Danish lad Frederik became Crown Prince of Denmark at the age of four and heir apparent to the Danish throne. He was very well educated and worked quite a number of job, but never at McDonalds.
While attending the Sydney Olympics in 2000, at a bar he picked up Mary Donaldson, from the Australian state, Tasmania. They must have had a good time together, and married in 2004.
Fred's mum Marg abdicated in 2023 and Fred became King Frederik X of Denmark in 2024 and Australia's Mary became Queen of Denmark. Pretty cool, hey. Twenty plus years on, in spite of rumours of Frederik's dalliances, they still make a happy looking couple as they visit Australia.
They have spent a couple of days in Melbourne, doing what royals do.
I crossed the road to visit the cafe for a cup of coffee and two police on motorcycles were sitting on the side of the road. Yippee, they are looking out for bad drivers at the intersection. Nah, they moved forward into the intersection and police cars arrived, cleared the intersection of all traffic and any new traffic was stopped. Right, I thought as I sipped my double espresso, a VIP is coming through. It was blocked for quite some time, maybe five minutes, which allows a free run for a VIP car. Just as the motorcade arrived, maybe ten or more vehicles, it clicked in my mind who the VIP's were. The King and Queen of Denmark.
I snapped away at the motorcade with my phone, not knowing any of what I was photographing, but by gosh, I got a snap of their car. A little research did not inform of what the number plate AA is about, but the coat of arms kind of gives it away. Unless it was decoy car, the royals were inside this one.
Well, don't I have such an exciting life! But the royals hidden behind darkly tinted glass as they raced by was nothing like seeing Queen Elizabeth leaving a tram to hop into a Range Rover to visit (state) Government House in 2011.
You will have all seen the photo of Andy Mountbatten slumped in the rear of the police car. Andy is no longer a prince, and instead of being prince like, sitting up straight and looking straight ahead, he thought he could outsmart the best paparazzi in the world, providing great grist to the media mill worldwide. It just proves what a tosser he is.
One commentator said he was the first royal to be involved with police since the Princess Anne dog biting incident. I seem to remember Princess Anne being intercepted by police for speeding in her younger years, let alone Prince Phillip's car crash where he was at fault, and stripped of his driving licence.
I made a comment on someone's blog that I had a rethink about and concluded I was wrong. My thinking was maybe Andy Mountbatten might be caught out by providing information to foreign sources. Kind of like Al Capone was caught out by the US tax department. He went to gaol, but not for many other crimes he committed. If Andy Mountbatten goes befores courts and receives a conviction for some corruption issues, does it matter if he is convicted and serves gaol time, just not for the other crimes he might have committed, with the suggestions those could be trafficked and underage women.
I conclude it matters big time. From US #47 to Andy Mountbatten, and all those others who took advantage of Epstein's and Maxwell's 'hospitality', investigate them and charge them with crimes they have committed, starting with #47 but don't leave Mountbatten out.
In other news, I gave Kosov a driving lesson today, and he drove on big roads and busy roads and while there is a long way to go, he didn't do too badly.
Phyllis was emptying the dishwasher and broke my port decanter. At least is wasn't my Waterford crystal sherry decanter. He was so upset and sorry, and I was pleased that he took on total fault at his carelessness and did not try to blame anyone or anything else. We'll find a new decanter in a charity shop, or I'll just guzzle from the bottle.
He also repainted my fingernail, so that it looks nice for when Ray's nephew and wife arrive next week. Two coats of quick drying polish, with a slow drying protecting kind of coat on top. That with my pedicure today makes me feel rather good.
Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria, heir to the throne in the Netherlands, and it seems like she is gay. Should she wish to marry a same sex person, it has been clarified she is still eligible to rule the Netherlands.
These are ones widely known about. I am sure there are more. The post feels unfinished, my excuse being it was a big day yesterday as Phyllis graduated. Two and half hours of sitting on a hard plastic seat in 31/88 degree heat did me in.
JB mentioned about 29 car motorcade used by the couch fucking eyeliner wearing Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance when he holidayed in England's Cotswolds. The rather well to do local residents were not impressed by the restrictions placed on them.
I expect #47's motorcade is even bigger.
From a quick check, the English PM's motorcade and the Royals' is quite a bit less.
What about our PM?
PM Albanese travels in an armoured Series 7 BMW, a slightly later model than this 2017 model.
