MM's spending habits criticized

[fairy]

Well since  the option of dowry is out of the question, how about we put our crown princes up for auction? That way they sum up enough to pay for their lifestyle and in any case we couldn't possibly have less suitable cps or less happy marriages than presently in a northern country we all know and adore....

[Lollie]

Thanks TLLK    
I've always found the "we should know what they're doing every moment of their lives and how they're spending every cent because it's ours" argument as very cheap demagogy.

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?

Maybe that's because the royal born husbands have never known anything else but wealth and they don't know what it's like to earn a living so they can rent a flat/pay their bills/buy their food/etc... They never had to worry about that. I bet that when they were little, they just had to ask for new toys to find them in their nursery a few hours later.

The consorts being commoners, one would think that they'll be  reasonnable with their spendings because they're supposed to know how hard life is.
It's the same for all consorts in european monarchies, once they get the ring, they seem to throw their morals in the trash.
And when I read in the papers that a single pearl on a red string costs 7000€ (8800$, 5700£), I just want to throw up..
(source : http://www.kjendis.no/201...z/justin_bieber/19657733/ )

But what is reasonable? It all depends on what is available to each person and their priorities, as long as they don't overspend and need to beg the state for extra money.
If their husbands are spending money within their means (in expensive clothes, watches, cufflinks, cars, trips, restaurants...) are they supposed to spend as much as they used to? (MM with a waitress salary?)

I think they should try to be moderate. It's not because you suddenly have access to lots of money that you need to spend ridiculously large amounts of money in non essential things. Especially when the people who have no other choice but to finance you and your lifestyle are struggling with an economic crisis.
IMO it is totally inappropriate to "show off". Modern monarchies should understand that and "stand together" with their people. Spending their money cleverly and not showing off.

The Spanish Royal Family has bought a new tiara for Letizia some time ago. We haven't seen it yet. It's called decency.
Thousands of euros for mystic necklace ? What kind of reality are they living in ? Religion and spiriuality are free of charge.

I completely understand that royal families have expenses but I keep wondering if they really need all these outrageously expensive stuff they buy with the people's money...

But you're right, after all, it depends on everyone's morals.

[Clara]

Congrats on your 100 posts Lollie     

Thanks TLLK   
I've always found the "we should know what they're doing every moment of their lives and how they're spending every cent because it's ours" argument as very cheap demagogy.

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?

Maybe that's because the royal born husbands have never known anything else but wealth and they don't know what it's like to earn a living so they can rent a flat/pay their bills/buy their food/etc... They never had to worry about that. I bet that when they were little, they just had to ask for new toys to find them in their nursery a few hours later.

The consorts being commoners, one would think that they'll be  reasonnable with their spendings because they're supposed to know how hard life is.
It's the same for all consorts in european monarchies, once they get the ring, they seem to throw their morals in the trash.
And when I read in the papers that a single pearl on a red string costs 7000€ (8800$, 5700£), I just want to throw up..
(source : http://www.kjendis.no/201...z/justin_bieber/19657733/ )

But what is reasonable? It all depends on what is available to each person and their priorities, as long as they don't overspend and need to beg the state for extra money.
If their husbands are spending money within their means (in expensive clothes, watches, cufflinks, cars, trips, restaurants...) are they supposed to spend as much as they used to? (MM with a waitress salary?)

This!! 

MM is no longer a commoner waitress, she's the Crown Princess of Norway and its unreasonable to expect her expenses to be that of her former life. Typically when a couple marries they join assets and I don't see why that would be different for MM & Haakon, his $ is her $ and he doesn't seem to have a problem with that. Personally, I think its stupid to spend that much money (if she did in fact pay full price for it) on a dinky little bracelet but for whatever reason MM values it and wanted it. It was within their budget so its her right to purchase it. The same applies to her wardrobe.

Thanks Snow Queen 
That said, I will still criticise MM 

(A bit off topic but you're right, many married couples share their money and here is a funny case in the royal world: considering Felipe's salary, the most money that entered their household in the last years must have been from Letizia, when she sold her old apartment last summer for 230,000€    )

[Laprincess]

The bracelet was inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, which should give spiritual energy. Whether she chose to go to his sister Princess Martha's footsteps, which is certainly not unfamiliar with spirituality, or whether she would like the same booth as several superstars from Hollywood and music industry is not known.
[/i]

Oh, Shamballa my ass - This jewelry is all a designer rip-off.

