Inconsistencies in Spare over hearing about Queen Mother's death

[Ridemeginger]

Harry writes that he found out about the Queen Mother's passing away (in March 2002):

"At Eton, while studying, I took the call. I wish I could remember whose voice was on the other end. A courtiers I believe. I recall that is was just before Easter, the weather bright and warm, light slanting through my window, filled with vivid colours. "Your Royal Highness. The Queen Mother has died." "

News reports at the time reported he was skiing in Switzerland with Charles and William. The Queen Mother died on 30 March 2002. Easter Saturday. He wouldn't have been at school.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/622457.stm

Recollections may vary, indeed! I doubt very much Harry would have taken the call if he's been with his father.

Didn't the editors do any fact checking?

Yep, this is happening a lot in the new social media era.
Basically, you can lie about anything and some people will fight to the death to deny that it was a lie, even with hard proof.
I've seen a lot of it on this board this week but it happens all the time now everywhere online.
For a current example, see Jack Monroe. She has been caught lying multiple times but because her followers see her as a good person and well-meaning she's above reproach.

Yes, and Katie Price is another.

the art of viewing more than one side does seem to be diminishing. I can read a book and acknowledge that there is another side. I can view Harry as an angry brat, William as a smug posh boy and Andrew needing to be behind bars. But society via SM seems now to be about picking sides and excusing behaviour and being hostile to anyone who dares to even question.

Well said.
It seems like you're supposed to pick a side then completely denounce anyone with a different opinion.
What happened to actually thinking?

And you can't question whether anything is true, accurate, provable or even credible either. Nuance is dead

I'm sure I read they did this every year. Gave weird and funny gifts to each other.

Yeah, they covered it in The Crown too. Though here’s an article with some of them!
www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20221221160125/unusual-royal-christmas-gifts-through-the-years/?viewas=amp

I think the novelty/small/homemade/silly Christmas presents sounds like a nice tradition. Especially in a very wealthy family where they don't "need" anything.

I'm sure the kids still get proper presents from their closer relatives too.

One year one of DH's cousins must have found a closing down hardware shop, as everyone got a totally random selection of lightbulbs. Not useful, normal bulbs - blue lightbulbs, weird sized bulbs obviously meant for specific fridges, that kind of thing. Very weird - the fish pen would have been better!