General News about Frederik, Mary and Family 1: August 2007 - February 2008

[stellam]

At the end of the day I am pleased to see all the pictures seeing as no pics of Christian was available with his birthday. Whenever pics of the Crown Prince couples are published, I decide whether I want to view all the pictures or just one or two that way I don't have any reason to complain about too many or too few pictures posted. Pr Isabella looks more and more like her dad.

Stellad

[marfre]

I think the photos are great, no matter how many, specially the ones with the children, they look like a happy family enjoying quality time together decorating their tree.

[carlota]

Originally Posted by stellad

Whenever pics of the Crown Prince couples are published, I decide whether I want to view all the pictures or just one or two that way I don't have any reason to complain about too many or too few pictures posted.

Stellad

it's not about lots of pictures being released. i love pictures being released, but there was quite an empty time when we had no pictures at all and now we have 30 or more! perhaps they could have released some before or organise photoshoots for different times in the year.

however, this may all be connected with the interview they gave, in which case i suppose it would be okay, as one can do many photoshoots for a single "meeting with the press".

[WindsorIII]

IMO I would rather see just a few good photos than a series where you have to spend time looking through them all and it turns out there is only a few good ones anyway. Thats more of a courtesy for our side to just put the useful ones.

[WindsorIII]

I find it interesting that they used Frederick and Mary as examples in this story. I never believed the rumors that their marriage is on the rocks.

The pain behind the princess myth
December 24, 2007

Page 1 of 3

Courting disaster ... Prince Frederik and Princess Mary attend a gala event at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. Persistent rumours of marital discord dog the fairytale couple.

Relationships - Life & Style Home - smh.com.au

[acdc1]

I really liked the pictures, I think it was a perfect amount released, and I don't care how "real" or "fake" they are, it's best that we just got to see them and the kids in their home setting.

And for those of you who are complaining about too many pictures, staged, etc., you might want to head on over to the Christian's 2nd Birthday thread, and see how everybody (myself included) was in a snit because there had been no pictures released. And now, when they give us pictures, we're complaining about that! It makes us sound like spoiled children, IMO.

[Madame Royale]

Not enough pictures, too many pictures...? Just be happy to have seen any at all. They didn't have to circulate a single one if they so desired.

[lise]

Originally Posted by acdc1

I really liked the pictures, I think it was a perfect amount released, and I don't care how "real" or "fake" they are, it's best that we just got to see them and the kids in their home setting.

And for those of you who are complaining about too many pictures, staged, etc., you might want to head on over to the Christian's 2nd Birthday thread, and see how everybody (myself included) was in a snit because there had been no pictures released. And now, when they give us pictures, we're complaining about that! It makes us sound like spoiled children, IMO.

Well Said acdc1 our consant complaining makes us sound like spoiled children. I have no problem with the amount of pictures released. It's about the same as a roll of film give or take a few and it's better than nothing.

[Marengo]

Well, I don´t think that the royals are like puppets, we throw a dime and they dance for us. So in that I feel that they are free to give the amount of access to their private life and small children as much (or as little) as they want, provided that the general public will get a few opportunities a year to see the little royals, considering their future roles. Considering the times we have seen little Christian IMO the Danish CP and his wife have been rather generous to us, and if we want to see more of the little ones we should take children ourself. So in that sense I do not think that this session was needed or overdue.

Neither do I think the amount of pictures were abnormal. The photographer stays with the royals for an hour or two, takes a few pictures and uses the nicest one. Nothing new here.

That doesn´t mean that I find this photosession a great success. Although the ones with the children were nice enough I really disliked the other photoshoot (Mary and Frederik outside together). It was done by another photographer, which clearly shows. The style was more suitable for a soccerplayer and his actress-wife who pose for OK magazine than for a crownprince and crownprincess. Apart from the cheesy-ness they strike me as utterly fake. I have seen portrait pictures of the late Queen Mary (of the UK) that showed more spontanity than these pictures . I believe the session was done by a person who won some kind of photography award. A nice idea to allow him to make pictures, but next time I would prefer a different set-up. What usually works best is when a photographer is in the background, as a sort of spy, while the family just does their daily things. Or maybe he/she could escort Frederik and/or Mary on an official duty.

I have read on another forum some parts of the interview, nothing seems to be too shocking and I am glad that they refuse to get into the specifics of the gossip press. Still it would be nice if the couple could come up with an awnser that showed they had more of a clue about their future role that the awnser they gave (something like ´we will see where the future will take us´), especially considering that some in the press started wondering if Frederik is suitable for his role (remember the Danish Olympic Comitee).

