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The family firm.

(493 Posts)
GabriellaG54 Thu 05-Sept-19 13:09:23

Photos of Princess Charlotte's first day at school with her brother Prince George, show us how well their mother, Catherine, has fitted into The Firm.
Delightfully normal and without any pretentious, she and her husband simply get on with life, neither courting nor studiously avoiding the publicity that goes with the job.
She looks wonderful in the pictures taken by the DM and the family is a fitting continuation of our monarchy.

maddyone Mon 09-Sept-19 09:50:22

I simply believe that, on the whole, a monarchy is better than a republic. The queen has represented us on the world stage magnificently, and I think that both Charles and William will be good kings. It’s strange isn’t it, the ‘spare’ seems to be unlikely to represent us well, by that I mean both Princess Margaret and Prince Harry. It would have been unfortunate in the extreme if Prince Andrew had ever managed to sit on the throne. Prince Anne would have been a much better monarch.

maddyone Mon 09-Sept-19 09:45:19

They are not my betters either.

Anniebach Sun 08-Sept-19 22:40:23

They are not my betters

pinkquartz Sun 08-Sept-19 22:38:59

trisher you said "They are simply rich people who live their lives the way rich people do. Why on earth anyone thinks they can somehow approve or disapprove of how they behave I don't understand"

So are you saying that us tax payers have no right to critic our betters? We should know our place?
That is how you are coming across.

maddyone Sun 08-Sept-19 22:36:03

Maybe that’s right Annie, I do believe that Charles didn’t want to marry so young, maybe Camilla didn’t want to wait for marriage, like Kate was prepared to do. Anyway, she upped and married, as you say Annie, when Charles was away in the Navy. It’s a sad story all ways round really. I’m pleased Charles is finally happy with the woman he loves.

Anniebach Sun 08-Sept-19 21:36:34

How would it be known she wasn’t a virgin ?

Strange if the Windsors were against her that Anne, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were guests at her wedding

Sparklefizz Sun 08-Sept-19 20:37:12

I thought Camilla was regarded as unsuitable because she was Catholic and not a virgin.

Anniebach Sun 08-Sept-19 19:23:56

I don’t believe the story that Charles wasn’t allowed to marry
Camilla, she married Parker Bowles in 1973, Charles was then
24, had started his naval career . They dated, he dated many,
he joined the armed forces when he was about 21. I doubt he wanted to marry that young.

maddyone Sun 08-Sept-19 17:57:46

Oh you’re completely correct Bridgeit, the two families were intertwined for years. Diana was regarded as suitable because she was from the upper class. Personally though, I think she was fed to the lions. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Charles had been faithful, or if he had been allowed to marry Camilla, who was regarded as unsuitable, and as they knew this, she went off and married someone else. A very sad story all ways round.

Meghan is not the same as this though. Harry has been allowed to marry his choice, even though in times gone by, she would have been regarded as unsuitable. Unfortunately, if she doesn’t change her ways, it will become very obvious that she was an unsuitable choice.

Anniebach Sun 08-Sept-19 17:57:40

Diana lived in Sandringham until her father inherited his title.

The Queen is Godmother to Diana’s brother, she was a guest at the wedding of Diana’s parents. Diana’s maternal grandmother was lady in waiting to the queen mother.

The Spencers holidayed at Balmoral. Diana’s sister had been in a relationship with Charles. Diana’s brother in law was private secretary to the Queen.

No one could have known more about the royal family than Diana .
I cannot agree with ‘her doting father ‘, he was the most guilty
in my opinion.

