Crown Prince Frederik, Current Events Part 5: November 2014 - November 2015

[Muhler]

Well, at some point somone within the DRF are going to screw up big time, then we might talk about a crisis, but even then I'm pretty certain people are able to maintain their sense of proportions. So IMO it will take a lot to seriously threaten the status of the DRF, let alone the monarchy.

That's one of the disadvantages of living in a tribe or village, which Denmark and the Danes really are. If someone for once does something everyone has an opinion about it. And as usual it's mostly the loudest who are heard.

Also keep in mind that because DK is a small country and because we are a tribe, the DRF are in many ways like distant relatives to most Danes.
It's the equivalent to talking and gossiping about uncle Hubert, who is married to aunt Olga and who lives in the other end of the country.
We don't see them that often, but we often hear about them and we know their children and what they have been up to lately.
Now uncle Hubert has been nicked for speeding. - And of course the whole family are talking about it and we generally agree it wasn't such a bright idea and come on, Hubert, really! - But that doesn't mean we stop liking uncle Hubert and we still attend family get-togethers with Hubert and Olga and we wouldn't dream of cutting them out of the rest of the family.
You get the meaning of my analogy?

[GracieGiraffe]

Scandinavians treasure their orderly little societies.

I know this because I watch Lilyhammer.

[amaryllus]

I hear you��

[kimlan]

I love your analogy Muhler!

[Roskilde]

To quote several comments I came across on Facebook: "If I hear one more word about a car crossing a bridge I will throw up. There’s terror in France, there’s killed 3000 innocent people in Nigeria and we are talking about a car having crossed a bridge in bad weather!! "

I dare to say that's exactly what 9 out of 10 Danes seems to mean as well.

That the Danish media end out blowing it totally out of proportion actually seems to only have been to Frederik's advantage. If you followed it on Facebook you could see how the Danes tried their best to bring ‘the story’ down into level and ended up taking Frederik in total defense (many even pay tribute to him) because the exaggerate coverage was embarrassing.

Jason Watt, an acknowledged sportsman, was the first out with a post. A post there have recieved ten thousands of likes and shared on Facebook:

"Breaking News in France: The fight against terrorism is at its highest. Breaking News in Denmark: A blue car driving over a bridge in windy conditions. We certainly have it very well here in Denmark, huh?"
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...70&oe=55244C44

And it seems to be the general reaction among Danes IMO.
PET decided that night that the best solution was to get the Crown Prince over the bridge and home. The police gave their permission. The day after PET admitted a better solution may could have been found, Frederik as well and he regretted. End of story. And let’s so move on to the real problems in the world, thanks...

Politicians even wrote yesterday that they think Denmark (with the new information about that it was PET's decision and that the police did gave PET their permission) owe our Crown Prince an apology. A post that has been shared and has received thousands of likes.
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...8e&oe=552F7BC6
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...ec&oe=55333F08

As the Gallup survey also shows I doubt it will affect Frederik's large and folksy popularity. I’m not saying I think it was just fine because I agree with PET and Frederik that a better solution may could have been found. But it really isn’t more worse and it was, for some reason, blown totally out of proportion. Perhaps you now understand why Denmark is called the world's happiest country. It’s not big problems we apparently have in this country!

Not a single article or word today in the Danish media... seems to have been a 'storm' in a glass of water (sorry, I couldn't resist )

[Eden]

Hahaha!! Yes you Danes are an unlucky bunch 😄 maybe the media need Mary to be out and about have some photo ops so they have something to write about! Or let the twins go for a run around the palace with Ziggy!! 😄


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community mobile app

[polyesco]

Thanks Roskilde for your post and putting things in perspective.
Yes, reading on twitter it seemed like alot of Danes found the media coverage on this event overblown. Good that he apologized, even if he had permission

Moving forward, tomorrow Frederik travels to Qatar to attend the World Handball Championship in Qatar on 15 and 16th January.
the 15th is the opening day, the 16th Denmark plays versus Argentina. I read that the Danes are quite good at this game. The tournament runs until the 31st.
I remember last year the CP couple kids got jerseys with their names on it from the handball team.
24th Men's Handball World Championship | 15th January – 1st February 2015

[camelot23ca]

While I think "Bridge-gate" has been blown out of proportion, it wouldn't be the worst idea for the royal family and their team to use this as a learning opportunity. Are there any lessons that can be taken from this relatively small issue that may help to avoid some future crisis?

