Nigeria 4!

[OneHeartySnail]

Let the conversation continue!

Very like Linley

His furniture business definitely benefited from his position when starting up. but it's longevity is because his stuff's good.

And the royal connection is fading - he was non-royal DC of the "spare", but very much part of the family and all over the gossip columns. But over time, attention moves towards the offspring of the direct line.

@IcedPurple I want to give M the benefit of the doubt but in her mind I think she thought they’d/she’d trump Kate & W in time, more beautiful, relatable - banana slogans for sex workers - less fuddy duddy etc. A much sexier role & then…reality bit…a non mansion, a kinda knocked about semi, in soggy England on the flight path wasn’t what she’s angled for. Etc.

The use of the titles is beyond bizarre. It would be so much more classy to not use them at all. Completely meaningless given their lack of official role and where they live, and makes no sense to retain in the context of two individuals who have allegedly been so wronged by the very institution that bestowed them. I think they would have garnered a lot more respect from the liberal circles (eg the Obamas) that they (or at least Meghan) clearly aspired to move in, had they declined to use them and rejected them for their children.

"a kinda knocked about semi"
Really?!

@DelectableMe as she saw it, potentially NB: English mansions a la Saltburn & Montecito in the sunshine by way of comparison.

It's very, very clear how essential they regard the titles.
They had no shame at all in styling their children prince and princess, even after the lies on Oprah that Archie would not have such a title because of his heritage.
People that would lie so blatantly and make such vile accusations are without shame or self awareness.

"a kinda knocked about semi"

Is that genuinely referring to a cottage designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the middle of the continuously guarded Kensington Palace complex in Kensington Park, next door to London’s most exclusive real estate? 🤣

& then…reality bit…a non mansion, a kinda knocked about semi, in soggy England on the flight path wasn’t what she’s angled for

Well, they were offered the mansion - a country estate as a wedding present - and turned it down. Rural living probably not what M was after, even though she had the Wellies.

He was born 5th in line to the throne, the same position Harry is in now.

Yet these days, unless they're a 'royal watcher', most people haven't got a clue who he is.

Snowdon (ne Linley) has also managed to keep his private life private, even going through a divorce without divulging personal details.
It's entirely possible to have privacy, should you wish.

In time?

When Meghan was a working royal, Kate and William were 'merely' Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They are now Prince and Princess of Wales, and will be King and Queen. By contrast, Harry and Meghan's status will continue to decline, and would have even had they remained as working royals. Which is not to say they couldn't have shaped a valuable, high profile role for themselves, given that they'd have much more freedom and flexibility than the future King and Queen. But there was never any chance of them 'trumping' Kate and William.

@Abouttimeforanamechangewhere re: NB: Country estate? Interesting.

I agree that the insistence on titles is an own goal in the US. They seem to be the only people who don't realise that leaving their jobs as working royals means that they no longer have the status they once had. The circles they move in now will always want something in return for giving them awards or inviting them to events. They are not Obamas, or even Kardashians, and the more mistakes they make the lower down the scale they fall.

I wish they would take a few years to really think through what they can be passionate about long term, things like Invictous, and listen and learn instead of just leaping from thing to thing. Words don't change things, the serious people in the world look at actions.

They seem to believe that the status is about them personally, not their titles!

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/we-go-inside-claudia-schiffers-tudor-mansion If M in Frogmore Id be coveting up the road, here…If it’s good enough for older model & movie producer…

Additionally I’d hope Manderley was real & I could build an overseas portfolio. I’d need a proper staffed jet too no scrappy royal helicopter.

York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate. It was once the home of George V and Queen Mary

Meghan's completely inadequate grasp of the way royalty works, other than to give her instant fame, makes me admire Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Queen Mary of Denmark even more. Both came from far away (Argentina and Australia) had to learn a new language and completely get across royal protocol, family history and local culture.

where re: NB: Country estate? Interesting.

It was supposedly offered by the Queen, or possibly Charles. I don't know that anyone ever got as far as discussing possible locations.

The Queen gave Gatcombe to Anne and Mark Phillips, and Anmer to William and Catherine, on their marriages, so the offer was in line with previous practice.

Though Anmer is on the Sandringham Estate, so will possibly revert to the estate when William comes in to all of it.

@smilesy she’d have known the proportionally challenged Nottingham ‘cottage’ so poss dismissed out of hand ;) Dictionary would have backed the assumption up too :).

So true!

The irony is that had they dropped the use of the Royal titles, I think their status and credibility would have been elevated far more than any royal title would elevate them, by keeping and using the titles, they have achieved the polar opposite of what could have been.

We often were told that saluting was to ‘respect the rank’.

If you added in a wee smile and a twinkly eye that meant you respected the person too.

And it was always a treat when you got a twinkly smile back.

Make no mistake, I respect the little weeds battling through my slabs more than I do these two.

I’m pretty sure they would have been shown pictures or taken there. They accepted Frogmore Cottage. I don’t think the word “cottage” is relevant. It’s just a name and cottages on large Royal estates tend not to be the same as those in a small village

I know, :) @smilesy

I'm amazed that neither of them can google. What an educational failing, and how unfortunate for both halves of a couple to have fallen foul of such lapses by their teachers, lecturers, tutors, mentors, family members and peers.

York Cottage is an enormous house and it is beautiful.

The words of the first verse of the national anthem of the UK are very straightforward to learn.

The curtsey bob is easy to find online and mimic - I believe one of the characters in a television programme called Suits once did one and made it look effortless, for example.

I understand that google offers much help and assistance when researching concepts like 'monarchy'.