Ham pr disasters 62! ….billionaire benefactors and borrowed buildings…..

[jeffgoldblum]

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush……..

I'm happy to bet that Nottingham cottage didn't look like a frat house when W&C lived there - but they were happy to spend some of their own money buying furnishings that they re-used at apt 1A and/or Anmer.

Whereas Harry expected to walk into a house decorated and furnished at no expense to him (probably expected to keep the furniture Will and Catherine paid for) - so instead he found bargains at the charity shop or freebies in the KP attic.

Actually he seemed pretty happy with Notts cottage until Meghan's new Hollywood friends acquaintances commented on a prince living in a frat house. Notts cottage did not meet the Netflix movie/Disney expectations.

True dat!

I disagree.

Any such concession would not be appreciated by HAM but used as leverage. For a bigger house, money to cover the cost of running the property, security measures. All paid for by Pa.

And it would give them an "in" again to the business of selling RF gossip.

I don't think KC3 or the MIGs are in any doubt now who they're dealing with, and will not be wanting a situation where HAM are given oportunities to bully employees on RF property or legitimate reason as tenants to be contacting RF employees.

And the Koi carp.
I think Royal Lodge is tainted. No one wants it. No way would Camilla go there. Hotel/conference centre is the best option.

I knew someone who was a sales person at Harvey Nics. She had Diana as a customer a number of times and said she was an absolute dream to work with. Warm, fun and courteous.

I understood that a marker of being upper class if that one does not buy ones furniture, one simply repurposes it from Granny’s house and/or Mater and Paters’ house.

Just to be clear, I love Ikea 😜😂

Camilla has Ray Mill House - she’s always kept it as her bolt hole. I can’t see William offering anything else - perhaps Clarence House if he’s letting bygones be bygones, which I doubt but then again (somehow) she’s a Queen.

I haven’t yet had a chance to leaf through the latest Hello but I gather, from reporting on X, that Harriet waxed lyrical about a lovely family holiday with the Wales family in the Scilly Isles, with all the children having a great time together.
Poor little A&L - I really do feel sorry for them, they are missing out on so much.
It occurred to me that Harriet would be a perfect new patron for WellChild, which really needs to shake off its association with Harry. Would they dare ask, and would she dare accept I wonder. I use the word “Dare” as I genuinely think if they dumped Harry and installed Harriet it would incur the most awful tantrum and the wrath of the Sewer Squad. Better left well alone I suppose.

My ex's parents did that, but weren't upper class, just hoarders.

My mistake - thank you @InspectorDefect for correcting me. I think my point stands - she doesn't want a big grand house , but you are right to correct me on the detail. 💐

I understood that a marker of being upper class if that one does not buy ones furniture, one simply repurposes it from Granny’s house and/or Mater and Paters’ house.

DGF bought a house in S London when he left the army in the 50s. It was a big Edwardian semi and was informally divided into two flats for them and any of their five children who needed somewhere to live before having their own place. DGM complained once that she'd give the kids some of the furniture she and DGF bought and them get it handed back when the kids moved out as 'not taking THAT old stuff with us, thanks.'

We definitely weren't upper class though. 😆

Yes indeed. Remember the late Alan Clark MP dismissing Michael Heseltine as a man who buys his own furniture! Of course nuances like these are lost on Americans. And also Harry I expect.

You may not know it
but you’re a poet!

We didn’t have it for long but the laugh emoji is sorely missed!

I do have an item of furniture that was my grandparents (an ottoman), but it's not in good state, nor did it arrive in good state so is likely to go out when I can replace it.
It hasn't got any value as vintage etc.

Any update on November public engagements ?

That struck me too. There are a lot of similar age kids in that family but unfortunately Hamlets can't be involved due to their awful parents

Into my 40s any remaining single (straight) men all lived in very sparse accommodation. They weren't tight, they just didn't bother about furnishings, although they'd say "oh this is nice" when visiting our very ordinary (but with soft furnishings!) home 😂
A house needing "a woman's touch"* is true in my experience.
*Happy to concede that gay men I've met were better on the home decor front than me!

TBF, I think similarly, when returning to the country, one doesn't rent a house, one stays with posh friends. Based on what I've learned from Jane Austen novels :-)

I'm not surprised to hear that about Diana. It seems William has learnt from her good example and treats people well. Harry, on the other hand...

My Harrod's stint was in the Summer of Diana's wedding. There was much merriment about the Oxbridge philosophy students who had been employed by the very camp packing bay manager for the Summer, two of whom had spotted Lady Di in the toy department, also on the 4th floor. One said loudly to the other 'Ooo look, there's a Lady Di lookalike', knowing they would not be reprimanded. It was like working on an upmarket 'Are you being served' set.

Such stories will not be being told about the woman whose husband believes she is Diana reincarnated

Eyes my inherited furniture proudly… dark brown Utility stuff from my parents and some reproduction Jacobean, er, horrors from pil..

@IdaGlossop By and large I absolutely agree with you in your post at 18.18. The only thing I would say, there are some nouveau riche , by which I mean those who have come into wealth lately , can be decently mannered people , because they know what it's like not to have money. It's a small point, but I do think people who have suddenly become rich aren't always ill mannered. I think it's more innate personality , maybe a bit of how you were brought up - I don't know. My maternal great great grandfather was rich. Sadly for me , and indeed my granny and mother it all disappeared before us - but I like to think we still have manners. 😂

ETA re @ChubbyCheeksCharlie My Dh who is lovely and competent in so many ways , well let's just say , interior design is not his jam. Comfy sofa , decent TV for the sport , comfy bed and a working kitchen with a coffee machine. I do the interior design he does the TV / technical stuff. He has power of veto as do I - it works well.

I think Royal Lodge is tainted. No one wants it.

TLQ was said to have fond memories because it was where the Yorks lived when she was a child, before her father became King.

Camilla may be perfectly happy with Ray Mill House and not want a Royal property. Perhaps an apartment in St James Palace as a bolt hole when she hs engagements in town. She doesn't come across as grand at all. I loved seeing her laughing at the rain yesterday, her hair curly and wild from the downpour.

I think The Queen Mother’s grandchildren also had happy memories and were fond of it hence Andrew bagging it. But time moves on, the younger generation will only associate it with Andrew. Not to mention the public.