Marilyn's Royal Blog

Royal Book Challenge: Eating Royally by Darren McGrady

2012-01-24T13:57:00.000-05:00

8/500

Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen by Darren McGrady
224 Pages
Published 2007
ISBN: 9781401603212

If I could sum up this book in one word it would be: class.

Unlike other books that share tidbits and insights into royal life, Eating Royally strikes just the right balance between offering interesting information without going over the invisible line of 'too much information'.

The author offers behind the scenes anecdotes of working for the royal family and later Diana, Princess of Wales, with good humor. It's intriguing to learn about the kitchens at Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor Castle and Sandringham. Menu cards and mementos from members of the royal family offer a nice touch. There are behind the scenes photographs of the Sandringham dining room at Christmas and a table laden with food buffet style. However I could have done without pictures of a festively decorated boars head and artfully plated beef tongues.

The range of recipes covers the various seasons with delicious looking tea cakes, cottage pies and desserts. Though he offers a recipe for Christmas cake (fruitcake) and extols its virtues, I am still not convinced. The dishes are beautifully photographed, and the recipe instructions are easy to understand. Even the most ordinary cooks could attempt the Royal birthday cake. It may look nothing like the photograph in this book but chances are it will taste better than the paper it is printed on.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Pippa Middleton, close your eyes and think of England

2012-01-18T14:17:00.002-05:00

Pippa, Pippa, Pippa..

What have you gone and done now? Complaining to your lawyers because some guys with cameras took pictures of you? Seriously what are you thinking? It's been nine months since the wedding. You should be used to the attention by now.

Sure, maybe the guy who shoved a camera in your face went too far. Forgive him, he brought a point and shoot. Smile and don't make it more difficult for him. We grudgingly admit, you are entitled to some personal space. But how else was he supposed to get the story about your pores?

Give the guy a pat on the back for originality. No one has yet to do an in depth expose about the pores on your face. Good that he had the guts to aggressively go after the story. Nominate the man for the pore reporting award. It's citizen journalists like him, moonlighting for a cleaning company, who make the world a better place.

Pippa, what do you expect? You can't have it both ways, you know. If you hadn't worn that sexy maid of honor dress, none of this would have happened. Remember the heady moment Kate asked you to be maid of honor? Really, you should have said no. But you had to go and say yes. Now who's to blame? (Don't look at us!)

Pippa, you need to think of the big picture here. We like you but you need to give us a reason to continue to do so. When you leave the safety of your home and go about your daily life, you make so many people happy. People who write about your fashions, relationships and whatever else it is that you do. It's your obligation to maintain our interest. If I can make a suggestion, mix it up a little by holding a baby or a bag of groceries. The purse and sunglasses are getting old.

But don't you dare complain. It just makes you look ungrateful. Then you unleash your lawyers on the press? Might as well drive a dagger into our hearts. When people write books about you, they will need pictures. If you don't cooperate, what then?

So smile, close your eyes and think of England.

Your future biographers will thank you.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Our Queen by Robert Hardman

2012-01-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

7/500

Our Queen by Robert Hardman
Published 2011
ISBN: 9780091936891
356 Pages

I'm a sucker for a new book about the Queen. Especially when I read excerpts featuring interviews with Prince William. My interest was piqued. Here was the chance to avoid the well-worn anecdotes and get to the truth from someone who actually knows her.

Turns out, those excerpts were the highlight of Our Queen. Not that it's a bad book. But it wasn't a promising start. The first 70 pages outlines her strong sense of duty and dedication, how good she is in her role, and how the monarchy must adapt in order to survive. Anyone who has read a biography of the Queen already knows this. But just in case you don't understand, Hardman writes about them in every possible variation within one chapter.

Now that we've duly noted the Queen's dedication, we're on to how innovative the royal household has become. Gone are the days of toiling away thanklessly amongst the splendor. Now employees can be comfortable too. Affordable lattes, access to the Buckingham Palace pool, brightly decorated canteens, email, makes you wonder why you're spending time reading about it when you could be applying for a job of your own instead.

Hardman covers a lot of territory. Amongst other things, we get to know about her relationships with her Prime Ministers and the public, her image, and most interestingly, an insight into Prince Philip. Who knew that behind his crusty exterior lies a sentimental man anonymously buying artwork for his wife?

Our Queen ends on a predictable note. In short, her shoes will be hard to fill. It's reassuring that as of 2011, that view hasn't changed since it was last written about in every other biography.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Finding Sarah by Sarah Ferguson

2012-01-13T12:33:00.001-05:00

Book 6/500

Finding Sarah: A Duchess's Journey to Find Herself by Sarah Ferguson
Published 2011
315 Pages
ISBN: 1-4391-8954-2

After her disastrous involvement in the cash for access scandal in May 2010, Sarah Ferguon appeared on Oprah to give her side of the story. The end result of her appearance was a six-part reality series on Oprah's OWN network and this book.

Finding Sarah is annoying on many levels but it takes guts to reveal yourself. For all her public gaffes, she definitely has a gift. No matter what she does, you can't help but feel for her. Eventually. The first two chapters show Sarah in all her misunderstood glory. Just when I was about to give up on her and throw this book against the wall, she began her journey at Chapter 3. Much to my relief.

Throughout the excuses and explanations, her poetry, nuggets of wisdom, email excerpts from supportive friends, and ability to find herself better in exotic locales, she wore me down. I started futilely rooting for her as she finally (spoiler alert) found herself. All nicely wrapped up with an open ending for the inevitable sequel.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: My Decade With Diana by Maureen Rorech

2012-01-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

5/500

My Decade with Diana: The Perpetual Power of the People's Princess by Maureen Rorech Dunkel
Published 2007
166 pages

I bought this book when I visited the collection of Diana's dresses at the Design Exchange in Toronto. Although this book is interesting, it's overpriced My rationale for purchasing it was that 100% of the proceeds from the sale would go to 'charities worldwide'.

In 1997 Maureen Rorech bought 13 of Diana's dresses from the Christie's auction for close to $700,000. She had bought the largest collection of dresses sold at the auction - by phone, without the catalogue. It's interesting to read about why she purchased the collection and what appealed to her about the individual dresses. Admitting she was unfamiliar with Diana's life, she purchased them as a business investment, little suspecting that it over the next 10 years would become much more than that. After Diana's death, Ms Rorech decided to take her collection and create a travelling exhibit, Dresses for Humanity, to raise money for causes that had been supported by Diana in her lifetime.

When it comes to travelling exhibits, people tend to look at it from the vantage point of a visitor, not necessarily thinking of the work involved in preparing it. This book presents the complicated process of putting together the exhibit and the logistics (and stresses) of doing so while maintaining the integrity of the dresses and of Diana's memory.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Moments - Reflections in words and pictures by Sarah, The Duchess of York

2012-01-10T12:01:00.000-05:00

Moments by
Sarah, The Duchess of York

Book 4/500

Moments: Reflections in Words and Pictures by Sarah, The Duchess of York
Published 2003
ISBN: 1 86205 573 4
96 pages

Unlike her ex-husband's, the Duke of York's book Photography, which features somewhat unremarkable photographs of interesting subjects, Sarah, The Duchess of York's Moments bursts with energy, possessing a vitality missing in Prince Andrew's early work.

It is the personal details which sets this book apart. Sarah has captured moments from her global travels and the overall impression is of tranquility. In dispersed amongst thought provoking quotes, are beautiful photographs of her children, Beatrice and Eugenie, conveying the innocence of childhood and the powerful bonds of love between siblings, parents and grandparents. One of my favorite photos in this book is of the Duke of York and Princess Eugenie hugging. A rare glimpse of Windsor affection you wouldn't find in other books on the royal family.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Catherine Cambridge, a 30th birthday reality check

2012-01-09T09:52:00.001-05:00

Dear Catherine/Your Royal Highness/Ma'am/Kate,

I would like to join the other voices in wishing you a very happy 30th birthday today. According to some reports you are having a quiet celebration of this milestone event. While clearing away the decorations and left-over cake, perhaps you could take a moment to reflect on what you really want to accomplish in the years ahead.

True enough, to a degree, the future is all mapped out for you. You will (eventually) produce the obligatory heir and spare. We will see you at all of the major events - Trooping the Color, Garter ceremony, funerals, etc. Where you will stun the crowds while inadvertently distracting from the more sombre moments. It's probably the last thing you want but we just can't help ourselves.

People have pointed out the differences between you and your late mother-in-law, Diana. How you are smarter, savvier, older and wiser than she was. Supposedly because of this you will avoid the perils. I disagree. Like her you are on the same path of becoming the ultimate stylish royal barbie doll. Hitting all of the right fashion notes but nothing more. You've barely spoken in public and you're nice to look at. With the fixed smile, all that's missing is the plastic horse drawn pink carriage.

You recently announced four patronages. It's a good start, though there are some who think you've played it too safe with your choices. Nonsense. Sheesh, even Diana waited 6 years before she shook an AIDS patients hand! Give it a few years and you will be brokering world peace while looking fabulous. All in good time.

It's been a dizzying year for you. What with the wedding, the plaudits and automatic position on all of the 'Best of 2011' lists. The pedestal has a nice view, doesn't it? But take a look back at royal history. What comes up, will come down eventually. You may have the support of your husband and the royal system taking it easy with you, but don't think you're immune. You can only ride the wave of the royal wedding for so long. No beautiful dress will save you from the fickle public.

So it's up to you to decide where you go from here. Do you hide out in Anglesy and deny reality? Will you continue to be fashion plate Barbie? Or do you choose the more challenging route where you're an asset to the royal family based on the work you do and what you accomplish?

Decide who you want to be, before we decide for you.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Photographs by HRH The Prince Andrew

2012-01-09T00:00:00.003-05:00

Photographs
HRH The Prince Andrew

Book 3/500
Photographs by HRH The Prince Andrew
Published 1985
ISBN: 0-241-11644-9
159 Pages

Like his brothers and sister, Prince Andrew has written a book based on his interests. In this case, his budding interest in photography. In the introduction Prince Andrew admits that he is a novice, with no ambitions to be another 'Norman Parkinson or Ansel Adams.' Instead, Prince Andrew has a different goal in writing this book. 'Nothing would please me more should this book persuade more people to 'have a go'.

Compiled of photographs from his travels at home and abroad, on-duty and off. It includes experiments with items in the Royal collection and some dramatic photos of actress Finola Hughes. This book was not well received by critics but thankfully it did not deter him. Since it was written, Prince Andrew, now Duke of York, has taken some notable photographs of his family. He took the 60th birthday photograph of the Queen and a series photographs for the 2002 Golden Jubilee portfolio. He also took the photos to mark Prince Harry's first birthday aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia and the first official photographs of Lady Louise Windsor with her parents. He is also the only Royal to receive a freelance cheque from the Toronto Star for his services.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Debrett's A Modern Royal Marriage

2012-01-08T00:00:00.002-05:00

Book 2/500

Debrett's A Modern Marriage: A Royal Celebration
Published 2011
176 Pages

Released to commemorate Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding this book does the event justice and then some.

Unlike other royal wedding books, Debrett's A Modern Royal Marriage is comprehensive. It is beautifully laid out, with wonderful photographs and illustrations, and I could not find a single flaw within its pages. If you are going to buy any book about the royal wedding, it should be this one.

The details about all aspects of the ceremony and royal weddings in general is exquisite. No detail is missed. Along with biographies of the bride and groom, there is information about wedding bouquets, royal wedding cakes, tiaras, shoes, and wedding dress designs, it is all there. A treasure trove of information and a feast for the eyes, all in 176 pages.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Queens' Jewels by Vincent Meylan

2012-01-06T00:00:00.010-05:00

Queens' Jewels by
Vincent Meylan

Book 1/500

Queen's Jewels by Vincent Meylan
Published 2002
208 Pages

After announcing my royal book challenge, I wasn't entirely certain where to begin. With so many books it's a lot of pressure to choose the right one. Inspired by a question about this particular book from @kemalnagdy who runs the blog The Royal Couturier I thought it would be an appropriate one to start with.

I've always had a love of royal jewels and their history. Looking at the cover you might automatically assume this is devoted entirely to the British royal collection, but this is not the case. Queens' Jewels
covers the history of jewels worn by the Queens and Empresses of Russia, France, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Iran, Austria, Belgium, The Balkans, and Great Britain.

It would be easy to stare at the photographs and illustrations, admiring the craftsmanship of these jewels but that would ignore the history behind them. Unfortunately, for various reasons, most of the royal jewels in this book have been sold at auction, ending up in private collections and museums. Many have been altered from their original form and some have disappeared without a trace. Queens' Jewels documents the interesting, complex and occasionally tragic history behind these jewels in a fascinating manner.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

A (Crazy) Royal New Year Resolution

2012-01-05T10:45:00.002-05:00

I've decided to make a New years resolution.

I'm going to read every book in my royal collection.

This is a big undertaking. As you can see by the photo there are a lot of them. Not counting soft-back, bookazines, or ebooks there are approximately 500 books.

On each episode of my show, The Royal Report, I had a segment where I took a book from my library and talked a bit about it. Now that I'm taking a break from the show I'm going to continue to share my collection, but in a different format. I'm going to blog about them instead.

Much to the chagrin of my husband I love to collect royal books. I have books about every aspect of royal life - from birth to death, what they eat, how they dress, how they are portrayed in the media, to the places they live. Some of them I've read already, many are comprised mainly of photos, and others I've used for reference purposes when writing articles. Some are old (1901), some are recently released and some I've already written a review on. In this case, from this point forward, unless I've read a book cover to cover, minus the bibliography, I won't include a post on it.

These posts are not intended to be reviews. After I've read the book I will post a brief overview (synopsis, page numbers, date published) and my general thoughts, possibly with some likes and dislikes added. To prove that I own the book, I will include a photograph on the post.

By the end of this exercise, I'll either be one of the most well-read royal watchers or the craziest for having started this in the first place. Who knows, it may turn me off of buying more royal books in the future. My husband should be so lucky.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Tuesday December 27, 2011 - 2011: The Royal Year in Review

2011-12-28T10:11:00.000-05:00

2011 was a big year for the Royal family, with two royal weddings and historic royal tours. On this episode, a look back at the royal events that took place in 2011.

You can listen to the show here: 2011- The Royal Year in Review

Publications mentioned

People - Best (and Worst!) of 2011

Hello! Canada Holiday No 244 9 January 2012

Maclean's 2011 The Year in Pictures

Maclean's Newsmakers 2011

This will be the last episode of 2011.

I have decided to take an indefinate break from doing the show. As much as I love doing it, I feel as though I've said everything there is to say. I've covered this topic from every conceivable angle that and now that William and Catherine are married and the succession rules have changed, I don't know what else there is to cover.So I'm taking a break to re-evaluate the future of the show.

My archives at BlogTalkRadio will still be available to listen to. Over the past four years I think I've done some good episodes there, so you're welcome to treasure hunt!

Thanks for listening!

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday December 18, 2011 - 75th Anniversary of the Abdication crisis

2011-12-18T17:40:00.001-05:00

December 11th marked the 75th anniversary of the abdication crisis. On this date King Edward VIII stepped down from the throne and changed the course of the present Queen's life. On this episode a look back at the crisis and its impact on the royal family.

