Royal style & gossip: strawberries, serves and sartorial splendour - anyone for tennis?

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Previous thread

I'm not sure why Meghan tends to get the blame for all this when it's more likely to be Harry who's behind it. She was quite a savvy social media user before and even after she married she's always greeted the press when arriving and departing from engagements. But he's regarded the press as an enemy from a young age so perhaps this drive for privacy is his initiative. Charles has a reputation for being petulant if he doesn't get his own way - could his sons have inherited this trait?

Here's HM with Angela Kelly (and of course La Wintour). I didn't know what she looked like so I googled. I'm not sure what I was expecting but she's a lot more stylish than I thought she'd be. I suppose I was imagining a little old lady much like HM herself!

Forgot the photo!

Probably didn't make myself clear. I'm not suggesting M is using her friends just for PR. Obviously she'd have been there anyway and she can sit with whomever she likes.

What I was thinking is that if these ladies are godparents, she/they would know full well they would attract attention in such a public place. So I suggest she/they don't mind about being seen, and she/they might even have seen some benefit in doing so, in which case the privacy statement was a bit clumsy. As I say, possibly overthinking!

Never liked Anna wintour doing that - we just had a new UK vogue editor, he should’ve been the one to sit with Liz!

In other news..as I try not to read the Fail, a friend sends me screenshots of the stories they post (make up).

Looks like the Queen is missing the christening because they’ve planned it so last minute!!

Also on the train of thought that H is likely the one screwing up the PR

Sorry I'm late, back from holiday.

Is it the christening today then?

I was so glad to see MM out and about with friends as I'd got it into my head that she's all alone in Frogmore "Cottage" with just the baby and the odd maid for company and her phone permanently open on the Givenchy page, feeling like everyone hates her.

If I'd seen her at Wimbledon and not known who she was, I would have thought what an outstandingly pretty woman - but why is she dressed like an extra from Miami Vice?

Re the DoE, in addition to being handsome, he seems to have been very dashing too and who doesn't love a man in uniform? He was probably worlds away from the identikit aristos HM usually came across

Oh my god. I am mortally embarrassed because this just never occurred to me. But of COURSE it's true. Even look at her old male buddies through racing etc - they're all of a certain type of slightly wishy washy aristocrat (who age badly). Honestly, I always got that she loved him and he was dashing etc and that he shook things up internally but I just never quite made the same connection. I think I love her and him even more now. I'm envisioning ridiculously passionate moments behind closed palace doors!

I totally agree that the Queen's style and beauty was brilliant when she was young, then she settled into very middle age in the 80s and 90s then started coming out into the gorgeous glamorous grandmother we see today. Not sure what was going on back then but it wasn't great. Although to be fair, I think we can agree the 80s weren't a great time in terms of how people looked anyway....!

Looks like the Queen is missing the christening because they’ve planned it so last minute!!

I think this is very believable. She's always needed long notice for things as her diary is planned to the last minute. On top of that, she's old. The thing I have noticed about older family members is that they come less and less flexible and able to cope with spontaneity. If DH's mum is at our house and SIL is picking her up, she gets ridiculously over stressed if SIL is even 2 minutes late. My Dad also can't cope with any change in plans any more. So I suspect if that weekend was scheduled as a Windsor weekend or whatever, there's no way she's changing it now.

But that would be the case with any christening. There is no way it can be planned with more than a few weeks notice.

why is she dressed like an extra from Miami Vice?

Genuinely lolled at that @StCharlotte! Maybe Meghan and Kate both have movies in the pipeline that we don't know of? Meghan in an all-female remake of the 80s hit and Kate in some romantic drama about a code breaker at Bletchley who falls in love with an enemy POW!

It sounds like the Mail is just stirring as usual re the christening. They aren't usually planned months in advance, are they? She wasn't at Louis' either so I don't think there's anything to be read into it.

I really like Meagan's look! She looks cute and happy.

Her friends look totally like I would if my rich famous mate asked me to Wimbledon. Slightly worried and a bit weddingy.

But that's what I mean - she didn't attend Louis' either. Or charlotte I think? I think ultimately at this point, events that come up short notice, like christenings, especially ones that are high profile and formal, just aren't things she's willing or able to do anymore. And I think that's fine.

My great aunt turned up for early family weddings but not any more - she can't face the travel etc. She used to meet us when we went out, now we have to fetch her. She was quite good at fairly spontaneous events - eg DS and I would call her and ask if she was home for tea and cake that afternoon and she'd be thrilled. I wouldn't dream of doing that now. I think it's normal.

Definitely nothing to be read into the Queen missing the christening, she's skipped other arguably more important ones too. I wonder if sometimes it's a diplomatic abstention, because obviously if HM is present the whole protocol thing goes up a gear.

Oh I meant more that they’d done this press release but only days before the christening. Think W&K did theirs a month before to give notice. Would deffo want my granny there! Maybe tight schedules though

're MMs christening outfit, does anyone know what sort of thing she used to wear for formal events before the RF, obvs not red carpet things, but i assume she must have been pepper at some daytime formal events? Might give us clues...
I hope it's not the Khaki colour she wore at Louis(?)' Christening, dont think that was great, she likes navy but wore that at TTC and eugenie's wedding. She has the pinkish if the shoulder, what else?
If they're in a cool chapel then inside it's not so bad for a temperature control point of control, ifyour going to one of thee midsummer events in a cold church then a garden party is a sartorial nightmare to choose.

Slightly worried and a bit weddingy.
Pmsl!
I think that's a brilliant description of how most people would dress for a posh summer event

She's always needed long notice for things as her diary is planned to the last minute. On top of that, she's old.

On top of all that, the most senior person in your entire family is the actual head of the Church of England 🤭

Of all the stories I have seen in the past few days, I think the calendar stuff up might be the most likely - We forgot to cross check with gran's calendar. Oops!

One other point of (perhaps something and nothing) that I have read recently is that royal babies tend to be christened early becoz they have to wear that replica outfit - and they won't fit it if left for too much longer. So there does seem to be a sense of urgency.

@BlingLoving QEII was definitely at charlotte's christening. That was the most stage-managed and public of the lot, as evidenced by @Notmyrealname855's pics.

That's the one they did the walk into the church at Sandringham for, with that 1940s pram and tickets for a possie in the park opposite.

I dread the Christening outfit cos I think she's going to try for that American Preppy Never Trying too Hard Laid Back thing she loves so much. And it may just not look sharp enough. I can forsee..... billowing.

And I bet there's another Matron's hat. Or some tiny little apologetic Jackie Kennedy thing.

:sigh:

Re: Angela Kelly - I've always assumed that the Queen uses her as she is an employee, and presumably outfits cost a fraction of the amount that a Stuart Parvin might.

Becoming a parent can bring things that you thought you’d dealt with back to the fore, ime... it may be that Archie’s birth has sent Harry into hyper-protective mode as a result of his own experiences - and family experiences - with the press.

Re: Angela Kelly - I've always assumed that the Queen uses her as she is an employee, and presumably outfits cost a fraction of the amount that a Stuart Parvin might.

I think Angela Kelly has her own company. The Queen likes to save money.

I thought the wedding dress Stuart Parvin made for Zara Phillips was horrible

Letizia in Adolfo Domunguez

Prince Charles looks so different in this photo.
Definitely King in Waiting.