One thing this illustrates to me - and I think there's an element of this with pretty much every royal scandal, big and small - is how much of a bubble even the folksiest and most down to earth royals live in. Based on the reports over the last couple of days Frederik either:
A) crossed the bridge - once or twice, knowing it was closed and then lied about "making it just in time" to reporters. This would be a very poor reflection of Frederik's judgement/character, but I think this scenario isn't very likely.

B)genuinely thought the bridge was open, despite the weather, the fact that his was the only car on the bridge at the time, the line up of angry motorists he presumably had to drive by to get onto the bridge, and the fact that PET at some point in all this stopped to confer with the police. Again, this just doesn't ring true to me.

C)didn't really question the PET officers as to what was going on regarding the whole situation because it's their job to take care of inconvenient details like this and Frederik is used to just getting in the back seat of the car and not worrying about anything until he gets to his destination. special arrangements have always been made for him so he doesn't really take on board what a big distinction open bridge vs closed bridge is to most people, and how big of a disruption it can be in people's lives, and therefore why the whole thing looks bad.

That would be a good thing for Frederik to learn from this, IMO: sometimes even stupid little things can turn into actual problems because they just look bad.

[Muhler]

I think you nailed it Roskilde, another survey (!) published today in Jyllands Posten, this time by Willke, which I don't know much about, have the following figures: Måling: Danskerne blæser på kronprinsens bro-ture - Indland

Do you think Frederik is worthy of becoming king of Denmark:
Yes: 85 %
No: 7.9 %
Don't know: 7.1 %

Which of these options do you prefer for Denmark:
That we continue with the monarchy as it is today? 79 %
That the monarchy is abolished to be replaced by a president? 17.8%
Don't know: 3.3 %

The royal expert, Lars Hovbakke Sørensen, comments that an individul episode like this does not have any significance, only if there are a string of similar episodes.

That may be the case should the members of the DRF feel, (genuinely feel) above everybody else (in regards to legislation, general moral behavior and so on.
Lars Hovbakke Sørensen mentions specific examples from Spain (the king going hunting for elephants in the middle of a serious financial crisis) and Sweden (the King being caught having had an affair and frequenting strip clubs and so on), where the royals lived by another standard than is generally acceptable among the people.

Using special privileges is acceptable within reason. However, this situation is special because Frederik crossed a bridge that was closed for reasons of safety, without having an absolutely good reason for doing so. (Like a security threat, bad health and so on), comments Lars Hovbakke Sørensen.

- I remember a minister having to resign after a visit to Greenland around 1980, where she commandeered a patrolling warship. Meaning that the ship didn't perform it's normal duties, like fishery inspections for several days. That was a case of clearly overstepping the line in regards to privileges for government ministers.

Thank you, Kimlan.

[polyesco]

thank you Muhler. wow 85% not bad : )

Here are some pics of Frederik at the Qatar Handball Championship
http://www.billedbladet.dk/sites/bil...?itok=Tj1MOaC_
http://i.imgur.com/jgfdzTo.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/hwQRCpQ.jpg?1

no doubt taking some pics of the Handball players for Christian

[Roskilde]

To translate the headline it actually says: "The Danes don't care about the trip across the bridge."

The Crown Prince receives massive support from the Danes. The trip across the bridge hasn't shaken his popularity - the support for Frederik is enormous.

I think it must be understood in that way that maybe not indifferent, but rather an expression of we think it was a little thing blown up to something very big.

It's actually reassuring. That if something is blowing totally out of proportion the Danes can think for themselves. And it will be good in the coming period where Denmark is facing general elections. For there we can talk about a press going in circles...

*

Last night, Frederik was present at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in handball in Qatar. BB noticed that he took a couple of what looked like selfies with his iPhone and he also took a few pictures of the hall. Perhaps to send home to Mary and the children?

Kronprins Frederik til håndboldfest i Qatar | Billed Bladet

[GracieGiraffe]

I think he should have to wear a scarlet B for crossing that bridge for the rest of his life, or whatever letter begins the word bridge in Danish. As a matter of fact, perhaps I will photo shop a scarlet B on my huge collection of Fred photos this afternoon.

[Muhler]

The Scarlet B - Yeah, why not.

And Mary should wear a scarlet C. - No doubt you recall the uproar a couple of years ago when Mary bicycled back to Amalienborg through the brightly lit streets of downtown Copenhagen - and her front light didn't work!
They are hardcore criminals them royals!

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Roskilde

To translate the headline it actually says: "The Danes don't care about the trip across the bridge."

The Crown Prince receives massive support from the Danes. The trip across the bridge hasn't shaken his popularity - the support for Frederik is enormous.

