Prince Frederik and Princess Mary's Official Visit to Australia: November 19-26, 2011

[Al_bina]

Rasmus Kofoed & Princess Mary of Denmark @ Not Quite Nigella

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

Rasmus Kofoed & Princess Mary of Denmark @ Not Quite Nigella

wherever the Crown princess and her family are in Tasmania, I hope Rasmus Kofoed is cooking for them! However, the locations there are so beautiful, I think it would be difficult to concentrate on the food!

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Broadmeadows is an area in Melbourne's north western suburbs that could be justly described as not neceassrily being accustomed with what many would consider to be the appropriate restraint when meeting a high profiled indavidual.

I don't state this in any way to speak poorly of the people who live there whatsoever, but it is a community that houses alot of families who work hard but make little, and would be likely to invite Mary over for a few 'snags' (sausages) and a beer.

I'm not at all surprised myself, and that kind of interaction is quite intrusive although the lady would have meant the Crown Princess no offence I'm sure. Clearly overly excited by the occasion.

Can we be sure Madame Royal that the lady who grabbed Mary is a Broadmeadows resident? There are well over 45,000 Danes or people of Danish decent living in Australia and a good many of these turned up wherever Mary and her husband were.
I’m thinking by saying “a lot of families who work hard and earn little” you mean lower socioeconomic people and insinuate that they would get overexcited by a visit from royalty. Perhaps your right or perhaps not, good manners are free to all no matter what background one is from.

[Madame Royale]

Of course one cannot be certain if the person in question is a resident of the Broadmeadows area. That goes without saying and granted, I perhaps failed to acknowledge that previously.

And from what I've noticed, the Danes are most mindful of their royal family's personal space when meeting them in person. Those who are of Danish decent however, I'm not so certain?

I'm fairly certain I made a point of expressing that my post was not intended as an insult and it's a fact that the area is as you say a low socioeconomic district with many families working long, labour intensive hours and still find it difficult to meet the living expenses from week to week.

Furthermore, I did however state that in that area, a good many people would be likely to extend their kind hospitality and are known, be it in general, to be more liberal in the ways they communicate thus I was not surprised that Mary should have been embraced so heartily. Again the lady may not have been from the area, but I'd not be surprised if she were.

Was Mary offened? I doubt it. Was the lady excited? Seems so. Would have she meant any disrespect? I doubt it. Was it appropriate? Not particularly.

That's all.

[Muhler]

Summary of a number of articles in Billed Bladet #48, 2011.
All written by Anna Johannesen.

It’s different for me to deal with the coverage this time, as the articles mainly consists of trivia and personal impressions. It’s actually better this way, I think. Because M&F have already been well covered by the Australian press, so a more personal touch is refreshing and illuminating.
First I will post the trivia and impressions, then a translation of a brief interview with M&F.

Mary did meet her old friend Amber Petty, because our reporter had a brief chat with Amber Petty who told us: “Good friends always find time to see each other”. Apparently they met in Melbourne.
Amber has also seen the twins: “They are just so adorable and conscious”.
Apart from that Amber was also present at the gala at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
The article says Amber will visit M&F in Tasmania.

1.200 guests at the Starry Night 2011 had each paid 2.000 DKK (400 $ US) to attend.
M&F left around midnight. Mary’s clutch was made from snakeskin.
Personal impression by Anna Johannesen: Crown Prince Frederik was bursting with pride over his elegant wife, when they walked through the party hall at Crown Casino.

The rain was pouring down in the botanical garden in Canberra, where M&F were to plant a tree. (*) The ground was muddy and the onlookers soaking wet but shielded by Frederik, who also guided her around lumps of dirt, Mary walked along the line of people who had turned up. In stilettos.
Mary was buried under flowers, which were later distributed local hospitals, nursing homes and centres for elderly throughout the visit. (That is also the case in DK when there are extraordinary many flowers to the DRF). Frederik wasn’t completely forgotten; he was presented with a toy soldier, which he received with a smile.
Our reporter learned this from the Australians and the Australian papers: “She’s after all our Mary”. “William and Kate’s wedding was breathtaking and Queen Elizabeth is both charming and gracious but it’s Mary who has seized our heart. Oh, how we love Mary”. (**)
Mary was also presented with some Tim Tam biscuits. In a picture you can see Mary showing them to Frederik with a smile.

