Prince Frederik and Princess Mary's Visit to Washington DC: June 3-7, 2010


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The diplomatic rules for heads of states are pretty straight forward.

If say, Queen Margrethe in her role as head of state were to visit USA, she will drop by the White House, or in another way meet President Obama.
Not doing so would, diplomatically speaking, be considered extremely rude.

Exceptions to that rule are as a thumbrule:
A) Heads of states visting the UN. - In which case they are not obliged to say hello to the US President. - Sometimes to the relief of that president!
B) Heads of states passing through US territory. In airports or territorial waters.
C) Heads of states who are on holiday as private persons in USA.

You may remember that President Obama visited DK last year in connection with which city was selected for the Olympic games.
President Obama's visit lasted only a few hours.
Eventhough he was not visiting Denmark as such, he was there as the US head of state and as such he was obliged to pay the Danish head of state a visit. I.e. QMII.

The COP15 was a UN event and as such the visiting heads of states were not obliged to pay a curtesy call to QMII.

M&F are only representatives of the Danish head of state and Denmark and as such they will naturally meet with a US representative at some level. But it would, diplomatically speaking, be considered significant if they were to meet with the US head of state himself.

The diplomatic rulebook was discussed at length during the IOC and UN event in Copenhagen last year.
 
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark arrives at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, Monday, June 7, 2010, for the
Women Deliver Conference.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **


Mary attended the conference in her role as Patron of the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), the extra thread about that can be found here:

** Crown Princess Mary as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) **



Crown Prince Frederik during a bicycle ride along Pennsylvania Avenue in
Washington, Monday, June 7, 2010.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **


Here's a belga gallery covering both events:

** belga gallery - June 7 **
 
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Has anyone got any photos of Mary wearing something like an air hostess uniform and hat when her heel gets stuck in a crack? Arlington National Cemetary?
 
Go back through this thread, there are plenty.:flowers:
Also if you want to discuss Mary's clothing, you can go to the royal fashion thread. Maybe someone could post this link for AnnaNotherThing?

iceflower said:
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark arrives at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, Monday, June 7, 2010, for the
Women Deliver Conference.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **


Mary attended the conference in her role as Patron of the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), the extra thread about that can be found here:

** Crown Princess Mary as Patron of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) **



Crown Prince Frederik during a bicycle ride along Pennsylvania Avenue in
Washington, Monday, June 7, 2010.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **


Here's a belga gallery covering both events:

** belga gallery - June 7 **
Click to expand...
The belga link doesn't seem to work. Is it just me?
Thanks for the other links.:)
 
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lancchick said:
TV 2 Nyhederne - Video
Click to expand...

Both Mary and Frederik seem to have carried themselves really well during this visit. They both seem very engaged with wherever they are and whomever they're with.

I love the video of Mary speaking Danish that lancchick posted. I've always thought she had an unusually lovely voice. Can any of our Danish speakers tell us how her Danish is in the video?
 
07-06-2010 Bicycle Washington 5th and last day of Prince Frederik visit to Washington. The Prince ride on his bike the League of American Bicylists hosts Royal D.C. Ride in Washington. The purpose of the ride was to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Danish Embassy and to get the word out about the importance of getting kids on bikes.

PPE Gallery

07-06-2010 Washington 5th and last day of Princess Mary visit to Washington.
The Princess participate in Women Deliver. Women deliver explores human rights, medical issues and poverty in relation to women around the world.

PPE Gallery ** TV 2 Video

*************************************

BB Gallery from the visit to Arlington Cemetery with additional pictures which are quite nice
 
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IslandDweller said:
Both Mary and Frederik seem to have carried themselves really well during this visit. They both seem very engaged with wherever they are and whomever they're with.

I love the video of Mary speaking Danish that lancchick posted. I've always thought she had an unusually lovely voice. Can any of our Danish speakers tell us how her Danish is in the video?
Click to expand...

Let's start with what she said: "Mortality among mothers is one of the world's most overlooked human disasters. Every minute a mother die during pregnancy or while giving birth. 99 % of these deaths occour in the developing countries".

At the end she said: Q: Why does it mean so much to you (formal you) personally?
- "Because we must invest in women around the world. Because women take care of their children, their families, society and their country".

She is a fast talker! This is conversation speed or rather discussion speed.
Her mastery of Danish is clearly excellent. I'd say that in this segment, she is obviously thinking in Danish.
She is tripping over some of the words in the last answer, not because she is looking for words in Danish but because she is looking for the right phrase to best illustrate her opinion.

She has a distinct accent, though not as distinct as it sometimes is. Born as an English speaker, she has problems with some of the Danish sounds. That's very typical.

