Keep Calm and Carry On!: Princess Marie Visits the National Autism Association's Holiday Village at Helsingør

The serene Princess Marie carried on with her summer duties while in the Copenhagen area with her family. She visited the town of Helsingør to see the Holiday Village that is sponsored by the National Association for Autism. This is the person to send to a kids camp, not the self-conscious, unmaternal Clown Princess. Followed by her lady-in-waiting Britt Siesbye, Marie looked very smart and casual as she played with the kids and learned all about life in the Village from the kids and their counselors. She will be happy to report back to her Bitch-in-Law that the surroundings will make a lovely backup plan for her eldest son. You know, just in case medications aren't enough to counter "nature" and the bad "nurture" environment the poor kid is growing up in. Perhaps when she arrives in London on Friday, she will overlap enough with her niece and nephew to give them much needed loving attention and cuddles. As she says in the article below, autism is in her own family and in the children of many friends - a refreshing honesty that would be seen by her insecure sister-in-law as revealing bad things about oneself. Kudos, Marie, on your honest appraisal of this condition as still mostly misunderstood.

Photo Gallery: Zimbio

Article: BT

Princess Marie Has Autism In the Family

The princess asked herself if she could become patron of the National Association for Autism

Half a year ago, Princess Marie became patron of the National Association for Autism. Usually associations take aim at the royal house and ask one of its members to become a patron, however, this time it was inverted.  

"Princess Marie specifically asked for permission to become a patron for us", says Morten Carlsson, who is chairman of the association. He is very pleased that the Association has been given Marie as a patron, and throws roses to the princess for her ability to socialise with children.  

"It takes a special empathy, and Marie has amply demonstrated that she has it", says Morten Carlsson. It's no wonder that Marie has the special skills needed to get in contact with the children. Because even if you are royal, you may be suffering from similar problems, such as being parents of children with autism.  

"I have autism in my immediate family, so I know how hard and how difficult it is. It's a disability that affects the entire family", says Princess Marie to BT. However, she will not say who in the immediate family has the disorder. But Marie does say that it is not only within her immediate family where she has seen suffering in their lives. 

"I have many friends who have children with autism. And I do not think the disorder is known enough. I think it is very important to spread the word", says Princess Marie to BT as a motive for why she asked to be the association's patron.

Photos: Torsten Laursen

London Olympics: Madam La Comtesse de Sandy Bay Pouts Through Nathalie's Dressage Event; Daisy Slums It In Olympic Village

"Can't look, Nathalie, sorry. The cameras are pointed at ME."

You can tell Yrma's squirming having to attend Princess Nathalie's dressage event with the rest of the family. In the first place, she has to have Derf's family around (surround) her, and not least, she runs the very real risk of being exposed as a non-horsey type. Benedikte and Nathalie already know, but what if Princess Anne comes by and Fred flags her over for a chat!? What if the Wales boys mosey over? I mean, Harry's hot but it's too great a risk. Even fellow chicken-anus mouthed, Marie Antoinette-type Ann Romney is there to cheer on her horse. So, she did what any anxious, reasonable person would: she made Caroline Heering come with her to London (also, who else would look after the kids? Hello!) to relieve her anxiety and give her someone to turn to if someone actually spoke to Madam about her own paddock adventures and she needed to ignore them for fear of exposure as a horsey fraud.

Just look at Cousin Pavlos whistling for Nathalie! The whole family is acknowledging their relative and cheering so hard. Yrma just looks away, wondering if people have noticed that her sheer, see-through dress (NOTICE MY LEGS, DAMMIT) makes it look like she has a baby bump. Yes, Yrma, we noticed the deep shadow around the presque-zizi region, and you are FREAKING US OUT, IT BETTER NOT BE TRIPLETS. Yehudi runs the risk of having his license revoked if that nightmare comes true.

The family reconvened on board the Dannebrog for a reception in honour of Danish athletes, including Nathalie. Yrma debuted yet another strange dress and a weak smile. Derfo seems to be smuggling tennis balls in his pants. Easy, tiger. The kids look very mellow, like the reality of being around their womb-thinggie is sinking in. Life was so easy at the beginning of the Games back at the palace with the nannies!

At least Izzy and Xian get an outing to London and look rather cute, although someone please put Izzy's poor feet into supportive shoes. They make cute ones for kids. School with other children, albeit privileged ones who do not exposure him to other ways of living, has done Xian some good, despite the Popeye face he pulled in the stands. Izzy's still full of beans thankthelord, and the up side to MoreMore being out of it around them and focusing instead on cameras catching her is that the kids can do a little more running around without being grabbed hard by the wrist. It must be comforting to them to be surrounded by FarMor Daisy and Aunties Benedikte & Anne-Marie and their sprogs. Greater family reunions allow the more well-behaved members of the family to model appropriate behaviour and personal comport.

Nice effort to throw a party for the people who are bringing pride to their country.

Daisy also visited the Olympic Village, which apparently requires a whole 'nother badge. Well, nicely done, Dais to sit amongst the athletes at their picnic tables and drink coffee from paper cups. Daisy's "Elizabeth II Lessons" are paying off: first garden parties, now slumming it with her homies. Small efforts, but they could pay off. This may be a fun, backhanded way to hand off to Derf and Yrma a "people's monarchy" thereby requiring them to be less frivolous and more engaged with the tax paying types. Poor Yrma. She'd be pouting in a corner during the rise of the republic!

Photos: Jesper Sunesen, Billed Bladet/Kongehuset

London Olympics: Lulu's Back In Town, Pouty, Depressed and Out of It, Dragging the Two Eldest Gar-royals

Morning sickness or just sick of her own kids?

She's back!!!! Yrma is back in London with her oldest two carrying the Nikon camera bag so that she can be photographed photographing (she's an artiste, doncha know) and followed somewhat miraculously by her sprogs. Have you ever seen any mother more disconnected from her children? When you see Maxima, Letizia, Mathilde, Mette-Marit, and well all the other royal mothers, walk with their children, they are engaged with them, looking at them, holding out a guiding hand for them, touching them either by holding their hand or with a hand on their head. This chick couldn't care less. Good thing she brought Caroline Heering to London with her. Caroline can be both a nanny to the children and be someone Yrma can go pout with in a corner during Daisy's on-board parties. And by the way, is Derfie still in a hotel, while Mary's staying on the ship? Weird family.

Oddly enough, Mary's outfit is actually cute, stylish and put together like a woman of 40 should wear. But - as always - something is off. The shoes are wrong. Heels are fine, but not pumps. She has tons of Kate Middleton wedges, where are those, especially now that she's back in town? Those jeans do her no favours. They are boot cut which just doesn't work for a short-legged woman. A jean with no tapering or flaring in the leg at all would work best. Yrma's thighs are also looking a little chunky - retaining water, Madam? If this chick is pregnant with the Miracle Triplets, let the games truly begin. It will be intersting to gauge the Danish reaction to thatty!

Xian and Izzy look as cute as they can look. Izzy's still got a spark and life to her. Xian's knapsack seems to have a shark appliqué below his name. So the heir to the heir to the throne has a Great White as a personal avatar. A real theme, there!

Daisy and Derf stopped off at the "Imagination - Discover the Danish Spirit" exhibit at St. Katharine Docks that Henrik opened last week. TV2 had a crew out there and there were tons of Danes milling about. Derf and Daisy were interviewed by Natasha Crone. Hope they were able to have a drinkie poo before the party on the Dannebrog with Yrma, Caroline Heering and the garroyal children all in town.

Video of Derf and an enthusiastic Daisy: TV2/Kongehuset