Princess Mary's Personality

[Fashionista100]

It's interesting all the critisisms put at Mary. If she was more down to earth she would be critisised like the Dutchess of York for being too common. Too distant she would be like Princess Michael who had been called snotty in the past.

Diana was more of a clothes horse than Mary. At one point I think she had way too many patronages to be activly involved with them except to ribbon cut. She when she took a year off and only did a few charities she started to really get in depth in a way she couldn't before.

Mary does not have an over involvement in the fashion industry. If you take a look at how many shows she has attended it hasn't been that much. You can count them on your fingers. Remember fashion events always have press. How many press photographers are at a board meeting? Not many. As I said in the Mary's Schedule thread, not everything is published or has photographers. Mary recently made a trip to the swimming federation that was private and unpublished. We only found out after the fact, as someone looked on the swimming site. They had pics of it. If the charity didn't have their camera to document no one would know. Princess Alexandra (Countess of Fredensbourg) had the same trouble after her divorce and had to alert the press to private visits to prove she was earning her keep.

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by juliana

I would have thought that the types of events she attends are in fact representative of her character. At the beginning of her royal career did she not state that she was assessing what charities etc she wished to support?

Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve were both high priesteses of the fashion world and between the two I imagine they had sat beside more fashion catwalks than even Mary can fathom but I daresay the two actresses, one French and the other Dutch had very different personalities. Not everyone who sails on a sailboat has the same personality as Fred so why should Mary be obliged to adopt this generic personality of every lady that has every attended a fashion catwalk?

There is no such generic fashion personality.

[wiwaxia]

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

Yes, I do realize that is their calender. I'm usually the one who updates and translates the Danish Royal Calender for this sub-forum. So essentially I am familiar with it and what the DRF are up to officially and unofficially.

Since you're from Denmark you know that some of their engagements are not always listed especially private visits and so forth.

Finally, most of Frederik's sailing events are unofficial and are rarely posted on the Danish royal calender.

It will be different in the future according to this link, C P Frederiks sailing activities have taken on 'an affair of state' complexion:

Ekstra Bladet - Frederiks sejlads er et statsanliggende

a manipulative move if it is correctly reported, that will cover all aspects, even if his involvement is debatable.

[adelaide]

As I know the Crown Princess only for her appearence it seems to me very difficult to have a true opinion about her personality.
It's a pretty girl but - for me - she don't have the glowing of a great Lady. May be I'm wrong but I found that Alexandra was of an other calibre - intellectual and physical - As this kinds of considerations are very personal and based on feelings rather of analysis of intrinsic value according results for a long work for example, I think that she has the benefit of the doubt and may be she will becoming a great Lady, that I don't be convinced until now but she is Crown Princess only since three years in a country with a difficult language and very far away of her roots

[Chimene]

Originally Posted by adelaide

As I know the Crown Princess only for her appearence it seems to me very difficult to have a true opinion about her personality.
It's a pretty girl but - for me - she don't have the glowing of a great Lady. May be I'm wrong but I found that Alexandra was of an other calibre - intellectual and physical - As this kinds of considerations are very personal and based on feelings rather of analysis of intrinsic value according results for a long work for example, I think that she has the benefit of the doubt and may be she will becoming a great Lady, that I don't be convinced until now but she is Crown Princess only since three years in a country with a difficult language and very far away of her roots

Wonderful post! It's fair and reasonable in tone, and although I disagree with your assessment of her, you have a very interesting perspective. It's very true that even when we look at the same pictures and come to different conclusions, we can agree to disagree. And that is the beauty of great dialogue!

[Saphire]

Princess Mary seems to be doing a good job. In the beginning she used to walk with her nose up in the air, but that look goes back to her pre-engagement days. She seems to have corrected it. There is nothing truly remarkable about Mary, she does her job just like all the other princesses. She dresses well, and she clearly loves her family.

What I think we should remember is that, if she was still a regular Jane, she would be just as ordinary as most of us are. The only thing that makes her "special" is that she was a commoner and became a princess, just like in the fairytales. We only know her public persona, and then, we only see what the media presents us with. Unless we have been fortunate enough to meet her in person it's kind of hard to form a true unbiased opinion.

[juliana]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve were both high priesteses of the fashion world and between the two I imagine they had sat beside more fashion catwalks than even Mary can fathom but I daresay the two actresses, one French and the other Dutch had very different personalities. Not everyone who sails on a sailboat has the same personality as Fred so why should Mary be obliged to adopt this generic personality of every lady that has every attended a fashion catwalk?

There is no such generic fashion personality.

But I was not referring to fashion or sports- her choice of patronages in general is definitely relevant to her character as all personal choices are to everyone so please, why are you using my quote.

