred is, sorry, an unremarkable, even mediocre (bar Mary's sometimes arrogant-seeming, chin-up-up-up attitude) couple..
Sorry I don't mean to offend any Danes here. I love the excellent queen Margarethe, I'm a huge fan of Alexandra, and even Joachim seems to have an intelligent head on his shoulders, and he does something interesting with his life: farming!

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

So to sum up, well there really isn't much to sum up.:) Sorry to say.


Also, I think the reason why some are attracted to the couple is due to the brilliant PR work on both sides (Danmark and Australia). Here we have two semi-good looking people who met at the biggest competition event in the world. They met by chance and began a long distance relationship. The girl gives up everything to follow her heart. Her new country accepts her and soon they are married. Add a dash of fairytale spice and VIOLA! a reporter has a great story. The press did an excellant job of selling the story to it's readers, and let's be honest, most people love a good romance story.

Sure thing, but when it comes to long distance romances and fairy tales, Maxima and Alexander also qualify. But you're right and evidently, we have PR to thank for the to me remarkable results of this poll..

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

Let's hope the PR fairytale overdrive will fade and let the Danish couple grow naturally, happy or not. They are after all two people in an extraordinary situation. Let them be. Let them live their lives together as normally they can. That's what I would want to read and wish for the couple. Don't you?

yes I hope the PR machine will let them be, so we won't have to stare at Mary's chin as much as we do now!

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by regardez

i think they just have more publicity than the other royals you mentioned. I knew about Mary before I became interested in royalty, but had never heard of the other ones.

But this is a chicken and egg question. Are they more popular because they have more publicity? Or do they have more publicity because they are more popular? I think people really like the cinderella type stories.

I'm with you but all the same, I was wondering about their winning that poll because it showed they are more popular evidently than even Felipe of Spain, which seemed at least interesting..I mean, after all, no matter what we might think of them, Felipe and Letizia aren't exactly ugly people, and the cinderella story would apply to Letizia as well, non?! Or even to Maxima. That's my confusion..why are Fred n Mary so much more popular? I think you're right and it probably has to do with the exposure and PR in the press. Because again, compared to Felipe and Letizia, and even Alexander and Maxima, the Danish crown-princely couple seems very UNaccomplished, imo.

Originally Posted by regardez

I was drawn to it because of the cross-atlantic relationship and the fact that she had to move to a totally different country and learn a new language for love. ..

Fair. but again, that counts for Maxima as well, perhaps even more so..she was from an "emerging market" sort of country, whereas Mary came from a first world economy and went to live in another.

[paca]

Originally Posted by princess olga

I'm with you but all the same, I was wondering about their winning that poll because it showed they are more popular evidently than even Felipe of Spain, which seemed at least interesting..I mean, after all, no matter what we might think of them, Felipe and Letizia aren't exactly ugly people, and the cinderella story would apply to Letizia as well, non?! Or even to Maxima. That's my confusion..why are Fred n Mary so much more popular? I think you're right and it probably has to do with the exposure and PR in the press. Because again, compared to Felipe and Letizia, and even Alexander and Maxima, the Danish crown-princely couple seems very UNaccomplished, imo.


Fair. but again, that counts for Maxima as well, perhaps even more so..she was from an "emerging market" sort of country, whereas Mary came from a first world economy and went to live in another.

I think the fact that felipe and Letizia weren't voted, is 1. de to the fact that a lot of people lost interest in him once he got married, 2. the Danish wedding was very emotional (lots of tears and warm words) whereas the Spanish weeding was a bit stiff and more quiet, which was due to the circumstances and also the Spanish protocol is much stiffer then the Danish. Also their countries are very different, thus their role is different. Spain is politically not as settled as Denmark, it has been troubled by terrorist attacks from Eta and al Qaida, so really a totally different background that requiers a different type of royalty. ANd maybe they are just more serious by character. Letizia was a news presenter, being confronted every day with all the bad news that happened around her. So a glamourous fashionloving princess wouldn't go down very well. She needs to tread much more carefully then Mary.

And btw I don't think that popularity is the important thing. Important is what they finally achieve and stand for and what they will be measured by in the long run.

[paca]

Originally Posted by regardez

i think they just have more publicity than the other royals you mentioned. I knew about Mary before I became interested in royalty, but had never heard of the other ones.

But this is a chicken and egg question. Are they more popular because they have more publicity? Or do they have more publicity because they are more popular? I think people really like the cinderella type stories.

I was drawn to it because of the cross-atlantic relationship and the fact that she had to move to a totally different country and learn a new language for love. And has done a really good job for her new country.

But the same is true for Maxima, isn't it?

[RoyalEnquirer]

I like Frederik & Mary very much. They seem to be genuinely in love and take their responsiblities as Crown Prince and Crown Princess seriously. Fred and Mary have been married what, 1 1/2 years? I think they both have adjusted to marriage well, but are still in the adjustment period, especially with a newborn in their life now. As for Mary seeming cold, I think that we all paste on a fake smile for the camera every once in a while. Why should she have to be any different? Celebrities do it ALL the time. One more thing, it definitely helps that Mary is from Australia for the Hello poll. She is well loved by her native Australia and also by Denmark, and we all know that Frederik is Denmark's beloved Queen Margrethe's son, the Crown Prince.

