Here are more photos of the Cambridges at yesterday’s christening for Princess Charlotte at Sandringham. I posted photos yesterday – Kate wore this rather beautiful Alexander McQueen coatdress in cream and a Jane Taylor hat. She looked really beautiful. She also seemed very happy and proud of her children and eager to show them off. It was sweet to see. Of course, it also served another purpose. Royal babies make people forget about Will & Kate’s penchant for spending thousands on unnecessary renovations just because they’re bored and idle. The Daily Mail had an update on the situation with the tennis court at Anmer Hall, which we discussed last Friday. Guess how much this mess is going to end up costing? £60,000!
When it comes to the perfect game of tennis, it’s the detail that really counts for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, it seems. For as Wimbledon enters its second week, the Royal couple are planning to spend an eyebrow-raising £60,000 to move their own tennis court a mere 36ft – in order to improve the view at their country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
According to documents posted on the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council website, William and Kate have applied for planning permission to demolish an existing court and build a new one with an artificial grass surface just a court’s width further to the right. Both William and Kate are avid players and Kate is a regular visitor to the All England Club. Their plans form part of a comprehensive overhaul of the grounds at Anmer Hall, which are likely to cost several tens of thousands. The project includes planting numerous trees, partly for reasons of privacy, although ten trees and a lavender hedge will be felled to make way for the new court.
It is understood the Royal couple are also investing in extensive vegetable and fruit gardens. Keen gardener Kate has a small kitchen garden at Kensington Palace, but with the Anmer grounds covering nearly nine acres, the Norfolk plans are more ambitious. The Cambridges have spent two years and around £2.5 million refurbishing the Georgian manor house on the Sandringham Estate, a gift to Prince William for his 30th birthday.
As well as rerouting a driveway to make it more private and relocating the swimming pool, the couple have installed a new roof and a conservatory. They have also converted many of the estate’s outhouses to accommodate a growing team of staff. The renovation – which will be paid for privately – is in contrast to the more frugal habits of the Queen, whose gardens at Windsor Palace have hardly changed over the decades.
The garden at Anmer, where the Cambridges will grow their own produce in eight 6ft-high fruit and vegetable ‘cages’, will also include a potting shed and an ice house – an old-fashioned subterranean structure for storing ice and preserving food. Prince Charles, who has extensive gardens at his Highgrove home –which also famously boasts a stunning kitchen garden – is believed to have advised the couple.
The state-of-the-art tennis court comes complete, of course, with fencing. Industry sources say a new tennis court costs about £50,000 to build, but installing an artificial turf surface would drive the price up by another £10,000. According to the council documents, ‘moving the court further away from the Hall improves the views from the Hall’.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess said that no public money was being spent on the project, and that the current court needed extensive resurfacing work. The Cambridges, he added, had been advised to start again.
As many of you pointed out last Friday, there’s some question as to whether this “moving the tennis court” thing is really a land-grab. They seem to want to move the tennis court half-way onto someone else’s property (a tenant farmer) or even public park land. And this comes after they “moved” their pool too. My God. I understand wanting to make a property your own, but the combination of “they’re just spending Charles’ money at the cost of millions of pounds” and “utterly unnecessary” part of just renovating for the sake of renovating… it’s all very rage-inducing. But look at Prince George, right? No one can complain when George’s grumpy mug is around.
Also: many people are complaining about Nanny Maria’s terrible nanny uniform. I don’t get it either, but People Magazine says it’s her real uniform.
Princess Charlotte after her christening at the Church of St Mary Magdalene #Sandringham today pic.twitter.com/xxV10WNBBH
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 5, 2015
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
A swingball set would be way cheaper
Spend, spend, spend, don’t work , go on holidays, go sit a Wimbledon and call it work.
Sponger, Lazy couple.
Yes The kids are cute, really adorable but ,I can’t stand William and Kate they are just lazy spongers.
Diana would not be pleased with her son.
Diana would have probably given him a real piece of her mind LONG Ago.
The reporters may may say nice things in print, in their newspapers, but what they say off the record seems to paint quite a different story of William, he just is determined to do as he pleases and be damned what advice he gets.
Almost all kids are cute. Kate and Will’s children are no exception. Just because a couple has cute kids doesn’t mean they get a free pass to do whatever they want.
You’re just trying to spoil my day, aren’t you, Kaiser? I already have hay fever eyes: no need to put the boot in.
BTW: they’re likely only planting trees because they’re cutting down trees. It’s usually a replacement condition in rural planning – you have to replant any cut down tree with a tree from a list of local native species. In my village, we even have to get permission to cut a branch off one of our trees. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, dontchaknow.
(Commences bootlicking)
Sixer I am sure any place you are is an area of outstanding beauty.
Can I be the one to tell Willy no to this pretty please. He needs to hear it from someone.
Haha. I actually do live in an AONB. It’s a conservation status here!
Yes, you can.
@ Sixer
In my area there are “conservation orders” on trees as well. The people around here know a few tricks around that. For example:
fir tree – copper nail into stem. Wait.
Other trees: dig to the roots and drill holes and pour in (salt / sulfuric) acid and close the holes. Wait.
In such cases the trees will simply look as if they die and then – “sorry inspector but this tree was ill /dying / a safety hazard and has to be taken down …” And they make sure the inspector doesn’t see the roots …
I know these actions are terrible but honestly: buildings listed and graded for conservation are cheaper in council tax over here. So people have their buildings and gardens and trees listed to reduce taxes. When they then want to renovate the gardens or add a garage or an adjoining building there are trees they can’t cut down because those things are listed and one can’t get rid of the conservation certificate. And then people develop strategies.
Perhaps the solution would be to not allow a listing and grading of each and any 500-year-old barn building. Not every old building is worth conserving just because it is old, da*n it!
Honestly it is a nightmare to look after a listed century-old building. I wouldn’t recommend buying one!
Welll, I live not far from a City of outstanding natural grot but down the side of my house the trees have a preservation order on them na, na,nana, na (we are very keen on trees in Brum) Right sorry about that, I haven’t been commenting on this because I just get all riled but, o Voice of Trenchant Reality – where’s the fudge between ‘public’ and ‘private’ money I’m guessing there is one? I’m sorry about your hayfever, I get it as well and it’s really annoying. The only thing I can suggest for irritated eyes is an iced flannel and a darkened room and a supply of Mint Juleps (very alcoholic) served up by The Bloke in a Toga.
The tree outside my father’s house is threatening his garage (which is attached to his house) and the parish council has made him get a tree surgeon in three times rather than cut it down and replant. The gits.
