What is your opinion of Frederik and Mary

[Liva]

I must admit I dont see it either. They do look very much in love, but most of their gestures are loving looks at each other and a few kisses at their weddingday and one time during their summer tour around denmark. Other than that, they do not kiss a lot in public, at least not what I have seen. I like this cute couple very much and I think their "display" of emotions are just right. Not too much and not too little.

 

[Liva]

"Little_star


My cousin has attended events where Mary has been present 9 times now and spoken to her on 5 of those occasions. Each time she has come away more and more disappointed, which is a great shame considering how excited she was by the marriage.

I do not doubt that your cousin has met her, but as you said yourself, she met her at events. She may not have talked to her for long. I live in a town in denmark where we had a terrible accident(dont know if that is the right word) in one of the suburbs of my town in november 2004, where a factory that produced fireworks exploded with 3000 tons of gunpowder and a lot of families lost their homes. Well, Frederik and Mary came to visit some of these families, a gesture very much apreciated. I did not lose my home, but I have lived in the area and some of my friends did lose their homes. Their view of Frederik and Mary was just the opposite. They were very touched by their sencerity and their ability to talk to these people. It´s not easy. What does one say to people who have just lost their homes, but they did a very good job according to my friends, and were very open and friendly. And this was not a big media event. It happened behind closed doors. There are few pictures of them coming and leaving the place, but the meeting was held in private. Just to give an example of a different view/situation.

Do you know Mary?

I dont think any of us know Mary or any other royal member of any royal family. I do not, your cousin does not and my friends do not.

 

[Ethel]

They are popular simply because they are the perfect Crown Prince Couple...

There are no divorces, parents not attending the wedding, previous children, scandals, skeletons in their closet, in their background. Sorry, but that's the truth...

They are a royal couple that IMO look the way a royal Crown Prince Couple should look like. They are both gorgeous, not boring at all, stylish, they are loved in their country, they are involved in charity work, they work hard to promote their country, they are also discreet and have this mistery around them which makes them even more appealing.

I like them very much, they seem like very down to earth people and very much in love. A perfect fairytale.

 

[Liva]

I agree with you Ethel on your views on the couple Dont know if the poll is totally fair if people can vote more than once, but that does not change my views on this couple. They are just lovely

 

[Mahoogie]

No way..I dont agree with the poll..Letizia and Felipe are a better couple, its just that my vote didnt count.lol. ..I have nothing against Princess Mary personally, I admire her beauty, respect her hard work and even defended her on the other thread, its just that sometimes I dont like the way she projects herself..maybe its on her facial expression like the look on her eyes or the mannerism of having her chin-up,with that, she looks arrogant to me and the Queen of Denmark is much down-to-earth..I dont mean to offend anyone here especially Marys fans, this is just my honest opinion..

 

[Sancia]

HRH the Crown Princess is most definitly an intelligent indavidual. There is no doubt whatsoever about that!"MII"

The curriculum vitae of the Crown Princess only says us she's obviously very gifted for studies and she worked hard to study, somethingg (unfortunately?) not directly related to intelligence. One can be brilliant or very brilliant in a subject and have no intelligence about quite others things or have a poor conversation. This is not a against-Mary speech (even if I'm not one of her greatest supporters) but something I stated. I don't mean to offensive against her but just to remind we need other evidences than a scholar curriculum vitae to state one's intelligence.

 

[Ethel]

The curriculum vitae of the Crown Princess only says us she's obviously very gifted for studies and she worked hard to study, somethingg (unfortunately?) not directly related to intelligence. One can be brilliant or very brilliant in a subject and have no intelligence about quite others things or have a poor conversation. This is not a against-Mary speech (even if I'm not one of her greatest supporters) but something I stated. I don't mean to offensive against her but just to remind we need other evidences than a scholar curriculum vitae to state one's intelligence.

Well, I believe the fact that she worked in top companies tells us about her intelligence, doesn't it?? I don't think she got jobs there just because she was a good student, sorry but that's just not real.

 

[Saragli]

People are too quick to fall into the fairytale motif of this relationship. I like them both. Letizia has a stiff upper lip but that is because she is a journalist. She is keen to know things, understand things, but is trained to seem unaffected by things. When your on air you have to seem nuetral and Letizia is still like that. That doesnt meen she is cold.

