Behind the Scenes at the Coronation - Boxing Day

[MrsLeonFarrell]

I love things that go behind the scenes at special events or show how TV programmes are made, or explain stuff I don't know about how stuff is organised. I'm the person who watches behind the scenes clips on YouTube! I know it won't be completely candid because the cameras are there but I'm still looking forward to it.

So I thought I'd start a fun thread asking what burning but trivial question would you like to see the answer to?

Mine - do royals have bladders of iron or do they build secret loo breaks into the schedule of big events?

I think people have over estimated his “slimming down” rumours. The working royal family is considerably smaller than it was when those rumours started in the early 80s.

At that point there was HMQEII, Philip, QEQM, Princess Margaret, Charles, Diana, Andrew, Fergie, Anne, Edward, Princess Alice, Duke & Duchess of Gloucester, Duke & Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra. 16 working royals. With Edward’s eventual wife expected to join that cohort.

His slimming was never, imo, about his siblings or his children. It was about making clear that Andrew and Edward’s children wouldn’t be working royals and that the cousins wouldn’t be replaced.

As it currently stands there are 7 full time working royals plus the very part time Gloucesters. That’s considerably slimmed from the 80s.

I think people have over estimated his “slimming down” rumours. The working royal family is considerably smaller than it was when those rumours started in the early 80s.

And yet there's no offer to reduce or return any of the guaranteed never to fall Sovereign Grant or return to the inconveniently scrutinised Civil List to reflect this.

The (elected) government allocated £8 million to offer every public body a free portrait of Charles as King Free portraits of Charles III for all public bodies, but £8m cost branded ‘shameful’ | King Charles III | The Guardian

That wasn't an initiative by Charles or Buckingham Palace. It was decided (ridiculously in my opinion) by our elected representives. I didn't vote for them BTW

Precisely @CathyorClaire !

Its the same trough with fewer snouts

That wasn't an initiative by Charles or Buckingham Palace. It was decided (ridiculously in my opinion) by our elected representives.

Charles could have vetoed it but he didn't.

Right. He could tell the elected government what to do?

Your words were chooses to have the public foot an unnecessary bill for his own taste in party trimmings (I'll add the £8m spent on official portraits for public buildings here too)

I think the allocation for public portraits is ridiculous, as I said above. But let's be clear - it was a government decision, probably on the assumption it would play well with the electorate

He could tell the elected government what to do?

He's never been shy either about proffering his advice or vetoing proposed legislation before so why not?

Even if the pesky government had insisted on going against his will it would have been great PR.

Right. In your world Charles is personally responsible for government decisions.

I disagree.

In your world Charles is personally responsible for government decisions.

No. But there's no reason in this particular case he couldn't have raised objections in the belief they'd be listened to.

The fact he didn't indicates his tacit approval for a ridiculous waste of public money.

How do you know he didn't raise objections? His conversations with, eg the Prime Minister are not reported.

How do you know he didn't raise objections? His conversations with, eg the Prime Minister are not reported.

I think we can draw that conclusion both from the fact the plan went ahead without a puff piece distancing Charles from it and that if it hadn't we'd have been told his objections were the reason why.

Okaaaaaaay................

I think we've plenty of evidence that this government isn't a big fan of listening to advice.

Anyway, back to the topic: I enjoyed the documentary. It was interesting to see how they practised, etc, and it encouraged me to watch the one about the uniforms presented by Patrick Grant, which I found even more interesting.

Apologies for disrailing.

Yes, I enjoyed the Patrick Grant one as well. The helmet maker! Only two ( I think?) in the world with those skills!

The helmet maker was incredible! That piece of equipment was hundreds of years old, wasn't it? Fascinating programme.

From the 1600s!

1660, I think he said.

There were a couple of things that had been in use since - I assume - Charles II's coronation. Which seems appropriate for the King of Bling.

What about the properties though?

I believe Prince Charles alone lives in, owns or works in about 12 estates or buildings doesn’t he? There’s Sandringham, Balmoral, Windsor, KP, a property in Wales, and Northern Ireland, one on the Isles of Sciilly, and one in Transylvania … It’s totally unnecessary! None of the property owned by the late Queen Mother seems to have been sold off like Birkhall or the Castle of May or Clarence House? They just stay on the books! I am no expert but I think this is correct. There’s Buckingham Pakace and St James’s Palace for administration now?

You might argue that some of these are privately owned so it’s justified but don’t tell me that being a senior member of the RF doesn't allow you to be in a perfect position to accrue property alongside the official state buildings?

W & K have their Norfolk property, one in Windsor. and their KP flat which is more reasonable.

Sandringham, Balmoral and Birkhall are privately owned.

Windsor, KP, Buckingham Palace, St James, Clarence House and Hillsborough are state owned. He and Camilla live in Clarence House still - that’s been their official residence since marriage (I think they’ll stay there rather than move to Buckingham palace, but that’s just opinion - I don’t think any of them will move back in full time after the renovations).

The wales property and Isles of Scilly ones are owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, same with Highgrove. castle of Mey is held in a trust as well now I believe. No idea about Transylvania.

William currently has use of three, but will inherit the privately owned ones and use of the state owned ones when he becomes king so will be in the same position.

Okaaaaaaay................

I'm surmising in the absence of evidence to the contrary of course.

If you know different and can provide evidence that the portraits were bought and installed entirely against Charles's will I'd be really interested in seeing it

I'd like to know how they get in and out of the carriages, especially when they're wearing long gowns.

The King who brought back partying, I believe 😂

Champagne?

If anyone can provide evidence that Elvis, JFK and Shergar aren't all alive and living on a farm in Wales I'd be really interested in seeing it. Until then I will believe they are...

If anyone can provide evidence that Elvis, JFK and Shergar aren'tall alive and living on a farm in Wales I'd be really interested in seeing it. Until then I will believe they are.

That figures 🙂

I recently loved visiting the Windrush exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Charles commissioned 12 portraits of leaders from the Windrush generation. I think the monarchy sponsoring the Arts and bringing in more diversity in who gets celebrated is a good use of their money.