It is annoying. I’m dosed up to the eyeballs but nothing’s working and I’ve got a biggish job on. Don’t be an editor – you need your eyes, even in the summer!
I saw on the previous thread that the council have taken this application private now. Tells you all that you need to know, really, doesn’t it?
I might go off and lust over videos of the Greek finance minister since he’s resigned and my latest crush will be no more on my timeline. That might refresh the eyes a bit!
Sixer – I neti pot my sinuses every day in the shower whether or not it’s allergy season and it’s made a major difference. After using the neti pot for about 6 months, it was working as well as my old steroid prescription nasal spray.
Have you tried a teaspoon of natural local honey every day? It’s supposed to build up immunity to pollen other than that have no more suggestions, other than GO GREECE! (even if I am worried to death for them…)
I have no idea what neti pot is but will investigate now! I have honey – and no problem FORCING myself to eat some every day!
@Sixer
I congratulate you on your fine taste in ministers. I struggle to think of another minister who can rock the motorbike chic like Varoufakis does. And after the No vote he gave a press conference in a round-neck T-shirt. My rebel heart is all aflutter.
Beth – THE T-SHIRT! I died a little bit inside!
Sixer: to really get you riled up, it’s kinda funny how last year’s accounts admitted to £1.5M in taxpayer spend on Anmer and this year it’s all ‘private funds’. Sure they aren’t dipping into the taxpayer fund this year, but they’ve already dipped in. To the tune of £1.5M
LAK – it’s the most infuriating thing ever that even a penny of taxpayer money went on a private residence, isn’t it?
Add to it all the taxpayer money spent on the Wales house because they wouldn’t live on base and the million+ spent on the Middleton family home. Huge amounts of money spent on two people who refuse to work.
Apparently I don’t speak English anymore, because I just got a massive headache trying to figure out what in blazes you just said, lol! 😊
you need to use the local honey Sixer as the local bees, will give you a better immunity…
That’s the theory anyway should your bees still be around!
Please sign the 38degree petition re bees and chemical treatment if you can !!
From a Bee fan!!!
Ok (my honey is local) and will do!
Give Bees a Chance! Yes Sixer, it does need to be local. By ingesting the pollen from the local things that cause your allergies, it is supposed to help you deal with it. A health reason to eat honey? I’ll use that excuse.
This is true. It won’t cure allergies, but like a flu shot will build up your immunity from small doses.
Since much of my local honey is made from clover I don’t care for it. The flowers the bees get their pollen from does make a huge difference in flavor. If that matters. Flavor matters to me.
Try some homeopathic Kali Bic, it will reduce the symptoms and is also great for anyone with sinus problems, my father suffered for years from infected sinus’s until someone finally talked him into Kali Bic, now at the first sign of trouble he pops a few tiny pills under his tongue a couple of times a day and it never gets to the really bad stage anymore.
How about deny planning permission? Why allow them to use private or public property?
Oh,Zimmer you ask a fair question,but I am sure this will remain hush hush and no questions asked,otherwise you will be arrested for a ‘security’ breach!!
Never mind the rest of us plebs !!
It’s annoying that they are so rich. It’s annoying that we all can’t have perfect pools and perfect tennis courts. But if they really are avid tennis players, an old tennis court is lumpy and aggravating. I bet they really were advised to start over. So now they’ll have a beautiful croquet lawn AND a perfect tennis court. Plus, organic gardens are great. But why did the renovations take 2 years and cost £2.5 million? Yikes!!!
PS Look at the woman with the blue apron clutching her heart. That’s what it’s all about. Thousands of years of waiting for a glimpse of royalty isn’t something Americans really get. What percentage of Brits love it/are sick of it?
As a brit – sick to death of it. And so are a lot of peope I know.
I cringe at people like that besoted woman – all this adoration for a family that have done nothing to deserve it. It makes our country look pathetically outdated.
Second that wholeheartedly
Re PS: I think she’s looking at George, isn’t she, that woman? In which case, I imagine a gazillion British women would do the same at a cute baby – even me, on occasion!
As to Brits clutching their hearts at the sight of a Royal – only the nutters, and I certainly don’t know any. For sure, a great many fewer Brits would do that than Americans would put hand on heart for the flag or the anthem – which looks equally outlandish to us. Brits don’t do that for flag or anthem either, unless on the sports field and even then half don’t bother. Vast numbers of Brits don’t even KNOW the words of the national anthem (Alesha Dixon, I’m looking at you. Snigger).
Yes we do, our national anthem goes ‘God save our gracious team, long live our noble team God save our team..and the second verse goes ‘na,na,na,na,nana, na, na, na na, na, na dur na, na na….
I agree but would also add many like to go or take family to what they consider may be a historical event.if you also happen to be on holiday in Norfolk it’s something to do on a weekend ,short of driving to a beach!
I would much prefer a beach!!
@frisbeejada – you just made me laugh out loud! So true. Mr Sixer is bigger on national pride than I am and he ranks sportspeople on how well they know the anthem by observing them at the start of games. His favourite list is tiny!
A vast number of Americans don’t know our national anthem, myself included. I’m pretty good at faking it though 😉
As far as the hand over the heart goes, we can only blame the House of Representatives who drafted the federal requirement that is the flag code.
THE UNITED STATES CODE
title 36
subtitle I
part A
chapter 3
§ (subsection ?) 301
§ 301. National anthem
(a) Designation.- The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.- During a rendition of the national anthem-
(1) when the flag is displayed-
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; and
(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
BTW, you won’t get arrested or anything if you don’t observe the flag code 😉
Re the woman clutching her heart, hah it is rather cringeworthy. I myself am ambivalent towards the hardcore royal watchers – part of me thinks it is so embarrassingly sycophantic, I mean what possessed people to camp outside hospitals for days just to catch a glimpse of a stranger’s baby? Plus all the outlandish clothes and sequined hats plastered with the Union Jack, ugh. On the other hand, most of them are seniors who are probably retired and it’s nice to see them enjoy themselves.
Certain people will camp out for the latest iphone or concert tix. It’s all driven by idolatry is it not?
For sure, and I’ll just add that there are also differences between people camping out for a concert. To me this is more akin to camping out for a One Direction gig than a David Bowie one.
Beth No. 2 – Now that’s an interesting observation about Bowie vs 1D. Since I’m a fan of neither, please dish on how the 2 sets of fans differ.
1D fans – deifying overrated individuals who are not particularly talented and a massive waste of space. Sounds familiar?
Another difference – people who choose to camp out for concert tix or iPhone pay for it themselves.
