What is your opinion of Frederik and Mary

[UserDane]

Mathilde, I was just going to post the exact same thing you just said
I thought it a strange moment to comment on Frederik's activities since he has got so much coverage this week alone.

Alexandria, I think Frederik have a balanced representation of patronages ranging from association connected with Greenland to the Danish Dyslexia Organization, the national confederation of Hearing impaired to various arts and crafts associations and the Save the children fund.

[UserDane]

Originally Posted by Franco

Go true blue.

True blue - or royal blue ?

[Australian]

Hi Alexandria, I don't think the term "ga ga" is the right word to use when referring that most Aussies are like that towards Mary. Perhaps a bit protective, but thats what "mateship" is all about when a peer gets shot down for so many wrong reasons by some people. But i can definately understand how that may seem come across as being "ga-ga"

In my opinon, as a Mary fan and an Aussie, I do not think Mary is perfect or extraordinary and she does have a lot to learn, understandably. Just like the other crown princesses. However, I think Mary is cool. :)

[lise]

I second that Australian. I couldn't have put it better myself.

[Little_star]

Originally Posted by Australian

Hi Alexandria, I don't think the term "ga ga" is the right word to use when referring that most Aussies are like that towards Mary. Perhaps a bit protective, but thats what "mateship" is all about when a peer gets shot down for so many wrong reasons by some people.

What makes them "wrong"? The fact that you disagree with them?

[sirmax]

Originally Posted by princess olga

You know what I seriously don't understand about that? How come they are so, so very popular?! Is it because all the star-struck Aussie readers of Hello are voting as if their lives depended on it?

Seriously, when I think about what I know about Frederik as a person, it really is not much.

1. Is he smart? Dunno. The one interview with him I read had only one interesting thing to say, which was that he as a child felt distant from his parents. But that was it. Not someone with an interesting vision, imho.

2. Is he good looking? Mwah. He's ok looking but certainly not better looking than the other princes in the poll, Haakon and Felipe of Spain.

3. Mary.
Is she prettier, smarter, nicer or otherwise more special than, say, Letizia of Spain or Maxima of the Netherlands? What are Mary's redeeming qualities? She's not artistic and eccentric like Margarethe, 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.

I know liking someone (especially having only the media as a source) is in the eye of the beholder, but come on, what on the planet is just so special about this prettyfied girl-next-door over an obivously smart girl like Letizia, or an obviously gregarious and social girl like Maxima?

Why oh why, is really my question, is Mary so lionized? I'm mystified... I take it I must have some perhaps obvious blind spot when it comes to this, in my view, average-on-all-fronts couple.

The only reason I see for liking her is, weirdly, her father: he seems to be a down to earth kind of guy, a bit no nonsense. Maybe she is like him and is down to earth and that's what people like about her?

I think that they are who they ARE and we cannot make them perfect or change them. The most important thing is that they are happy the three together and that the Danish People likes them. But you cannot change them. I read and saw many interviews and he is quite intelligent and Mary does her job very well.

[Australian]

Originally Posted by Little_star

What makes them "wrong"? The fact that you disagree with them?

Nope Little_star :)

When I say wrong, I mean reasons that are spiteful etc...i dont mean what is wrong as in correct or incorrect or in my personal opinon, that is not what i am referring to. It is wrong according to the term "mateship". I was explaining it in the context of mateship.

[Little_star]

Originally Posted by Australian

Nope Little_star :)

When I say wrong, I mean reasons that are spiteful etc...i dont mean what is wrong as in correct or incorrect or in my personal opinon, that is not what i am referring to. It is wrong according to the term "mateship". I was explaining it in the context of mateship.

Ah, ok. I see what you mean.
However, I'd have to disagree with you, as I don't know what the personal motivations of posters are, so I certainly wouldn't think that they were being spiteful or jealous, for example.

[Henri M.]

It is a pity that posters feel a Princess should 'transform' with stylistes et al. When you look at pictures of Mathilde, Mette-Marit, Máxima and Letizia, they are very much the same before and after the marriage. Prince Willem-Alexander even publicly stated that he hoped that the Máxima he learned to know and became in love with, would always remain the same Máxima (and not let her unique self be buried).

From all the 'Crown Princesses', let me name it that way, I have never felt a 'click' with Mary. She is the fake one, with her stylistes and her strange cover-photographs which are not at all comme-il-faut for royalty. Diana started with this and caused the Beckhamization of the monarchy. Mary should not let the old and ancient House of Schlesvig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg going the same path into the present anglosaxon disease of worshipping of celebrities and kissing every pooh-pooh of the likes of Paris Hilton or Madonna's African baby (the poor, poor thing).

It must be personal. Others praise her all the way up towards cloud nine. But there are always people you like or dislike on first sight. An initial feeling that is. I have that with Mary. For no second I believed in that marriage of her. She is the first who comes in my mind when it is about royal crises of the future.

Don't get misled by fairytale pictures. We all remember the last fairytale pictures of Alexandra and Joachim in between autumn leaves, with filtered light and oh-la-la l'amour. Not long later they announced their separation.

