Crown Prince Frederik & Crown Princess Mary's Visit to Australia: October 24-28, 2013

[Lady Rosie]

Originally Posted by royalistbert

Loverly I come here to find a pop at the BRF.

royalistbert, none of us here in the Danish forum put down the BRF. In fact if you read my post, I spoke of Harry's recent successful visit and the popularity of the Cambridges and the Wales'.

M&F popularity here is different in that Mary was born and raised here and Frederik is an "adopted son". Stating this doesn't take away from QE2 or the BRF.

No one here made any such comment.

[nwinther]

I was in Australia in February 2007 for a couple of weeks, and I was surprised to see Mary's face on almost any magazine cover.

After all this was a couple of years after the wedding and while my family there is Danish, I figured the hype would have worn off.

In a few weeks I'm going to Australia again (this time for 6½ weeks) and it'll be interesting to see how much Mary and the DRF take up down there now, almost 10 years after the wedding.

[Muhler]

Unsurprisingly BB continues it's coverage of M&F's visito to Australia and this week they focus on what Mary wore, shoes, bags, jewels and so on:
https://app.box.com/s/d2uh7m3umk2k196kdbu9
https://app.box.com/s/si5my6hoiw2kf0n5xcpq
https://app.box.com/s/l61zvfk5be0mqbmdkejp
https://app.box.com/s/ew8u9x0wwsqhqtcmf4fo

I think you can figure our the text.

---------------------------

Originally Posted by Roslyn

I think this is the thing. Mary is one of us and she will always be considered one of us whereas the BRF is only relevant here because of our historical connection with Britain. The members of the BRF are guests; Mary is family.

That I think is a very interesting summing up.

It is also my impression, judging from Australians I have encountered on this forum and elsewhere, that Danish and Australian mentallity is very similar.
We have have an almost fierce egalitarian outlook, a very similar (sometimes almost rude humour), a similar laid back and informal attitude and a very direct (sometimes almost shocking) manner when we address an issue. - That may also be helpful, both in integrating an Australian into our tribe and adopting our CP into the Australian tribe.
Perhaps nwinter can comment on that?

[Sun Lion]

Hi Everyone,

I think I've figured out how to post some of my photos from CP Mary and CP Frederik's recent visit to Sydney -

l

A lovely photo of CP Mary's sisters, Patricia on the left, and Jane on the right, that I took at the opening of the Ole Lynggaard flagship store in Market St Sydney. This was after the crowds had moved off a bit. The store is opposite the "David Jones" women's store, and next door to the "Hermes" store - so the "right" part of town! (As I said in a post at the time - lovely, lovely people.)



A little earlier the same day, just outside the Western Foyer of the Opera House. I took my photos from the side, so although no Harbour Bridge in the background, I think there is less shadowing on the people's faces.


Well my husband is kicking me off the computer! - and I can't upload the photos from my tablet.

I'll have to leave this at this point, but I will be back with some more at some stage.

(And I'm not sure why I've got some as seperate photos and some in a group, but I hope you can enlarge them.)

Best Wishes Everyone, Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Hi Again,

Husband's had enough of the computer so I'm back - (but getting close to my bedtime).

Here are a couple of nice shots I got of CP Mary and CP Frederik as they headed for the Man O' War Steps to board the little yacht "Xpress".

When I watched the "Prize" broadcast a week later on SBS TV I realised some of the footage was filmed from this time, (and also the interview with M and F outdoors, was done in the garden at Admiralty House, which they sailed to at the end of this.)

This was at the end of M and F's tour of the Opera House on the first, Thursday, morning.

CP Mary and her lady in waiting had changed into casual clothes, and tied their hair back, though CP Mary kept on her jewellery from earlier.

Same running shoes were to be seen three day's later in the photos in the bushfire zone at Winmalee. (Not available in Oz - I checked!).

Just before this is when CP Mary's sister Patricia came up behind our little group and asked us what was going on - so funny really.

Cheers, Sun Lion.



Here are a few photos from the last day, Monday, at the lunch in the Bennelong Resturant in the Opera House.

If you can't see CP Mary straight away - she's facing the camera and has the Danish and Australian flags on the table in front of her.

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Here are a few photos I took as M and F began their tour of the Opera House - they started outside.

All the official photographers and media people had raced off to file their reports or where busy interviewing Jan Utzon.

