The Crown - series 3

[southeastdweller]

I'm so looking forward to seeing this when it returns next Sunday!

In those days admission to Oxbridge involved sitting their own entrance exams. If they liked your entrance exam results they didn't care about the A-levels. Presumably, though, Charles didn't do the entrance exam.

It was still an option when I was choosing Unis in late 1980s - for some very competitive courses (e.g. medicine) you had to do the entrance exam, and if accepted would get a virtually unconditional offer.

Other subjects you got the choice between entrance exam/ unconditional-ish offer (think EE), or rely on A-level results and then would be conditional on high grades.

"who longs to rule but won't? and who will rule but would rather not?"

It's easy to say I'd love to be Monarch & would be great at it though if it's never going to happen.

Likewise it's probably easier to be irresponsible when you don't have the responsibility of the Crown hanging over you.

Had the positions been reversed, to an extent personalities may have been.

The direct heirs I'm sure are brought up & treated differently.

Harry said "No one wants the job"

If that is truly the case, can't they abdicate as a family?

We're off, Soz

@diddl I don't know, I think they like Philip because despite the title, there tends to be more focus on him and his development than there is on the Queen!

Speaking of royals being accepted into prestigious unis despite unremarkable (I'm being generous) A levels; apparantly Philip's reaction to the news that his 3rd son had been accepted by Jesus College, Cambridge, was to remark "What a friend we have in Jesus!"

It's a good story, but PC went to Trinity.

It's a good story, but PC went to Trinity

Perhaps, but unless Philip secretly got up to some major antics prior to marrying Elizabeth, Prince Charles was not his 3rd son, was he?

His third son is Edward though.

I think they like Philip because despite the title, there tends to be more focus on him and his development than there is on the Queen!

In many ways, Philip's life is more interesting and certainly more dramatic so I can understand the focus on him. He's also probably the brightest of the bunch and despite his man's-man-lets-just-get-on-with-it demeanor, the most intellectual.

I got an EE offer in English in 1982 and this was after sitting the entrance exam.

I think the exams were harder in the 'old days' though.

Degrees had much more demanding content to..

too!

Perhaps, but unless Philip secretly got up to some major antics prior to marrying Elizabeth, Prince Charles was not his 3rd son, was he?

Haha, missed that! You're quite right!

I'm on episode 4. I like it but this season, inevitably I suppose, feels really different. Not v sure about the casting-but that may not be because it's not convincing, just that I don't like it as much-I'm not fond of HBC really and whilst I like OC as a person Ive not really believed her in a part since Broadchurch.

Iirc, Cambridge used to make quite a few matriculation offers (EE). Still do for all I know. But they would have grilled the candidate at interview first. The lower the offer, the more likely you were an exceptional candidate that they really wanted.

I got in to Uni (not Oxbridge) on a scholarship as well.

I only needed 2Es. I did better than that. .

I like Philip and his Philipisms.

As a pp said, he's a survivor with probably very little room for sentiment or soft-soaping. Anne seems very like him.

I'm not saying that was the case for PR, but you never know!

I'm not saying that was the case for PE but you never know!

Oh bugger, double posted AND with an autocorrect glitch.
The shame.

I remember having to travel to all the universities I’d applied to for interviews as well. You knew you had to impress as no chance of an offer if you didn’t! I got all my offers

I don't think the exams were harder then. I did GCE 1966, A level 1968, BA 1971. DG1 did GCSE last year and is now doing A level, 2 out of 3 subjects the same as her Granny. All much harder in my opinion (after a lifetime in education 😀).

I'm sure Edward is a high-powered intellect. After all, wasn't he the mastermind behind the genius plan that was "Royal It's a Knockout"?

When I was at school (I did A levels in 1973) students applying to Oxbridge stayed on an extra year to work for the entrance exams. We got a half day off for every one that got in. I wasn't one of those students but don't remember anyone getting particularly stressed about grades. There was a lot less pressure then but fewer people were applying for university at all.

Iirc, Cambridge used to make quite a few matriculation offers (EE). Still do for all I know.

Yes, if you show in the entrance exam that you are capable of top A-level results, they don't bother wait for A-level results

Edward was the arty one, who wanted to be in the theatre

He had to step away from that choice as he was compromised by status

It is really sad that these people have lives and passions that they can't pursue unless military or sporting

Sophie also had to step away from her chosen career after the Fake Shiekh saga

It's like it doesn't matter what you want your sole purpose is to be a National Figure