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Royal style: fewer new frocks, more old rocks

999 replies

QueenOfTheAndals · 20/11/2019 19:00

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MotherofPearl · 24/11/2019 22:00

And I thought some of you might like to read this review - I think some on the thread have read the book, or are planning to?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/nov/24/lady-in-waiting-anne-glenconner-review?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

QueenOfTheAndals · 24/11/2019 22:34

Is Charlotte Casiraghi sans makeup here? She is looking more and more like her mother with the passing of each year.

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hoteltango · 25/11/2019 00:05

Thanks for posting that link, MotherofPearl. It's quite sad to read. I've always liked Lady Glenconnor when she's appeared on those royal documentaries. She's seems a warm person, but very accepting of the way things were done back then.

I particularly remember her saying that of course she got to her feet when Princess Margaret entered the room, even in her own house when PM was visiting privately.

With all the hoo-ha about Prince Andrew, it's interesting to think whether all that royal protocol has filtered down to the next generation and how that must affect their attitudes.

I'll buy the book. The Kindle version doesn't seem too pricey - and my old eyes need the larger print on a Kindle, but unfortunately the pictures don't show up too well. Though if there are jewels I can't see very clearly, I know where to ask for links!

JaimeBronde · 25/11/2019 00:13

I think Charlotte has light make on Queen
And yes she is the spit of her Mum.

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 25/11/2019 06:23

@MotherofPearl
Thanks for that link. Underlines how repressed the Old aristocracy is. They paid a high emotional price to forge the stiff upper lip.

One other thing, in the comments; there was a discussion about the necessity of a monarchy. This comment really stood out for me:

You can elect a head of state who is not a politician - ban serving or former politicians from standing. A group of candidates could be found from the worlds of industry, public servants, medicine, education, the armed services, the arts, entertainment, sport.etc. If the role is purely presentational then an experienced actor might be even better at the job. President Dench, anybody?

It never occurred to me that you could have a non political head of state.
I think it would be great to have someone who had actually achieved something in their lives. I have always been a monarchist, but these threads and more recently the antics of Andrew have really made me question their unearned privilege.

After the Queen, yes I think Charles should be King.
However from William onwards? I really like the Cambridges and love Kate; she hadn’t put a foot wrong. But it is a completely unnatural life.

Having visited the palaces, KP and BP, they really should be museums opened the year round. The Mountbatten Windsor family have enough wealth to support themselves. Once the Queen goes, her cousins should just be paid an allowance by the government. All of their children seem to be making their own way in the world.

The death of the Queen will be the end of an era.
Andrew; deservedly is being thrown under a bus. But he is just symptomatic of unearned privilege. It’s the system which throws up inbred buffoons like him.

WineOrGinOrBoth · 25/11/2019 06:33

We always had to get to our feet & offer them our seat when an older person walked into the room at home even if they were staying with us & there was a room full of seats.

I don’t see anything unusual in Lady Glenconner standing up for PM.

It’s the way things were. Like standing up every time an adult walked into the classroom.

BertrandRussell · 25/11/2019 07:20

Grin@ Kate never having put a foot wrong. Well, apart from spending a fortune on clothes and house refurbishments, using private jets, having 3 children and going in a helicopter to look at melted glaciers while her husband gets awards for his work on climate change, not turning up at an awards ceremony at short notice without telling us why......Grin

WineOrGinOrBoth · 25/11/2019 07:36

Not sure if this has been posted. Kate’s best fashion Looks

www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/news/g1633/kate-middleton-fashion/

Spudlet · 25/11/2019 07:39

CurlyWurly I think the idea of a non-political President is a very interesting idea indeed. I am starting to lean more and more in favour of abolishing the Monarchy in its present form too. Mostly for the sake of the children of the family. Watching Charlotte shrink behind her mother on the first day of school was so sad - confronted by a barrage of photographers on a day like that! And it makes me really sad to think of George having his entire life’s course plotted out from birth - what if he wants to do something else with his life? I know he could step down, but that shoves his siblings into the firing line just as much. It just seems wrong. I know they’re not being forced up chimneys, or starving or anything, but the fact that worse happens doesn’t make it ok, imo.

In any case, I can see no reason why they wouldn’t be eligible to stand as a Presidential candidate if they did want the job. But they should have the choice.

bohemia14 · 25/11/2019 07:46

I've read the Lady Glenconner book. I think the Guardian review is a bit sour. It's a fascinating read and she is definitely a product of her time and her class. She's had an amazing life with immense privilege but also terrible sadness. What really struck me is the amount of money sloshing about; it's a world away from how most of us live. I'd definitely recommend it.

BertrandRussell · 25/11/2019 07:49

I think what I don’t like about a lot of Kate’s day clothes is that I get a sense of air crew uniform-they are so dull. I wish she’d go a little bit more casual. She could still be smart and elegant, but a bit less “dress by numbers”

QueenOfTheAndals · 25/11/2019 07:55

I'm not alway a fan of Kate's daywear, though I prefer her recent venture into trousers and midi dresses to coat dresses, but she usually nails evening gowns. Especially when she goes Packham - the green sequinned number in Pakistan was just stunning.

Meghan's daywear is a bit hit and miss too but she excels at casual looks and manages to look extremely stylish in just jeans and a white shirt! Shes only been to a few formal events but I can think of 4 gowns which were stunning - the Oz tour ODLR, the Fiji blue caped gown, the white dress in Tonga and the navy sequinned Mouret.

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BertrandRussell · 25/11/2019 08:17

Blimey, some of Meghan’s clothes are horrible! I thought I really liked her things, but t think I only like that Oscar De Renata, her wedding dress and her jeans! And she and I share a designer- for wellies....

bohemia14 · 25/11/2019 08:33

Isn't it interesting how much our views differ. I absolutely love most of Meghan's clothes, especially her casual looks. Those leather skirts are fabulous. Kate always looks immaculate but I find most of her outfits very dull.

WineOrGinOrBoth · 25/11/2019 08:45

I think & as others have said Kate is dressing for prosperity. I’m also not entirely convinced she’s into clothes that much.

BertrandRussell · 25/11/2019 08:48

I’d love to know what both of them wear for the majority of their time when they’re not “on duty”.....

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 25/11/2019 08:58

Kate off duty clothes

Skinny jeans with everything

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 25/11/2019 09:01

@spudlet

Yes agree re: the children.
Harry has been pretty open about no one wanting the top job.
Even with the royal children being seen few and far between, we still know a lot about them.

QueenOfTheAndals · 25/11/2019 10:42

I have family who once lived in Papua New Guinea and the pidgin for the DoE there is "oldfella bilong Misus Kwin"! The most memorable one for me was car boot - "arse bilong car"!!

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AppleKatie · 25/11/2019 12:00

😃brilliant.

SenecaFalls · 25/11/2019 12:29

I have started Anne Glenconner's book whch just arrived from Amazon UK (it's not out in the US until March). It's a really good read so far.

One tidbit that I remember learning from one of the biographies of Diana and that is confirmed in the book is that Lady Anne was once engaged to Diana's father, Lord Althorpe, as he was then. Anne was staying with Diana's grandmother, Lady Fermoy, who insisted that Anne invite him over, whereupon she orchestrated a meeting with her daughter Frances, who was fifteen at the time. Althorpe eventually broke up with Anne and married Frances, Diana's mother.

BigGreenOlives · 25/11/2019 12:32

posterity possibly rather than prosperity Wine*? Please have some gin Gin Grin

WineOrGinOrBoth · 25/11/2019 13:04

Blooming spell correct! I also keep getting ego for who!!

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