"1015 København K" - Trine Villemann

[Lady Jennifer]

Originally Posted by UserDane

Judging from reviews of this socalled book, it is a mere collection of the type of gossip, exaggerations and free fantasy you'll find in any tabloid, not worth the effort I would say. Better save the trouble of initiating legal action for a real author who has done some real work and then take a stance on the content

I seem to remember the same reaction from people when Kitty Kelley's book came out on the BRF.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Royal Darkness

One "problem" is, that nobody has read the book already. We only know, what newspapers and tv-stations mentioned. And they choose that, what they want to choose (and what is a good headliner)...

An excellent point.

[wiwaxia]

Originally Posted by principessa

I dont believe that writer. She is self calling her an expert and for me she is just a freeloader and don't know anything about the DRF. I think she should apologize for this nonsense and should pay the DRF a compensation.

It is everyones priviledge to believe in what they want! But that said, and with Denmark being a democracy, and freedom of speech being a battle cry in that country, this book also has a valid place - apologies to the DRF!! - no way, and compensation? for what? that suggestion contravenes the very essence of a democracy!

[Royal Darkness]

I have got a question: Is it true that Trine Villemann was a former journalist at "Billed Bladet"? Isn't "Billed Bladet" a pro-royal-newspaper and also a pro-Princess-Mary-newspaper?

[Linda Hsu]

Danish Royal Watches website has another translation of the book review made by Politiken.DK :

Danish Royal Watchers: Danish monarchy & Politiken interview with Trine Villemann

[dazzling]

Originally Posted by Linda Hsu

Danish Royal Watches website has another translation of the book review made by Politiken.DK :

Danish Royal Watchers: Danish monarchy & Politiken interview with Trine Villemann

&

October 15, 2007: Author Trine Villeman joins the show to discuss her controversial book, 'Copenhagen 1015 K', which casts doubts over the marriage of Princess Mary - watch video here


Villeman in the interview calls th DRF disfunctional which is harsh imo she also say that Frederik is attached not only to his ex-girlfriends but also to their families & she says that its hard for Mary to adapt to royal life and that she is surronded by bad advisors. worth a watch imo, she does give a positive remark by saying that Fred & Mary married out of love etc

[ricarda]

She is a freelancer journalist who wrote for both EB and BB.
So obviously she can adapt to different attitudes/viewpoints.
You can also see that in her various interviews:
Australia: Mary is a victim of the DRF (think of all those potential buyers ),
DK: Mary is the wrong woman, the Danish Katja would have been better. All those marriages with foreigners didn't turn out well (think of all those Danish girls who were not married by a prince - and now Joachim will marry another foreigner ! ).
And when she gives an interview to a political paper, then of course suddenly it's all about "discussing the monarchy",
not about unsubstantiated rumours concerning the royals' private lives.

Lena
Trine got all absorbed with her matter and seems quite upset and not like a "cool calculator". She seems to believe, what she preaches...and it doesn´t seem, as if all would be just about getting a financial cushion.

I see a woman who received a lot of criticism - sure she is upset - and is defending herself. If you are attacked, then attack yourself, and son on.....
I too wouldn't say it's all about money, I think she wants to give herself and her little gossip book a significance they don't have.

[dm2]

I would read this book simply because of the reactions so many people are having about it.( I read the Davinci code for the same reason.) You would think Trine slapped their child.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by ricarda

She is a freelancer journalist who wrote for both EB and BB.
So obviously she can adapt to different attitudes/viewpoints.
You can also see that in her various interviews:
Australia: Mary is a victim of the DRF (think of all those potential buyers ),
DK: Mary is the wrong woman, the Danish Katja would have been better. All those marriages with foreigners didn't turn out well (think of all those Danish girls who were not married by a prince - and now Joachim will marry another foreigner ! ).
And when she gives an interview to a political paper, then of course suddenly it's all about "discussing the monarchy",
not about unsubstantiated rumours concerning the royals' private lives.

I see a woman who received a lot of criticism - sure she is upset - and is defending herself. If you are attacked, then attack yourself, and son on.....
I too wouldn't say it's all about money, I think she wants to give herself and her little gossip book a significance they don't have.

I totally agree with you. She is manipulative and self-righteous and the way she talks about how danes have to be enlightend is condescending.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by dm2

I would read this book simply because of the reactions so many people are having about it.( I read the Davinci code for the same reason.)

I've picked up this book at the bookstore today. I'm going on a 16 hours long train ride tomorrow. I considered picking up a bunch of trashy magazines - but this will do, just as well.

It says something when I had to search the bookstore for an hour to to find the only - partially hidden - copy they had. They don't expect this to be a big hit for Christmas presents - it wasn't on display or anything in that manner. (Unlike the big glossy book of Europe's royal houses, translated from German that I picked up in the same go. That one was very prominently placed.)

If I'm going to be debating the contents of it, I want to know what the contents are - and not what the media presents them as.

It was the same way with the biography of Queen Margrethe in which she was misquoted in translations regarding Islam - I picked up the book, and read it before passing judgement. Obviously I don't have the same expectations to a book written without the cooperation of the main subjects, but I'll wait and see.

