Royal style & gossip: Sandringham shots are coming, who will Prince Philip deck in the halls?

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Made sure my autocorrect didn't spoil that title...

As always, let's keep it light and avoid any spite!

Previous thread

It struck me as a last minute switch which the press are wrongly attributing to wanting to cover up rumours of a Duchess rift, which may in fact have everything to do with - "he's probably got a few months - if that"

YearofyouRemember, hello!! Although I suspect the chances are slim . Sorry you’re homesick. Have you been away from the north long?

Maybe we should all start little royal get-togethers in our local areas where we sit around and reminisce about Diana’s clothes c1985 (or insert favourite regal era here).

We could dress up as our favourite royals. I’ve got a handbag that Kate’s got, but that’s about the extent of my dressing up options...

Maybe when Carole talked about the excitement of having everyone there she meant over the Christmas period rather than Christmas Day itself.

I could be wrong, having never been invited to spend Christmas with the Queen , but I imagine they do what most of us do and see the in-laws on the days they’re not with the rest of the family - ie maybe go to the Middletons’ on Boxing Day or the day after for a few days?

Yes, that's probably just about the size of it Pawnee.

Does anyone else watch Strictly and think that Ashley reminds them of MM? Similar vitriol towards them both too: because they are strong, confident women?

‘Agree the reason might be Philip. He is really on his last legs, poor man.^

Didn’t someone just share a picture of PP on horseback very recently? Surely he’s not going to be riding if he’s that bad. I would have thought a hip replacement would have meant an end to horse riding but obviously not 🤷🏼‍♀️

He is 97 and his men's health issues were rumoured to have been played down in severity.

I suspect the Middleton's have an Xmas day not on Xmas day, to work around what W&K have to do. We've done that before when we've gone away for Xmas.

Pawnee do you mean prostate?

Yes, well his age alone would preclude horse riding you would think. He’s a very old man. I really can’t image what it’s going to be like when HMQ dies

This is going to sound harsh, but anyone with close family in their 90s ought to be prepared for every Christmas to be potentially their last. So that may well be influencing things. However, I would still want my kids to have a good Christmas. I would agree that you'd hope it would change under Charles or William.

Exactly Buttery but they can’t plan every Christmas with that in mind. They could end up having every Christmas with the Royals for the next five years!

@Pupsiecola

I was none specific because the Palace never have been so I have no idea whether just bladder or also prostate

No, I agree. And any reasonable family would tell them not to worry and get on with their lives, as long as they see the kids at some point over Christmas. But it is something the Royals seem particularly rigid about. It's a low point in their history that they have been willing to separate mothers from their children for Christmas as happened with Diana and Fergie because the kids apparently have to be there every time (in spite of celebrations not seeming very child-centred).

I do wonder whether they've had more specific info about either the Queen or Philip. Though they could also want to avoid stoking the 'feud' narrative by the Cambridges and Sussexes spending the day in different locations.

Prince Philip was driving, not riding. It's an extremely skilled thing to do, but not necessarily as strenuous as riding - depending on how fast you're going and what you're drivng of course. It was the Queen who was on a pony.

@AdaColeman Not true re the costs being paid by the tax payer.

PP was carriage driving was he not? I think he's pretty poorly but there's life in the old dog yet.

Absolutely love that red jump suit! Loving PMs bathing costumes, what a life she led.

Have we seen HMs Christmas card yet?

Thanks Pawnee. I didn't realise any specific, serious health concerns had been acknowledged, although obviously not surprising.

OOI can anyone recall how active/visible the Queen Mother was in the last five years (so from 97, PP's age) to when she died at 102? I can't recall. I don't remember how much of a shock her death was, or if she'd been quite well, relatively speaking, until the end.

We were told by a LA airport security that she'd died, the day we flew back from our honeymoon.

She stood for the hearse at the gates at Diana's funeral. She would have been 96/97 then.

Colabottle10 I don't say anywhere the the cost is carried by the tax payer.

Discussions of Christmas doings on MN always remind me that Christmas is a much bigger deal culturally in the UK than in the US, especially Christmas lunch. I think one reason is that we have Thanksgiving just a few weeks before which centers almost wholly on getting family and friends together to eat. Christmas for me, and for many people I know is more diffuse, and less centered on the actual day. So no children at one lunch and Kate not being with her parents on the actual day doesn't really suggest to me a diminished Christmas.

The QM was sprightly until pretty close to her death as I recall. I seem to remember she died fairly soon after PM did. Remarkable woman, but when you’ve had everything done for you all your life, their life expectancy is longer than average I guess.

The QM was at the Wessex wedding in 1999. However she came in the West door. As did PM who I remember came in a wheelchair.
Margaret died in the January of 2002 and the QM at Easter. It was the Queen's jubilee year.

I would think it would be quite dull for the children to have to sit at the dining table & be all well behaved - I’m sure they’d have a great lunch with each other & their nannies. And then having to watch great granny’s speech on tv!

Not what I would want for my dcs but if that’s all you’ve ever known then you aren’t going to wonder what your missing,

@PawneeParksDept
What's the Look you were talking about between Kate & Camilla. When was that?