Royal style (and occasionally gossip): thread 3

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Here we go again!

Yes, very interesting about the sorority mathanxiety. If Meghan could get accepted by a snobby sorority, surely she has what it takes to do well in the RF. Not her first time at the rodeo.

Is there any indication that she hasn't been accepted by the royals? She and the Queen seemed on good terms at that engagement they did over the summer.

Paradyning - not Dutch, but I know a lot of Dutch people. They seem to think that Maxima is a hoot, game for a laugh, and likes to have fun with her outfits. They are a bit eye-rolling about how she dresses, but that's perhaps because Dutch women are perhaps less concerned with clothes than some of their European sister

Maxima would be my choice of pub companion too

No Queen, all seems well, although the press want it not to be and keep making up stories about Meghan "breaking royal rules."

However, I always wondered whether the restrictions of royal life would be too much for her once the honeymoon years were over. But now more disposed to think that she will be OK.

Marrying into the RF drives women to the edge of reason (cf: Fergie Confidential). But if Meghan has Harry's ongoing support, that could make all the difference.

I think once she finds her feet, gets the first five or so years of motherhood over (if they have children), she will become a spokesperson for what she believes in. I can see her putting herself forward and doing a lot more publicity for various charities and organisations that Kate.

MM has the experience and confidence and once she settles and regains that, she will, I think, use her position. Of course, BP will see to it that W&K won't be outranked in terms of public adoration.

Kate and William had a long courtship so she (and her parents who come across as very nice people) had some idea of what was coming.

Meghan for all her fame had no idea what this would be like. The fact she's American probably meant she had no idea what being "royal" means.

Will anyone forget the "rabbits in a headlight" look she had during the first Sandringham church outing during her engagement?

Good points Rosina, I think Fergie was very flattered by all the attention and the glamorous lifestyle and had her head turned. It's such a different way of life for Meghan, but (dare I say it) she's a lot more intelligent and savvy, and will somehow find her way.

mathanxiety
Please can you explain what those American sorority societies are about.

I wish I knew ]

They are the equivalent of fraternities and they supposedly give you contacts after graduation and a bunch of instant friends when you are on campus. During the university years they do a lot of partying - lots and lots and lots of partying - with frat boys and there are (what I consider) really silly traditions held dear by each one.

On many campuses you can tell the sorority girls by a sort of uniform - one campus sorority uniform style that I am particularly familiar with features lots of makeup and hair that is 'done', crappy t-shirt and nylon shorts, finger and toenails done, flip flops or slides. Or black leggings and brown Uggs or other brown boots, with a sweatshirt, and hair and face that are too well put together for the rest of the outfit. They live in sorority houses, pay dues, often have meals prepared by a professional cook.

As far as I can tell, sororities cement gender roles and reinforce the importance of conformity, and encourage groupthink. They are for the most part very obviously racially segregated. You don't find lesbians who are out, or even girls with very curly hair in sororities.

There are elaborate signing up processes and rituals, and young women applicants who don't fit the image don't get invited to join. The first week or two on campus in many universities is dominated by fraternity and sorority recruitment. Groups of girls walk around together in uniform t-shirts with name tags during a week of sorting and sifting and evaluating by established members. There is a lot of matching clothing. I think it's all really bizarre.

DD1 pledged a sorority in her freshman year - in a women's college which I thought was a bit redundant. Then she transferred to a place that doesn't have them. None of my other DCs have joined a fraternity or sorority.

I am no further along in my understanding of what the heck it is all about after reading these Cosmo articles:
www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/advice/a5207/sorority-girl-problems/

This is a bit more illuminating:
www.buzzfeed.com/terripous/the-no-bullshit-guide-to-sorority-rush?utm_term=.pjOMZxBjV#.yp6zKp3Z7

But I still don't know Why?

I'm glad I went to university in the UK!!

It’s like joining the Freemasons! Sounds horrendous. Glad I went to uni in the UK too.

I went to a US women's college for a year - they didn't have official sororities but the whole place was a kind of giant sorority. I left in 1994 and they are still offering me links/connections - oh, and asking for money! I think it's about privilege really but v gendered - like Eton or Cheltenham Ladies' here I guess.

Thank you mathanxiety..
So basically 'in with the in crowd'.
Yuck

I am starting to disbelieve a lot of the official info re MM

Why’s that user?

Spotted this shot of the Danish royals and you could've told me Mary was Kate and I'd have believed you!

I don’t know, just a hunch. Like all things to all people, like the sorority thing, saying she was in the US diplomatic service when she was an intern

Regarding Order sashes Royal children used to wear them too.

Swedish Royal babies still do...

www.instyle.com/news/prince-alexander-sweden-christening

Baby Alexander can carry off a sash! So cute!

Hmmmm there's yacht rumours too. Not sure whether to believe those. Surely the RF would have done some due diligence in that one.

What are yacht rumours?

Google it.

they didn't have official sororities but the whole place was a kind of giant sorority
Keiratwiceknightly - that is why I was [wtf?] about DD1 joining the sorority in the women's college. I also didn't understand what compelled DD1 to give the sorority a whirl apart from the fact that DD1 is a curious soul who likes to try new things. It was widely known as the Jewish sorority on campus too, and we are not Jewish. I get the sorority magazine a few times a year. It's baffling.

The college she eventually graduated from sends her requests for money in their annual appeal - I have no problem with this because DD1 basically graduated debt free from a top university thanks to massive institutional financial aid, which comes from donations both large and small, mainly from alums. Universities with large endowments can afford to educate students for almost no cost to the students or their families. It's because previous appeals were so successful that DD1 was able to go there. Same for DD2, and as far as I am aware they both give some $$ annually.

Women's colleges themselves are fine imo - at least those in the top tier of liberal arts colleges are - the one DD was in was highly selective and also offered an almost free ride. There are some that I would not encourage a daughter to go to however.

Beanaseireann
It's definitely a case of 'in with the in crowd', except that the 'in crowd' is completely self-selecting and the concept of what is 'in' is totally self-referential - those not a part of the sorority/fraternity scene have decided the whole business is ridiculous or irrelevant and they cast a baleful eye on the entire Greek thing and all its adherents.

Way back in the late 19th century when sororities were started I suspect they provided a clubby experience for women both as undergrads and once graduated, who were generally left out of municipal clubs that were so popular back then (and still are in the US) like the Lions, the Rotary Club and of course the Masons. They could join a country club only as wives of members. Yet they were being trained for professions, and found themselves outside of the networks available to men. They were also training grounds for charity work - organising fetes, dances, dinners and other fundraisers, and presumably some of the more politically minded went on to become suffragettes and members of other women's political networks. Maybe there was some crossover among membership of the various networks... But I honestly do not see a similar purpose to today's sororities.

QueenoftheAndals they could be twins