Having all that said, I would like to add that I am rather gratefull that we are able to have a discussion like this, which goes beyond the level of kindergarten (I hate Mary/ Why don´t you like my Mary?).

[carlota]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Not enough pictures, too many pictures...? Just be happy to have seen any at all. They didn't have to circulate a single one if they so desired.

while it's their decision to release pictures, i doubt it is an option to not release official photos in such a long time. christian is, after all, the heir, and it would be very unwise from them to keep him hidden because they don't want the world to see him.

provided that the general public will get a few opportunities a year to see the little royals, considering their future roles.

precisely. that's why i truly believe it is not an option for them to say "in the next 2 years we will not release pictures".

having said that, i loved the pictures and thought all of them were extremely cute. it just surprised me the amount of pictures and photoshoots they released and did in such a short time. from a PR point of view, it's quite unacceptable, because of the simple reason that they should be doing something else instead of posing for a photoshoot as if they were models or the beckham's instead of heirs to the throne. yes, you can do all those photos (i guess each photoshoot would have taken at least a couple of hours), but don't release them all at the same time! it doesn't give the best impression on what you are doing in your free time. it also looks agressive considering they were critisised because of not releasing pictures for christian's birthday: something like "you wanted pictures, here you have them!"

again, and before someone jumps straight to my jugular in their defense for critisising them when they are releasing the always-loved photos, i will repeat that the photos are great and that i loved seeing them. just not all of them at the same time. that's all.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I am a bit bored with all these suggestions what might go on behind closed doors or that their photoshoot was purely enforced or posed in order to calm down some rumours although I think that F & M's way of dealing with the media is not exactly helpful. I have already commented on the shoot with the children, I thought the pics were lovely and not staged at all.

I'd like to add that

- FOR MY PERSONAL TASTE, the shoot with the two of them is a bit too much, some pics are really nice but in general it's quite unnecessary to publish that many pics, two or three would have been enough. They are not models but the CP couple, after all.

- FOR MY PERSONAL TASTE, they reveal far too much. All these personal interviews, eg the one in NY or this one, talking about detailed issues of their feelings or private lifes (such as Fred's childhood or where the children sleep), does open a door for all kind of speculations or tabloid articles. I wonder why they cannot keep some issues to themselves. In total this is quite over the top.

Wether the CP Couple is revealing to much or not is at matter of personal tast - but I do think it also is a question of national culture.
IMO the focus for F & M must be what their subjects (the people of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands) thinks of them. The interview and the photoes can only be seen as a nice gesture by the CP couple, as it gives a peep into the life of a family that happens to be shrouded by more interest then ordinary families are. Futhermore it is in complete line with the traditions of the royal family. King Christian and Queen Alexandrine, King Frederik and Queen Ingrid and Queen Margeret and the Prince Consort - all of them have invited the press to do interviews like this now and again. If Frederik and Mary didn't follow this tradition they would do a huge mistake, as it would be making a distance to the people which hasn't existed before.

Personally I really can't figure out why anybody can have anything against the photos or the interview. Not even when those of the mermbers here om TRF, who has, try to explane what is wrong. But well - I am a dane - for me the interview and the photos is simply a part of the informal contract between the DRF and the people.

[Duke of Marmalade]

It's ok to do interviews & photosessions but I don't find the way M & F are handling theirs particulary clever. In general I agree with what Marengo said in his earlier post. This whole thing - except for the series with the kids - clearly is OK! level and more suitable to some attention seeking VIPs that a CP couple; I personally don't like Royals commenting on intimate details of their daily routines, this is something they should keep for themselves, I don't like that M & F actually lowered themselves to the level of this book by commenting on it and I certainly did not like their unpreparered comments on their future, like we'll see what happens - if there is no vision, you better keep quiet as it adds up to Fred's not too bright reputation as heir. The extensive photoshoot including some fake VIP-like posing basically screams look we are happy and this book is just nonsense and even I, a person who does not believe that their marriage is in trouble, can't help myself thinking why this? What do they need to prove? Within the series there are two or three nice & natural pics, take these and a best of of the kid's series and that's more than enough. No need to come with such a force all over the media, kids pics & personal shoot & interview, the result is simply that people will think, oh, wasn't there some smoke recently and they most likely conclusion for them will be, oh, there must have been fire, too.