[Roxsteve]

I think Mary comes across as someone who is very superficial. I don't find her very close to the people, and she seems to think that she is better than everyone else. Maybe I'm dead wrong, probably so, but that is how she comes across to me. She seems very money oriented. Do Mary and Alexandra get along? I see Alexandra in a different way, and I don't know either. It is just how she comes across.

[Currier]

When I read negative comments about CPMary, I'm always reminded about the reasons I joined--to be a mature voice and express my opinion about a woman who is doing a great job. Not for her the tabloids of England! She appears cheerful, happy and circumspect. If she were the carping type, there is lots she could let ruin her life, but does not: a husban absent with his hobby, a residence that is in an undesireable spot--no view; life in a small town, etc. yes, she has lovely clothes but they are purchased for events that may be for "command" appearances not events of her choosing. Those correspondents who feel they could have no meaningful conversation with her need not worry.

[Roxsteve]

El Semanal Digital


This article talks about the amount of money Mary spends on a daily basis, and the fact that Danish people are fed up with it. She has purchased 20 pairs of shoes and is being called "Danish Imelda Marcos."

[Empress]

Can anyone comment on whether the article above is from a reputable source? Also, I am just not sure how one can make the determination that a person is wrapped up in money, only from photos. Maxima of the Netherlands has a tremendous budget, well over 1 million USD per year, and I am assuming she spends quite a bit of it, but no one seems to make the same conclusions on her. Not that I want to compare the two, I am just trying to understand why Mary beings out such strong emotions in people.

[Chimene]

Unfortunately for the writer/reporter of this article, Mary is not married to a dictator whose people are living in object poverty. While we can question her love of shoes, or even call her superficial, this piece is evidence that the person is so biased they cannot even show proportion in their comparison. Since I don’t know what the Danish people think of her, I can’t comment on the validity of the statement.

[Lena]

Originally Posted by Empress

Can anyone comment on whether the article above is from a reputable source? Also, I am just not sure how one can make the determination that a person is wrapped up in money, only from photos. Maxima of the Netherlands has a tremendous budget, well over 1 million USD per year, and I am assuming she spends quite a bit of it, but no one seems to make the same conclusions on her. Not that I want to compare the two, I am just trying to understand why Mary beings out such strong emotions in people.

Maxima hasn´t promoted fashion as cause. It´s clear, that ppl take extra looks on that matter, if you do that. The article is based on an article in the Danish press. I can only recommend to all serious Mary fans to study Danish...helps a lot Then one can self judge, if things could be real or all made up or satire...

Further Maxima has the ability to laugh things away. She might love Valentino, but one doesn´t see it firstly. Is that fair? No, but already babies love big bright smiles. Human nature.

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by Empress

Can anyone comment on whether the article above is from a reputable source?

I think the story that Mary had bought 20 pairs of shoes appeared first in Ekstra Bladet - the most hypocritical of the tabloid newspapers. If Mary had been voted crown princess of the century in an obscure poll in an obscure foreign newspaper the day after, they would have printed a drooling story of 'our Mary' and how proud she makes us!

Roxsteve, I wouldn't believe the story that Danes are fed up with Mary's spending; most of us do realize that the money allotted to the royal family is a salary - a rather large one but still a salary. If they can't make do with their 'salary', that's when all the critical voices are heard. Whatever they do with their alotted money is their business - just like it is every employee's own business what he or she spends her own money on.

People are fairly large re money for the royal house; not even when it was revealed that countess Alexandra had shopped heavily in the weeks leading up to her marriage (when she lost her privilege of getting back the 25 % VAT on all purchases) made the big headlines.

[Currier]

Having over 20 pairs of really good shoes in my closet, just having purchased 3 more pair and planning to spend a gift certificate on another pair, I really don't see anything extravagant if indeed Mary purchased 20 pairs at a time. Believe me, today's shoes do not lend themselves to a non-noticeable repair job and I think it would be unthinkable to wear a designer dress with shoes that were not perfect. CPMary is on display at all times and I think keeping extra pairs of the same design is as important as those extra pairs of white gloves one used to carry. I've had countless times when I've scrapped the back of a new pair of shors on the stairs and I wasn't even wearing spiked heels.

[Aurora810]

Well, I have never gone into this thread before this is my first time. And I see it has grown rapidly.

to be honest, I have a hard time getting a feel for Mary's personality. I try hard to like her and warm up to her, but she doesn't seem to capture my attention besides me looking to see what she is wearing. I know how incredibly superficial of me! But for some reason when it comes to Mary I just think fashion and all I want to see is what she is wearing. However, putting my superficialness aside for a moment I often think about who I would really like and hit it off with if I was ever to meet any of these royals that I follow so closely. And sometimes I think to myself that the one princess I have a hard time warming up to might in reality be the one that I would have the most in common with and feel the most comfortable around. Odd thought! Anyways, this is a very interesting thread and in reality none of us know for sure and we only see brief interviews or a snap shot to judge a personality from so who knows who Mary really and truly is behind closed doors. But I would like to think that she has balance between royal and normalcy. And that her pre-marriage commoner lifestyle will always be apart of her.