Bridgeit Sun 08-Sept-19 17:41:32

I am always baffled that generally speaking so many people seem to be unaware that Charles & Diana’s families have been intertwined for years & years, along with a whole section of society who were & are all known to each other .

maddyone Sun 08-Sept-19 17:32:30

I don’t know whether Meghan wants to be like Diana or not, but I don’t think she is like Diana.
Diana was a nineteen year old, not very worldly, and inexperienced young woman when she married Charles. She would have had some understanding of the monarchy, but probably she expected somewhat more support than she received, and it’s probably fair comment that she expected her husband to be faithful. She didn’t really have a mother to guide her, and her doting father died shortly after her marriage.
Meghan however, is a mature woman, who has had a previous marriage and another relationship which included a live in lover. She had worked in a cut throat industry which probably encourages people to think they are more important than they are. She moved in the world of celebrity. She was already having very little to do with her father, who paid for her expensive education. She deliberately didn’t introduce Harry to her father.
Two very different women. Diana did play to the world’s stage, but that was later on. Meghan appears to be playing to the world stage already. Thank goodness Kate is married to William and not Meghan.

Bridgeit Sun 08-Sept-19 17:27:23

Well I haven’t seen MM emulating Diana, she did her own thing, was happy & confident working the crowds.
Meghan is accused of hanging onto Harry.

Anniebach Sun 08-Sept-19 17:07:42

The opposite ? like Kate ?

Diana loved the world stage as does Megan

Bridgeit Sun 08-Sept-19 17:02:30

It makes no sense that she would want to be like Diana.
Surely the opposite would be more logical.

maddyone Sun 08-Sept-19 12:08:52

Yes Annie, you have made good points. Meghan should have understood, not least from Harry. He should have made sure she understood, but I’m still not sure she does.
If however, Meghan does understand, then sadly it only makes her behaviour all the worse.

Anniebach Sun 08-Sept-19 11:56:06

‘Megan doesn’t understand ‘ .

They have been a couple for three years, she has seen how the rest of the family respect the queen and how ‘the family work’,

She is nearly 40, an intelligent woman, she doesn’t understand?

She admired Diana , I think she sees herself as another Diana
and Harry wants her to be a Diana.

Pantglas1 Sun 08-Sept-19 11:40:28

Very well put Maddyone.

MawB Sun 08-Sept-19 11:29:40

Agree with all you say Maddyone - I was not impressed to see Meghan had flown to the US to watch a tennis match - however important.
Carbon footprint?

maddyone Sun 08-Sept-19 11:25:45

I think Kate does put her country first Annie. She had a long time to think about the implications of marriage to William, and he had a long time to consider whether or not she would be able to cope with life in a goldfish bowl, and if she will be able to cope, in due course, with being married to the king.
Meghan did not have very long to consider the restraints of royal life. The marriage came quickly. Harry had apparently been disappointed in love by a couple of girls who realising what the requirements were, decided to go walk away, and he was in a hurry to marry. Meghan in all probability had no idea really what she was taking on when she became a member of the royal family. Clearly neither did most of her family. Her mother has proved to be a good support and entirely discreet.
I was very happy for him when he initially found Meghan. Now I wonder how this is all going to pan out. I’m concerned by Meghan’s apparent self centredness and her lack of understanding of how the monarchy works. Royals do not refuse to visit the queen at Balmoral and then fly around the world to see a friend play (a very important) tennis match. Meghan doesn’t understand this. If a person marries into the monarchy they immediately receive wealth and benefits unheard of in their previous life, however wealthy they may have been already, but it is not cost free. There are restrictions and a certain lack of privacy. There are duties and obligations. Meghan simply does not understand.

Anniebach Sat 07-Sept-19 22:43:24

Kate puts this country first . Megan wants the world stage .

merlotgran Sat 07-Sept-19 22:38:36

I think a lot of people feel that Meghan will never be 'royal' in the way that Kate is. There's a lot more to it than hanging on to Harry during public appearances and stroking his back.

Bridgeit Sat 07-Sept-19 22:33:44

Thanks Maddyone, I didn’t mean just about meeting the baby, ( but also wedding etc etc )

Anniebach Sat 07-Sept-19 22:33:09

I agree Maddy , the measuring of the suit could have been avoided if Mr Markle had met Harry and Harry had arranged
for him to be advised . He wasn’t wanted at the wedding.

Many families have one member who causes embarrassment but Megan only invited one member of her family, ignoring
her paternal and maternal families.

maddyone Sat 07-Sept-19 22:32:10

I hope he has though, but I doubt it. After all, baby is too young to travel to Scotland.