Prince Frederik & Princess Mary's Visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar: Feb 28-Mar 3, 2016


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
In the TV2 news tonight, there were quite a few men who walked right past Mary, without even looking at her.

i think this proves my earlier point. since there were so many of them doing so, it is more evidence that it really is a cultural thing, and not a disrespect on their part. i don't think it is right, but i don't think they can be called 'rude' or 'disrespectful' because of not wanting to shake her hand, or even acknowledge her. women, unfortunately, are nothing else but their husbands wives in SA, and mary is just one more of those women in this situation.

What a strange place this country is ... Makes me very glad to enjoy my freedom! Let's hope some of the positive sides of Saudi Arabia will be highlighted too.

In this photo: who is the woman walking behind Mary? http://imageservice.nordjyske.dk/im...89c793.jpg?width=880&scale=both&bgcolor=black

good point, i am unsure who she may be. i am guessing she probably is a danish aide, an embassy staff of some sort, or maybe even a 'western' helper assigned to mary for the duration of the trip?
 
Are you sure Mary was there...;) This is the "official version":
"Then, the Crown Prince of Denmark and Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil also opened the exhibition which highlighted the possible partnership opportunities of Danish companies."

:p Hm! Yees, perhaps we will only see the tips of Mary's shoes in the officially released photos.

Something akin to this: Falsification of Photographs
 
If Mary is the champion of womens rights as she would have us believe, she should have let her husband travel alone to this country. IMO
 
It's now down to business for M&F and this is the first account of todays events, from BB: Kronprinsesse Mary og kronprins Frederik klippede snoren til erhvervsfremstød i Saudi Arabien | BILLED-BLADET

Together with a representative from Riyadhs Chamber of Commerce, M&F - standing side by side - opened the Danish Saudi Business Forum.
Frederik gave a speech for the 300 invited guests after which M&F strolled around the various booths set up by Danish businesses.

As M&F are not to say anything remotely political during this visit, BB instead quotes the Foreign Minister, Kristian Jensen: "The CP-couple opens more doors, the businesses get better opportunities for creating growth and jobs in Denmark. That's what we want to accomplish from this trip".

Thank you MUhler. great start to the second day. I for one am happy that Mary is by Frederik's side. :flowers:

articles and pictures from today's business events
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http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/000-3444633061456741770046.JPG
http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/000-2323743811456741783817.JPG
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http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/000-4201727731456745285700.jpg
http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/000-240299281456745292872.jpg

pictures
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcX9OjXWoAA9r-x.jpg:large
http://herognu.dk/Upload/her-og-nu/2016/8/Onsdag/Mary1.jpg
http://www.billedbladet.dk/sites/bi...ic/media/article/_dsc7749aa.jpg?itok=igr48Vkr
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcXvTJVWoAEpbY7.jpg:large
http://herognu.dk/Upload/her-og-nu/2016/8/Onsdag/Mary4.jpg

with a very handsome Frederik
http://www.spa.gov.sa/galupload/normal/000-433174171456745300436.jpg

and From Day 1. a trip to the museum, a gallery
http://was.sa/1472328
https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=6e5516bed3fca081c312252c67114a28&oe=576F0D3A

really like this picture
http://was.sa/galupload/normal/000-7338189421456745375594.jpg
http://was.sa/galupload/normal/000-4799236471456745436902.jpg
 
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Thank you MUhler. great start to the second day. I for one am happy that Mary is by Frederik's side. :flowers:
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Agreed. Mary's presence sends a positive message to Saudi women. Although it must have been a new experience for Mary to be virtually ignored in a receiving line, she handled it beautifully. I also like the way she's dressed, and I hope we get to see photos of her with Saudi women in her solo events.

Some years ago, I read a book called ''Inside the Kingdom'' by Carmen bin Laden, who was married to one of Osama bin Laden's brothers. It certainly made me appreciate living in a more egalitarian society.
 
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Pictures from today, Day 2 :)

Official opening of business promotional campaign

https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=b09ff4052d5bcb5a7eb86194ab3b7c7a&oe=5756E84C
https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=0dbe0ea79f980f054a8914cf69fe0f0a&oe=575425F4
https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=9f999224e72eb3d1c7c4b7f2a11aa9a7&oe=574E4B25

Gallery:
Erhvervsfremstød i Saudi-Arabien | Kongehuset - Forside

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F&M out on a private tour:

http://was.sa/galupload/normal/000-4799236471456745436902.jpg
http://was.sa/galupload/normal/000-7338189421456745375594.jpg


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We can see this is a "different" trip - also for F&M - who usually hold and cuddling each other's hands and are very flirtatious with each other. I do not think we should expect to see much of this during this trip in Saudi Arabia. I can imagine F&M have them some interesting talk in the evening before going to bed. It's a country very different for Denmark.
 