Impression: “We met Cherie Tsingas, age 42, and mother of three, who is so wild about Mary that she flew all the way from Sydney to Melbourne in the hope of meeting the Crown Princess. And she was lucky. When stood, ready with the camera, Mary walked straight up to her shook her hand. Afterwards Cherie stuttered that it was – the greatest day of my life”. (***)

Mary baptised a new tugboat in Melbourne: “I christen you SITZER Marysville and may God bless all who sail in you”. Marysville is located north east of Melbourne and in 2009 there was a forest fire and 45 out of the population of 500 perished and the village was virtually burned to the ground. The tugboat is named in honour of the village.
Mary was presented with a necklace in gold with a little anchor, for being godmother of the tugboat.

Impression: “We noticed that Frederik for the first days in Australia clearly suffered from jetlag. It went over within a few days”.
“Crown Princess Mary, who usually use clear nail polish, for one day during the visit chose a greyish colour, so that the nails matched her blouse”.

The toy koala and kangaroo, Josephine and Vincent carried while being photographed, where actually a present from the Danish ambassador to Australia, Susanne Shine. Her children presented them when M&F arrived in Canberra.

Personal impressions by the journalist, Anna Johannesen:
Australia in November! That sounds fascinating, because who wouldn’t like to get away from the cold in Denmark and down to sun and summer. But to follow the CP-couple for six days isn’t exactly holiday. The schedule has been tight, we have all the time had to be ahead in order to be in place, when Frederik and Mary arrived, but on the other hand the co-operation with the entire official corps down here has been a pure pleasure. Not to mention the Australian colleagues. They are not only helpful – they also have a wonderful humour. (****)
One of the biggest experiences for me on this trip has been see how much the Australians are fond of Mary. “Our Mary” as they say. And then it’s nice that the enormous popularity also rubs a bit off on us. The Australians are a little envious that now it’s we who have “taken over” Mary and I certainly travel home with lots of e-mail addresses from sweet people, who so much would like to be kept “in the know”. Also in regards to the CP-couple’s children.
Even though the CP-couple’s schedule has been full, both Mary and Frederik have appeared a little more relaxed then when we meet them at home. Just as if they were with their family.
There is a lot of waiting around on a royal trip. Journalists and photographers have to be in place in plenty of time in advance, but I have been excellently entertained by my Australian colleagues. They can not only tell stories, not all of which are suited to be retold, but they can also provide both food and coffee… out of the blue.
And darn me if one of them one evening didn’t also offer me a chair! (*****) I choose to believe it’s due to the blister underneath my foot, (******) which I got during one of the first days, and of course have entertained everyone in the media-bus with.
Hanne Juul, Billed Bladet’s lovely photographer, and I have shared big and small but there haven’t been many meals shared between us, because we had to send or text and pictures home. I only recall a single lunch in Melbourne between two jobs and then a dinner with combined press the second to the last evening. Otherwise it’s been room service…
The dinner on the second to last evening was really cosy. The representative of the government, Daniel Bolger, who followed us during the entire trip, had bought tiaras for all the female journalists, which we put on immediately of course. That says something about the Australian humour.
Today it’s 20 degrees C in Melbourne and the shops are decorated for Christmas and on every street corner you hear Christmas music. Yet I look forward to going home to the cold.

- If you found this interesting, there is also an account from Hanne Juul, who being a photographer, has a different angle. Let me know and I’ll translate.

(*) A Danish tree actually, so it remains to be seen whether it will thrive in the different climate.

(**) From an Australian paper. Don’t know which.

(***) There is a picture of Cherie. She’s an attractive brunette with shoulder long hair.

(****) No wonder. Danish and Australian humour is very similar. The Danes perhaps using irony and not least self-irony even more than the Australians.