[dazzling]

reading all the comments and some intresting view points, i think the two sets of pictures were absloutley lovely but I think they were released to close to each other/same day. I would of prefered if the Fred & Mary batch were published a month or two later. I also liked how the couple didnt bother answering the glossy tabloids rumors because they dont have to. There are more intresting things than commenting on such rumors which in a fact if true (which I dont think) will be denied anyways.
Actually, these pictures remind me of the pictures released by the couple when they first got married ex, Fred kissing Mary on the head, Couple holding ahnds and walking etc.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I don't like that M & F actually lowered themselves to the level of this book by commenting on it

When the journalist asked about the book - they actually said they woulden't comment on it - and they didn't


I find it a bit unfair to hold them responsible for queastions asked by journalists - that is simply compleatly out of their control.

If I was a journalist - it would be my job to ask about the book in the hope they would make a comment - oh dear what a story I could have written then. Not to mention the followups...........

Wisely F&M refraind from going down that aisle.

[Little_star]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

It's ok to do interviews & photosessions but I don't find the way M & F are handling theirs particulary clever. In general I agree with what Marengo said in his earlier post. This whole thing - except for the series with the kids - clearly is OK! level and more suitable to some attention seeking VIPs that a CP couple; I personally don't like Royals commenting on intimate details of their daily routines, this is something they should keep for themselves, I don't like that M & F actually lowered themselves to the level of this book by commenting on it and I certainly did not like their unpreparered comments on their future, like we'll see what happens - if there is no vision, you better keep quiet as it adds up to Fred's not too bright reputation as heir. The extensive photoshoot including some fake VIP-like posing basically screams look we are happy and this book is just nonsense and even I, a person who does not believe that their marriage is in trouble, can't help myself thinking why this? What do they need to prove? Within the series there are two or three nice & natural pics, take these and a best of of the kid's series and that's more than enough. No need to come with such a force all over the media, kids pics & personal shoot & interview, the result is simply that people will think, oh, wasn't there some smoke recently and they most likely conclusion for them will be, oh, there must have been fire, too.

Thank for your post, you expressed my own opinion perfectly.

I'm not a fan of this couple, however I really liked the photos they released with their children. The second set however were cheap and looked like something I'd expect from a D-list celebrity in OK magazine.

Originally Posted by Lilla

I find it a bit unfair to hold them responsible for queastions asked by journalists - that is simply compleatly out of their control.

Questions in interviews like these are almost always vetted.

The CP couple will have every control over what was asked of them.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by Little_star

Questions in interviews like these are almost always vetted.

The CP couple will have every control over what was asked of them.

It is your right to have this assumption. Knowing the danish media and Berlingske Tidende in particular I am pretty sure, the control that can be displayed by the CP Couple, has got it's limits.

[Aurora810]

Originally Posted by Lilla

When the journalist asked about the book - they actually said they woulden't comment on it - and they didn't

I find it a bit unfair to hold them responsible for queastions asked by journalists - that is simply compleatly out of their control.

If I was a journalist - it would be my job to ask about the book in the hope they would make a comment - oh dear what a story I could have written then. Not to mention the followups...........

Wisely F&M refraind from going down that aisle.

Do you really believe that Fred and Mary sat down to an interview that was unrehearsed in some fashion? I seriously doubt it! Royals, heads of state, politicians, even actors; they all have people behind them that handle what questions will be asked. I'm sorry but I don't believe it is out of their control what questions are asked. They would never have agreed to do the interview if they had no input on the questions and told the interviewer what they were comfortable sharing beforehand.

As far as declining to talk about the book, that seems like a perfectly good question to me. By having the journalist ask about the book no one can say that the journalist didn't try and F & M still without commenting on the actual book one can read between the lines that they are saying the book isn't worth addressing. And if one looks closer in a way the entire interview addressed the book. The interview gave them the chance to open up about their real lives!

The way I see it, I think this was perfectly planned by the DRF. Fred and Mary do an interview where they open up about their real lives and in many small ways address the book without actually addressing the book and done just before Christmas and the New Year. So some can't be too suspicious on the timing! It's seen as a Christmas present by many!

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by Aurora810

As far as declining to talk about the book, that seems like a perfectly good question to me. By having the journalist ask about the book no one can say that the journalist didn't try and F & M still without commenting on the actual book one can read between the lines that they are saying the book isn't worth addressing. And if one looks closer in a way the entire interview addressed the book. The interview gave them the chance to open up about their real lives!

