Willem-Alexander & Máxima Visit Australia & New Zealand; Oct. 23rd-Nov. 4th, 2006

[jobo]

Here is the link to news report on emergency landing.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3847194a11,00.html

[PrincessDianafan]

That was rather rude of Willem Alexander. I think he's taken a page from the Prince Charles book of diplomacy.

[carlota]

i'm also quite shocked about what alexander said. it's however true that although it was a state visit, their time in between the visit to australia and the visit to new zeland was private. but i totally agree that he could have been politer. it costs nothing to say 'very well, thanks'.

i doubt however that anything was paid by the new zeland government while those days though.

[carlota]

i just have a question: what makes you think that the local taxpayers were paying for the leisure days of the prince and princess? as far as i know, and as far as everyone will understand, there's no reason for the local taxpayers to pay for their trip. so officially, we need to assume that the trip was paid by them, unless in their hotel they decided to give them the free nights because of being who they are, or something like this.

the new zeland government only pays for the trip of the princes when they are performing royal duties (that is, when attending a conference or going to an exposition - the government pays for the reception, drinks, flowers, and so on... that may be necessary). during their leisure time, there's none of these, so there's noone to pay for them. if they want to go somewhere, they pay for it, and i'm pretty sure this is what has been done.

[Australian]

Originally Posted by carlota

i just have a question: what makes you think that the local taxpayers were paying for the leisure days of the prince and princess? as far as i know, and as far as everyone will understand, there's no reason for the local taxpayers to pay for their trip. so officially, we need to assume that the trip was paid by them, unless in their hotel they decided to give them the free nights because of being who they are, or something like this.

the new zeland government only pays for the trip of the princes when they are performing royal duties (that is, when attending a conference or going to an exposition - the government pays for the reception, drinks, flowers, and so on... that may be necessary). during their leisure time, there's none of these, so there's noone to pay for them. if they want to go somewhere, they pay for it, and i'm pretty sure this is what has been done.

Quite possibly, however, the article posted about the snub said that it was paid by local taxpayers. Maybe the taxpayers do pay for their leisure time as well, given that it was an invitation by the NZ and Aus governemtns for the Dutch couple to visit. It's possible that the govt covers their entire trip.

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by carlota

i'm also quite shocked about what alexander said. it's however true that although it was a state visit, their time in between the visit to australia and the visit to new zeland was private. but i totally agree that he could have been politer. it costs nothing to say 'very well, thanks'.

Not a state visit, an official visit if you will permit me to say so, carlota

State visits are undertaken between Heads of State.

I agree and thought it seemed out of character that Willem snapped the way he did. As you noted, it may have well been a private part of their tour, but there's not much to reciprocating with tact and a simple 'very good, thank you'.

[Marengo]

I really dislike the attitude the PoO has towards the media. He behaves like a spoilt child & always seems to regard them as 'the enemy'. I wish he would have a more relaxed & mature attitude in the future, though I do not expect him to change his attitude.

He doesn't get this distaste from a stranger though, his mother once commented that 'lies rule' in the Dutch press. They also try to keep away the camera from things which are tfilmed in other countries, like the wedding reception of the crownprince etc.

Queen Juliana bluntly refused to pose for photographers during a statevisit in Yougoslavia 'they didn't deserve that' was her comment (they were to intruisive during her visit to a local market, she thought), to which her press secretary replied 'don't be so difficult, woman!' (which was captured on video & is rather funny). And during one of her last public appearances, while attending a movie premiere with her grandson Willem-Alexander, Juliana entered the theater while she was covering her face with her purse.

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I really dislike the attitude the PoO has towards the media. He behaves like a spoilt child & always seems to regard them as 'the enemy'. I wish he would have a more relaxed & mature attitude in the future, though I do not expect him to change his attitude.

He doesn't get this distaste from a stranger though, his mother once commented that 'lies rule' in the Dutch press. They also try to keep away the camera from things which are tfilmed in other countries, like the wedding reception of the crownprince etc.