(*****) Chivalry is a rare thing in DK nowadays. The price for gender equality, perhaps? – Or people have become more selfish.

(******) Anna Johannesen is 68… I have not yet myself suffered the indignity of a young person offering me a seat in a bus, but I fear that day is neigh. I’ve been addressed several times now with formal you by young people, who apparently considered me more or less fossilised.
One’s self-esteem is hardly improved by an uncaring wife, who is reduced to hysterical giggles….

[Muhler]

Translation of interview in Billed Bladet #48, 2011.
Vi skal ikke lave noget som helst – We are not going to do anything at all.
Interviewer: Anna Johannesen.

Who met M&F in Melbourne on the last day of the official visit.

Q: Aren’t you getting tired?
F: “I don’t think you are tired. More like spend. The body has after all been on a long journey (*). First down here and then around”.

The 50 man Danish commerce delegation has praised M&F for their commitment.
Q: What do you think has made the biggest impression?
M: “As always it isn’t one specific thing that has made the biggest impression. There are many things that make the trip something special. Skilful companies in Denmark have something really good to offer their Australian partners and we have heard that some fantastically important contacts have been made. A success like that makes an impression.
Another thing is the warm and utterly overwhelming reception we have received by the Australian population. That has gone straight to the heart”.

Q: The Australians have everywhere referred to you as “our Mary”. How is it to be all of Australia’s Mary?
M: “As I said it’s a bit overwhelming. A bit unexpected I must say, but at the same time it’s lovely that they follow me and our family with such a warm interest”.

Q: How are you, Crown Prince Frederik, with being married to all of Australia’s Mary?
F: “Sharing my wife with all of Australia? Why that surely warms you a lot. It may be hard to understand, but when you are in it and experience it as we do, I sure am proud and pretty honoured that the population (**) down here follow so closely how a former fellow countryman of theirs is thriving in a country so far from Australia”.

Q: You seem to supplement each other well. How is it to be on the job together?
F: “In this case it’s enormously comfortable for me, because I can just step back a bit and just enjoy that the Crown Princess is pulling the cart”,
M: “No, that’s not true, Frederik”.
F: “But we do have had separate events and then it’s nice to experience that you are all right”.
M: “On this trip we have had many items on the agenda together and that has been lovely”.

Q: You have delivered many speeches. Crown Prince Frederik. Is that something you prepare with Mary?
F: “It can pay to co-operate and I have a skilful wife (formal word), so together we figure out which way to go”. (***)

Q: And you are comfortable with her sitting right next to you?
F: “Yes, a lot”.
M: “We use the best from each other”.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most?
M: “First of all I’ve been so much looking forward to seeing Christian and Isabella and then I look forward to Frederik coming back, so we can be together again as a family. We will not be doing anything at all, just have a cosy time with my family and friends. Nothing else and hopefully the weather will be more stable and warm”.

This has been a long trip with the twins and they have done fine. Frederik comments:
F: “We don’t look that tired”.
M: “Due to the difference in time Josephine and Vincent had a bit of problems sleeping for the first three days, but now they are back in their normal rhythm. They are happy and contend”.

The article states clearly that Bella and Christian has arrived and adds that Mary left for Tasmania, when Frederik left for Vietnam.

(*) The expression is: “langfart”, which means sailing for a long time, far away from home.

(**) They actually mean people, but population is used more here in DK. Because people in Danish can be interpreted as subjects or worse: “folks”, by those who are looking for an excuse to be offended.

(***) In close co-operation with the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Commerce.

[wombat]

How come we have not seen any pictures of Mary in Tasmania? She must have been there 3-4 days now.....????

[Frelinghighness]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

in that area, a good many people would be likely to extend their kind hospitality and are known, be it in general, to be more liberal in the ways they communicate

I'm sure you didn't mean to offend, but once you begin to generalize about a group of people, that's what will happen. To say that this group tends to be....is stereotyping. Nobody likes to be pigeonholed, even if it is a positive comment,like many which have appeared in this thread, for example, australians are friendly, all australian women have poor skin...

