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  #121  
Old 02-07-2008, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras View Post
How much more time does she need in order for her to say "Hi" and "Thank you" "I'm pleased to be here." It took me less than a day to learn three sentences. I'm sure Marie has private tutors and practices several hours a day, several days a week. She was recently filmed leaving the Hardwerk baptism, and several photographers were speaking to Joachim in Danish; he responded in Danish, of course. Not Marie. It was in French.

Sorry to be so hard on her, but she has had plenty of time to immerse herself into the Danish culture and language... even if it is a simple word such as "Hello."
Given the difficulty and complexity of Danish pronunciation - as well as how her future father-in-law is still being somewhat criticized for his lack of Danish pronunciation, not to mention her future sister-in-law for hers, I can well understand the desire to avoid speaking in it on public occasions until she masters it. And no, it is not simply a matter of just knowing the three terms you mentioned to succeed, even though they might be easy. Actually saying them correct can be difficult. On public occasions, small talk is expected, and can complicated.

Danish pronunciation is all about getting rødgrød med fløde right, skipping letters in the middle of words (honestly, it took me a couple of weeks to learn that it was Ama'r and not Amager) and "mumbling" words. Lesson to Marie - the most important Danish words you'll ever need - nå ("really", used as a filler when people talk) and hvad? (what). Those'll practically run a conversation, and you won't have to know much at all

Of course, it probably doesn't help her learning Danish that French is Joachim's second language and that they started out communicating in it (as Frederik and Mary communicated in English). QMII pointed out in interviews that her husband's Danish troubles in the beginning could be attributed partly to her, because she knew French, and it was much easier to speak French between them. I sincerely hope that Marie and Joachim will learn from his parents who have been almost in the same situation.
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  #122  
Old 02-07-2008, 10:50 PM
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And no, it is not simply a matter of just knowing the three terms you mentioned to succeed, even though they might be easy. Actually saying them correct can be difficult. On public occasions, small talk is expected, and can complicated.
Well, that's obvious. The point is, she should have said something, anything, in Danish when spoken to by someone who happens to be speaking to her in Danish. It's like here in L.A., if you go East L.A. or Downtown where the language is prodominently Spanish (or Spanglish) and someone speaks to one in Spanish or Spanglish it would be wise of one to respond in, you guess it, Spanish or Spanglish.

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Of course, it probably doesn't help her learning Danish that French is Joachim's second language and that they started out communicating in it (as Frederik and Mary communicated in English). QMII pointed out in interviews that her husband's Danish troubles in the beginning could be attributed partly to her, because she knew French, and it was much easier to speak French between them. I sincerely hope that Marie and Joachim will learn from his parents who have been almost in the same situation.
Something tells me that isn't happening at the moment. And if my gut is correct, she'll fail in the end. Joachim isn't helping her by speaking French (if that's the case), and as you noted Margrethe made that mistake as well as the CPC.

Yes, I am hard on those when it comes to languages, but it is my firm belief that if you are in a foreign country, one should speak the langauage, or at least attempt to, even if one messes up the pronunciation, at least one tried instead of being completely and utterly lazy. Or if you live in the US, where we don't have an official language, one should know at least Spanglish... at least here in L.A. one should know it.


Meanwhile, HELLO! magazine has posted some images of Marie and Joachim at the Handwerk baptism party later that evening. Marie is wearing, of all things, a catsuit.

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Last edited by GlitteringTiaras; 02-07-2008 at 11:27 PM.. Reason: to add a photo link.
  #123  
Old 02-08-2008, 08:19 AM
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Not very fun of the outfit!!!Neither the one she use in the day or this one that she use during the night event.
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  #124  
Old 02-08-2008, 08:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras View Post
The point is, she should have said something, anything, in Danish when spoken to by someone who happens to be speaking to her in Danish.

Yes, I am hard on those when it comes to languages, but it is my firm belief that if you are in a foreign country, one should speak the langauage, or at least attempt to, even if one messes up the pronunciation, at least one tried instead of being completely and utterly lazy.
I completely agree with you GT. In my personal opinion it's respectless and not a good start for a princess who needs to win over the hearts of the danish public. The fact that the family communicates a lot in french or that Henrik hasn't got it right either should not be a point, in contrast, it's rather embarrassing.

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Meanwhile, HELLO! magazine has posted some images of Marie and Joachim at the Handwerk baptism party later that evening. Marie is wearing, of all things, a catsuit.
Sorry but this looks a bit like daddy (very conservative) escorting his daughter to her first girl's night out. They are quite an odd couple, I wonder how it will work out.

Last edited by Elspeth; 02-14-2008 at 06:09 PM.. Reason: Fix quote tags
  #125  
Old 02-08-2008, 09:42 AM
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I'm not sure what I think about Marie. I'm in two minds, but we'll give her a chance (not like I have a right not to) and in say a year from now, shall have hopefully established a better idea of who she is or what she's about.

