Nannies of the Crown Prince Couple’s Children

[MissSaga]

I think Mary and Frederik are nanny-free most of the time, but that they have help once i a while when they are out, obvioustly.

[biboquinhas]

Originally Posted by MissSaga

I think Mary and Frederik are nanny-free most of the time, but that they have help once i a while when they are out, obvioustly.

I really don't think that! I think they have nannies all the time around them1 Thye must have because of their agenda!

[Princess Robijn]

Originally Posted by biboquinhas

I really don't think that! I think they have nannies all the time around them1 Thye must have because of their agenda!

I agree,

They probably have nannies who can take care of the little Prince and Princess if they are not present. Maybe they hade the same idea as the Prince and Princess of Orange, the weekends and 1 (half a) day in the week (Except weekends) is for the family. (Unless there is something 'special,' like a State Visit)

[Sternchen]

I wonder where the rumour of Mary having three nannies came up.

Because in Denmark it is well known that she has two, one full time Mette Hansen, and another one, who works only part time, when Mette is having days off, or having holidays. :)

Even the Danish Media never reported that Mary had more nannies, and believe me, they would :) So I think we can classify the 3 nannies story as pure fiction :)

[dazzling]

Originally Posted by Sternchen

I wonder where the rumour of Mary having three nannies came up.

Gossip magazines maybe.. Or they maybe did hire someone new part time when one of the two nannies where on holiday, so they assumed she had three.

If she has two, three or four, its her choice and her childrens upbringing if she cant take care of them, and in her position she cant be an all on hand mother and its okay to get help, but if she does have more nannies then needed then i think their is a problem.

[Larzen]

Originally Posted by Sternchen

I wonder where the rumour of Mary having three nannies came up.

Because in Denmark it is well known that she has two, one full time Mette Hansen, and another one, who works only part time, when Mette is having days off, or having holidays. :)

Even the Danish Media never reported that Mary had more nannies, and believe me, they would :) So I think we can classify the 3 nannies story as pure fiction :)

Ekstrabladet (yes I know ) says their names are Mette, Mie and Helene, I doubt they make fictional names for fictional nannies.

[Chimene]

If I could, I would have 10 nannies. Children are work... work... and more work. Besides, the more people to love them the better.

[MARG]

Originally Posted by biboquinhas

These days I have been in some old threats regarding Mary life before Frederick and just after her marriage! It's amaizing to see how mucht see has changed!

I think that both Frederick and Mary were dreaming (in a way). I think they both want to be "hands-on" parents, but the reality is that is impossible to the extent they wished.

No one could imagine just how well (or not) Mary would do with the Danes. It was an unknown. Nor could they imagine how well (or not) Mary would participate in Royal Engagements and Patronages.

Frederick off to an Official Engagement and wife Mary waves him goodbye from the front door cradling a little Princess in one arm and holding an exuberant Christain by the hand......... Ahhhh such are things dreams are made of.

The reality is, Mary has her own Official Engagements to prepare for, and, let's be honest, arriving, unpacking the stroller, securing the baby and ensuring someone has a good hold on the toddler, wiping that inadvertant "baby badge" off her sholder, whilst running over some dignitary's feet with the stroller, shaking hands with said dignitary's wife after picking up a toy hurled from the stroller onto the red carpet, accepting a bouquet whilst quickly checking on Christian over her sholder.......................ugh!

Not a good look.

Not a realistic way to bring up any child.

How many mothers have the option of working from home? Her official engagements and patronages cannot come to her. She must go to them. That is the whole point of these events, to see and be seen to endorse Danish industry, research, charities, and yes..... even fashion!

If she cuts down on her schedule the media would be howling about her freeloading or some such thing.

Mary and Frederick vowed to give their kids as normal a upbringing as is possible. A Nanny or even two will ensure that their children have the sort of privacy any normal kids would have. And, like all working parents everywhere, they will continue to factor in as much "family" time as possible.