The way I see it, I think this was perfectly planned by the DRF. Fred and Mary do an interview where they open up about their real lives and in many small ways address the book without actually addressing the book and done just before Christmas and the New Year. So some can't be too suspicious on the timing! It's seen as a Christmas present by many!

My goodness, one would think that this stapled version of Ekstra Bladet and Se & Hør look-alike gossip articles suddenly ruled every action of the CP couple
Interesting, this obsession about something which happens on and off in every monarchy. Judging by these standards I suppose that every move and action of, say, the British, Spanish or Belgian monarchies is orchestrated by each country's gossip media??

By all means, think that it was 'planned' (or perhaps we should just establish once and for all that it is great and oh so awesome and ever so cute - when other royal couples give interviews and/or release photos while it is part of a carefully planned and strategic plot when F&M do it... ).

- I for one still intend to enjoy the pics and the interview in its proper spirit.

And if one looks closer in a way the entire interview addressed the book.

Could you give examples of where in the text this can be seen? I have saved my copy of Berlingske Tidende with the interview and just browsed it but didn't find this.

[Lilla]

Originally Posted by Aurora810

Do you really believe that Fred and Mary sat down to an interview that was unrehearsed in some fashion? I seriously doubt it! Royals, heads of state, politicians, even actors; they all have people behind them that handle what questions will be asked. I'm sorry but I don't believe it is out of their control what questions are asked. They would never have agreed to do the interview if they had no input on the questions and told the interviewer what they were comfortable sharing beforehand.

As far as declining to talk about the book, that seems like a perfectly good question to me. By having the journalist ask about the book no one can say that the journalist didn't try and F & M still without commenting on the actual book one can read between the lines that they are saying the book isn't worth addressing. And if one looks closer in a way the entire interview addressed the book. The interview gave them the chance to open up about their real lives!

The way I see it, I think this was perfectly planned by the DRF. Fred and Mary do an interview where they open up about their real lives and in many small ways address the book without actually addressing the book and done just before Christmas and the New Year. So some can't be too suspicious on the timing! It's seen as a Christmas present by many!

Off cause they are prepared for the interview. If they were not - they would bee utterly unprofessional. And off cause they would have known, by simply guessing, that a question would be asked about this trifling book - but this doesn't make their answers less sensible.

What I don't think is, that a jounalist from Berlingske Tidende will ever participate in an interview, if all the questions asked has been through censorship. And I am sure that the DRF does not impose censorship on the media, as this surely would be the beginning to the end of the danish monarchy. The freedom of the press is a rather huge issue in this country.

If they only gave interviews if it was possible for them to tell the interviewer in forhand, which questions they were comfortable sharing, they would never be seen giving pressconferences.....which does occur rather often........

What I honestly think is, that those posters on TRF - who wish to see a connection between the book an the interview - are very mistaken. The book might have made some impact on this forum - but it certainly hasn't in Denmark.

[GlitteringTiaras]

Could you give examples of where in the text this can be seen? I have saved my copy of Berlingske Tidende with the interview and just browsed it but didn't find this.

I believe what Aurora810 meant is that those who know how to thoroughly analyze a text will be able to "see" this.

Good interviewers and those being interviewed know how to address a situation with out being blunt about it. It's standard reading skills that's all. Lawyers and judges have a keen eye for this, but usually not your typical everyday person. Furthermore, all one has to do is look at the text with an unbiased perspective, and there you have it.

*If I am wrong, Aurora, please elaborate.

What I honestly think is, that those posters on TRF - who wish to see a connection between the book an the interview - are very mistaken. The book might have made some impact on this forum - but it certainly hasn't in Denmark.

That may be true to an extent, but unfortunately you nor anyone in Denmark has polled every single living person (hence a mandatory poll in which everyone had to give their perspective or else) regarding their opinion of that book as well as the DRF. Until then, the thoughts and opinions are unknowable. Polls given by a newspaper or gossip rag such as Billed Bladet or Se og Hor, whereupon a person can vote over and over again and can be easily rigged to suit a particular side, are essentially invalid.

So in the end, no one really knows exactly what every single Dane or immigrant to Denmark thinks about that book and/or what kind of impact it really has currently, or in the future, on the DRF. Nonetheless, I do believe it is the first book of this century to seriously question DRF and their role in today's modern world.