It is surprisingly hard to find out what our PM's motorcade is but from what I can find out, it could be a couple of local police cars to clear the way, followed by a Federal Police escort car, with a couple of local police motorcycle outriders, and trailed by another similar BMW.
For other politicians, their cars come from the Commonwealth Car Pool. Their cars will be appropriate to their security risk and their needs.
For high profile politicians when on official walks, they may have two or three discreet bodyguards, but I suspect there are more surveilling.
I doubt our Governor General, the King's representative in the Commonwealth of Australia (fact checking needed) is at much risk, and for their official duties, they have a 1970 Rolls Royce Phantom VI, with a number plate featuring the Tudor Crown. Otherwise they get a car from the Commonwealth car pool. The GG would have minimal security.
Shouldn't our PM be riding in this car above?
Then there are the six state Governors, also representatives of Kingie Charlie. Their cars have a number plate featuring the crown of St George. I would guess all state governors would have cars like Victoria's governor. I wouldn't mind a ride around in Governor Margaret Gardner's car, a 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.
Alas, it is rarely used and for official duties, as she travels around in State Government car pool Series 7 BMW. For official duties, there will be a police escort, but mostly not otherwise. Our state governors are probably at no more security risk than any other Australian.
Melburnians and tourists have fun in Melbourne at a major horse racing event, the Melbourne Cup.
The majority of attendees arrive by train, for many the only train trip they take for the year. Trains only run on this branch line for special events and it is such an easy way to get there and home.
Ready for fun with a river cruise.
Massed and ready to board, with diners across the river stuffing their faces at Afloat, formerly Arbory Afloat.
Arbory above Afloat is where Platform 11 at Melbourne Flinders Street once saw trains from St Kilda and Port Melbourne. The lines were converted for light rail trams. With hindsight, it wasn't a great idea as these lines now require quite intensive trams services, whereas less frequent trains could better deal with the number of passengers.
Banana Alley vaults under the railway viaduct have various businesses, and this one is where men go to meet up with men. In these times of internet hook ups, as I sat on a seat outside, I was surprised how many men were coming and going. I suppose if you connect with someone using a hook up site, it is a cheap place to meet up if a home isn't available.
Phyllis' driving lesson went ok, with only one alarming moment when I reached for the steering wheel. While he rode a motor bike in India, he really is starting from absolute scratch for car driving. But he is smart and quick to pick things up. Next weekend he is not working for four days and I will take him for a lesson each day.
Next Monday is a public holiday to celebrate the King's Birthday, which actually isn't next Monday. It's the 14th of November. I have promised myself that every time I say Queen's Birthday, I will donate $10 to a charity. I am $10 down already.
Later edit: I did not make it clear that this was a newspaper article published in The Age newspaper.
We will have a new Governor General soon, one Samantha Mostyn. She seems eminently qualified for the position. In Australia our King has State Governors to represent him and his representative for the whole of Australia is the Governor General.
Practically, the Governor General is a public speaker and a ribbon cutter but that is I am sure doing them a disservice to describe their job as such. They also sign off on legislation presented to them by governments. The job comes with a couple of very nice houses. Of course the job is not always just ceremonial, as we discovered in 1975 when via the Governor General, Her Majesty The Queen sacked our Prime Minister and his government.
Anyway, the knives came out for the new Governor General once her selection was announced and I rather liked this read. NB, our so called Liberal Party is our conservative right wing party, like the Republican and the Tory parties. AFL is Australian (rules) Football League. I hope you can read it as it goes deep into the heart of sexism and misogyny.
So I discovered a new word this week. While obsessively playing Beyonce’s stupendous new album, Cowboy Carter, in every room of the house, and on every street I walked down, I was trying to think of how best to describe her ferocity and strength, her sexuality and power as a singer, mother, lover.
Virility kept coming to mind, so I hopped online to check if it only refers to manhood or masculinity. And it does. But it turns out there is a female counterpart – muliebrity – meaning the state of being a woman. It often means softness, but surely, when applied to the Queen Bee, something immensely potent too.
A word we seem to have found little use for.
Beyonce is a woman of meteoric achievement who has soared and been savaged, and in experiencing the cycle repeatedly, as so many public figures do, she has railed against bile and pessimism, saying “with a lot of success, comes a lot of negativity”.