[Fashionista100]

Mary was quoted and did say that she didn't want nannies to raise her children. People have taken that quote to mean she'd never have any nannies for her children. This is not what she meant! Frederick rarely saw his parents when he was a baby and toddler. The nanny was his primary parent. He didn't like this form of raising a royal baby. Hand the baby off to the nanny until they are a suitible age to interact with adults. This is how royals used to raise their children. Mary and Fred did not want that. They wanted to be the parents. They wanted to interact and raise their children as much as possible. Obviously, they cannot be with them 24/7. They have to represent Denmark, which is a very important job. So they must have nannies. But people think that b/c Mary said that she meant no nannies. She did not. She meant she didn't want to hand off her children to someone else to give values and love to. She and Fred are doing that themselves.

I wish I could afford a nanny. I have a little 10 month old. I'm lucky someday's if I get to brush my teeth!!

[Lamyah]

I think its pure fantasy to assume a future crown prince and his wife would be able to raise their children on a full time basis, while performing non-stop public duty. Heck, even working parents get help when they can afford it. As long they are there for their children and take their parenting role seriously, having nannies will not present an issue.

[Little_star]

Originally Posted by JessRulz

In the last thread, little_star said that Mary was reported to have 2 or 3 nannies. Would you be able to post a link to that article/report? Because AFAIK, they have only ever employed one nanny: Mette Hansen

The three nannies are named as Mette, Mie and Helene. It was originally reported in EB I think, however this is the only link I could find now.
Mamma Mary har gett upp - Nyheter - Kvällsposten

Originally Posted by Fashionista100

Mary was quoted and did say that she didn't want nannies to raise her children. People have taken that quote to mean she'd never have any nannies for her children. This is not what she meant! Frederick rarely saw his parents when he was a baby and toddler. The nanny was his primary parent. He didn't like this form of raising a royal baby. Hand the baby off to the nanny until they are a suitible age to interact with adults. This is how royals used to raise their children. Mary and Fred did not want that. They wanted to be the parents. They wanted to interact and raise their children as much as possible. Obviously, they cannot be with them 24/7. They have to represent Denmark, which is a very important job. So they must have nannies. But people think that b/c Mary said that she meant no nannies. She did not. She meant she didn't want to hand off her children to someone else to give values and love to. She and Fred are doing that themselves.

It was a very naive comment to make. Nannies do help people "raise"their children. That is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter, they act as the "absent" parent.

[princess leonor]

3 nanny's Isn't that a big exxagerated. I mean, I understand they need a nanny for when they have an official duty, that's normal. But three, they have more nannies than children!!!

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by princess leonor

3 nanny's Isn't that a big exxagerated. I mean, I understand they need a nanny for when they have an official duty, that's normal. But three, they have more nannies than children!!!

I have never heard that they had three nannies. I only knew the name of one nanny - Mette. She is the one they usually catch on pics.
I know that Alexandra and Joachim had two nannies - there were pictures of them from what must have been their last holiday together at Henrik's chateau in France - but I have only seen Mette on pics here, last during the lunch at the Dannebrog on Frederik's birthday.

Even if Frederik had three nannies for his kids - does anybody know whether they are full-time employed? The number of nannies is not as significant as the hours they cover IMO.

[Larzen]

Alex and Joachim had 4 at one point, one of them spilled the beans on that and on Alexandras bossy style Dont know how many they have now, atleast two from the look at the circus.

Here are is a clip from Billedbladet the christening issue, the pictures shows Mette sitting in the church and Mie Damgaard Christenesen (assistant nanny or whatever her title is) on the way to the chancellery house
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9...color01zz4.jpg
And here is Christian with a blond nanny during easter, IMO she is neither Mette nor Mie, so must be this Helene Ekstrabladet mentions
Christian på tur med Ziggy ... Billed-Bladet: Danmarks Royale Ugeblad...
Danish Royal Watchers: Little Christian looks familiar...

