Royal style & gossip: hairbands and birth plans

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Will Kate emerge from her Norfolk seclusion sporting a bigger than ever Alice band? Will the Mail and Express stories about Meghan get more ludicrous by the day? And will this thread see the arrival of Baby Sussex? All will be revealed in due course...

Link to previous thread

I was thinking about this on my walk and... I think even the royals and their supporters are prepared for the monarchy to end with the Queen. They brought out documentaries for Charlie’s 70th, got his sons to say nice things about him but must’ve realised it hasn’t worked. The you gov polls have his popularity like sixth or something behind other royals. Do you really see grown men bowing to a Charles ? After they’ve finished a long week of commuting and work to pay their over inflated mortgage ? Or a woman for that matter bowing to a man ? It was one thing for the coronation of a beautiful young woman in the 1950’s with all her jewels but a coronation of an ageing man in the 20th century and we all believe he is there by the grave of god ? And tune in ? Expect him not to interfere with government or write to politicians ? I don’t see it. The monarchy will finish with the passing of the Queen. I don’t see William taking over. The royals must know that their titles will be largely ceremonial and a launching pad for careers as philanthropists or public figures of some sort. I think Kate is secretly thrilled that her future will be as a normal wealthy woman.

I mean I think it’s all one scandal or ra cession away from crumbling down. The monarchy won’t endure beyond the Queen.

I mean Charles will give it his best shot but they must know they’re up against it and it’s a punt at best as to whether the public will buy it.

The Queen had a head start because there was still a sense of the monarchy as appointed by God and sacred mysteries and all that stuff. The modern lot won’t have that, and Charles will just look ridiculous if he goes in for all the pomp and circumstance.
They are all a bit of a charisma free zone, aren’t they? That’s why we notice the ones who seem to have a bit of a spark about them - like Eugenie, and maybe Harry when he was younger. But for the most part they are just non vaguely posh people. I think it’s summed up by that picture of Theresa May curtsying to William. I loathe the woman, but really?

Look at the history of the royal family @Mummylovesbags - the abdication, Princess Margaret's indiscretions, Fergie and Diana. They've weathered scandal after scandal, two world wars, the Great Depression and are still standing!

I think the monarchy, as an institution, is a bit slow to respond to public opinion & society - for example the "slimming down" in the last 10-20 years. There were a lot of publicly-funded "hangers-on".

With recent austerity & social media, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to be "current" whilst still maintaining a bit of mystique & relevance. Not to mention work ethic.

This is a picture of Kate, but it shows some lovely details on Beatrice’s outfit. Does anyone know who the designer is?

It's ridiculous that women still curtsey whilst men just do a brief dip of the head, Theresa May doesn't need to do it anywhere near as low as she does either.

Talk about H&M doing a Sabbatical in Africa

Funny how we were talking about them being based abroad only a few threads back.
I can definitely see them doing this; makes perfect sense given their Commonwealth roles.
Earl Spencer’s older children were brought up in SA. When Harry was with Chelsy Davy; he adored Africa.

Bit different to a Canada secondment. But there is no reason why that should not be possible too. ( Harry needs to brush up on his French!)

I liked Sophie’s outfit, but I felt it clashed a bit with Louise’s....
Both were quite dark for Easter.

Bea’s dress is by a designer known as Claire Mischevani , I personally didn’t like it , looked a bit wintery.

Thanks@queenofarles
I really liked it, I thought the colours were subtle and quite sophisticated. The Wessexes looked a bit wintry to me!

Fabric of Sophie's dress looks like a zoomed in version of that one Catherine wore where she'd had the sleeves reworked.

Harry was proposed to be Gov General of Australia a while ago. I can't see this sort of thing happening at all. Other countries should have eminent people of their own heading up the country, not celebrity Royals with no connection to the place. I doubt that even monarchy-loving Aussies would like a 34 year old English man and his American wife as heads of state.

I don’t think they’re proposing Harry as a head of state @birdie6
Just to be seconded to that country.

It makes a lot more sense to have Royals based in a commonwealth country, or on the continent close to commonwealth nations.

If Harry and Meghan are mainly overseas, then surely Charles needs to rethink the policy of excluding the York Princesses.
Apart from some questionable fashion and quite a few holidays ( especially Beatrice) they really should be brought in to help the Queen’s septuagenarian cousins.

The Monaco Royals in Disneyland Paris

Those twins have some fun holidays!

Eugenie has a lot of potential. I don’t know why there was no coverage of her speech in Vienna’s anti human traffic convention.

What do people think about the relationship between Harry and William? There certainly seems to be a distance in all the public outings lately. Harry looks awkward and evasive to me.

If United Kingdom decided we didn't want a monarchy anymore, what happens with the rest of the commonwealth?

Would the commonwealth dissolve without any choice given to other nations?

I feel weirdly unsettled by the rift between H and W. I really don't know why, but I do.

Royal PR saw the amazing potential of W&C and H&M at the beginning with joint interviews and things. That “young royal” stufff they did. That’s all stopped- and there has to be a reason. It was a fantastic opportunity. People would have loved seeing them all together, or would have given the monarchy a massive boost.

I saw some video of Harry, Zara, Kate and William waiting outside the church for the Queen. There was definite chatter, so this theme of not wanting to talk to one another looks like tabloid bs.

I've been reading a Lucy Worsley book about Queen Victoria. The discussions of the last two pages here, re: the monarchy discontinuing after the sovereign's death, were happening during Victoria's reign too. Victoria was very aware of her precarious position throughout her reign. She had to get the balance right by showing that she had the common touch and using her position when required. Over 100 years ago. Yet it didn't happen. I'm not saying it won't happen mind, just that the conversation reminded me of Victoria's awareness so long ago. Plus - how could a monarchy end? I can't imagine that it would be through violence. A petition? I can't imagine the royals just stepping down.

I seem to recall a recent documentary about the commonwealth. The Queen is the head but it isn't automatic that Charles would be the next; I wonder if the proposal for H&M is to cement Charles as the next head of the commonwealth?

To the previous poster who said that they saw Harry and William talking during the wait outside the Easter service, I did too. Did anyone notice pictures of Zara and Catherine linking arms? I wondered if they were joking about their similar outfits.