Listen to the episode: 75th Anniversary of the Abdication crisis

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada No 242 12 December 2011

Hello! Canada No 243 19 December 2011

Vanity Fair January 2012

From My Royal Collection

The Windsor Years Text by Lord Kinross

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday December 25th, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: 2011 - The Royal Year in Review

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday December 4, 2011 - The Royal Family and Balmoral Castle

2011-12-04T17:49:00.002-05:00

Since it was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852, Balmoral Castle in Scotland has been a private home to successive generations of the royal family, right up to the present day. On this episode, a look back at the history of Balmoral.

Listen to the episode to find out about the history of Balmoral: The Royals and Balmoral Castle

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 241 5 December 2011

From My Royal Collection

Eating Royally by Darren McGrady

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday December 11th, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: December 11th marks the 75th anniversary of the abdication crisis. On this date King Edward VIII stepped down from the throne and changed the course of the present Queen's life. On this episode a look back at the crisis and its impact on the royal family.

December 11th episode has been postponed

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Prince William, it's time to pass the gold sticky stars around

2011-11-28T16:41:00.001-05:00

Take a close look at the picture above. Notice anything?

These are some of the news stories about Prince William’s involvement in a mission to rescue Russian sailors from their sunken cargo ship. A risky mission accomplished in gale force winds. Two sailors were rescued and the search continues for more survivors.

William acted as the co-pilot. But yet, looking at the title of these articles, you could come to the conclusion that he single-handily rescued these men all on his own. He co-piloted the helicopter while putting down a winch to pull the sailors to safety. William must have long, strong arms.

Not to minimize his role but obviously William wasn’t alone. He was a member of a team, vaguely identified as his 'crew' or his 'Royal Air Force Collegues'. Did the other faceless, nameless persons involved in this effort receive the same amount of praise and recognition? After all, they also risked their lives. The Russian Ambassador to the UK even directed his thanks to Prince William for his effort. Sure his colleagues were acknowledged, but not by name like William. If I was them, I would be plenty cheesed off about this too.

Were it not for William’s involvement, would this story receive the same amount of coverage? More than likely it would have been mixed in with all of the other pressing tragic news stories. But because of William, it’s different. Suddenly he's the story and it seems as though his crew and especially the victims are incidental when it should be the other way around.

William had spent many years training as a Search and Rescue pilot. He seems to take the job very seriously and so far he hasn't crashed into anything. Yes, Prince William came to the rescue in a time of need. He put his skills to work. Because that's what he was doing, his job.It was risky and dangerous, but he's not the only one doing it. When a job is well done by a team, everyone deserves recognition, not just one person to the exclusion of everything else.

William will receive enough gold sticky stars throughout his life. Time to pass them around to the others whose lives are just as valuable.

Prince William, of all people, should insist upon it.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday November 27, 2011 - Royal Focus - Kensington Palace

2011-11-27T19:43:00.000-05:00

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday November 27, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: It's been called the 'royal aunt heap', it was the birthplace of Queen Victoria and Queen Mary. It was notably the former home of Diana, Princess of Wales and Princess Margaret. It was once the favored home of kings and queens. In 2013 it will become the home of William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. On this episode, a focus on the history of Kensington Palace.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday November 20, 2011 - Royal Baby Watch - November edition

2011-11-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday November 20th, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: Royal Baby Watch - November edition. Seven months in and still no news of a royal baby. Are William and Catherine under too much pressure to have a baby?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Stop the 24-hour royal baby watch, it's a mood killer

2011-11-08T15:31:00.000-05:00

Catherine stands by the fireplace trying to ward off the November chill. Wearing a black cardigan from Alexander McQueen's Fall-Winter collection, a pair of Mark Fast Elastometric leggings, and Jimmy Choo ballerina flats, she pads over to the stereo system and presses play on the iPod. Barry White's velvety voice fills the room as Catherine lights candles. William stands in their bedroom doorway wearing nothing but his ~~honorary~~ medals and a smile. Catherine wraps her arms around his waist and puts her head in his chest. He coos: "Darling, the succession rules have changed, let's make a baby." William and Catherine go into the bedroom and close the door. The screen goes dark.

Royal watchers lean back from the edge of their seats, eating the last of their peanut paste, and tweeting about what William and Catherine are doing behind the door. At the next public appearance, speculation will begin in earnest as the media desperately looks for any flimsy evidence of success. But in a dramatic twist, all may not be as it seems. Behind closed doors, instead of making a baby, William and Catherine are making a pact.

Catherine: (giggles) Did you see headlines about the peanut paste?

William: That was hilarious!

Catherine: Don't you think it's a bit mean?

William: No, serves them right. The should leave us alone.

Catherine: You're right, it really is too much fun.

William: Next time we're in public, make sure you pat your tummy more.

Catherine: Like this?

William: Yes, and pinch your cheeks beforehand so you look like you're glowing. Also, make sure you smile enigmatically while give me a knowing look.

Catherine: Like this? (she smiles and gives William an exaggerated wink)

William: Not so obvious. More of an imperceptible eye flutter. Anything more and they'll think we're expecting triplets.

No doubt this charade is part of their diabolical plans to lead us on. When we read the headlines the next day, the joke is on us. But this is destined to backfire. The more we speculate, the more intrusive it becomes. Intimacy becomes a chore when we expect every swing of the bat to be a homerun. Who can blame William and Catherine for bolting the door and drawing their curtains in an attempt to escape our 24 hour royal baby watch?

Whether it's a week, month or year (or more) from now, a royal baby announcement will be made when William and Catherine are ready. As we've seen with the engagement, our rabid speculation won't make it come sooner. Media outlets take note, hyperactive reports are a mood killer. When the times comes, a royal baby, like the wedding dress, will be worth the wait.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Review: Princess Diana - The Day She Didn't Die

2011-10-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

Based on the title it would be easy to dismiss this book as yet another attempt to reincarnate Diana. Other books have tried and, in my opinion, have fallen short. Mainly in terms of the complete lack of plausibility. Therefore I approached this book with skepticism. Surprisingly, I found myself gripped from the start.

One of the main things that sets this novel apart from the competition is that Diana is not only alive, she hasn't taken drastic measures to escape from the past. The car accident happened. Another car was involved and the Mercedes hit the pillar. The driver died, there is no Trevor Rees-Jones, but Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed survived.

When Diana died, many unanswered questions remained. Was Diana just having a fling with Dodi? Were they engaged to be married? Was she pregnant? Was someone trying to kill her? Princess Diana - The Day She Didn't Die tries to answer them by fictionalizing what Diana's life would have been like in the aftermath of the accident.

Dodi Al Fayed's reported reputation as a playboy while alive is replaced by a responsible businessman, more than capable of holding his own with Diana and the complications that come with her. To their credit, the authors do not take the easy route by reducing Diana to a charicature based on public perception.

People viewed Diana in a variety of ways. She was seen as a fairytale princess, a fashion icon, and someone who had great influence. Despite her divorce, the interest in Diana would not have ended but instead evolved. To gauge the public response to her new life with Dodi Al Fayed, we have the perspective of a university student named Ella. Because of Diana, Ella is also exploring Islam and experiences similiar conflicts while dating a Muslim, albeit on a smaller scale.

One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether Diana would have converted to Islam. While interesting, I found there to be too much emphasis on religion and the effect on their relationship. While understandable under the circumstances, there should have been more to her existence. Given her seeming addiction to the limelight, it's hard to imagine Diana giving up her global role; no matter how much she loves Dodi. In life, taking a backseat never seemed to be Diana's style, and it's unrealistic to expect otherwise.

The role of the royal family is minimized to occasional visits from her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry and a guest appearance by a disapproving Prince Charles. Yet there is also the interesting possibilities of what Diana's role would have been as a de facto member of the royal family which remain unexplored.

Covering the period from the 1997 car accident to the September 11th, 2001 attacks the ending is somewhat abrupt, leaving more questions than answers. Seemingly on the verge of converting, there are many possibilities that could have been explored, with not only Diana's continued reluctance to embrace Islam, but also Dodi's potential complications in the aftermath of 9/11. Given everything they went through up to that point, it's interesting to contemplate whether their relationship could have withstood this development.

As in real life, we will never really know. But this book takes an effective, realistic and plausible attempt at imagining what could have been without resorting to happily ever after.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday October 23, 2011 - Royal Baby Watch - October edition

2011-10-23T15:36:00.001-04:00

On this episode, tips on making a royal baby. Why does Prince Philip have a twinkle in his eye? Can a book about Diana's death be plausible? Find out on this episode:

The Royal Report - Royal Baby Watch - October edition

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 235 24 October 2011

Chatelaine November 2011 issue - Cover story: Kate Middleton - What's next for the most talked about woman of 2011

From My Royal Collection

Princess Diana - The Day She Didn't Die

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday October 30, 2011 at 9:00PM ET (North America)

The topic will be: The Royal Family in Scotland

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday October 16, 2011 - Girls rock, let them rule!

2011-10-16T18:14:00.001-04:00

Despite having illustrious histories with extremely capable Queens regnant, namely Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and the present Queen, males still take precedence over females in the line of succession. By these current rules, should William and Catherine's first child be a girl, her position would be usurped by any younger brothers.

Prime Minister David Cameron has recently announced his support for changing these rules to allow for equal rights to the throne. Is it about time these rules are changed? What's involved in changing them?

Listen to this episode to find out: Girls rock, let them rule!

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 234 17 October 2011

Tatler - October 2011 Cover Story - Zara!

From My Royal Collection

Bright Young Royals: Your Guide to the Next Generation of Blue Bloods

Websites mentioned

World of Royalty Blog

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday October 23, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: Royal Baby Watch - October edition

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Kate Middleton and Catherine who?

2011-10-13T13:45:00.000-04:00

Exhibit A

It was inevitable and understandable. Hanging on to the past is reassuring and familiar. There could also be disbelief that the royal wedding actually occurred. Rest assured it did and there's plenty of proof when it doubt. You might actually have to pinch yourself but it's time to face reality. William and Kate Middleton are married and now she is Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge. It's on DVDs, books and china. There's even official photographs. I present Exhibit A.

Exhibit B

Despite the wedding ceremony and official announcements there are still numerous articles referring to Catherine as Kate Middleton. In rare occurrences she is called The Duchess of Cambridge, like when she unveils a plaque (Exhibit B). But for the media it seems they just don't get it. Some reporters, unsure of what to do, have inventively created a hybrid 'Katy Cambridge'. It's as if they want to acknowledge reality but don't want to let go of the past.

In the beginning, we may have thought that this misconception would be temporary. It would take time for people to adapt. But six months later, people are still using her old name. No matter how many new fashions Catherine wears, she is still referred to as Kate Middleton. She can wear shiny pantyhose to her hearts content but it doesn't change a thing. The name Kate Middleton is so deeply ingrained that there seems to be no other possibility. It's as if Catherine is just not good enough. It's always 'Kate Middleton, Kate Middleton, Kate Middleton.'

It's an unfortunate occurrence that Catherine would feel neglected. Eclipsed by a more familiar counterpart, possibly at risk of developing an inferiority complex. She needs to repeat the mantra: 'Catherine, you're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone-it, people will clue in eventually.'

It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday October 2, 2011 - Royal Patronages and Charities

2011-10-02T16:15:00.001-04:00

Members of the royal family receive many request to be involved in charities as patron. Far more than they can lend their support to. On this episode the history of royal patronages, a look at charities that members of the royal family support and the reasons they do so.

Listen to the episode to find out: Royal Patronages and Charities

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday in Canada, there will be no episode next week. The Royal Report will return with a new episode on Sunday October 16, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

Topic to be determined.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Has Catherine's privacy become a royal paradox?

2011-09-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

It's always nice to see Catherine, isn't it? Especially as it's so rare to do so. What with her wanting to take her time and ease into royal duties. We can't be blamed for taking what we can get in between.

Catherine reportedly spent 4 hours at the salon. How do we know she was there? Because there's a photo of her getting her hair blow dried. This photo was taken through a window. Whose fault is it that she was photographed? The paparazzi who took the picture? Or is it Catherine's for not sitting in a more private location?

Judging by the comments people like seeing her. But yet there are also comments invoking Diana. Her life is a parable for what can go wrong. But pointing this out is a downer. Like playing outside and being reminded you have homework. It spoils the fun. Off duty photos are harmless, aren't they? Besides, what are the chances it could happen again?

As you read this article there's no need to comment on the hypocrisy. I know I am not innocent of wanting to know about Catherine. Nor about using her as material for my blogs. I follow her because she is, currently, the most interesting member of the royal family. A royal superstar. Therefore I can't take the high road. Because then it wouldn't allow me to question what's wrong with it.

However I'm also not alone in my interest. But where do you draw the line? The bedroom? Bathroom?Is she supposed to stay in her remote cottage/palace and become a recluse? She may have signed up for a life in the spotlight, but when did saying 'Catherine's privacy' become incongruous?

I'm drawing my line in the sand at photographs taken through windows or when she's off duty.

Where do you draw yours?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday September 25, 2011 - Is it time to stop comparing Kate to Diana?

2011-09-25T13:58:00.001-04:00

Since the engagement announcement, Kate has been relentlessly compared to Diana. From her wedding dress, to her fashions, to her approach to her royal role, Kate seems to live in her shadow. Is it time to stop comparing Kate to Diana? Can we stop doing so?

You can listen to the episode here: The Royal Report - Is it time to stop comparing Kate to Diana?

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 233 3 October 2011

From My Royal Collection

Britain's Royal Heritage: An A to Z of the Monarchy

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday October 2, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: Worthy charities and the royals who support them.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Review: Bright Young Royals by Jerramy Fine

2011-09-23T18:19:00.006-04:00

Searching for your prince or princess?

Not sure where to begin?

You could buy a ticket to whatever country the object of your royal affection is in and hope for the best, but there is no guarantee you'll be successful. Then there are the strange looks from your family to contend with.

No, what you need is a well thought out plan.

You could invest in a copy of the Almanach de Gotha, it's expensive and awkward to tote around. Not to mention having to wade through over 1000 pages to locate the royals that are actually still available. Too time consuming.

Or you could buy a copy of Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage so that you don't step on any regal toes. But why bother?

What you need is a concise guide. A primer that tells you which royals are available and what they like to do in their spare time.

Thankfully that publication now exists. Bright Young Royals: Your Guide to the Next Generation of Blue Bloods by Jerramy Fine is your indispensable reference for finding your royal and keeping them. This book will tell you everything you need to know about who they are, where they live and how to win their hearts.

This book lists the available candidates from the various European royal houses along with short biographies, which include photographs to compare your options. You will learn where these royals live, their educational background, and what charities they support so that you can make an informed decision on whether they would make your family proud. Or switch gears if necessary.

So, armed with the ultimate guide, what do you do next?

Once you've made it past the security detail for the object of your royal affection, you're all set to win their heart using the helpful tips in Jerramy's book. What they like to eat, their birthdate, the names of their siblings, how much money they have and where they are in the royal pecking order. Sure to impress even the most minor of available royals.

