Queen Margrethe's Annual Press Conference & Holidays In Cahors: 2003-2009, 2013

[Maura724]

Yes, that's what seems so odd - they're not really the type to take "a step away from the people."

[olebabs]

Perhaps prince Henrik (the Prince Consort) is ill. He did not seem himself yesterday at the christening. He usually likes talking to the press about his grand children.

[Amelia]

The annual press conference they have each year during their holidays in France


It's curious that Henrik chose to leave his engagement early, it also curious that HM has chosen to cancel the press conference. I hope that everything is ok with them both.

[Maura724]

Originally Posted by Viv

Danish royalty pundits are speculating that the regal couple don't want to risk any questions in the wake of the change of the succession law. Perhaps you remember, that the lead-up to the referendum triggered a hefty debate on the monarchy. It revealed that the support for the DRF is in decline. It's not serious- yet, but enough for them to be concerned!

Interesting thought - but wasn't the Queen asked for her opinion on the referendum at the time and just refused to comment? Wouldn't it be easy enough for her to say "no comment" in August if she's asked something she doesn't want to answer? It seems like cancelling the press conference is too extreme of a reaction for this to be the real reason.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Maura724

Interesting thought - but wasn't the Queen asked for her opinion on the referendum at the time and just refused to comment? Wouldn't it be easy enough for her to say "no comment" in August if she's asked something she doesn't want to answer? It seems like cancelling the press conference is too extreme of a reaction for this to be the real reason.

Indeed!
She will say "no comment", if someone asks! However she knows that the Danish media don't travel to the South of France for a "no comment"-comment!

Then again, I won't read too much into the cancellation of the press conference. It's normally consisting of polite noises and idle talk, and we can live without it, IMO. The press conference was intended as a deal, so that the media don't bother them for the rest of their stay at Cayx. They need not worry. These days the media are mainly interested in the crown princely couple!

Viv

[Amelia]

Danish royalty pundits are speculating that the regal couple don't want to risk any questions in the wake of the change of the succession law. Perhaps you remember, that the lead-up to the referendum triggered a hefty debate on the monarchy. It revealed that the support for the DRF is in decline. It's not serious- yet, but enough for them to be concerned

I'm not sure I agree with them on their speculation. If it was just about the succession then a simple no comment or a reminder that they do not discuss political matters should do it for them. If it were about decline of support the surely not making themselves available to the press (and through them the public) is going to only make is slide further down hill.

These days the media are mainly interested in the crown princely couple!

Which is why in imo it is important for the Queen to continue to do a press conference like this.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Amelia

I'm not sure I agree with them on their speculation.

Nor am I, as a matter of fact !

Viv

[sgl]

The editor in chief of Billed-Bladet magazine has posted a letter/statement/article about the cancellation of the press conference. Apparently, the annual conference has been cancelled indefinitely. According to the article, the Queen has held these because she has felt that she must do this. The author claims that now the Queen wants to step back from the limelight a bit. The author feels that now would be the time for the CP couple to begin picking up where the Queen left off with this annual press conference:

Billed-Bladet - Annemette Krakau: Nu giver Margrethe plads til Frederik

[Viv]

Originally Posted by sgl

The editor in chief of Billed-Bladet magazine has posted a letter/statement/article about the cancellation of the press conference. Apparently, the annual conference has been cancelled indefinitely. According to the article, the Queen has held these because she has felt that she must do this. The author claims that now the Queen wants to step back from the limelight a bit. The author feels that now would be the time for the CP couple to begin picking up where the Queen left off with this annual press conference:

Billed-Bladet - Annemette Krakau: Nu giver Margrethe plads til Frederik

Sgl, bravo! You've made a couple of wise reservations . IMHO the editor in chief is speculating!

( Then again, I hear more and more Danes saying, that it's about time for HM to let the crown princely couple take over. Maybe that's what Ms. Krakau is trying to convey (there, that's me speculating ))!