There was a bit of a lull when M and F and LIW Tanja and various others just hovered at the top of the stairs, then Louise Herron - I think that is Louise Herron with them - started showing them things.

This all took about half an hour, so I had quite a chance just to watch everyone - doing "nothing".

A few of my photos caught Mary being lashed with her hair by the stiff Harbour breeze, and I saw she got some grit in her eye at one stage.

The area they were standing on is high up and open. The first of several beautiful days though - a pleasure to be outdoors.

Sun Lion.



Here are a few shots from the Ole Lynggaard flagship store opening in Market St from the second day, Friday.

You can see Charlotte Lynggaard greeting CP Mary.

That is Amber with the long blonde hair and blue dress, with Patricia and Jane - and indeed other Australian friends of Mary's - standing watching as she enters the store.

The shop is very small so a lot of the guests didn't enter until after CP Mary had departed.

And I recognised Amber as I was taking photos, but didn't realise sisters Jane and Patricia were present until I met them after everyone had moved on.

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Here are a few photos aboard the little yacht "Xpress".

You can see CP Mary being fitted with a microphone ready for the onboard filming.

I love this set of photos - I took many, many snaps as they sailed back and forth in front of me for about an hour or so - as the day was just perfection.

Sparkling water, fresh cool breeze, hot bright sun.

Sun Lion.

P.S. These photos were late morning into lunch.



The wonderful vessel "Southern Cloud".

This is one of a series of photos I took from my window as it sailed first in this direction, and then not long after, back again, on the Saturday CP Mary, CP Frederik and Mary's family had a reunion on board - Roskilde has posted photos of that.

I didn't photograph it going the other way as I was busy getting tea ready to go out, but I saw it anchored on the Lower North Shore, along from Taronga zoo, as I crossed the Harbour Bridge on my way into the city later that evening.

(Have seen it many times in the following weeks - even in some bad weather. Conditions have been so bad here again at times - one of my windows exploded in and broke everywhere two nights ago in the westerly storm we had.)

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

About my only decent photo of CP Mary from the time she came over to us on the last day, Monday - just before she popped over to Paddington to do some shopping.

I didn't get many good photos, but we all got to see her up close, talk to her and shake hands.

(One of my fellow fans from this occasion actually turned up on TV a few nights ago - he was interviewed for the news, as he was in the street watching Angelina Jolie filming her new movie on location - so he's got to see a few famous ladies lately.)

This is underneath the part of the Opera House that is know as the Monumental Stairs.

CP Mary has just come out of the "Joan Sutherland Theatre" after rehearsing for that night's "Prize" event.

CP Frederik has already left, about ten minutes earlier.

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

This is the other side - the street side - of Admiralty House in Kirribilli.

All the security staff and I waited here while M and F filmed their garden interview for the "Prize" event .

This was on the first day, Thursday, after they had sailed to the jetty on the Harbour side.

The little white building houses our Federal Police, so the people living in the flats and houses about here must feel safe with the constant street patrols I've seen them do out of this building.

M and F had their meeting with NSW Governor Marie Bashir back on the other side of the Harbour to attend still at this point. This was about 2.40pm., and very hot away from the Harbour breeze.

Here they come ... There they go!

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

The Royal party making their way to the jetty at the side of the Opera House on the Thursday morning.

CP Mary leading the way - no mucking about.

Can you see the tourist boat in the background of the last photo.

Our little group of Royal fans had to stand aside to allow these people - from one of the large cruise ships in port at Circular Quay - within walking distance of this spot - to board.

We noticed security talking on their earpieces, to advise M and F could come out we guessed, only when they were all on board and had weighed anchor, though obviously the captain of that vessel hung around for them all to see M and F.

CP Mary didn't put her sunnies down until quite some time - the party stood on the jetty for about 15 - 20 minutes - and gave us all a big wave as they went to board. (Or maybe she had spotted her sister Patricia with us and was actually just waving to her! - oh well.)

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Some scenes of the enthusiastic crowds greeting CP Mary in Market St on the Friday.

See those hands go up - everyone wants their very own photo that they took.

See how close the security hover around M, should anyone get too keen.

Sun Lion.

P.S. CP Mary is in all of these photos - you may not see her at first in the last couple though.




Some sparking photos from Thursday's jaunt aboard little "Xpress".

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Some final photos - lovely Mary in blue against the blueness of a Sydney day.

(Oh yes, and CP Fred was there too.)