As someone who knows something about Tibetan Buddhism, I have to agree that this is all a BS that is designed to rip off Hollywood stars.

First, Buddhism is about detachment: detached from personal relationships, detached from material possessions, detached from desires and wants. To say a Buddhist monk would design a diamond (BTW, diamond is not a material used in any Tibetan Buddhist ceremonial gears) bracelet to sell for over $8K and advertise it as symbol of spiritual energy is just rediculous. Unless he's trying to raise funds for Tibetan causes. But still, advertising it as a source of spiritual energy? That's outright lying.

I visited one of three most holiest Tibetan Temples seven years ago. One of the monks made a knot on a red string. He said the knot was for good luck. I still keep it till today. He didn't ask for a cent.

[Flamingo]

I wonder if she paid for the bracelet or if it was gifted to her? It is alot of money for such a simple piece of jewelry but if its within the CP's budget IMO its their business what the spend the money on once its in their bank account. I haven't heard stories of Haakon and MM blowing their budget like Fred and Mares so they must be able to afford MM's expenses.

Not if it's taxpayer money. If it is taxpayer money it is the business of hte public and I don't think MM brought thousands upon thousands wiht her into her marriage ot spend on what she likes. If it is her husband's money, it is his business. President Obama is getting crucified on a daily basis for his antics in regards to spending taxpayer money like it's his in his own right and there is no reason that he should expect to stay in office in 2012. If MM is blowing thousands on stuff like this or Valentino couture or is at all spending money on designer shoes, she has no business not expecting a backlash. You cannot say she had enough money of her own to spend on Valentino before her marriage.

Of course people can complain if they choose to but if the CP couple doesn't go over their alloted budget then nothing is going to come of it. If they are given a set amount of money every year for their "salary" its theirs to do with as they choose. No comment on President Obama as he has nothing to do with MM's spending habits.

I think the issue is what kind of taxpayer money it is.  MM and Haakon receive an allowance every year from the state (a Norwegian member, or anyone who wants to bother googling it, can probably tell us what that is).  While this comes from the taxpayers, it's MM and Haakon's money and they can spend it (and Haakon's private funds) however they want.  If they want to buy a $8500 bracelet, then that's there business.  However, if MM is applying to the government for extra money for clothes and spending it frivolously like this, then that's a problem.  That's not her money to spend so stupidly.  But if it's coming from her salary or Haakon's fortune, then it's her business.  (Although the Norwegians might want to consider shrinking her salary.)

The Obama thing is the same.  He makes $400,000 a year of taxpayer money as his salary.  This is his money, and he can spend it how he wants.  If he pays for an extravagant vacation with his salary and his own private savings, nobody (well hardly anybody) would complain.  Obama gets into trouble when extra government funds and cars and planes get used as part of his vacation.

[LucyintheSky]

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?

Maybe that's because the royal born husbands have never known anything else but wealth and they don't know what it's like to earn a living so they can rent a flat/pay their bills/buy their food/etc... They never had to worry about that. I bet that when they were little, they just had to ask for new toys to find them in their nursery a few hours later.

The consorts being commoners, one would think that they'll be  reasonnable with their spendings because they're supposed to know how hard life is.
It's the same for all consorts in european monarchies, once they get the ring, they seem to throw their morals in the trash.
And when I read in the papers that a single pearl on a red string costs 7000€ (8800$, 5700£), I just want to throw up..
(source : http://www.kjendis.no/201...z/justin_bieber/19657733/ )

100 posts!!!!Congrats Lollie Keep em coming!!!!

[LucyintheSky]

wow...they are on her, like white on rice






The Norwegian Princess Mette-Marit has enough money.

Or it is induced into believing. The princess has invested in an expensive bracelet from the Danish jewelry company Shamballa Jewels. As you can see in the picture consists of a thin bracelet, red leather strap, which is a walnut diamond sphere with a price of DKK 50,000. Princess Mette-Marit is not unfamiliar with beautiful and expensive objects. She used to be dressed in designer clothes from Valentino and Pucci.

