Royals Everywhere…
This week has had the royals on both continents in the news and not always for good reasons, which makes this week’s edition extra juicy. The Queen has many worried that she’s in declining health or worse, that she might have weeks to live. While a night in the hospital is not much to concern most people, when it comes to Queen Elizabeth, the world wants the ninety-five year old to continue on as she has always managed.
It seems the Queen is on her way to Sandringham, which is where she goes for Christmastime, so it’s a bit early for her. Nobody in the public knows if the monarch of up to hosting the family for Christmas, and I don’t think she’ll be around for Remembrance Sunday, which is a week from tomorrow. Of late, the Queen has watched the laying of the wreaths, while Prince Charles and Prince William lay the wreaths on her behalf. We shall see on that day.
I’m a bit concerned that the Queen is missing her husband and is failing, but I hope not. Not yet. I so want her to enjoy next year’s Jubilee, where the Queen will celebrate seventy years of reigning. Prince Philip missed his 100th birthday, but he didn’t want a fuss over it. I hope the Queen is in good health, and she has been seen driving around in her car, so that’s good news.
As for Prince William and Catherine, they have been up in Scotland at the COP26 Climate conference. Both of them visited locals before heading to a night out while visiting with world leaders who were attending this event. William spoke about his Earthshot Prize, and he praised the winners of this year’s inaugural prize. Both of them looked lovely, and Catherine stood out in her bright blue dress.
The couple will be attending the Royal Variety Performance on November 18th. That means evening gowns and suits, so William and Catherine will be on the red carpet. I’ll post pics of them as soon as that night arrives. Such fun!
On a sadder note is what Meghan Markle has been up to in America. Prince Harry just seems to go along with her ideas, but she’s been upsetting senators and citizens in America over her latest ventures. The first was sending letters to Congress about mandating parental leave rights, but she used letterhead which named her as a British royal, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Many in the U.S. don’t understand why Meghan needs to use the royal title in this free country.
For a woman who has said the royals are mean, uncaring, don’t raise their children well and are racist, Meghan sure likes saying she’s a British duchess. I don’t think Harry was in on this letter, but even if he’s not, should this couple use titles in this country? Why can’t Meghan stand on her own name, since she didn’t do anything other than marry a prince from Great Britain? Shouldn’t she be recognized as Meghan Markle or Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor? Or Meghan Windsor?
Then just days ago Meghan cold called senators on their private cell phones, saying she was “Meghan the Duchess of Sussex”. I think this American has let her British titles go to her head. She only thinks of herself as a British duchess, when she never bothered to stay in Great Britain to become a citizen of the country. Did Meghan get that list of private phone numbers because she is married to a British prince? How did a private American citizen finagle these cell numbers, so she could pester senators into passing paid leave legislation?
I’d be fine with Meghan lobbying for policy changes in Britain, though that would be against royal policies, but when have the rules and protocols of being a duchess ever bothered to stop Meghan Markle? Her sense of self-importance is amazingly large. Will the couples lose those titles? Two nations wait on a queen. Perhaps this will fall to Prince Charles to deal with, since the queen isn’t feeling as young as she used to be. Whatever happens, this is fascinating to watch.
One last observation. Some think Ms. Markle is trying to assess running for office. All fine and good, but she’s going to have to stop being the Duchess of Sussex. Some say she’s the first American princess, but then she’d have to be called Princess Henry. Strange royal times, at times.
Prince Charles was in Scotland, too, where he spoke about championing the cause for conservation, which the man has been doing since the 1970’s. That’s passion, and it’s great to see Charles leading the charge for saving the planet, since he was all for this even before William was born.
The Queen did not attend the COP26, but she did send a video message to the attendees where she said Prince Philip was always interested in conservation, and Charles and William are both following in Philip’s footsteps. Kind of cool to have the monarch publicly praise the two men.
Princess Beatrice is supposed to take over Harry’s Counsellor of State position, since he’s not close by anymore. That simply means Harry won’t be one of the four appointed people to take over for the Queen should she need assistance at a royal function. Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Andrew are the other three. Will Andrew be replaced, too? There’s always something happening to my favorite royal family, and it makes for fun royal watching.
Next week I’ll cover Meghan’s lawsuit, as that appeal is expected to be heard, and of course any outings that Catherine takes will be on here, too. And we have Remembrance Sunday coming up. Lots going on. So enjoy your biscuits (cookies in our nomenclature) and some hot coffee! We threw the tea into the harbor, but if you want some good hot tea, then enjoy!
