Other royals

JackyB

It always amazes me how little attention is paid in the British press to the goings-on in other monarchies.

For example, the story about Queen Margaret of Denmark abdicating hasn't even been mentioned here on Gransnet.

www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-67854631

She is a great gal (apart from the smoking) and was a very close friend to our late Queen. The fact that she has now handed over the sceptre - surprising everyone - may prompt Charles to think about it, too. In fact, I think I may have seen a tentative report somewhere that he plans to stand down when he is 80.

Anyway, I am often astounded to hear that British people don't even realise that Belgium (for example) has a monarchy, as do all the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, and now (again) Spain.

These people are colourful and interesting.

Granted, they do not have the position that the British monarchy has, but they are there. The yellow press, which is most popular in countries such as Germany, where I live, i.e. republics, is all over them and loves the pomp and ceremony and, of course the scandals.

The British are always saying "No one does spectacular ceremonies like we do" and yet they can't even name any European royals, or say which countries have any.

Anyway, if you are interested in royal events (and I know many here aren't, and think they should be abolished altogether, which is also a justifiable argument), there will be a coronation in Denmark soon.

I'll be interested to see if it's even mentioned on any British news channels.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a staunchly patriotic Brit, but I do wish that when Brits say "We're the best in the world at...", they would take a look at the world first. There is other stuff out here in the rest of the world, you know.

Sorry but you're wrong on that score. We British, certainly the older generation will be aware, taught in history at school, the marriages between foreign and British monarchy. From the beginning of our history really. Always fascinated me, think of the Czar of Russia, unfortunately let down badly by the then King and his Gov.
A blanket no one knows anything, maybe the younger generatio , is rather rude.

By the way has been on the news.perhaps you missed it.

Oh dear, another example (and not the usual one) of an expat generalising about attitudes/interest/information in the UK only to find they are seriously off the mark.
I think it goes to show that one’s sources of information can often let one down.
Nothing beats first hand.

RosiesMaw

Oh dear, another example (and not the usual one) of an expat generalising about attitudes/interest/information in the UK only to find they are seriously off the mark.
I think it goes to show that one’s sources of information can often let one down.
Nothing beats first hand.

👏👏👏👏 spot on.

JackyB It always amazes me how little attention is paid in the British press to the goings-on in other monarchies.

Monarchy in UK/ other countries is covered by British press, some people don't read those tidbits. I listen/read for economical/world news and generally easily pass on Royals faffing around.

However Royal 'news' exists. Or it does on GN.

The revelation that the former king of Belgium had fathered an illegitimate child is probably the most exciting story that’s ever come out of Belgium.

Yes the Tsar was let down by George Vth, but the circumstances evolved to such an extent that had the family been able to leave earlier then all might have been ok, but the young people contracted Measles and were unable to travel. By the time they could, not only had their situation become much more difficult, revolution in this country was also very real threat, so the sheltering of a fallen imperial family became politically impossible. Their imprisonment and subsequent murder apparently haunted George Vth for the rest of his life. Other members of the I.F did manage to escape, the Tsars mother was taken to Malta on a British warship, then she moved along with others to Paris.

I saw the Queen of Norway in London once - at an art gallery.

Jackyb
* As a matter of fact jacky there will NOT be a coronation in Denmark. They do not do coronations as we do! there will be a pronouncement on 14th january.*

see below;
But unlike the British and some other royal houses around the world, King Frederik and Queen Mary will not be crowned in a coronation service. Instead, a proclamation of the new reign will be made at Christiansborg Palace on Jan. 14.2 days ago

Oops , I think I misunderstood the gist of this thread this morning. I thought it was a discussion on how different RFs promote themselves, how the media latches on, and how the readership is manipulated, but I think we're talking about British self importance and a touch of smugness here??
We are reminded in passing that Scandinavian countries do have royals when important events take place, but to be fair I think it's normal for our own home-grown clan to take centre stage in our minds and leave others in the shadows. And yes, no one does ceremony like the British.
From a historical point of view, however, there are interesting royals from many different countries and generations.

MerylStreep

The revelation that the former king of Belgium had fathered an illegitimate child is probably the most exciting story that’s ever come out of Belgium.

😁

Callistemon21

MerylStreep

The revelation that the former king of Belgium had fathered an illegitimate child is probably the most exciting story that’s ever come out of Belgium.

😁

Have you heard a better one 😂
And Eddie Merckx being the fastest cyclist in the world doesn’t count.

RosiesMaw

Oh dear, another example (and not the usual one) of an expat generalising about attitudes/interest/information in the UK only to find they are seriously off the mark.
I think it goes to show that one’s sources of information can often let one down.
Nothing beats first hand.