Of course there will be roadblocks along the way. It could take years before you get a proposal. Just ask Kate Middleton and Charlene Wittstock. That's why Jerramy has included a chapter on modern day Cinderella success stories to keep you motivated and inspired. Think being a commoner, overly intelligent, a single mother, or a divorcee will stand in your way of finding true royal love? Rest assured it won't.

But once you've married your royal it isn't all luxury and glamour. There's real work to do, such as using your powers for good and raising a future generation of royals to be responsible individuals. An entire generation of upcoming attractive young royals to write a sequel for. No doubt it will be just as enjoyable as this version is now.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Why training Catherine to be Royal is a bad idea

2011-09-21T15:39:00.001-04:00

Now that Catherine has been a member of the Royal family for close to five months, the real work is set to begin.

After all, there's more to her role than hitting all the right fashion notes and getting pregnant on demand. The signs are reassuring. Since April the new Duchess of Cambridge has shown promise. She's already perfected the royal wave and the ability to smile on cue. Not to mention she has received training fending off kidnappers when her security detail isn't paying attention. Having passed all of this, she has now progressed to the next level.

Catherine will now be trained on the business side of being royal: private tutorials on government, briefings of State, and learning about organizations such as the arts and media. These private lessons are being held in St. James's Palace. This ~~indoctrination~~ process is expected to take several months, by which point she may regret having said "I Will".

Obviously the learning curve is steep and it will take time. Given her future ornamental role as consort there are all types of diplomatic minefields lying in wait. Fashion faux pas waiting to happen such as wearing the national flag colors of France while visiting the Netherlands.

You'll notice the training has worked when she stiffens at approaching children, no longer smiles spontaneously, and appears impervious to sub-zero temperatures. Will she take fashion risks? Highly unlikely. When all is said and done, Catherine may become a brunette version of Sophie, the Countess of Wessex. Pretty, but staid and unremarkable.

Lessons may have been learnt from the past, but if Catherine is trained to be Royal, the very qualities that people are charmed by and find refreshing are likely to be drummed out of her. Catherine may be accessible now, but the Royal family has their own rules when it comes to their subjects. Rule number one: Do not act like one of them.

So the next time you see Catherine in public acting natural and spontaneous?

Enjoy it while it lasts.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday September 18, 2011 - Royal Baby Watch - September edition

2011-09-18T13:58:00.002-04:00

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday September 18, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: Five months in and still no news of a royal baby for William and Catherine. Should they be pregnant by now or are we being impatient?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

5 Reasons I don't want to be like Kate Middleton

2011-09-14T08:49:00.001-04:00

On April 29th, Catherine Middleton walked into Westminster Abbey a commoner and left HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. Thus fulfilling the collective dreams of women waiting to find their own prince. Not to mention all of the impatient little girls who dragged their parents to the Disney store for instant gratification.

Yes, the royal wedding was a glorious, long overdue event. But now that it's over, reality has set in. This author seems to be under the impression that because she is thin and dresses well we all want to be like Kate Middleton. Granted it would be nice to have hospitals named after you, the adulation of the crowds and an unlimited supply of flower bouquets, for the most part I don't envy Kate in the slightest and I don't want to be like her. Here are my five reasons why.

1) No one gets your name right

Her name is Catherine. It was on the wedding programme and it's probably on her birth certificate. Despite this the media seems to want to hang on to the past. Imagine a world where you are called the wrong name for the rest of your life. Irritating, no? On the bright side, in the event of a divorce, no need to tell people your 'new' name because they never stopped using it in the first place. See? There's always a silver lining.

2) People suddenly have a vested interest in your sex life

Royal babies do not magically appear in official photographs. They must come from somewhere, somehow. Sure we crouch the concept in euphemisms such as 'pregnancy', 'expecting', 'bump' but royal babies must be conceived first. And how to we conceive babies? That's right, we have sex. Now if the thought of thousands of people waiting for you to have sex isn't a buzz killer then I don't know what is.

3) Every part of your appearance is scrutinized in minute detail

We all have bad days where no amount of concealer or Spanx makes a difference. Now imagine being Kate. She cannot leave the palace without looking 100% perfect. Even if she thinks she looks perfect she will inadvertently disappoint hundreds of people without even realizing it. People who take her apart for everything: her hair, skin, teeth, weight, shoes, etc. Everything is fair game. Not to mention being photographed from every conceivable angle. For. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life. I don't know about you, but I could not handle that level of scrutiny.

4) You can't eat

Why? See reason #3.

5) Being a trend-setter is hard work

It must be difficult constantly trying to top yourself. Where every decision you make, from the cornflakes you buy to the sushi you eat, is worth emulating. Must be stressful trying to live up to those expectations. Sometimes a girl just wants a bag of crisps without the world waiting to take note of it, okay?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Fashionistas

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

In honor of New York Fashion Week and the relentless focus on Kate's clothing, I thought I would go back and revisit some other royals who were quite the fashionistas in their day. Think Kate put the royal family on the fashion map? Au contraire!

No fashion list would be complete without Queen Victoria. She rocked the black dress well before Audrey Hepburn was a glimmer in her parent's eyes. Thankfully she did not pioneer the little black dress (shudder) but she was a true champion when it came to wearing black from head to toe. Pairing it with accessories, such as priceless jewels, a white veil and a ceremonial sash, no royal has ever done the color justice since.

Albert Edward,
The Prince of Wales

While he would later lend his name to an entire era, the future King Edward VII was once a mere babe in a formal portrait. In this Winterhalter painting, the young prince wears a sailor suit. His mother Queen Victoria was so enchanted with the suits worn by sailors in the Royal Navy that she commissioned a scaled down version for her son, thus setting a fashion trend. It is somewhat ironic that Edward himself did not serve in the Royal Navy, unlike his sons. The original suit is preserved in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

No other royal could be credited with popularizing a physical disability. Just before the birth of her third child in 1867 Princess Alexandra, Princess of Wales, contracted rheumatic fever, which left her with a permanent limp. This started a trend amongst society ladies called the 'Alexandra limp'. Which just goes to prove that the tradition of sycophancy never goes out of style.

Edward, Prince of Wales, was the royal superstar of his day. The man who popularized patterned Fair Isle sweaters, the Windsor Knot (but did not invent it) reportedly owed his boyish figure to spanx. He favored plus-fours, loud check tweeds, as well as two-tone shoes. Chaffing against royal fashion constraints, one of his first acts upon becoming king was to banish the frock-coat from his court.

The Princess Royal may not be renowned for her fashion sense but well before Kate was recycling her clothes, there was Anne. Case in point, at the 2008 wedding of Lady Rose Windsor, daughter of the Duke of Gloucester, Anne wore a dress older than the groom. The Maureen Baker dress had been worn at Charles and Diana's wedding 27 years earlier. Anne paired the outfit with the same John Boyd hat and it appears the same earrings. Instead of being criticized she was praised not only for her economy, but for still having the figure to fit into a dress at the age of 58 that she originally wore when she was 31.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday September 11, 2011 - Happy Birthday Prince Harry!

2011-09-11T16:41:00.001-04:00

Prince Harry will turn 27 on September 15th, on this episode I discuss Harry's position as third in line to the throne and the expectations placed on him. As well, I get on my soap box about Kate's privacy, what to do when your wedding attendants bail, Star magazine's fertility, and why we should let go of Pippa Middleton's bottom.

You can listen to the episode here:

Happy Birthday Prince Harry!

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 230 12 September 2011

Tatler Issues: Pippa Rules - August 2011 Volume 306 Number 8

From My Royal Collection

There are Still Kings

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday September 18, 2011 at 9:00PM ESt (North America)

The topic will be: Five months in and Catherine Cambridge is still not pregnant. Should she get pregnant or are we just being impatient?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

My Royal Sanctuary

2011-09-08T14:07:00.001-04:00

Since the royal tour ended there's very little to write about. So I thought I would get personal and write about my love of royal books and the place I go to unwind. This is a photo of my den/library. My royal sanctuary. It has a nice comfy couch, a TV and my royal books. I have two children and sometimes, just to get some peace and quiet and go to this room, pick a random book off the shelf and explore it. I don't read them cover to cover (I don't get the chance!) but even if I don't get a long reprieve, there's something about them that recharges my batteries. Reading these books relaxes me like nothing else can.

One of my earliest purchases

This is one of my first royal books. Diana, Princess of Wales by Brenda Ralph Lewis. Released in 1982, it's nothing fancy. About 46 pages. The inside cover is inscribed with my name in multi-colored bubble letters, flowers and balloons (sacrilege!) and there's one of my first royal drawings depicting the Queen on the throne on her Coronation day.

I was drawn to this book because it had the first pictures of Prince William. Other than seeing a bit of his head peeping out, it's kind of disappointing. I don't think I cared about that at the time. Included amongst the pages are family trees for Prince Charles and one for Diana. These family trees, particularly Prince Charles' sparked a desire to learn more about the royal family. Hard to believe that one book can do that, but it did.

There's nothing fawning about this book nor scandalous. That would come later. If you look closely in some of the photos you can see a young Sarah Ferguson. Interestingly enough, though the author mentions it, other than a small head and shoulders shot, there are no photos of Diana on her first official engagement wearing the famous black dress. The dress that helped reveal a different, more glamourous side of Diana. A fashion icon in the making. Instead the photos portray an appropriate young queen-to-be with a flair for fashion. Much like her daughter-in-law Kate today.

When I bought this book I remember being delighted and pouring over it from cover to cover. 500 books later I take the same delight with items in my royal collection.

What is your first royal book? Do you have a special place where you go to enjoy them?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal News Generator 2.1

2011-09-03T22:29:00.000-04:00

Tired of waiting for Catherine to announce a pregnancy? Or for Pippa to get another parking ticket? In the interim, while we're waiting for an epic fashion disaster, I've updated my trusty royal news generator so you can create your own royal news stories. Just like the tabloids do! Hours upon hours of fun should ensue as you go through each interesting possibility and its devastating impact on the monarchy.

Enjoy!

Which will result in

Royal Watchers Are

And Predicting

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday August 28, 2011 - Do the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge deserve privacy?

2011-08-28T11:11:00.001-04:00

Since their marriage Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have been the focus of intense scrutiny. Recent photos of the couple show the couple holding hands on what should be a private moment.

Do William and Catherine deserve privacy? Given their positions on the public stage, Is it too much to expect?

Publications mentioned

People Special Fashion Issue - Kate's Style Secrets

Hello! Canada Weekly No 228 22 August 2011

Hello! Canada Weekly No 229 29 August 2011

Song mentioned

Everyone watched the wedding - Jim Cuddy

From My Royal Collection

Chronicle of the Royal Family

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday September 11, 2011 at 9:00PM EST.

Topic to be determined

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Souvenirs and Collectibles

2011-08-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Royal Weddings, Births, Deaths, Coronations, Jubilees all inspire new souvenirs and collectibles. From books, to china, figurines, glassware, clothing, you name it. But what are souvenir items. They are, of course a way of making money, but at one point they were also used as a way of showing support for the monarchy. This is very evident in items relating to Jubilees; the earliest known English commemorative items date from the restoration of King Charles II in 1660.

The tradition of selling commemorative items to mark special royal occasions didn’t really catch on until Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Because very few of the people even knew what the Queen looked like, items adorning her likeness became very popular and started a tradition. Royal events past and present have been marked by coins, stamps and ceramics, glassware to name a few. With the arrival of new manufacturing methods in the last 250 years, commemorative items are now more affordable to the general public.

In the last few years there have even been some recent auctions of undergarments owned by Queen Victoria. In 2008, a pair of Queen Victoria's monogrammed cotton underwear dating from the 1890s, sold for £4,500 at an auction in Derby, attracting bids from Brazil, Russia, Hong Kong and New York. At the same auction, a chemise sold for £3,800, while one of Queen Victoria's nightdresses sold for £5,200 to an American collector. These items are considered valuable because they are so rare. One of the most valuable pieces of royal memorabilia is a Meissen teapot decorated with the coat of arms of Sophie of Hanover, the mother of King George I, which dates from 1713-14, is considered the earliest surviving date-able piece of Meissen porcelain, and has an estimated value of £200,000-£300,000. A few years back someone was trying to sell letters Prince Charles had written for 20 or $30,000 on eBay. Not including shipping.

Having royal items fetch these prices is the exception rather than the rule. The sheer volume of memorabilia means that so much of what is made has little to no resale value. So much so that you have to go back to Queen Victoria taking the throne in 1837 to find objects that have increased in value.

In the case of William and Kate’s wedding the range of items has increased. After all it is big business, to the tune of £40m. The items are eclectic - some traditional are traditional, like china, others are unusual and imaginative, such as souvenir condoms. There’s also replica engagement rings, salt and pepper shakers, life sized cutouts, nail polish, beer, pies, coins, stamps, the list is endless.

The Royal family may have rejected approval for t-shirts, towels and aprons but this doesn’t stop people from producing items. Buckingham Palace has issued rules on what souvenir manufacturers can produce in terms of William and Kate wedding merchandise. Items must be permanent and significant – tea towels, t-shirts and aprons are out, whereas mugs, china plates and biscuit jars are in. While this may be the official rule, manufacturers still tried to get in on the act. The Royal Family doesn’t trademark itself, so anyone is free to produce merchandise bearing their names or likenesses, which means there is no real distinction between licensed and unlicensed merchandise – an important distinction in the world of collecting. Many of these items produced will be sold in the thousands, and thus not hold any long term value.

Not to say that modern items are completely worthless. Royal items designed by Eric Rav-il-ilous are collectible. One sold last year for close to £2,000. The ugly and the unusual also tend to sell better. Maybe it’s worth taking a look at that Royal Mint coin that looks nothing like William and Kate?

There are some things that might have a good chance of holding their value:

Official china – mugs, tankards, plates, pill boxes. For fine bone china, there are items from the Aynsley collection. Including a hand-painted highly sought after 4 piece set including an engagement plate, loving cup with two handles, tankard mug and coaster. Though they are currently affordable, they’re likely to go up in price as the supply dwindles.

Commemorative coins are another good investment when it comes to Royal wedding memorabilia. They will be embossed with the important dates and will increase in value over the years to come especially if they are made from silver or gold or are part of a limited edition run.

Stamps are a very popular item and because the various Commonwealth countries will produce their own, there will be a lot to choose from.

Some pointers for collecting:

Don’t buy anything that is not of a high quality. Protect your investment by buying from a reputable company.
Try and acquire an extensive and themed collection.
Ensure you store your collection well to keep it in mint condition. Keep anything boxed or packaged as is.
Look out for fine bone china pieces as they hold their value. High quality china as well as hand painted versions are the ones to collect – see the Aynsley collection above.
Cups and mugs with portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are likely to become collectors pieces.
Commemorative plates are another good option and will be available both before and long after the wedding to mark such events as anniversaries or the birth of their children. Those with portraits of the couple will be the most desirable.
Portraits are the key to the future popularity of an item.

Having said this, any increase in value is not likely to be seen for another 30-40 years, so just hope that your children and grandchildren will appreciate these items as much as you do having taken the time and care to collect them.

