To find the royal family fascinating part 2

[MagicKingdomDizzy]

Hello everyone, here's thread 2.

I'd be very grateful if someone could do a clicky link to the last one. Still can't figure it out.

Thanks!

Chris Evans is also joining in with the whole "she's had it already" rumours - (Mirror)

she’s earned the position with sacrifice and duty

That's the opposite of what's going on. She didn't earn anything, she got the gig because of who her father and grandfather were. A sheer genetic accident. Whether she has fulfilled the role well or not is irrelevant she coild have been a foul mouthed violent thug and she'd have been Queen. She's earned nothing cos that's the way a hereditary momarchy works.

On the public speaking point I would very much like to hear Princess Anne speak. She should be interesting in her own right and on account of her achievements, she is afterall a former elite sportswoman, a European Champion who has represented her country at World Championships and Olympics.

Which brings me to a few other points raised above.

Someone asked whether Prince Edward had a mortgage, I don't know but in Mark Phillips biography he spoke about the mortgage they had to get to fund Gatcombe because Anne's civil list money could only be used for things related to official business. It sounded as though he found it quite a burden and would have preferred something more low key and low cost.

He gave up his status as an amateur sportsman and therefore his eligibility for another Olympics in order to fund Gatcombe and pay the mortgage. As a professional sportsman he was able to enter sponsorship contracts, something he couldn't have done as an HRH. So likely a factor in declining a title. It has certainly been something that has been important for Zara as a professional sportswoman so was probably a good decision.

Both Anne and Mark in their biographies speak about the restrictions her position imposed. She had to fight to be allowed to live in the Athletes Village at the Olympics, and at several championships she did not stay with other competitors but with a local aristocratic family due to security and her position. She was also followed by her policeman at all times which marked her out.

@lookingelsewhere

That Vanity Fair article on Diana was fantastic.
And so utterly sad, especially after her successful land mines campaign, to see what she could have become.

I kind of fell that Harry and Meghan may well pick up in that international role, where she left off. Combined, they have the star power, press interest and slight “ fuck you” attitude to do things their way.
Will be interesting to see how they evolve. They are still only less than one year into their marriage and have made a lot of impact.

if you read their latest insta post it is really very clear what's going on. It's nothing scandalous

Not scandalous perhaps, but a bit juvenile and attention seeking to unfollow the Royal accounts in order to 'follow different accounts each month'. Sounds like a pretext & the sort of thing a 13 year old would do.

I remember back in the day Prince Andrew took the first published photos of Beatrice
You can see a bit of the remote shutter in his hand.

I think the baby is definitely here already if HRH has been to Frogmore. They have already said they aren’t going to announce it straight away.

My friend married money, she is from money herself. The marriage was a disaster. She was so unhappy. However, her two children had to go to the boarding school her DH went to aged 7. It was expected, I would have run screaming one child under each arm. She caved to what was expected from both families. It really is a gilded cage for women.

I think the baby is definitely here already if HRH has been to Frogmore. They have already said they aren’t going to announce it straight away.

I don't believe they said they weren't going to announce it straight away. What I took from the announcement was that they weren't saying where the birth would take place, I assumed because they didn't want the world's press on scaffolding outside the hospital for several weeks beforehand and during the birth, and secondly that there would be no photo call within hours like Kate had to do. That's it I think.

I don't think she's had it there is no way they could keep it quiet. Agree with naturalbornwoman think they just want to avoid media scrum which must make life difficult for other patients and hospital staff.

I think she may have had it at home.

With regard to Princess Anne, I was working some years ago at an event where she was dedicating a national memorial. She was late from her previous engagement - because, the police said, she insisted on talking to everyone there. When she arrived, she spoke in depth to every bereaved family there, ignoring all the bigwigs in comparison. She showed a lot of compassion and heart that day, despite her no-nonsense character.

Yes how do we know she’s unfollowed?

Sorry didn’t refresh.

I really doubt she’s had it already! The exact birthdate will be known in time and it will just look bizarre.

