Royal style and gossips: gowns and crowns but please no frowns!

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Just in the nick of time! Clothes and light-hearted gossip only please...

She always travels to Norfolk by train. It’s so sweet. I don’t think it used to be so publicised before. She just gets in with it. Apparently she enjoys the journey.

would be

HMQ has been getting the train to and from Sandringham for some years now. I can't remember when she switched to using the train, but I think it was as a result of complaints about royal travel expenditure, and the train is cheaper even though they go first class.

Yes I can understand that Windy I think it’s sweet too. Surely PP doesn’t travel by train as well though?

HM hires the whole carriage. A journey by the Royal train costs a fortune; about 30 grand.
I have no idea where Phillip is. Perhaps he left straight from the lunch to Windsor. I suspect he would go by helicopter to Norfolk. I think the train journey is a mix of Nostalgia, tradition and canny PR.

Some of the old Royal carriages are on display at a museum quite near to us. They're very dated now (think avocado bathrooms) and seem very small and restrained, but they must have been considered extremely luxurious back in the day. If you imagine your grandma's house squished into a train carriage that's sort of it - all frilly bedspreads and sinks where you just know the water is going to be frigid 🥶

The Queen must be the only woman left in the country who still wears a headscarf!!
It would be much cheaper if she went by helicopter, and surely less stressful!

HM hires the whole carriage

Ah - thanks, Curly. Even with a whole carriage I guess it's still a lot cheaper than a helicopter though, and certainly less than the old royal train

And I definitely agree about the "mix of Nostalgia, tradition and canny PR" ...

I wear a head scarf when it gets to -5C or below. It's a much better way to keep your head warm. I have a red silk Hermes scarf which was my grandmothers that I wear. I don't get hat hair or static.

I doubt it's very stressful for HMQ - just for everyone else buzzing round like blue-arsed flies, trying to make sure the train isn't late

Let's face it, if you didn't have to worry about carrying luggage, station parking, ticket barriers not working, having a twenty pence piece for the loo and fighting to the death for a seat, train travel woild be extremely relaxing! This must be why toddlers enjoy it so much 🤔

@spudlet are you in York? I love the royal trains the railway museum.

I think HM looks fab for her age.

In fairness we went by train a few years ago splurged on first class not a private carriage unfortunately but it's not at all stressful much more enjoyable than flying and a lot less waiting around ( I know it's different for HMQ). But I agree I think it would be nicer than going by helicopter even royal helicopter. Some said about the royal train decor being dated. We went round the qe2 a while ago and I know it's been out of use a long time but that struck me too it reminded me of my grandparents house is the only way I could describe it! I'm sure my grandparents stuff was not of the same quality though.

I know everyone is busy this time of year but it would have been nice if someone went with the Queen today I think.

I have to go to Paris (from a different part of France) fairly regularly.
Train travel is so much cheaper here ( France) and first class is not that much more expensive. Eg 60 vs 40 euros. Miles more comfortable and less stressful than any other sort of travel including flying.

I like it that everyone seems oblivious to the fact it is The Queen!
Though to be fair when you meet a celeb in real life they don't always look like they do on the tv.
The only person I've met who really looks like themselves in real life is the late Anita Rodrick. (She was lovely btw)

Thesearms, no, we're in East Anglia. It's a v tiny steam museum that has two or three carriages, one of which I think was used by staff? It has old-fashioned phones with dials and instruction cards on how to use them! One of which was obviously some sort of hotline as there is a notice saying it should not be used.

www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/sophie-countess-of-wessex-and-lady-louise-windsor-attend-a-news-photo/1084696564?et=lThvbbgtTlBhry2Y3r-aSg&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwhatkatewore.com%2F2018%2F12%2F19%2Fkate-is-in-the-pink-for-christmas-luncheon%2F

Apologies if this has been posted, but doesn't Lady Louise look like Princess Anne in this picture!

Chris Jackson, the Royal Photographer has a picture book out.
Here’s a selection.
I actually really like the photos, he’s captured some great expressions.

Chris Jackson image

Oh my goodness, Michelle O looks stunning in that picture 😍

What Kate Wore calendar

I had forgotten there was a Romanian royal family. Apparently “ Her Majesty the Custodian of the Crown and HRH Prince Radu met yesterday at Clarence House His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales “

Yes she does Spudlet.
Very like her.

Finally had chance to catch up with the thread. First full day with DS home and me on my own with him. He's still poorly but a little better.

Thank you for all the good wishes. Not sure if we'll stick to our Christmas plans.

I wish I could add more, well something Royal, to the thread and I will try but thank you to all who do. It's a lovely thread.

@CurlyWurlyTwirly I think the Romanian royals are also related to the Windsors, as one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters was their queen.

Lovely photo Curly Mrs Obama is a corker isn’t she? No wonder PP is grinning!