And even if they do not retain their value, one of the best quotes is on the British Royal Family website: it is the meaning and memories associated with the souvenirs which give them their value.

© Marilyn Braun 2011 Thank you for enjoying this article.

If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Marriages - It's not all doom and gloom

2011-08-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

The House of Windsor’s marital history is well documented with a focus on the failures - Charles and Diana, Andrew and Fergie and Anne and Mark Philips. When Willliam and Catherine married these examples were brought up as a warning, as if it is a foregone conclusion that their marriage will end the same way. It also highlights the pressure the couple are under to not only make it work but also to make up for the past; which neither one had control over. If anything, the positive aspects of royal marriages have all but been ignored. But there have been some success stories.

Yes, believe it or not royal couples can get along and stay married. It’s rare now but it does happen. Prior to Charles and Diana it would have been unthinkable to divorce, too scandalous. Better to stay married and save face. The reason for royal marriages have also changed over time. They used to be arranged, negotiations beginning for some couples while they were still in the cradle. Arranging royal marriages was done for a variety of reasons, to make political alliances or even to prevent them in some cases, to join royal houses, to secure the succession – Henry VIII married six times in an effort to have a son to succeed him, later on King George III’s sons gave up their mistresses and married in order to produce an heir. If they happened to fall in love then that was an unexpected bonus. The planning of royal marriages was very strategic and a pragmatic approach was taken to choosing the right spouse. Despite this, sometimes they didn’t even meet each other until the wedding day! Sometimes neither attended the wedding ceremony and they married by proxy.

King George III and Queen Charlotte

Inn 1759, the future King George III was in love with another woman, Lady Sarah Lennox, daughter of the Duke of Richmond. But he was advised against the marriage and so he gave up any thoughts of it. He is quoted as saying: "I am born for the happiness or misery of a great nation," he wrote, "and consequently must often act contrary to my passions’ something that many royal bridegrooms can relate to. He became King in 1760 and had to find a suitable Queen. One candidate was seventeen year old Princess Charlotte Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A minor princess who, though intelligent was not particularly attractive but the king announced his intention to marry her in July 1761. Princess Charlotte arrived in London on September 7, 1761 and met the King and the royal family. The next day, September 8^th, they were married. Their marriage was successful, and rare for the time; King George III did not take any mistresses during their marriage. They had 15 children, 13 of whom survived to adulthood. At the time of her death in 1818, they had been married for 57 years.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 at the age of 18, she was not thinking of marriage. She was young and she was enjoying freedom for the first time in her life after years of being overprotected. Prior to this she had slept in the same room as her mother and whenever she went down a set of stairs, someone held her hand.

Prince Albert was her first cousin, and when the first met neither made much of an impression on the other. But in 1839 when Victoria had become Queen, she felt differently about him: falling in love with him and proposing marriage, they were married in February 1840. After her wedding night, Victoria wrote in her diary:

"I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert ... his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! ... to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!"

Their marriage would be a happy one and they would have nine children, most of whom would marry into the royal houses of Europe, thus giving Queen Victoria the nickname – Grandmother of Europe. Prince Albert did not live to become the grandfather of Europe as he died in December 1861. The Queen was devastated and mourned him, wearing black for the rest of her life until her death in 1901. They were married for 21 years.

King George V and Queen Mary

In the early 1890s, Princess May of Teck was in an unenviable position. Due to her father’s morganatic birth, it was thought she would have a hard time finding a husband. Too royal to marry beneath her and not royal enough to marry above her station. She also wasn’t getting any younger either – 26 at the time of her marriage. Luckily Queen Victoria saw past her morganatic background and she became engaged to the elder son of the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Victor.

It wasn’t a love match, the prince was in actually in love with another woman, Helene, the daughter of the Comte de Paris. Unfortunately, Prince Albert Victor died a month before the intended wedding. Queen Victoria felt that Princess May was too good a bride to slip away so a year later May married Prince Albert Victor’s brother, Prince George. This is not the first time a sibling has married another’s intended. King Henry VIII married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon in 1509.

Theirs was not a love match. Prince George had a purely platonic attitude towards May. But there was affection between them. May wrote to him:

I am very sorry that I am still so shy with you. I tried not to be but failed. I was angry with myself! It is so stupid to be so stiff together and really there is nothing I would not tell you, except that I love you more than anybody in the world, and this I cannot tell you myself so I write it to relieve my feelings.

He wrote back:

Thank God we both understand each other, and I really think it unnecessary for me to tell you how deep my love for you, my darling, is and I feel it growing strong and stronger every time I see you – although I may appear shy and cold..’

George and May were married in July 1893 and were married for almost 47 years. They had six children, one of whom would have a happy marriage himself: Prince Albert, the future King George VI.

King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon

Prince Albert did not have a lot going for him He was shy, awkward, he had a stammer and he was overshadowed by his older and more glamorous brother, David. When he met Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon he was quite smitten with her but too shy to do anything about directly. She was fond of him but not impressed, especially when he proposed through an intermediary. He would propose twice, and on the third try she accepted. They were married on April 26, 1923 and came to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his older brother, David. The King died in his sleep in 1952. Had he lived, the couple would have marked 29 years of marriage in April of that year. Their elder daughter would go on to mark a historic royal wedding anniversary.

Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip 1947

Out of all of the marriages, theirs is the most remarkable. Though to have Prince Philip tell it, their decision to get married wasn’t necessarily romantic. He having claimed it was ‘fixed up’. We’ll never know her true thoughts about that but she became smitten with the 18 year old Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark when her family visited Dartmouth royal naval college 1939, where he was a cadet. This was their first photographed meeting. It is said that they’d met at the wedding of Princess Marina to the Duke of Kent. Though Princess Elizabeth was only 8 at the time. Prince Philip was assigned to escort her and her sister around the college and it is said that the Queen never looked at another man afterwards. After the war, her parents thought she was too young to get engaged. They wanted her to meet other eligible men but Elizabeth was determined. The King asked her to wait before announcing an engagement and the family went on a three month tour of South Africa in 1947. The king finally relented to an engagement and it was announced in July 1947 with the couple being married in November of that year. They had four children and in 2007 marked 60 years of marriage. A first for any British monarch in history.

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

Prince Michael of Kent married Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz in 1978. Marie Christine had a complicated background, her father had been a Nazi party member and she had been previous married (which would be annulled by the Pope in 1978). The biggest strike against her was that she was a devout Catholic. Under the terms of the Act of Settlement, Prince Michael could not marry a Catholic and keep his place in the line of succession, where he was sixteenth at the time. Another obstacle was that due to the Royal Marriages act of 1772, no member of the royal family could marry without the sovereigns consent. Prince Michael and Marie Christine were unsure whether the Queen would give her consent. They turned to Lord Mountbatten, who approached the Queen, who did consent to the marriage, which took place in July 1978. They have two children and this year will celebrate 33 years of marriage.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles

After a 30 year love affair and an inconvenient first husband and wife, Charles and Camilla were finally able to marry in 2005. Many people thought it would never happen, nor whether it was even possible. The last Prince of Wales paid a high price for marrying a divorced woman. The late Queen Mother was said to be against Camilla. After she died in 2002 the way was paved for the couple to get married. Though it would take three more years for it to happen. Much to the shock and amazement of many, their engagement was announced in February 2005 and they married in April 2005. Upon her marriage she became Princess of Wales, however, in deference to the memory of Diana, Camilla took the title Duchess of Cornwall instead. It is still unclear what title she will take when Charles becomes king. By most accounts, theirs is a happy marriage, they are compatible and Prince Charles seems to be happier and more content.

Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence

Princess Anne was originally married in 1973 to Captain Mark Philips, who had been unfaithful to his wife during their marriage. They had two children but the marriage ended in 1992. Six months later she married Commander Timothy Laurence in Scotland in a very low-key ceremony. Anne became the first Royal divorcée to remarry since Princess Victoria Melita did so in 1905.

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys Jones

Prince Edward, the youngest son of the Queen and Prince Philip, is the only one of her children to stay married, a remarkable feat by today’s royal standards. Edward and Sophie had met in 1993 at a charity tennis tournament and began their relationship soon afterwards. Until Prince William’s courtship of Kate Middleton, theirs had been one of the longest royal courtships. They had dated for six years until they announced their engagement in 1999. They were married in June of that year and now have two children. In June they celebrated 12 years of marriage.

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Wedding Dress Designers

2011-08-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

What do Norman Hartnell, David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, Lindka Cierach, Molyneux, Mainbocher, and Mme Handley Seymour have in common? All of them designed memorable royal wedding dresses. With Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress, Sarah Burton from the House of Alexander McQueen joined those illustrious ranks.

Royal wedding dresses conjure up images of fairy tales and happily ever after. Each designer is called upon not only to create a personal statement for the bride but also to redefine the fantasy image of the ultimate fairytale princess – Cinderella.

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent

Some designs retain a timeless quality to them, such as Princess Margaret’s 1960 dress. Some are a product of their time – such as Princess Anne’s 1973 Tudor style sleeves or Lady Diana’s Spencer’s meringue creation from 1981. Some are classic, such as Grace Kelly’s. Many have set trends. Queen Victoria set the ultimate trend, which continues to this day, of choosing a white dress for her wedding. Prior to this, brides had not always worn white. Roman brides wore yellow. 16^th and 17^th pale green was a popular choice – because of their association with fertility. But most brides wore their best clothes, wearing the dress she could afford. Now, wearing anything other than a dress within the white range of color, especially for a royal bride would be inconceivable. Though it has happened, the Duchess of Windsor’s dress, by American designer Mainbocher was pale blue. Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott’s dress was of a deep ivory that it had a blush pink hue.

Princess Alexandra,
Princess of Wales

Queen Victoria wore white silk satin court dress for her wedding in 1840. Made by Mary Bettans it used materials of British manufacture. Using British materials and even British designers is a custom that continues to this day. In 1863, her daughter in law, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, was given a beautiful dress of Brussels lace by King Leopold of the Belgians as a wedding gift, but as it was not British, it was considered inappropriate to use as a wedding dress. Instead, a dress of English silk was made by Mrs James, a favored dressmaker in London.

Like Queen Victoria and Princess Alexandra, Princess May of Teck’s 1893 wedding dress also used materials of English manufacture and was made by an English dressmaker, Linton and Curtis. In 1923, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon’s ivory chiffon dress was made by Madame Handley Seymour, a court dressmaker to Queen Mary, who not only made her wedding dress but the dress she wore for her Coronation too.

Looking back at these gowns and the designers who made them it’s a shame that their names have been, in effect, lost to the sands of time. Royal Wedding dresses tended to be made by royal dressmakers who did not get the same attention as designers do today.

Duchess of Windsor

The next royal bride, Princess Marina of Denmark would choose Edward Molyneux, Known for his elegant silhouettes, he was a couturier to society and the stars. He was a perfect choice for Princess Marina who was known for her chic and poised style.

Then there would be Norman Hartnell, a court dressmaker to the Queen Mother and to the Queen for many years. He was also well known for designing fashion costumes for films. He designed wedding dresses for Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott. Princess Elizabeth – the present Queen, whose dress was inspired by the image of Flora by Botticelli and had intricate embroidery. By contrast, his dress for Princess Margaret in 1960 was striking in its simplicity, as was Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester’s dress in 1972. He also designed the present Queen’s coronation dress and robes.

Princess Alexandra 1963
Via British Monarchy Flickr

Some lesser known designers have included John Cavanaugh, who started his career working for Molyneux, designed the wedding dresses of both Katharine Worsley, Duchess of Kent in 1961 and her sister in law, Princess Alexandra of

Kent

in 1963. In 1973 Princess Anne would choose a relatively unknown Maureen Baker, chief designer at the firm Susan Small to make her wedding gown. Maureen Baker was not a household name but had been making clothing for the princess for several years.

Out of all of the royal wedding dress designers, up until 1981, none were more famous or well known than David and Elizabeth Emanuel. And 3 decades later they remain famous. They too were relatively unknown, having only graduated from the Royal College of Art only four years before Lady Diana Spencer approached them to create her iconic wedding dress. Beating out more established designers such as Hardy Amies, dressmaker to the Queen, and the front runner Bellville Sassoon.

The Emanuel’s creation, with its record 25 foot train, is remarkable in its excess, though it reflected the fashions of the time it is also seen as the ultimate fairytale dress, setting many trends in the process. Most royal wedding dresses since 1981, including Catherine’s have been compared to it and no doubt will continue to be compared to it.

Wedding dress designers that followed would not gain the same level of fame or notoriety. Though they created beautiful dresses, few would be as familiar with the designer names Linka Cierach, who made Sarah Ferguson’s dress or Samantha Shaw who designed Sophie Rhys Jones’ wedding gown.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress
via British Monarchy Flickr

After William and Catherine’s engagement was announced, speculation began on who would design Catherine’s dress. Unlike other royal brides, she did not announce the name of her designer, preferring to keep everyone in suspense until the big day. Names of possible designers included Bruce Oldfield, a favorite of Diana, Issa who had made many clothes for Catherine, including her engagement dress, Sophie Cranston, and Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen.

On the day itself the design and the designer were revealed as Sarah Burton. According to the press release for the dress:

Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing. Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen’s work. Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress.
Burton started as a personal assistant to Alexander McQueen in 1997. She was appointed as Head of Womens wear in 2000, with clients including Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, and Gwyneth Paltrow. After McQueen’s death she was named as the creative director of the company in 2010. Though her name was mentioned as a contender for designing the dress she denied any involvement. Though she almost gave the game away when she was seen arriving at the Goring hotel. Up until the day of the wedding no one knew for sure who the designer was, just as Catherine wanted it to be. Will other royal brides follow suit in keeping the names of their designers a secret? We’ll have to wait and see!

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Visits to Canada - A Brief History

2011-08-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Image: Chris Jackson/St James's Palace

When Prince William and his new wife Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently toured Canada, their visit highlighted the long association that the royal family has with Canada. A relationship that began back in 1786 with another Prince William.

The first visit by a British royal took place in 1786 when the future King William IV, came to Canada as part of a naval contingent. Since then there have been royal visits by many members of the royal family, included amongst them, several future monarchs. Many came as part of military service, some for personal visits, and some became Governor Generals of Canada. Most have come for official visits and to mark significant national events.

Normally royal visitors are accompanied by their spouse. Although they have been infrequent, there have been some visits that have been family affairs. In 1927 when Edward, Prince of Wales and his brother, Prince George visited Canada to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Confederation. In 1970 the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne came to tour the Arctic. There would be another family visit in 1976 when the Queen came to open the Olympic Games in Montreal, which Princess Anne was competing in the equestrian event. She was watched by her parents and her three brothers, the only time the entire royal family has been abroad in one place. In 1977, during a visit to Alberta, Prince Charles was joined by Prince Andrew to watch the Calgary Stampede. The last official family visit occurred in 1991 Prince William and Prince Harry joined their parents in Ontario. In 1998, Prince Charles made a personal visit to Vancouver accompanied by Prince William and Prince Harry. The most recent sibling visit was in 2009 when Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York attended the Toronto International Film Festival.

