General News about Joachim, Marie and Family Part 6: January 2021 -

[Tatiana Maria]

Whatever the reason, the prince seems to be expressing much more positive sentiments about his life and role than he usually has over the last several years.

[muriel]

I am not sure why he had to speak out on the matter at this stage, and not wait till he had something more concrete about what lay ahead for the family. I can only assume he has a need to be in the news, poor boy.

[ricarda]

Probably to distract from the fact that the option of prolongation was not chosen by the Danish Embassy. This way Joachim makes it sound as if it is his decision because he wants another job.

He claims he was soooo useful for Denmark and when someone has to point this out specifically then I automatically think: probably the opposite is true. He did nothing that any other employee (with normal pay) couldn't have done just as well. And regarding his status as Margrethe's son (which was the reason why he got this job in the first place) the Prince of Entitlement provided negative headlines for the Queen and Denmark twice in only 3 years.

[tommy100]

It seems "official Denmark" has not use for Joachim any more. Fair enough. What could he do next? He still gets an allowance from the state right? Does that limit him to not working for companies and the like?

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by tommy100

It seems "official Denmark" has not use for Joachim any more. Fair enough. What could he do next? He still gets an allowance from the state right? Does that limit him to not working for companies and the like?

We have to see if he gets whatever it is he wants before we know. If it's for NATO or ESA or something, that's not a company.

I think it must be hard for him when he sees Benedikte still working away and knowing he hasn't done anything to be demoted. It's also pretty short-sighted of the DRF when they don't how Frederik's reign will go and whether he and Mary will end up needing the assistance.

But we don't know that they have no official use for him anymore, forever, yet, either.

[Alisa]

He seems giddy and excited...so much do that he couldn't wait to share the news that there is news to share um...ok.

Based on how happy he is..My guess is that he will return to Denmark and the kids will get to keep their titles.

I personally don't want this and think the Queen should stick to her original plans.

I think there is use for Joachim and Marie. They can be a great supporting aid to a King Frederik and Queen Mary.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by ricarda

Probably to distract from the fact that the option of prolongation was not chosen by the Danish Embassy. This way Joachim makes it sound as if it is his decision because he wants another job.

Do we know whether it was the prince or the embassy, or both, who chose not to extend the contract?

Originally Posted by Prinsara

I think it must be hard for him for him when he sees Benedikte still working away and knowing he hasn't done anything to be demoted.

Wouldn't the reverse be more likely? Princess Benedikte can likewise see Prince Joachim working away while knowing she hasn't done anything to be demoted, but in addition, she can see that the royal house has arranged official, full-time military and diplomatic postings and a family estate for her nephew, that Parliament has granted him his own appanage, and that his children were allowed titles and succession rights which are free of conditions on where they are raised, while she has only been called on for part-time engagements, merely has her official expenses defrayed from her sister's appanage, and had Danish titles and succession rights denied to her children because of her husband's unwillingness to raise them in Denmark.

[lookupdown]

I found him disclosing his potential job odd. Is this some type of media play? The first time they went to the media, Marie got her job in France. Is he putting this out to apply some type of pressure on those who can give him this job? I can't seem to figure out if he is media-savvy or media-dumb.

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Wouldn't the reverse be more likely? Princess Benedikte can likewise see Prince Joachim working away while knowing she hasn't done anything to be demoted, but in addition, she can see that the royal house has arranged official, full-time military and diplomatic postings and a family estate for her nephew, that Parliament has granted him his own appanage, and that his children were allowed titles and succession rights which are free of conditions on where they are raised, while she has only been called on for part-time engagements, merely has her official expenses defrayed from her sister's appanage, and had Danish titles and succession rights denied to her children because of her husband's unwillingness to raise them in Denmark.

But Princess Benedikte has always appeared welcome in Denmark by both her father and sister, resumed work for the family after decades with no one complaining, and freely chose to marry Prince Richard, live in Germany, and raise their children under conditions where they wouldn't have Danish titles.