 

[Tinika]

I suppose the thing that 'bothers' me about them is also the thing that makes them appealing to so many people - they seem to be quite ordinary people who happen to be royal.

 

[Jasl]

its interesting to read the numerous posts (sometimes coming from the same poster) asking "what's so good about Frederik and Mary anway?"

I suppose I used to be like that as well. And the obvious hit me: not everyone is the same and we all have different opinions.

I personally adore the couple I think Mary has been very brave, has done things her own way, has done a lot in the time since she has joined the royal family (not only appearing at functions, but the behind the scenes contribution, some of which we know about), and how Frederik and Mary just look so right for each other.

On the other hand, I can't interest myself in some of the royals that others find so interesting: "bleh, who cares" (though I'm trying to wean myself out of being slack like that) Why? Because we're all different.

Perhaps instead of focusing on why others find so and so interesting, we ought to focus on what interests us.

But of course that's only my opinion and everyone's different.

 

[Idriel]

Hello! magazine is published for English-speaking readers, and they relate to Mary because she is Australian.

I do not agree with that explanation at all. In France, we have this great interest in the Windsor and the Spanish Royal family. We are much more interested in these foreign houses than, let say, French speaking royals like the Luxembourg or the Belgians. And the interest in the Danes has rose critically right before and after Fred's wedding, and it's still hot. Before that, and even through Margrete's consort is French, this house had never been deemed very interesting in here.
So, again, there is something special about Mary and Fred...

 

[Empress]

Question

... she's not of the exotic beauty of her ex sister in law. Heck, she doesn't even work as hard (ok, not yet) as Alexandra.

Just a question, but has anyone reviewed what exactly Aledxandra did in the first few years of her marriage? It would be believable that she also took up the time to build her public schedule and initiate herseld into the various charities and organizations she heads/patronizes, would it not?

Mary can certainly not, in my opinion, equal Alexandras acheivements of many years in the 2 years that she has behind her already. It takes time. Furthermore, it would also be believable to think that Alexandras first few years were dedicated not only to the above, but to also producing a family.

Perhaps we should keep in mind that Alexandra has produced her family, while Mary is still working on this, and that Alexandra has many years that she has used to build her relationships with various organizations. It would be unfair and totally unrealistic to think that anyone could match those accomplishments in such a short time. Perhaps giving Mary the time to do so, and in her own manner would be the fairer thing to do?

 

[Jasl]

So, again, there is something special about Mary and Fred...

... that others (including me!!) can see but not others. Really, I think that's the way it goes with most things. Some people like heavy metal, I personally hate it. It would not do me any good to ponder over how they can like it so much when to me, its just really crap.

We are all different. I think those who like the CP couple have in this and in the numerous other threads, already shown why they like this couple. Those who ask "why the interest" need look no further. If they can't see it, then its not because their question hasn't been answered, but because they fail to see and accept that those reasons are acceptable.

 

[Gloriana]

Originally posted by UserDane

'Over the top displays of affection and love' Over the top - on somebody's wedding day?? I'm pleased to say that I don't understand that reasoning.

Please note, I didn't say that one thing was better than the other, just different. Personally, I can relate more with Letizia, because I'm a bit like that myself, but that doesn't mean other 'styles' of expression are worse - just different.

 

[Margrethe II]

... that others (including me!!) can see but not others. Really, I think that's the way it goes with most things. Some people like heavy metal, I personally hate it. It would not do me any good to ponder over how they can like it so much when to me, its just really crap.

We are all different. I think those who like the CP couple have in this and in the numerous other threads, already shown why they like this couple. Those who ask "why the interest" need look no further. If they can't see it, then its not because their question hasn't been answered, but because they fail to see and accept that those reasons are acceptable.

Wonderfully said Jasl. I couldn't agree more!

"MII"

P.S Princess Olga,

Your response abut just liking her because of her father is terribly weird!

 

[crisiñaki]

I was wondering how long would it take for you Margrethe II to come in aid of the Danish Royal Family

 

[princess olga]

Just a question, but has anyone reviewed what exactly Aledxandra did in the first few years of her marriage?

Empress, you are making an excellent point. I am a huge admirer of princess Alexandra but admittedly didn't follow her in her early years of marriage.

