MM's spending habits criticized

[Flamingo]

Larzen, thanks for your post.  Very informative.

Personally I dont care what they spend on their clothes as long as they are within the money the state gives them, but I think it would be better to go to a neutral tailor and have clothes made especailly, and not act as walking billboards for labels like Prada and Valentino that really does not need the promotion....

ITA with you here.  Royals (especially royal women) are going to spend their allowances and personal funds on expensive clothes.  It's just part of having royalty.  So if a country wants to have a royal family, this sort of thing is just kind of a package deal.  There's never going to be any such thing as a royal family on a budget.

[Kuei Fei]

I am sure that Norway has many fashions of their own and MM should be seeking out skilled unknowns and then having them create fashions for her instead of going to Valentino. How on earth does this promote Norway's fashion industry and I am sure there are tailors who would kill to be able to end up decorating their Crown Princess. I really do think that many of these princesses are so utterly high maintenance; none of them came with a trousseau or clothes of their own? The minute they get that ring they suddenly go on a spending binge on couture and now MM is buying Buddhist jewelry, despite being a Christian? One thing if hse spends that much on a lavish jewel, but quite another if she is spending thousands (OF HER HUSBAND'S MONEY!) on stuff that you can find for cheap at a dime store. It's not like MM is at all really so wealthy herself or that she doesn't already have enough. In this economy they should be slowing down.

These princesses are just going utterly insane with their expenditure and I really do wonder if it is best to institute the dowry system. One minute they are 'down to earth' commoner princesses and the next minute, right after the honeymoon, they are decked out in the finest couture that money can buy and have the biggest jewels that can be found and tossing the kids off to nannies and developing eating disorders. There are plenty of designs they could get for cheap and end up promoting a designer if only they would be willing to be thriftier.

[pixiecat]

I am sure that Norway has many fashions of their own and MM should be seeking out skilled unknowns and then having them create fashions for her instead of going to Valentino. How on earth does this promote Norway's fashion industry and I am sure there are tailors who would kill to be able to end up decorating their Crown Princess. I really do think that many of these princesses are so utterly high maintenance; none of them came with a trousseau or clothes of their own? The minute they get that ring they suddenly go on a spending binge on couture and now MM is buying Buddhist jewelry, despite being a Christian? One thing if hse spends that much on a lavish jewel, but quite another if she is spending thousands (OF HER HUSBAND'S MONEY!) on stuff that you can find for cheap at a dime store. It's not like MM is at all really so wealthy herself or that she doesn't already have enough. In this economy they should be slowing down.

These princesses are just going utterly insane with their expenditure and I really do wonder if it is best to institute the dowry system. One minute they are 'down to earth' commoner princesses and the next minute, right after the honeymoon, they are decked out in the finest couture that money can buy and have the biggest jewels that can be found and tossing the kids off to nannies and developing eating disorders. There are plenty of designs they could get for cheap and end up promoting a designer if only they would be willing to be thriftier.

Really?  The dowry system is incredibly degrading and dehumanizing.  It's basically selling your daughter to a man and his family-it's very creepy when you think about it.  I'm sorry, but there's no place for that type of system in today's society (or at least there shouldn't be, IMO). 

[Flamingo]

I think it's more like buying a husband than selling your daughter, since the girl goes with the money.  A bride price - the reverse system - is more like selling your daughter.

[Kuei Fei]

Perhaps I was a bit hasty, but really, these crown princesses are blowing so much on jewels and couture it's disgusting.

[Snow Queen]

I am sure that Norway has many fashions of their own and MM should be seeking out skilled unknowns and then having them create fashions for her instead of going to Valentino. How on earth does this promote Norway's fashion industry and I am sure there are tailors who would kill to be able to end up decorating their Crown Princess. I really do think that many of these princesses are so utterly high maintenance; none of them came with a trousseau or clothes of their own? The minute they get that ring they suddenly go on a spending binge on couture and now MM is buying Buddhist jewelry, despite being a Christian? One thing if hse spends that much on a lavish jewel, but quite another if she is spending thousands (OF HER HUSBAND'S MONEY!) on stuff that you can find for cheap at a dime store. It's not like MM is at all really so wealthy herself or that she doesn't already have enough. In this economy they should be slowing down.

These princesses are just going utterly insane with their expenditure and I really do wonder if it is best to institute the dowry system. One minute they are 'down to earth' commoner princesses and the next minute, right after the honeymoon, they are decked out in the finest couture that money can buy and have the biggest jewels that can be found and tossing the kids off to nannies and developing eating disorders. There are plenty of designs they could get for cheap and end up promoting a designer if only they would be willing to be thriftier.

Really?  The dowry system is incredibly degrading and dehumanizing.  It's basically selling your daughter to a man and his family-it's very creepy when you think about it.  I'm sorry, but there's no place for that type of system in today's society (or at least there shouldn't be, IMO). 

IA Pixie. I also don't think it's just Haakon's money, they
are married and it's as much MM's as Haakon's. It's not like he did anything to earn it other than come
out of the right womb. With that being said, it wouldn't hurt MM to tone down her spending. I have always viewed the NRF as very down-to-earth and normal. They seem to be a "real" family and I would hate for this to change because of the extravagance of the CP couple.

[pixiecat]

Perhaps I was a bit hasty, but really, these crown princesses are blowing so much on jewels and couture it's disgusting.

I agree with you, there.  It is disgusting and completely ostentatious. 

