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

[JessRulz]

I wonder if Frederik will pop over to Perth on the way back to Copenhagen for the ISAF Sailing Worlds?

Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships

[ashelen]

so overall a trip of 3 weeks, great for them! it is nice to spend some time with family and the 4 kids together, pity we can not see photos! Christian will have to do some catch up with the school but i am sure will not be difficult in the worst escenario he will get a tuttor to catch up! just I think is ashamed Fred can not be there she is alwasys with his family so it would have been nice him with her family!

[FasterB]

CP Frederik will join his wife and children later - in fact he has already joined them.

[Roskilde]

Originally Posted by JessRulz

I wonder if Frederik will pop over to Perth on the way back to Copenhagen for the ISAF Sailing Worlds?

Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships

I don't think so.
I can remember that Frederik, during their trip, was asked by a reporter, whether he should sail or not while they were in Australia. He replied: "No, not this time. It's only family time."


And it is only me who really really is pleased that M+F and the children seem to enjoy a little vacation in peace for papparazi and at the same time really miss seeing them? :)

[Sun Lion]

Hi Everyone - this was almost a year ago of course, but I thought I would share my experience of seeing CP Mary and CP Frederick "in the flesh", as it had elements that I'd not picked up on about royal tours before, from magazine articles, TV reports and the internet. (Plus it was a fab thing and I thoroughly enjoyed it.)

I was lucky to see somewhere on the internet that M/F were to be at the Customs House around lunchtime on the Sunday of their first official day.
I say lucky because the papers were full of them attending "Sculpture by the Sea" and that is where the crowds went. Also lucky because I live within walking distance of Circular Quay, (and even closer to the Govenor General's Sydney residence "Admiralty House" where they stayed the night with the twins.)

"Admiralty House" is a large sandstone mansion with beautiful stained glass windows and shares the grounds with the Prime Minister's Sydney residence "Kiribilli House" which is very pleasant in itself, but which is not on such a grand scale. (Have been in both - one day a year they hold an open day, usually November - big crowds.)

It was one of those Sydney days when a very strong, very warm wind was blowing. It actually turned into bad weather later in the day when M/F made their crossing from the end of Garden Island across to Kiribilli to see the Govenor General and had their photo-call with the twins.

I didn't tell my husband CP Mary was in town and would be just across the Harbour, but we often walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for brunch/lunch in the Rocks, so off we went.

The Rocks area is Sydney's oldest and runs into Circular Quay were Customs House is located. Circular Quay is where all the ferries for the Harbour come and go and where there is an elevated train station and an elevated roadway above that again. It has tons of buskers and is always crowded, especially on a sunny Sunday. Plus this day there was a cruise ship docked so the whole atmosphere was very festive and busy - especially because of how warm it was. (M/F have stayed in the "Shangri La" hotel overlooking all this on earlier trips - before they stayed out at Manly when they had the two older children with them.)




There are normally chairs and tables outside Customs House but these had been moved out of the way, so we sat at an outdoor cafe just across to the side and had lunch. Then I left my husband with his coffee and went across to where the railings had been put up - I didn't want to miss out on a front row view. Needn't have worried though as I think only a few of us knew M/F where due there. (My husband said all the people at the cafe rushed across when M/F pulled up - they too were there to see them. He was left alone amongst all the empty tables.)

Before these diners joined us, a lady came past giving the few people there a Danish flag to wave.

I took a few area/atmosphere photos while I was waiting. The whole of the upper balcony of Customs House was filled with photographers - with their tripods and large lenses - so many.

I got a very good position near the entrance and had a chat with a local lady and a Danish lady who noticed all the Danish flags and came over and asked us what was going on.

We told her M/F were due any minute, and she told us a few things about how popular the Royal Family is in Denmark etc.

When CP Mary walked passed us I stopped taking photos so I could see Mary "for real" - if you know what I mean - and was just starting to take photos again when this lady shouted out in Danish to Mary what she later told us was - "Enjoy your holiday!!!!"

I was so startled I jumped out of my skin and that photo, which would have been a nice close up as Mary smiled right at us - we were a seperate little group of three women - is so blurred as I got such a fright. I don't know if Mary got a fright or not. She might have been suprised to hear Danish - I was suprised at the volume.


