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The image of the royal family

(327 Posts)
Bluebellwould Sun 31-Oct-21 13:25:05

I know old(er) people are not useless and slung on the scrap heap but…
I have just seen a picture of the Queen and Camilla with the headline that Camilla is going to take on more duties to save the Queen. That makes it that a 74 year old is taking up more work than she is currently doing. Putting aside all prejudices against her I just thought the RF are hardly presenting a dynamic leadership for Britain.
When you look at the RF’s of Europe they present a much more current and contemporary face of monarchy, with their tradition of replacing the head of state at a sensible age.
I think it’s very sad that, if the Queen lives for another ten years, like her mother, then Charles will be 82 and another elderly king.
Do we need younger Kings and Queens to represent us so that the UK is not seen as a doddering old country, or does it make no difference to how we seem to other countries or to ourselves?

Calistemon Mon 01-Nov-21 23:19:40

I watched Quatermass with my Dad.
Nothing scared me that much after then until Psycho.

Jannicans Mon 01-Nov-21 23:50:25

The Queen has a much sharper mind than a number of political leaders and a work ethic that would shame a large percentage of the young.

nadateturbe Tue 02-Nov-21 00:20:51

Calistemon

nadateturbe

I remember watching the Crown too. I remember Philip stepping out of his trousers and leaving them on the floor for a servant to pick up.

I can't imagine any ex-RN officer doing that!!

My word, everything has to be ship-shape and Bristol fashion, all creases perfect.

So you think he folded them and put them in the wardrobe. I don't.

M0nica Tue 02-Nov-21 07:03:15

nadeturbe, Prince Philip probably did not put his trousers in the wardrobe, that was probable a room in itself and elsewhere, but folded his trousers and put them over a chair or lay them on a surface most definitely.

You clearly have no experience of naval training, especially for officers. In any of the armed services, during training, the trainee officers get it harder in the neck than the squaddies - and tidiness is ground into to them for life, but in the navy, living on ships with little space and everything having to be kept, constantly ready to spring to action, they take it one further.

More generally, if you have staff, you have to treat them with respect because, if you do not, they just hand their notice in and leave.

Elegran Tue 02-Nov-21 08:12:08

I don't suppose the writers/ producers of The Crown had any naval training, so how would they know that a naval officer would most certainly not just step out of his clothes and leave them lying around, however many years had gone by? They included that detail as an invented example of how a privileged aristocrat might expect to be waited on hand and foot (and trouser)

Do you also believe everything else you watch on TV? Do you think the makers of entertainmenteries are more pure than the rest of the population, and have no biases or prejudices?

Galaxy Tue 02-Nov-21 08:14:21

I believe them to the same extent as I believe anyone's theories on members of a family they have never met.

Elegran Tue 02-Nov-21 08:17:54

"More generally, if you have staff, you have to treat them with respect because, if you do not, they just hand their notice in and leave." and this is where people who have no experience of "having staff" but who have a generous share of arrogance and entitlement, can come unstuck when they move into a sphere where being polite to the servants is expected of them.

Fill in your own candidate.

lemsip Tue 02-Nov-21 08:26:09

Elegran Got it!

Anniebach Tue 02-Nov-21 08:39:26

Elegran. got it

nadateturbe Tue 02-Nov-21 09:41:24

Perhaps you're all correct about Philips trousers. But please don't tell me they don't expect to be waited on hand and foot.

Calistemon Tue 02-Nov-21 09:46:28

M0nica

*nadeturbe*, Prince Philip probably did not put his trousers in the wardrobe, that was probable a room in itself and elsewhere, but folded his trousers and put them over a chair or lay them on a surface most definitely.

You clearly have no experience of naval training, especially for officers. In any of the armed services, during training, the trainee officers get it harder in the neck than the squaddies - and tidiness is ground into to them for life, but in the navy, living on ships with little space and everything having to be kept, constantly ready to spring to action, they take it one further.

More generally, if you have staff, you have to treat them with respect because, if you do not, they just hand their notice in and leave.

Hence I am not allowed to do the ironing M0nica! Even now (it is such a blessing ?)
I remember well the first time as a newly-wed being faced with a pile of collar detached shirts and Robin starched collars to iron. I burnt the collars, after that they went to the laundry.

Anniebach Tue 02-Nov-21 09:47:07

Surely like all of us, they expect what they employ for.

Calistemon Tue 02-Nov-21 09:48:04

Elegran!
We dare not speak the name

Calistemon Tue 02-Nov-21 09:49:58

Jannicans

The Queen has a much sharper mind than a number of political leaders and a work ethic that would shame a large percentage of the young.

Well said Jannicans

Compare her to:-
fill in your own candidate!

Anniebach Tue 02-Nov-21 09:54:39

Her speech yesterday was great , and the photograph of The
Duke was so moving.

Shropshirelass Tue 02-Nov-21 09:59:00

I think the Queen is amazing to be able to carry on at 95! She looks good and is still compus mentis. She is getting understandingly frail, but has had a really tough couple of years. She has everything done for her but she is showing that she is strong enough to be our head of state. It is a vocation for life and should continue.

Elegran Tue 02-Nov-21 10:02:33

Calistemon Are you afraid anyone you name may be conjured up? I think you have to say the name three times while standing in a pentangle. Burning black candles may be involved too.

Calistemon Tue 02-Nov-21 10:04:59

Thanks for the advice Elegran, I'll do that; dont want any apparitions

M0nica Tue 02-Nov-21 10:06:08

nadeturbe I know an awful lot of people who expect to be waited on hand and foot, who have never had a member of staff in their lives - and they are probably far more demanding than the RF!

Grany Tue 02-Nov-21 11:08:56

Jamaica are talking about becoming a republic with their own Head of State as Barbados just has. Good luck the Caribbean Islands.

nadateturbe Tue 02-Nov-21 11:11:08

I'm sure you do Monica........

Gabrielle56 Tue 02-Nov-21 11:12:47

I've always thought that her Maj took her role of a "life " of service to country a bit too literally meself! Also the way her and Phil the Greek treated Chuck is a disgrace, talk about humiliation and lack of faith in his ability to do what's a career of 'meet and greets' what's wrong with beings a wise and available trusted ally to the monarch? Something she could have done when she hit say, 80? Denying her son His birthright after they effectively groomed him from birth to do that one specific job and nought else is, to me , beyond cruel. Chuck has wandered a bit aimlessly through his life bouncing from one cause to another, our original eco warrior, he deserves more acknowledgment and respect ,From his MUM!

Gabrielle56 Tue 02-Nov-21 11:18:43

Shropshirelass

I think the Queen is amazing to be able to carry on at 95! She looks good and is still compus mentis. She is getting understandingly frail, but has had a really tough couple of years. She has everything done for her but she is showing that she is strong enough to be our head of state. It is a vocation for life and should continue.

Had it tough? When was that then? When she got sack several times cos she refused a bit of extra curricular with the boss? When she lost her home and her hubby beat her senseless when he felt like it? Or when she brought her 4 kids up to be tin upstanding useful members of society in spite of living on the breadline all her life? Don't make me choke on my Horlicks! The best medical care 24/7 best of everything law.....24/7. They'd be complete eejits if they failed to make it to their 90s and beyond under these circs unscathed! Hate the dewy eyed claptrap talked about our royals- they exist to serve us and our country, not other way round!

maddyone Tue 02-Nov-21 11:30:55

Good posts Gabrielle. Straight and to the point, but true.

maddyone Tue 02-Nov-21 11:32:15

I think what has been done to Charles is cruel too. Especially since he wasn’t even allowed to marry the woman of his choice at first.