Queen Victoria was said to be rather fond of Canada, though she never visited it. The first visit by a reigning sovereign took place in 1939 when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stepped foot on Canadian soil, in Quebec, and began a six-week coast to coast tour from Quebec to Vancouver and back to Halifax, 9,000 miles, in 40 days.

The present Queen first visited Canada as a princess in 1951. She was 25 at the time. Young, glamorous, with a handsome husband, they were the equivalent of Charles and Diana. Such was the interest in her visit that any little detail was made into news, such as one headline in the Globe and Mail titled “Princess Bringing Crinolines!” The tour was five weeks long and they received a rapturous welcome, having 13,000 school children sing O Canada for them and it is estimated that 200,000 people saw the royal couple.

Since that first visit, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have travelled through every province and territory in Canada. Visiting for many significant national events. In 1957 she became the first monarch to open parliament in Ottawa. Wearing her coronation gown for the event, she quoted the words of the first Elizabeth: ‘Though God hath raised me high, yet this I count the glory of my Crown that I have reined with your love.” During this visit another historic event occurred when the Queen made her first televised broadcast, a precursor to the televised Christmas speech the same year.

During the 1959 visit the Queen, along with President Dwight Eisenhower, opened the St. Lawrence Seaway. She was in the early stages of her pregnancy with Prince Andrew and it was reported that she looked ‘rather off color’ at times. This pregnancy wasn’t revealed until after the tour was completed. The tour lasted 45 days and the royal couple visited every province and territory. A remarkable feat for someone in the early stages of pregnancy. It is rather apt that this child, Prince Andrew, would himself, later be closely associated with Canada when he attended Lakefield College for six months in the 1970s.

The Queen's next visit would occur in 1964, a few months after the birth of Prince Edward. And this time her arrival would not be so rapturously greeted, as she was met by demonstrators chanting and singing demands for a Quebec independent of the Canadian confederation. The Queen, however, was praised for her bravery in visiting despite these protests.

In July 1967 the Queen and Prince Philip would visit to mark Canada’s centennial celebration of Confederation. The Queen cut into a giant cake, the majority of which was plywood with icing on it. Prince Philip incidentally, is the most frequent visitor, having visited Canada 43 times, including 22 trips with the Queen.

The Queen made what was one of her most significant visits in 1982 both for herself as monarch and for Canada itself when she signed the act proclaiming the Canadian constitution and Canada’s independence from Britain.

Another significant visit that the Queen would make would be in 1992 when she celebrated Canada’s 125th birthday and the 40th anniversary of her accession. In 2002 she would visit in her Golden Jubilee year, where Canadian’s turned out in record numbers to celebrate right along with her. She visited in 2005 and most recently in 2010. There has been some speculation that these might be her last visits. But health permitting she is reportedly planning return in 2012 to mark 60 years on the throne.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Review: Untold Story - A Novel by Monica Ali

2011-08-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Can a novel about the Princess of Wales leaving her life behind and starting over be plausible? The premise is interesting but it's not an original idea, having been tackled before by the book Royal Escape. Unlike that title, which covers the Princess of Wales in the run up to escaping the confines of her royal existence, Untold Story: A Novel deals with the aftermath of that decision.

Like Royal Escape, there are thinly veiled versions of Diana. Although it's glaringly obvious, neither author identifies her by name. Instead choosing to give this 'fictional' princess a new name while using biographical information from Diana's life. In her acknowledgements, Monica Ali even recognizes the authors of notable Diana biographies in assisting her research. Something which serves to emphasize the author's lack of originality in creating the Lydia character.

Basing Lydia on Diana is a blatant ploy capitalizing on our continuing fascination. A truly original, fictional princess isn't nearly as compelling as the real person. Fourteen years after her death, Diana still continues to intrigue. The draw of the novel is the curiosity of what could have been had the choice belonged to her.

The other characters are predictable. Like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City, Lydia's group of loyal female friends include the cynical friend, the naive friend, and the understanding yet frazzled friend. Her male suitor provides the perfect amount of emotional distance, taking his cues from Lydia's needs instead of his own. Only Lawrence Standing, Lydia's former private-secretary, with his dignity and stoicism and the conflicting motives of John Grabowski, the photojournalist, provides depth. Though Grabowski devolves into parody towards the end.

Despite being in the presence of the most famous woman in the world no one recognizes Lydia for who she really is. The effortless star quality she possessed as a royal is suddenly non-existent, making the reader wonder just how much of this remarkable quality was a media invention versus a natural gift. The author attempts to mask this intangible quality by altering Lydia's appearance with cosmetic surgery, voice lessons, long brown hair, brown contact lenses and a reticent personality. The beloved princess has been transformed into a non-descript,unremarkable woman living in the small town of Kensington in the United States.

As Lydia tries not to dwell on the past, we have the 1998 diaries of her private secretary, Lawrence Standing, to provide background information about how her escape was accomplished. But by 2007, ten years into her new life, it's clear that Lydia has not completely left the past behind, buying magazines hoping to find photos of herself and following the lives of her now full-grown sons. After Lawrence dies, Lydia writes therapeutic letters to him and these serve to mark her progress adapting from royal superstar to an anonymous, mundane existence.

Although Lydia has come to terms with her new life, there is always the risk of someone discovering her true identity. After ten years of living under a new identity, Lydia decides it's safe to stop wearing the contacts, which proves to threaten her new lifestyle when a photojournalist, John Grabowski, recognizes her 'amazing ultramarine eyes'. Grabowski, who photographed the Princess of Wales many times, is, by coincidence, on a short visit to Kensington. After seeing Lydia's eyes and comparing them to old photos of the princess, he makes the connection and decides to go public with the story. And thankfully that development occurs because Lydia's new existence is rather dull. Curiosity about how the other half lives becomes less interesting when they join us.

There are a few implausible points. Having the most famous woman in the world transition to an ordinary existence seems too easy. Occasionally the context of the characters comments/actions is unexplained. But the major flaw is her justification for leaving her children. Renowned for her dedication to her boys, it's implausible for her to leave with just a superficial backwards glance. Regardless of explanation, it comes across as a selfish and unsympathetic choice. But she pays for it with an existence of constantly looking over her shoulder suspiciously. In the end she seems to have lost more than she gained.

Untold Story is an intriguing mixture of chick-lit and thriller, making it a compelling and enjoyable read.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Catherine Cambridge, use your fashion powers wisely

2011-08-08T12:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Catherine, err Your Royal Highness:

It was with great alarm that I read the title of the following article 'Kate Middleton made us a nation of nude-ists'. My first thought is that you had set another trend, this time for going without clothes. While you can pull this off and some would regard this as "liberating," I feel that you might be abusing your fashion power over us.

Imagine my relief when I realized this article was about your shoes. However looking at the bigger picture I can't help but wonder whether we are headed in this direction. This concerns me. Many trends that have laid dormant for years should not be brought back (the corset, platform shoes, polyester pant-suits, anything from the 1970s/ early 1980s). No matter how much fashion designers lack inspiration. It is one thing to recycle ideas in the film industry; few films have the ability to embarrass the collective consciousness. Whereas what we wear/don't wear could adversely affect our job prospects. You don't have to worry about this so it is of no concern to you as you recklessly change fashions at whim with no thought for the rest of us.

Take for instance your hats. Persist with this and we could become a nation of people wearing over sized potato chips/satellite dishes on our heads. The chaos that could ensue at baseball games and the movies is a frightening thought. Skinny jeans or hot pants on the wrong figure is a horrifying image. Depending on the season/climate pantyhose, no matter how sheer, is simply irresponsible.

I fear for the future and where this could lead. What's next? Leggings? Popped collars? Shoulder-pads? Crimped hair? I almost fear you taking this as a challenge when you're bored in Anglesey.

Whatever you do, keep your clothes on. People will thank you for it, myself included.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday August 7, 2011 - 4th Anniversary Show

2011-08-06T16:54:00.001-04:00

August 6th, 2011 marks the 4th anniversary of The Royal Report. On this episode a look back at the history of the show, along with an encore performance of the very first episode from August 6, 2007.

You can listen to the episode here: The Royal Report 4th Anniversary episode

The Royal Report is on hiatus for 2 weeks. Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday August 28, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: Do William and Catherine deserve privacy?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The World According to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

2011-08-03T17:07:00.000-04:00

Forget President Obama or Queen Elizabeth, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is the most influential person on the planet.

Don't believe me?

No other woman can be said to influence everything from pantyhose to the economy. Her wedding even affected the environment. That's how powerful she is. Is it any accident that after her break-up with William in April 2007 that by July, Venus and Saturn were in conjunction? Coincidence? I think not.

We may think that her impact is limited to frivolous fashion choices. Not so! The Media, Hair & Beauty, Technology, Health Care, Travel and Food industries have all experienced the Kate-effect. Who else could change the landscape of the automotive industry by increasing the value of a 2001 Volkswagen Golf?

Clearly a one woman juggernaut of global influence.

However, not everything she touches turns to gold. Case in point, her royal wedding affected the mating patterns of red grouse. The UK economy also took a hit. As well, invoking the royal wedding couldn't even revive Jerry Seinfeld's career. You win some, you lose some.

Luckily she uses her powers for good; raising awareness about affordable flights between Edinburgh and Manchester. The proper etiquette for returning shopping trolleys. As well as highlighting the dangers of putting a maid of honor in a flattering dress.

Catherine's reach is so powerful it even extends into other galaxies! Maybe UFO's are trying to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon.

When they come to a conclusion let's hope they return so they can explain it to us.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

How long will it take before we kill this royal golden goose?

2011-08-02T17:29:00.000-04:00

You would think that we would have learned. Looking back on Diana, we have the benefit of hindsight to see where it went wrong. This time, it is supposed to be different.

It started out harmlessly enough. With the engagement announcement and the lead up to the royal wedding, it is understandable that we would want to read about Catherine and speculate on the details. Now that the wedding is over the scrutiny has only increased. We're focusing on her weight, on the minute details of what she wears, and whether she has a baby bump or not.

There's almost a sense of deja vu.

Newly married and adjusting to her royal life, in November 1981 Diana was photographed in Tetbury buying sweets, much like Catherine's recent trip to the supermarket. These ordinary details fascinate whether they deserve to be captured or not.

The comparisons may grow tiring but Catherine is expected to meet or exceed the benchmarks set by Diana. To be the perfect princess and provide a male heir in a timely fashion. She is also expected to avoid the pitfalls that come with the public interest. Don't overshadow Prince William or the royal family at important events. As if she has any control over this to begin with.

We can vow it will be different, Catherine won't suffer the same fate as Diana. The good intention is there but struck by the novelty of having a bone-fide royal superstar. It's been 14 years since Diana's death, best on hold tight lest Catherine disappear too.

Bemoan and decry the paparazzi for invading her privacy, at least we know what she wears to the supermarket and that she doesn't use cloth bags. Take note she flies economy, as long as she doesn't make slumming a habit. Pictures of her in a bikini on expensive vacations are far more interesting. All of the glitz and glamor come at the price of our fickle expectations.

Should we succeed in killing this goose, we'll be innocent because we can't help ourselves. It will be Catherine's fault for not realizing that in the first place.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday July 31, 2011 - Can Sarah Ferguson rehabilitate her image?

2011-07-31T10:54:00.001-04:00

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York is much maligned in the media for her actions. With last year's cash for access scandal, it seems that she had hit an all-time low. Now that she has a new docu-series and book called 'Finding Sarah' will this help to rehabilitate her public image or contribute to its further decline?

Listen to the episode here: Can Sarah Ferguson rehabilitate her public image?

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 225 25 July 2011

Hello! Canada Weekly No 226 8 August 2011

Vanity Fair - The Trouble With Andrew by Edward Klein

From My Royal Collection

Finding Sarah: A Duchess's Journey to Find Herself

My Story by Sarah, Duchess of York

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report for Sunday August 7, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

Topic to be determined

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

William and Catherine, Come Back!

2011-07-21T14:27:00.001-04:00

It's been 11 days since I've seen a photograph of William and Catherine in the news. Once they boarded that British Airways plane with no in-flight entertainment, they were gone. True they have promised to return to Canada, but when? What on earth are we supposed to do until then? Surely we can't survive on mere pregnancy rumors and eating disorder concerns?

Sure I've read stories about them. The ho-hum Diana comparisons. Kate's old car is for sale on eBay. But no physical sightings. They reportedly went to the movies recently and moved into Kensington Palace. I know they're busy, but couldn't they at least step-out to pick out some paint colors?

If I'd only known that it would be the last time I would see them for a while, I would have appreciated it more. I wouldn't have gotten so frustrated with the incessant coverage about Kate's hair. Now that they're gone all I have is the Maclean's Commemorative Edition - The Royal Tour of Canada Souvenir Issue to remember the good times.

I try to remain stoic but every day is a challenge. Progressing through the stages of royal tour withdrawal, I'm currently at Stage 5 - guilt and regret. If only we'd been more welcoming on Canada Day. Maybe there was too little fiddle music at the concert? Why did they have to leave? Was it something we said? However, all hope is not lost. William did say they would return, didn't he? He promised they would. When in doubt, save a copy of the news footage as evidence.

I guess there's nothing left to do other than to face reality. It's a depressing prospect given the lack of exciting royal news. Maybe in the interim someone will abdicate, an illegitimate child will surface or Prince Charles will demand Camilla become queen.

Fingers crossed.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Seven - William & Catherine's Royal Tour of Canada - Slave Lake, Alberta

2011-07-19T15:43:00.000-04:00

Source: British Monarchy Flickr

In a brief, unscheduled stop on their royal tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge departed the North West Territories for a stop in Slave Lake, Alberta.

The town, about 280 kilometres north of Edmonton, had been devastated by wildfire on May 15th. The fire destroyed 40% of the town of Slave Lake, making it the second most expensive insured disaster in Canadian history. Damage is estimated at $700 million.

7,000 residents were evacuated with little more than the clothes on their backs. William and Catherine's visit not only boosted morale for the town but highlighted the devastation, bringing the rebuilding efforts of the community back into the public eye.

Source: British Monarchy Flickr

The couple toured the devastation, meeting privately with dignitaries, rescue workers and affected citizens. Outside William and Catherine went on an informal walkabout, delighting those who had been waiting, before departing on the last stop of their tour in Calgary, Alberta.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Six - William and Catherine's Royal Tour of Canada - Yellowknife, North West Territories

2011-07-19T15:14:00.001-04:00

Source: British Monarchy Flickr

On Day Six of their royal tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Yellowknife, North West Territories. The last royal visit was in August 1994, when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Yellowknife, Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit. They had previously visited in 1959 and 1970. Prince Charles visited in 1979 and Prince Andrew and his then wife Sarah Ferguson, came in 1987.

During the official welcoming ceremony at Somba K’e Civic Plaza, the couple were treated to a song of welcome by Native Canadian drummers performed by the Dene, traditional Aboriginal hand games and “high kick,” an Arctic sport. On this stop William made a memorable, brief quadrilingual speech in English and French, adding his thanks in the languages of the Dene and the north coast of Inuvialuit.