She’s right. I’m growing increasingly intolerant of pervasive negativity, of nasty, often partisan criticism, of seeing the worst in people and gracelessness in public life – it’s exhausting and depressing and just turns people off the news, and politics – and this week set me off again.
Because, within just hours of this week’s announcement that the businesswoman, board member and former AFL boss Sam Mostyn would be our next governor-general, the snark and criticism began, with headlines and commentary declaring: “Cushy job for the wokest of women”, “the most political pick for GG in a long time” and “How can a second-tier warrior of the new Left be a neutral umpire?”
Where was the respect? She hasn’t even started yet. How does anyone benefit from immediately ripping down an experienced leader, respected across major parties, whose future role is largely symbolic and ceremonial, but contains the potential to fill a vacuum left by bickering politicians?
Mostyn will be the second woman to occupy this position, after Dame Quentin Bryce (from 2008 to 2014), but the only people really focusing on this fact were those arguing that this somehow insulted men. And, weirdly, women.
In TheAustralian, one commentator wrote: “I guess some women will be celebrating Sam Mostyn’s appointment as governor-general as a clenched-fist moment of empowerment. Just quietly, women of that ilk will also be celebrating that someone called Samuel Mostyn would not have had a snowball’s chance in hell of even being short-listed.” I didn’t see any clenched fists, did you? The writer continued: “Mostyn’s appointment is the crowning achievement for one of the country’s most outspoken quota queens.”
Whaaaat? So, if you, as a woman, lament gender inequality, and you get appointed to a high position, it’s because the world has suddenly, despite all evidence to the contrary, tipped the other way? After a century of rule by Samuels, they’re suddenly locked out?
Australia has had 27 governors-general. And, aside from Bryce, an academic, those 26 have been aristocrats, governors, politicians of all stripes, soldiers, judges, army officers, a prince, a former premier, military commanders and major-generals, legal scholars, an archbishop. Notice anything in that line up? A certain … in fact, literal … uniformity?
Mostyn was president of Chief Executive Women, worked for Labor in the 1990s, and the boards she has sat on include Virgin Australia, the Sydney Swans (she was the first female AFL commissioner), Mirvac, Transurban, the Climate Council and GO Foundation. She has exerted a quiet, broad influence. In her words, she has worked in “sport, civil society, arts and culture, First Nations reconciliation, sustainability in the environment, policy development, mental health, gender equality and young people”.
The idea that an appointee needs to demonstrate an absence of views, have no party background, no political experience, is a fiction. Male political leaders, premiers and opposition leaders have filled the position of GG without protest. Liberal MP Eric Abetz encouraged Mostyn, in shedding her “activism”, to emulate former governor-general Bill Hayden, an actual Labor leader.
Do we see men as political operatives and women as political activists?
At a time when the Liberal Party has been haemorrhaging female voters and losing seats to teal Independents, it’s fascinating to watch conservatives argue that the very words diversity, inclusivity and equality are somehow divisive, ignoring that they are values pursued by the majority of the corporate sector. Indeed, these values are not partisan but are held by a broad range of people without controversy or, in most circles, comment.
The idea that any woman who believes in gender equality, as well as diversity, is somehow a left-wing lunatic is a joke. A quick reminder of the likes of former Liberal PM Robert Menzies, who said: “In the long run, won’t our community be a stronger, better-balanced and more intelligent community when the last artificial disabilities imposed upon women by centuries of custom have been removed?”
Are the only skills we want in our governors-general military, legal, political and theological? Or do other skills matter too? Attributes Mostyn has been criticised for lacking – not being a “business heavyweight … [with, as] far as one can tell ... no track record running an actual business or taking P&L responsibility” – would disqualify most of the GGs in history.
It is not as though Mostyn has engaged in corrupt conduct, in any kind of scandalous behaviour or made offensive remarks? How high we set the bar for women. How stubbornly we continue to portray them as interlopers into male worlds.
There is today a nastiness to much commentary that is counterproductive and only discourages decent people from agreeing to take on public positions, as the onslaught can begin early and become deafening, relentless.
We have witnessed the same thing being done to Australians of the Year. Look at how former army chief David Morrison, a good man with a long, distinguished career of service, was vilified as “woke” when he was selected because he became a diversity adviser after leaving the army, where he had been a powerful advocate of women in his ranks. Think of Grace Tame, a survivor of child sexual abuse and powerful foe of paedophiles, who was relentlessly pulled into culture war debates, against her will.