We know because they were following them before. I had a look at the account the other week and they were following a lot more than 16 and definitely the royal accounts.

I know that May is mental health month but to post that last night, with all the baby waiting going on, does feel rather attention-seeking and juvenile as a PP said.

They sure are ramping up the suspense about this baby. For people claiming they want less, they’re getting s lot more. Funny that

As for the name Diana, there’s no reason why they can’t use it as a first name even though it’s Charlotte's middle. I don’t think they will though.

Not scandalous perhaps, but a bit juvenile and attention seeking to unfollow the Royal accounts in order to 'follow different accounts each month'. Sounds like a pretext & the sort of thing a 13 year old would do.

Isn't it wonderful the way the duchess has held on to her youthful sense of play? ❤️

No wonder we all love her so 😍

@lookingelsewhere That's so sad. I think that's an aspect of Diana's life that gets overlooked. It's nice Harry and William spent so much time with their cousins at Balmoral as that's probably why they're so close today but how awful for a mum to feel the way Diana did.

Re the Prince Edward mortgage thing - I looked it up.

Bagshot had 2.98 million of renovations done for edward and Sophie to move into it. 1.6m paid by crown estates who own it (although they had been given 1.8m by the MOD for dilapidations when they left the building) and the remaining 1.38m by Edward.

Pre renovation the house was leased to Edward for £5000 w year. Post renovation it was leased for £90000 a year with 15 yearly rent reviews.

RubberTreePlant

I think it would be hilarious if Baby Sussex is born tomorrow on Charlotte’s birthday, especially if it’s a girl.

They sure are ramping up the suspense about this baby. For people claiming they want less, they’re getting s lot more. Funny that hmm

In what sense are they ramping up suspense? They said they were not announcing the venue. There are valid reasons for that. I wouldn't want all those photographers outside with their long lenses either and it makes things very difficult for other hospital users and the staff. She won't be appearing on the steps within a few hours of the birth, again perfectly understandable. There is no suspense. The baby will come in its own good time, as babies tend to do. This is the equivalent of all those 'are you still there' phone calls which drive all expectant mothers bonkers in the last few loooong weeks of pregnancy.

The press are absolute shits to the Royals, have been as long as I can remember. I can't think of a single adult member who hasn't copped it for some misdemeanour. Even Anne got a pasting for being less than enthusiastic about a Wales baby when asked about it on one of her quite important Save the Children visits.

The idea that you can enter into battle and 'foil' them is a dangerous one. I don't think the Sussexes are that unsavvy. I read the statement to say "Thanks for the interest, we'll let you know when baby is safely here and we've had some time to be just us". I take that to mean a day at most. Any more and I think they're taking the piss.

If PW HAS cheated, then who on earth will reign next? Prince Charles/Camilla won't be popular for the same reasons. So the next two in line to the throne will be unacceptable.

It doesn't matter who and who isn't acceptable. Politicians resign if they behave badly because they are beholden to the electorate. The chances are they will either sit it our or lose their party a seat in an election, so they have to go. The line of succession is the line of succession. If you want to choose the Head of State, then you have to become a Republic. If you have a Monarchy, you take whoever comes and like it. That's the way it works, popular or not. Prince William could go on National telly, feel up Holly Willoughby, ask Philip Schofeld if he'd like a threesome and snort coke off the table. He will still be king unless he himself decides he doesn't want to be!

I think the only reason they made the statement was because the press were bothering both St Mary’s and Frimley Park hospitals. There were photographers setting up spots at each expecting an announcement of which they were using.

To me it wasn’t “we’re keeping the baby secret” it was “we’re not telling you the birth plans we have”. Which are very different things. Plus they’ve said they’ll have a photocall within a few days with one photographer, video crew and journalist so they don’t seem to have ‘hide the baby’ plans to me.

Completely agree, @noodlenosefraggle. You don't get to choose your monarch. Neither is the Queen going to retire or 'abdicate' in favour of Charles, or skip a generation and hand the job to William. She's Queen for life, anointed at her Coronation. Same will apply to Charles. Good or bad, they're in it till the bitter end.