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BT has asked an expert in Islam from the Theological Faculty at Copenhagen University about many men not shaking hands with Mary: Ekspert om pinlig Saudi-situation: Derfor nægtede flere arabere at give hånd til Mary - Politik | www.bt.dk

Thomas Hoffmann says:
"You of course greet eachother, but you avoid touching and that is founded in a very sharp divide, which exist in several places in the public space in the Islamic world, where there is a very strong separation between the sexes.
In Saudi Arabia a completely different view on women is prevailant from what we know in the Western world. Physical contact is in several places considered directly illegal according to stricter interpretations of Sharia, unless it's wintin a marriage and other family relationships.
That's why you simply do not greet eachother in this way, because the direct touch is considered the prelude to sexual contact.
But one must also keep in mind that it goes both ways. If the DRF should meet a row of female Saudi Arabian during an official visit, these women would in the same way refuse to shake hands with Crown Prince Frederik. So it's not just a question of men refusing to shake hands with women, it's also so with women against men".

- And that IMO is fair enough if it's only about not shaking hands, but at least acknowledge Mary's existence. Which quite a number failed to do.
Somehow I doubt Saudi women would walk right past Frederik.


Thanks Polyesco. :)

I see Frederik is very sensibly cooling his hand in his pocket. :D
 
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If Mary is the champion of womens rights as she would have us believe, she should have let her husband travel alone to this country. IMO

How does she champion for womens rights by staying home? Isn't she doing that by going there, standing next to her husband (not behind him), taking part in the activities on equal ground and standing with her back straight even if some of the men ignore her?

Let me guess, if she had stayed home, you would have thought she should have championed for womens rights by going.. ;)

And Mary doesn't have to "have us believe" she is a champion of womens rights. Those of us who follow her work know exactly what she does.
 
Thanks Polyesco. :)

I see Frederik is very sensibly cooling his hand in his pocket. :D

He is just too cool ;)
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6h13VEIJ...pY/7m1Ih370qoU/s595/Crown-Princess-Mary-5.jpg

another photo. finally we see at least one Saudi woman present
http://ekstrabladet.dk/incoming/h1k...ES/p900/Kronprinsparret besøger Saudi-Arabien

How does she champion for womens rights by staying home? Isn't she doing that by going there, standing next to her husband (not behind him), taking part in the activities on equal ground and standing with her back straight even if some of the men ignore her?

Let me guess, if she had stayed home, you would have thought she should have championed for womens rights by going.. ;)

And Mary doesn't have to "have us believe" she is a champion of womens rights. Those of us who follow her work know exactly what she does.

Very well stated. They are showing that they are a team together :flowers:

I think this is from the dinner today (Frederik has a different tie)
"With fellow @YGLvoices The crown Prince of #Denmark, HRH Prince Frederik in #Riyadh. Great to see him"
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcZsFw6WAAAKgCE.jpg
Khalid AlKhudair is the Founder of @Glowork, organization dedicated to women recruitment & empowerment in the GCC. :flowers:

and the Dinner to end Day 2
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e15/12750300_843004135808968_1250770591_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE5NTc4ODY1OTQ3MDgxODAzMQ%3D%3D.2

and Mary with the flower girl
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t...g?ig_cache_key=MTE5NTc3ODQ1MDE5MDk0ODc3MA==.2
 
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Saudi Arabia is one of the worst countries for women to live. Just recently I read that are not allowed to go into coffee shops to buy a coffee-to-go (that article was about Starbucks in Saudi Arabia). If you visit a country where you are not allowed to comment on political issues because it would harm the own business does not give a good picture.

I follow Mary's live since her marriage and I respect her for standing up for children and women's rights. But as for my perspective this trip doesn't seem right.
 
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Here is a video of M&F receiving guest at the dinner tonight: Frede holdt fingrene fra kvinderne – Ekstra Bladet
Among the guests were six women, of which four declined to shake Frederik's hand.
But at least they are not ignoring him.

On another note: Couldn't they let go of their mobiles for just a moment?
And that admittedly is an unfortunate phenomenon that is by no means unique to Saudi Arabia!
 