It’s our vapid, celebrity culture. I just said on the Jolie/Pitt airport thread, can you imagine taking pictures of a family at an airport? Many of those taking pics were private citizens using iPhones. How bizarre! I would NEVER take pics of a celebrity. I don’t know them, so why would I do that? They are nothing special over anyone else except they are good at make believe for tv or movies. I do find them entertaining, as most are just clueless and absurd!
But then again, I’m from NYC, where we think we are the coolest people on earth, and most celebrities aren’t even worth a glance from us.:)
The BRF are like hereditary celebrities, they have ‘fans’ and like fans the world over they are immune to reason – their response to the BRF is visceral, emotional and entrenched in their belief system and that’s very, very difficult to shift. Hence the lady turning into goo at the mere sight of William, not just a chubby cheeked cute kid but a ROYAL kid. I’m betting she wet herself at the mere sight of him.
As an American living in England, I ask that question frequently- and it’s about fifty-fifty, for and against. I’ve been told it just makes English feel special, that they still have a ‘proper royal family’. And some people feel that tourism would just die without the royals, which I don’t particularly understand. It’s not as if we come over to meet up with any royals, just their old houses. Its an amazing place, Queen or no Queen.
I am personally here for my British hubby and the fish and chips.
Speaking as a native Scot, misty-eyed Royalists north of the border are a somewhat dying breed. Less than two thirds polled at the time of the Diamond Jubilee were in support of the monarchy after the current reign, and this figure may have swollen since the referendum.
Word is that tumbril workshops are springing up all over the more remote glens and the sound of sawing can be heard on the distant wind. 😁
LadyoftheLoch: lol I just caught your tumbril reference!
The nanny seems very traditional and simple, so I’m sure it was her choice. Apparently she wanted to be a nun at one point, so…
I’m surprised, then, that she didn’t tug her forelock. But perhaps she does that in private.
I think you just dissed nuns who are no one’s servants except the cosmic one. I can’t imagine you are saying she sees them as gods…… Have we just been trolled? LOL
I think that was more a comment about the nanny’s ‘habit’ than her behavior. Nun’s habits are none-too-stylish either.
You see traditional and simple and I see humble and dedicated.
I like the Nanny, no nonsense style and serious woman. I like her.
LMAO–only George could get away with side-eying the Queen!! Magnificent!! 😉
FFS, these people. Bored, bitchy brats. Do you think for *one second* that if I were fortunate enough to have a pool, tennis court and room for a veggie garden that I would take it for granted???? Hell no! I’d be thanking my lucky stars for the rest of my life. Grrr you’re right–these people are rage-inducing.
Someone said George wanted to know from the Queen or Granny ( he calls her Granny) if he could go PLAY now? LOL
He calls Carole Grandma and The Queen ,Granny according to what William was heard saying to him.
I think that Kate should grow organic medical marijuana and pay for her own tennis court move. Kill two birds with one stone!
Do royal nannies in the past dress in that horrendous outfit for formal occasions? I understand it is their college uniform but it is hideous and unless Nanny Maria opted herself to wear it, it comes across as really tacky emphasising the upstairs downstairs class divide.
I feel like I have walked onto the set of some cheap BBC period drama.
That uniform is the uniform of a nanny agency Norland and nanny school. where you go the learn how to be a a professional nanny ( for people like celebs and royals and wealthy ppl). Whats worst the students actually have the wear that uniform everyday and and out in public!!!
it reminds me of mary poppins!!!
this is the school/agency http://www.norland.co.uk/
Thanks aussie! 🙂 That hat is almost as hideous as the Harrow hat.
Per the People article, Norland no longer requires their nannies to wear that uniform. It’s up to the employers. So, she didn’t choose to wear it, she was asked to wear it. Diana never asked her nannies to wear uniforms, opting to allow them to wear their own formal attire. Not sure why Nanny Maria was asked to wear this particular Mary Poppins garb.
Mary Poppins, at least the movie version, was much better dressed……..this is horrendous.
Their previous nanny, Jessie Webb, managed to attend the christening of PGtips in her own clothes. No hiding her.
Nanny Maria is wearing that uniform to fit into the 1930s tableau (with a side dish of Diana) that they wanted to create visually.
Norland agency doesn’t require it’s graduates to wear that uniform as they work. it’s upto the employers if they want their Norland nannies to wear it. I’m forever side-eyeing the Norland nannies in the park because you know their nouveau rich employers asked them to dress up.
Kate is like the nouveau riche – she wants to distinguish her middle class family from “the help.”
Unfortunately the nanny uniform is called Norland Nannies which the upper echelons like to have.They qualify from a college and are sought after.It appears ‘Kate ‘ wanted her nanny in her uniform or this occasion,just like a proper servant!!!
The ‘pram’ which she pushed the baby in is a ‘loaner’ from the fifties belonged to ‘Liz’ and was used for Edward and Andrew
These folks have so much space they never have to throw anything away !!!
It seems those aspects were also highly planned,no baby buggy/stroller for her!!!,not elegant enough for the occasion I expect!
I am sure all the’yummy mummies’ as we called them here will now want a ‘pram as well!!!
I had a Silver Cross pram for the Sixlets! My friend’s mother renovates them for a living and did one for me. It lived at my mother’s house for when she was babysitting.
But the question is are you able to keep it in your attic for the sixlets children to use ???
It’s in my dad’s garage! (The one that’s being threatened by the errant tree I mentioned above!)
“The ‘pram’ which she pushed the baby in is a ‘loaner’ from the fifties belonged to ‘Liz’ and was used for Edward and Andrew”
Thanks, I got it right yesterday! As soon as I saw that pic of Kate’s outfit, the pram and George’s outfit I guessed they looked straight out of the 1950’s era with only Wills wearing a modern suit. I know tradition is important but doesn’t the Royal family also have to reflect their times in historical pics? I mean you can look up a painting of Queen Victoria and her outfit is a mark of her era not of her ancestors except for family jewelry. I guess it could be worse, Kate could have decided to gown herself and her kids in Elizabethian era clothing!
My guess about the nanny school uniform: if nannies in the past didn’t wear uniforms it’s because they were British born. The press made a big deal about her foreign origins so to deflect from that at a formal British even both the nanny and the Cambridges may have decided to focus on presenting her cridentials on a graduate of a prestigious British nanny institution. I don’t think it was a class thing as much as it was to please the British patriots.
I actually still have my SIlver Cross doll’s pram. For twin dolls!
ooooh!
“…growing team of staff…” Snort.
I had no idea that they relocated the swimming pool too. Good god.
