We’re bloody average, but so are these foreign hot shots

S.L says:

05:17am | 23/11/11

I don’t think your dig at QE2 was warranted Daniel but I agree with the rest of your post.
I’m no scholar of European Royalty but a guy (Prince Fred) bringing the “missus” home to visit the “outlaws” occasionally shows how normal they can be. Will the relationship between our two countries become closer when Fred and Mary are on the throne? Or when Prince Christian is King will he make the trip “home” to see the family?
Atleast they make the effort more than our own royalty…......

thatmosis says:

06:16am | 23/11/11

You may go weak at the knees for royalty and overseas loser Presidents but to me most are a waste of space and just an opportuntity for certain red headed claytons PM to get her ugly mug in the media. Apart from that they leave me cold and always cost the Australian tax payer more than they are worth. If they want to visit okay but pay for it themselves out of their public servants pay which is most cases is more than they are worth.

Jane2 says:

08:57am | 23/11/11

As someone who works in Canberra, I personally love the fact that our politicians and VIPs move about town with no fuss. This town is chaotic enough to drive around, could you imagine what it would be like if roads where continually being closed so our PM or GG etc could get to their destination faster?

One of my favourite memories of the Obama visit will be the fact that our GG got stuck in the traffic jam created by the Obama security. It clearly highlighted the extremes, one is treated with rock star status and one like an ordinary person, albiet with a bit more respect given.

I personally would rather live in a country where political leaders are not treated like rock stars as I wouldnt want them to get used to it and want to to continue indefinately.

Robert S McCormick says:

01:37pm | 23/11/11

If you think our politicians, socialites, social climbers & other non-entities are forelock-tugging, simpering, giggling, quivering with repressed sexual tension then you should see how the American behave!
The security provided for Obama was absurd. No-one in Australia could be bothered to attack him or anyone else. We are all far too apathetic & are just as likely to hold up our middle finger as wave!
But of course the Yanks have to behave like they did. Those clowns have to make out they are such big men & women. They have to make out that anyone, other than little, old weak0knned Julia, axtually gave a shit about Obama & his visit. I’ll bet that if he, or any President of any country - even a bankrupt one like the USA had the guts to simply book a flight here, land like any other tourist no-one would look twice at him or any other so-called VIP!
They would probably have one hell of a good time, a few grogs, the odd BBQ, sightseeing & just being one of the mob.
Our politicians & other self-styled grandees would hate it but who gives a toss about them anyway?
These VIPs would probably get a far better & certainly more honest pictture, of Australia & Australians if they were left to fend for themselves.
We would treat them just as we treat all visitors! We welcome them but take no crap from any of them.
Who know Barack & Michelle might come with the children & like those 60,000 other tourists who come here & over-stay they might decide to do the same!
After all we are constantly being told that the rest of the World regards Australia as the Best, Safest, Funnest, Country in that World, we believe them - else we would leave - so it would be an ideal place for them to come to.

TheRealDave says:

03:40pm | 23/11/11

Australia and Australians bloody embarras me at times…..this is one of them….she’s a bloody Tasmanian who sold real estate in Sydernee and now people are all gushing and fawning all over just the mention of her bloody name….

Seriously…this country needs a massive kick up its arse…any half baked wanne be that steps off the plane is subject to a nationwide gawk fest. Get a life people. Its not just Mary, its all of them…the Kardashian skanks, any gay makevoer queen, people who came in the top 10 of some foreign ‘X Factor/Idol’ type show, z rate ‘actors’ at logies time….you’re embarrasing yourselves people!

youdy beaudy says:

05:12pm | 23/11/11

Now Daniel, naughty, naughty. The young woman you are lamblasting is an Australian, a Tasmanian from good Scottish stock. Now. she fell in love with a prince from a distant land and has gone on to marry and become a Princess, but not only a Princess but a Queen in waiting. So that success upsets you does it.?

As far as her husband goes he is the son of a King and Queen and has to carry out Royal Duties such as coming to Australia and representing his country on the international stage which is his duty.

I think they are a great young couple. They have good looks to boot and don’t seem to be caught up in the ego thing that is usually associated with importance. They have kids and the kids are good looking also. They have a nice little family just like all us aussies would like. So what is your problem daniel?.

Give them a go for Gods sake. I mean, isn’t OZ the land of the fair go, or have they made a law against that as well as everything else we treasure these days. I say good luck to them both and their littlies and their families. This Royal family is a good Royal family and steady as a rock but we Aussies being as mean as we are will try to tear it down and find something wrong with it. It’s called, ” The tall poppy syndrome and i am sad that you are a member. ” You have to get out of that one if you want to be an unbiased Journalist. After they have read your article i’m sure of one thing. You will never be invited to the palace for tiffin.

stephen says:

05:32pm | 23/11/11

She’s a quite noble looking lady, and what’s mighty interesting is it took a Dane - and he looks and seems more like a rapscallion aussie than I do - to turn her into something presentable.
They both seem funloving together ; apart, and I think she would have married a pilot, (or some such rabble.)

youdy beaudy says:

06:57pm | 23/11/11

@Stephen and Tiger of Darwin. Hey you two, you need to get over yourselves. The Princess is an Australian not a Foreigner. She has to come home sometimes to see her family who live in Tasmania. This would probably be the primary intention for her return here.

The Prince is her Husband. She like most women is loyal to her husband and his role. Jesus, it’s like every young girls fairy story. So her husband being a King in waiting has to follow the protocol of seeing the Prime Minister and serving his nation as its head. All you people are so moronic.But if the occasion arose where you were invited to attend some Royal function I know you would be the first in the door.

They can’t help their positions as the Prince is born into it and she can’t help her position as she fell in love with the bloke and married him. She comes from a good family who would be well connected from their past ancestry i am sure.

So, leave up on your problem. Yes, there are still Royal Families in the world and their role is difficult , while you have the freedom to yell, scream and criticize every bloody thing that is good and gracious in a world that is falling apart at the seams. These Young more fortunate people are not making criticisms of your ordinary life are they.?

The Citizen says:

01:27pm | 10/02/12

Mary is not an Australian. She no longer holds Australian Citizenship.

Ask a Judge if Mary is an Australian and he/she would ask one simple question. “Is this person a holder of Australian Citizenship?”

She may have been born in Australia but she is not currently an Australian.

It’s a massive difference. I’m assuming you have one passport, if you had more than one you would understand the legality around this.

Australia has no responsibility for this women anymore.

She is now less Australian than the lanky Pommy bloke at work who last week became an Australian citizen. He’s paying tax and contibuting to this country. Mary isn’t.