Source: British Monarchy Flickr

After watching a brief game of street hockey, William tried his hand but failed at three shoot-out attempts. Catherine, who excelled at sports in school, demurred in participating in a shoot-out and instead dropped the ball in a face-off. She was wearing a wearing a cream linen three-quarter dress by Malene Birger with shoes by L.K. Bennett. They were presented with Canadian Olympic hockey jerseys with CAMBRIDGE on the back, Catherine's sporting the #1 and William with #2.

In the afternoon they joined a Session of Youth Parliament at the Legislative Assembly, learning about the challenges Aboriginal youth face, specifically in keeping young people in school. Later in the day the couple took a 30-minute float plane ride to Blachford Lake. They met members of the Canadian Rangers, the country's volunteer northern home guard. Catherine was named an honorary member of the Rangers. William had previously been named an honorary member, along with his brother Harry, in 2009. The couple posed in Rangers' red sweatshirts for a group photo. William was given a handcrafted patrol knife. Earlier he had received platinum cuff links and Catherine was given a polar bear diamond brooch made from diamonds mined in the territory.

Source: British Monarchy Flickr

The couple then toured the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, a program combining traditional Aboriginal learning into a university accredited program. Here they learned about moose-hide tanning and fish-drying.

At the end of the day, an elder guided them by canoe to uninhabited Eagle Island on Blachford Lake, where they dined on a specially prepared meal of local cranberries, Bannock bread, caribou and white fish. No doubt enjoying a peaceful, brief respite from the whirlwind tour.

Sources: Indian Country, CBC, Newstabulous

© Marilyn Braun 2011 Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday July 17, 2011 - Is Catherine Cambridge a style icon?

2011-07-16T22:31:00.001-04:00

Since the announcement of her engagement, everything that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has worn has set trends and sold out. But is this just media hype or a sign that she's a style icon?

Listen to the episode to find out: Is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge a style icon?

Publications discussed

People Cover story: 'Will & Kate Conquer America' July 25, 2011

Maclean's Cover story: 'Will & Kate's Canadian Honeymoon' July 18, 2011

Hello! Canada Weekly No 224 18 July 2011

From My Royal Collection

Kate Style: Chic and Classic Look

Diana Style: Foreword by Manolo Blahnik

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday July 31, 2011 at 9:00PM ET (North America)

The topic will be: Can Sarah Ferguson rehabilitate her public image?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Once upon a time...Catherine Cambridge had privacy

2011-07-15T10:27:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time..

Not long ago, a woman married a prince and became ~~a princess~~ err a duchess (though princess Catherine is acceptable). Some still did not know what to call the royal formerly known as Kate Middleton, so to some media outlets she remains Kate Middleton until something else catches on.

Prior to her spectacular wedding, Kate Middleton toiled away for many years, waiting for her prince to decide when the best time was to propose to her. During these years she was criticized for many things, thus developing a thick skin that would serve her well later on.

And so it came to be that her prince decided to propose. Presenting her with his iconic mother's engagement ring, thus guaranteeing no escape from her memory. This made ~~almost~~ everyone happy - photographers, dress designers, souvenir makers and wedding preparations began in earnest. In time we came to know about the cake, the music, who was invited and who had been snubbed. One thing Kate kept to herself was the wedding dress designer. We would have to wait until the wedding day. Like children impatient for Christmas, we speculated and wondered.

Occasionally Kate would appear in public so like Hungarian/Italian/Jewish/Portuguese mothers we could comment on how thin she looked. This concern was overshadowed by how stylish she appeared; her fashion choices flying off the shelves. As long as she looked good is all that mattered. Or so it seemed at the time.

Finally her wedding day approached and ~~almost~~ everyone was happy. The prince showed up and save for the wedding ring debacle, everything went well. People lined the streets, cheering. She kissed her prince on the balcony as author Andrew Morton waited for a photograph for the cover of his book.

But no sooner was the ring on ~~Kate's~~ Catherine's finger than speculation began on when she would conceive. Some even speculated that she couldn't have a baby. The couple left on their honeymoon while we continued to wonder when an heir would arrive. Suddenly Catherine's body was no longer her own.

The royal tour didn't help matters. Especially when someone wished her well in starting a family, she replied: "Yes, I hope to." Poor ~~Kate Middleton/Princess,/Duchess~~ Catherine. Doesn't she know those four words will come back to haunt her? Now that she's returned to Anglesey, she must think her womb is safe from prying eyes. Nothing could be further from the truth. After all, without official duties, what else is there to do in such a remote location but to make babies?

And each time the Duchess of Cambridge leaves her cozy home people will be on baby-watch, wondering and waiting and speculating. Impatient for an announcement. If only we were writing the next chapter, we might get it sooner. But we're not.

To be continued...

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for July 10, 2011 - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Canada

2011-07-10T15:30:00.001-04:00

Did Catherine really wear the same jeans three days in a row? Has the Toronto Sun gone too far with a picture of Catherine? What happens when the fashion police show up?

Find out on this episode:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Canada

Publications discussed and mentioned

The Toronto Star cover story - Cheeky Kate - July 9, 2011

Hello! Canada Weekly No 222 27 June 2011

Hello! Canada Weekly No 223 11 July 2011

Hello! Royal Special Commemorative Edition - William & Catherine's tour of Canada

Maclean's Magazine - Special Commemorative Edition - The Royal Tour

Blogs and links mentioned

World of Royalty Blog

Prince William's Final Speech in Canada

From My Royal Collection

Charles and Diana Visit Canada

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday July 17, 2011 at 9:00PM ET (North America)

The topic will be: Is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge a style icon?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Five - William & Catherine's Royal Tour - Prince Edward Island

2011-07-08T17:34:00.001-04:00

Via British Monarchy Flickr

On the fifth day of their royal tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island. The island is named after Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria. Catherine wore a sleeveless crepe dress by Joseph, with a peach/light salmon colored jacket reportedly from Chanel.

Via Canadian Heritage website

Out of the entire visit, this 24 hour stop proved to be the most exciting. The couple met the obligatory dignitaries in the morning at Province House, the Legislator of Prince Edward Island. Catherine, appeared to be channeling Liesel von Trapp in her Sarah Burton/Alexander McQueen outfit.The cream-colored cable-knit sweater dress had a drop waist with blue stripes around the hem, waistline and wrists. The dress featured an tied collar, handing in a sailor's knot around her neck, the nautical theme was appropriate for the couple's activities later on in the day.

At noon Prince William had a chance to display his helicopter piloting skills by participating in a training session for the 'waterbird' emergency landing procedure, which is only done in PEI. He was shown various techniques, including water taxiing and landing, taking off with one engine powered down before testing them himself in a Sea King helicopter at Dalvay-by-the-sea. On land, Catherine with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, wore casual clothes, dark skinny jeans, a navy belted trench coat with a bright red scarf and beige and white deck shoes. She proudly watched her husband, while taking photos to post on Facebook.

After Prince William's helicopter exercise, it was Catherine's turn to demonstrate her skills in a dragon boat race against William. Back in 2007, Kate had been part of The Sisterhood, an all-female dragon boat racing team. Her team lost by a third of a length to Prince William's all-male opposing team. On land the competitive, good-natured couple showed they were good sports by hugging. Thereby treating onlookers to a rare royal public display of affection.

In the evening the couple departed for the North West Territories

Sources: Sun News, The Globe and Mail, Mail Online

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Four - William and Catherine's Royal Tour - Québec City, Quebec

2011-07-06T23:07:00.000-04:00

Source: Royal Tour website

The Royal Couple arrived in Quebec, city aboard the HMCS Montréal. They joined the crew for morning worship in the chapel aboard the ship. Catherine was wearing a new outfit, an electric blue lace 'Jacquenta' dress by Canadian designer Erdem. This dress is the second one she wore from the designer. On her feet she wore LK Bennett pumps.

Source: British Monarchy Flickr

After the service they departed the vessel to head off to La Maison Dauphine, a shelter which offers programs to street youth of Québec. The homeless is an issue close to Prince William's heart. He is patron of Centrepoint, which helps homeless youth in the UK.

The couple then took part in a freedom-of-the-city ceremony at City hall; a ceremony honoring Canada's Royal 22nd Regiment. Prince William delivered a speech in French where he thanked attendees for their patience with his accent. Kate was presented with a bouquet by two-year old Raffaela Cheater who was at the event with her father, David. He later told reporters: "Kate said to me, 'What a beautiful daughter you have.' " He added: "When I said to her I wished her and William well with starting their own family, she said, 'Yes, I hope to.' " Thus setting the rumor-mill in motion upon their return to the UK.

Source: Royal tour website

Later on in the afternoon William and Kate later joined the Lévis Community Celebration. Kate had changed into a cream-colored Vanessa sleeveless crepe dress by Joseph. The couple attended the event to celebrate the 375^th anniversary of the Lauzon “seigneurie”, the 150^th anniversary of the founding of Lévis, and the 10th anniversary of the new City of Lévis.

In the evening, the couple departed Quebec City for a visit to Prince Edward Island.

Sources: The Star, Global Montreal, 2011 Royal Tour website, Yahoo News, People.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

So, where do you wear a diamond polar-bear brooch anyways?

2011-07-06T09:36:00.001-04:00

Many years into the future, and a young woman steps onto Canadian soil. This is her first visit. The first in line to the throne, she has her mother's style and her father's blond hair. On her lapel she wears a polar bear brooch. Journalists of the day rush to research this unusual piece. Canadians are flattered that she is paying a subtle compliment to them. After all, her mother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother had done the same before her.

So, where did this striking piece come from?

Way back 2011, when her parents (now King and Queen) went on their first tour of Canada, her mother was presented with this brooch. A Harry Winston pave polar bear silhouette beneath a semi-circle representing the northern lights. A lovely memento of their visit. As the years go by, Catherine will wear this brooch on future visits to Canada and loan it to her daughter; heiress apparent to the throne (succession laws having been changed by this point).

Wearing jewels given during previous visits is a royal tradition. It's difficult to gauge exactly when it started but there is a certain charm in knowing that this gift is not gathering dust in the vault. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was given a maple leaf brooch, which was worn many times by her daughter, the Queen. Her daughter-in-law, William's mother, rarely wore brooches herself and it does not appear that she wore this piece on her own Canadian visits. Instead she seemed to prefer wearing red and white - another royal tradition.

William and Catherine's daughter will also be given her own jewels, representing something exclusive to Canadian history and culture. Yet another striking jewel, which will have limited fashion appeal outside of the country that gifted it to her. She will then wear it on subsequent visits of her own, eventually loaning it to her own daughter. And so the royal tradition will continue.

Right now if you're wondering, where do you wear a diamond polar-bear brooch?

During future visits to Canada.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Diagnosis - Catherine Fashion Fatigue

2011-07-05T15:41:00.000-04:00

I don't want to sound ungrateful, or anything.

After all, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen Canada for their first official visit. And it's wonderful and an honor to have them in our midst.

I've been following the daily reports of William and Catherine's tour. Enjoying all of the suspense (will Prince William's souffle rise or fall?) as well as the public displays of affection. But I need to get something off of my chest. From all of this coverage I must say that I'm starting to suffer from Catherine fashion fatigue.

I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually starting to look forward to the end of the tour.

From the moment she stepped off the plane in Ottawa to now, all aspect of her clothes have been analyzed. Few reports pass up a chance to mention her appearance. The minute details poured over and tracked by fashionistas. Twitter is filled with tweets about everything from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. The level of interest is impressive and staggering.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the royal updates. But I'm trying hard to understand this fascination. Maybe it's the novelty aspect of it. After all, the royal family hasn't had someone like Catherine in their ranks in a long time. Tall, beautiful and photogenic she has obviously filled a void where royal fashion is concerned. Add to that, her flawless royal performance to date and it's almost insufferable. Thank goodness she lost the boat race, otherwise the perfection would be unbearable.

Judging by the articles, it seems Catherine can do no wrong in her choice of clothes. That is, as long as she wears something new. But even that is poured over in detail, if only to repeat what we already know about it. She's not the first woman to wear the same outfit twice (or three, or four times) and she won't be the last. I'm waging a guess that like Diana, Catherine won't win when it comes to what she chooses to wear .

I think I'm beginning to understand the people who complained about the royal wedding coverage. I enjoyed it but you can have too much of a good thing. And like news reports about the royal wedding, maybe I'll appreciate the tour more once Catherine returns to Anglesey. But right now, enough is enough.

*Waves white flag*

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Three - William and Catherine's Royal Tour - Montréal, Quebec

2011-07-04T16:24:00.000-04:00

Via British Monarchy Flickr

William and Catherine left Ottawa and arrived in Montréal, Quebec at the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport for the second half of day three of their tour.

Still wearing the grey Catherine Walker 'Kensington' dress, the couple arrived at Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre at 4:15PM. Amongst the crowds waiting to see them were 20 anti-monarchist protesters from the Réseau de Résistance du Québécois, waving a banner that read "Parasites Go Home." The protesters were outnumbered by the royal fans, and in response to the protesters who chanted 'Down with the monarchy' the royal supporters responded with chants of"Will and Kate!"

As a security measure the couple swiftly exited the car and were surrounded by security guards as they entered the hospital, disappointing the many people who had waited for hours to see them. William and Catherine were greeted by Quebec Premier Jean Charest, his wife Michèle Dionne, Health Minister Yves Bolduc and hospital staff. They were taken on a tour of the neonatal and oncology units meeting young patients and their families in the game room for children. The couple visited with the children, smiling and asking questions. After their visit, the couple were offered a photo as a memento of their visit by hospital staff.

Via British Monarchy Flickr

The Montreal tour continued at the prestigious Institut de Tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec where the couple participated in a one-hour cooking workshop. Wearing chef outfits, William prepared a lobster souffle, while Catherine worked on an amuse-bouche of foie gras.

Later on in the evening the couple departed Montreal for Québec City on board HMCS Montreal.

Sources: The Montreal Gazette, Global Saskatoon

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday July 3, 2011 - Diana at 50

2011-07-03T12:32:00.002-04:00

July 1, 2011 marked what would have been Diana's 50th birthday. Should we let her rest in peace? Should we still care about her? What is her legacy?

Find out by listening to this episode

Diana at 50 - Her legacy and impact

Publications mentioned

People Magazine - June 27, 2011 Cover story - The Princess Diaries

Newsweek - Diana at 50

From My Royal Collection

LIFE Diana At 50

Thank you to the following people for contributing to this episode:

Deepika Patel
Marina Luce
Cheryl Anderson Brown
Shane Gilreath

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday July 10, 2011 at 9:00PM ET (North America).

The topic will be: William and Catherine's royal tour of Canada - a recap of events

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Three - William and Catherine's Royal Tour 2011 - Ottawa

2011-07-02T16:16:00.000-04:00

Via Governor General's Twitpic

With all of the fuss surrounding the religious wedding ceremony in Monaco, it would be easy to forget that William and Catherine were still on tour in Canada.

While the traditional tree planting in the Royal Grove on the grounds of Rideau Hall is not as glamorous as what the new royal bride, the Princess of Monaco was wearing, the couple did their best to be stoic about it.