Ah, suze, I noticed that too. They have a growing team of staff, but they don’t have a growing body of work. Apparently, that’s an inversely proportionate function!
I read they want to relocate the tennis court to improve their views. Apparently, it’s most annoying breakfasting in the conservatory and having to look at one’s sporting venues.
Yes – moving the custom-built swimming pool was another 50,000 pounds at least. Those things don’t come cheap!
those two are beyond reasonable at this point. .
If they decide to move and convert their pool to a giant wave pool leisure center with a man made beach ie sand imported from Antigua (only the best for Waity) and then expect the British taxpayer to cover that too, will it finally be “enough is enough” from taxpayer watchdog groups?
The entitlements seem unending. Their spending seems to make them untouchable – they are the 1%, after all – but it only serves to publically widen the gap between us. Certainly we know they are not just like us, with the addition of Nannie uniforms. The poor Queen doesn’t require so much fancy in her abode – I think that Charles just loves spending money lavishly, on those he wants love. We can’t deny that he has good tastes, with a seeming inexhaustible supply to spend. He should give some to the Queen – she needs some remoldeling work.
The nanny uniform has to go, esp the hat. Barnes would’ve never put up with that.
No way, I love the Nanny. I like her she seems no nonsense, probably better with George than you know who, I dare say……
Well maybe…?
“keen gardner Kate”–snort! I will believe that when we see pix of her down in the dirt with the kiddies digging potatoes and weeding the beanstalks like Michelle Obama.
She’s probably quite keen on telling ‘the man’ where to dig!
I remember when Kate was reported by the press to be ” a Keen baby clothes designer”
Another career or interest that never came about!
She is always “keen” on things that she never follows through on.
“snort” from me as well. I don’t picture Kate doing ANY dirt work.
I so hate it when the tennis court blocks the view at my country home.
Except it really never did at Anmer. Google it. The existing court and the site for the new court are both well away from the house behind some trees. Waste of money and a land grab.
I just don’t see how a tennis court could ‘block the view’. It’s a flat surface, with some white stripes on that surface, and a low net. So–what, exactly, is blocking the view?
The fencing would be my guess.
Now now now — they’ll be growing tomatoes and runner beans, people.*
Forget that price tag, concentrate on how the nanny looks way worse than yummy mummy, yummy mummy is way prettier than the nanny, and move along!
* sarcasm
+1
Nanny Maria is a bonafide celeb. She needs an agent (yours truly, of course) to negotiate big bucks contract from Norland for each time she is photographed wearing her uniform.
For example, this set of photos is years of major advertising for Norland so we will be getting more for this appearance than say a pap shot at the Diana memorial playground at KP.
Mattel is also on my short list. Barbie as a Norland nanny. The licensing residuals will make Maria and me very very rich.
You are brilliant, MInnFinn! That’s actually a really good idea. 🙂
PS I used the facts you said I could borrow the other day. Thank you!
MinnFinn — and negotiate a Norland nanny in as a Bond Girl, and your profits go up!! (see, I assume that in addition to wiping little faces and minding bedtimes, a trained international Norland Nanny can kick the hell out of unfriendly onlookers and keep a shiv in their garters for emergencies, and the prams they use turn into aquatic escape vehicles.)
Liberty, I love the Bond Girl idea. You and bluhare are definitely invited to the London premiere so save the date of Nov 9 2017. Kate and Willy will walk the red carpet and you two will have the place of honor as escorts for Maria.
bluhare, I’m glad the info helped, err what was it again? Anyway, let’s all have toast to this type of collaboration which is international capitalism at it’s finest.
I read that Norland Nanny Maria is well trained in the martial arts and evasive driving as well as defensive pram pushing, so she does need her own action figure. I would love to see her in action mowing down the evil paparazzi with her lethal pram! I wonder if that’s a steel-rimmed bowler as well.
LOL Minnfinn. It was the age 33 comparison between AJ and Kate.
Feeshalori – you just made my day!! I am in love with your steel-rimmed bowler idea too! “Whoosh! take THAT, random pap!” Then, she strikes a pose.
MinnFinn — hear that? Action Maria!!!! You have got to do this!! Bluhare and I will carry the dolls up the red carpet as we saunter along in our bullet-proof gowns escorting our new BFF, Maria.
I like the way you think, Liberty. Except I want something that shoots poisoned darts!
Every time I think they can’t make George look more ridiculously twee…they do.
ITA.
I want to be Kate
I’d get up late
The shops would come to me.
My hair in curls —
Look at me, girls!
I’m a peasant victory!
I’ve learned to sniff,
I’ve learned to drawl,
I’ve learned to plot and glare,
My mum did tell me
I was raised to be royal
Who cares what you think?
(Thanks, Gar’!)
I’m glad to be Kate!
I got up late!
Work? No, it’s time to spend!
Bad luck being you —
A Duchess don’t Tube!
Oi! my sweet new ride
won’t end!
Very Good!
Our next Poet Laureate!!!
Brilliant! 😂
Yes, thanks Gar’!
Granny Dorothy would be so proud of her. *wink*
Sorry to be dim,I did not quite understand that reference..thought it was for artistic licence!
Could you explain that please?
Whatwasthat: A nod to Uncle Gary?
He of Maison de Bang Bang fame, who – allegedly – contributed undisclosed sums to Party Pieces through a silent partnership. Possibly profits from his *cough* other activities.
Thanks !!!! Duh!!! I get that now!!!
LOL! “I’m glad to be Kate”…reminds of that song that goes “damn it feels good to be a gangsta”.
Ha-Haa!, Olenna.
ha! Olenna! brilliant 🙂
People seem surprised that they are rich and have nice things.
No ,as has been discussed her before it is who is paying ,how their money originated and how they contribute
As a taxpayer and it’s a lot of tax I like many others object when they are not making any effort to contribute even if it is a charity attendance which by their presence brings out the big donors such as the Russians etc etc
I am not surprised they are rich but if you would like to see my payslip I would like to pay less tax for them and don’t get me started on whether they should even be the Royal Family…other heritary claims are strong !!
There was even a question if they are still the tourist draw they once were
Most of the time ,most people don’t think about it but in a time of austerity with more cuts coming to our social fabric moving a tennis court can make people’s blood boil..unless you keep it low key and away from the press
The money has been discussed here before. I just happen to think it’s a bit of a red herring. Charles is paying. If you want to argue that his property shouldn’t be his property because of an antiquated system, fine, but the money for this isn’t coming out of your pocket.
Should William do a lot more? Absolutely. To my mind, he’s run the “Mummy’s dead and people need to acquiesce to my every whim” thing into the ground.
