If there's no difference of opion allowed, we'll end up with a very tame and boring forum. There will be nothing but bland and censored press releases from the royal family of your choice. Like what's happening in the Netherlands at the moment. The different opinions and the research is what makes the forums enjoyable. Until I started following the Monegasque princely family, royalty for me existed of something that was there, a sort of necessary evil. It had always been there, but nothing more. Meanwhile, in the slipstream of the Moneqasques, I also have read bits and pieces about other royal families and have had to change my opinion and my attitude about them. More info, different info, seeing the zillion other photos that didn't make it into the magazines, news from other sources and from local sources and some tenacious research by fellow board members have contributed to that. Surely that's a positive?Ok, I am guilty of enjoying commenting about Albert & Charlene. I actually enjoy talking about relationships. This is a huge board board with many posters and tons of threads and people choose who and what they want to discuss, I confess this is my guilty pleasure. Is their relationship my business? Of course not. But, I would hate to see The Royal Forum initiate a new policy which states only a royal's family, governement, or citizens of that particular country can comment on a particular family. Many posters seem to have their favorite royals to watch - the Grimaldi family is mine. What's ironic is that the Grimaldis are frequently looked upon with disdain among royal watchers (I have read some of the most terrible names hurled at them), yet some of these same watchers berate those who would like to see a stable and suitable marriage for Albert. I wonder how many royal watchers would have found Charlene suitable for Princes Felipe, Frederick, Philipe, or Wilhem? Would Great Britian be ok with Charlene as their next queen?
I like "watching" the Grimaldis basically because they don't live a "Lily White" existence. As a person of color, I find them more interesting to watch than most of these families who rarely if ever associate on a personal and social level with people of color (Blacks specifically). I know about Princess Angela and Prince Max, but they do not perform regular royal duties. So, yes I am guilty of sticking my nose in Albert & Charlene's business (but they so put their business in our faces). I sincerely would like to see Prince Albert raise the standards a little for Monaco, which has to start within himself. But Henri, can you honestly say if Prince Wilhem presented someone like Charlene to the Netherlands, the people would have been ok? If she would not have been suitable for The Netherlands, please understand then that there are some of us (who are not Monegasques) feel the same way about Monaco.
Anyway.....IMO and solely that, Charlene would fit in perfectly with the Dutch (read German) royal family. Peas in a pod. Birds of a feather.
But remember that Monaco isn't the Netherlands. Willem-Alexander isn't Albert. Nor will he ever be. Albert is ruling Monaco, WA won't constitutionally ever be much more than a figure head. Albert's workload to me seems like at least a hunderdfold of that of WA. Albert's public appearances alone are countless. The complete Dutch royal family does a few appearances a month, if that. I deem it possible to live a long and happy live in the Netherlands without ever having to meet a member of the Dutch royal family, in Monaco that kind of thing is might be very hard to do. Therefore the demands are not comparable. (Just my opinion.) I find it hard to compare Maxima, Mary or any of them to the lucky girl that might one day marry Albert. Just like the job description of Albert and WA isn't the same, so it is the same for Maxima and the future (?) Mrs. Albert Grimaldi.
In short (finally ), what might work elsewhere, might not work in Monaco.
Yep, both Charlene W. and the Grimaldis seem to be a highly volatile subject. But for my part, keep on critizing. It is generally well founded and if they 'do the crime', they should 'do the time' as well. Or in this case take the criticism.When posters berate other posters for criticizing Charlene, their arguments always consists of a littany of reasons why the Grimaldis are so trashy anyway that Charlene looks like a saint and they should be glad to have her. Well, I just would like to see the bar raised for Monaco, that's all. But, you are correct that the criticsm about Charlene is harsh and I am a guilty party. So, I will TRY to refrain from criticizng her, which will be extremely difficult for me. I guess I'll have to use that old saying, "If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all."