Berlingske Op-Ed: And The Day Frederik Becomes King (...Is The Day Denmark Becomes A Republic?): Psst, Frex: Kick It Into Gear, Mate!

Hm, thinking about working, but also thinking about having a beer with that blonde next to me.

We here at DRMW just love Anne Sophie Hermansen, an unrepentant progressive. Her Op-ed blog in today's Berlingske, a conservative broadsheet, gets to the sticking point: Derfie isn't ready to be king because he is failing in his attempts to be Crown Prince and here are some practical ideas for getting out of his fix. This may very well be a part two/response to her blog from the day before, predicting what happens when Denmark's 'rock star queen' takes off, as a response itself to Queen Beatrix's abdication announcement last Monday. Anyway, our Anne Sophie goes out on a limb regarding the royals, and takes a lot of heat for it, so show her some love and give her props. Hats off, ASH!

As you know, Derfie-Doodle tops annual 'Most Popular Dane' polls most years. People love him. He is indeed very down to earth, easy-going, imperfect, un-snobby, sporty, etc. Men and women both like him. He's good-looking by most standards without being intimidatingly heart-throbbish, like many people. He's married to someone who nags him, like many people, but more openly and frequently so. He had a rough childhood emotionally speaking, like many people. He looks tired half the time, like most people with four young children. In other words, he is like a lot of us and acts like it without airs (although the privileges are another matter, but better able to be hidden), so most Danes like him. He's a good egg deep down and so people give him the benefit of the doubt and figure he'll be a good king. But he needs loads of help. He has bad advisors, a bitch of a wife and no self-motivation. But change out the first two, help him with ideas on how to re-kindle his pilot light based on his actual interests (especially how they could be combined with some of Mary's patronages), and now we're getting somewhere! Ms. Hermansen is trying to do that here, using the power of her widely distributed pen. Good luck, Anne Sophie, in getting his attention! It ain't gonna be easy to get the Derf Man into gear, but these are great ideas and ultimately, it's up to Freddles himself to take this ball and share it with his staff to get it rolling. Mange tak!

Op-Ed: Berlingske

This past autumn, the magazine Euroman published a very long interview with Crown Prince Frederik. Here, the the Crown Prince talked about, among other things, wanting to make a difference, but for whom and how he did not elaborate.

The Crown Prince, however, did get something right. If the royal family would lose its connection and degenerate in consumption, by tugging and pulling the Crown Prince Couple must come into its own as role models for a new generation, which calls for substantive and public utility.

It is, for example, very few who are impressed by a middle-aged crown prince, who still goes to Simon's, a crown princess who is passionate to the tune of 16,000 kroner single visit to the hairdresser or looking at pictures of the couple from Verbier and Saint Tropez, where they live the sweet life with pop stars and royal playboys. Perhaps it was fine in the 2000's, when many cultivated consumption and home equity instead of the correct values, but 'the times they are a-changing'.

Today, about every 6th homeowner is technically insolvent. Not since 1995 have so many houses been smoked up at auction. There are still more unemployed people for fewer and fewer jobs, about 2.1 million. Danes are on benefits, companies are increasingly moving abroad, and our competitiveness is declining.

The New Normal is about social responsibility and doing something for others rather than yourself. We do not want to look at Anni & Erik, but would like to hear what people with boots on the ground have to say about the world. Mrs. Grisehandler Larsen is more interesting than Jørgen Varnæs. 'Mormors bordel' (docu-reality tv) is a richer place than the superficial interior designers' exhibition of objects and things and stuff. Political discussions have replaced Italian Amarone wine at the dinner table, and even Nik & Jay have stopped singing about bling-bling. So a crown prince that will make a difference - yes, it sounds sincerely sympathetic.

Frederik, who in 2009 was elected to the International Olympic Committee, also called IOC, had in 2012 participated in two out of 21 board meetings. Despite the fact that the committee has been haunted by corruption scandals, nepotism, has Idi Amin's old army chief as a member and a Spanish fascist as an honorary member, the meetings have probably been shakingly boring. On the other hand, the Crown Prince seems truly commited to sports.

One can only wonder why he is not used for something more worthy and significant. Excuse the little provincial focus, but why be a disinterested member of an international committee when a national one can accomplish something truly meaningful for others?

If only Frederik's advisors had more ambition than just posting in Billed-Bladet, or had advised him to go back to his roots, to reconcile Denmark and to do something of value for future generations.
For example, he could make Fredensborg Palace available for an annual or biannual sports events for children. Just think how successful transportation company DHL is annually organising relay races that gather over 200,000 Danes.

In collaboration with the Danish Christmas Seal Homes, Council for Children, Save the Children or the Cancer Society, Crown Prince Frederik could create a sporting event and provide children with social problems, overweight problems or serious illness the experience of a lifetime. Using his knowledge of exercise and health in a way that gives many benefits and let Fredensborg Palace form the framework in a place where children are inspired to strive higher, form friendships, help each other to victory and be there for others.

It would not only be a nice project, but also place the crown prince into the realm of culture and values instead of being a culture-less celebrity prince with a wife in Prada. The latter is what to run from, and the former could mean that the Crown does not abolish itself with the next generation.
While elite athletes around the world will survive without a crown prince on the IOC board, a future king on Danish soil could get kids well rounded and feel valued.
And it would make a difference.