Princess Caroline's two-week humanitarian field trip to Africa - 2007

[maya35]

Here are a few pics from Polfoto:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...81_POLFOTO.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...51_POLFOTO.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...21_POLFOTO.jpg

It does say Andrea, not Pierre. Clearly, I'm not the only one who finds hard to tell them apart:)

[iloveroyals]

I remember how there was talk about beatification for Princess Grace and even Princess Diana, shortly after they died. Well, Princess Caroline doesn't have anything to envy her two illustrious predecessors in charity work. Another member and I were discussing when we were born : she, eleven months later than Caroline, sharing the same year of birth, I, four years and one month earlier. It is as if we were talking about BC and AC. While Caroline influenced our adolescence in more frivolous ways, it is now influencing our middle-age in more significant matters, but no matter what, the Princess remains a model. How can someone maintain her influence for so long ? It is not a vacuous infatuation with a princess, obviously. It would have disappeared long ago, as we shaped our own lives according to our own set of circumstances. Sometimes, I feel like wearing a bracelet, fashioned after the bracelet some Christians like to wear in the United States, saying, WWPCD ? Meaning : What Would Princess Caroline Do ? (the Christian bracelet has WWJD? What Would Jesus Do?) I don't mean to be blasphemous of course, but if a book was published with "What would Jackie do" or was it Audrey (Hepburn), I feel entitled to name my own contemporary role model ... How about you ?

[debby]

Am I the only one that finds it odd that Ernst is off globe trotting and partying whilst Caroline is undertaking such an important mission? It just seems that he supports her only when it involves having a good time, but not when it involves human suffering and hard work. Caroline appears to have celebrated the first half century of her life by re-dedicating herself to making the world a better place for the less fortunate.

[paca]

Originally Posted by debby

Am I the only one that finds it odd that Ernst is off globe trotting and partying whilst Caroline is undertaking such an important mission? It just seems that he supports her only when it involves having a good time, but not when it involves human suffering and hard work. Caroline appears to have celebrated the first half century of her life by re-dedicating herself to making the world a better place for the less fortunate.

Actually rumour has it that the marriage is not quite so happy at present. Maybe Caro does the same as her mum: when Grace got older and unhappy in her marriage she ended up getting more involved in charity work. I guess a lot of women once the children are getting out of the house, are feeling unhappy and look for new challenges ad it usually is some kind of associative or charity work. Men seem to be less affected by it, since they are (used to) be less in the upbringing of the children. For them the difficulties often start with retirement, but since Ernst does not seem to have a job in the common sense of the word, he probably doesn't feel the need for change.

[iloveroyals]

It may be that he considered it her cause and he doesn't want to be in her shadow. I think it's OK for Ernst not to participate if he doesn't share her commitment. He is himself, we can't blame him for also having a life of his own, even if it is not conform to her loftier values. Besides, he attends almost all formal functions and I am not sure he sees it as "a good time". And perhaps Caroline told him to stay away and not distract her from her work. Many professionals do that and leave space for each other to do what they is important to each.

[brother]

Originally Posted by iloveroyals

It may be that he considered it her cause and he doesn't want to be in her shadow. I think it's OK for Ernst not to participate if he doesn't share her commitment. He is himself, we can't blame him for also having a life of his own, even if it is not conform to her loftier values. Besides, he attends almost all formal functions and I am not sure he sees it as "a good time". And perhaps Caroline told him to stay away and not distract her from her work. Many professionals do that and leave space for each other to do what they is important to each.

Or they just needed a brake from eachother.

Originally Posted by paca

Actually at a very young age she founded Jeune j'ecoute, a telephone support line for teenagers in distress, which is still operating today and I believe the approriate work for an adolescent to start with. (Better than a trip to Fidji with reporters in the suitcase and vitamins for pregnant women...) Sorry if anyone already mentioned it, but I'm just catching up with this thread.