[royalist]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

It is a pity that posters feel a Princess should 'transform' with stylistes et al. When you look at pictures of Mathilde, Mette-Marit, Máxima and Letizia, they are very much the same before and after the marriage. Prince Willem-Alexander even publicly stated that he hoped that the Máxima he learned to know and became in love with, would always remain the same Máxima (and not let her unique self be buried).

From all the 'Crown Princesses', let me name it that way, I have never felt a 'click' with Mary. She is the fake one, with her stylistes and her strange cover-photographs which are not at all comme-il-faut for royalty. Diana started with this and caused the Beckhamization of the monarchy. Mary should not let the old and ancient House of Schlesvig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg going the same path into the present anglosaxon disease of worshipping of celebrities and kissing every pooh-pooh of the likes of Paris Hilton or Madonna's African baby (the poor, poor thing).

It must be personal. Others praise her all the way up towards cloud nine. But there are always people you like or dislike on first sight. An initial feeling that is. I have that with Mary. For no second I believed in that marriage of her. She is the first who comes in my mind when it is about royal crises of the future.

Don't get misled by fairytale pictures. We all remember the last fairytale pictures of Alexandra and Joachim in between autumn leaves, with filtered light and oh-la-la l'amour. Not long later they announced their separation.

Wow Henry M., very well said!

[tabbitha]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

It is a pity that posters feel a Princess should 'transform' with stylistes et al. When you look at pictures of Mathilde, Mette-Marit, Máxima and Letizia, they are very much the same before and after the marriage. Prince Willem-Alexander even publicly stated that he hoped that the Máxima he learned to know and became in love with, would always remain the same Máxima (and not let her unique self be buried).

From all the 'Crown Princesses', let me name it that way, I have never felt a 'click' with Mary. She is the fake one, with her stylistes and her strange cover-photographs which are not at all comme-il-faut for royalty. Diana started with this and caused the Beckhamization of the monarchy. Mary should not let the old and ancient House of Schlesvig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg going the same path into the present anglosaxon disease of worshipping of celebrities and kissing every pooh-pooh of the likes of Paris Hilton or Madonna's African baby (the poor, poor thing).

It must be personal. Others praise her all the way up towards cloud nine. But there are always people you like or dislike on first sight. An initial feeling that is. I have that with Mary. For no second I believed in that marriage of her. She is the first who comes in my mind when it is about royal crises of the future.

Don't get misled by fairytale pictures. We all remember the last fairytale pictures of Alexandra and Joachim in between autumn leaves, with filtered light and oh-la-la l'amour. Not long later they announced their separation.

I disagree with everything mentioned here- i feel just the OPP.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Fred's looks: I think he is very handsome. He has been my favorite crown prince in terms of looks for a very long time now.
Mary's looks: I think she is pretty, has a very good body, and is obviously photogenic, though I would never say she is one of the great beauties. I agree that she is very GND, but that is what I like about her. GND quality is much more appealing to me than the diva quality.
Intelligence: I imagine both of them are as sharp and intelligent as any other productive people who have university degrees, the most elite military experience/training (frogman corps is just like the US Navy Seals and UDT squads) and (in Mary's case) a good, well-paying professional work experience.
Mary compared to other princesses:
She might be more restrained, less exotic, or whatever than some princesses, but she is what she is. Why would you want her to be a copy of other princesses' qualities: Alexandra's exotic features, Maxima's effervescence; Letizia's pencil-slim figure? Mary has her own qualities and she is who she is, just Mary, not Maxima's this + Letizia's that = Perfect Mary. Just Mary.

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by UserDane

Mathilde, I was just going to post the exact same thing you just said
I thought it a strange moment to comment on Frederik's activities since he has got so much coverage this week alone. ...

Thing is, he doesn't get that kind of coverage for example where I live, so perhaps this is one reason why for example I got a different impression re. him over the past years.


So perhaps this--i.e. the lack of media coverage he gets outside of Denmark/Australia-- is one reason I have the impression I have of him: as someone who works, but perhaps not as hard as some would (Mary on the other hand is well covered and I do get the impression therefore that she puts in a fair amount of time and energy into her role)

Maybe the other thing with Fred, and an added reason why I--perhaps unfairly so--got the impression he seems quite lazy except when it comes down to sailing and his family, is because his personality seems laid-back, relaxed. Perhaps I'm confusing this, translating this with lazyness, and perhaps this is not accurate. I for one will need to take a closer look at Fred the coming time, perhaps he is a bit misunderstood by us non-Danes.

All the same, I have a tough time 'figuring him out': UserDane, you mention some things he's involved in, but as Alexandria said, there doesn't seem anything he's really thrown his heart into, and one would think that a thirty-something old guy would by now have figured out where his heart liies (besides things like sailing and hanging out with your fave brunette). He's perhaps a bit of a mystery, a cipher. Or perhaps he's just a simple guy, just trying to do his generalist best that he can.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by princess olga

Thing is, he doesn't get that kind of coverage for example where I live, so perhaps this is one reason why for example I got a different impression re. him over the past years.