I think it must be understood in that way that maybe not indifferent, but rather an expression of we think it was a little thing blown up to something very big.

It's actually reassuring. That if something is blowing totally out of proportion the Danes can think for themselves. And it will be good in the coming period where Denmark is facing general elections. For there we can talk about a press going in circles...

*

Last night, Frederik was present at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in handball in Qatar. BB noticed that he took a couple of what looked like selfies with his iPhone and he also took a few pictures of the hall. Perhaps to send home to Mary and the children?

Kronprins Frederik til håndboldfest i Qatar | Billed Bladet

No doubt, some pictures for Christian of his favorite player Mikkel Hansen
Olympics 2012
http://us.hellomagazine.com/imagenes...ristian--z.jpg
http://image.gala.de/v1/cms/VY/dk-kr....jpg?v=6989361

[Muhler]

Our dear fellow member, Polyesco, has dug up this startling revelation from a former PET officer: Så ligeglad er kronprinsen: Gik længere ud end til navlen | RokokoPosten
The sensational details can be read in Rokoko Posten.

The PET officer tells us: "We are on the Seychelles back in 2011, where the Crown Prince is walking out into the water when I notice that the water almost reach his waist. Naturally I yell: Stop, only to the navel, Your Highness, but he responds that since he's a majesty he can walk out until the water reach the chest".
This seriously shook the PET officer who adds that the Crown Prince on top of that went into the water well before an hour had passed after the last meal.

But that's not the only shocking thing the PET officer experienced:
In the autumn of 2013 the officer witnessed the Crown Prince running head over heels across Amalienborg Square with a pair of scissors in his hand: "The Prince had been cutting out pictures from Billed Bladet for his scrap-book when he suddenly spotted the new Audi RS 7. Then he rushed across the square to learn whether his mother couldn't persuade someone to give it to him as a present - without even a hint of him putting down the scissors, which as we all know can be extremely dangerous".

Members of the Parliament, predominantly to the left of the political spectrum, have voiced their protests, saying it really is so unfair that no one else but the Crown Prince is allowed to walk further out in the sea than until the water reaches the navel.

Politicians to the right on the other hand dismiss that firmly with the argument that Frederik's superhuman qualities ensure that he has special privileges.
Søren Pind, the most diehard supporter of Frederik says: "The critisism of the Crown Prince is simply insane. We are talking about a person who in so many ways have talents that sets him apart from the rest of the population". Søren Pind refers to Frederik's always dignified behavior, superhuman workload and impressive oratorial talents.
"As far as I am concerned he can go out into the water until it reaches his neck, if he want's to. Or on the water, if he prefer that, because that's something he can do as well".

[Roskilde]

Frederik is right now present at the first handball match for Denmark during the World Cup in Qatar - the match between Denmark-Argentina.

And during the pause (or what you call it) Frederik has just been on live TV in the Danish VM-studio:

Charming. Since I'm not interested in sport (the husband is) I will not give a summary because I probably hasn't understood anything.

And here you go:

More pictures of Frederik in the studio- and as you can see his charm reached the Danish living rooms. At least out to the wives in the living rooms who only watching sport for the husband's sake, but suddenly got something good to look at. 3 very good looking men

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...ee&oe=552B37C3

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...743286a5fdaf73

https://www.facebook.com/billedblade...type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/billedblade...52791140962928

[polyesco]

Nice

some pictures of Frederik at the game
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7fZu1JCYAAG4Z_.jpg
http://images.scribblelive.com/2015/...13e59f2306.jpg

Danes at halftime are wining

Danish fans at the game too
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7fg9OfCUAMQJoE.jpg
Denmark audience are there for their team
https://vine.co/v/Ojbrj1jdd0l

[gerry]

Originally Posted by polyesco

Nice

some pictures of Frederik at the game
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7fZu1JCYAAG4Z_.jpg
http://images.scribblelive.com/2015/...13e59f2306.jpg

Danes at halftime are wining

Danish fans at the game too
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7fg9OfCUAMQJoE.jpg

winning or whining because they didn't(sorry, couldn't resist!

[polyesco]

Now that is a handsome man
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...ee&oe=552B37C3

his halftime interview
Kronprinsen i VM-studiet: Vi skal skifte sølv ud med guld | Sportscenter

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by gerry

winning or whining because they didn't(sorry, couldn't resist!

Well, here is a gallery of Frederik watching the DK match. Somehow I get the impression they didn't do that well. Se billederne: Kronprinsen og Wilbek var øjenvidner til fiaskoen | www.bt.dk