[Little_star]

"Little_star

You have had it confirmed to your satisfaction I'm sure, but more than likely not to anyone elses.:) Does your family know her???
Probably not.

Jaques D."

My cousin has attended events where Mary has been present 9 times now and spoken to her on 5 of those occasions. Each time she has come away more and more disappointed, which is a great shame considering how excited she was by the marriage.

Do you know Mary?

[carlota]

Originally Posted by Little_star

My cousin has attended events where Mary has been present 9 times now and spoken to her on 5 of those occasions. Each time she has come away more and more disappointed, which is a great shame considering how excited she was by the marriage.

thanks for your contribution, little star. can you tell us why she got dissapointed? does your cousin live in denmark or she got to see her somewhere else?
i must admit i was one of the other people who got surprised about the fred-mary mania and always wanted to know what was so captivating about them for their fans... :)

[Liva]

Originally Posted by Little_star

"Little_star


My cousin has attended events where Mary has been present 9 times now and spoken to her on 5 of those occasions. Each time she has come away more and more disappointed, which is a great shame considering how excited she was by the marriage.

I do not doubt that your cousin has met her, but as you said yourself, she met her at events. She may not have talked to her for long. I live in a town in denmark where we had a terrible accident(dont know if that is the right word) in one of the suburbs of my town in november 2004, where a factory that produced fireworks exploded with 3000 tons of gunpowder and a lot of families lost their homes. Well, Frederik and Mary came to visit some of these families, a gesture very much apreciated. I did not lose my home, but I have lived in the area and some of my friends did lose their homes. Their view of Frederik and Mary was just the opposite. They were very touched by their sencerity and their ability to talk to these people. It´s not easy. What does one say to people who have just lost their homes, but they did a very good job according to my friends, and were very open and friendly. And this was not a big media event. It happened behind closed doors. There are few pictures of them coming and leaving the place, but the meeting was held in private. Just to give an example of a different view/situation.

Originally Posted by little_star

Do you know Mary?

I dont think any of us know Mary or any other royal member of any royal family. I do not, your cousin does not and my friends do not.

[Gloriana]

I dunno, I personally think the Spanish wedding was just as touching as the Danish one. I always thought Felipe and Letizia looked very much in love, with those little looks they kept sending each other, the little forehead-kisses, etc. Just as sweet as Fred and Mary, only more subtle.

[bbb]

"And btw I don't think that popularity is the important thing. Important is what they finally achieve and stand for and what they will be measured by in the long run."

Well said paca!!!! Bravo

I love Fred and Mary, because of them i found this forum, and i love it here.

[Little_star]

"Just as sweet as Fred and Mary, only more subtle."

Agreed, Frederick and Mary remind me of the Beckhams with their over the top displays of affection and love.

[paca]

Originally Posted by Little_star

"Just as sweet as Fred and Mary, only more subtle."

Agreed, Frederick and Mary remind me of the Beckhams with their over the top displays of affection and love.

Give it a couple of ears and that will all slow down like in every other relationship. The only problem they will encounter then is, that people will immediately jump to the conclusion that they are on the verge of divorce. as much as the press loves to print the kissing pics, the more they will jump on them as soon as they don't show their affection publicly. It is a double edged knife. Let's hope they can deal with it.

If you show it less, it will take people longer to notice that things change and if you really have a problem you have the chance to sort things out before evryone else talks about it.

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by Little_star

"Just as sweet as Fred and Mary, only more subtle."

Agreed, Frederick and Mary remind me of the Beckhams with their over the top displays of affection and love.

'Over the top displays of affection and love' Over the top - on somebody's wedding day?? I'm pleased to say that I don't understand that reasoning.

[Liva]

I must admit I dont see it either. They do look very much in love, but most of their gestures are loving looks at each other and a few kisses at their weddingday and one time during their summer tour around denmark. Other than that, they do not kiss a lot in public, at least not what I have seen. I like this cute couple very much and I think their "display" of emotions are just right. Not too much and not too little.:)

[Ethel]

They are popular simply because they are the perfect Crown Prince Couple...

There are no divorces, parents not attending the wedding, previous children, scandals, skeletons in their closet, in their background. Sorry, but that's the truth...

They are a royal couple that IMO look the way a royal Crown Prince Couple should look like. They are both gorgeous, not boring at all, stylish, they are loved in their country, they are involved in charity work, they work hard to promote their country, they are also discreet and have this mistery around them which makes them even more appealing.

I like them very much, they seem like very down to earth people and very much in love. A perfect fairytale.

[Liva]

I agree with you Ethel on your views on the couple:) Dont know if the poll is totally fair if people can vote more than once, but that does not change my views on this couple. They are just lovely

[Princejohnny25]

People are too quick to fall into the fairytale motif of this relationship. I like them both. Letizia has a stiff upper lip but that is because she is a journalist. She is keen to know things, understand things, but is trained to seem unaffected by things. When your on air you have to seem nuetral and Letizia is still like that. That doesnt meen she is cold.