 

[Margrethe II]

I was wondering how long would it take for you Margrethe II to come in aid of the Danish Royal Family

Thats right Crisiñaki...
No different from those who come in aid of Letizia! "MII"

 

[princess olga]

P.S Princess Olga,
Your response abut just liking her because of her father is terribly weird!

Margrethe, I take it I didn't express what I meant terribly well (that or you are "terribly" bad at trying to grok someone else's point), so I'll give it another try.

I once watched an interview with Mary's father, who came across as someone with a down to earth intelligence, and a seemingly very much intact moral compass. He seemed to be someone of such integrity, that I couldn't help but think that if he had had anything to do with Mary's upbringing at all, she surely would have gained an insight or two by the example he set for his kids. Up until seeing that interview, the impression I'd had of Mary was of someone seemingly arrogant, aloof, accomplished but shallow all the same. But that interview made me think that if she's anything at all like her father, she may not at all be like the impression I have had of her.
Make some sense?

 

[GlitteringTiaras]

I suppose I used to be like that as well. And the obvious hit me: not everyone is the same and we all have different opinions.

True. At least we all have one thing in common: We all agree to disagree, no?

 

[Marengo]

You know what I seriously don't understand about that? How come they are so, so very popular?!

Thank you very much for bringing this one up Olga, I have been puzzled by it for a long time. My theory is that she is mostly (not exclusively) admired by anglosaxons and in anglosaxon magazines. If Mathilde, Mette-Marit etc would have been American/Australian/etc, they would have been more popular in those magazines as well. Add to that that the Danish CP couple is very pleasant to look at.
Please note that i do not dislike CP Mary, I am just wondering what makes her so fifferent from the other crownprincesses.

 

[princess olga]

Thank you very much for bringing this one up Olga, I have been puzzled by it for a long time. My theory is that she is mostly (not exclusively) admired by anglosaxons and in anglosaxon magazines. If Mathilde, Mette-Marit etc would have been American/Australian/etc, they would have been more popular in those magazines as well. Add to that that the Danish CP couple is very pleasant to look at.
Please note that i do not dislike CP Mary, I am just wondering what makes her so fifferent from the other crownprincesses.

You and Prince Johnny25 and Tanika bring up some excellent points. And also, you're right that Mary and Fred are not bad to look at. Also, perhaps it is just too early to judge Mary anyway, and maybe we should have this discussison in a few years..on the other hand: Diana was hardly back from her honeymoon when she dove headfirst into all kinds of charity work..

 

[azile]

There have been some very interesting comments in this thread- Great discussion!

There is a point missing from this discussion; I believe that what sets Mary apart is that she and her role gives all of us a little bit of hope. She was an average common young woman who met a boy in a bar- and he turned out to be a prince. How many of us don't secretly dream that would happen to us?!

I think this is the big difference between Mary, Letizia and Maxima. Letizia and Maxima were already in careers that brought them naturally to dinner parties hosted by the upper class of society- most of us can't relate to that. Very few of us are going to find ourselves socializing in a situation where nobles, princes and millionaires are regularly seated next to us at dinner. Letizia and Maxima were already in lives where that was a fairly common occurance and had closets filled with designer suits.

However, most of us have been out with friends to a bar (wearing our favourite jeans!), hoping it would be the one lucky night when and where we would meet the future love of our lives. Whether we want to admit it or not, I think we all secretly feel that WE could have been in Mary's shoes, had we just been at the right bar on the right night.

So... I think that makes us either love Mary or dislike her. When I read many of the posts on this thread, there is an underlying current of either admiration or criticism. My guess is that half of us feel she is doing a better job than WE would have done, and the other half feel that in her shoes, WE would be doing better.

All three of these women have made big sacrifices. Maxima also moved to Europe and learned a new language. All three of them gave up careers as well as any prospect of a private life.

I think that there are such strong feelings about Mary because, quite simply, she used to be exactly like all of us. She traded up her jeans and flip flops for diamonds and a title. Most of us on this site likely have fantasized at some point about our prospects of doing exactly the same.


Eliza

 

[Marengo]

You and Prince Johnny25 and Tanika bring up some excellent points. And also, you're right that Mary and Fred are not bad to look at. Also, perhaps it is just too early to judge Mary anyway, and maybe we should have this discussison in a few years..on the other hand: Diana was hardly back from her honeymoon when she dove headfirst into all kinds of charity work..