Lack of named sources was mentioned earlier, though, by leafing through the end of the book, she has mentioned several of the authorized biographies on the royal family as literature used.

It will be interesting to see if I can "wade" through it on my train ride.

[Lady E]

Wow Norwegianne, if you could do us the favor of discussing the books after you read it, I know that I would appreciate it greatly. I am unsure if and when this book would be available for purchase in the U.S. or in English, and sadly admit that my curiosity is piqued... only because it has stirred up such a fuss. I'd like to know what the contents are - and not how the media presents them as you would.

[MissSaga]

I read a translation of a review of the book : It was said to be a big load of crap. All anonoumeous sources and POLITIKEN (some danish newspaper) is doubting whether this Ms. Helleman hasn't made these details and stories up ... Hmm ?

[GlitteringTiaras]

If I'm going to be debating the contents of it, I want to know what the contents are - and not what the media presents them as.

Spot on!

Added to that what the media picks and chooses which content to dispute. Same argument made by those who discredit the author without reading this controversial book.

If anything the Danish media is helping Trine's book garner interest instead of squashing it.

I am a supporter of the DRF, and a person who is interested in reading 1015 Kobenhaven just to see what the uproar is all about.

[Polly]

Originally Posted by Linda Hsu

Danish Royal Watches website has another translation of the book review made by Politiken.DK :

Danish Royal Watchers: Danish monarchy & Politiken interview with Trine Villemann

Thanks for this,Linda.

If I were Alexandra I would seriously consider suing the author if this report is correct. To suggest, as does Villemann, that Alexandra saw Joachim simply as a meal ticket for her and her parents is actionable, in my opinion. If the translation is accurate, it's also somewhat racist in its implications, I believe.

As for her call to the Queen to abdicate, one wonders why? Is age a deterrence to duty? Is the Queen showing signs of dementia? Is she otherwise unwell? Is she so unpopular that it would be in the best interests of the state?

Queen Elizabeth is sometimes beseiged by similar calls for her abdication, too. Such a bloody cheek, I call it. Irrespective of her age, she performs her monarchical duties with dedication and application. I have never heard that the Queen of Denmark does otherwise.

I would like to read this book as from the very little which I've seen translated, this author appears to have read the woeful English muck-raking tabloids and merely transposed the names of the BRF to those of the DRF.

[Aurora810]

I was thinking along the same lines as Polly. According to the portion I read at the DRW site. In one breath the author talks about how unprepared Frederik is to be king. And how he does not really want to be king. But yet the author says she thinks it's time for the Queen to hand things over to Fred. And that this should happen no later then 2012. According to the author she says Fred does not know what to do with his future role but yet she wants him to start his reign. A bit contradicting is it not?

Well, I have only limited access to this entire matter so I shall be cautious not to comment too much. But I am curious to hear from those of you that are planning on reading the book.

Oh and does anyone know about Mary breaking down in tears on the dance floor? That was mentioned on the DRW site but I was a little confused about the whole thing. When did that happen and what is the story there? Or is there a story there?

[Polly]

Originally Posted by Little_star

I know, it's a rather odd argument people trying to make?

As for its truth of the book,I don't see why keeping the sources unnamed automatically means it is all fabrications. Anybody who did contribute to this book, whether they were a current staff member or ex, are hardly going to wish to be named. The would definitely lose their job and probably be the recipient of some sort of legal action.

After all, I've never seen anybody question the truth of the Jean Sasson "Princess" series; could that be because they fit in with people's prejudices about the Saudis? Quite probably......

I think that this last point of yours is well made, Little Star. However, I read a book some years ago which, I think, was called "Princess" but I don't remember that Sasson was the author. This book was written by a female member of the family and because of this I was inclined to believe what it said, particularly as, at the end of the book, she was living back in Saudi Arabia. Truthfully, I found it very shocking, even taking into account the difference in cultures, religion and government.

As for the propriety or otherwise of using un-named sources, I think that it's incumbent on those who are offering salacious or disparaging 'inside information' about others to stand by their comments. It should not be possible to attack and diminish anyone's reputation, be it prince or pauper, without even an iota of evidence, an established source, and/or confirmation from impartial witnesses. To me, they're basic requirements of fair play and decency.

I have no difficulty with the DRF's being held to account where and when it's reasonable and justified and to my mind, this especially means when the well-being of the state is in question, which, of course, could take many forms. I do draw the line, nevertheless, at personal abuse and character-assassination, without indisputable evidence.

As someone whose Head of State is a Queen, I am very aware of how easy it is to attack, usually anonymously, everything about our monarch, including her family: easy targets all.

[BurberryBrit]

Are some people really planning to storm the palace and rescue Mary?

If this book is translated into English, I'd read it. Like others have said, there's probably a hint of truth and a lot of fluff.

If anything, this book makes me wonder how well Mary is really coping. Even money and possessions and trips get old after a while. I'm sure her children are great source of comfort to her, but it must be really hard being the Crown Princess of Denmark, especially since she wasn't born into a royal life. But I do think Mary was chosen so to speak, so I hope she can deal with it.