50,000 DKK = 51,331.83 NOK > 8,538.44 USD > 8,355.46 AUD > 6,702.08 EUR

But according to the company's website would be madness. The bracelet was inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, which should give spiritual energy. Whether she chose to go to his sister Princess Martha's footsteps, which is certainly not unfamiliar with spirituality, or whether she would like the same booth as several superstars from Hollywood and music industry is not known.

But Karl Fredrik Tangen, associate professor of sociology at the Consumer Market School in Oslo, is not surprised that Mette Marit has chosen to invest in a costly ornament.
- Spirituality legitimizes conspicuous consumption, and is therefore a smart strategy. As when the use of designer dresses explained that would promote Norwegian design, he says to kjendis.no. Shamballa jewelry symbolizes extra exclusivity, as each piece is only produced in one copy.


Oh, Shamballa my ass - This jewelry is all a designer rip-off.

I have the a very similar bracelet, string thingie - because it's really far from a bracelet - only difference: the red string is a thin black crochet string. Pfffft.....go on "Etsy", or "Ebay" and you will not have to pay some thousand $$ for the string & diamond bead - this is a really ridiculous 'name game'....that's why I hate designers. And if I wouldn't have received my bracelet as a gift, I would have never bought it.

Apparently, spiritual energy can be yours for just 50,000 DKK  I'm sure it's just what the Buddah would have wanted for the universe  I'll bet that Tibetan monks everywhere are forking over the money for a bit of this "spirituality"  Ridiculous.

OMG this is so true, so sad...  

[LucyintheSky]

Does their salary include the money for representation ? If it does, MM rarely worked, so the money could be saved for her own goodies  .

thank you, and amen 

[PeDe]

wow...they are on her, like white on rice






The Norwegian Princess Mette-Marit has enough money.

Or it is induced into believing. The princess has invested in an expensive bracelet from the Danish jewelry company Shamballa Jewels. As you can see in the picture consists of a thin bracelet, red leather strap, which is a walnut diamond sphere with a price of DKK 50,000. Princess Mette-Marit is not unfamiliar with beautiful and expensive objects. She used to be dressed in designer clothes from Valentino and Pucci.

50,000 DKK = 51,331.83 NOK > 8,538.44 USD > 8,355.46 AUD > 6,702.08 EUR

But according to the company's website would be madness. The bracelet was inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, which should give spiritual energy. Whether she chose to go to his sister Princess Martha's footsteps, which is certainly not unfamiliar with spirituality, or whether she would like the same booth as several superstars from Hollywood and music industry is not known.

But Karl Fredrik Tangen, associate professor of sociology at the Consumer Market School in Oslo, is not surprised that Mette Marit has chosen to invest in a costly ornament.
- Spirituality legitimizes conspicuous consumption, and is therefore a smart strategy. As when the use of designer dresses explained that would promote Norwegian design, he says to kjendis.no. Shamballa jewelry symbolizes extra exclusivity, as each piece is only produced in one copy.


Oh, Shamballa my ass - This jewelry is all a designer rip-off.

I have the a very similar bracelet, string thingie - because it's really far from a bracelet - only difference: the red string is a thin black crochet string. Pfffft.....go on "Etsy", or "Ebay" and you will not have to pay some thousand $$ for the string & diamond bead - this is a really ridiculous 'name game'....that's why I hate designers. And if I wouldn't have received my bracelet as a gift, I would have never bought it.

Apparently, spiritual energy can be yours for just 50,000 DKK  I'm sure it's just what the Buddah would have wanted for the universe  I'll bet that Tibetan monks everywhere are forking over the money for a bit of this "spirituality"  Ridiculous.

OMG this is so true, so sad...  

here you go....Yrma has a similar one

[Lollie]

Thank you Clara and Lucyinthesky. 

[ssassi]

I wonder if she paid for the bracelet or if it was gifted to her? It is alot of money for such a simple piece of jewelry but if its within the CP's budget IMO its their business what the spend the money on once its in their bank account. I haven't heard stories of Haakon and MM blowing their budget like Fred and Mares so they must be able to afford MM's expenses.

