Royal style: Cambridges appear but Sussexes aren't near

[QueenOfTheAndals]

In light of the several upcoming engagements for W&K while H&M allegedly take a 6 week break!

Previous thread

My guess and obviously it's just a guess is that we might see George attending the service this year. It will be the perfect time he is as old as the other great children that go/have gone and it will give the press a lovely photo and something to talk about other than the Sussex's.

Coming from a job where it's common to work Christmas Day I think there are loads of ways the family's can still celebrate and have a normal (for them) Christmas. Just do the big family day on Boxing Day for example. Father Christmas Would do a special trip for royalty I'm sure . I agree while the schedule looks odd to most of us that is the bare bones we don't know what goes on in between....but probably for the kids all playing together it's a great day the adults it's not my idea of fun but then again they were all raised doing this it's what they know every family has traditions.

A few articles today (and probably lots I missed yesterday) have been really nasty about Harry and Meghan I'm sure like all families they have made their own plans to see all those important to them around the festive season. Not many families can have everyone together in one place on the big day itself. The main argument seems to be that the Queen and DoE are old and so H&M should sacrifice to be there for the Christmas's that are left. The queen mother was 101 when she died it's not fair or realistic to say Meghan and Archie can't spend Christmas Day with her mother for another 7-8 years. And then they will be criticised for abandoning Charles who would be nearly 80! If Diana was still alive would they be criticised if they chose to spend Christmas with her sometimes? I don't think they would the whole thing is ridiculous.

Re Sophie I agree she seems like a real asset to the family she's seems very involved in her causes.

Sophie and Edward made mistakes in the early years of their marriage trying to combine commercial roles and being Royal.
Sophie has had her fair share of misogynistic press and the «Fake Sheik» sting.
She’s risen above it by getting on with her work ( or as the RF say; her duty)

Apart from the fake sheikh I can't remember that much bad press about Sophie. I don't think she ever had it as bad as Fergie or Diana did in the 90s or as Meghan does right now. And how an experienced PR professional wound up being fooled by the sheikh is a mystery to me!

Didn`t a topless photo of Sophie turn up from somewhere. Then photos of Fergie turned up on top of a wardrobe. Then pics. of DC on a swimming holiday abroad on a yacht appeared. The media love to sniff around the newest member of the royal family and have done for decades.

I wonder how Camilla fits in xmas, she has her own grandchildren to see at this time of year.

She’s risen above it by getting on with her work ( or as the RF say; her duty) Yes. Meghan thought she could just breeze in and change things. She hasn't done her time.

I think Camilla has them on Boxing Day or soon after at Ray Mill house. (Her own gaff).

18 year old article in the Guardian about the «Sophie Tapes»

Plus ça change.....!

Article about Sophie topless photo

I think Camilla is very wise to have her own gaff.

The media love to sniff around the newest member of the royal family and have done for decades.

No they love to sniff around the newest female member. I didn't notice them going digging for dirt about Jack Brooksbank or Mike Tindall. Even Beatrice's affianced has been left relatively unscathed except for an article or two. Just because it's always happened doesn't mean it's ok.

I read that, the first Christmas she spent at Sandringham, Charles didn't tell her about the Royal tradition for cheap, jokey gifts and Diana spent a fortune on pricey gifts that were the norm in her family. Apparently she bought Princess Anne an expensive, cashmere sweater and got a toilet roll cover in return.

I have to wonder when this tradition started. Victoria and Albert bought each other some very expensive gifts when they were building up their art collection.

But perhaps they exchanged silly gifts too? Novelty chamber pots and the like?

I think Camilla is very wise to have her own gaff

Yep. I know a few people in LTR who spend time in different homes ( to save their sanity)

I think it's a bit different for Camilla and the Cambridge's to an extent as this is their future not just tradition. Camilla will be queen and so the royal Christmas is non negotiable. Same goes for Kate and the Middleton's. They are future monarchs and so will need to find a way of doing Christmas that works for them in the long term. Harry and Meghan are in a different position they aren't under the same obligations in the future in my opinion so have decided to make a president from the start.

I think that the royals view Christmas as a working day. Like most things royal it's not what we might think of as work but to them I think they see it as an obligation as much as being about all the family being together.

I also think this idea that you have to see everyone on Christmas Day isn't true of every family. Growing up I never saw my grandparents on Christmas Day but we had different traditions for each side that were still special...I like to think Camilla and all the others that have married into the family do the same.

the first Christmas she spent at Sandringham, Charles didn't tell her about the Royal tradition for cheap, jokey gifts and Diana spent a fortune on pricey gifts that were the norm in her family

The same happened to Jackie Kennedy for her first Christmas.
She bought someone a very expensive oil painting set, and the Kennedys set upon it and trashed it (squeezing the paints etc)in a few minutes.

Prince Charles bought Anne a doormat once. And I think Meghan bought HM a singing hamster.
It must be quite a laugh getting joke presents when you are that rich.

The same happened to Jackie Kennedy for her first Christmas. She bought someone a very expensive oil painting set, and the Kennedys set upon it and trashed it (squeezing the paints etc)in a few minutes.

Honestly do not know how Jackie put up with the Kennedys.

Diana apparently got Fergie a leopardprint bathmat one year.

I quite like the idea of jokey presents. We got my dad a whoopee cushion last year. He thought it was better than his actual present.

Camilla is acclimatising at this Health and Wellness centre in Undia

Probably the best place to recover from her chest infection.
NZ tour starts on Monday.
It is still a fair old hike.

Hillary Clinton visited the Sussexes at Frogmore

Well this is interesting. The BBC have interviewed Andrew about Epstein and are broadcasting it tomorrow.

Wow. I'll be hard pushed to believe his presentation of innocence when he publically stayed in contact after Epstein was released from prison.

what is the point in that interview?

Unwise in the extreme.

What’s the legal position about the interview? Anyone know?