[QUOTE=Sun Lion;1476200][QUOTE=Muhler;1339095]
"As far as I can tell, the security detail is all Australian. Except for the airport I couldn't recognice any PET officer around. That's different from the last visit and indeed visits in general."


Right on the dot M/F arrived coming from behind us with many motorcycle outriders, official cars and police cars. Everyone started taking photos - the professionals and us amatuers.

I thought a lot of the security people around the official party were Danish.

(They didn't strike me as Australian. There were a lot of Australians about, but they were in Australian police uniforms etc.) The people around M/F looked like they had done this constantly and were very adept at it.

At one stage, as Mary walked up our side, I was about to get a very nice photo of her when an enormous man in sunnies, scanning the people on our side ahead of her, stepped in front of her. Got a nice shot of him I guess. They were all extremely well dressed - understated, but very "together" in their suits.

Mary got out of the car on the side facing us and eveybody shook hands at the car, then slowly made their way up to us and the entrance.

People called out and cheered of course and I was struck by Mary's composure. (That's why I got so many nice shots I think - very un-rushed walk and lots of waving this side and that.)

If you know the official photos, the lady in the bright blue outfit is Sydney's Lord Mayor. Our Danish companion said the tallish chap in the official group was Copenhagen's Mayor.

I was paying so much attention to Mary I didn't look at Frederick - or indeed anyone else at all in the group as they walked past.

(I'll continue below.)

[Sun Lion]

The party paused for a moment at the entrance. Mary acknowledged the people calling out to her - very relaxed and smiling. By this time the photographers on the balcony could not see them, they were underneath them.

Then they went inside and I went back and collected my husband from the cafe and we crossed the street and went to one of the ice-cream shops on Circular Quay. We took our ice-creams back across to the Customs House area where there are some permanent benches and sat and ate those while watching all the security/escort people milling around.

I went down and took a few photos of all the motorcycles and the official cars.

The sight of these vehicles and the people in uniform, with the railings, and the people with the flags, caught the eye of everyone coming from the ferries and trains. Lots of people asked what was going on. Every time we told some-one it was M/F and that they were just across the way in the Customs House, they were excitied and so the crowds began to build up and up as people decided to wait to see them leave.





I, with hubby now in tow and not compaining - he'd had a coffe and a feed - went back to the entrance area of Customs House, but now on the other side.

We spoke with a very nice Mary fan there - (a member of this forum, I recognise her posts re this day) - while we waited for M/F to re-appear.

All the photographers on the balcony left - no doubt to be in position for M/F's arrival at Garden Island. This meant they missed the photos we amatuers got of the massive build up of people underneath Circular Quay station.

It was not that crowded along the path where we were, but was very jostling and packed on the other side of the cars as people realised what was going on and didn't want to miss out on seeing the Royal couple.

The official party came out and walked down towards the cars on the other side from us, stopping to shake people's hands.

I missed being a part of this by now being on the other side, but it ended up being good as people moved off as M/F walked on down towards their transport. This meant I was able to follow down on my side and get some more good photos. (The people on the side M/F were facing didn't leave as much.)

I got some good photos of M/F greeting and shaking the hands of the crowd under the train station. People were also crowded around the windows above looking out at the action as they waited for their train.



M/F were in no rush, and spent quite a bit of time with the crowds and with the officials before getting into the cars.

I was able to get some nice photos pretty close up as I'd climbed onto a concrete block above the people in front of me, and M/F lingered so long.

And I know I'll sound a bit up myself, but Mary smiled and waved directly to me as she got in her car.

I'm not sure if she recognised me from earlier in the day when I was standing alone with the two other ladies - and saw again my bright blue top or if she thought I was Danish from the lady in that trio singing out to her in Danish.

Anyway, I was swept up in it all and of course smiled and waved back and enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

(Below I'll post a few more details and then the silly thing I did.)


A few details -

1)While we were waiting outside with our ice-creams many, many very well dressed people arrived at short intervals and were escorted inside. Even Pauline Hanson for the Aussies on this forum.

