Duke of Edinburgh back in hospital

Watched this too. Was upsetting to be reminded of the male arrogance of Freud et al - their 'solutions' for her excentricities!!! The pictures of her as an elderly nun showed a woman who looked full of humour with a real zest for life, it looks as if she enjoyed her last years. Prince Phillips quest to abide by her last wishes were a joy to see.

Whenever there's a documentary about the older members of the Royal Family they always seem to drag out poor old Countess Mountbatten who now looks terribly frail and stooped and her face has never really recovered from her bomb injuries. I thought Lady Pamela Hicks looked more Margaret Thatcher than Margaret Thatcher. Sounded just like her too.

JOHANNA

What a lovely ending to her life. I agree, an honour indeed.

A film? Maybe not in our lifetime pogs.
At the moment it is all about slebs.
They have not got a clue.
I doubt if any of them would know what an enormous honour it is to be buried on Mount Gethsemane.

johanna.

I am still in awe of the woman. Even D.H. said well I wish I'd heard that before.

If it was a film it would be a box office hit. Do you think there might be one one day?

Yes, pogs
Just seen it it too. A woman after my own heart.

Just about to watch it on +1

Well, just watched the Channel 4 prog. 'The Queens Mother in Law'

What a very sad story he has had. His poor mother. They both had their share of sadness. How interesting a story they shared, I was clueless until the last few days.She was quite a marvel mixed with total nuttiness. I think she showed a stoicism few of us could have shown. Bravery, kindness and self sacrifice, I wish I had known about her life years ago. I think the British public would have looked upon Phillip in a more favourable way too.

I certainly see the man in different light and I like him all the more. Perhaps that is why he quite rightly takes no prisoners and is known for his forthrightness.

Can you imagine a Queen Savannah – sounds like a rap singer?

I think it's all going on in the background - it's one of the (few) things the government really has committed itself to.

I'm not sure POGS I should think that their governments, like ours, have far more important matters to take up their time.

For what it's worth I thought this was well on it's way to being done. Agree with the inretrospective clause.

Most of the C.W. countries have agreed haven't they?

Yes - interesting point, absent!

If the law is changed Anagram. All countries of which the Queen is Head of State have to agree and then the wording of the law has to be agreed. William is likely to be a grandfather by the time that's sorted out. I'd still like to know if it's retrospective, would it move Princess Anne and her descendants up the list? Not that it matters – just curious.

absent, when the law is changed regarding succession, it is said that it will be retrospective, so that Will & Kate's first child will be next in line, whichever sex.

Oh, I forgot that he had already had offspring – i haven't edited a book about the royal family for years. It would be a very odd set of circumstances if it actually mattered that they were higher up the line of succession than their aunt.

Peter Phillips' two children come above Zara. One is called Savannah. Not sure about the other one.

Bags I think it goes, Charles, William, Harry, Andrew, Beatrice (is she the older one?), Eugenie, Edward, the Wessex child/children, Princess Anne, Peter Phillips, Zara. If/when the Cambridges procreate, their children will go in the line between William and Harry. At the moment, a Cambridge son, whether first born or not, would take precedence over a daughter as although there has been a lot of talk about changing the law, it hasn't yet been changed. I have no idea whether changing the law of succession so it is applied in order of age regardless of the sex of the children would also affect the existing order i.e. would Princess Anne and her descendants move up the order above Prince Andrew? Come the revolution, things will be a lot more straightforward.

These damn shifting posts!

Bags

At least if Wills and Kate do have a child it will not matter if it is a boy or a girl any longer. At least that is looking very likely.

Quite right too, the Queens have proven to be better monarchs than the Kings.

Yes, even if it's a girl!

What is the line of succession order after Will and Hal? Hal will get bumped down the list if W&K produce, presumably.

They might not have titles but their position in the line of succession remains the same.

Sorry, you're right, absent. I really meant to point out that her children are minor royals. Prince Andrew's daughters use the 'princess' title.

Princess Anne doesn't count as a minor royal. She is, after all, the Princess Royal, a title bestowed by her mother ages ago.