Not if it's taxpayer money. If it is taxpayer money it is the business of hte public and I don't think MM brought thousands upon thousands wiht her into her marriage ot spend on what she likes. If it is her husband's money, it is his business. President Obama is getting crucified on a daily basis for his antics in regards to spending taxpayer money like it's his in his own right and there is no reason that he should expect to stay in office in 2012. If blowing thousands on stuff like this or Valentino couture or is at all spending money on designer shoes, she has no business not expecting a backlash. You cannot say she had enough money of her own to spend on Valentino before her marriage.

Should every civil servant publish his/her personal purchases paid with their salaries (i.e., taxpayer money) ?

In my country, yes. Every civil servant has to publish his/her spendings and salary every year and every time he/she spend or receive more thyan 5000 euros in cash, counts or gifts. I thought this come along with EU regulations but I undersund ...not?

[divinemiss]

I must confess myself somewhat divided on this subject. Whilst I agree in theory that the money they are given is theirs to spend as they see fit I do believe there is a stronger principle at play too.

These are not private individuals, they are paid representatives of a country and if the average citizen of a country is struggling financially (I am ignorant of Norways current economic clime) then it is nothing short of offensive for one of its paid representatives to flaunt ostentatious material possessions.

There is a time and a place in royal life for wearing expensive clothes, expensive jewellery and having spent a good deal of money on hair and make up. The problem is, as I see it, the current crop of princesses do not appear able to distinguish when that time is and when the time for wearing good quality but not instantly recognisable designer clothes/accessories are.
 

[Kuei Fei]

These are not private individuals, they are paid representatives of a country

Something that even born royals are not capable of getting; these women are not there to live like trophy wives or wives who managed to get a husband/meal ticket, but there to do their best according to their ability. If MM isn't working much, then she should not be paid as much, she should not get more than she is earning.

[Cloaked]

I must confess myself somewhat divided on this subject. Whilst I agree in theory that the money they are given is theirs to spend as they see fit I do believe there is a stronger principle at play too.

These are not private individuals, they are paid representatives of a country and if the average citizen of a country is struggling financially (I am ignorant of Norways current economic clime) then it is nothing short of offensive for one of its paid representatives to flaunt ostentatious material possessions.

There is a time and a place in royal life for wearing expensive clothes, expensive jewellery and having spent a good deal of money on hair and make up. The problem is, as I see it, the current crop of princesses do not appear able to distinguish when that time is and when the time for wearing good quality but not instantly recognisable designer clothes/accessories are.

I totally agree, Divinemiss!   

[pixiecat]

I wonder if she paid for the bracelet or if it was gifted to her? It is alot of money for such a simple piece of jewelry but if its within the CP's budget IMO its their business what the spend the money on once its in their bank account. I haven't heard stories of Haakon and MM blowing their budget like Fred and Mares so they must be able to afford MM's expenses.

Not if it's taxpayer money. If it is taxpayer money it is the business of hte public and I don't think MM brought thousands upon thousands wiht her into her marriage ot spend on what she likes. If it is her husband's money, it is his business. President Obama is getting crucified on a daily basis for his antics in regards to spending taxpayer money like it's his in his own right and there is no reason that he should expect to stay in office in 2012. If blowing thousands on stuff like this or Valentino couture or is at all spending money on designer shoes, she has no business not expecting a backlash. You cannot say she had enough money of her own to spend on Valentino before her marriage.

Should every civil servant publish his/her personal purchases paid with their salaries (i.e., taxpayer money) ?

In my country, yes. Every civil servant has to publish his/her spendings and salary every year and every time he/she spend or receive more thyan 5000 euros in cash, counts or gifts. I thought this come along with EU regulations but I undersund ...not?

I work at a state university.  Every professor and administrator's salary and benefits are a matter of public record.  For example, I know that the president of the university earns $450,000 USD per year, and the football coach earns $2.6 million per year (don't get me started on that nonsense ); the chief of cardiology at the medical school on our campus earns $700,000 and the student workers get about $10.00 an hour.  I think that this is the fair thing to do, since they are all government employees.  We are all prohibited from accepting gifts or bonuses from outside sources, and if we do get some kind perk, it must be publicized and approved.  If this can work for my university (and there are a few thousand employees at this school), then there's no reason why it shouldn't be done for the royals.  Their tax-payer funded benefits and salaries should absolutely be public knowledge.  Royals owe it to their subjects to be open and up-front about how they are using the taxpayer's money.