(I read later that Pauline was involved in the "Starry Starry Night" Gala at the end of the tour, so I guess this was a chance for M/F to meet/greet/thank various people behind the scenes - people from the Australian Danish community perhaps. Lots of people went in and a lot of young people, and as people went in, those who had arrived ahead of them came out.)

2)I've read criticism of Mary's outfit on this occassion, but believe me when she stepped out of that car I thought she was so smart as that wind was so warm and so strong and she had her hair tied back off her face and looked so cool and appropriate for the conditions. (I myself had dressed as lightly as possible, but I was wilting and she looked so "right" in that clothing.)

3)I knew that after Garden Island M/F were going to "Admiratly House" and I thought, they won't go by car - I could have walked around and seen them go in - they will go by water. But what did I do, I was home by the time they were leaving Garden Island and I could have looked out my window and seen them board and come across before going around the corner to the landing there, but I was so engrossed in looking at my photos that I forgot to look up. Oh well, I don't think I can top my Mary experience as it was, and I'm not expecting to get the chance to be that close again. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I really had my eyes opened to the professionalism and "otherness" of being royal. The whole atmosphere/attitude of those involved - as opposed to those of us watching - was really impressive.

Cheers, Sun Lion.

[polyesco]

thank you Sun Lion for the first hand accounts
it always nice to read

[Sun Lion]

Thanks for the flowers polyesco.

If I can figure out how to show a photo I'll put some up of Mary "lost" in the crowds underneath Circular Quay station. (Something not caught by the official photographers who had left by that time.)

Cheers, Sun Lion.

[Muhler]

A wonderful account Sunny Lion and very well written.

Are you writing for a living?
Please keep posting.

Are you considering doing some Mary spotting here in DK at some point?
Another member got a surprise recently when they encountered Mary going for a morning run not far from Amalienborg.

[Sun Lion]

Originally Posted by Muhler

"A wonderful account Sunny Lion and very well written.

Are you writing for a living?
Please keep posting.

Are you considering doing some Mary spotting here in DK at some point?
Another member got a surprise recently when they encountered Mary going for a morning run not far from Amalienborg."

Thank you for the flowers Muhler. Not writing for a living, but enjoyed writing about a happy experience and enjoyed sharing it.

I'm home recovering from a broken ankle, and that is why I've had the time to post my Mary experiences - was busy being a worker bee at the time Mary and Frederick actually visited last year, and had to keep going on the hamster wheel. Quieter life at the moment.

Would love to keep posting, but probably don't have any more stories until Mary comes back down our way. I think you must be the one in the hot seat for all the latest on Mary, being on each other's door-steps.

Would love to visit Denmark - it looks very beautiful on Google Maps. (I'm always on that checking out different places.)

Until recently my only knowledge of your country was the Danny Kaye "Hans Christian Anderson" movie and a Disney ballet movie set there, and The Little Mermaid statue of course, and a few years ago a doco about the cute gardening houses people have - so not a lot.

Nice to know Mary is free to get out and about and do normal things and not be hemmed in. Hope Ziggy was getting a workout too.

Cheers for now, I'll post again when I have something to add to the discussion, or a question to ask. Sun Lion.

P.S. - did you manage to locate Mary's sister's place? Hope so.

[Sun Lion]

Here are a few photos that I took the first time I saw CP Mary and CP Frederik in Australia - November 2011.

I've written a description of that occasion up-thread, but now know how to post my photos, so here are a few.

Of course, you all would have seen similar shots from this time, but I have some that you may not have, as I was at ground level when the Royal Party arrived and left - not on the Customs House balcony where the official media where situated.

Also, all but one of the official media raced off after M and F went inside, to be in position for the next event at Garden Island. So you may not have seen the crowds that gathered on the street side of Circular Quay when it was known who was there.

CP Mary and CP Frederik spent quite some time talking with our Lord Mayor Clover Moore - in the bright blue suit - after shaking hands and talking to the crowds, before they got back into their vehicles and headed off, and I was in a good position to get some nice photos.

Good, bright light - as my camera is quite ordinary - so I hope you can see the same detail in the posted photos as I've got in the originals - the grain on M's leather bag and fabric on her top.

(I also noticed she must have re-tied the sash at the back at some point inside, as it is different when she came back out, to when she went in.)

