Royal Tea Wednesday
Birthdays and books…
Happy 8th Birthday to Prince George! His birthday is tomorrow, July 22nd, and I do hope his parents release a new photo of him in honor of his birthday. Just think. In ten short years George will be heading to university, and we will be reading stories about his love life. Crazy, right? Now that HRH Prince George is old enough to stop wearing shorts, he really will start to look more grown up. I’m even reading that he might attend boarding school this year. So much is going on with the royals!
The Queen made an unexpected visit to Sandringham in Norfolk this week and spent time at Wood Cottage Farm, which is where the late Prince Philip lived after he resigned from royal duties. The Queen feels close to her husband there, and it’s only been three months since he passed away. Queen Elizabeth also wore a brooch handed down from Queen Victoria on her virtual meeting with the youth leaders of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust this week. I have to say how beautiful the Queen looked in her blue dress with the brooch. Oh to have the jewels that are at her disposal must be fun! Glittering, glamorous fun!
There are those of you who followed me before, and I will say I’m trying for a more light-hearted and fun approach to writing about the royal family. I do know I wanted Harry and his wife to be truthful in their life, but I don’t feel like I’m the one to say their titles need to be removed. It will be funny having a prince in America, since I think of Prince; yes the musical one; as the real prince. Also, I don’t want any royal child to be mocked or bullied online, and I’m not going to engage in it. I think children deserve to be protected, kept as innocent as possible in this crazy world of ours; and I hope people are kind to the observable and in the public (sometimes) Cambridge children. Even the people who adore the American refugees from Britian.
Before I talk about William’s book! I’ll address the Archie in the room. I’ve never said he’s ugly, dressed inappropriately, or speaks horribly. In fact, if the child is saying “Grandma Diana” and “hydrate” and “crocodile” as his very first words, the child is a lingual genius! I have wondered if his parents have tucked him out of sight. I have wondered if a surrogate was used. I don’t know the answer to these ponderings. I don’t. And when I see baby Lilibet and Archie together in any photos sent out, as long as they aren’t just feet, I’ll be able to ooh and ahh along with you too. I love children! I love photos of them being cute together.
Now. That book. We all know how wildly popular Catherine’s Hold Still book was, and yes, I have a copy! What a brilliant book to commemorate this tough time in history. And now her husband is writing part of a book dedicated to the Earthshot prize, which is his own idea. Earthshot: How to Save Our Planet will have the introduction written by the man who is trying to get the brains in our world to combat climate change. I can say with our crazy late May snow here, the fires all over the west; to the point where our skies are muddy with smoke; and the awful heat felt by most that we need to help cool down the world. I’m thrilled to see what people are doing to make our world better, and this book should be a good read.
And then there’s old news. Prince Harry or just Harry, as he wants to be known and will be in America, is going to write his own tell-all. I do wonder what is left to tell after the Oprah tell-all aired while they knew Prince Philip was dying. And the tell-all Finding Freedom by Scobie, and the tell-all mental health pieces done with Oprah for Apple tv. What does he have left to tell? I don’t think there’s anything left.
People in the UK are saying this is the nail in the coffin for Harry, since after he tells-all once again for the fourth time, there is no coming back from this sad idea. I don’t know why he and the wife left for privacy, but giving tell-alls isn’t private. It’s quite the opposite. Why can’t he live a quiet life with the wife of his dreams and their two cherubic children? Why say another word about the family he left behind? Why can’t Harry leave the royals alone? Why bother them at all? Where is his kindness and compassion that he and the wife espouse? Harry might rue the day he set pen to paper, so I hope he likes America. He’ll just might be here for the rest of his life.
The Duchess of Cornwall celebrated her birthday this past week, and it was nice to see so many rallying behind her as she prepares to be the next Queen consort. It seems the country is rather divided (not ours, but the UK) over whether Camilla should be a queen. Diana is gone. Twenty-four years now. If only she had buckled up. If only. But I admire true love, and the royals learned to give in to true love after Charles’ generation. Even the Queen married for love and did not bow to pressure, but Charles wasn’t that lucky. I think we all like a great love story, and William and Catherine certainly have one to tell. I think Camilla and Charles also have a love story, as did Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
I read an interview with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who was married to Prince Andrew. She spoke about having fun with Diana, and how she still misses her laugh and giggling. Sarah shared pics of her with her family, and they were sweet. Her daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice seem to be very close to their mother, and Sarah loves being a grandmother. Soon she’ll have another grandchild to love, and as I said, I love children! They make this world happier and more joyful. It cracked me up that Sarah said Fergie is a part of her that she accepts, and if Fergie wants to get a facelift, then she’ll do that. Sarah is very direct, and she stands by her man, Andrew. She was interviewed as saying he was there for her at her tough times, so she’ll be there for him.
Do we have time for a sweet ending? Yes? Princess Anne, who was stunningly beautiful in her youth and is still lovely, is known for her stoic countenance at the many royal duties to which she attends. But when she’s around her daughter Zara’s children, Anne is very sweet and tender with them. She’s been around Zara’s three children quite a lot, so they have a great rapport with each other. It seems like many in the royal family enjoy grandparenting. It is easier than parenting. Much. And so even Princess Anne melts and hugs all of her five grandchildren, and that is the sweetest story today.
Here’s to hoping we see the royals out and about looking as fabulous as they usually do. Until I pour another cup of royal tea beside my oolong tea then. Next Wednesday. Though Tuesdays might be a better day for me to write. Wednesdays are supposed to be for my blog. Just had to add that. My blog is elsewhere. Think Rosemary and Lavender Home. I’m there too. Have a great rest of your week!
