What is your opinion of Frederik and Mary

[sweettiara]

Originally Posted by eireann

I think it´s really interesting the way Mary appears to be doing so much more work than Fred. Is it that the media is more interested in what she is doing? I know in the Spanish forum, there is often talk about why Letizia is not doing her own engagements and I have wondered that if she started would the media attention focus on her rather than Felipe? Does anyone think this is what is happening in Denmark? I do feel a bit sorry for her that she is doing so many things alone especially since she´s not that long in the family.

doing more? i think for the month of may she has only four engagements.

[soCal girl]

Originally Posted by sweettiara

doing more? i think for the month of may she has only four engagements.

I'd say that's a lot more than Frederick's been doing. Also, Mary went to the birthday celebrations in Sweden with just her father-in-law at the end of April. Plus, Mary is a new mother. Christian isn't even a year old so he's still heavily dependent on his mother. I know Christian has a nanny but IMO nothing can replace a mother's touch. Frederick is a new father too but he's been a little too absent from his public duties IMO. And even though Mary may not be doing as many engagements as she was pre-baby, she's still doing a lot more than Fred. What upsets me the most is that Mary worked hard basically up to the end of her pregnancy. It would seem to me that Frederick should have had more work during that time.

[Lady Bluffton]

I've been on record for what some deem "Mary bashing," but what I have meant as legitimate criticisms and observations of her demeanor.

However!!! I recently saw this video: http://www.hjerteforeningen.dk/sw51968.asp

Mary was so extraordinarily poised and "even keeled." None of the body language (that I could detect) that made me think twice about her. Her Danish seemed rather nice, and she seemed genuinely interested in the opening of whatever medical facility she was participating in.

Good on you, Mary!

[Regina]

Originally Posted by Lady Bluffton

http://www.hjerteforeningen.dk/sw51968.asp

Thanks for the video Lady Bluffton!

I have nothing against Mary, by the contrary I am a great fan of her! She seems to me a very kind and smart woman. I adored the way she interacted with the little girls of the video, very genuine!

Good luck Mary!!

[Laviollette]

Below are a couple of sources that confirm F&M's long and loving courtship. It lasted for three years and eight months -- September 2000 through May 2004.

The Royalist
Lessons In Love From Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Written by Janice Seto
Saturday, January 21, 2006

For Mary, [the christening of her son, Prince Christian] is another milestone in a life which has seen her go from a Tasmanian-born Sydney estate agent to meeting and then marrying a prince...Friendship developed between Mary and Frederik when they kept in touch via phone, email, and sent each other CD's of favourite bands. They got to know each other as friends who had much in common...What is admirable is the way Mary and Frederik did not rush into marriage. Frederik had to want to change his bachelor life. Mary had to decide if she wanted, and could cope with, the royal lifestyle for a lifetime, and if so could they carry the royal family workload with the Queen & Prince Henrik? For a woman meeting a fellow at aged 28, and then not walking down the aisle until age 32, she must have put her ticking biological clock in a bureau drawer!..Mary declared: "I will not tolerate infidelity." Read full article: http://www.theroyalist.net/content/view/354/40/.

The Copenhagen Post Online
A future Queen bares her soul in two major interviews
May 13, 2004

Mary and Frederik met for the first time on 16 September 2000 during the Olympic games in Sydney. The pair enjoyed several early morning walks on Sydney's many scenic beaches, swam and ate breakfast: simple pleasures for two ordinary young people getting to know each other. Mary describes her fateful rendezvous with Frederik as a wonderful meeting between two people, but says in the documentary that it did not transform her life in one fell swoop. When Frederik returned to Denmark, Mary was unsure if she would ever see him again, and regretted he was not Australian...The turning point came in 2001, when Mary and Frederik could no longer stand the long-distance romance. Mary decided to move to Paris, and over the next six months, the two met in Denmark every weekend. Read full article: http://www.cphpost.dk/get/78394.html.

[PreDoc]

Originally Posted by BurberryBrit

I am becoming such a huge CP Mary fan so I thought it would be fun to list why we like her.

1. She has excellent appearance standards and obviously works hard to keep herself looking good which is very inspiring.
2. Understands the power of the camera and has no fear in posing for it.
3. Demands a work/family balance (I'm all for maximizing one's leisure time!)
4. Has a dignified disposition: She's in line to be the next Queen of Denmark & she damn well knows it!

[Christo's Girl]

I don't think that Mary's job is particularily hard. It is not like she has a fulltime job and bills to pay. She doesn't have to worry about making a living. But on the other hand she always must be "on" sort of speak whenever she is in public. I agree, she does make a tremendous effort to look nice and appropriate at all times because of her position. That must be exhausting though sometimes.

[Australian]

Originally Posted by Christo's Girl

I don't think that Mary's job is particularily hard. It is not like she has a fulltime job and bills to pay. She doesn't have to worry about making a living. But on the other hand she always must be "on" sort of speak whenever she is in public. I agree, she does make a tremendous effort to look nice and appropriate at all times because of her position. That must be exhausting though sometimes.