Cheers, Sun Lion.

P.S. See how empty the balcony is in the photos of the group coming back out of the building, compared to the photo I've put in a following post of all the media lined up awaiting the arrival.

[Sun Lion]

Some of the "crowd" scenes - M and F, and our Lord Mayor, Copenhagen's Mayor and the Danish Ambassador to Australia are there.

Notice some of the people's faces when up close to CP Mary - hands over mouths.

This is the street side of Circular Quay - see the sea-horse motifs - with the Harbour just behind the people, and a big cruise ship docked.

Some photos caught the crowds upstairs looking down through the windows. (There is a train station just above here.)

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Some nice photos as the event comes to a close at the Customs House, and the official parties all farewell each other.

Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

CP Mary and Clover have quite a chat together before it's time to go.

The Customs House with the media lined up along the balcony.

A final shot of CP Mary and Denmark's Ambassador to Australia.



It's been great fun to be able to post my photos here, and share them with anyone interested.

Best Wishes to you all, particularly the Danish posters who's Crown Princess, Mary is. (Come down to Oz sometime and I'll show around.)

Cheers Everyone, Sun Lion.

[Sun Lion]

Hi Again Everyone,

My last post for 2013 -

I was sitting looking at the view from my sister's home a while ago - Launceston is in a valley where three rivers meet, with some some large bare mountains looking down on it from the eastern side - planning what we could fit, and not fit in, to our remaining days down here in Tasmania, as we will run out of time here before we know it.

One thing I won't be spending a day on again - in my entire life in fact - is our very successful MONA, that CP Mary and CP Frederik were given a private tour of when they were last here, in 2011.

I must say, it has been an economic boon to the state, and is always crowded with both locals and visitors from elsewhere.

It has really put Tasmania on the "art map" - maybe even world-wide.

Certainly, it has been the focus of some very strong marketing of Tasmania by our tourism board.

I noticed M and F's visit didn't seem to get much mention at the time - perhaps because it was during the private part of their Australian tour.

Anyway, I had been warned about some of the exhibitions - the theme is of sex and death in large part - but, truely, in some rooms I chose to avert my gaze, and look at the floor while awaiting my companions.

(Mind you, I don't watch horror or violent movies, so perhaps I'm in the more sensitive catagory anyway.)

Having been to it - and indeed there are some things of great interest and beauty - I sometimes wonder what M and F made of it all.

Especially as I think they were escorted around by the man who's actual private collection makes it up - it's open to the public, but is his private art he has collected.

And in fact, he has been working over the years with our historic collections, and had great success with how different items have been curated together from our "normal" museums and his items, so I hope I'm not coming of as too negative about it.

The building itself is wonderful - dug out of the sandstone in that area, going down, down, down.

But, it is quite confronting in some of it's works, and I can't imagine what M and F would have thought.

MONA stands for "Museum of Old and New Art", and we know CP Frederik has a particular interest in modern art, (the decor of the Amalienborg residence, for example), but I wonder if they knew what they were in for.

Happy New Year All,

Sun Lion.

P.S. And I'm not sure where I read it, but I saw somewhere that Launceston is where CP Mary's grandmother used to live - so I'm assuming she knows this part of Tasmania quite well, and not just the south of the island, or the lower east coast.

[CyrilVladisla]

I like the fact that Frederik and Mary planted a native Danish tree, a field maple on November 22, 2011.

[Sun Lion]

(I'm putting these photos here as I think it was during this visit to Australia that Mary, Frederik and their children spent time at her sister's holiday house. A photo was released some time later of Mary on the beach with one little twin strapped to the front and the other on her back, if you remember.)

So anyway, I've been doing what is called "The Great Eastern Drive" down the coast of Tasmania this week and today ducked in off the highway just south of the township of Orford to have a look at "Spring Beach" and in fact drove passed the house, which is just up the hill from the beach.

Here are a few shots I took of the house.

[Sun Lion]

"Spring Beach" has the same beautiful aqua blue water and white sand as the countless beaches down the length of Tasmania's east coast.

[Sun Lion]

Some more photos I took today at "Spring Beach".

[Sun Lion]

A few other views of "Spring Beach".