I agree, and so far the trip was mediatized without abusing the image of those disadvantaged children. I hope we won't see pages and pages of pics with her holding those kids but a summary of the trip and its results. i hope PR won't transform her charitable work in a publicity stunt and make the covers of tabloids.

[darasmom]

Thank you Princess Caroline for giving us words and images of hope.

[iloveroyals]

Here are some pictures from Hola and Jours de France, 1979, Monaco Walk for the Children, UNSECO Year of the children, and UNESCO conference 1979, previous humanitarian work of P. Caroline[IMG]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...NESCO78or7.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...UNESCO1979.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...ithMission.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...9Walkforch.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...030/scanP2.jpg

[lea]

Originally Posted by iloveroyals

Here are some pictures from Hola and Jours de France, 1979, Monaco Walk for the Children, UNSECO Year of the children, and UNESCO conference 1979, previous humanitarian work of P. Caroline[IMG]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...NESCO78or7.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...UNESCO1979.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...ithMission.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...9Walkforch.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...030/scanP2.jpg

thanks very much for these great pictures!! It's obvious that this is work that Princess Caroline enjoys and has been involved with for a long time. She looks as happy here as Princess Stephanie does when she is involved in charity work and not "official" appearances that don't have a real purpose.

[Veroka]

Originally Posted by iloveroyals

Here are some pictures from Hola and Jours de France, 1979, Monaco Walk for the Children, UNSECO Year of the children, and UNESCO conference 1979, previous humanitarian work of P. Caroline[IMG]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...NESCO78or7.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...UNESCO1979.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...ithMission.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...9Walkforch.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5...030/scanP2.jpg

Wow, Those are nice pictures. Princess Caroline has always been a kind person who worries about people who are in need, imo. That's really nice

[fandesacs2003]

I hope that it is not true, and that her marriage is happy. Caroline had so many tragedies in her life, that she disserves happiness.

On the other side, Ernst is always with her, so we should not find so many strange if JUST ONE time not with her.

[Tosca]

Thanks for sharing those scans Iloveroyals, and Paca for the infos.
Probably mags here were more focused on her partying rather than on her charity work.

[maryellen1539]

Did Charlene join Princess Caroline on this trip?

[anag]

Originally Posted by maryellen1539

Did Charlene join Princess Caroline on this trip?

I don't see why she would... why would she accompany Caroline anywhere?

Ani

[Doña Alicia]

Originally Posted by maryellen1539

Did Charlene join Princess Caroline on this trip?

Apparently the recent Point de Vue has pictures of them together during this trip. The one thing I hate about living in such a small town is that none of the newstands sell foreign magazines. If anyone has picture please scan and post. I wouldn't mind checking them out. Thanks in advance.

[maya35]

An article from Hola!
CAROLINA VIAJA A ÁFRICA PARA SALVAR A MILES DE NIÑOS

[iloveroyals]

Lea, you're welcome. Maya, thanks for the article from Hola!. They chose beautiful pictures, but then again, I didn't see any bad ones in all the ones posted. (Thanks everyone !) They both seem so genuinely happy and at ease with each other. As the saying goes in French, "deux grands esprits se rencontrent", "two great spirits (or souls, here) meet", or the kindredness of two great spirits.

[Zonk]

Please note that this thread is about Caroline's trip to Africa....not the state of her marriage to Ernst. Please stay on topic.

[Ianna]

What a great end of humanitarian field trip..meeting with Nelson Mandela!

Thank you all for links and photos, they're priceless! Iloveroyals, thanks for sharing those scans, too!

[iloveroyals]

I think it's so outlandish, it's actually funny ! What people will invent to put some semi-malevolent twist on things ! I think that when we aren't sure about people's motivations, one only needs to look at whether there is a pattern, consistency and whether there is risk or sacrifice involved to decide if it is sincere or not. But even if she was checking out Charlene's country (while doing good work) so what ? It doesn't make her a bad or insincere or machiavellian person as that article seems to imply !