Point du Vue
Issue/week: 10-17 October 2007[/I]
Exclusive Interview with Prince Joachim and Marie Cavallier, questions posed to them by his paternal uncle, Étienne de Monpezat
Photos by Éric Travers/SIPA
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Summary of this preview
Monpezat asked the couple how they met, what their first impressions were. Cavallier begins by saying that she had been invited to a hunt in Denmark in 2002. Then HKH proceeds to explain that they were friends with the chance of meeting, through friends, about twice a year. Then it happened that both he and Cavallier were single. He went to Paris in 2005 and made contact with her. He seems to say that being together with her made him feel that he did not want to be without her.
Cavallier says that they bonded very quickly because they share a wavelength, and she says that she was struck immediately and impressed by his naturalness, his simplicity. She reiterates that these qualities, she felt, are sincere and innate with him, not at all superficial. She also remarks upon his kindness.
She says that he is handsome, intelligent, and good, "which is most rare."
She says he is always true and without evil intent or words for anyone, which she says was impressive to her family and friends. She repeated how rare it was for someone like him not to be conceited or artificial. She said he never complains and is always content. Be that as it may (that is, rare) she affirms that these things exist because she met them in Prince Joachim. She says he is an "extraordinary father."
There is an interesting quote at this point, the context of which I find difficult to put into English. Maybe someone can assist me:
"On a évoqué votre rupture, à un moment donné." (Marie Cavallier)
She had hesitations about the choices she had to make, but never doubted her feelings. She says that she was afraid of the life she would be choosing, which was perhaps counter to her dreams. She describes herself as independent, "a little wild". She was frightened of the "official" side of life with Prince Joachim. It was she who made the break until she decided that their love would make the hard aspects easier.
Prince Joachim says that the brief separation between himself and Cavallier was against his desire or against his will. "Marie" had told him that she didn't feel up to the task of carrying out the royal way of life in a positive way. For him, he says it was a different feeling. He felt like he was just waiting, because he felt that there couldn't be any way forward without her. Everytime he saw her again, he felt was moving forward, evolving, and when he was not with her, he was just waiting. He admits that they are different, and she had to help him to understand what she was hesitant about. She lives another life that is foreign to his world, but she makes him happy, always makes him happy. The most important thing, of course, was to be sure that his sons, Felix and Nikolai, were happy with the situation, and to develop between them and Cavallier a "natural rapport," because he couldn't ever be truly happy without having that assurance.
Finally, Cavallier says that for her the divorce of her parents was terrible. All she wants to do is to give Prince Joachim's sons love, and if they accept her love, so much the better. Fortunately, she says that she and his sons developed a good relationship from an early point. Now, she says that she does not have the feeling that they are unhappy at all with the situation. She is careful not to assume credit for the situation. She says that the boys are as they are solely on account of Joachim and their mother.