We don't know if Joachim had the possibility to refuse Schackenborg, but from all appearances he did not have much of a choice, so that was practically an "arranged marriage" from the time he was young. He and Marie have made it exceptionally clear they did not choose to go to France, although I've always seen it as just clarifying that they were not rejecting Denmark by moving. And he certainly did not choose to have his children's titles taken away, especially not in the manner it was done.

I would say it's more likely Joachim sees Benedikte's position as easier than vice-versa.

Edit: As a piece of wild royal guessing, it would seem by Marie's brooch for the celebrations today that the couple are still feeling some kind of positive feelings or loyalty towards HMQMII. So that should probably be factored in with whatever comes next.

[Archduchess Zelia]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

I think it must be hard for him when he sees Benedikte still working away and knowing he hasn't done anything to be demoted. It's also pretty short-sighted of the DRF when they don't how Frederik's reign will go and whether he and Mary will end up needing the assistance.

I'd say Joachim made his own bed on that one. In the span between the sale of Schackenborg and him being "sent" to Paris, he and Marie had every opportunity in the world to make themselves indispensable by boosting their engagement count. They chose not to. Benedikte, despite being far behind Joachim in the line of succession and despite the fact that she should've been able to pass on the spare reins to Joachim years ago, has maintained a steady work count for her position.

[tommy100]

I do wonder how much of that was by choice to be honest. I think there may have been more court politics involved that we know. Joachim seemed to work more when he was with Alexandra than in later year - and I don't think Marie was to blame.

[lookupdown]

Originally Posted by tommy100

I do wonder how much of that was by choice to be honest. I think there may have been more court politics involved that we know. Joachim seemed to work more when he was with Alexandra than in later year - and I don't think Marie was to blame.

I tend to think he worked more then because that was what Alexandra wanted and/or he lost his way after his divorce. I don't think Marie is to blame because she was more visible/active than he was before they left Denmark. Maybe HE gave the court the impression that he was expendable.

[Muhler]

Joachim has given an interview to Billed Bladet about the future.

Summary of interview in Billed Bladet #46, 2022.
Interviewer: Marianne Singer.

A lot of the article is focused on the space event in Toulouse, which is something Joachim is very enthusiastic about. (*)
Space and space technology and exploration is Joachim's big interest and he admits to being to talk about that subject at length.

But will he consider extending he stay as a military attache?
No, it will end next summer.
He talks about it being a huge advantage that not only speaks French, but he can turn into being French in his mind, way of thinking - which has enabled him to do his job even better in regards to establishing contacts.
He also admits that him being a royal helps. He has an inbuilt novelty-factor.
He has reached the level where he can pick up the phone and talk to leading French industrialists and they will listen.
So for Denmark this is about using that opportunity that has been created.

Anyway, our Marie will also leave her job at the DK embassy come summer. Because the family will not be staying in France.

But will they move back to DK then?
Maybe.

And now comes the interesting bit. Because Joachim elaborates: "Everybody is asking about that and yes, I know what I want to do. And the right departments, authorities and persons also know what I want. I'm just waiting for the telephone to ring and there being a: Go."

Will it be within the military?
"Yes, I sure hope so."

And that is as far Joachim will go in this interview.

He says that Henrik also share his dad's interest in space. But Athena:
"Athena has other interests but it might also be because the dad is talking for way too long, so that she lose interest. I shan't say."

------

So Joachim clearly expects a dream-job coming up. Within the military.
Well, the Danish military hasn't got a space-branch, even though we have quite a few companies supplying parts and mini-laboratories for space missions. But they don't have anything directly to do with the military and nor do we, AFAIK, produce equipment for spy-satellites.
ESA The European Space Agency is a purely civilian organization, but as EU is rearming and establishing a number of systems independent of USA, I can imagine ESA beginning to produce and launching spy satellites.
Anyway, I can't really imagine what this dream-job is. My best guess is that it has something to do with science, in particular space, but this is not something the Danish military is involved in.
Okay, could he go to USA? The place of spy-satellites or NASA? But he hasn't got any academic qualifications.
I really can't figure it out.

