Royal style & gossip: don't be fooled by the rocks that they've got, they're still Katie/Leti/Maxi from the block

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Link to previous thread

1 million followers to H&Ms instagram
It was the fastest growing account ever, and partially crashed instagram.
I wonder if we will see many pictures of Baby Sussex on there....

HM held a reception for volunteers yesterday.
Listen to the hubbub of all the people waiting to be presented to her

Her stamina is incredible, standing there at 92 years old.
Just to think millions of people must have shaken her hand during her reign

Princess Marie looking spring like today

Hottie Prince Carl Philip yesterday

Yes it was Raine’s belongings. I watched the doc too.

I recently watched Finding Sarah on you tube. It's basically all Oprah's gurus helping Sarah Ferguson come to terms with who she is. I could only find short videos but pieced it together. Personally, I found her a very open and vulnerable woman who the media and RF chewed up and spat out. She said at one point 'I adored my mother in law' and spoke about not seeing the girls at Christmas due to protocol. Apologies if it's been mentioned before on here. Here's the first five minutes if anyone fancies a look.

Lovely floral dress on Marie but I’m not sure about the black shoes - unless she’s taking a line from HMQ!

Thanks for the video curly. You can see that the Queen takes time to speak to some people and not others. How embarrassing to be told “nice to meet you, off you go”

Raine was an interesting woman. She was one of the youngest-ever councillors on Westminster city council and took a particular interest in building conservation.

She might even have been a first cousin of HM as Dame Barbara allegedly had an affair with the Duke of Kent. Not the Wimbledon one but his dad, who, rumour had it, shagged anything that moved!

Marie was also present at the reopening of Galeries Lafayette in Paris, wearing a coat that will have Kate kicking herself for not getting her hands on it first!

Raine does have the look of a Kent.

The Duke really got around, another rumour I've read is that he was also the father of Frances Shand-Kydd! I suppose she and Raine do have a slight look of Princess Alexandra but still!

That Fergie clip is a bit silly and dramatic, but sad too. Imagine being a clueless 26 year old (at least I know I was still clueless at 26) and thrust into the spotlight in such an intrusive, non-optional way.

I do think whoever said upthread that's she's on her way to national treasure status is right. She is very endearing and human in a way that Kate etc, choose not to be.

I think we can all see a little bit of Sarah in ourselves. She's very human in a way Catherine isn't. That's not a criticism at all if I woke up tomorrow married to a royal male I would put on a work face like I did when I was a waitress.

This will sound mean, but I've always felt that the thing with Fergie is that she's clearly quite a nice woman, who means well, loves her family etc... she's just not terribly bright. In a way, she reminds me a lot of my mum who was a wonderful woman. Kind, loving, hard working, generous, funny etc... but she wasn't smart. And that got her into trouble sometimes because she just would say or do things that she simply couldn't see where ridiculous/crazy/disastrous.

No, I think you're right @BlingLoving. She comes across as kind and a good mum (though possibly putting the s in mother!) but I don't think she has much in the way of smarts.

I think when you marry a prince being 'bright' is not necessarily high on the list of desirable traits. Nor does it need to be in life really, as long as you're kind and all that stuff. But most of us have to focus on bright because we need to earn money!

Always had a soft spot for Fergie - and despite Andrew being an absolute plonker there's no denying that between them they seem to have successfully raised 2 lovely girls who've never put a foot wrong and they have always seemed a very tight-knit and loving family.

I think she has always been in love with being in the spotlight and spending money. Viz this week yukking it up in Bahrain.
I think she was confused and immature when she got with Andrew and had no sense of self or what was right. Not convinced she has really developed them yet either.

Did Fergie get a good divorce settlement or monthly allowance?
She always seemed wanting to start a business empire but has no clue whatsoever. I always think that any appearance on Home shopping network means hitting rock bottom .

And yes I agree that back when she was still married, she always seemed more approachable and friendlier , less glamorous than Diana. and that’s why many liked her.

She strikes me as someone who lived beyond their means. Didn't she get herself in a lot of debt in one point?

That's why she became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers in America. And then she had some kids' books about a magic helicopter.

Anything to make a buck. And why not I suppose.

The helicopter books were while she was still married.

Ah, were they? I'm surprised she was allowed such a commercial venture when she was still part of The Firm. Unless proceeds went to charity.

The Weight Watchers venture was to pay back her debts as it was rumoured she was close to bankruptcy.

But then she was filmed offering cash for access to Andrew, something I'm sure he was completely ok with but she got all the blame for.

I was just looking at the Sussex Royal Instagram and I think Meghan will have a big hand in this, considering she's an old pro when it comes to social media. She probably knows more about influencing than those running the account! Interesting that (to me) the M seems more obvious than the H in the account logo.

Didn’t The Earl of Spencer appear on a home shopping network too in the U.S? To promote his Althorp inspired furniture ? Or am I confusing him with another Aristo? .