Frederik and Mary's Work Schedule

[sunsh1n3]

I don't understand why people get bent out of shape when people want to know how much actual work the royals are doing. I think it is a valid issue, especially if you live in a country where your tax money goes to support their affluent lifestyle. This type of question doesn't mean that you are criticizing their life style, only that you would like to see some accountability for how much time they actually spend working. We can say that it is really none of our business, but if I was the one supporting them, I would want to know that they are not passing off vacations/holidays as official events.

I understand that there is work being done behind the scenes, but I also see long holidays/vacations throught the year. Anyways, I feel that it is a valid question to ask.

[Amelia]

I don't understand why people get bent out of shape when people want to know how much actual work the royals are doing.

I don't think people get 'bent out of shape', people simply point out that it is not an easy question to answer.

This type of question doesn't mean that you are criticizing their life style, only that you would like to see some accountability for how much time they actually spend working.

The court publish their calendar for each month which lists their offical events -

Beyond that there is no way anyone here could answer how much time they actually spend working and, unless the organizations that they are involved with come out with a list of how much time they spend meeting behinds the scenes or unless the court comes out with a detailed list of the amount of time they spend preparing for an event, it is doubtful that we ever will.

[sandyn]

Frederik has stated that he wanted his children to have a different childhood from his, namely more parental involvement. I think we should congratulate this couple and stop criticising them. Currently they are able to be involved with their children because they are only "in waiting". If Frederik were suddenly to succeed, hopefully later rather than sooner, both the CP's would be thrown into the whirlwind of rigorous royal duties. I have faith that when called upon to step-up to the throne the CP's will do so in an admirable fashion. Let's allow them this time though to carry out their current official duties and juggle parenthood their way.

[GlitteringTiaras]

Frederik defends his work schedule to Jan Kroner. You can read about it here.

According to Frederik, to Jan: I work around the clock, buddy! Whoops! I guess Jan hit a sore spot because Frederik was clearly mad at the journalist who asked him, "It has been discussed/reported that you are not doing enough regarding work. Is it Eskstra Bladet's criticism?" Frederik replied, "You know, I work hard I work 24 hours a day seven days a week, just ask my father. And I will never retire!!!"

Other questions raised between Jan and Frederik with his friend, Holger Foss at his side eating lunch in Copenhagen:

"Good morning, what do you think about this book for it seems you have given more of yourself than you usually do?" Frederik responds, "It is up to the readers to judge..." says Frederik with evasive signals that he wants to be left alone to drink his beer and eat with his friend, Holger.

Overall, Frederik was in a bad mood.

[T4phage]

Just ask my father?

Rather childish, no?

[wombat]

I think it is rather obvious that Mary seems to be working a lot more then Fred, she seems to have something on almost every day and on top of that has 2 childeren to look after.
I always get the feeling she is almost compensating for Fed's lack of commitment. I quess they might have different workethics, Mary being a commoner and used to working hard. IMO Australians have a strong work ethic and maybe she also works hard because she was not born into royalty, some how feels she needs to 'earn' her way. Like she is trying to proof herself by almost over doing it.
I don't know if I am breaking any rules here as I have never posted before, but that's MO.

[ricarda]

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

Frederik defends his work schedule to Jan Kroner. You can read about it here.

According to Frederik, to Jan: I work around the clock, buddy! Whoops! I guess Jan hit a sore spot because Frederik was clearly mad at the journalist who asked him, "It has been discussed/reported that you are not doing enough regarding work. Is it Eskstra Bladet's criticism?" Frederik replied, "You know, I work hard I work 24 hours a day seven days a week, just ask my father. And I will never retire!!!"

Other questions raised between Jan and Frederik with his friend, Holger Foss at his side eating lunch in Copenhagen:

"Good morning, what do you think about this book for it seems you have given more of yourself than you usually do?" Frederik responds, "It is up to the readers to judge..." says Frederik with evasive signals that he wants to be left alone to drink his beer and eat with his friend, Holger.

Overall, Frederik was in a bad mood.

Jan Körner btw is the journalist who first dubbed Mary the "Nordic Imelda Marcos" and later the same year wrote a book about the "Princess with Style". He usually asks provocative questions in a provocative way to stir up the pot (e.g. he is the one who told Marie during the engagement interview that Joachim is known as a party prince and asked her what she is going to do about it; she - IMO very charmingly - answered that she loves parties too; at that time Körner had already called her a party-princess btw ).
So no wonder if Frederik - who obviously was disturbed during lunch - wasn't too friendly to him. But actually,in the picture he doesn't look as if he is in a bad mood.

