Royal Style: with hope, our threads continue

[Maireas]

Evening everyone. I'm starting this new thread at a bit of a sad time, and I know we're all thinking of Kate and her family. Let's hope that as we continue in our lighthearted way, good news arrives for her, and others who are in a similar situation, either themselves or loved ones.🌷

I believe that. The British royals were always intermarrying with German royal families but WWI put an end to that! Lord Harwood looks rather harsh and forbidding in photos but presumably Princess Mary must’ve seen something in him.

Just read that there’ll be a state visit from the Japanese emperor and empress in June so hope there’ll be a few tiaras brought from the vaults.

"Hold tight"
Now ! Now ! @Maireas
You are very bold.

I saw an interview with Mary's son, the subsequent Earl of Harewood, who said that his parents were very "companiable" and both loved dogs and got great joy from their gardens, which they were always proud to show off. I suppose he'd say that, but it was interesting that his opinion was definitely of domestic harmony. I can imagine Mary of Teck selecting a suitable German for her daughter!

The King is coming back to public facing duties, so perhaps we will get a bit more fashion action over the summer.
Good news he's doing well.

The publicity photo announcing it is lovely. I adore the cobalt blue Camilla is wearing and think it’s an informal looking shot which seems to show that she’s has been a rock to Charles!

😉 😂

Yes, what a lovely picture!

I love that photo of Charles and Camilla. She looks lovely in it.

Tis a lovely photo. The way Charles is looking at Camilla reminds me of of this photo of the late HMQ & PP

Back to the Queen Mother, she was of the generation where so many young men had been killed in WW1 that lots of beautiful eligible young women never married at all.She must have really made Bertie feel safe
He proposed 3 times before she accepted.

I think she was just right for him. That quote from her on whether the princesses would be evacuated during the war, she said they would stay with her and that she would stay with the King, and he would never leave. It said a lot about her strength of character.

Yes, she showed her mettle in WW2. Learned how to fire a handgun as well!

I think she was an early and very good practitioner of royal PR! And kudos to her, she did it without the aid of expensive spin doctors.

I agree. I think she was quite canny and could be quite charming.

Yes quite - she was clearly very smart, and knew what people wanted/needed to hear and see.

I remember reading an account of a diplomatic event, during which General de Gaulle said something quite rude about the English to her. She smiled very sweetly and said "Oh yes, General, I quite agree. We Scots feel exactly the same way".

Nice one!

Isn’t she meant to have noticed Noel Coward eyeing the Household Cavalry and said “be careful Noel, we count them before we put them out”? And on being told Buckingham Palace shouldn’t hire gay men, replied that if they didn’t they’d have to go self-service!

🤣🤣

Great anecdotes 😂

I think the Queen Mother was a very attractive young woman; but then 1920's fashions came along and they did absolutely nothing for her.
She has my sympathies; they would do absolutely nothing for me either.

The 20s costumes on Downton are gorgeous but I think you needed to have a very straight up and down figure to wear them, and indeed the sleek styles of the 30s. That’s probably why Wallis looked so good in them!

Totally! I’ve posted this before, but here she is with Bertie in 1921 before the new fashions hit. Two years later, here she is on her honeymoon in a (very fashionable) sack…

Yes, the styles weren't for curvy women, were they?

I'd have had to dress like Queen Mary, basically Edwardian until 1953. With a torque and seven diamond necklaces.