An extremely unpleasant experience, at best, for both of them.
Again, who profits from caricaturing these people and shutting them down? It’s patently obvious that we are crying out for some decency, some compassionate, even uplifting leadership. Former High Court judge William Deane had been on the executive of the Democratic Labor Party in the 1950s, and as governor-general from 1996-2001, as John Howard put it, “displayed an unfailing interest in the place of the disadvantaged within Australian society”. He also unified the country by the compassion he showed to those suffering after the Port Arthur massacre, the Thredbo landslide and a backpacking fire. He was loved for being human, for showing care.
And he was shown respect.
I couldn’t care less if I disagree with someone politically as long as they are a person of character, integrity and kindness.
New research by Sarah Cameron and Ian McAllister on the decline of the popularity of political leaders, published in the Electoral Studies journal, found that, over time, a perception of personal integrity has become crucial. They write: “We find that leader integrity is the main trait that influences leader popularity and the results indicate that its effect is increasing over time.” One possible explanation was: “in an era of declining public trust in politics and rising populist sentiments among the mass public, voters may be looking to their political leaders to arrest this decline. In short, voters may be seeking qualities in their leaders that they do not find in the political system as a whole.”
Mostyn was a frequent guest on the ABC’s former week night panel show The Drum, which I hosted for years, and was unerringly professional, reasonable, articulate and non-combative. She seemed able to unite, to enter any conversation and somehow bring people to a point of agreement. But what struck me most of all about her appearances was how unusually the younger women in the office responded to her when she came on. One of them said to me one night: “That is exactly the kind of woman I would like to be when I am older.” Others nodded in agreement. They shrugged when I asked why, as though it was obvious. She has an air of cool competence, obvious intelligence, equanimity, cheer and co-operation that lit them up.
Most of the young people I know would struggle to name any governor-general. So isn’t that a good quality to have in one: someone who inspires?
It’s a rarity not just in public life, but anywhere.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulates Sam Mostyn.
As I said on my rather odd Sunday Selections post featuring a train bed,
"This Sunday not so random but photos I took last winter as I wandered around the Queen Victoria Gardens."
There is a statue of Queen Victoria looking her usual grumpy self, but it is at a distance and I have showed you her statue before.
Our floral clock, a gift from the watchmakers of Zurich. I don't think Zurich paid for maintenance. The flower beds are replanted twice a year.
The plaque says Switzerland, so why did I say Zurich? I'm sure there is a reason.
A statue of the Marquis of Linlithgow. I've no idea who he was and life is too short to check. My father told me we were related, sorry, I've remembered it was the Marquis of Lithgow, not Linlithgow. Perhaps there was a lot of begetting involved.
Lots of phallic stuff visible from the gardens.
Who was he? The QE2's father was a George, wasn't he. The father of said George? The timeline seems wrong and he only lived to be nine years old? Or was 1901 to 1910 years of his rule. I've always been so bad at English royalty.
A fountain jet of the Walker fountain is visible. Ron Waker who paid for the fountain was a bit of a Trump like person and while he was a VIP, I really disliked him. He lived nearby at The Domain and I saw him once as he left the garage in a black sports car with its roof lowered. Maybe Trump picked up his wig hair styling from Ron Walker.
No, I can't remember when JFK was shot dead in Dallas. Nor can I remember when Lord Mountbatten was blown to smithereens by the IRA.
I was filling my car with petrol in the late 1970s at the local cooperative store just after hearing on the radio that Elvis had died. A friend pulled up to fill his car and he went into shock when I told him. He initially thought I was talking about a Pope who had just died. I must have said something like 'that was sad to hear about his death'.
I was in a tram with an earpiece in my ear and listening to the radio in Toorak Road (insert tram speak) as the tram descended the steep hill to Grange Road when I heard Princess Diana had been terribly injured in car crash in Paris. We know the sad outcome of that.
We were relaxing in the evening at our Balaclava house while it was morning in NYC. Whatever we were watching cut out and we saw the results of the first plane hit in NYC, 9/11. Live we saw the second plane hit. As the details came out, we thought we were heading to another world war. I stayed up too late watching events as they unfolded. Eventually I went to bed. Even my mother who never tuned into world news was fearful of a subsequent war.
I heard on 7am radio news that our Queen had died overnight. I remember going to bed that night hearing she was gravely ill, but I didn't expect she would die. As soon as R arose, I told him and he was shocked.