And drollekop, if you look at their calendar you will find that in most months Frederik has as many engagements as Mary, in some even more, in a few less. (But he usually doesn't get as much media attention)
So, I don't think Mary is compensating anything.

[Amelia]

"You know, I work hard I work 24 hours a day seven days a week, just ask my father. And I will never retire!!!"

I'm hoping this got a little lost in translation 'cause otherwise it sounds like something a schoolboy would say

[princess leonor]

These things are quite impossible to judge IMO. We don't know how much work they do and will never know it. Because obviously every engagement they have requires a lot of preparation, and during these preparations there are no cameras present to take photographs of them! I do think they have less public engagements than other royal couples, but that doesn't mean anything of course. I wonder why Frederik felt the need to defend himself though, from what I've read from your translations of the interview, he actually felt attacked by the journalist and in the need to defend.

[ricarda]

If you look at the various calendars, they don't have less public engagements than the Norwegian, the Dutch or the Belgian royal couples.

I'm hoping this got a little lost in translation

I would say everything gets lost with EB/Körner, and not through translation,I would rather say through "willfull misquoting".

[Duke of Marmalade]

Unless the protagonists of a monarchy (Kings, Crown Princes) will anger the public with obvious lazyness or do nothing at all which is clearly not the case in Denmark I don't think the amount of events is the decisive factor. Furthermore, we don't know how much they work behind the scenes and in well established monarchies such as Denmark people probably tend to value other benefits higher than a packed schedule. Best example is Spain, they work their butts off but might be the first in line for abolishment after the King's death. Bottom line is the Danish do work and attending one event after another does not have to be a key factor to survive. I think the question of benefit for the Danish people will only come up on the agenda when Frederik becomes King and well into his reign but not now, no way.

[Amelia]

I wonder why Frederik felt the need to defend himself though, from what I've read from your translations of the interview, he actually felt attacked by the journalist and in the need to defend.

Well in his defense he was just sitting there having his lunch, so the whole thing probably just caught him a little off-guard.

[princess leonor]

Originally Posted by Amelia

Well in his defense he was just sitting there having his lunch, so the whole thing probably just caught him a little off-guard.

oh really, I thought it was part of a whole interview or something! No wonder he was a bit annoyed, if he was disturbed during his lunch!

[wiwaxia]

Originally Posted by Amelia

I'm hoping this got a little lost in translation 'cause otherwise it sounds like something a schoolboy would say

The translation is absolutely accurate

[GlitteringTiaras]

There are no excuses for his answer nor his attitude towards Jan (who I am very well aware of thank you very much) plain and simple. Reading the text Frederik came off as being in a rather bad mood; if you are still unsure read the article yourselves.

[T4phage]

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

There are no excuses for his answer nor his attitude towards Jan (who I am very well aware of thank you very much) plain and simple. Reading the text Frederik came off as being in a rather bad mood; if you are still unsure read the article yourselves.

Exactly, it was outright rude. And, if he works 24/7, why is he out drinking with friends?

And, why ask his father? I think out of everyone to ask, his father is the last person to ask. It sounds childish and makes him look bad.

[princess leonor]

Originally Posted by T4phage

Exactly, it was outright rude. And, if he works 24/7, why is he out drinking with friends?

And, why ask his father? I think out of everyone to ask, his father is the last person to ask. It sounds childish and makes him look bad.

hahha, good one, it sure is obvious that he doesn't work 24/7 if he was having lunch on a terrace. I can understand he was annoyed by being disturbed at lunch, but I gues it was quite rude indeed and he knows that in his position he cannot expect to be left alone when sitting outside on a terrace. He did actually sound quite childish, quite cute though, I think that's how a 8 year old would have responded!

[GlitteringTiaras]

I don't know if I would classify him as being rude and short, but I will say that reading the text Frederik seemed to be in a bad mood. This is only my opinion as an reader. Also, he wasn't simply drinking the entire time he was having lunch with his friend, Holger, so...

Although I do agree that his answer was a stupid one. Copy and paste that!

[Amelia]

Well I don't care who Frederik is I find it very bad manners for the reporter to walk up to him while they are having lunch and start asking questions. He should of waited till he was leaving.

Frederik's answer to ask his father is the strangest thing that I have ever seen.

[Tarlita]

Just one quick point about Mary's fashion --She receives a lot of free stuff from fashion houses and therefore doesn't spend as much as we might think. I've also noticed that some Australian tv presenters are wearing copies of Marys fashion such as the Baumfufgarten blouse worn in New York. [Please excuse my spelling here Mr Baum.] Anyway mary made the birthday boy look good and happy and that's the main thing.