Royal Style: silk, stomachers, sapphires and plenty of sass

[Maireas]

New thread!

Ddog wishes you all Happy New Year! Won't tolerate a tiara but will do a goofy pose!

Happy New Year ladies and what news to start the year off with! No wonder Mary was holding Fred's hand on Xmas eve, they must have known what was coming. It reminds me of the line in Pride and Prejudice along the lines of 'having to put up with a lot to become the mistress of Pemberley'. I'm with QEII though re abdicating, it's a bit of a cop out if you ask me (which you didn't 😂)
Off for a walk on the beach to blow the cobwebs away. Hope you all have a restful day.

I think our late Queen's attitude was born out of what she had seen her father being required to take on when Edward abdicated. No one disputes that George Vl found kingship hard and he had not grown up expecting to inherit the throne. At the age of 10 Elizabeth was old enough to realise that her life was irrevocably changed by Edward's abdication. In other countries, the heir might anticipate it happening and can be prepared for its eventuality.

My thoughts were that Charles must have been taking on increasing responsibility especially with overseas work. And particularly when Camilla was increasingly being accepted . A clarification of roles would have been good.
Looking back at covid times...just after Mexit...perhaps any hint of abdication would have been seen as destabilising?
And I think knowing what a funeral and coronation would entail the late queen remained queen even as her health became increasingly delicate.

To me the critical time was November 2021 when QE was unable to attend Remembrance service at the Cenotaph. Right up until the last minutes the palace were saying it was her firm intention to attend. If you look at the photos of Charles, William, Camilla, Kate and Sophie they all looked completely distraught that morning. I accept it is a formal solemn occasion but to me they looked far more personally distraught as though they had all just realised 'this is the beginning of the end'. From then on Charles and William both seemed to take on more stuff and I believe that is was from then on that all public commitments the Queen was in the diary to do, she was accompanied by another senior royal so that if The Queen was unable to do it, the other senior royal would undertake the engagement solo so nothing would have to be completely cancelled. Charles seemed content with the arrangements.

The Duke of Edinburghs funeral was a visible sign. And there was a photo of Charles looking distraught after visiting his father in hospital. (At least he was able to visit. So many families missed out on that ).
I wondered if all the tweed skirts and cashmere cardigans went to charity shops?

I would think that Anne and Sophie like a nice cashmere cardigan! I wouldn't begrudge either of them.

The late Queen's less formal clothing usually ended up being donated to charities in Scotland.

Charles himself used the words that he was a caretaker. I wouldn't be surprised if he abdicates when Williams children reach adulthood.

Where has Charles referred to himself as a "caretaker" monarch?

Louis is only 5 now so it will be 13 years until Louis is an adult so by that time Charles will be 88. If he planned to abdicate then he wouldn't be reducing his time as monarch by very much.

Ouch! Poor Charles! 😉
I've not heard him say anything about his reign. I do know that he has been very busy on various projects and putting plans into effect.
Time will tell.

I've done a bit of research. There are a few articles out there quoting "royal observers" as saying Charles will be/is a caretaker monarch, but none quoting him as saying that. Anyone can be a royal observer, including most of us on these threads.

Charles has essentially been putting his own stamp on the monarchy, in his role as Prince of Wales, since he was in his 20s. His reign is in many ways a continuation of that. I don't think he sees himself as a caretaker for William any more than any monarch likely wants to preserve the institution for his descendants.

And by the way, Happy New Year, everyone! I'm busy making the traditional Southern US New Year's good luck feast: black-eyed peas, rice, ham, greens (in this case creamed spinach), and cornbread.

I'm inclined to agree with you, @SenecaFallsRedux . I think that the Coronation Year programme gave us a taste of that. I got no indication that Charles regarded his reign as a stop gap or was a caretaker in any way.
Sounds like a wonderful feast you're creating there - Enjoy!

Yes I agree about Charles. I think he's very committed to his role. Perhaps one of the "royal observers" took something he said out of context, or misunderstood? I suppose he might have said that any monarch is just in a caretaker role ie caretaker of the throne or the crown for the duration of their reign?

Enjoy your feast Seneca, it sounds delicious!

I think this is much more likely, each monarch needs to make sure the monarchy is maintained for future generations.

Char looking gorgeous in Ralph Lauren velvet (though it's perhaps a little tight across the bust). Beautiful ruby red colour.

The Bhutanese RF showing the new princess, Sonam Yangden. I think she's a contender to join the ranks of our Thread Mascots with those absolutely adorable chubby cheeks!

Char's dress is lovely. I like seeing her in colour.

What an adorable baby. Those cheeks are indeed impressive.

Charlene looks gorgeous - I love that shade of red, and she's looking well.
Look at little Princess Sonam! So cute. They are such a beautiful family.

I do like Char's red dress, lovely colour.
The little baby is such a cutie!

Zara at Cheltenham racecourse, and Mary holding Fred's hand in the aforementioned pic on Christmas eve, which I hadn't seen.

https://mol.im/a/12849291

An article in the Mail about Beatrice changing her style.

Does Beatrice have a stylist? It seems that she is dressing better recently.

Happy New Year to you all! Hope that you found plenty of tiara opportunities over the festive period.

@SenecaFallsRedux - your feast sounds delicious.

Loving Charlene in the red velvet. I never think velvet photographs terribly well so I suspect it looks better in real life.

I'm not sure I have enough knowledge to comment on Daisy's abdication but I hope that she'll continue to have an semi-active role at some of the Royal Family's events and carry on with her own inimitable style and blast of colour. I imagine that there have been a number of moving parts behind the scenes (health, Fred's PR and the removal of titles) before any of this became public and would love to have been a fly on the wall in the Amalienborg.

For what it's worth I do think that Charles is thoroughly enjoying being King at the moment and I'm not convinced that he has plans to step away any time soon.

@Maireas - I'm a regular here but I've had a new year name change. 😊

Australia is awash with articles about 'our Mary' becoming Queen. Wonder if Margrethe will actually step away from the jewellery vault in her abdication and let Mary have a rummage.