And on, and on, and on, Ariston. You just can't stop yourself, can you?

Anyway, I am often astounded to hear that British people don't even realise that Belgium (for example) has a monarchy, as do all the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, and now (again) Spain

To say British people is wrong.
Some British people will not know because they are not interested in the British Monarchy or how our Constitution works either.

Anyone who does take an interest (and there are millions) will know, because they will have seen European and other Royals in the press on State visits and, of course, more recently at the coronation of our King.

Oh, and btw, it's Queen Margrethe of Denmark, not Queen Margaret!

www.tatler.com/king-charles-coronation-foreign-royals-complete-list

Iam64

I’m often amazed at how much print is given in the DM for example, to our RF - and the RF’s of other countries. I look on line and see pages, often comparing and contracting the way the various women dress.

I've often seen pictures of William and Catherne with Frederik and Mary.

RosiesMaw

Oh dear, another example (and not the usual one) of an expat generalising about attitudes/interest/information in the UK only to find they are seriously off the mark.
I think it goes to show that one’s sources of information can often let one down.
Nothing beats first hand.

It's surprising how often the British have to defend themselves against unwarranted criticism on Gransnet!!

🤔

Is Princess Mary of Dennark the one who looks like Catherine and who seems to dress like her?

Yes, they're similar but I don't think Princess Mary would be copying anyone; she has a stylist and her clothes vary in style and price too.

She's a few years older than Catherine.

This today from our local Newspaper:

Princess Mary, who will become Denmark's next Queen, grew up in Australia but both of her parents were from Scotland.

She is the youngest daughter of mathematician John Dalgleish Donaldson and Henrietta Clark Donaldson who both grew up in Port Seton in East Lothian before emigrating in 1963.

Princess Mary met Prince Frederik in a Sydney bar during the Olympics with the couple keeping their romance a secret until a Danish celebrity magazine reported on it in 2001.

Her mother, an executive assistant to the vice-chancellor of Tasmania University, sadly passed away in 1997.

Her father went on to marry British crime novelist Susan Moody with him later becoming the Dean of Tasmania University.

Speaking of his daughter's engagement to Prince Frederik in 2003, a spokesperson for Tasmania University said: "He is very proud of all his children and his other daughters still stay in Hobart. Despite emigrating he is a ferociously proud Scot and takes a great interest in Scotland."

In 2004, Mary became Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark when she and Frederik married in 2004.

They then had their eldest son Christian in 2005, a daughter called Isabella in 2007 and twins Vincent and Josephine in 2011.

Denmark's current monarch Queen Margrethe II, who is 83, will officially abdicate on January 14.

Fleurpepper

RosiesMaw

Oh dear, another example (and not the usual one) of an expat generalising about attitudes/interest/information in the UK only to find they are seriously off the mark.
I think it goes to show that one’s sources of information can often let one down.
Nothing beats first hand.

And on, and on, and on, Ariston. You just can't stop yourself, can you?

Am I being especially thick, I don't 'get' this post?

The abdication has been well reported in the British press. I hardly watch any TV but I was well aware from other sources.

I think abdication has become fairly routine as many North European monarchs – obviously, not British monarchs – begin to age. I can remember my parents explaining abdication to me when I was quite young. My father was born in the Netherlands, where Queen Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948, Queen Juliana in the late 1980s and so on. Ageing was probably part of the reason, as was a desire to give the next generation an opportunity, but sometimes there were also disturbing political reasons.

Channel 5 has quickly jumped in on Queen Margrethe’s Abdication and is showing a documentary about her life tonight, 6.25pm.

‘Queen Margrethe: End Of An Era’.

Rosie51

Fleurpepper

RosiesMaw

Oh dear, another example (and not the usual one) of an expat generalising about attitudes/interest/information in the UK only to find they are seriously off the mark.
I think it goes to show that one’s sources of information can often let one down.
Nothing beats first hand.

And on, and on, and on, Ariston. You just can't stop yourself, can you?

Am I being especially thick, I don't 'get' this post?

The abdication has been well reported in the British press. I hardly watch any TV but I was well aware from other sources.

I'm not sure who Ariston is 🤔

I think ARISTON was a make of washing machine back in the 70s.
Quite what it has got to do with this thread is a mystery to me.😕

Calendargirl

Channel 5 has quickly jumped in on Queen Margrethe’s Abdication and is showing a documentary about her life tonight, 6.25pm.

‘Queen Margrethe: End Of An Era’.

Thanks that was really interesting. A lot of parallels were drawn between Queen Margarethe and Queen Elizabeth 11, and between the actual monarchies.