This will be the first of many trees that Catherine will plant, she carried it off with elan, as if she had been doing this her entire life. Dressed in a grey Catherine Walker 'Kensington' dress, a favorite designer of the late-Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing the same ring, using the same spade and stopping to admire a tree Charles and Diana had planted on their own first visit, ran the risk of comparisons but thankfully there were few.

The couple planted a Canadian hemlock, a tree with a lifespan of 800 years. According to the Governor Generals office:

"They have chosen it as a symbol of love and marriage and are planting a similar tree that was planted by the emperor and empress of Japan on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary,"

Canadian heritage flickr

Afterwards the couple attended a reception at the Canadian War Museum, meeting with 25 veterans from the Korean War, the Second World War and Afghanistan. The couple also unveiled a massive mural. Painted by Augustus John and commissioned by Lord Beaverbrook, who'd intended it to be part of a collection at a national war memorial art gallery.

The couple continue Day 3 of their visit in Montréal, Quebec.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day Two - William and Catherine's Royal Tour - Parliament Hill

2011-07-02T10:35:00.002-04:00

Exactly one year ago, Prince William's grandmother attended the Canada Day festivities on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Like many royal ladies have previously done, the Queen wore red and white, along with a Maple leaf brooch. The large diamond-encrusted maple leaf brooch, was originally presented to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother when she first visited Canada in 1939. The gift of a maple leaf brooch follows a long-standing tradition. In 1901, the future Queen Mary, visited Canada on a seven-month-long tour where she was given an enamel maple leaf spray. In 1923, Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother received as a wedding gift a gold maple leaf brooch set with diamonds.

Via Canadian Heritage Flickr

Fast forward a year and we have another royal lady in Ottawa, on Canada Day, also wearing red and white and the same brooch. Though 56 years separate the Queen and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in age, showing patriotism through fashion never goes out of style.

Catherine cream dress called the Nannette by Reiss, is familiar to many as it is the same one she wore in one of the official engagement portraits by Mario Testino. She paired this with the Queen's Maple leaf brooch, a red hat by Sylvia Fletcher at Lock and Co, topped with maple leaves. Her straw cream and red fan clutch was by Anya Hindmarch, and in case anyone missed the patriotic point of the outfit, red heels. After the previous day's dark outfits, it was a refreshing change to see show some color.

William and Catherine started their morning at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec where they attended a citizenship ceremony, no doubt delighting the 25 new Canadians. The visit had a personal touch as a piper played a piece created especially for them called St. Andrews Courtship, inspired by the university in Scotland where they first met.

Via Canadian heritage Flickr

At Parliament Hill, a record-breaking 300,000 people waited in the sweltering head in anticipation of their arrival. William and Catherine arrived on the Hill with an RCMP escort, using the same horse-drawn landau used for previous royal visits. They were welcomed by various dignitaries, including the Governor General and Prime Minister. Throughout the two hour appearance, they were treated to a CF-18 fly-past, and performances by Canadian artists.

The crowds were delighted when William finally spoke, first in French, then in English, conveying the Queen's 'warmest wishes' and emphasizing their pride in the Armed Forces. He added a personal touch when he noted that his wife's grandfather had trained in Alberta as a pilot.

Canadian Heritage Flickr

After the event the couple went on an informal walk-about with the crowds before departing in a large black SUV. The were not scheduled to attend any other events that day but later that evening they attended the evening show. Catherine, wearing her hair up, looked lovely in a purple jersey Issa dress.

On July 2 they depart for Montréal, Quebec.
© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Day One - William and Catherine arrive in Canada

2011-06-30T17:39:00.001-04:00

Prince William and his new wife Catherine have finally arrived in Canada. This is Prince William's third visit to Canada and Catherine's first. William's last visit to Canada took place in 1998 when he accompanied his father and brother to Vancouver for a private holiday in Whistler, British Columbia.

Anticipation of their arrival had been building daily with a constant stream of tweets from royal watchers, bloggers, royal reporters and those eager for a glimpse of what Catherine was wearing. She departed London wearing wearing a navy blazer by Toronto label Smythe les Vestes, over a sheath of the same color by French label Roland Mouret. She accessorized this with Manolo Blahnik Calogera shoes and a Mulberry Polly Push Lock bag.

Via British Monarchy Flickr

Upon landing in Ottawa the airbus seemed to taxi for an interminable length of time. As dignitaries lined up, William and Catherine made their way down the stairs for a meet and greet. Catherine had her hair pulled back from her face, had changed into a different outfit and was wearing a black and white lace dress by London-based Canadian designer Erdem Moralioglu accessorized with a nude clutch and heels. From the designers 2012 collection, the description for the navy, lace Cecile shift is as follows:

The fitted scoop-backed dress of contrast stone neoprene crepe with a navy lace overlay had a sheer lace sleeve with a scallop detail and was made in the United Kingdom.

A nice, subtle nods to Canada; which we may see more of as the tour progresses.

Catherine was presented with a bouquet by nine-year-old Kellen Schleyer before the couple headed to Confederation square for a wreath laying ceremony. Greeted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen, the Duke and Duchess approached the national war memorial for a ceremony of remembrance. Afterwards the couple met with veterans for 20 minutes before heading towards the crowds for a walkabout.

Via British Monarchy Flickr

The couple then headed to Rideau Hall, the Governor General of Canada's official residence where they met with Gov.-Gen. David Johnston and his wife Sharon. After the official welcome, the Duke gave a short speech

The couple will attend a private event at Rideau Hall later on in the evening. Tomorrow they will be on Parliament Hill for Canada Day.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Protocol: What to do if you don't meet William and Catherine

2011-06-30T13:45:00.003-04:00

You've practiced the correct way of saying 'Ma'am'. Studied official sites in preparation for meeting William & Catherine during their royal tour of Canada. While there is plenty of information on what the royal protocol is for meeting the couple. What do you do when the inevitable occurs and you don't meet them? Here is some unofficial protocol should that situation arise.

1. Don't take it personally

Unless you are a small child, an elderly woman with a sob story/110 year old war veteran, or you simply can't afford to, your chances are slim to none. They will be meeting a lot of ~~boring~~ dignitaries/celebrities with an inflated sense of their own importance. As such they are bound not to notice you. No matter how charming you think you are. Whatever you do, do not take it personally. Instead face reality. It was never likely to happen to begin with.

2. Don't let your new skills go to waste

You've perfected that curtsy/head bow, practiced your loyal toasts and not speaking unless spoken to. All of that time and effort. Now what do you do? Manners are like a muscle, you have to use them or you will lose them. Continue to curtsy/bow daily until the next royal visit. Your mother-in-law will appreciate it.

3. Save Face

Instead of complaining to anyone who will listen, and to avoid those "I told you so's' from everyone, make up a story. If you saw their plane flying overhead, say "I was there when they arrived." If you watched their appearance at Parliament Hill in HDTV say "I had the best seat in the house and I couldn't have gotten any closer." To make this more legitimate, sit in the sun for a while to give yourself that' I waited five hours for them to appear-look'.

4. Don't despair. They'll be back

If it's any consolation, unless the monarchy is abolished in Canada, William and Catherine are likely to return. The Queen is anticipated to visit Canada in 2012 to mark her Diamond Jubilee. While not the same, it's better than nothing.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report on Sunday June 26, 2011 - What's new in the Royal Blogsphere

2011-06-25T16:36:00.001-04:00

It's been a year since I last did an episode highlighting some fantastic royal blogs. How has the royal blogsphere changed since then?

Find out on this episode: More Royal Blogs

Publications mentioned

Vanity Fair - July 2011 - Will and Kate's New Life cover story by Katie Nicholl

Hello! Canada Weekly No 221 20 June 2011

From My Royal Collection

Born To Be King : Prince William Of Wales

Royal Blogs mentioned in this episode:

Royal Blog Central

Princess Palace

Royal Expert Certification

The Royal Universe

The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

What Kate Wore

Confessions of a Ci-Devant

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday July 3, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: July 1, 2011 marks what would have been the 50th birthday of Diana, Princess of Wales. On this episode, a focus on Diana at 50.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Why should we care about Diana at 50?

2011-06-22T13:28:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars. July 1st, 2011 would have been the 50th birthday of Diana, Princess of Wales.

That is, if she were still alive.

Since her premature death in 1997, it seems people are determined to hang on to her memory. Every other year seems to bring a new biography. Then there's the Diana exhibit, the inquest into her death, her sons holding the Concert for Diana and a memorial service. With Prince William marrying Catherine Middleton, giving her his mother's famed ring, choosing Diana's favorite photographer and reportedly moving into Diana's old residence, Kensington Palace, the media has enough material to work with.

With all of the overkill surrounding her memory, why should we mark her birthday as well? Let's not kid ourselves that there's anything altruistic or meaningful in doing so. Diana, for whatever reason, still sells. That's why you have LIFE book-a-zines and articles filled with futile speculation on what she would have been like had she lived. (Is it ironic for a publication that celebrates the benefits of aging to speculate about the life of a dead person?)

To be fair, she's not the only dead person whose birthday we commemorate if we're reminded. Combining it with a holiday (Christmas) certainly jogs the memory, otherwise it's just a date in the calendar. For Canadians, July 1st is already a holiday - Canada Day. Too bad, so sad. Maybe if we're lucky Google will create a Doodle in her memory.

With each passing year any relevance that Diana had wanes. Because she died at her peak we continue to idealize her. As if she would have continued on that trajectory. If she had died at her lowest point, she would be a sad memory - like Marilyn Monroe or Judy Garland. Glorious in their heyday, pitiful in death. By marking the anniversary of Diana's 50th birthday, what are we really commemorating? What could have been? What should have been?

How about facing the reality of what is. Diana is gone.

Leave her to her rest in peace.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Time to face reality, maybe Catherine Cambridge isn't cut out to be royal

2011-06-15T19:19:00.001-04:00

Let's face it, maybe Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge isn't cut out to be royal.

Sure one could say she's still on the learning curve but so far it doesn't look good for Catherine. It seems the royals have reason to be concerned. In fact, this could be bigger than the abdication crisis.

The problem?

Catherine is too independent. She still has silly ideas about 'doing things herself'. Days after her wedding, when we saw her at the supermarket, pushing her own trolley, it wasn't just an act. She genuinely seems to be resisting conforming to the royal way of doing things.

From the time of her engagement to the wedding day she was supposed to get all of that out of her system. Doesn't she know that once she has the wedding ring on her finger she was supposed to give all of that up?

(*Gasp*) I'll bet she still squeezes her own toothpaste!

That's semi-acceptable in private, but when she's in public it's an issue. For instance, on her upcoming trip to Canada and the United States, Catherine will not be bringing a dresser with her. Unsurprisingly, this is eliciting shocked responses from the media. Doesn't she know that dressing herself just isn't done?

Queen Victoria must be rolling over in her grave.

If Catherine wants to survive in the royal system, she has to learn a new way of not doing things for herself. A special type of learned helplessness exclusive to royalty. No longer should her hands touch a door-handle. Running her own bath? Forget it. Using her own utensils is borderline. Allowable only after she's been shown the royal way of not using them. Have you ever seen a photo of the Queen holding a fork? I rest my case.

There are encouraging signs. Thankfully she's come to her senses and is bringing a hairdresser along. She's already unlearnt how to use a brush. Given time, she'll unlearn how to do her own makeup.

Maybe just maybe, there's hope for her yet.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday June 12, 2011 - Should the minor royals have police protection?

2011-06-12T11:55:00.002-04:00

The bill to protect 22 members of the royal family is reportedly £50 million, thus leading people to question whether protecting some of these royals is necessary. Prince Andrew's daughters are rumored to be losing their 24 hour protection, if they haven't already. Should they lose their protection? Do other members of the royal family need protection?

Find out on this episode:

Should some of the minor royals lose their police protection?

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 219 6 June 2011

Hello! Canada Weekly No 220 13 June 2011

From My Royal Collection

My Decade with Diana: The Perpetual Power of the People's Princess

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday June 26, 2011 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: More Royal Blogs - what's going on in the royal blogsphere? What has changed? Find out on this episode.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Human Side Of Royalty

2011-06-08T09:34:00.000-04:00

During a recent engagement at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in London, Princess Eugenie made a revelation to patients. She had suffered from scoliosis as a child, undergoing a major operation to correct her curved spine. In doing so she offered patients someone that they could relate to; a success story. Eugenie also did one other thing. She revealed that royalty, be it a prince, princess, king or queen, is human. Unfortunately this wasn't always readily obvious to people. For several royal generations, anything deviating from the perfect royal image was hidden from view.

Prince John, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary was someone who was kept in seclusion and isolated from his family. He suffered from epilepsy and his attacks became more frequent as he grew older. He lived in Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate with his own household. He would die at Wood Farm at the age of 13 in January 1919.

His older brother, Prince Albert, Duke of York, often suffered from ill health, chronic stomach problems and knock-knees. He was naturally left handed but made to use his right. He also suffered from a stammer, something well documented in the movie The King's Speech. The new King dreaded public speaking and the problem was hidden, as much as possible, from the public. Being such a high profile individual, it might have made a difference to those who stammer - seeing that people from all levels can experience a speech impediment.

Princess Anne obviously isn't the first royal woman to be pregnant, but she was one of the early ones to not let it hamper her lifestyle. Prior to this, royal pregnancies tended to be hidden from view, let alone announced. Usually Buckingham Palace would release a statement that the royal woman would not be undertaking any further engagements after a certain point and people were left to draw their own conclusions. Less than nine-months later a royal baby would be born and then the connection would be obvious. For all of her pregnancies the Queen stayed out of public view. Even missing the State Opening of Parliament in 1959 and 1963 because she was expecting Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. In 1977 Princess Anne changed all of that. Pregnant with her first child, Peter, she appeared in public not trying to hide her stomach from view, nor enveloping it in a large fur coat as her mother had done before her. Other royal ladies would follow suit by not going into hiding when pregnant. Diana in particular being lauded for being so open about her pregnancy, despite Princess Anne having started the trend first.

In 1993, Diana, Princess of Wales revealed that she suffered from the eating disorder bulimia. While not the first woman to be open up about the issue, her high profile example only served to make her more human. In 2005, in an effort to help others, Princess Beatrice of York admitted that she struggled with the learning disorder dyslexia.

Revelations that would be unheard of a generation ago are now making a difference in the lives of other men, women and children. It is only today that there is more openness with these topics because it is no longer held against them. Today it would be unheard of to hide a pregnancy, but with these revelations, Diana, Beatrice and Eugenie have shown courage in revealing the challenges they have faced. Not all princesses lead charmed lives. They're human too.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Review: Diana, The Life of a Royal Icon

2011-06-07T13:43:00.003-04:00

It was so close I could have touched it.

Dress by Catherine Walker
Circa 1992

I didn't but I could have. One of the famous dresses auctioned by Diana, Princess of Wales. A dress that I had seen countless times in books, was now two feet in front of me. It was one of my favorites. The burgundy velvet dress with the striking embroidery by Catherine Walker was stunning. Diana had worn it to the premiere of Steel Magnolias in 1990. It had travelled the world and now it stood on a mannequin in a corner of the Design Exchange gift shop.The dress itself possibly cost more than all of the artisan items in the store combined, thus making everything look rather cheap by comparison.