She made no grammattical mistakes at all.
One of her most common grammattical mistakes, and it's typical for English speakers, even for those who have been in the country for many years, is that "the" before a nuon does not exist in Danish.
So she sometimes says: "den bog = that book, instead of bogen = the book".
 
marianita said:
Hey girls!!

I wanted to share this with you. Yesterday I saw Princess Mary and Caroline Heering here in Washington DC. I was coming out of a store and I saw both of them walking in Chevy Chase . I decided to follow for a little while to see them more closely. They were both wearing casual dresses and ballerinas.They were being escorted by two bodyguards who followed them at a prudential distance. They walked a couple of blocks and entered to Barneys New York ( Clothing Store). I entered too and tried to look at them more closely. I was impressed by Caroline, she has beautiful face features and looks very beatiful. Definitively she is more an eye catcher than Mary.

They were both speaking in Danish and tried and bought some clothes. Mary is not bad looking, but definitively she would not stand out in a crowd . Caroline is much more attractive.
Click to expand...
wow! what experience !!!!!, thank you for sharing with us, how did you recongnize her ? are you a royal fun?, I must think that I always though that Caroline is prettier than Mary but she is not in the spolight like her so we do not see her so much and Like always is a matter of taste. I think from and ordinary girl in Australa she had a well organize group of people to transform her in the beauty that she is today but I am sure any of us with the same group of people will look like princess too, of course you have to have a good canvas to start with,
anyway going back to your experience, I bet it was thrilling! I did not think she had time for shopping or any personal thing to do! go to incognito to shopping this is great!!!! and of course here in the US nobody recognize her so easy!
 
I met her at the NovoNordisk health fair event on Sunday morning here -- I couldn't really resist it. It seems to me she has to keep a small smile on her face at all times cause of the cameras. She and Fred were dropped off on the far side of the health fair from where the arrival photo op was supposed to happen and when all the photogs realized they went running after them - even as Fred and Mary walked to the correct side of the health fair for the arrival photo op after all. They did not speak, only the ambassador spoke. She shook my hand and posed for a photo with her arm around me, very nice of her. She especially seemed to smile at all the children present. She doesn't seem to have an Australian accent anymore or if she does it's not very broad.
I watched the basketball shootaround and all I can say is she was very confident when she threw the basket that went in. The next shot was an airball but she didn't seem to care.
I spoke with Caroline Heering for a minute also and she speaks perfect English with an accent.
 
Envoy2400, thanks for the details & sharing. Lucky you to pose and get a picture.
 
She doesn't seem to have an Australian accent anymore or if she does it's not very broad.
Click to expand...

As an Australian, I can assure you she does continue to retain a distinguishable Australian accent. Certainly to my ears. Though be it with a Danish lilt with certain words.

However, what a lovely experience for you.
 
It must be kind of weird for them going to events like that where no one seems to really know who they are for sure except the press and the embassy folks and random people like me.
 
Quite possibly so.

It may even be a little 'refreshing' for them that they should surrounded by people, even if only for an hour or so, who don't really know who they are. People can clearly tell they are persons of media interest, and if close enough may notice a security pass or something with their style and title on it, but otherwise, they are just two people engaging others in conversation showing an interest in real issues.
 
Oh I don't think they can be nearly authentic as that with all the Danish cameras there. It was a relaxed informal event and they both acted friendly and interested but there was no doubt that they were constantly aware of the cameras.
 
Well wouldn't anyone be aware of hundreds of camera lenses on you all the time?
They can't be there true selves in front of the cameras and I still think they are one of the most natural couples.
 
Oh I don't think they can be nearly authentic as that with all the Danish cameras there. It was a relaxed informal event and they both acted friendly and interested but there was no doubt that they were constantly aware of the cameras.
Click to expand...

But that's part and parcel of their position. Being aware doesn't mean they are being disingenuous.

They can't shy away from the media, so they adapt to it. But them adapting doesn't mean they are being anything other than who they are. They just become mindful of what they say and how it's said.

In the US, Frederik and Mary are virtually unknown and expectedly so. Even with the media contingent that travelled with them to the US, they appeared to interact rather modestly with those they met (particularly Mary, but that's often the case); Moreso than when back home in Denmark I'd endeavour to say. It's the same when they have travelled to Australia, again, particularly where Mary is concerned.

They are royal, but they are not our royals'. They don't seem to maintain such a sedate distance, for use of a better expression, as can often be the case when interacting with fellow Danes'.

It's a very different expectation you see.
 
"Why our Mary no long rules fashion world"

Why our Mary no longer rules fashion world | The Daily Telegraph

Brief article about the Washington trip and Mary's wardrobe.