Looking forward to the wedding though (only for the pictures, I won't lie.lol.)
  #126  
Old 02-08-2008, 10:26 AM
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I have to totally agree with many of you, if she is going to be a Danish princess, she is going to have to speak the native language. I also agree that trying is much better than speaking in another language, at least that shows some initiative. I too am anxious to see how these two work out. I still think it is wierd how much she resembles Mary, for goodness sake, they could be sisters, that in itself is creepy. And Joachim seems so reserved next to her. I guess we'll just have to see.
  #127  
Old 02-08-2008, 10:42 AM
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I have tried very hard not to judge Marie until till after the wedding, when she begins her official royal life, but I’m not sure I am succeeding. I just always remember her being so open and talkative with the press, I found something very off-putting about that. I am hopeful, however, that once she begins her royal life and begins working for her new country I will find her as charming as the other European princess. Although I really hope that she is not constantly compared to Mary. I absolutely hated it when Mary was endlessly compared to Alexandra after her wedding, they are two very different women, as are Mary and Marie, it is so unfair to pit them against each other but I’m sure that won’t stop it from happening.
  #128  
Old 02-08-2008, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Amelia View Post
I have tried very hard not to judge Marie until till after the wedding, when she begins her official royal life, but I’m not sure I am succeeding. I just always remember her being so open and talkative with the press, I found something very off-putting about that. I am hopeful, however, that once she begins her royal life and begins working for her new country I will find her as charming as the other European princess. Although I really hope that she is not constantly compared to Mary. I absolutely hated it when Mary was endlessly compared to Alexandra after her wedding, they are two very different women, as are Mary and Marie, it is so unfair to pit them against each other but I’m sure that won’t stop it from happening.
You are right. That won´t stop happening, especially when they have so similar appearance and their birthdays are so close. However, I agree completely that Marie and Mary are two completely persons. Just see how differently they behave during the pre-wedding days.
  #129  
Old 02-08-2008, 12:34 PM
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Their physical appearance is obvious and they are both Danish princess so they have to be compared and they will be compared always, I don't think that is bad beeing in mind that they are two individual women of course!
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  #130  
Old 02-09-2008, 02:50 AM
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I just always remember her being so open and talkative with the press, I found something very off-putting about that.


I thought her to be a fool, myself. How indiscreat she was. First impressions really determine how you perceive someone and I, myself, am trying to view Marie in a more understanding light though I'm not sure if that will hold out. I hope it does and I hope she proves me wrong, but if she doesn't then I won't be much surprised.



  #131  
Old 02-09-2008, 03:32 AM
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Perhaps she had too much coffee and thus it made her a Chatty Cathy.

On a serious note, please don't get me wrong, I do like Marie. She is good for Joachim, and ever since they have been together he has never looked better... he's always smiling, looks proud to be with her, and so forth.

I'm sure once she steps into her role as HRH Princess Marie of Denmark she'll be fine. However, I do hope she actually does something with her time... one or two patronages is fine as long as she does something to earn her keep.
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  #132  
Old 02-09-2008, 05:59 AM
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Or if you live in the US, where we don't have an official language, one should know at least Spanglish... at least here in L.A. one should know it.

I agree that if she is to become a member of Danish Royal Family and live in Denmark, she should certainly learn the language and make some effort to show that she's learning it. Likewise, if a spanish speaking person moves to the US to live and work here, they should make an effort to learn the English language. It may not be the "official" language, but it's been the common language for the duration of this country's existance.
  #133  
Old 02-09-2008, 12:26 PM
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Ladies, I get the impression you take all this much to serious. Marie will be the second wife of the second son of the queen, that's all. I personally liked how she appeared so demure and not ambitious in their engagement interview - her predecessor Alexandra has been very popular and possessed a very public profile, so Marie and Joachim knew that she would be compared to Alexandra if she did not appear to be a completely other personality.

As it is, it seems Joachim asked her to marry him and she said yes because she loves him, but she feels his position obviously as daunting, otherwise she would not have ended the relationship after her first mishaps with the media. Well, she decided to give it a try and IMHO it's a good idea to start out as housewife at Schakenbourg - there are possibilities to do all kind of volonteer work in that corner of Denmark if she needs time and opportunity to find what it is she likes to do. Plus I believe she will accompany Joachim on his trade promotion tours. All in all she will start out living a life she has been well trained for in her education as she was raised like a girl from the French upper class. I'm looking forward to that and as long as Joachim is happy I have no problem with a "private" princess.
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  #134  
Old 02-09-2008, 02:28 PM
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No, it's not that serious on a whole, we're just having a fun yet simple discussion.

However, I am serious when discussing her language skills... second wife, second son of a monarch or not.
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  #135  
Old 02-12-2008, 07:57 AM
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From HOLA: EL PRÍNCIPE JOAQUÍN Y SU PROMETIDA, MARIE CAVALLIER, SE QUITAN EL ESTRÉS PRE-NUPCIAL EN LA NIEVE

They say that Joachim and Marie are holidaying in the Swiss Alps with Felix and Nikolai.
They are staying in a property that belongs to Marie's mother and step-father in Villars-sur-Ollon (the same place they went last winter).
  #136  
Old 02-12-2008, 10:17 AM
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article and pics from hellomagazine

Royal lovebirds Joachim and Marie on ski break with his boys
  #137  
Old 02-12-2008, 10:26 AM
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very nice photos thanks for the link- joachim looks so happy and so do the boys, it's lovely to see, i'm looking forward to the wedding.
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Old 02-12-2008, 10:35 AM
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