BT has an account of the first day and seems like the journalist is not impressed.
However, the article also provides a number of details.
Pinlig Saudi-situation: Mænd nægtede at give hånd til Mary - Politik | www.bt.dk

Journalists from six Danish medias accompany M&F, but they didn't see them at all yesterday. The photos and clips were made by a DK photographer and a cameraman, selected on the spur it seems.

There is also an explanation of the Saudi dress code:
About half of the Saudi women wear a Niqab, that covers everything apart from the eyes.
The rest wear a scarf (hajib).
Western women need not cover their hair, but the rest of the body must be covered. As such the female Danish press members have been issued an abaya. A long loose-fitting black dress that go from the neck to to the feet.
... [snipped].

Thanks for the links and translation ! :flowers:

The enlightened Danish press is pathetic. Taking an offence on behalf of Crown Princess Mary is stupid. One might incessantly whine about rights of women and other issues in Saudi Arabia. However, one must conform to rules and traditions of the country.

It is a time-honoured plebeian tradition for European royals and their press corp to visit Saudi Arabia, accept expensive presents, and complain about inconveniences they encounter.
 
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If your religon or beliefs means your disrepectful.......ridiculous. They can call it culture.... I know too much to know its more than that.
i think this proves my earlier point. since there were so many of them doing so, it is more evidence that it really is a cultural thing, and not a disrespect on their part. i don't think it is right, but i don't think they can be called 'rude' or 'disrespectful' because of not wanting to shake her hand, or even acknowledge her. women, unfortunately, are nothing else but their husbands wives in SA, and mary is just one more of those women in this situation.
That many would not shake hands was probably a given but that they should walk past her and totally ignore her was certainly not.

I find this behaviour nothing less than a deliberate insult as this is a formal, diplomatic visit and I am sure both Frederik and Mary would have been well briefed as to what to expect so as not to cause offence to their hosts. Mary obviously didn't expect to be publicly disrespected. However, she handled the situation with grace.

Those photos of Frederik with his hand in his pocket may very well be his own way to ensure he didn't do what comes so totally automatic and naturally to him, but would totally offend his hosts, namely putting his hand in the small of Mary's back or actually taking her hand in public.

I find myself intrigued by both Mary and Frederik's dress code. Formally, Mary is covering herself but wearing an abaya except in public and is not even covering her hair while Frederik is even wearing a casual short sleeved shirt which I thought would not meet the modesty standard for men as it was showing too much "skin" even for men.
The enlightened Danish press is pathetic. Taking an offence on behalf of Crown Princess Mary is stupid. One might incessantly whine about rights of women and other issues in Saudi Arabia. However, one must conform to rules and traditions of the country.

It is a time-honoured plebeian tradition for European royals and their press corp to visit Saudi Arabia, accept expensive presents, and complain about inconveniences they encounter.
I would hardly think that bad manners are a cultural and traditional rule, as indeed is the intimation that Frederik and Mary or any other European Royal would publicly complain about "inconveniences" while accepting presents.

"Plebeian". Really?
 
Dinner tonight:
http://ekstrabladet.dk/incoming/eh3rk2/5973353/IMAGE_ALTERNATES/p900/Kronprinsparret i Saudi Arabien

Article:
It also goes the other way around. Tonight at the dinner, it was Frederik who experienced the Saudi traditions when some of the women at tonight's dinner refused to shake hands with Frederik.

But again it's obvious that F&M is well briefed and prepared for that.

Frede holdt fingrene fra kvinderne – Ekstra Bladet


Both have done an excellent job. With smiles and grace and you can tell they are well prepared . :flowers:

and we all blame teenagers but they are not the only ones unable to put their phones down ;)
 
The enlightened Danish press is pathetic. Taking an offence on behalf of Crown Princess Mary is stupid. One might incessantly whine about rights of women and other issues in Saudi Arabia. However, one must conform to rules and traditions of the country.

It is a time-honoured plebeian tradition for European royals and their press corp to visit Saudi Arabia, accept expensive presents, and complain about inconveniences they encounter.

So legislated oppression of women is okay, as long as it happens in the holy names of culture and religion?

If I wrote on this forum that it is my firm belief that women should stay at home and look after the children and that women in my opinion should not hold public offices and preferably not be allowed to vote either.
What would your response be?

