Royal style and gossip: monochrome Megs, colourful Kate, the whacky hats of Max

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Link to the previous thread, which was fast filling up!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3394928-Royal-Style-and-Gossip-The-Sussexes-Down-Under-Meghan-is-glowing?msgid=82047922#82047922

I was at the current Earl Spencer's first wedding - working! I remember Diana, Charles, William and Harry being rushed back to Althorp from the Church, for security reasons. It was very informal - afternoon tea - with (Acid) Raine behaving true to form. Wish I'd have realised how lucky I was to be there at the time - and listened more carefully to the speeches!

Folk are just so mean.

I haven't read those particular comments, but I have read others, including sadly, some on MN. Some of the nasty comments about Meghan are thinly, or not so thinly, veiled racism. The same thing happens often with Michelle Obama. The detractors find an ostensibly legitimate criticism but the tone and intensity make it fairly clear that the animus is something else indeed.

AJ
I was at Lady Diana's sisters wedding, I was a student and also working! I think Diana was a bridesmaid, I remember the food being very dainty and elegant but very much of it. lots of champagne of course, I think Drewitts were the caterers.

Not very much of it

The Spencer did use Drewitts - but they clearly weren't planning to spend on this wedding. If you recall. Charles Spencer had only know the bride for six weeks when they got engaged. I worked for a much smaller, local business, and we essentially were brought in for big occasions to supplement their own staff.

I think William and Kate are more comfortable out of the spotlight. I don't really see Harry and Meghan as being more charismatic, just more comfortable public speaking. I agree with the poster who said Kate seems more comfortable meeting with people in crowds. They all have their strengths.

Did Earl Spencer only know his first wife for 6 weeks before getting engaged
Her wedding pictures are amazing - so unusual. She was beautiful. I remember the Hello pictures.
Apparently his speech wasn't very complimentary to her.
Lovely to see her with her children at Harry's and Meghan's wedding

Her public speaking is excellent and a breath of fresh air compared to the staid Cambridges.

I couldn’t agree more. The Cambridges are SO staid I find it very hard to warm to them, whereas Harry and Meghan are the opposite - confident and relaxed and open. Watching Kate in public I always get the impression that she’s happy for her public role to be basically mute: about looking pretty and bearing children (which is spot on for a future Queen I suppose) but it doesn’t make her particularly likeable, just aloof.

I had no idea they only knew each other for 6 weeks before the wedding. I agree about the wedding photos. The Spencer children are incredibly good looking . Victoria is very photogenic but also troubled with anorexia and drug use.

Kate is anything but aloof! What an odd thing to say. She knows how to be in all situations and she is clearly liked very much and admired by the people she meets. I love the fact that she does not cling on (literally) to anyone else. That is very much a plus point.

I think Prince Harry is looking a bit strained, on the whole. He must be cringing inwardly at the clinginess and the family drama ever bubbling in the background.

Bean
I am told Earl Spencer used the phrase "through thick and thin" in his wedding speech.

She had a fur trim on her wedding dress - it rained - the fur stank! She was also very demanding in what she wanted (roast dinner now for my family), as everyone was busily preparing for a wedding reception the following day. I suppose she was young, and it was all new to her.
This was the occasion that Raine and Frances Shand Kydd had 'words' in the nursery.

I don't think Kate is aloof but she doesn't seem as comfortable with public speaking, which is fine. Different people have different strengths.

Isn't Diana supposed to have pushed Raine down the stairs at some family event? Possibly her father's funeral?

A ponytail is too casual for Kate. Why should she scrape her lush hair back in that way?

I'm not saying anyone should do anything, I just think it would be nice to have a bit of variety. One of the reasons I last grew mine was to be able to style it differently from time to time. She looks so pretty with it up, I'm just surprised she doesn't do it more.

And conversely, I think loose hair is pretty informal as well but we'll just have to agree to differ

Kate’s hair is glorious. Scraping it back would be ridiculous.

She wears it in a ponytail loads of times anyway!

I agree with a previous poster that William and Kate are more introverted and private as people so struggle more with the public events. There's nothing wrong with that. They both do their best, and Kate is lovely with people, she just isn't keen on public speaking. Why should she be?

Meghan is a very extrovert character and used to being in the public eye. Harry has always been more extrovert than William. They are different in their strengths and characters. Nothing wrong with that.

I suppose William is serious, because of his future Royal duty, whereas Harry can relax and be the fun one. Similarly the Queen when young was dull and dutiful, while Margaret was the glamorous night-clubbing, smoking princess.

Yes, true Eddie

Their roles are very different so Harry & Meghan can be more relaxed.

‘Dull and dutiful’ Poor Liz.

I was reading that Harry and Meghan will have their own office, and for the first time, Harry will not be working with William. I suppose that's a sensible decision with them both married and pursuing their own agendas.

Heirs aren't always serious - Edward VII was a very popular Prince of Wales who liked the good life. But I think William is just a more serious type. Also it sounds like he was something of an emotional crutch for his mother, which is a lot for a child to deal with.