Regardless, Joachim can expect to be promoted to major general once his tour in France is over, especially if he stay there was as successful as he hints in this interview.

(*) As I interpret the interview this event, was very much Joachim's doing and may the be crowning moment of his military attache career. He sure is happy about it being organized and being a success.

[Prinsara]

Denmark shares a border with Canada. My wild guess: Danish liaison to NORAD.

It's going to be interesting to see what it actually is.

[Muhler]

Perhaps he's send to Hans Island/Ø with a pair of binoculars?

Info: Hans Island between Greenland and Canada - actually an oversized rock - has now been divided in two parts, so that DK and Canada today share a land border of a couple of hundred meters or so.
At some point DK will get the North Pole as well and evict the imposter residing there who claims he's Santa Claus. The Real Santa lives in Greenland, as everybody knows.

[Toledo]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Perhaps he's send to Hans Island/Ø with a pair of binoculars?

Info: Hans Island between Greenland and Canada - actually an oversized rock - has now been divided in two parts, so that DK and Canada today share a land border of a couple of hundred meters or so.
At some point DK will get the North Pole as well and evict the imposter residing there who claims he's Santa Claus. The Real Santa lives in Greenland, as everybody knows.

I've been told always it was the North Pole, but nothing specific so I assumed Nunavut

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Perhaps he's send to Hans Island/Ø with a pair of binoculars?

Info: Hans Island between Greenland and Canada - actually an oversized rock - has now been divided in two parts, so that DK and Canada today share a land border of a couple of hundred meters or so.
At some point DK will get the North Pole as well and evict the imposter residing there who claims he's Santa Claus. The Real Santa lives in Greenland, as everybody knows.

The real Santa lives in Lappland. Basta.

[Toledo]

Originally Posted by JR76

The real Santa lives in Lappland. Basta.

We need Prince Joachim to settle this before Christmas about where Santa's house is located, but I' afraid he would be bias to Denmark.

[Prinsara]

Ahem. I'm afraid Santa is getting all your letters at our postal code. https://www.canadapost-postescanada....-to-santa.page H0H 0H0.

I thought the notable thing about Hans Island is the bottles of booze they keep swapping to assert sovereignty? (Before they actually settled the border dispute this year. Who knew? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_War)

I should also note that NORAD famously tracks Santa every year. https://www.norad.mil/About-NORAD/NORAD-Tracks-Santa/

Which is all to say, clearly, the DRF Advent story this year needs to be Joachim and the elves on a multinational search for Santa. I could write this one for QMII.

[Muhler]

For those who wish to read the interview - and not least the captions - themselves, here are the scans:
https://app.box.com/s/jqrbvwi747nunsjn3h8i17j3yjnm8t4v
https://app.box.com/s/te7utidssyxbftb3qv1df966nloew72b
https://app.box.com/s/7qg0yl2dx7fsxd89zeh38uw815n6nf7j
https://app.box.com/s/06t6qxkne75522i2kqum6d17eythurkb

I'm afraid, my dear JR76, that you have been the victim of a pleasantry no doubt perpetrated by some mischievous Finns.
Our cousins in Finland often joke that Santa Claus actually lives in Finland.
But try as I might, I simply cannot imagine Santa sitting sweating his heart out in a sauna with a long beard and all and being whipped with a twigs of birch.
That's not a sight for children and small dogs!

And Prinsara, the address is a setup. The Canadian government back in 1935 began an elaborate scheme claiming that Santa lives on the North Pole and that people should write to a Canadian address to get in touch. No doubt in frustration over the fact that Santa has been living in Greenland for centuries.
Fortunately Julemanden, which is Santa's real name, have some very skilled associates called Nissebanden (= The Nisse-gang) who always manage to get hold of the letters, despite Canadian security. - Something to do with schnapps and a couple a voluptuous Nisse-shape-shifters, but the less said about that the better...
So children all over the world always get their wishes fulfilled, because their letters always ends up in the hands of the real Santa aka Julemanden.