Mary usually gets it right. But, IMO, she missed the mark with her Arlington wardrobe.I have to admit the Jackie O meets WWII war bride ensemble at Arlington was over the top for me. I felt like she tried too hard and visiting Arlington Cemetery, which is sacred ground to Americans, should not be about making a fashion statement, no matter how much you admire the fashion legacy of the person who likely inspired parts of the outfit and whose grave you had just looked upon. It looked rather costume-ish to me. I think she should have left off the pillbox hat, the leather gloves (it's sweltering in DC right now!) and worn different shoes. Those sky high heels!! Gorgeous, not so sure they were appropriate for that part of the trip.

But, it was very thoughtful of them to lay that wreath in remembrance. And, it seems they enjoyed themselves on their engagements and did good works on the behalf of Denmark, which was the whole point of this trip anyway. So I will let the Arlington Cemetery get up slide this once :)
 
^I don't understand what's costumish about a dress and hat and glove and high heels. I think she's dressed up, but that's just me.
 
:previous: They refer to it for it's 'period presence'. More vintage in style than a la mode.
 
I actually live in the DC area and it has not been extremely hot the last couple of days. Which is very unusual for June.

She certainly didn't need the hat, and the dress was okay. I would agree not the normal Mary standards but does it really matter?

Its also important to note that this is Arlington National Cemetry, which is a special place to many Americans, the focus IMO should be on the fact that the Crown Prince couple made a stop here as well as the sacrifices and work done by the people buried here. As long as she didn't come in a potato sack...it doesn't matter to me what she wore. She didn't disgrace herself or her country.
 
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Zonk said:
I actually live in the DC area and it has not been extremely hot the last couple of days. Which is very unusual for June.

She certainly didn't need the hat, and the dress was okay. I would agree not the normal Mary standards but does it really matter?

Its also important to note that this is Arlington National Cemetry, which is a special place to many Americans, the focus IMO should be on the fact that the Crown Prince couple made a stop here as well as the sacrifices and work done by the people buried here. As long as she didn't come in a potato sack...it doesn't matter to me what she wore. She didn't disgrace herself or her country.
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I agree with you, Zonk. I used to live in Washington D.C., so I understand firsthand the importance of Arlington National Cemetery. This is a very important place for Americans. I was happy to see my favorite (living) princess visit my capital. I don't care what she wore but how she carried herself with dignity, which I think she did. Way to go, Mary! :)
 
envoy2400 said:
I met her at the NovoNordisk health fair event on Sunday morning here -- I couldn't really resist it. It seems to me she has to keep a small smile on her face at all times cause of the cameras. She and Fred were dropped off on the far side of the health fair from where the arrival photo op was supposed to happen and when all the photogs realized they went running after them - even as Fred and Mary walked to the correct side of the health fair for the arrival photo op after all. They did not speak, only the ambassador spoke. She shook my hand and posed for a photo with her arm around me, very nice of her. She especially seemed to smile at all the children present. She doesn't seem to have an Australian accent anymore or if she does it's not very broad.
I watched the basketball shootaround and all I can say is she was very confident when she threw the basket that went in. The next shot was an airball but she didn't seem to care.
I spoke with Caroline Heering for a minute also and she speaks perfect English with an accent.
Click to expand...
Congatulations!!!!! I am happy for you must be a great experience to see them so close!
 
lancchick said:
I agree with you, Zonk. I used to live in Washington D.C., so I understand firsthand the importance of Arlington National Cemetery. This is a very important place for Americans. I was happy to see my favorite (living) princess visit my capital. I don't care what she wore but how she carried herself with dignity, which I think she did. Way to go, Mary! :)
Click to expand...


When they were laying the wreath at Arlington there was a very large "M" on the ribbon along with smaller writing above the "M". I am sure this is why the gloves and hat. She was following Royal Protocol since they were doing this on behalf on the Queen. I agree WTG Mary!
 
but at the end of the day she is a crown princess and therefore they are used to wearing hats to some certain events. Maybe she thought that this even required a hat if it was back home and she addapted that rule on this trip.
Maybe when American first ladies and high ranking people visit the cemetry they dont wear hats therefore the writer of teh article is thinking she was over the top.
 
I wish more American women would wear hats. I have an extended deceased family member who once worked for Queen Elizabeth and she loved hats and I love hats because of her. I really don't see the problem with Mary's hat. I think it was appropriate for cemetary visit.
 
Fred and Mary were just perfect in every way ( except for the shoes, why Fred didn't help her :lol:- not a big deal because nobody really knows what actually happened).
Beauty is only in the eye of the beholder, but I think that those who see Mary as "aging" and just "plain looking" must hold the highest beauty standards, really... Caroline is for sure a beauty, but again it is a french taste of mine to rather be caught by warmer faces, good figures and postures. This is why I think that Tanja is also a very beautiful lady. At the end of the day, it shows how confident Mary is about herself to let her get sourrended by two lovely beauties ;) I love Mary's involvments with children and women. She really irradiates. Somehow I think she is a girls' girl if I can say that.
 
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