ricarda said:
He is regent right now, covering for his mother, as he did several times last year.
No complaints about his preparedness so far.
I think all the cps are well educated and prepared for what is expected of them which isn't very much in the end.
The importance of royals is really over-estimated on this board IMO.
As a German I dare to say monarchs are a beautiful decoration but not really essential for a state.
But perhaps I am missing something?
I always have that quote from "The Madness of King George" in my mind:
"You want to do something? Give the people the impression that you are happy.
That's what we are here for." (qouting from memory)
Perhaps the question should be: Who is most/least capable of giving the impression of happiness?
I´m agreeing and by these standards, I´m wondering, if it´s good for the happy fairytale to pee from a yacht into to sea...to say, that one doesn´t get the children raised by nannies and though one has two...and that while the parents hardly work. yes, this maybe isn´t about happiness...but its about manners and the image of a happy family.
Of course Frederiks work might be as important for Denmark´s history &politics as an ant carring a fir needle home. But isn´t he then a little bit overpaid? And would it hurt so much to give at least the impression of working. Isn´t everyone liking working ppl...aren´t grannies saying "Take this boy, he is a hard worker and ambitious"? I had always thought so.
Yes, I´m getting Denmark isn´t the size of Spain...we had it about 1000 times before. But one can always search a field...what does speak against a man doing "soft" issues as well...and what does speak against supporting smaller unions...Victoria is giving yearly the awards for the best milk farmers...does sound silly and rural...but surely a way to make the schedule more full.
Ok...ok...we have also heard a 1000 times, that the Danes rather prefer the Royal family working less, than too much (what doesn´t speak for the Danes...but ok)...but honestly I´ve a feeling, that also not all Danes are happy with Frederiks current working ethics...at least we got the one or another article last year.
The DRF has the luck, that Denmark hasn´t an as extended media world as e.g. Spains...with glorious monarchists in it, but also spiteful little men...and so the little Danish media world doesn´t bite the hand, that it is feeding.
But this can always change. So I would say this "work less, sail more" motto is build on sand and shouldn´t be taken too far.
And honestly I think it would be wiser, if the die-hard supporters of Frederik´s way would be a little bit more reasonable. He isn´t working much and though getting a lot of money. Not every Dane seems to be fond of his working ethics. And probably even less would, when his schedule would get more spread. I mean, like him...but if you want others to like him as well, then stop to play the blind ones, this is just making ppl even turning more to the other side...
And since this is about being prepared...Frederik´s education surely isn´t bad, but he isn´t already King...so he could still go on to prepare and doing more duties would also help to give the
Image of being prepared. Well, maybe being lazy seeming is even Frederik´s plan...and as soon as he would be the boss, he would work like mad and all would be amazed and happy about the new super-king, who changed so much. I though wonder, if anyone here would support the idea of your hubby, brother, friend etc. doing a mini job for 30 years and then he would start to work 24/7
Yes, I´ve highlighted "Image", because that´s it, what it´s all about. Victoria has indeed no university degree and this actually wouldn´t matter, if the other ones wouldn´t have one as well. I mean, what do you need an university degree for in this job?
I think even not in the Monarchies with some political power, it´s required. It surely doesn´t hurt and a basic knowledge is needed, but I´m strongly supporting the idea of ppl in such positions having some natural feeling and interest for things.
One just has to look at European politicans in governments. Not all of them have an university degree in law, but many of them have gotten a lot of knowledge during their journey from being a small member of a party up to the position of a minister. And then there are many ppl sitting in universities, writing As in tests, but a few weeks later, they have all forgotten or can´t work with it. What you aren´t interested in, you can´t work with.
With (European) Royals there is one thing tricky...since they aren´t supposed to be very opinionated in political matters, they also can´t show, what they have learned (Except if they would done a course on cutting flowers properly
)
In some Monarchies they have the chance to influence things a little bit behind the scenes, but also that ppl wouldn´t always know.
So what to do...twiddling thumbs from 18-60 (?) One could, but it wouldn´t impress much...so there needs to be some training programme...which maybe even would be fruitful, if the "Royal trainee" would be interested and would create a network, he or she later can rely on.
And this training programme would give the ppl a feeling of the trainee becoming a serious grown-up Royal.
So Victoria has no university education and in comparison, it makes her looking bad. But the Swedish court was at least wise enough to give her some extra programme, which does sound very impressive and she hardly had any gaps, since she turned 18. And so she is seeming prepared enough...but honestly, if you ask me, she has always been a charming person with natural charisma...and this would carry her through the job...even without any further or less education.
So concluded: I would say, either you have genuine interest (in the ppl, you meet, in politics and history...) and you "klick" with the ppl or you don´t have it and then also the best school doesn´t help to make you professional seeming. And if you have "it", then stay busy and pretend to also get some OFFICIAL education and you perfect your task. Then there is practically no surface for attack...even not from "Why is Fred not working??"-bitches
Talking about Belgium...I think, if the Belgian Monarchy would break down, it wouldn´t be so much because of the unpopular Royals, but more because Belgium would break apart. The Royal family might have some power, but even if they all would be as popular as some other foreign Royals, they wouldn´t have enough power to keep things sticking together. Keeping 2 or more very different folks together is not easy..."being only within the familiar ones" is a strong driving force and that one can´t keep things together with mere will other rulers had to accept before. Well, let´s not meet the trouble halfway...maybe Belgiums map would look the same 500 hundred years from now
Loooong Lena-post with not so many good points, I fear
