Crown Princess Mary's Working Visit to Russia: October 8-9, 2012

[iceflower]

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Mary at the flower-laying ceremony at the World War II monument called the "Memorial to Heroic Defenders of Leningrad" in St. Petersburg October 9, 2012.



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** lehtikuva.fi gallery **

[helenbeee]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Yeah, I'm not quite sure what helenbeee's on about either

I don't think there is anything at all which would suggest Mary is unhappy. She certainly doesn't present a picture of a woman experiencing personal unhappiness. Quite the opposite infact.

I didnt say she was unhappy she just seems a little guarded to me that is all. But its more a question of the images chosen by the media rather than Mary herself who Im sure is very happy with her lovely family. More a question on how the media trying to portray her.

Dont get me wrong I love Mary as a Tasmanian who saw her and Fred in their courting days in person I would definitely say that theirs looks a longlasting and loving relationship.

[Madame Royale]

Not a problem helenbeee. Your perception is your perception

I have six of the ten major national newspapers delivered at my home each day and none in my recollection have ever painted a picture of a woman guarded. However, do you think your perception may have more to do with Mary now being a mother of four young children which has made her become more aware of her surrounds in general?

I'd imagine that always thinking of your children's best interests and whose around them would naturally make you more aware of your own surrounds in time as well.

[JemmaOne]

The high heeled shoes she's wearing on Day II - are they called Mary Janes? - are SOOOO BEAUTIFUL.

I wish I could walk around in heels like that!

[iceflower]

It's just a matter of practice and sometimes of the ability to suffer


** sn.dk gallery: Billedserie: Kronprinsessen og De Vilde Svaner **


** hellomagazine: Mary and Marie fly solo on international power engagements **


** svenskdam.se: Mary besökte bryggeri i Ryssland ** translation **

[grevinnan]

Originally Posted by JemmaOne

The high heeled shoes she's wearing on Day II - are they called Mary Janes? - are SOOOO BEAUTIFUL.

I wish I could walk around in heels like that!

No, they are not called Mary Janes. Although they have a strap over the instep they do not qualify.

[marta19pl]

And some photos from Russia in this gallery --> Rex Features - Photographic press agency and picture library

[Al_bina]

Spletnik.ru --- Crown Princess Mary visited Russia

[UserDane]

That was some nice pictures. Thank you Al Bina

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #41, 2012.
Mary på russisk visit (wordplay) - Mary on a Russian visit.
Written by our man in Russia Henrik Salling.

Covering the first couple of days of her visit. Mary and her LiW stays at Hotel Grand Europe.
The purpose of the visit is very much to promote Danish culture as a logic continuation (and incorporation) of the commerce offensive to Russia. Culture is something the Russians traditionally put a lot of emphasiz on.
Mary was officially there to open an exhibition about movie The Wild Swans, but while there she also adds a good deal of focus on Danish businesses in Russia. (*)
The works of H. C. Andersen is a mandatory part of the school curriculum in Russia, and as such practically all Russians are familiar with his stories. (**)
Now, Mary is a woman and she wear dresses and she is pretty glamorous, so she has attracted a very considerable attention from in particular the local papers and networks, who admittedly didn't know much about the DRF, but now the Russian state-TV intends to show more.

Mary, now having a lot of routine said all the right things: "I've looked forward to returning to the city and that the Wild Swans are shown here, comfirms the close bonds between Russian and Denmark. Bonds that have grown even stronger after the visit of my parents-in-law last year. (***)
When I was a child my parents read aloud from the fairy tales of H. C. Andersen. Now we read the very same fairy tales aloud for our own children.
I hope the exhibition will give the visitors an insight into the creation of the movie and it is genuinely a great honor for me to open the exhibition, which can now be shown in these beautiful settings.
The stories of H. C. Andersen are eternally contemporary and relevant for the whole world.
I hope the Exhibition will appeal to all as it has to me". (****)
The exhibition is located at the Winter Palace.

While Mary was in Saint Petersburg she handed out the Prince Henrik Medal of Honor (a commerce order) to the manager of Rockwool in Russia, Nick Vince. - As several local networks were in the heels of Mary it's no wonder his smile was so broad that his face almost split in two.

(*) Oh yes, this is very much about money.

(**) That is also the case in China, where for example the story of the Girl with the Match Sticks has been interpreted as being anti-captalism.
Needless to say the Emperor's New Clothes was/is a particular favorite in both Russia and China.

(***) The bonds have not always been that tight. In fact Russia put DK on ice after the Danish government took a "wrong" stance in connection with the situation in Caucasus. So we have been doing a lot of sucking up to Russia, including delighting President Putin recently. QMII is "culturniy"!

(****) Well, the movie didn't appeal that much to me, but then I'm not culturniy.

[Duke-of-Earl]

I find Mary to be a very bland looking woman. Maybe her foreign travels would be covered by media outside of Denmark and Australia if she changed some of her stylists.

[marfre]

Iam just catching up with some of the threads and the funny thing I read almost exactly the same wording in one of Kate's threads, it mentioned she was bland.


Thanks all for posting, it looked like a really great couple of days.
Some wonderful pic of Mary with the children.

[iceflower]

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Here's one more gallery of the visit:



** pp: Princesse Mary : Une chic élève en cours de dessin au Musée de l'Ermitage **

[ortino]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Yeah, I'm not quite sure what helenbeee's on about either

I don't think there is anything at all which would suggest Mary is unhappy. She certainly doesn't present a picture of a woman experiencing personal unhappiness. Quite the opposite infact.

I agree with Helenbeee completely- Good eye Helenbeee!!!!
She presents a picture of a woman experiencing personal & emotional conflict.

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #42, 2012.
Stilhed for de faldne - Silence for the fallen.
Written by our man in Russia, Henrik Salling.

On the last day of her visit Mary visited an art academy where children had produced decupages like the ones QMII is so fond of creating.
And some of the students, girls, posed with Mary holding up their artworks.
Now, being photographed, with a Crown Princess no less, is a very serious business!
So Mary loosened up the mood by pointing at the corners of her mouth and smiling. - That helped.

Then it was off to Baltica Breweries to sample their beer. Mary apparantly isn't familiar with the selection and tasted a glass of whatever she was suggested. Her entourage where also very willing to try the beer. (*)

Last item on the agenda was much more sombre. Laying down a wreath at the memorial for the 1.500.000 people who died during the siege of the then Leningrad during WWII. A siege that was medieval in it's merciless ferocity and it lasted 852 days. Mary wore a coat by Sand.
After observing a half of minute of silence it was back to DK.

(*) Danish run breweries in Russia have been quite a success, at least for some time. The Russians now drink beer as though it is vodka.