Royal style and gossip: the frocks, the rocks, the shocks

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Here we go again!

And by popular demand, here are the previous threads:
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5
Thread 6
Special edition: Eugenie wedding thread

Harry and Meghan have 2 days more in NZ before they head back to London and, if I was her, I'd put on pyjamas, get Netflix fired up, and not leave my bed for several days! William and Kate will be out for a sporty engagement in Essex tomorrow and I'm sure we'll start to see them more as she's now officially back from maternity leave..

No idea what the continental royals are up to but New My Royals (does that title even make sense?) is my go-to link for them!

As a fellow devotee of addict to a Breton striped top and skinny jeans combo, I do like a good Middletonian casual look

Some of Diana's 80s dresses are on permanent display at KP, along with the Queen's and Princess Margaret's. But they were so tiny that Diana's look like a giantess' dresses in comparison!

Thank you - this is the thread that keeps giving. My favourite threads.

The thing is, when the Old Guard die, the people that are most enraptured with the Monarchy will die with them in time.How many 30-40 year olds care about the Duke of Gloucester or any of the other Queens cousins? I doubt Australia will have the British Monarch as Head of State of much longer after The Queen dies for a start, and that may mean taking NZ and all the Pacific Islands out with them. There may not be work for them to do. The reason The Windsors and the Scandi/Dutch monarchies survived when so many monarchies didn't is that they adapted with the times. Charles is quite sensible, I think to consider a slimmed down monarchy.

I have a free pass to Windsor castle so I must go before the end of January to see the dress!

Love her in Jenny P evening wear

At some point, the monarchy is going to be a defunct institution. What on earth are they going to do to survive then, as they will be unemployable in any other field.

William and Harry are both qualified helicopter pilots, they'd be able to earn a crust doing that. And the other younger ones all have jobs, AFAIK. I think they'd manage fine. And I can't imagine they'd be left destitute anyway - they own an awful lot of land and property. Unless there was an actual revolution, they'd be fine - and the amount of upheaval that would entail would change a lot more than just the Royals.

A propos de rien, I think Meghan found her signature style elements quite early on as depicted in these two early photos. Many of her outfits continue to feature either the dungaree look and/or stripes with the two-buttoned dungaree look evolving into double-breasted tuxedo-esque attire at times. There's a strong American vibe there.

Even without money from the crown, the Cambridges and Sussexes would be fine. William and Harry inherited Diana's fortune, the Middletons are millionaires, and Meghan would've made plenty from 7 years on Suits!

How many 30-40 year olds care about the Duke of Gloucester or any of the other Queens cousins?

I must admit, I really struggle to remember who is who. I mean, there’s the one(s) who always handed out the trophies at Wimbledon, and the nasty racist one...?

Yes, I think they would be fine living out their days in luxury. I think Charles would probably have preferred it to sitting around as Monarch in waiting for 70 years! They would do well to bring their children up in the same way as Zara and Peter Phillips have been bought up, without the expectation that they will be looked after for infinity in the way they are now. I dont think we'll have a revolution. I think it's more likely that we will have a Monarch who is more presidential, so just the Monarch and his (for the foreseeable future) immediate family will be in the palaces and the rest will just be ordinary citizens. probably very wealthy ordinary citizens, but they wont be able to pretend that spending half an hour making small talk with some people down the Bowls Club or sitting in the Royal Box at Wimbledon is part of their strenuous essential work. I love reading about the Royals, but some of them manage 200 engagements a year, including doing things others would do in their leisure time.

I loathe sporting events. If I had to sit through a tennis or football match, i would blooming well think it was work!

Thanks for new thread, 6 pages in already! Must catch up!

Love this thread!

Another day, another Mac. Meghan’s starting to channel Rick Astley.

The navy dress is another belter though.

I always love the doom predictions of the future of the monarchy. For every person YOU know that thinks the monarchy has only a few years left, remember how many turned out or on to watch the Royal Weddings. Not all of them were geriatric Fail stalwarts.

Slimmed down definitely, in touch with the real world definitely, capable of holding down real jobs definitely. The York girls are an anomaly, the other grandchildren seem to be getting along fine. The great grandchildren will be more fine given their mothers backgrounds I reckon.

Haworthia I really struggle to remember who is who. I mean, there’s the one(s) who always handed out the trophies at Wimbledon, and the nasty racist one...?

They are all Kents - the nasty one is Princess Michael of Kent, her husband is unsurprisingly Prince Michael of Kent while the lady who used to "do" Wimbledon & the FA cup final (before the younger ones were old enough her Maj and Charles obviously never fancied sport that didn't involve horses) etc is the Duchess of Kent.