You can argue that they aren’t a tourist draw, but 90% of the time I hear anything in the general news about Britain, it’s to do with the Royals. An awfully large chunk of those American tourists dumping cash in Britain couldn’t tell you the name of the Prime Minister but they’ll line up fifty deep to watch the Queen’s car drive by.
Well I did think about stopping buying Duchy of Cornwall organic items but then it was sold to Waitrose who I am just about to spend more money with right now so I may buy that organic biscuit anyway,so I can’t even protest about that!!!!
I feel very sorry for Charlie Boy,he has had to stump up of late but don’t look too closely at where that comes from!!
As said by Lak I believe the taxpayer contributed for Amner last year and I could believe there is some creative accounting going on.
Said mostly in jest but still think I am in entitled to expect more for my money from them..if they are paying for some things privately but not all and other items come from us on a roundabout way
You can keep arguing against it, but the fact is The Duchy isn’t Windsor private property. LAK can explain the history behind it until she is blue in the face. Those who choose not to accept those facts will keep not accepting them. That money should be being used for the people of the Duchy, not just these two gits.
We use figures to make our argument about tourism. No matter what you see on People magazine or ENews, the numbers do not lie. The people answering the surveys are telling the tourism agency that the royals have nothing to do with why they visit. None of the Top 20 attractions are related to royalty. Those are the facts from the tourists and the tourism agencies.
@RobN, it’s bewildering how often your reason for tourism is repeated on various tabloid sites. Neither I nor anyone I know who has visited England went there with the intent or expectation to see any of the royals. IMO, it is a very, very long stretch to say that tourists come to London for the primary purpose of lining “up fifty deep to watch the Queen’s car drive by”.
I think some people are disgusted rather than surprised at their extravagance and bad timing, and their apparent lack of a good work ethic. I know it would gall me to no end if I had to contribute to their “rich” lifestyle.
No, I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s the fact that they don’t do much for what they have, and they’re moving a tennis court because they’d rather not look at it, so a tenant has to lose some land.
It just looks bad. If either of them put more effort into their ceremonial roles I don’t think you’d see as much complaining. And the fact that their money sources are always rather vague doesn’t help.
And they’re rich, but not spending private funds. Unfortunately, when they spend or another picks up the bill for them the public will always pay. Much like the public funds for BP made private for KP/Anmer and then needing more public funds because they spent it all as private money.
There’s no valid defense for ther behavior without admitting they live off of others and do not earn their keep.
bluhare, exactly. Other royals put in work in exchange for their privileges. Some signs of work, effort, actually caring about something other than decor and shopping and incessant vacationing, and the snark would certainly diminish a bit. I mean, look at Harry, Anne, etc. You can be anti-Royal-lavish-life stuff, but at least they are getting up and working, and making some good use of their privileged roles in life.
The ongoing defense of them is incomprehensible. “Oh, she is allowed to go to polo and Wimbledon, she’s on maternity leave. She doesn’t have to go to commemoration events. Leave her alone.”
Shouldn’t they WANT to go to these events? What is wrong with these people? Dozens of their countrymen were just slaughtered. They’d rather go clap like seals at a tennis match than attend a ceremony to honor the dead? Your country’s heart is bleeding and you just Do Not Care.
I get it. Wimbledon is fun and big business. Pretend that is why they’re going and make the fake tourism argument again. But ALSO go to the commemoration events to show that you (pretend to) care about your people in good times and in bad.
When will their fans wake up and realize these two really do not care? All they care about is their tennis court, their holidays, and getting as much out of the taxpayers as they can without doing a lick of work. The defense of them is as baffling as their behavior.
notasugarhere and FLORC and bluhare — exactly. How is Wimbledon work? That and other events seem like perks to me (why, look at all the other people buying tickets to attend these various events!). Sure, you have to pose and shake hands: SO WHAT? You’re wearing your fab new Duchy-bought clothes, getting the best seats, meeting people, making people in need feel “special’ just by your presence, able to learn and learn and learn everyday, first hand …..
…..how can they not feel totally lucky to be able to attend all those events, versus ticking it off as “work” — AND why not use the forums they have to do good things, to roll up sleeves, do something?? How does William pout endlessly about his late mother, while behaving like the sort of giant lazy trout she would probably mock?
How is their laziness still excused, as if we’re in the 1600s or something? As if other royal family members in the UK and beyond don’t set a far better example? How how how, whimper I, shaking my head in a daze.
Liberty, I don’t know how anyone could say that sitting at Wimbledon in the royal box watching quarters, semis and finals of arguably the world’s most prestigious tournament is work. Especially when you love tennis!
The only one who possibly could is the person who awards the cup/plates whatever. Does the Duchess of Kent still do that? I can’t recall.
@Bluehare – It’s the Duke of Kent who is also President of the Lawn Tennis Club (owners of Wimbledon). He’s held that position for many many years – one am sure Waity will grab with both hands and relish when it becomes available.
Kate and William are SPONGERS. They are highly elevated welfare recipients. Kate has no money. She married well and his money comes from the taxpayers and from his dad Charles.
May I add that Charles’s money also comes from the tax payer.
Yes, I know that but Charles & Diana as young marrieds worked a lot harder than these two.
And on one point at least The Queen and Charles work in their roles all the time, everyday. . I don’t like the system, but I can’t say the Senior older royals haven’t always worked even when young.
William and Kate just seem to want the riches and do little. There are just no excuses for the little these two do.
Ysohawt1, yes, this exactly.
Well they ARE spongers. The fact that they are referred to as ‘senior royals’ is ludicrous. They don’t do much at all.
As a British tax payer, I hope the monarchy ends after queen Elizabeth.
Kate looks positively angelic. They really are too perfect for words. I wanted to comment on the daily mail article from the Christening: people were unusually negative about the Cambridges. Usually, when they roll out their adorable children, all is forgotten. But that wasn’t the case this time! On a side note, I don’t think it’s at all unusual for privileged, aristocratic English country folk to spend loads of money on tennis. Let’s face it, these people are on a permanent vacation!
Why shouldn’t she look rested and happy, she had trainer, nanny, mum cooks, massages, during her entire pregnancy and now. She and her SPONGER husband excell in laziness and spending money. She is probably giddy with spending money like water, which she didn’t have to lift a finger to earn. SPONGER.
I think Kate looks like a Stepford robot, not angelic by any stretch of the imagination.
Poor Charlotte. The pic that’s being used everywhere is the one that lets us look right up her nostrils.
At least they are not ‘snotty’!!….
