Royalty & How They Feel About Their Roles

[Danielle]

Originally Posted by Alexandria

Aren't Canadians 'Canucks' and Americans 'Yanks/Yankees?'

Princess Michael's remarks were considered racist because she told a waiter of African heritage whom she apparently didn't think was doing a good job that he should "go back to the colonies" and reminded him to some effect that she was a protector of the colony or something like that that reminded him of her Windsor/royal status. That is offensive and racist unto itself. Furthermore, she had no idea about his background to make such a judgement about him -- and who is she to judge him anyway?

I cannot believe that she said that. I'm in shock. That is so racist, disrespectful and rude. By the sound of her, she must do this kind of thing all of the time.

[sara1981]

what about Diana,Princess of Wales and Sophie,Countess of Wessex, Sarah,Duchess of York and Princess Anne?

many people thinks Princess Diana was Royals and Sophie Wessex also Royals too if you think about it!

Sara Boyce

[hillary_nugent]

Originally Posted by sara1981

what about Diana,Princess of Wales and Sophie,Countess of Wessex, Sarah,Duchess of York and Princess Anne?

many people thinks Princess Diana was Royals and Sophie Wessex also Royals too if you think about it!

Sara Boyce

But they are Royal...aren't they?

[Elsie]

I don't know if any single royal has from day one wished they were someone in a different circumstance. There is no doubting that there are perks to been royal, but I diffinitely know there are time when they became very aware that being royal is a big limitation to their lives.
Prince Charles said in an interview that it is horrific having everything planned for you. Your schooling, university, military career ect.
Princess Anne noted the same, Andrew and Edward too. It's just that they are pretty constrainted into what is 'allowed' or rather what is expected. Maybe they know they lack personal freedom - all decisions they make are made with others and consquences scutinised. It's not a life I envy. What if Anne wanted to go to university whould she ave been allowed. What if Charles didn't wanted to go to the Navy, he is the heir to the throne, he couldn't say no like Edward did? Do they have any control over their lives at all? Or is that control to be sort in choosing the right advisiors? Do non -British royals have a greater control of their lives?

[Australian]

You make very good points Elsie. Its not a life i would wish for at all. I wonder how the royals feel, its not as if they asked to be royal.

[Josefine]

has any royal said that they like thir role as royal

[betina]

The king of Sweden is very royal (but I dont like his comment about Victoria, that he would have been happyer if his son followed him as heir)

[lashinka2002]

Princess Anne - An example of someone who is very royal, but doesn't seem to like being royal.
She does her duty efficiently and does not attach herself to her work. It seems just like buisness to her. Even when she's visiting sick & impoverished children.
Princess Caroline of Monaco - Acts very royal but is actually not. Her mother was not born royal & her paternal grandmother was born out of wedlock to an actress. Married E-A and got a HRH out of it but he has no reigning house. She seems to want to elevate herself.
Not royal - Princess marie-chantal of Greece..oh pleeeasseee!!!!
Stephanie - when she wants to she can pull off being royal but its obvious its only been a burden to her

[GrandDuchess]

Originally Posted by betina

The king of Sweden is very royal (but I dont like his comment about Victoria, that he would have been happyer if his son followed him as heir)

I don't want to start this discussion again (there are lots of post on the topic in the Swedish forum somewhere) - but the King actually never said that (at least not in the interview I know of, from the 21st century). What he said was the he thought it was very strange to change a law and then make it valid before it was written.

[capricorninin]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

I don't want to start this discussion again (there are lots of post on the topic in the Swedish forum somewhere) - but the King actually never said that (at least not in the interview I know of, from the 21st century). What he said was the he thought it was very strange to change a law and then make it valid before it was written.

I agree with you, it was not in the sense that he was against his daughter claimimg the throne but rather that in this generation, prince CP was already born a crownprince and therefore the new law should have come in effect for the next generation i.e for Carl Phillip's children. This is the way it was done for Norway, I believe. Though the law got changed before Haakon officially became Crown Prince, it came in effect only with Ingrid.

[Rebafan81]

I am reading a new non-fiction book about an European Princess who doesn't want to take over the "family" business, she just wants to be a regular person. She thinks ribbon cutting and state dinners are very boring and it got me thinking, how do most of the Crown Prince/Princess feel about one day taking on the job? I know Prince William has always said he just wants to be a regular person, what about the rest of them?
CP Haakon??
CP Felipe??
CP Victoria ??
CP Fred??
Have any of them ever expressed a desire to be "non-royal" and have a regular job??? Thanks, this is my first thread, hope this is a good one.

[Henri M.]

The only royal I know, openly disliking the idea of once being a King, is Prince Friso of the Netherlands, until 2003 the future 'reserve-King'. He is extremely gifted (graduated cum laude in aerodynamica and in economics and a post-graduate MBA) but lacks all what is need to get in touch with 'the public'.

He is the only guy who openly showed his dislike of the idea of being King. In the autobiographical book 'Alexander' by Renate Rubinstein (written with and about the Prince of Orange) a fight is described between the brothers is which Prince Friso yelled 'hit him, but don't kill him! Otherwise I have to be King!'


It is unlikely that any Heir would express openly dislike to his/her destiny because this would stir up a gigantic debate.

[princess leonor]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

He is the only guy who openly showed his dislike of the idea of being King. In the autobiographical book 'Alexander' by Renate Rubinstein (written with and about the Prince of Orange) she described a fight between the brothers is which Prince Friso yelled 'hit him, but don't kill him! Otherwise I have to be King!'