And as BTW the fact that Frederik and Mary is quite open, travel alot with Christian and live the public way they do it makes their nanny situation more transparent than than of foristance the dutch who sue for every picture that is not a "Very controlled Look what happy family we are photosession" the same with Felipe and Letizia who we have never seen go on travels with Leonor and rarely a casual papparazzi pics with the kids, who knows how many nannies are hiding behind the fences at Zarzuela.

[acdc1]

Originally Posted by Fashionista100

Mary was quoted and did say that she didn't want nannies to raise her children. People have taken that quote to mean she'd never have any nannies for her children. This is not what she meant! Frederick rarely saw his parents when he was a baby and toddler. The nanny was his primary parent. He didn't like this form of raising a royal baby. Hand the baby off to the nanny until they are a suitible age to interact with adults. This is how royals used to raise their children. Mary and Fred did not want that. They wanted to be the parents. They wanted to interact and raise their children as much as possible. Obviously, they cannot be with them 24/7. They have to represent Denmark, which is a very important job. So they must have nannies. But people think that b/c Mary said that she meant no nannies. She did not. She meant she didn't want to hand off her children to someone else to give values and love to. She and Fred are doing that themselves.

You're absolutely right. I don't think that they nannies are "raising" the children in any sense. It is utterly impossible for Frederik and Mary with the official engagements and other things to be with their children 100% of the time. I think that the nannies just help them with certain things, like taking a walk with the kids when Mary and Frederik just need them out of the house for a bit, changing diapers, and playing with the children. Mary and Frederik certainly do these things most of the time, but when they are too busy and too hectic, the nannies are there help. Mary and Frederik certainly love and adore those children to bits, and they get to see them so much more than royals of the past did. And wouldn't we all like a nanny now and then!

Back on topic for me.... Has Mary been doing anything lately? She's probably lining things up for Lillepigen's christening and enjoying being the mother of two precious, beautiful babies. (Although Christian is growing up and is almost not a baby anymore!)

[Empress]

Excuse me. But I would like to disagree. And I can, from a knowledge base, having been a nanny both in America and in several countries in Europe. There were times where I was the primary care giver, however there were times where I was a mothers helper. I would assume that is what Marys nannies are.

Further more, by saying that a nanny raises a child, this is not entirely correct. She might have a "helping hand", but then so too does anyone who comes in regular contact with a child. So would the nay sayers here then say that parents who let their children spend time with grandparents, teachers, aunts, uncles and friends are letting other people raise their children? I doubt it seriously. This is all part of being a child and having the good fortune to have a large group of people around you who care about and for you. Having a nanny ensures that a child gets the one on one attention that sometimes a parent is simply not able to give. And sometimes having a nanny is about letting the parents have some parent time or me time. An adult must have time, even as a parent, to be able to have some time to themselves, if for nothing else than to brush their teeth as one poster remarked. Now, I am not saying that this is what the nannys to Christian and Lille pigen are, however, I doubt seriously that they are the primary care givers.

And another thing is this, when I was a nanny, I would have greatly appreciated having another nanny around to share the duties so that I was not the only one, and it is a good thing in this case, as it is such a hgh profile and likely high stress position, that they have a colleague with whom they can speak. And even that nanny would need some time off. I doubt that she has a 40 hour work week.

There is nothing wrong with having a nanny, and I believe that Mary meant that she did not want another person raising her child/ren. Some people however, will take anything out of context if they wish to badly enough. Not that I am saying that anyone here is doing that, but I have seen it written regarding Mary and Frederick. What is wrong with having a helping hand. I am sure any parent who can afford it would gladly accept any time that they could get where they would not be covered in goo, and be able to feel quiet for a few moments, not to mention be able to have time with their spouse. I simply do not think that it was a naive remark. I think that people read what they want into it.