I am sure if that was me there would have been all sorts to see as the tears and nose ran!!!
That shoogly shoogly up-and-down shake thing she does with babies is atrocious.
I noticed she did the same thing with George during the playgroup visit in NZ/Aus.
Oops sorry, wrong place.
Better than using the picture where her mother is failing to support her head properly.
I see that photo and cringe. Was it a one-off slip? I mean, this is her second baby.
Liberty/Nota: I saw the video where she picks up Charlotte. As she’s walking, she makes a split second up/down rocking movement to soothe the crying (or threatening to cry – hard to tell for sure) child and I winced because the head was unsupported. She does it twice before she disappears into the church.
Okay…Nota/LAK….just imagine that maybe this is the way her mother, well-meaning, showed her how to hold babies….does this thing with the flopping head, unless you are a little bruiser like George, then result in Adult Onset Laziness and Dependency?
Because then it might all make sense….
Liberty 🙂
This is the same thing she did outside the hospital, let the head lol back over her elbow and fail to support properly. Someone needs to instruct her about the difference between a child and a doll.
I just saw the video. It’s not good. I’ve explained my bread and butter maternity and advising so here we go…
To play a davil’s advocate. You do want the child to support their own head. Some mothers stop extra support when they have seen the baby can hold themselves up.
On the logical side you don’t add extra force by a bounce/shift. It can cause issues.
Bottom line, It’s not awful, but it’s not good.
Edits made because Nota has better covered what I rambled about. Kate carried her like a doll.
FLORC, In the video did you see any evidence, any at all that, Charlotte has more head control than amateurs like me could discern?
I would have thought the Lindo wing would educate mothers on the basics of how to care for baby while they sip their champagne and enjoy a candlelit 4-course dinner.
MinnFinn
1st off… Tough call. And Disclaimer! This video leaves little to go on.
Charlotte seems healthy and strong. I’m certain Maria has exercises for her like baby yoga or seeing if they can use their own muscles for support in daily activies.
All i’m willing to say for certain is no way Maria picks up Charlotte like that.
Head support with a newborn is paramount. You cradle the head with 1 hand and lift the torso with the other.
thanks, FLORC, for explaining all that! I’m no baby expert by a long shot, but I’ve never seen anything like that, and I was startled.
Liberty
I’ll let a lot go in how others parent. 1 thing that stands out in a negative way is how some people including Kate lift and hold a baby like a doll.
Maybe Kate never learned how to properly hold and pick up an infant?
Like how some mothers do not educate themselves in infant CPR because there will always be someone around who knows it. Or they just never think to prepare themselves just in case.
I DO highly recommend baby yoga. Babies love it because it seems like fun movement and helps muscle and coordination deveopment.
Baby yoga! I’ve never heard of that before. I guess you learn something new every day.
ArtHistorian
Funny part about baby yoga is many mothers have likely done many of the moves with their infants without realizing.
I wish William had majored in Business sp MBA. He could’ve put his energy into creating more profit in terms of property mgmt and less burden on the British taxpayers.
They do create UK jobs and that’s a good thing, but then who exactly is getting the construction contract? Bid rigging is a big problem too.
Spongers. Lazy couple. Spend, spend, spend.
I love her outfit, but i wish that her mother and sister didn’t wear the same color as her. George’s outfit is cute too, but till when will they keep dressing him like that. they should start to modernize his outfits as he grow up lest he becomes the subject of ridicule for other kids (and gossipers 🙂 ) The pram is very nice too.
At least her mum and Pippa PAID for their OWN clothes, more than can be said for lazy ,sponge Kate.
I like Pippas outfit better anyway.
I wouldn’t bet on it — Pippa and Carole get tons of freebies.
Am I the only one that laughed when reading the, “Kate is a keen gardener” portion? Unless standing on the periphery and waving her hand in the general direction of where the wants the actual gardener to dig counts as gardening, then I’ll allow she might be keen about it. After all, ‘gardening’ would have special wardrobe requirements that would entail a shopping trip to acquire the proper accoutrements – a chic sun parasol perhaps or the latest Wellie boots that won’t ever touch actual mud.
Dara
“Keen” comes up often in PR for Kate. It usually means it isn’t true and her actions will prove the opposite. Kate is keen on working hard for her patronages. Kate is keen to return to work. All lines used and all found to have fallen flat.
Still hoping she does something. That the platform she holds gets used.
It makes me laugh because I don’t think Kate is keen on anything but her beauty regimen and shopping. “Keen” is the new catch word for her.
“keen” and “hugely”. Somebody buy them a thesaurus please.
Is anyone else made uncomfortable by their “fans”? They look so peasanty and gormless.
Well I could refer to the idea that Norfolk has some jokes which are similar to the Applachians I believe ..duelling banjo’s if you get my drift…but it is also that many ‘working class’ people who can least afford them are their strongest supporters and buy the mugs,etc etc
Obviously not all fans are from this income bracket but many who travel and are the most avid appear to be…and also from the older generation ..not always as my Father was a Scottish Highlander and loathed them….What was known as Jacobite…Celts have a long memory for these things!!!!
Some may be there just for curiosity sake as they were holidaying in the area and will take the children to see a piece of History on a Sunday afternoon..though Wimbledon was on the T.V. And many more would have stayed in to watch that!!!
What was that: My family has a long Jacobite loyalty, and some of my ancestors fought and died at Culloden on the side of Charles Edward Stuart.
Slainte!
And to you hen!!! I noticed some of your comments earlier re tumbrils!!Very witty!
I visited Culloden a couple of years ago,very moving and pleased to see my Clan remembrance stone there..Robertson of Atholl…
Good grief, it’s a small world! Our ancestors probably fought together. We might even be distant kin?
(I’m descended from John Stewart of Balveny)
@LadyoftheLoch and What was that:
How timely, you guys. I’ve become so interested in Scottish history since I’ve been catching Outlander. I love your part of the world. Scotland is so beautiful and so underappreciated especially in Canadian school curriculum IMO. I can’t wait to return…
Lady of the Loch…..yes indeed..other parts of the family are McDonald ,so Glencoe and the betrayal there was still spoken of by my family…Hence we are drawn to comment about the Hapsburg Saxcoberg excess!!!
Chrissy, I’m so glad you got to visit and are planning a return trip. It is indeed a beautiful and evocative land, steeped in history and wraithed in mystery. It almost broke my heart to leave it. It’s a very long way from where I am now, lol. South Texas y’awl.
What was that: The mere mention of Glencoe chills my blood. It was almost like a swear word at home. No one dared speak its name! Ironically, I grew up in Argyll and some of my best friends were Campbells.