There is a distinct double-standard that I find disturbing.
Many women in the West would be on me like a ton of bricks if I meant the above. And (fully deserved) call me a stone-age chauvinist as one of the more mild expressions.
Yet the very same women are perfectly willing to accept and close their eyes for other women being oppressed, also in the West, because "that is their culture". - So who are the hypocrites?

I'm not at all proud of this visit. There is a Danish saying that loosely translated goes like this: If having a (moral) standard is good, then having a double-standard must twice as good... I think that applies for this visit.
 
The enlightened Danish press is pathetic. Taking an offence on behalf of Crown Princess Mary is stupid. One might incessantly whine about rights of women and other issues in Saudi Arabia. However, one must conform to rules and traditions of the country.

It is a time-honoured plebeian tradition for European royals and their press corp to visit Saudi Arabia, accept expensive presents, and complain about inconveniences they encounter.

i have to agree. we are quick to criticise that women are not treated according to western standards when visiting saudi, quick to oversee that mary herself is an advocate of women's rights, quick to oversee what a terrible track record saudi arabia has... but then everyone seems to become quiet when they see how much of an economic impact this visit will have, and how much of an economic player saudi arabia is and the dollar money they will inject after this visit into denmark (or any other country organising an economic mission).

either we stand by our 'human and women's rights defenders' position, we value consistency and we ignore saudi arabia (and their money), or we organise economic missions to saudi to get their money and 'overlook' the fact that certain of our values are not the same there when we are confronted to them. but we can't have it all.


If I wrote on this forum that it is my firm belief that women should stay at home and look after the children and that women in my opinion should not hold public offices and preferably not be allowed to vote either.
What would your response be?

i think you are taking things out of context. of course, such a statement would not be tolerated in our western cultures. but it would be a very silly thing to say, or even imply, that they don't have a great human rights record when on a visit to saudi arabia to ask them to invest their money in your country....
 
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On to day 3 with another packed agenda

"March 1
The program continues the next day when, among other things, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and business leaders Saudis will host a formal lunch of the royal couple and the two ministers and trade delegation.

Mary will have the opportunity to visit the King Khaled Foundation, a Saudi equivalent of the Mary Foundation, while Crown Prince Frederik, along with business delegation visits acquires companies within the areas of focus.

In the afternoon there will be a farewell reception at the residence of the Danish Ambassador, with a focus on Danish design and participation of guests from Denmark and business customers in Saudi Arabia."
they will also visit King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center

then its off to Qatar:flowers:
 
That many would not shake hands was probably a given but that they should walk past her and totally ignore her was certainly not.

I find this behaviour nothing less than a deliberate insult as this is a formal, diplomatic visit and I am sure both Frederik and Mary would have been well briefed as to what to expect so as not to cause offence to their hosts. Mary obviously didn't expect to be publicly disrespected. However, she handled the situation with grace.

Those photos of Frederik with his hand in his pocket may very well be his own way to ensure he didn't do what comes so totally automatic and naturally to him, but would totally offend his hosts, namely putting his hand in the small of Mary's back or actually taking her hand in public.

I find myself intrigued by both Mary and Frederik's dress code. Formally, Mary is covering herself but wearing an abaya except in public and is not even covering her hair while Frederik is even wearing a casual short sleeved shirt which I thought would not meet the modesty standard for men as it was showing too much "skin" even for men.

I was surprised by Frederik's shirt, as well, especially since Mary's attire was unquestionably modest. I thought the norm was arms and legs covered for men, too.

I was even more surprised by the report that some of the men yesterday didn't even acknowledge Mary, (the lack of a handshake was to be expected, IMO). You have to assume this would be a pretty cosmopolitan crowd who should be very used to dealing with men and women from all over the world. Also, I think honouring invited guests and making them feel welcome is generally a point of pride in Saudi culture.
 
Saudi Arabia is one of the worst countries for women to live. Just recently I read that are not allowed to go into coffee shops to buy a coffee-to-go (that article was about Starbucks in Saudi Arabia). If you visit a country where you are not allowed to comment on political issues because it would harm the own business does not give a good picture.

I follow Mary's live since her marriage and I respect her for standing up for children and women's rights. But as for my perspective this trip doesn't seem right.

Thats not true! All over Saudi, women are allowed to go to coffee shops, restaurants and fast food chains, they all have a women/family section. You can simply youtube videos and pictures of women out an about. They can go to malls, parks, cinemas. The downside is that they can't driver.