[Kuei Fei]

I am sure that Norway has many fashions of their own and MM should be seeking out skilled unknowns and then having them create fashions for her instead of going to Valentino. How on earth does this promote Norway's fashion industry and I am sure there are tailors who would kill to be able to end up decorating their Crown Princess. I really do think that many of these princesses are so utterly high maintenance; none of them came with a trousseau or clothes of their own? The minute they get that ring they suddenly go on a spending binge on couture and now MM is buying Buddhist jewelry, despite being a Christian? One thing if hse spends that much on a lavish jewel, but quite another if she is spending thousands (OF HER HUSBAND'S MONEY!) on stuff that you can find for cheap at a dime store. It's not like MM is at all really so wealthy herself or that she doesn't already have enough. In this economy they should be slowing down.

These princesses are just going utterly insane with their expenditure and I really do wonder if it is best to institute the dowry system. One minute they are 'down to earth' commoner princesses and the next minute, right after the honeymoon, they are decked out in the finest couture that money can buy and have the biggest jewels that can be found and tossing the kids off to nannies and developing eating disorders. There are plenty of designs they could get for cheap and end up promoting a designer if only they would be willing to be thriftier.

Really?  The dowry system is incredibly degrading and dehumanizing.  It's basically selling your daughter to a man and his family-it's very creepy when you think about it.  I'm sorry, but there's no place for that type of system in today's society (or at least there shouldn't be, IMO).  

IA Pixie. I also don't think it's just Haakon's money, they
are married and it's as much MM's as Haakon's. It's not like he did anything to earn it other than come
out of the right womb. With that being said, it wouldn't hurt MM to tone down her spending. I have always viewed the NRF as very down-to-earth and normal. They seem to be a "real" family and I would hate for this to change because of the extravagance of the CP couple.

I get it that Haakon came out of the right womb, but it doesn't justify the insane extravagance of MM; life is in many ways a lottery and quite frankly, just being born in a First World country is like coming out of the right womb. It still does not justify that MM is spending as much as she is on jewelry or silly trinkets and if it were her own personal funds, okay, I would understand, but it's not. It's taxpayer money and she is paid to represent her country, not her latest trendy phase. It's not like this is new to her and she should settle in and be settled in and focused on her kids, not her couture. How many duties does seh have and do that justifies such an insane extravagance? The economy is in pieces and even during good times, it is still too much.

The reason I ended up suggesting a dowry is that if you are going ot marry into such families and at that level and want to spend that much in the future, you had darn well better have something to offer in return! I mean, look at Mary, marrying in wiht nary a nickel (to my knowledge) to her name and she ends up blowing tens of thousands on jewels, couture and blows her kids off like they are nothing to her. MM has acquired expensive tastes along with the rest of them. Why not, instead of breaking the backs of taxpayers, marry someone who already has that out of her system and has her own wardrobe, jewels, and such instead of marrying someoen who goes wild as if in a candy store. Why not someone who already comes with all that is needed?

A lot of these previously staid and respectable royal houses are becoming jokes and tabloid headliners as their family members marry people who are quite frankly, on the make. I wonder what happened to the earthy womne these men married, once they got their first taste of couture? MM and the rest of them need to have their budgets yanked and need to end up using the clothing they already have in different combinations. Maxima was already wealthy and it's not just clothes and jewels, but plastic surgery as well and other unneeded procedures that cost a fortune.

[Fragrance78]

Larzen, thanks for your post.  Very informative.

Personally I dont care what they spend on their clothes as long as they are within the money the state gives them, but I think it would be better to go to a neutral tailor and have clothes made especailly, and not act as walking billboards for labels like Prada and Valentino that really does not need the promotion....

ITA with you here.  Royals (especially royal women) are going to spend their allowances and personal funds on expensive clothes.  It's just part of having royalty.  So if a country wants to have a royal family, this sort of thing is just kind of a package deal.  There's never going to be any such thing as a royal family on a budget.

  ITA

[LucyintheSky]

thanks for the explanation Larzen!!!! and Happy New Year!!!

[Little_star]

When thousands, if not millions, of women face utter misery and in many cases death because of the whole dowry issue I find it astounding that anyone could be calling for its return

http://english.pravda.ru/...933-india_brides_dowry-0/
http://www.youthkiawaaz.c...em-in-india-then-and-now/

[abs]

When thousands, if not millions, of women face utter misery and in many cases death because of the whole dowry issue I find it astounding that anyone could be calling for its return

http://english.pravda.ru/...933-india_brides_dowry-0/
http://www.youthkiawaaz.c...em-in-india-then-and-now/

I can´t tell you how this breaks my heart. I actually think about this a lot, and have thought about what I can do to help and support these women, but it seems so overwhealming. Do you know about any international organizations that work against this? I would so much like to help in any way I can.

[Maria]

Thanks for all the info Larzen and it's really good to see you again. Don't be a stranger. 

I second that

[Maria]

Perhaps I was a bit hasty, but really, these crown princesses are blowing so much on jewels and couture it's disgusting.

The husbands allow it and they don't seem to say stop so why only put the blame on the women?

[TLLK]

When thousands, if not millions, of women face utter misery and in many cases death because of the whole dowry issue I find it astounding that anyone could be calling for its return

http://english.pravda.ru/...933-india_brides_dowry-0/
http://www.youthkiawaaz.c...em-in-india-then-and-now/

Sadly that is the case for too many women and girls. I disagree that a dowry system is a good idea for potential royal spouses. That limits the selection pool to the very wealthy and IMO would create the perception that the wealthy in-laws could have too much "influence" on that nation's RF. The only time that I've read about an alleged dowry suggestion in a Western RF would be when Marie Chantal married CP Pavlos of Greece. Apparently the Miller's made a substantial deposit to the ex-monarch's account.