But yes, those Hanoverians have a lot to answer for.
Long Live the House of Stuart! (shakes claymore) 😂
Chrissy,my sister recently visited Nova Scotia to do a driving holiday and there is a lot of Scots history there related to the Highland Clearances..but it is strange what we learn at school never seems relevant to us!
She really enjoyed her trip there and I hope you will return again soon to Scotland.. But bring a brolly! And insect repellant ,if you come in summer when the ‘midges’..(type of mosquito but not dangerous) are biting!!
Or we will toast to the King ..O’er the Water …and raise our glass !!!
You know a cousin of my father emigrated to Texas to cattle ranch ,so it’s not such a stretch a highland lady being there …links are everywhere!
What was that: Wishing I had Drambuie for this very special toast. Oh well, tea will have to do.
~~~~~~~~~~To The King O’er The Water!~~~~~~~~
Funny, I remember finding little crystal liqueur glasses wrapped up in an old tin in the pantry when I was little, and they all had tiny etchings of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the bases. Of course I had no idea who he was but when I asked was told, “Be careful, it’s the King o’er the water!”
~~~~Slainte Mhor~~~~
Lady of the Loch you know those glasses are probably valuable now…
My understanding is the Jacobites would use a glass with an etching or just a glass and toast over a bowl of water as the centrepiece of the table..I am sure when I visited the Clan Museum near Aberfeldy they had such types of glasses!!
…..
Do you know that Charlie is the only British Royal with a memorial stone in St Peters in Rome as he is buried there…in the Vatican church!
I am full of bizarre info like that!!
Really? Wow. No, I didn’t know that about the memorial stone. Was he honoured and buried in the Vatican because he was considered to be the rightful King or simply because he died there and had royal blood? I love that you know all this stuff! The Stewart (Stuart) lineage runs through my mother’s side, and what happened to them saddens me. Especially regarding Charles and Mary, (Queen of Scots) both were treated abominably.
I think my sister may have ended up with those glasses, and coincidentally she lives quite close to Aberfeldy. Uh-oh!
I also have Stuart lineage so we are clan cousins!!
Charlie died in Rome and was originally buried elsewhere then moved to the Vatican I believe…
Mary is another sad story too….
Well now, looks like we might be related after all!
John Stewart of Balveny was the 1st Earl of Atholl. Following the line up a bit, it looks like we may be related through Euphemia de Ross, the Queen Consort, who was mother to Walter Stewart.
Wish I had more time to study this in detail. I could pore over this stuff all day!
Allegedly, Camilla used to call Diana “gormless.”
Allegedly gives a lot of room for lies to get a pass. Rumors gain traction because people put “allegedly” in front. Names can be run through the mud because “allegedly” is tacted on when some things are just rumors to support an opinion.
No point in this becoming a D vs. C thread.
I write “allegedly” because there is no hard evidence, unless you want to post a link where we listen a secret recording of Camilla calling Diana “gormless.”
Please, by all means, if anyone has hard evidence, then post it.
In any event, Diana was a young, inexperienced individual. To prey upon someone at a disadvantage in terms of experience (of any kind) is like beating up someone in a wheelchair.
FLORC: I used “allegedly” further up this thread in reference to shady Uncle Gary, mainly because not using it could leave this website open to an accusation of libel should the wrong eyes be reading it, not because I didn’t believe the allegations. There may be some hard evidence to support the claims (regarding Gary’s creative financing) but it doesn’t really belong on this website.
LadyOfTheLoch
Much of Gary’s dealings aren’t alledged. And really awful stuff. For rest please read below 🙂
Citresse
I’m not engaging in a Diana vs. Camilla discussion. I could and am actively resisting taking that bait to counter. It would become mostly repeats of alledged this and that of things that have no place in this thread. It only serves (imo) to stir the pot and thread hijack.
Oh sorry, I didn’t know that was one of the rules, meaning everyone’s comments have to be on one subject only.
Citresse
No that’s not a rule. It’s beating a dead horse.
Horse? U mean Camilla? She’s not dead!
Every celebrity has the fans they deserve!
Will and Kate’s fans do mirror Will and Kate!
Adding sums, wait, that’s off thread!!!
It’s still discussing WK. Not feuds loong discussed having little to do with this.
Don’t take this personally.
Camilla attended the Christening of beautiful baby HRH Charlotte, so there’s no thread hijack and I think the Camilla horse comment isn’t off thread while managing to be, at the same time, mildly amusing.
In any event, it was the word “gormless” which set it off and the word “gormless” is rarely, if ever, used in N. America.
The Mids wanted to make the christening a costumed gig, but WillNot refused to play along.
I don’t think he even noticed..the Mids take care of it and they are playing to a different audience ..As long as he is alright I am sure he could care less where the baby is Christened and what George wears ,and the ‘staff’ that is ‘Nanny’ is in a uniform or not…
He doesn’t strike me as someone who cares unless it affects him directly…he will let others make the choices…as long as he can go and play with his helicopters and polo ponies and see his ‘chums’ as that type call their friends
WillNot would do anything Carole wanted. William has no backbone and Kate just follows mum’s directions.
The decision to wear similar colours shades was a planned one by the three Middleton ladies according to some reporters.
Guess which Middleton? I’d say Carole.
And I find the white-for-a-baptism colour scheme rather ridiculous. Because it is summer and a baptism is supposed to be a joyous affair and I expect more summery- happy clothes and not this overly serious white.
There are two occasions when one may wear all-white:
1. Wedding: the bride.
2. Carribean holiday.
Thinks to self, “and if I turn my head THIS way, I don’t need to look at the peasants”
bwahaha!
Eh …. should I bothered by any of this? Rich people spend money that us regular folks cannot. $60k is nothing. I am more disgusted by the gross waste of money on far more extravagant expenditures by Americans such as the Kardashians and others. If someone wipes their bum with a million or spends crazy amounts on themselves, I take issue with that. This seems like typical upper class spending to me regardless of where the money is coming from.
No fan of Kim & Co., but unlike Kate, she earns her money.
I have a hard time picturing Kate getting dirty in the garden, so I seriously doubt she’s “keen” about it. Her manicure would be ruined! Her stilettos would sink into the dirt! She could show her rear end by bending over while weeding, and maybe William would enjoy that. Yuck. Oh well, once they have their new tennis court they won’t have to emerge in public so it’s worth the investment. Stay hiding, Cambridges….you won’t be missed at all. That also means no more Wimbledon appearances, and no meetings with celebrities and movie stars. Stay HOME.