Anyway, Krakau feels that she has to explain to her readers readers why HM is pulling the plug on the Cayx press conferences, which has always had extensive coverage in Billed Bladet! She needs a reason to justify HM's decision, and what's better than letting HM step back in favour of the next generation?

I for one thought that the cancellation was a one off. Apparently it isn't! Again IMO, in the last few years HM has not been completely at ease on these occasions, with the reporters being less deferential and putting more blunt questions!

I for one don't see the cancellation as a loss. Apart from a few occasions they didn't offer much of substance, just idle chit-chat. Idle chit chat is OK at times, but I'm not totally convinced that it is always serving the best interest of the monarchy!

Viv

[sgl]

Thank you for pointing out that BB has covered this extensively in the past, Viv. The editor in chief is undoubtedly not pleased to miss out on the revenue from the circulation of the issue with the coverage. I don't think we will ever know the reasons for the cancellation, but you raise an excellent point, Viv, about the mannerisms of some of the media toward the Queen in the past.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by sgl

Thank you for pointing out that BB has covered this extensively in the past, Viv. The editor in chief is undoubtedly not pleased to miss out on the revenue from the circulation of the issue with the coverage.

Four pages, text and photos! Minimum! That used to be the norm, making it the "back bone" of the issue in the week following the press conference.

Must be annoying for an editor to miss out on :rolleyes2:!

Viv

[lyndaW]

Has Joachim and Marie been to the Chateau since it was announced that the Cheateau will go to Mary & Fred ??

[maria-olivia]

Was the Queen in France this year ?

[Muhler]

Summary of a long article in Billed Bladet #36, 2013.
Written by Annelise Weimann.

Our reporter went to France for a couple of days to cover the Regent Couple on their vacation there and the annual concert held at Chateau Cayx (I simply cannot figure out how to spell that name, so please bear with me).

It more or less the routine of previous years. QMII going to the local market, the locals pretending they don't know who she is. The LiW and the usual anonymous gentlemen following her around.

The concert is also an annual event, usually featuring some Danish performers. This year form the Danish Music Conservatory but also from the Central Conservatory of Music Beijing, so the music was a mixture of French, Danish and Chinese music.
In fact there were so many spectators that the chairs put up were insufficient and the chateau almost had to be emptied of chairs in order to provide seating for all.
But, QMII's back is not well. She was observed leaning several times to a tree before the concert.
A considerable fraction of PH's family were also present at the concert.

Our reporter also made a brief but very frank interview with Prince Henrik.
His wine is selling pretty well in Denmark, but also in China. What is not used at official events at home, is sold. (Beforehand the wine was popularly referred to as Chateau de Fox Piss).

Although PH's lands are small compared to the lands around Schackenborg (50 acres against 1.200 acres), he nevertheless complain as a genuine farmer must: "Everybody says it will be a super harvest this year, but I don't believe that at all....".

The wine production is financially viable, but only just: "It's alright but it's difficult. There ain't much money in agriculture and wine is made everywhere from Chile to New Zealand, from Californa to Moscow",

Q: Pardon, but don't farmers always complain?
PH: (Serious): "Yes, and they have a good reason for that"!

PH talks about the concert where they invited 40 guests, but it's clear from the pictures that at least three times as many showed up. They will also be celebrating his brother, Jean Baptiste's 70th birthday.
And PH also refer to his, ahem, pondus: "I know my belly is too big. The Lady in Waiting has indeed told me".

Q: Have you stopped excersizing?
PH: "No,my personal trainer have been down here at the beginning of the holiday, but he has gone home again. Instead I excersize with the adjutant and he is very stern".

Q: You have previously had problems with the back?
PH: "Yes, severe problems. But now it's going well. It's just the age that isn't so well. And that I can't do anything about".

Q: How is the Queen's back?
PH: "She has had problems with the back and she is also in pain. The official visit to Chile was indeed cancelled due to the Queen's poor back, but also because of the knees".