Go Girl: Trine Dishes It To Daisy: You're Out Sick More Than You Work: Rule or Abdicate, Sister!

 

Hot on the heels of the publication of her husband Malcolm Brabant's fantastic new ebook, "Malcolm Is A Little Unwell", Trine Villemann uses her platform as an op-ed contributor to Politiken to shine the spotlight on the fact that Queen Margrethe has an unhelpful approach to being a queen (sticking on until kicking it), in light of the fact that Beatrix and Albert in the Benelux are stepping down at reasonable ages to allow for the work of the Head of State to continue in the hands of capable people.

Oh, yeah! That's why Daisy doesn't step down - Derfie would become king in name only, and MoreMore would become queen and regent. What kind of "medication" is the Derf Man on? Jiminy. You Danes thought Christian IV was bad, wait til the Treasury is sucked dry with a pipe that goes all the way down to an ALERKA account in Oz because your king is off in Miami "losing his wedding ring" while "sailing". Gud Bevare Danmark!

Article: Politiken

Parliament Should Send Margrethe on Sick Leave

A few months ago, Holland's 75-year-old Queen Beatrix threw in the towel in recognition of the fact that the forces are no longer struck.

In a few days it will be Belgium's 79-year-old King Albert's turn to do the same.

While our own 73-year-old Margrethe sits so convulsively on the throne, that one could be forgiven for thinking that rigor mortis has already begun.

Nothing can wrest Denmark's Queen Margrethe from her belief that she has been assigned a mission from God, and that it can no earthly creature could take from her.

But you could try.

The Truth About Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is namely that she is too sick to go to work.

Amalienborg nowadays falls over themselves to hide that the queen is so pained by arthritis that it is now impossible for her to carry out her official duties.

The Queen's aides, for example, are usually nothing more than an expensive, prehistoric relics, but recently the proud officers in the well pressed uniforms got something useful to do.

The duty adjutant discreetly holds a folding chair when Queen inaugurates exhibitions, award prizes, rocks cords above and so on, so that the Queen can instantly sit down when the pain becomes too severe.

It is a measure that has been introduced after on several occasions it was realised that the queen's consumption of painkillers had reached a point where it was difficult for the monarch to stay awake during the many long talks a head of state is involuntarily committed to tolerate.

Now Amalienborg has turned down the medicine and up to a folding chair in the hope that there is a balance between the two measures that makes the Queen perform her duties without falling asleep and without being cobbled together by pain.

Nothing that I have described is new to the journalists who follow the queen. You just choose not to write about it for fear of getting at Amalienborg an unofficial list of media people whose requests one takes a really long time to answer.

But even court approved Billed-Bladet has realised that the queen's failing health can no longer be glossed over. Recently, they even brought you a photo of the Queen's adjutant, who stood ready behind the ruler with the folding chair behind his back.

And the concern for what the Queen's actual powers are extend far into both the circle of friends and staff. Believe me, it's not just magazines that have noticed that it is difficult for the queen to follow suit. Usually, the Queen's health problems are fairly closed off to my sources, but I have spoken to both staff at the court and longstanding friends who all confirm that the arthritis has made the Queen incapacitated.

It is obviously bad for the Queen, to have arthritis so mercilessly ravaging her body. And it is a shame for her that we in Denmark do not have a tradition of sending our monarchs off to retire when they reach their sell-by date, but it is also a shame for us Danes that we are burdened with a head of state who refuse to see the facts.

What other business in Denmark - private or public - can get away with having a leader who eventually can not stand or walk without taking very strong medication? And as several times for health reasons has canceled the important state visit that is said to benefit exports because our illustrious head is to smile and bow?

The Queen has previously stated that she would not dream of turning her back on her fate, but that she would abdicate if her mental faculties failed.

My question is how much pain medication a queen can take before than the very same mental faculties are no longer intact. Understand a heavily pain soothed the queen, for example, always the laws presented her signature?And who decides that? Queen herself? Her doctors? The Prime Minister?Whether the Queen likes it or not, it's time at least she take some sick leave.

In Norway, sick King Harald with great success in 2005 when he underwent extensive heart surgery. In a few months, Crown Prince Haakon was the King's regent, while Harald came to recuperate after a bypass surgery with its attendant complications.

Here in Denmark, we can also send her majesty on sick leave without the big state legal drama.

Constitution Section 9 states namely solid that "provisions relating to the exercising in the case of the king's minority, illness or absence established by law".And no matter how much Amalienborg tries to embellish reality, there is no doubt that the Queen is sick.

Therefore, a majority in parliament by law can send Margrethe on sick leave by depriving her Majesty half of the legislature and such transfer it to Crown Prince Frederik.

The queen can of course refuse to sign this law, but we are in a serious democratic crisis.

Parliamentary sick leave for our head of state can naturally be limited in time, such as any sick leave for any other Dane also has it, but the law should also contain a clause that if it is not deemed medically and constitutionally proper that the queen returns to her work, then she must abdicate.

For the benefit of themselves. And for the benefit of Denmark.

I know it's blasphemous talk to mention the word 'abdication' at Amalienborg, but for us taxpayers who annually put in the neighbourhood of a half billion kroner to maintain the institution of the monarchy, it is surely not too much to ask to get a head of this institution who is physically and mentally able to perform her obligations.

And the kingdom's vocal republican minority does not hoist the flag. A poll recently showed that support for the Danish royal family is the highest in 10 years.

The popularity is with the guarantee of nothing less than Margrethe crawling into bed and letting our photogenic crown prince couple take over - at least for a while. On the contrary.

Those of us who still cherish a rather unhappy dream about the Danish monarchy will one day wake up from our Sleeping Beauty-sleep with a royal family that is always strongest with young, enterprising people in the residence of the royal chambers.

If our elected officials really want to help the royals - and most politicians always do - they need to send Margrethe home to bed.