And on another note, it is good for children to have various inspirations and personalities around them. Otherwise they quite likely would not be very independent at all, and would only learn one way of life. Not that it is a bad way of life, but still... to have alot of different people around you can not hurt. It gives alot of different perspectives on life, which in any situation is a good thing, but when faced with a life such as these children will have, where they must come into contact with so many different personalities and people, to have had this experience from the start will help.

[Fashionista100]

Thank you Empress for you post. You stated it well. I think Mary has 2 full time nannies. Mette and Helena. Mie has often been listed as an assistant. When I was looking into the nanny profession as something I would like to do, I was told a nanny assistant or nursery assistant helps the nanny with the running of the nursery, so the nanny can primarily focus on the child. This does not mean the assistant does not have contact with the child, but she will spend more time doing tasks. One must also be a night nanny and one a day nanny. A nanny can not do a 24 shift. I do that as a parent and it is very rough. God, what I would not give for a decent night sleep!

[ricarda]

Originally Posted by Larzen

Here are is a clip from Billedbladet the christening issue, the pictures shows Mette sitting in the church and Mie Damgaard Christenesen (assistant nanny or whatever her title is) on the way to the chancellery house
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/9...color01zz4.jpg
And here is Christian with a blond nanny during easter, IMO she is neither Mette nor Mie, so must be this Helene Ekstrabladet mentions
Christian på tur med Ziggy ... Billed-Bladet: Danmarks Royale Ugeblad...
Danish Royal Watchers: Little Christian looks familiar...

The link little_star posted shows a picture of Mie (at least they say it's Mie) and she looks quite different to me than the woman who is in that car on the way to the chancellery house (baptism) and supposed to be Mie. Mamma Mary har gett upp - Nyheter - Kvällsposten
If the woman on the picture shown by Expressen really is Mie then IMO she is the one who went on a walk with Christian and Ziggy. I don't remember having seen the other one at any other occassion than the baptism. AFAIK there is a head nurse, Mette, and an assistant nurse, Mie. And this is actually an information given by a trash magazine (Se&Hor), so I don't really know if it is true. I never heard of a "Helene" before and EB too isn't the most reliable source. The one we see the most certainly is Mette, so the other(s) is (are) probably just working part-time (Mie is actually supposed to be a student, but I don't know if this is true. If it is then she is probably not much more than a babysitter, stepping in when Mette isn't on duty.)

Originally Posted by Larzen

And as BTW the fact that Frederik and Mary is quite open, travel alot with Christian and live the public way they do it makes their nanny situation more transparent than than of foristance the dutch who sue for every picture that is not a "Very controlled Look what happy family we are photosession" the same with Felipe and Letizia who we have never seen go on travels with Leonor and rarely a casual papparazzi pics with the kids, who knows how many nannies are hiding behind the fences at Zarzuela.

I agree.
The DRF is much more open and transparent, in many respects. (And that goes for the other Scandinavian royal houses as well IMO).
For example, the Danish hunt and pose for photographers in front of the killed animals. The Dutch and Spanish royals hunt as well but they don't allow pictures to be taken. That's the difference.

[biboquinhas]

I think having nannys when they are out doing their dutties OK, but having nannys all the time around them NO! For example having nannys on vacations I don't think that is rigth!

[MARG]

Originally Posted by biboquinhas

I think having nannys when they are out doing their dutties OK, but having nannys all the time around them NO! For example having nannys on vacations I don't think that is rigth!

Logically there are going to be at least two and probably three nannies. At times Frederick and Mary have late night and even overnight engagements and if there was only one nanny she'd be working 24/7! No days off, no nights off, can't be sick or take a holiday..........I think there are laws against exploiting your workers!
As for nannies on holiday, well let's face it, Frederick and Mary are probably in need of a break too. Tending to the all round needs of two active babies is a full on, hands on job.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we expect "Family Shots" at fairly frequent intervals, and there are usually one or two semi-official engagements factored in as well as happy, glowing 'departure' and arrival' photo calls as well. These are not issues that the normal working parents would ever have to accommodate.