Queen Juliana bluntly refused to pose for photographers during a statevisit in Yougoslavia 'they didn't deserve that' was her comment (they were to intruisive during her visit to a local market, she thought), to which her press secretary replied 'don't be so difficult, woman!' (which was captured on video & is rather funny). And during one of her last public appearances, while attending a movie premiere with her grandson Willem-Alexander, Juliana entered the theater while she was covering her face with her purse.

I wasn't aware of any of this, Marengo. I have only ever seen Willem in a positive light and have never witnessed any PR misgivings until now. I was thinking perhaps it was just an 'off day' for the Prince.

I have always thought the Dutch royals had a 'relatively good' relationship with their media but this is not the case ?

[Tartucat]

01.11.2006 There are new photos of the royal couple on the 2nd day in New Zealand at following website:
http://www.ppe-agency.com/
Maxima is wearing a pink top (her favourite colour?) and white pants. It's a shame that it is not possible to post pics directly to this forum

[azile]

Well, you always have the option of purchasing copyright and posting the photos wherever you want!

Let's not reduce discussion to the photo posting rules- we all know why they are necessary. Let's make the most of this necessity and instead continue with the royal tour!

Azile

[Her_Majesty]

Oh this one is so cute:Máxima meeting a little Orange-Fan
http://www.ppe-agency.com/preview.ph...-2006%20Nelson (PPE)

[JessRulz]

In this article:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3846280a11,00.html

It says that their three-day visit to the resort (where the PoO snapped at the media) was not part of the tax-payer funded tour.
There is also a picture of them leaving the hotel, and according to the report, Maxima had her hair styled by the hotel hairstylist. Hopefully the stringy left-down hair will be done for the rest of the tour!

Quite rude of the PoO to say something like that, IMO. When you are in another country, it is common curtesy to be polite to the hosts, which are the citizens of the country.

[elenaris]

I LOVE HER DRESS

Originally Posted by mandyy

Photos from the gala from PPE
http://ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=31-10-2006%20Gala

[dazzling]

Loved Maximas pink top. Her casuall wear seem to be quit nice. Her evening dress worn to the galadiner at the Government House in New Zealand was cute though im not too sure about the yellowish color at the bottom. She has been looking very radiant lately.

About WA's attitude/response to the radio man, i thought that was a rude attitude from a royal. Wont say more, could have a thread probably about it if it goes on, which wont be very intresting.

Btw, did they take their two daughters along?

[Skydragon]

Dutch royals in plane emergency landing

The heir to the Dutch throne and his pregnant wife were forced to make an emergency landing after passengers smelt smoke in New Zealand.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/061101/2/11988.html

[monica]

Wondeful Princess Maxima !!!! thanks for the pins

[Zonk]

Maxima looks great. Without a doubt it was rude of Alexander...but I can appreciate it somewhat...you work hard..and you think you are going to have a off day and you are being harassed by the press.

Of course...it was much easier to say No thank you or just give a smile.

In response to the comment that Maxima should have said something...who says she didn't say anything to him when they were in their rooms. And why should Maxima be responsible for her husbands behavior. She isn't his mother...he is a grown man and thus responsible for his actions.

[Xandra]

PoO should have been glad people waited around to see them and ask questions....I think some other princely pairs (e.g.Charles and Camilla) usually hav a hard time generating interest in them :-o Once, a little girl gave Charlie flowers and ran away in terror as he tried to say something to her, poor fellow.

[juliana]

Originally Posted by Zonk

Maxima looks great. Without a doubt it was rude of Alexander...but I can appreciate it somewhat...you work hard..and you think you are going to have a off day and you are being harassed by the press.

Of course...it was much easier to say No thank you or just give a smile.

.

But was not his response to a local radio reporter asking him if he had enjoyed his already taken 3 day private vacation time in New Zealand ?
It was not a polite response by anyone's standards. There is no defence of that sort of uncivility and as a royal he should take an example of the reigning monarchs to see how sensible they are.

[Australian]

Does anyone think maybe he purposely snapped in order to generate publicity? I mean, they havent had much mainstream news coverage have they? I havent seen them on any television news programs (maybe i missed it, i don't know, maybe they make it on the news in the Eastern States, but not here in the West maybe) When the King and Queen of Sweden came, they got television new coverage etc.