Now, we are not really judging her I think. Just wondering why she seems to be so terribly popular while others,in the same position or even with 'better papers' seem to be less so (on this board anyway). However, I assume the popularity ratings of Mary, Mathilde, Maxima etc in their OWN countries will be more or less on the same level (though popularity is not everything, as Queen Beatrix liked to remind us of in one of her interviews).

I think Eliza has a point here as well, Mary is easier to relate to then Letizia and Maxima, who were already mingling in 'higher' social circles (different ones then where the average person is mingling with anyway) or of Mathilde who was born as a noble-woman (and still seems to be one in every inch).

 

[kwanfan]

There have been some very interesting comments in this thread- Great discussion!

There is a point missing from this discussion; I believe that what sets Mary apart is that she and her role gives all of us a little bit of hope. She was an average common young woman who met a boy in a bar- and he turned out to be a prince. How many of us don't secretly dream that would happen to us?!

Yet couldn't you say the same thing about Mette-Marit? To me, her story is more of a fairy tale than any of the other Princesses. She went from party girl, to single mother who worked hard to support her sun, to crown princess. To me, that is just as much, if not more, of a fairy tale than Mary.

 

[azile]

Yet couldn't you say the same thing about Mette-Marit? To me, her story is more of a fairy tale than any of the other Princesses.

Yes... but that was several years ago. I think the impact of her "Cinderella Story" has dulled with time.

I think many of us still relate more to Mary. I know that I don't relate to a former single parent waitress immersed in urban drug culture. I also don't think that Mette-Marit ever came across as the "average career girl" down the street.

I think we also tend to compare the Princesses who are more recent additons- maybe because the media tends to focus on the newcommers more?

Eliza

 

[Jaques Demolay]

You know what I seriously don't understand about that? How come they are so, so very popular?!

princess olga

I guess, for every "non understanding and mystified" person as your goodself, there must be fifty or more who think that Frederik and Mary are a great couple and a great Royal couple to boot.

There may be other reasons as well, that Mary gets more press than the others in the U.S. The other couples do not come from countries who participate in the "world series" baseball and so not recognised by the average American.

No, that cannot be correct, the "World Series" competition, does not extend outside the U.S. Well, that theory is blown!!

Here is a possible reason that Mary had a lot of press in the U.S. when she went to Paris. They all thought she was going to Texas and no one realised there was another Paris, outside of the U.S.

Well, one out of two isn't bad hey??

Regards Jaques D.

 

[Margrethe II]

Margrethe, I take it I didn't express what I meant terribly well (that or you are "terribly" bad at trying to grok someone else's point), so I'll give it another try.

No, you are right..you expressed yourself quite poorly.
It seems that your attempt second time round, does infact make sense and I appreciate the response.
"MII"
________________________________________________________________

As has been said before, It appears that many (not all) who claim that they are just "trying to see what everyone else see's" & that "they really have nothing against Mary" are just having a difficult time getting their heads around the danish couples popularity, resulting in their favourite couples missing out on alot of the spotlight.

I agree with "PJ25" that the Crown Princely couple are the more attractive couple for anglo saxons & anglo saxon magazines. This is no doubt a huge contributor, in regards to their jump in popularity.

Really, the best thing to do for those who feel this way, is stop trying to understand before you give yourselves a terrible headache. If you cant see it by now, the chances of you ever seeing it are becoming increasingly slim. And, no amount of what we (Mary supporters) have to say will change your views even though we try to explain.

"MII"

 

[Margrethe II]

I would think that surely TRH the Prince & Princess of Asturias would have a much larger following in the US than Mary & Frederik considering the very big Spanish and South American communities within the states..Was their wedding not shown on American TV or something of the sort?

"MII"

 

[Lady Jennifer]

I would think that surely TRH the Prince & Princess of Asturias would have a much larger following in the US than Mary & Frederik considering the very big Spanish and South American communities within the states..Was their wedding not shown on American TV or something of the sort?

"MII"

Nope. Neither was Frederik & Mary's. They might have shown clips on TV but thats about it (at least that I know of). They never show royal weddings here....or funeral's....except for Diana's.