Royal style & gossip: What a smashing, positively dashing spectacle - the Ascot opening day

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Obviously today's the second day of Ascot but given Kate's outfit yesterday, I felt a My Fair lady tribute was fitting!

Link to previous thread

Link to ALL other RS&G threads for anyone who wants a big catch up.

people.com/royals/prince-william-george-charlotte-wedding/

George and Charlotte dusting off the wedding threads for their headteacher’s (?) wedding...

Even the Guardian is talking about the cost of their house, but the article is more balanced than the headline suggests and covers the costs of the whole family.

I had a quick google and the Anmer Hall renovations cost £1.5m, but that was several years ago so there probably wouldn't be much difference in it today. Back then the Fail accused Kate of turning it into a WAG palace so nothing ever changes!

@BertrandRussell

Eternity rings definitely existed long before the debeers campaigns you are mentioning.my mum wears a Victorian one and MIL ad one made in 1945.

SWFM’s engagement ring. Words fail me. If ever there was a ring that needed redesigning...

What do they spend all this cash on?! What does a few mil do? Gosh I can’t imagine

I wish H&M a long and blissful marriage, I really do, but I wish they would just fuck off abroad and do their thing somewhere else.

Harry's a free spirit and Meghan likes her own way, they are going to be suffocated by the institution of the monarchy. They'd be better off handing back the titles and royal privileges and putting Harry's considerable personal wealth to good use saving the world.

That looks... edible? It’s sweet for being so individual... Does she like honeycomb? Hm

That is hideous @AngelaScandal! I assume it was a family heirloom and not one Joachim designed himself?

Well I think people were a bit about Anmer at the time cos it had a lovely (huge) new kitchen with lovely photos well circulated in the press, that Kate ripped out and people thought that was a waste of money.

Ouch - that ring! If I was Marie I’d lose it permanently

Joachim designed it himself; to look like the French Flag

How literal of him

Give them a chance @Myimaginarycathasfleas! I'll suspend judgement until she's back from maternity leave. She doesn't seem to shy away from royal duties so let's see what happens in a few months time. They're going to have to play a bigger role once Charles is king so I don't think they're going anywhere for a while.

@ElspethFlashman Do you suppose she actually cooks in the kitchen herself??

Though didn't she tell some kids that George and Charlotte like making brownies with her?

Words actuallyfail me!!
That is truly hideous. My question is WHY?. In fact Why, why why why why???
Oh had another though.WHO chose IT?

If a house hasn’t been modernised then there’s a lot that can need to be fixed. We’ve updated a house that needed rewiring (fire safety), the old central heating pipes removed (1.75” bore on the originals), new roof, new roof lantern, repointing, electricity lines put underground, new bathrooms (old bathrooms from the 1950s), new kitchen (no sink in the previous main kitchen), etc and the work adds up to a lot.

Joachim is apparently not the brightest spark and is thought to have punched well above his weight with both wives!

I was watching an interview with him and CPF recently. Interestingly Fred sounds very Scandi but Joachim has a cut glass, almost British, accent. Much like his mother.

Knocking 5 old houses into 1 isn’t going to come cheap.

The idea of the diamond eternity ring that everyone now expects- so many threads about “when did you get your eternity ring?” “I got mine....” etc. Is an entirely commercially driven “thing”. Love tokens of multi coloured stones were certainly around in Victorian times. Different thing, though.

I can't remember if anyone mentioned it upthread but it sounds like something invented by De Beers, along with the "spend 3 months salary on an engagement ring" thing!

“but it sounds like something invented by De Beers”
It was. They had a glut of diamond chips. The slogan was “She married you for better or worse. Show her how it’s going”

Scandi engagement ring link
orderofsplendor.blogspot.com/2013/02/flashback-friday-scandinavian.html?m=1

Lots of flag waving going on!

Charming @Myimaginarycathasfleas

Anyway...
I quite like the Royals minus Andrew and I really hate how H&M are the acceptable targets to rip into in the BRF. Just look at some of the law breaking or questionable friends of Andrew and Charles. Unbelievable.

Harry and Meghan would be doing more appearances if they could but we can't haven't them outshining more senior royals. Their overseas popularity is huge. The media backlash against them after their very successful tour was absolutely pathetic. Andrew plus Charle's and William's courtiers really came after them and Ma Middleton may have been planting PR-friendly pieces for The Cambridges. The Middletons are friendly with some DM staff.

At least Meghan didn't spend a large amount of money on a huge kitchen only to completely redo it unlike another royal.

Harry and Megan's cottage was split into several staff offices with different entrances and parts. There were lots of little rooms. It was always going to be a difficult and costly to renovate it into a family home.

How has Queen Margrethe not given herself a black eye! I'd never be able to wear that.

It's immense!! I would be forever catching it on things.

I'm down a rabbit hole now but Max also has a flag ring! With an orange diamond.
orderofsplendor.blogspot.com/2013/03/flashback-friday-benelux-engagement.html?m=1

And MT of Lux was quite the looker