Royal style & gossip: from christening gowns to tennis lawns

[QueenOfTheAndals]

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And I think we all can agree that it's much more fun if we stick to critiquing the clothes rather than the women!

Interesting piece on Grace Kelly and Marnie. Apparently she originally wanted to do it as Monaco was in trouble financially but had to drop out because tensions between France and Monaco over tax laws.

Well this is one rumour I'd not heard of - Charles having a fling with Barbra Streisand!! Obviously not true but just goes to show how anyone can make up any old shite.

Goodness, that would have made for a very showbizzy relationship! Streisand would have had far too much to lose in 'just' being a princess.

We will see Camilla at Wimbledon tomorrow; I wonder if we will get Meghan and Kate later in the week? The Queen will be out today, visiting Cambridge. I found this future royal engagements webpage via Unofficial Royal www.unofficialroyalty.com/upcoming-royal-events/.

I can just see the headlines now - "From Prince of Tides to Prince of Wales", "What's up, Chuck?", "Well hello Charlie" etc etc!

I bet Barbra would rock a tiara though! I can just see her in the Delhi Durbar Tiara!

Can I just ask what might be a silly question, why exactly are royal women not supposed to work? As in, why couldn’t DH continue being an actress? It just seems so sexist. Or maybe if there were royal daughters, their husbands wouldn’t be allowed to work but who knows. Still very old-fashioned. Also must put off loads of potential partners who quite liked their careers!

Doh, MM not DH (?!)

“why exactly are royal women not supposed to work?”

Because we all know what incredibly hard work being Royal is. They just wouldn’t have time to fit a career in!

Sophie didn’t immediately give up work - she was caught out by the fake sheikh and gave up in the aftermath of that. I think the main problem would be for the people you worked for, constantly being watched for any tiny mistake (or fake sheikhs).

Beatrice and Eugenie have posh girl jobs, don’t they? In art galleries, terribly naice, but jobs nonetheless and not too far removed from what other vair posh and rich gels seem to do.

The facial expression on the security guy cracks me up "I'm so done with this shit"

In fairness, how cheeky is the bloke taking the picture? I can't imagine going right up to someone and shoving a camera up at them.

I find I'm increasingly confused by the difference between private and public things. This was definitely a private thing. The Palace have confirmed it. So why did a Palace press officer and a personal assistant accompany the party? I'm really confused about that. Why would you need either except at a formal engagement?

I'm a bit confused about these reports. richard Palmer is claiming a woman, who was taking a picture of serena, was asked to stop taking pictures (but he loathes meghan and harry so...). The picture above is completely not okay.

I also think that whether it's private or not, there's still this need for people around them because things can go pear shaped so quickly. eg people attempting to swamp them, take inappropriate photographs etc.

is that a wimbledon employee?

That man would have got a picture of my two fingers @ElspethFlashman. Who on earth thinks that's acceptable? I don't think I'm Duchess material.

They need a PA/press officer/security with them all the time because of idiots like that who will get in their face or try and trap them into saying hilariously inappropriate things. Because they are basically in a gilded cage all the time and even when ‘off duty’ what they say and do is scrutinised. Particularly if they chose to spend their private time at public events like Wimbledon.

I think Meghan could have continued to work if she wasn’t an actress- the career isn’t suitable. If she was vair into history of art and worked in a gallery or something innocuous she probably could have continued but not with something high profile as you can’t be well known for anything other than your royal role.

Except possibly sport, that’s ok as long as it’s the right sport and actually still dodgy if you are in the inner circle of Charles’ line.

No, he's their security, here he is a moment before.

(With his name tag in clear view over Meghan's shoulder in 99% of press shots but hey what do I know about security)

Obvs they have to have security - it's more the presence of a PA (that lady behind) and a fairly senior press officer that I'm scratching my head over.

This is the bloke. He sat down behind Meghan for a bit but spent most of it standing at the back.

Anyway, in more superficial news - anyone wanna take a gander at Carole Middletons stonking big ring that I suspect is not her original engagement ring???

Perhaps the PA/ press officer likes watching tennis and Meghan invited her along as a kind gesture towards someone who works hard for her. So more of a social capacity than a work one.

Whoah Carol!!!!

Don’t like that photographer - awful experience :( don’t care if MM is public figure and in public, absolutely vile behaviour and poor her :( I’d be warning that man of assault charges, horrid

That photograph says it all doesn’t it. I don’t care how public you are, constantly dealing with that level of intrusion, whenever you go out, wherever you are, must get really quite difficult even for the most fame-hungry and confident person.

I wonder if the Middletons have passed a significant wedding anniversary to warrant an engagement ring up grade. 40 years maybe, going off Kate's age.

(Not specifically calling Meghan fame-hungry btw - I have no idea whether or not she is, nor do I necessarily attach any judgement to that particular character trait - that was meant purely in a general sense)

That photo has really shocked me. You don't tend to think of that happening (when you see the close-up photos in print) but in reality it must happen all the time. How unbelievably rude and disrespectful!!

I wonder if the man said 'Excuse me, sorry to disturb you but would you mind if I took your photo?'. I'm betting he didn't!

Apparently he was taking a selfie of himself with the court in the background....

I too was shocked by the chap with the phone camera in MM's face. And those are definitely Wimbledon colours he is wearing. It must be awful.