Location and language is a major impact on one's perception. For example, I frequently check Hola.com because they have lots of royal news, but I notice that they do not cover any royals more than the Spanish royals. Their coverage of the Spanish royals is almost daily and is very extensive, covering all the members and what they are doing.
Now I am learning Danish so I check all the major Danish sites and they frequently cover the Danish royals. Billed-bladet and BT.dk are constantly coming out with stories on their royals. BT actually has a section for each one. It is interesting to see how the Danish media treats their royal family, even all the "minor royals" and the Berleburg/"Greek" cousins just like the British media does for the Windsors and all their extended relations (i.e. the Kents, Gloucesters etc.). So location is a major factor, but just taking the time to learn the language helps tremendously to widen the perspective. Language is a major barrier (or doorway, if you learn it) to understanding people.

[stellam]

CasiraghiTrio,

I agree with you 100% what you wrote in the post about F&M's looks etc. Also, Sometime ago I read in a bio of Fred that when he is not doing royal duties he lectures part-time at one of Forces. But this is not mentioned in the press often, or one does not see him going to a lecture. The most times you see the Royals are when they are about their royal business or having some fun time which gives one the impression thats all they do.

Princess Olga,
Truth in what you say with reference to Fred being laidback it does give you the impression that he could be a lazy chap.

When you see their calendar though, they are very busy.

Stellad

[CasiraghiTrio]

Their calendar is strange though. It seems like they really overbook one week, and then have nothing in Weeks 2 and 3, then in Week 4 they are super-busy again. The only explanation for why they might want to do business like that is that their private pursuits like the lectures that stellad mentions, or whatever else they do as private people, is reserved for the "empty" weeks.

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by Jamerican

<Remarks deleted by Mandy/Administrator>
It is a good thing that the standards for 21st century royals have changed to the point when all you have to do is smile, and make a few speeches to be considered a good prince or monarch.

I can assure you that, speaking for my own country, it is really not enough for the monarch to smile and to make a few speeches.
In my country he is too embedded into the workings of state to describe his role as you did.

Maybe that it counts for some other countries. Sweden and Belgium comes to mind.

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

Their calendar is strange though. It seems like they really overbook one week, and then have nothing in Weeks 2 and 3, then in Week 4 they are super-busy again. The only explanation for why they might want to do business like that is that their private pursuits like the lectures that stellad mentions, or whatever else they do as private people, is reserved for the "empty" weeks.

That might not really be something they themselves are able to control. For example, let's say that Fred is Patron of, say, 50 charities. If in one month there are, say, 10 events of said charities he needs to attend and they are for example all in week number two, and in week three none of the charities is organizing anything, Fred will be very busy indeed in week 2 but not in week 3. In week 3, he might be able to catch up on his correspondance, or research a state visit to country x, y or z that's coming up, or..take it easy and hang out with the little Prinsen.

Again I think that this is why it is so difficult for us bystanders to judge whether these people are really putting in their all. Because when there's nothing nominally on the calendar, these royals could be very busy, pro-actively preparing whoknowswhat event/state visit, etc etc. Or not! We have no way of knowing because these people's jobs aren't the typical 9-5 type gigs. They really are a 24/7/365 if these people take their responsibility seriously.

[Mathilde1286]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

Their calendar is strange though. It seems like they really overbook one week, and then have nothing in Weeks 2 and 3, then in Week 4 they are super-busy again. The only explanation for why they might want to do business like that is that their private pursuits like the lectures that stellad mentions, or whatever else they do as private people, is reserved for the "empty" weeks.

Perhaps that free time is being spent with Prince Christian and family. Truth is, we don't know what is going on other than all the stuff the press gives us.

Honestly, if they have a busy schedule, then it's safe to assume they're bad parents and don't spend a lot of family time. If their schedules are not full, then it's safe to assume they sit around all day and do nothing. This is aimed at no one in particular.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Thanks for the input on my last comment, princess olga and Mathilde. Both of you made good points. I just want to iterate that I was not criticizing them at all. My initial impression from a cursory glance over a few months of their schedule was just a bit of surprise, but this is only because I come from a very different world than the one they inhabit. I come from a world where people work regular jobs and have a set schedule everyday and when they are not in those jobs, they are attending classes at a university, cleaning their homes, cooking meals, or caring for their loved ones. They might have some free time in between all that, early in the morning before the sun comes up or late in the evenings, or on weekends, when they can catch up on exercise or otherwise leisurely pursuits.

On a serious note, however, this is why I love royalty watching. It is so very interesting to learn about a world that is so very different from one's own.
I close with a quote from.........a very unacademic source, People magazine... The Royals: Their Lives, Loves, and Secrets. "...a world where celebrating Grandma's birthday means having a parade and inviting the entire country....personal flaws can become matters of state. Even today, failed attempts to produce an heir can end dynasties, a bad marriage can divide a kingdom, and a tragedy such as Diana's 1997 crash can rock the realm...."

The "rock the realm" bit about Diana's crash may be a bit overstating, but otherwise, I think there are some truths there.