[ashelen]

Originally Posted by wombat

How come we have not seen any pictures of Mary in Tasmania? She must have been there 3-4 days now.....????

yes, i am wondering the same! i must say is her private time and they are keeping it very private becasue we do not see anyphotos!!!!!!

[Madame Royale]

They are entitled to spend time away from a camera lense and prying eyes.

I personally hope to hear or see very little of them over the next couple of weeks.

I'm sure you didn't mean to offend, but once you begin to generalize about a group of people, that's what will happen. To say that this group tends to be....is stereotyping. Nobody likes to be pigeonholed, even if it is a positive comment,like many which have appeared in this thread, for example, australians are friendly, all australian women have poor skin...

Thanks for the pep talk

I'm quite aware of what I said and the intention of my post which has been further explained in response to another post. Thus, I am content nor do I retract any comment I've made. And having been exposed to this particular community as in involved advocate for youth homelessness, I've seen a good deal of the community to know my observations are well founded.

People can either suggest my intent as being negative or view it as the personal opinion of someone who has, I believe, adequately justified the reasons as to why she's has stated what she has. Should someone be offended, then they are quite wlecome to send me a private message in calm protest.

Though let me again express that at no time did I wish nor intend to offend anyone. Did I generalise? To a degree yes and in this instance I firmly believe I've seen enough of the said enviroment to confidently maintain my opinion.

[Tarlita]

Once again Muhler thank you for your time and effort. Thousands of miles away in Australia I appreciate your efforts of translation. cheers. It appears the media are respecting the Princess's privacy while she visits her family in Tassie. That's short slang for Tasmania. I would say Mary has bought many a xmas gift while here.

[Madame Royale]

Originally Posted by Tarlita

Once again Muhler thank you for your time and effort. Thousands of miles away in Australia I appreciate your efforts of translation. cheers. It appears the media are respecting the Princess's privacy while she visits her family in Tassie. That's short slang for Tasmania. I would say Mary has bought many a xmas gift while here.

I echo your sentiments Tarlita. Muhler's contributions have added much to these forums, particularly the Danish threads in which I take much interest in reading.

[American Dane]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

I echo your sentiments Tarlita. Muhler's contributions have added much to these forums, particularly the Danish threads in which I take much interest in reading.

I'm with Tarlita and Madame Royale, your translations are gems Muhler! I particularly love the trivia bits you include. Thanks/Tak!

[CrownPrincessJava]

"Impression: “We met Cherie Tsingas, age 42, and mother of three, who is so wild about Mary that she flew all the way from Sydney to Melbourne in the hope of meeting the Crown Princess. And she was lucky. When stood, ready with the camera, Mary walked straight up to her shook her hand. Afterwards Cherie stuttered that it was – the greatest day of my life”. (***)"
To our Danish friends - the flight from Sydney to Melbourne is about 1 hour. That made me laugh!

The reason why Mary and family are being left alone was that the Tasmanian government introduced a new law tightening police protection for dignitaries. ALL journalists, either international or local, must adhere to it, or they will be convicted.

Here's an example: Princess Mary's media pack warned about privacy laws | Herald Sun

[Muhler]

You are velcome all of you. It was my pleasure

I'm glad Mary's privacy (not to mention her family) is so well protected by law.

[Muhler]

Translation of the personal impressions of the photographer Hanne Juul.
In Billed Bladet #48, 2011.

