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

I thought I would manage to stay away from this one, but nooooooo...

I'm mid-30s, live in east anglia, one DS (3 - well, he will be in a couple of weeks), one DH, one ddog. Used to work for one of Princess Anne's many charities so have met her through that. She's the one that I have the most respect for, she is an extremely knowledgeable, sensible and pragmatic horsewoman, and works hard.

I like the Royals but like a lot of you I also struggle a bit with the sheer unearned privilege of it all! I find it a tiny bit galling that we are expected to defer to people based purely on the circumstances of their births or marriages, rather than their achievements. That said, where there are achievements those are to be respected - Anne as I've said, also William's helicopter piloting and Harry's army career, and I'm sure there are others I've forgotten. I also find the level of scrutiny they come in for uncomfortable, and I really haven't enjoyed seeing Megan pulled to pieces in the media and on here.

Love the Cambridges' picture, they seem like a really outdoorsy sort of family, which I like. I can well imagine Kate bundling the children up and sending them outside to play in all weathers, which is kind of my approach too! Also love her bouncy swishy hair. Can't be doing with coatdresses though

Love the Cambridge’s photo!! Just beautiful.
Agree about the strangeness of H and M having their back to the viewer. I just can’t imagine a country photo involving them. Meghan is an urbanite through and through.

I also agree about the slightly odd image H@M chose. Apart from anything else it's just so gloomy, with the black and white and the heavy clouds ... a bit surprising when one of them's an expectant mum, but there you go

De-lurking here too! I'm 30 and from Manchester, 1 DC and I'm on mat leave at the moment so I can usually read the thread but not have much or a chance to post!

I think my earliest memory of the royals was William going to Eton and it being in the news-then after that was Diana's death of course. I've always loved the royals though, and like a lot of other PPs I'm a bit of history buff and fascinated by the monarchy in general. Didn't really know much about European royalty but this thread has taught me a lot! Also I love fashion so this thread is without a doubt my fave on here

Haven't met any royals, but the pub that Kate took Charlotte in to go to the toilet in Stockwell was about 5 minutes away from our old flat when we lived in London!

Doesn’t baby Louis have great eyebrows?

@puzzledandpissedoff - that's fantastic. I have long believed they're all mostly just normal people in abnormal environment. Glad to hear that was the case in person!

Early 40s, lived in England for nearly 20 years (SE), with 2 DC. Have always been interested in the royal family and enjoyed hearing my dad talk me through who was who back in the day. Was never that much of a Diana fan but have been actively watching them since Kate came along. Loved the idea of a relatively normal person being the queen one day and love watching what they're all wearing.

I've lurked on all of the threads so far without posting - I'm the only Royalist in the family so it's my guilty pleasure. I'm early 40s, married with 3 teenage DCs, live in the east Midlands. My earliest royal memory was watching Charles and Di get married - all the women in my family gathered at Granny's house with tea served in her best crockery to mark the occasion.

Kate is definitely my favourite, and along with the majority I live this year's Christmas card.

That's such a lovely photo of the Cambridge family. I love George's pose as that's the kind of pose DD would do when she was much younger.

The photos are actually inside the card; so not quite so wierd!

Here are some smiley royal baby photos:
Prince Andrew with the Queen Mother.
Philip as a baby & child.

William in the Sovereign's day parade. Still cuts quite a dash in uniform!

And here is George VI (Bertie) as a child.
And here he is again with a toddler Princess Elizabeth. He looks so happy here.

I can really see Fiana in William in the last photo. It is strange because Harry has her chin and forehead yet William and Harry don’t look alike.

*Diana obv!

What a lovely Cambridge photo. Dislike H&Ms intensely. Too try hard. Meh about Charles & Camilla's card.

I’m in my 50s & Live in south east. I was about 9 I think when I watched Princess Anne get married. Been hooked on the royals ever since.

www.townandcountrymag.com/society/a20736482/british-royal-family-tree/?utm_campaign=socialflowFBOPR&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-media Thought people might like this. Interactive Windsor family tree!

God I'm trying to be neutral about H+M I really am, but that is a shit choice for a Christmas card!

Oh the Cambridge’s card is adorable! They produce such lovely looking children...so cute.
To be honest, whatever image the Sussex’s used for their card certain people wouldn’t like it, so hopefully they pleased themselves and picked a photograph they loved.
I showed my teenage daughters, who have no interest in the RF dynamics, and they loved both cards. the Cambridge’s because it was cute and the Sussex’s because it was romantic.

And my girls are edgy hard to please girls!

I’m a real lurker but so desperately want to be part of this - the best ever thread on MN! I couldn’t believe it when I found others who shared my love for marvellous Max. I always seem to be too slow to properly join in on the thread so I’ll try harder in the new year

I’m early 40s, mixed race and have one DS. I’m also a republican but I love the clothes and jewels, and find their lifestyles fascinating, despite not really approving of them!

Oh, and I just love Carl-Philip. He’s lush!

I always feel William has a very close bond with George. George looks a real character! Charlotte was sweet and fetid. Louis Mummys darling!

Good not fetid!!

I wonder if H&M's choice of photo reflects their annoyance at all the recent stories in the press?

EmGee I was also wondering that, symbolically turning their back on the photographers maybe.

I love the Cambridges one though, love the casual relaxed country vibe. And I want the DoC's sweater

I'm mid-40s and live in France. I have two little girls who have taken to looking over my shoulder and ooh-ing and aah-ing when I open all the links to gowns and crowns!

I remember the Queen visiting Hawick in the Borders (where I lived as a child) in 1977. My sister and I were on TV that evening (in the crowd waving our flags!).