Best Wishes Everyone, Sun Lion.

[Muhler]

I've already hit the thank-you botton a couple of times but I think you deserve a post as well.

Thanks a lot for your continuing coverage of M&F's visit to Australia. You have and you continue to be our eyes on the ground and that is so much better and more personal than what we get from reporters.

[Roskilde]

I'll give you a big thanks a well, Sun Lion. Very nice pictures you got taken during their visit. Thanks for sharing them with us. You came very close, to both Mary and Frederik, but also to Jane, Patricia, Amber, etc. It looks like you came around to many of their events, it must have been a experience! You can feel in the pictures that the mood seems to have been warm and friendly everywhere.

Your pictures shows Australia from its best side - beautiful weather, beautiful landscape. I hope I can see your country someday.

And I must say, what a view you have from your house!!!

[Sun Lion]

Hi Muhler, Hi Roskilde and Hi polyesco and everyone who posted in the Mexican trip thread - thank you back.

I followed it all with great interest. (And the news from Denmark regarding "Vild Med Dans" and CP Mary's other activities back there.)

I wanted to let the Danish posters know that the "Danish Design at the House" exhibition that was held in the Western Foyer of the Opera House, and that M and F were photographed at, was meant to close on Monday 11th November as I said in an earlier post - but it was still going when I was passing by the Opera House a week ago.

I popped in to have another close up look at the Ole Lynggaard jewellery, but had to battle through masses of people - and on a Thursday afternoon, not the weekend - to see anything.

People were all over the display pods, handling the cutlery etc. - what a melee.

Too much action for me, so after another squiz at the lovely Lynggaard things I got myself out of there.

I think they must have extended it because it is still drawing people. I have my brochure from it and it was definetly due to close earlier.

Best Wishes All, Sun Lion.

[Roskilde]

I saw this nice pic of Mary with a girl from one of the fire-affected areas.
http://31.media.tumblr.com/86106d9d9...1h2o2_1280.jpg

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Roskilde

I saw this nice pic of Mary with a girl from one of the fire-affected areas.
http://31.media.tumblr.com/86106d9d9...1h2o2_1280.jpg

what a beautiful picture (and with a sexy Frederik in the back)

You can really feel the warmth in that embrace

[helenbeee]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

Thanks for that link. It was interesting to hear Frederik speaking English.



As I see it, Mary is an Australian who happens to have become a Danish Princess because of who she married, and that makes her husband and children and in-laws honorary Australians. I happen to adore her mother-in-law and am very happy to claim her.

I agree we like Fred for Fred and feel he has married into our Australian family I mean its nice that he is a Prince and he has opened up a world that we would never have known on such an intimate level through his marriage to Mary. But honestly if Mary was a bit celeb and had married Fred an ordinary Dane we still would have loved him the same and he would have enjoyed the same warm welcome he enjoys now for him despite the royal part of him. I think that is why he probably likes Australia I used to see him a bit around Hobart before the wedding and he always looked very relaxed and at home there. We will acknowledge your celebrity but there is a genuine no fuss policy to us we will cheer and wave but we wont bend over backwards and fawn you wont get over the top treatment just genuine warm well wishes.

[Muhler]

Beautifully put, Helenbee.

I hope and believe I speak for most Danes when I say that we don't expect more from you Australians towards Frederik (or for that matter towards our Crown Princess ).
No need to bow and growl - except in connection with the protocol, but that's when the show is on, so that's another matter.
If you treat M&F in the same friendly relaxed manner as we Danes do should we meet them in the street, who is to complain, eh?
Behaviourly speaking I'd say our countries are pretty close. (There are of course countries and cultures where such a laid back approach would seem awkward, so they may do what they feel is right. No problem, it's the attitude that matters).

[Sun Lion]

A chance to use the computer and post a few more of my M and F photos from the recent Oz trip.

Here CP Mary and CP Frederik are boarding the yacht "Xpress", at the Man O' War Steps along side the Opera House, late morning on the first day, Thursday.

Mary is given a helping hand, but for Frederik it's up and over.

(P.S. LIW Tanja is in all the shots, busy with her bag.)



A series of shots from the lunch at the Bennelong Resturant at the Opera House on the final day, Monday.

CP Mary seems to have attracted a free-loader looking for a hand-out.

(No- I don't mean me. I mean the little guy checking things out.)

Sun Lion.