What are your memories of public figures dying? Like do your recall what you were doing or where you were.?
I'm just having a bit of fun tonight. If you know more, you are probably older than I am. You can confess to your old age in comments if you've known more.
Two monarchs, haha, R has known three. My first Queen Elizabeth II. R's, King George VI.
Sixteen Australian Prime Ministers. The first Sir Robert Menzies. R, one more, Ben Chifley.
Thirteen US Presidents. The first Dwight D. Eisenhower. R, one more, Harry S. Truman.
Eleven Canadian Prime Ministers. My first John Diefenbaker. Never heard of him. R, one more, Louis St. Laurent. Never heard of him either.
Fifteen UK Prime Ministers. My first Harold Macmillan. R's, Clement Attlee.
Nine French Presidents. My first Rene Coty. Who? R, one more. I've not heard of Vincent Auriol either.
Nine German Chancellors. My first Konrad Adenauer. Who again? As for R, this is complicated. Adenauer came to office months after R was born. So who ruled Germany when R was born? It didn't have a Chancellor. An edjicated type will no doubt supply an answer.
C'mon Andrew. These are all very white countries, well were. I have a couple of Indian readers, and I bet I will well recognise the name of the Indian Prime Minister in the year of my birth. Of course it was Jawaharlal Nehru. He is the only major world leader who R and I have in common.
A good blogger would add photos but I am tired from not being out being out clubbing but being at a poshish club as a guest.
Was it a royal march in Sandringham to church on Christmas Day?
The royals were perfectly turned out in stunning coats that must have each cost hundreds of pounds. Their coats were just so perfect. This photo is clearly not 2022 or the year before hatred and nastiness cane it the fore.
What's her name...Mary? William's wife. She stands out in the photo above. Sparkle looks like she is attending a funeral but in spite of her we are all playing happy family visage. I remember now, Kate.....Middle...Middleclass.
Here we go. I think this is the 2022 Christmas walk to church. A perfectly turned out rich aristocratic English royal family. Just you wait Mary Poppins, just you wait.
The phrase, 'I'll just get my coat' was de rigueur in English tv shows in the 1990s if a woman was requested to leave home. Earlier years might have been 'hat, scarf, coat and gloves'.
I have a nice work supplied woollen coat but it has my place of employment identified on the coat. It is dark blue and perhaps I should take it to a tailor to remove the work place identifier. I am not sure it is a good cut as I've never worn it or even looked at it, but I am sure it will keep me warmer in winter. I really felt the cold last winter. I should pull it out from under its plastic covering and take a look at it.
Aside from the ghastly puffer jacket longer coats, generally we don't wear long coats in Australia. Jackets and short coats to keep our central body core warm are adequate.
Right, I think my overcoat will go some charity shop. Just a little more Swedish death cleaning done.
I shouldn't ignore the elephant in the room, the spoilt, rich, whining, and whingeing English brat. It is good that so much of his teenage like immature whining is getting out there in the media. No need to buy the Spare's book at all. 'Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me. Guess I'll go and eat some worms'. I can understand that he may have been traumatised by his mother's death, as any young child would be, but I just wish he would just bugger orf and burn his pale skin in California.
I wrote this subject line two nights ago after watching the brilliant Marc Fennell's tv show. He is a consummate tv presenter, radio broadcaster and podcast presenter for SBS TV, ABC TV and ABC Radio.
But let us go back further to when our beloved Queen died. Well, loved my millions, if not all. A friend with Indian heritage sent me this picture. It is something I intended using on my blog at some point.
That is what Fennell's latest tv programme Stuff the British Stole focused upon. I believe he has already made radio programmes about the same and Marc does have Indian heritage. The first tv episode focused on the Kohinoor Diamond and long after it was 'stolen', its ownership is disputed by many countries. Best it stay in safekeeping in Britain in my opinion.
In a remarkable coincidence while having coffee after shopping yesterday, Friday morning, who should walk past us and stop at a bench nearby to sort out what he was carrying, but Marc Fennell. I saw him walking towards where we were sitting, but I did not click. R is better at celeb spotting than I am and he saw who it was as Marc paused at the bench for a few minutes. I first got to know of him from ABC Radio National's Download This Show. Most celebs we see are to be noted but I was quite chuffed to see someone who I admire so much.
.jpg)
.jpg)
_-_Catharina-Amalia.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)