This has been an amazing trip for the couple. I was pleased to see lots of pictures of Princess Mary and her by Frederik. I was a bit surprised that she didn't have a headscarf but I guess times are changing and for the good. This seems like it was a successful trip.

Cant wait to see them in Qatar soon, that would also be an interesting trip.
 
That many would not shake hands was probably a given but that they should walk past her and totally ignore her was certainly not.

I find this behaviour nothing less than a deliberate insult as this is a formal, diplomatic visit and I am sure both Frederik and Mary would have been well briefed as to what to expect so as not to cause offence to their hosts. Mary obviously didn't expect to be publicly disrespected. However, she handled the situation with grace.

This is the part that interests me. How is this possible?
What if it had been Queen Margrethe? Would she have been ignored too and would they only have greeted "King" Henrik?
 
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i have to agree. we are quick to criticise that women are not treated according to western standards when visiting saudi, quick to oversee that mary herself is an advocate of women's rights, quick to oversee what a terrible track record saudi arabia has... but then everyone seems to become quiet when they see how much of an economic impact this visit will have, and how much of an economic player saudi arabia is and the dollar money they will inject after this visit into denmark (or any other country organising an economic mission).

either we stand by our 'human and women's rights defenders' position, we value consistency and we ignore saudi arabia (and their money), or we organise economic missions to saudi to get their money and 'overlook' the fact that certain of our values are not the same there when we are confronted to them. but we can't have it all.




i think you are taking things out of context. of course, such a statement would not be tolerated in our western cultures. but it would be a very silly thing to say, or even imply, that they don't have a great human rights record when on a visit to saudi arabia to ask them to invest their money in your country....

Well, I actually think you proved my point, Carlota.

But I agree with you that this is about money and as a Roman emperor once said: Money don't stink.

Anyway, I think my opinion of this visit and view on conditions in Saudi Arabia in particular are obvious, so to avoid quarrel I will leave posting and coverage to others.

I hope to see M&F visit Morocco or Jordan one day. They have their problems, but at least they don't systematically oppress half the population.
 
Maybe it would have helped if Mary had been advised to only move her hand When the Men made the First move (what she did at the end). Maybe its freds way to show his disrespect of the whole Situation but he doesn't look like a CP but some guy on holiday with his shirt and sunglasses. This whole visit looks like a Farce to me for the Royals and should have done without them.
 
I hope to see M&F visit Morocco or Jordan one day. They have their problems, but at least they don't systematically oppress half the population.
They don't? You think Moroccans or Jordanians, especially women, are not oppressed? Double standards again, I'm afraid. The Western world has a very hypocritical way to decide who is a tyrann and who is not and when.
I am not saying the Saudi kings aren't tyranns but I think the controversy about this visit is actually a farce when there was absolutely no controversy when DRF members visited other countries where human rights are violated/women oppressed (Myanmar, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia...). Last year's Handball WC was held in Qatar, the last Women Deliver conference was in Malaysia, where female genital mutilition is very much in practice.

Also I think the story about Mary being ignored is exaggerated because of the media's and some poster's negative feelings about this visit (which I totally understand). Since the king is such a tyrann I doubt anyone would dare to insult his guests at a breakfast given by the king in their honour.
I watched the EB videos and I was actually surprised how many did shake hands (both men and women).
 
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I'm wondering whether CP Mary was briefed about the handshake business
in advance? I for one thought it was general knowledge, and besides it shouldn't really come as a surprise considering that the same can happen in DK, including Muslim women not shaking hands with men!
 
Anyway, I think my opinion of this visit and view on conditions in Saudi Arabia in particular are obvious, so to avoid quarrel I will leave posting and coverage to others.

i hope you reconsider posting on the visit, mulher! your posts are always so informative.
 
Like Muhler, I will refrain from political comments about this trip. That's a sensitive subject these days, especially for us 'Murricans! However, I must say that Mary looks great while adhering to the dress code of the country. If you follow the royal fashion blogs, two Muslim women that regularly appear are Queen Rania of Jordan and Sheikha Mozah of Qatar. They are very stylish, yet always manage to adhere to the dress requirements. In the case of Rania, she does not cover her head and wears street-length skirts, although in a longer length. Her elbows are always covered. Sheikha Mozah always wears long dresses with long sleeves which are quite fashionable with a matching head covering. I hope that she and Mary meet up in Qatar.

Muhler, feel free to chime in on fashion anytime :flowers:
 
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