Kate looked plastic as usual at this performance. The shoes always get me. And her dainty necklaces and earrings – please spare me! Get some decent jewelry if you’re going to be channeling a 50s vibe! I detest most of her jewelry, looks so juvenile on the dainty chains. And her cringeworthy hats – it’s high time these people get decent hats! I’ll hand that to Diana, she had some very attractive hats, not these stupid fascinators perched on the forehead. Kate and her sister and mother look ridiculous. To be honest, I rarely like the Queen’s hats either, they travel into Dr. Seuss territory for me, but she gets a pass because she is a dedicated worker.
Well I always remember someone saying that Lizzy Windsor wears bright colours to be seen and the hats have to be off her face and not too dramatic for the same reason..that and she is very short so a big brim would make her look like a mushroom !!!
LOL……….I could see that mushroom factor. She is short and she needs to keep with proportions.
@ Vava
Having a garden of her own:
– 1. To impress Prince Charles
– 2. To do the right thing of the landed gentry aristocracy: communicate status
– 3. To communicate that only her own milk-fed sunburn-protected veggies are good enough for her
Kate’s jewelry leaves me cold. With the exorbitant amount of money these “dainty” pieces cost, you’d think Kate would have some really impressive statement jewelry in her collection. I’m not at all impressed by any of her jewelry other than that diamond bracelet supposedly gifted by Charles, who has exquisite taste in jewelry. Now that’s someone I’d love filling my jewel box! I remember a barely-there necklace with several charms Kate wore that cost thousands of dollars. Are you kidding me? Spending massive amounts of money on tiny pieces or run-of-the-mill earrings doesn’t justify that expense at all.
I agree – esp when she has access to some of the most impressive bling on the planet. Diana had quite the collection – what ever happened to it?
Carole and Kate are really pushing the whole Diana thing – Kate even behave’s like her, the demure shy little wife. Diana may have been like that in the early years but she turned into someone who was confident when meeting people and gave speeches. She worked hard at overcoming shyness and awkwardness – things Katy Cambridge won’t do.
With Kate the lights are on but no one is home. She looks like a vacuous stepford wife.
Exactly. Kate’s super-expensive jewelry pretends to be “not there”. Which is ridiculous. Either do the jewelry thing properly or not at all. Most likely Dolittle doesn’t want to be seen doing the big jewelry thing for image reasons but in her heart she can’t really lay off all the jewelry because she is vain and vacuous. So her compromis is unspectacular downright boring jewelry but very expensive. It has to be expensive to communicate her social status. Unfortunately she overlooks that she fails to communicate her art history education and that her style looks somewhere in between made-in-chelsea trashy cheap nouveau reich and as if style were not there not for her.
And the whole thing is just so social climber nouveau-riche ridiculous.
As a jewellery connoisseur, I say that Kate’s jewellery is as insipid as her public persona. If you want to see royal bling – Maxima is your girl! She’s also all kinds of awesome.
Maxima our Magpie! She digs great things out of the vault and wears them in interesting ways. She also wears crazy modern jewelry that only Maxima could get away with. That spiky brown necklace from a few months ago takes the cake.
Maxima indeed for the jewelry win! But this woman has the advantage Kate doesn’t have: she has the presence and bearing that enable her to wear the statement pieces, unlike Kate who just gets her hair entangled in gorgeous necklaces like the Nizam of Hyderabad and obscuring it. She doesn’t seem to even know how to wear these precious pieces or care; it’s the display of glossy hair that matters.
I have an such a girl-crush on Maxima, it is almost embarassing!
I do like some of her contemporary jewellery. Sometimes she gets it right (like a big gold Bibi van der Velden necklace) and sometimes she gets it wrong (like an asymmetric coral necklace that looks like a dead lobster). However, she is always fabulous because of her charisma and presence.
Ugh, I was so frustrated by how akwardly Kate wore the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace. Hair should be up when wearing statement necklaces – and I think the lowest pendant should have been removed because it was constantly askew.
Statement jewellery needs to be presented properly – and it shouldn’t clash with either hair or dress. The famous art nouveau jeweller Rene Lalique often complained about his clients not knowing how to wear his little jewelled works of art, paring them with dresses where the colour overwhelmed the jewel or drwoning it among lots of other jewels.
Max knows how to experiment with that glorious jewel vault and with her personality, she can carry it off. Even when it’s a fail and she wears costume jewelry that looks like her girls might have made for her, her charisma just dominates the look.
Statement necklaces and earrings, which she tends to lose on a regular basis, are okay. We NEED to get Maxima to lay off those spider brooches. It would be bad to be introduced to the Queen, scream, and try to beat her brooch off her shoulder with your clutch purse. If I did that, the RPOs would tackle me for sure.
AH, any books about Lalique you’d recommend? I know, you must have a list of dozens with your research about him.
Lol. I’m sure her RPO’s wouldn’t be very understanding if even if you’re just trying to defend her against spiders. 🙂
Actually, I quite like the spider brooches. However, I only like creepy crawlies when they are encrusted with diamonds! Interestingly, insect jewellery was quite “in” in the mid to late 1800s. Art nouveau jewellery teems with dragonflies, bees, wasps, etc. Whereas spiders and snakes were more popular in the Victorian age.
Maxima does have a lot of charisma, which luckily tends to overshadow her more questionable sartorial choices. However, when she does get it right, she knocks it out of the park – like the Jan Taminiau dress she wore at the recent Swedish wedding and the gorgous blue gown (also Taminiau) she wore at the recent State Visit to Denmark. She also wore a killer outfit on the visit to Samsø with CP Frederik and Mary the day after.
Wedding of Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660857358565/
Farewell dinner (state visit, Denmark):
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660856374915/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660856077228/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660856077226/
Gala banquest (state visit, Denmark):
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660856077271/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660856077268/
Samsø visit (state visit, Denmark):
http://www.newmyroyals.com/2015/03/dutch-state-visit-to-denmark-day-2.html
AH, I like antique dragonfly and bee jewelry, but you can keep the spiders!
Yes, when Maxima gets it right there is no beating her. The sapphire tiara plus gown at the coronation that was one of her best.
Just for the record – Wills & Kate didn’t choose that awful uniform for the nanny. It just shows where she trained, which is here – http://www.norland.co.uk/
I used to live in Bath and saw these nannies everywhere, I remember the uniform very well… they are used by the Royal Family and are obviously very much in demand.
It is an upper-class thing to employ a Norland nanny. It communicates status.
The nanny is not required to wear the uniform and has never been seen in it before on duty with them. It is the choice of the employer whether or not she wears it.