Six days of travelling Australia with the CP-couple for full speed is now over and ahead awaits cold and storm in Denmark. It’s nice that I no longer each morning has to put almost ten kilos of photo-equipment, which is necessary in order to be able all the time to get the best pictures from all angles. I’ll also be great to get some food again – never before have I devoured so much Nupo-powder at the sink in my hotel room!
Most often we didn’t even have an hour in the room after finishing the day’s schedule, before having to go in order to be ready for the evening schedule. And that little break was used to recharge batteries, load pictures into the computer and dress for a little better clothing, so there wasn’t time for food.
But as always it’s been a great pleasure to travel with the CP-couple. Rarely have I laughed as much as these days surrounded by sweet colleagues from the Foreign Ministry in Denmark and local people from the official Australia.
I took a little more than 10.000 photos during the visit, many pictures of an extremely high-spirited Crown Princess, who always had surplus for a smile and a chat with everyone she met.
There have been obvious opportunities with possibilities for many good pictures, but there have also been surprises. Because when you, as an experienced photographer on royal trips, see an item on the agenda that is about opening an exhibition, you know well that there will hardly be any exciting pictures. But I was happily surprised when Mary, during the tour of the exhibition, merrily jumped on a bike and in stilettos and tight skirt created enough energy to blend a smoothie… that became the best shots of the day!
On the other hand I thought that the visit at the cancer hospital, where Mary was to meet a patient (whom we could photograph) would provide good pictures. We drove for almost an hour out there and (we) stood long and waited in front of the cancer stricken, but now cured, woman whom Mary was to meet. When the Crown Princess went to meet the woman, there was a man who stepped in between her and us… so we didn’t get one single picture! That happens.
I sit back with a lot of images on the retina, impressions, experiences of taste and scents – but most of all with an extremely satisfied sense of being Danish in a country, where you are so well received, wherever you go… and it’s not because of neither Utzon or H.C. Andersen.
No… Mary… they all know who she is.

Caption: https://picasaweb.google.com/1008659...30543047724114

In Canberra the weather was no hindrance for good pictures. During a visit to an area afflicted by forest fires, the onlookers had been standing for several hours in pouring rain in order to greet the CP-couple, who were to plant a tree. Beneath an umbrella and I high stilettos Mary walked along all the onlookers, while Frederik guided her around the worst lumps of dirt. It was a great sight to see all the happy faces under the umbrellas, and I actually found the entire scene quite touching.

Caption: https://picasaweb.google.com/1008659...30545330788962

The day where we were to visit a windmill park with the Crown Prince will not be remembered for the best photos. We were flown out in four private planes, 40 minutes from Melbourne and (then) driven far out in the countryside in a but in order to get to the windmill park. Unfortunately there hadn’t been time to put wing on one single mill at all; so it all mostly resembled some chimneys… do I have to say that it rained?

[marfre]

Thanks Muhler.
It was great to see how both the journalist and the photographer viewed the tour. By all accounts it was a very hectic visit as well as a very successful one.

So pleased that Mary has managed a few days of privacy, lets hope the same applies to the next week or so once Frederik arrives back (if he is not already).

[Muhler]

And we have the latest on Mary from an Australian paper: Mary catches up with local pals | Herald Sun
In short: the entire family is now together.
While Frederik was in Vietnam, Mary was in Melbourne with some friends and she has been shopping.

Originally Posted by marfre

Thanks Muhler.
It was great to see how both the journalist and the photographer viewed the tour. By all accounts it was a very hectic visit as well as a very successful one.

So pleased that Mary has managed a few days of privacy, lets hope the same applies to the next week or so once Frederik arrives back (if he is not already).

You are welcome

Indeed. It also give us an idea how hectic it was for M&F. Even though they are prepared from home.
Up in the morning, shower, eat, have a look at the twins.
Prepare for the days events, put on warpaint, in the case of Mary.
Being briefed, told who to meet, what to do, where to go and so on.
Meet people.
Off to the event.
Being on from the second they get out of the car.
Off to next event, being briefed, told who to meet...

At the end of the day, put your feet up for a moment, meet people, have lunch, check on the twins, phone home, refresh your warpaint, being briefed before the events in the evening, told who to meet...
Off again, looking your very best and being on constantly for the next few hours.
Setteling down late at night, after checking on the twins, to catch your breath and process the events of the day, before going to bed. Only to get up early the next day.

[Emmily]

Thanks, Muhler! How long now will they be visiting Mary's family before heading back to Denmark?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Emmily

Thanks, Muhler! How long now will they be visiting Mary's family before heading back to Denmark?

You are welcome.

A couple of weeks or so. They are expected back by mid December.