I think her job definately has its own element of easiness but there is also an element of difficulty like you say. If she has one bad hair day, it is talked about till kingdom come. I just think that the hard part of her job would be the constant scrutiny she and any other royal member is subjected to every day of their lives.

[biboquinhas]

I really think she is doing a great job but also think she should be more at home with her baby who needs very mucht the attention of her mother which is very important.

[PreDoc]

It's difficult to imagine that Mary should care at all about any supposed media scrutiny surrounding her (i.e. having a bad hair day). She's already made it to the top so why be bothered!! But in any event, it seems reasonable to assume that she has a buffer zone of servants and handlers who block out any potential negativity so she can concentrate on being an excellent Crown Princess without petty distractions.

Also, it is traditional for royal babies to be raised by a team of nannies. This may be a good thing, for it teaches the future monarch independence and fosters an ability to thrive in social environments: very useful skills for a wearying career!

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

Below are a couple of sources that confirm F&M's long and loving courtship. It lasted for three years and eight months -- September 2000 through May 2004.

Thank you very much for the links. On reading it, I got the feeling that prince Frederick treasures exactly what he found: a wife with the backbone to push both him and herself on being the future king and queen while in private being just the "good chum"and relaxing mate. Just got the feeling this was exactly what the prince needed: a wife who is more professional in being a Royal then he ever will be and thus helps him to cope with his inherited responsibilities. reminds me of the late Queen Mum and her "Bertie"... :)

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

Below are a couple of sources that confirm F&M's long and loving courtship. It lasted for three years and eight months -- September 2000 through May 2004.

The Royalist
Lessons In Love From Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Written by Janice Seto
Saturday, January 21, 2006

For Mary, [the christening of her son, Prince Christian] is another milestone in a life which has seen her go from a Tasmanian-born Sydney estate agent to meeting and then marrying a prince...Friendship developed between Mary and Frederik when they kept in touch via phone, email, and sent each other CD's of favourite bands. They got to know each other as friends who had much in common...What is admirable is the way Mary and Frederik did not rush into marriage. Frederik had to want to change his bachelor life. Mary had to decide if she wanted, and could cope with, the royal lifestyle for a lifetime, and if so could they carry the royal family workload with the Queen & Prince Henrik? For a woman meeting a fellow at aged 28, and then not walking down the aisle until age 32, she must have put her ticking biological clock in a bureau drawer!..Mary declared: "I will not tolerate infidelity." Read full article: http://www.theroyalist.net/content/view/354/40/.

The Copenhagen Post Online
A future Queen bares her soul in two major interviews
May 13, 2004

Mary and Frederik met for the first time on 16 September 2000 during the Olympic games in Sydney. The pair enjoyed several early morning walks on Sydney's many scenic beaches, swam and ate breakfast: simple pleasures for two ordinary young people getting to know each other. Mary describes her fateful rendezvous with Frederik as a wonderful meeting between two people, but says in the documentary that it did not transform her life in one fell swoop. When Frederik returned to Denmark, Mary was unsure if she would ever see him again, and regretted he was not Australian...The turning point came in 2001, when Mary and Frederik could no longer stand the long-distance romance. Mary decided to move to Paris, and over the next six months, the two met in Denmark every weekend. Read full article: http://www.cphpost.dk/get/78394.html.

Well the royalist has shown itself not to be trustworthy but as far as I know, the Copenhagen Post is reliable so that's interesting to hear.

[PreDoc]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Well the royalist has shown itself not to be trustworthy

Do you mean they usually print negative stories about the Crown Princess?

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by PreDoc

Do you mean they usually print negative stories about the Crown Princess?

Not necessarily. I haven't read much on the royalist about Mary. They've just been found to be unreliable in general.

[caroline mathilda]

I think after 2 years of royal marriage, Mary must sit back at times and say to herself..."well done, old girl!"
CM

[lise]

Originally Posted by caroline mathilda

I think after 2 years of royal marriage, Mary must sit back at times and say to herself..."well done, old girl!"
CM

What makes you think that?

[Margrethe II]

It most certainly is a fulltime job :), and I can never understand how anyone can say that any Crown Princely job isnt trying...We only know what the camera's let us see. Royals are royals when they work, eat, sleep, holiday, exercise, shop etc...its a position that lasts with them until the day they pass from this life to the next.

"MII"

[Australian]

That's right Margrethe II, a lot of preparation and work must surely go on behind the scenes and to us, it might seem like all they do is go to other countries and cut ribbons, but in reality it must be much more than that.

[Laviollette]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Well the royalist has shown itself not to be trustworthy but as far as I know, the Copenhagen Post is reliable so that's interesting to hear.

Since the Royalist and the Copenhagen Post articles essentially said the same thing, I'm sure of the accuracy of the Royalist article on this occasion.:)

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by Laviollette

Since the Royalist and the Copenhagen Post articles essentially said the same thing, I'm sure of the accuracy of the Royalist article on this occasion.:)

Keep in mind however that publications sometimes copy from each other without taking the time to verify the facts, so inaccurate information could be continuously passed on as truth. I'm not saying that this is the case here but just a thought.