Royal Chat - All Welcome! ?

Callistemon I assume you mean the Duke of Kent is - upright,dignified and stalwart.

He was only 6 years old when he inherited the title following the death of his father. So young.

Yes, I did Anniebach, so it would be fitting if someone upright, dignified and stalwart and performing his duties as one would expect would take over from him.
He is 85 and is not in the best of health but unfortunately his young cousin, who was to take over, is not made of such stern stuff as him.

With reference to posts from page 17 - The Old Man of Lochnager is still on sale in the gift shop at Sandringham.
No sign of Budgie or The Bench though!

Whatdayisit it was also turned into a play and a film.
I must admit that I'd never heard of the famous artist chap who illustrated it; and I know a lot about art (but don't know what I like! - an old joke from Smith & Jones ?)

I've just bought the Audible version of Matthew Dennison's 'The Queen'.
It's read by the fabulous Eleanor Bron

Yes i still don't know of him but i am sure he doesn't know of me either.

I have just looked at the new book it looks like a comprehensive read. I wonder how long it will take you to listen. Hope you enjoy listening Fanny Cornforth.

I've been hearing bits and bobs about the Diana statue.
Meghan won't be going to the unveiling, and according to The Express, it's under some doubt if Harry will attend.
Apparently, (still The Express - which has always been 'the Diana paper') Harry finds London 'triggering'.

I can sort of understand a place triggering bad memories for him, but ........

a) Diana died in Paris not London
b) I'm sure he could have chosen to live in Sussex or even Wales to avoid always being in the capital
c) Sometimes you have to face your triggers head on to bury the tension
d) I'm a Londoner and the place is so big and made up of many parts. You can't really say that the whole city has the same effect on you.

I rather think that he's using it as an excuse not to go.
It would be incredibly awkward for him. And I don't think that he has the emotional intelligence and maturity despite all of his 'therapy'.
I think that Harry will say that he has been advised not to go

I meant the emotional intelligence to deal with the awkwardness and bad feelings between himself and his family. Sorry

Ellianne he used to love London didn't he? Is he whitewashing his past?

Yes, I guess blaming a place rather than his family doesn't sound as bad.
Does therapy teach you to separate things out and compartmentalise them to discover the root of the problem? Maybe he has to explore every avenue to find peace with himself but he does seem to have a lot of hang ups. The RF must feel anxious for him.

FannyCornforth

Ellianne he used to love London didn't he? Is he whitewashing his past?

You can't not love London for all it offers!

Yes, he appeared to be happy there and most importantly had good friends.

FannyCornforth

I've been hearing bits and bobs about the Diana statue.
Meghan won't be going to the unveiling, and according to The Express, it's under some doubt if Harry will attend.
Apparently, (still The Express - which has always been 'the Diana paper') Harry finds London 'triggering'.

I expect the D Day veterans who are still with us find their visits to Normandy beaches a bit triggering as well. ?

Can we go back to talking about frocks and gardens?

Am I right in thinking that when Diana seperated from Charles she asked her brother if she could live at Althrop House and he said no.

Dryginger Yes. He said that if she lived there, they would be swamped with paparazzi.

It's my opinion that he should feel some guilt for rejecting her when she needed a safe haven.

I'm glad Meghan is not coming to London as the whole point of the day is to honour Diana, not to grab all the attention.

Harry seems too self-obsessed to realise how much hurt and damage he has caused, and was reported as being surprised at being cold-shouldered at the D of E's funeral. If I were him and had said so many awful and untrue things about my family, I would be too afraid to face them...... and he probably is !

Better if he uses Lili as an excuse, and only attends via Zoom. It's been said that Catherine will accompany William to support him if Harry's not there. She won't hog the limelight.

Diana asked her brother if she could have a house on his estate where she could stay for time away from London, he refused
because he didn’t want the cameras hovering around, his children were young, she loved London, hated the country.

Blossoming

Can we go back to talking about frocks and gardens?

I can't think of anything frothy to post about! Trust me, I will when I can.
Re my audiobook - 'The Queen'.
Eleanor Bron's narration is not that great. She sounds rather dreary, bored and half asleep.
I think I'll be returning it.

Anniebach

Diana asked her brother if she could have a house on his estate where she could stay for time away from London, he refused
because he didn’t want the cameras hovering around, his children were young, she loved London, hated the country.

The estate is big enough that her brother and family would not have been affected.

Personally I couldn't turn away a member of my family in dire need. She may have loved London but she needed a safe haven and some respite.

Diana looked after her brother when they were children and left by their mother. In my opinion he owed her.

I agree Annebach. I always thought that he turned his back on her. Now he acts as though he was the best brother ever.

hear hear too many games on here.they can call the new baby lilli..... liliibet is rather personal to the queen..

O/P - All Topics are up for Discussion:
Both High Brow and Low -Constitutional; Gossip and Innuendo;
Family Members Old and New; Fashion to Infidelities.

I remember the dreadful speech Earl Spencer gave at Diana's funeral, talking about how her blood family would protect the Princes and her legacy. Then he departed for South Africa.
I wonder if he has influenced Harry lately, perhaps to divert attention from his relationship with Martin Bashir.

eazybee...........The speech was not dreadful it was spot on, that;s why it was applauded so loudly outside that all the people inside the abbey joined in the applause!
...Diana was treated dreadfully by the royals and all the weeping and wailing was anger at the way she was treated .
I've read that as boys they often holidayed with their Uncle over the years as they did with their aunts Sarah and Jane

Now lets get back to frocks and gardens shall we.