When my careers teacher asked what I wanted to do and I said I don't know she asked if there was any one who had a job I liked the look of and relied "yes the Duchess of Kent". Sadly I wasn't advised how to get that job.

@AhoyDelBoy

I am actually ibased between the UK & mainly France.
Definitely an insomniac; that was me!

I know Kate has had 3 babies in 5 years but has been DoC since 2011 and a fair amount of her duties do seem more on the fun side, eg. Wimbledon, sailing, various sporty events etc. Sometimes it seems like we don't see for her ages and then up she pops in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. But I think there is an element of understanding within the royals that Kate & William will have to step it up so massively once Charles becomes King that they're being allowed to enjoy this time with their young family. I suppose if the royals went out of business overnight they'd just be like all their other posh friends living off huge family wealth and endless connections running their grand estates (or nightclubs a la Guy Pelly). The brighter ones in the Royals (not sure who??) might end up earning (even more) gazillions in the world of finance like Pippa's husband.

Thank you QueenoftheAndals for the new thread.
I got to see the Diana exhibition at Althorp. I'm so glad I made that trip.
Apparently post divorce Diana wanted a little bolt hole there but Charles her brother said no as it would be a security nightmare.
Diana's sisters have always kept a low profile. I wonder what they are like. It must have been hard having to see and listen to so much about their little sis.
One of the sisters, Jane Fellowes is married to the the (now retired )Queens Secretary Sir Robert Fellowes. It must have been a nightmare during the D&C divorce years for Jane and Robert. Can you imagine the hassle. 'Look what your bl*ody sister has gone and done now!'

Not that she would need to, but Princess Anne could make a living from horses. She's an Olympic rider, tuition from her would be worth paying for. She'd have the knowledge to make a good dealer too - or a commentator, can you imagine?! 'He's fallen off. Bloody idiot.' She'd definitely be a Lucinda Green type, who I once heard commentating on the eventing when there was a nasty fall and who said something along the lines of 'Oh he's fallen. Oh, butthe horse is fine though...' (as the rider lay in a heap - they were also fine as I recall, but clearly not a priority!).

Alternative careers for the Royals... now there's an interesting train of though. What would Andy do?!

Thanks for new thread, but blimey, it moves fast. Just spent 30 minutes catching up.

I agree with a pp who said PH and PW getting separate courts is a non story. It just seems like a natural evolution. Partly because they will have different agendas/ objectives and also partly because they're ALL doing more so they'll need a bigger support structure. You could create ONE really big support structure to serve both couples, but that doesn't take into account the agendas/objectives already mentioned plus opens the door for administrative issues and logistical challenges. Two smaller courts, with clear lines of responsibilities and specific processes that work for their principals, makes a LOT more sense to me.

For example, William and Catherine will need people who can help them navigate the really complex diplomatic stuff they're going to have to get more involved in (see Katherine's new private secretary for example, - she's not a PA or a PR person, she's a business person who has operated at high levels). Protocol, connections to government etc are going to be key. They will be supporting charitable things, but even what they do will need to be carefully considered and over time their focus will be les about championing multiple causes that are close to them personally.

Harry and Meghan on the other hand are likely to be able to take a more casual approach, doing things that work more for them individually. Their focus will be charitable and they will be much more able to actively campaign for things that they care about - military/ disabled people/ feminism etc.

Also, I agree totally that in time, harry and Meghan will move away from the centre of things. So they'll need to create an organisation around them that in time can stand along with them as celebrities rather than royals, if that makes sense. I fully expect to see them purchase a home in the United States or Canada in due course and to start distancing themselves. Probably not until George/ Charlotte/ Louis are much older and starting to take on more.

@TSSDNCOP Rick Astley 🤣🤣 I actually love the dark dress/mac combo objectively but a little dullsville for royal engagements especially over and over. But it's true to Meghan I think and her very Carolyn Bessette pared down style.

Sounds very exotic Curly! It’s a shame Diana’s dress is no longer on show
Will you go and see Meghan’s? They definitely need to do a royal bride exhibition

What would Andy do?!

He'd be something in hedge funds or investment banking, but would've got the job because of his connections rather than brainpower. Would probably have had to stand down by now due to dodgy financial connections or something #metoo.

Edward would be a middle-class bank manager. Again not terribly bright but ever so nice and earnest. Or a vicar, with Sophie the more than capable vicar's wife!