Your input are always interesting, even though I doubt we shall ever agree on Joachim.
Let me start by making it clear. I respect Joachim a lot, but I doubt he and I would ever be friends.
Am I biased in regards to Joachim? Oh, yes. Often. And intentionally so.
And that's because Joachim is so often under attack and I like to see the other side of the coin. The other side of Joachim. - The side of him, so many choose to disregard or dismiss.
And I find that very unfair.
Joachim's major flaw IMO is that he is his mother's son. Like his mother he is very reserved (even though QMII has opened up a lot in recent years, but never too much) in contrast to Frederik Joachim sucks when it comes to interacting with Joe Public. So did his mother and even today she is still not that comfortable when small-talking to ordinary people. Frederik and PH are and were brilliant at that.
Frederik is very uncomfortable (even though he has improved a lot in recent years) when it's taking center stage and being "official". Joachim is very much at home in that role. Following a manuscript, being "official" that's where he feels at home.
Has it ever occurred to you that Joachim's "arrogance" could be down to a feeling of awkwardness? Of being shy? Of feeling out of his depth?
Just as his mother can be very stand-offish, if people get too close, Joachim also tends to raise his shields when he feels insecure. But his mother can get away with it, because she's the Monarch and because she is so respected.
Then there is the infamous story of Joachim dressing down a journalist. Did you ever see the full clip? It was shown on regional TV. The journalist was from Ekstra Bladet and he was very provocative! IMO he really deserved a broken nose. But that is not an option open to Joachim. So Joachim was guilty in being angry and trying to react in a civilized manner. And that backfired - big time!
In hindsight he could have done A, B, C instead. But that applies to all of us. And royals are only human.
- And for QMII, come on! How difficult is it for journalists to remember to use formal address when dealing with certain people? What are they going to do, at a press conference with the Pope? Say: "Hey, Popey."
It's IMO more a question that too many journalists think the sun shines out of their behind!
Schackenborg. Yes, the official story did sound somewhat questionable and the public saw right through. In later interviews Joachim has admitted that it was no longer worth running Schackenborg. It was too big a financial burden, so he pulled out. - And got a very good deal. But who would have said no?
Joachim, being a conservative and very proud man, the sale of Schackenborg was a huge personal defeat. The second huge defeat he has suffered. - And he got a lot of heat from both the divorce from Alexandra and the sale of Schackenborg. And very little sympathy.
That would knock out many people.
Yes, I agree. Joachim hasn't done a lot of work in recent years. Too little in fact. And he has had several areas in which he could focus his work. He hasn't. That's a pity. PR wise, and perhaps personally as well, it would help him a lot.
But, has it occurred to you that he might have a mid-life crisis? That he is having a depression? Even royals can have depressions. That he has lost his desire to work for the DRF? - I certainly don't blame him! Whatever he does, he gets criticized. It's never good enough. He will forever be the brother no one likes. - So in his shoes I would have no qualms about presenting my middle fingers and move to France.
In hindsight it's always easy to say what the court should have done and how they should have presented thing to the public.
Okay, let's play with the idea, that a proud man like Joachim, would share his innermost feelings and his sense of defeat with the public. - Rather than the Donald Duck story we were presented with.
I'm willing to bet ten bananas that he would have been met with little sympathy. He would have been told to pull himself together and stop angling for sympathy. - When Frederik cries, he's a man who dare show his feelings. When Joachim cries, he is whining.
As for the apanage. Joachim has never complained about doing his duty for the DRF.
And Joachim cannot be compared to others who are unfortunate in life. None of the people you probably think of were confined from birth. Joachim never enjoyed full freedom. He never had a choice in regards to a career, or education.
And Joachim can't do a Märtha Louise. That would almost certainly be against his nature and upbringing. And look what problem that has caused in Norway. Do you think he would abandon his brother in the same way?
So having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, came with a price: His freedom.
So considering how much money is otherwise squandered on all sorts of things, give Joachim a pension and allow his to settle in France and be happy there.
- You and I probably despise "kuglestøderen"(*) and all he stands for just as much, let's not be petty like him, eh?
(*) That's a reference to domestic politics and would make little sense to foreigners - and be pretty off topic, not to mention political.