[Lena]

Originally Posted by Currier

CPMary is on display at all times

At all times...let´s not exaggerate
What I´ve heard pregnancy is making the feet of some women bigger, so maybe that´s why she needed shoes.

Well, some call Ekstra Bladet hypocritical and some Billed Bladet. Always a matter of perception. Just as it is for the single Dane.
Of course one is sometimes very close to imagine the Danes as a little slow mass, that is eating everything (apart from crazy soccer watchers )
But what I´ve learned, you can neither trust Danish Mary-lovers, nor Danish Mary-slashers in their view on the Danes opinion on Mary.
Let´s face it...to go to a forum and to write 2000 or so posts on the crown princely couple doesn´t make one to an most objective judge
My guess is, that most Danes simply don´t care and don´t spend many thoughts. Just as it is in most countries with their leaders.
Occasionally you are getting a piece of the puzzle...you are hearing...50000 crowns (6700EUR) for shoes and maybe one is raising an eyebrow for a second, but really...who would then spend more thoughts on it.

The stranger Mary&Frederik lovers are for me. Those who are really reading everything, who are checking the schedule and agencies regularly, who have read all interviews...and who are still so very fond and who can ignore all contradictions. Maybe one could finally explain that to me?? Things must then happen in the same brain area as the one for religion or something like that.
Well, that´s of course slightly off topic and at the same time not...after all, it´s the pivotal point of all these discussions on Mary (and Frederik...)
These discussions, that are all the time the same with the same arguments...and with generalisations, exaggerations and with no one really having a clue, because no one had ever long deep discussions with Mary. There is no real progress. In fact so far hardly anyone changed the sides (well, me maybe...but I can´t say, that I knew much about Mary then, nor anyone tried to get me on the other side really)
Why are we doing that, why are we discussing the personality of a woman, we have either never met or only for a few seconds in a staged moment?
So maybe those, who are judging her personality in a positive way could explain to me, why? Maybe not in the usual "Well, she is good with kids and beautiful" way...but with your deeper motives. Why do you think, are you writing here thousands of positive words on her?

[Empress]

Well, perhaps at the same time you might be able to explain to those who are positive, why you have formed such a negative opinion, based on likely the same information that the majority of others have available to them?

[Linda Hsu]

A new book about European princesses - 'Profession: Prinsesse''written by Swedish journalist Catarina Hurtig showing portraits of 10 Europe's young princesses, for example Mary, Victoria, Letizia, Mette-Marit, Maxima, Alexandra etc. Mary is praised in a new book as below :

QUOTE
Verdens bedste prinsesse – The world’s best Princess

- Mary is praised in a new book: 'Profession: Prinsesse'

"Mary is one of the princesses in Europe who has succeeded, perhaps the one who has done best in her job. She has the warm sides in her which can reach out both high and low. She is nice, open and smiling at all times and everywhere. But she also keeps a certain Royal distance so that she does not become “too common”. She always looks princess perfect – no matter where or when she is seen or photographed. And then the fact that she “did what she had to” and gave birth to a lovely boy the first time and now also a girl helps as well, says Catarina Hurtig."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...rinaHurtig.jpg

Thanks to ambiDK at the CPMMB for the above translation!

[Chimene]

To put it quite simply, I like thinking positively in general. Everyone has flaws and Mary is no exception. In terms of her personality, of course we are free to speculate (positive or negative), but I still maintain that if we are going to insult someone on the basis of their character, we need to base our arguments on facts or know them on a personal level.

I like Mary because I can’t find any evidence of what she has done wrong. Mary’s only guilt (so far) seems to be that she fell in love and married a Prince. Some might say she’s lucky, but I sometimes I feel sorry for her. Imagine how difficult it must have been for her to leave her family and settle into a new country, where she’s expected to live within all the constraint of that new environment. That prospect to me for me would be daunting.

The fact that her job requires her to look a certain way, and keep a sense of decorum seems to constantly be thrown in her face. I dislike plenty of people, and sometimes for reasons I can’t explain, that’s human nature and I understand that. However, when a reporter calls her “the Imelda Marcos of Denmark” I don’t think it’s fair. I cheer for her because some people want to see her fail. I don't wish that on her husband and children.

Seeing her with a smile on her face and with her family is fun to watch. This woman’s private life is no longer her own, and everything she does is subject to scrutiny. The fact that she has not trip and fall on her face (not literally speaking, of course) to me is admirable.

By the way, I like all the CP. They are all beautiful and modern women who make their husbands happy, so I’m happy for them. Sorry for the book.