Seriously??? Oh my God I cannot believe he would say that. Don't kill him or I'll have to be king He didn't have to though, he could just say he didn't want to, and then Constantin would become king right? Do you happen to know how old they were when they had this fight??

[Henri M.]

I think Prince Friso was 16 or 17 when he said that. It was in the book 'Alexander', a biographical book on the occasion of the Prince of Orange's 18th birthday. See picture (scanned and photobucketed from an old Beatrix Regina).

Until the birth of his niece Princess Catharina Amalia, Prince Friso was nr 2 in the line of succession.

[Lena]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

He is the only guy who openly showed his dislike of the idea of being King. In the autobiographical book 'Alexander' by Renate Rubinstein (written with and about the Prince of Orange) a fight is described between the brothers is which Prince Friso yelled 'hit him, but don't kill him! Otherwise I have to be King!'

Sounds very much like something one would expect coming from them. Friso might not connect to the ppl well, but at least the brothers seem to have a great relationship.

I would say the roundabout way all mentioned crown princes (not sure about Felipe, haven´t read many iviews with him) have stated, that they wished to be an ordinary citizen at some points of their lives and for example crown princess Victoria has sometimes stated, that drawings of children, she is getting help her to get over days (in the "job") that aren´t as great as others.
But I guess none of them would ever state, that their tasks are generally boring and meaningless. And many of them seem, as if they got addicted to "mass attention"

I think Crown Prince Naruhito stated this or last year, that he would love to do a "real" job instead of cutting ribbons. Could have been out of context or made up by the press though. Maybe regular watchers of the japanese imperial house know more (?)

[auntie]

Sorry for not empathizing, but if Victoria or any other CPrince has problems, so just step down and let the next one (or in Holland the 3rd one ) take over! Talk about being complicated!!!

[Madame Royale]

Its truly not as easy as that, auntie.

And if the second isn't willing? and the third, and the fourth and so on? And that's just pointing out the most obvious possibility.

The point of hereditary monarchy, again is?

I think its perfectly normal and understandable for any persons in a position which leads into something greater than themselves, to be confronted with moments (and periods) of 'why me' and 'what if I can't'. Self doubt plagues us all at one time or another, so why should royals be the exception?

Its well known that Crown Prince Frederik went through a period by which he was often depressed at the prospect of oneday assuming the responsibilties of being King. A future he did not choose but one he is bound to by birth, by obligation and by historical significance. Something so great would rest a heavy burden on anyone shoulders and the fact that it is they, who have been "chosen" by accident of birth would definitly mean to them something we could not understand. To suggest the possibility of relinquishing the duty is as easy as passing it on, is I think, rather naïve in judgement (no offence intended )

Frederik has since accepted his future (from what we can see), is happily married, has a beautiful son and can rest easy in knowing he shall have the full support of family, friends and his subjects.

[auntie]

One thing I can say, Fred or most of the Crown Princes are not above average intelligence or scholastic acheivments (to put it mildly), The Royal families of Europe with the exception of UK and maybe Holland have no great fortune of what to speak of, without being born into this family Freddy darling would not be able to live the lifestyle he has currently! So they should definitly appreciate the "accident" of birth!

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by auntie

One thing I can say, Fred or most of the Crown Princes are not above average intelligence or scholastic acheivments (to put it mildly), The Royal families of Europe with the exception of UK and maybe Holland have no great fortune of what to speak of, without being born into this family Freddy darling would not be able to live the lifestyle he has currently! So they should definitly appreciate the "accident" of birth!

But even Queen Elizabeth was not born to be monarch, so even she would have lived a life (had Edward not abdicated) much the same as her Kent and Gloucester cousins and her children would have held some sort of mainstreem employment. The Queen is not Queen by way of birth, but by way of Abdication which is again, a different circumstance and one which must not be forgotten.

Academically, the Danish Royal Family aren't to bad. I advise you read up on their education.

Crown Prince Frederik studied Science of Government at Harvard from 1992 - 93 and then went on to graduate in 1995 with his Master Political Science. All the while he was fulfilling his military interests and various other UN and political obligations in the US and France. He may not be the most academic royal but he does quite ok I think.

I'm sure they do appreciate their positions and the magnitude of what they are apart of.

[IloveCP]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Its truly not as easy as that, auntie.

And if the second isn't willing? and the third, and the fourth and so on? And that's just pointing out the most obvious possibility.

The point of hereditary monarchy, again is?

I think its perfectly normal and understandable for any persons in a position which leads into something greater than themselves, to be confronted with moments (and periods) of 'why me' and 'what if I can't'. Self doubt plagues us all at one time or another, so why should royals be the exception?

Its well known that Crown Prince Frederik went through a period by which he was often depressed at the prospect of oneday assuming the responsibilties of being King. A future he did not choose but one he is bound to by birth, by obligation and by historical significance. Something so great would rest a heavy burden on anyone shoulders and the fact that it is they, who have been "chosen" by accident of birth would definitly mean to them something we could not understand. To suggest the possibility of relinquishing the duty is as easy as passing it on, is I think, rather naïve in judgement (no offence intended )

Frederik has since accepted his future (from what we can see), is happily married, has a beautiful son and can rest easy in knowing he shall have the full support of family, friends and his subjects.

He was really deppressed?If he was than how sad.