Dress by Catherine Walker

I thought back to the last time I had seen this dress. It had been 1998 and the exhibit Dresses for Humanity had come into town. I was very excited to see the famous dresses. Auctioned only the year before, here was a chance to actually see them in person. At the time, the exhibit had included a few loaner dresses - ones Diana wore to the Christie's preview galas in London and New York. This time round it was just the 14 dresses that belonged to Maureen Rorech Dunkel. Previously the dresses had been protected in their own glass case with built in lighting to show its contents to full effect. Now only three of the 14 were behind glass. The famous ink blue velvet 'Travolta' dress Diana had worn to the White House in 1985, and two dresses by Catherine Walker, a long dress with an embroidered bolero and a chic sarong evening dress embroidered with pearls and sequins.

Various dresses by Catherine Walker

The remaining dresses were placed in another room, where they stood lined up in a rectangle, with signs offering background information on where Diana had worn them. To get to this section you had to pass a room filled with photographs of trees and bark. No rhyme or reason to it. Is this really how far the cachet of the collection had fallen? Previously, no photography had been allowed. Now almost everyone was taking photographs, myself included. A predictable film of Diana's life played as people walked through the exhibit.

By Catherine Walker
Circa 1993

Thankfully this was only a temporary home for this collection. The dresses are set to be auctioned off by the Canadian auction house Waddington's on June 23. Reading about Ms Rorech Dunkel's experiences with the collection, the care she had taken to preserve it, and then seeing the dresses out in the open for anyone to touch was a disappointment. Hopefully the new owners will continue to treat the dresses with the respect that they deserve.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Review: Royal Wedding Commemorative Issues - Part 2

2011-06-02T00:00:00.059-04:00

Prior the wedding I wrote a post reviewing the various royal wedding commemorative book-a-zines being sold to commemorative the royal wedding. Now several of the issues have updated their versions with photos from the big day, much to my chagrin. Thus making me feel bad for having wasted the money on them in the first place. I really should have known better. These updated versions were inevitable.

Now that the event is over, there are a dozen or more magazines commemorating the royal wedding. Because of this, one thing is very clear. You can waste a lot of money collecting these issues if you don't choose carefully. For me, I have had to physically restrain myself from buying most of them. The ones I have purchased may be somewhat repetitive in terms of their coverage, but if nothing else they've given me material for another article.

Let's review the ones I have bought:

LIFE - The Royal Wedding - Expanded Commemorative Edition

LIFE magazine released a version called Royal Wedding before the wedding itself. Now they have updated it, calling this issue the 'expanded commemorative edition.' And so it is. It is the exact same magazine except that the introduction has been rewritten and photos of the royal wedding have been added. Out of all of the issues I would recommend this one. Especially if you did not purchase the version before it. The issue is of very good, durable quality. It may not have as many wedding photos as other issues but then again, how many pictures do you really need of the newlyweds gazing adoringly at each other or riding in the carriage?

TIME Special Commemorative Issue

Like LIFE, TIME has also put together a quality issue. Unlike LIFE it is not completely devoted to the royal wedding itself. But what it lacks in wall to wall photos, it makes up in the content of the articles about William, Catherine and the future of the monarchy.

Maclean's Special Commemorative Edition - William and Kate, The Royal Wedding

Maclean's magazine, the Canadian equivalent of TIME, has prepared an issue dedicated entirely to the wedding. It is of much better quality than its American counterpart. Information on the preparations and the key people involved in the ceremony. It's all there. If for nothing else, it's worth the price if only to read an entire article about the difficulty Prince William had putting the wedding ring on Catherine's finger. It would be nice to say that this is the only royal wedding magazine Maclean's has released, but it isn't. At present I have no plans to buy the newer edition.

People Magazine Special Collector's Issue and People Magazine Commemorative Edition

How many issues of the same publication do you need to celebrate the royal wedding? The editors of People seem to think the world needs two.

Of the two, the Special Collector's Issue is the larger one, with a 72-page royal wedding album. Not content with that issue, People went ahead and put together a Commemorative Edition. Unlike the Special Collector's issue it is completely devoted to the royal wedding. Unless you did not buy the Special Collector's Issue, I would not recommend the Commemorative Edition. The 72 pages in the Special Collector's issue is more than enough and includes more interesting information than the version after it. Or maybe the inevitable third commemorative keepsake issue will be better?

Hello! Royal Wedding Special Keepsake Album, Photo Album and Special Double Issue

You have to hand it to Hello! They're in a league of their own when it comes to going overboard with the royal wedding. There's the Original Commemorative issue, the Second Souvenir Issue, and the Royal Wedding Keepsake Album of magical memories. I have the Canadian versions so I confess to not knowing the full extent they have gone overboard. But judging by the fact I have three issues covering the exact same event is enough for me. (Why do I have three issues? In my defense, two of them are part of my subscription). As is Hello's! custom, the text is mostly limited to informative caption boxes covering interesting historical details. The photos dominate the issue and overall Hello! has covered the event well. It would be nice if they had limited the amount of issues. Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.

Overall, each of them is good. For an overview of their relationship and wedding - buy LIFE. If you're interested in lots of pictures of the Royal Wedding, I recommend buying the Hello! keepsake issue.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Pippa Middleton is a pain in the butt

2011-06-01T09:02:00.002-04:00

I don't know about you but I'm getting kind of tired of hearing about Pippa Middleton's butt.

Since she sashayed into the collective consciousness with that kick-ass bridesmaids dress, people can't seem to get enough of her. Except maybe her sister. Sunday dinners at the Middleton's must be a bummer now.

Sure she looked nice, but must we really be subjected to continuously reading about her posterior? News stories such as plastic surgeons being inundated with requests for similar buns? The secret behind her tush is Pilate's? Obviously these news stories are designed to make the rest of lazy-bums feel inadequate.

If fame can be defined as being nominated for the cheeky sounding Britain's Rear of the Year, then Pippa has finally made it to the big leagues. (How do you put that award on your mantle anyways?)

Fame is fleeting, the best advice is for Pippa to put it all behind her. If she needs a kick in the rear, no doubt Kate will be first in line.

At least we know that this can't last forever. Or will we be reading about that too? "No it's all natural" she'll say, at the age of 99. Those of us still alive by that point will scoff. Every ones fanny succumbs to gravity sooner or later.

No if ands or butts.

OK, I'll stop now.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Does blogging about Catherine make me a hypocrite?

2011-05-30T12:12:00.002-04:00

Of all of the posts I've written What's the deal with Princess Angela? has provoked the most comment, both positive and negative. So it was really no surprise to receive another comment about that article. Which is as follows:

I have read your posts on Princess Angela and why you think that media coverage for her would be unwarranted. Now I have a real question about your comment, "Princess Angela may be the only black princess in a reigning European dynasty. She may be accomplished in many areas of her life. But I reiterate, marrying into the royal family is not an accomplishment. That alone does not make her newsworthy. I'd like to know what else she has done other than marry a Prince? Is that the way she should be defined? By who she's married to?" Okay fair enough, but with that said, Angela has started her own business, studied fashion, and worked in the fashion industry. So she has earned her keep in life. On the other hand keeping in mind your very own words, you're always posting on Kate Middleton, a woman who hasn't accomplished anything but married a royal herself. She hasn't had a career, or started her own business. She only worked part-time with her family's business to keep with William's schedule... Kate has done nothing but wait for a title and yet you cover her continuously because of who she married. Then you went on to say that Angela hasn't earned any attention or spotlight. I'm not arguing that she needs more media attention. The only thing I'm saying is that once I read that comment of yours I though you were being a bit hypocritical since you're always talking about Kate.

Upon reading this my first instinct was to vigorously defend myself. But I like to think I've evolved as a person enough to see these things more objectively. Because of that I started to wonder, could this person be right?

That article was written in 2008. Two years before Catherine Middleton became engaged to Prince William. Therefore, at the time, I could not have seen the parallel between Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein. But I do agree that there are some similarities, especially in terms of being famous for who they married and little else. But I don't really feel that this is the full issue for the person who made the comment. It can't be just about both being famous for who they've married, can it? I'm waging a guess that it isn't. So I'll ignore the 500 pound purple gorilla and focus on my alleged hypocrisy.

Looking at Angela on the surface, with her accomplishments having 'started her own business, studied fashion, and worked in the fashion industry' make her no different from any one else who has done so as well. She's not the first woman to do so and she won't be the last.

Now in comparison, Catherine has not had the same successful career. In fact it was one of the things people criticized her for. Waiting around for her prince to propose. In that respect she's no different from a lot of other twenty-something young women trying to find their way in the world. So now looking at both women from that perspective, neither one of them are terribly remarkable.

But yet I write more about one and little about the other. In fact, in my article it seems I'm diminishing one woman for the same thing that people laud the other for. It really isn't fair, now is it? In that respect yes that would be hypocritical. Especially if that was the original point I had been trying to make. In which case I would be totally disappointed in myself for not noticing it sooner.

However in this instance I feel that my comments on Princess Angela have been taken out of context. I never said there was anything wrong with her marrying well. I said that shouldn't be the only thing she is defined by. That comment was related to people complaining about the lack of coverage about her. My point is that marrying well, in and of itself, does not sustain peoples interest for the media to cover them continuously. There needs to be something more than that for people to discuss her. Helpful examples: A DUI, a reality show, a torrid affair, or running off with someone from the circus. Those types of things. Because in the 21 years since their marriage, surely the novelty of a black woman marrying a white prince from a minor royal house has worn off, hasn't it?

Alternatively, a young woman marrying a prince from the highest profile royal family in the world is something people will discuss and blog about. And because of who she's married and the dysfunctional family she's married into, she's not likely to fade away. She too has married well. Despite have these similarities, you can't compare them at all. One is a future Queen and one isn't. If this person thinks that isn't a factor in why I write about Catherine more, well then she is kidding herself. It has everything to do with this and it's not hypocritical at all. It's realistic.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday May 29, 2011 - Prince Philip at 90

2011-05-29T10:05:00.001-04:00

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the longest serving consort in British history. For almost 60 years he has supported the Queen in her role with dedication and aplomb. Inspired by the exhibit at Windsor Castle of the same name, a focus on Prince Philip in honor of his 90th birthday.

To listen to the episode, click here: Prince Philip at 90

Publications discussed

People Magazine Royal Wedding Commemorative Edition

People Magazine Royal Wedding - Special Collectors edition

From My Royal Collection

World Royal Families

Links mentioned

The Royal Collection microsite - Prince Philip - Celebrating Ninety Years

The Duke - A Portrait of Prince Philip - Parts 1 - 8

The Official Site of the British Monarchy - Prince Philip's biography

The Official Site of the British Monarchy - 90 Facts about Prince Philip

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday June 5, 2011 at 9:00PM ET.

The topic will be: Some members of the royal family are rumoured to be losing their police protection, including the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Should they lose their protection officers?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Calling all royal bloggers - The Royal Blog Comment Chain

2011-05-27T18:07:00.013-04:00

Do you have a royal blog? Would you like to discover other cool blogs and have some fun interacting with other royal bloggers in the process? Besides, who doesn't like comments?

Well then let me introduce the royal blog comment chain!

How does it work?

In a nut-shell, 10 royal blogs, 7 days to comment on each of them.

At the end of the 7 days (or earlier) you tweet me on twitter: marilynsrylblog or come back to this blog and make a comment on this post, letting everyone know that you have finished making comments on each blog.

You can comment on any article you wish but you have to make a comment on each of the blogs within the 7 day period.

The participating blogs:

1) Marilyn's Royal Blog (You're Here!)
2) Mad Hattery (Registration to comment required)
3) Royalty in the News
4) Princess Palace
5) Princess Catherine fashion watch
6) Arbitrary History Blog
7) From Berkshire to Buckingham
8) Scandalous women
9) Royal Musings
10) What Kate wore

Rules

To sign up please list your blog name and url in a reply to this post, or tweet me. I will list the participating royal blogs in the order they arrive. The particpant list will be posted on Tuesday May 31st
Comment chain begins on Wednesday June 1st, 2011
Please complete all your comments by Wednesday June 8th, 2011
Comments such as 'Great post' don't count. ;)
Comments on THIS post don't count. ;P
You can comment on any post in the royal bloggers archive - it doesn't have to be a recent/current post
If the mood strikes you can comment as many times as you like
Try to make it as easy as possible for people to comment (Read: don't make anyone jump through hoops in order to do so)
When you have completed comments on all the blogs in the list please return to advise us that you have finished
Please do not spam
Have fun and discover other cool royal blogs!

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Review: BBC - The Royal Wedding DVD

2011-05-26T12:07:00.000-04:00

What can you say about a DVD that covers an event flawless in its execution? With the exception of Princess Beatrice's hat and for one brief heart-stopping moment with the wedding ring, everything went according to plan?

Certainly you can discuss the music, the couple's prayer the bride's dress and how handsome Prince Harry looked. But this ultimately has nothing to do with the BBC since they had no control over it. The only unique aspect is that the BBC seems to be the first to have released a DVD of this sort.

So what then is there left to say about BBC's The Royal Wedding: William & Catherine? The ceremony feed inside Westminster Abbey was not exclusive to the BBC, therefore the camera angles are not unique. What's we have is the BBC before and after coverage, which is striking in its simplicity. Beginning with Prince William and Prince Harry's departure from Clarence House, we are spared the interminable waits, the people watching and the banter of the royal commentators. With a few brief exceptions the only voice is that of presenter Huw Edwards.

Although the events before and after the ceremony have been edited, there is still a strong sense of occasion. The cheering excitement of the crowds is not sacrificed for a better view of the Queen in her car. The ceremony itself is not edited so the viewer can enjoy the event in its entirety. Aside from the newlywed's procession to Buckingham Palace, the remaining coverage is condensed. So much so that shortly after William and Catherine's arrival it seems as though they headed directly to the balcony. This appearance includes the flypast, the two kisses, the grimaces and bewildered looks of the tiny bridesmaids and Kate looking back over her shoulder as she leaves the balcony. Charming and personal moments that made the Royal wedding a special family occasion we were privy to and one that we can continue to relive through this DVD.

Also included is a 50 minute documentary about William and Catherine, as it charts their relationship from its earliest days to their engagement. Interspersed with footage of the couple, friends and royal commentators offer their opinions, continuously emphasizing the relative ordinariness of their relationship and royal romance. Were it not for the inclusion of the royal wedding ceremony on this DVD you could pretend those opinions were right.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Going once, going twice, sold!! A brief history of royal auctions

2011-05-25T11:53:00.001-04:00

There is an irresistible allure to owning something belonging to royalty. Whether the item is a famous jewel, such as the late Princess Margaret's Poltimore tiara to household items such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's clothing and furniture, each item holds a special cachet as a result of its provenance. In many cases the proceeds from these auctions have gone to charities of the royals choice or to cover estate death duties. Both auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's have conducted royal auctions, and Christie's has a particularly long association with the royal family, starting in 1773 when the property of the Princess of Wales, mother of George III was sold.

via British Monarchy Flickr

Princess Beatrice recently auctioned off the infamous and striking hat designed by Philip Treacy. She wore this hat to Prince William's April wedding and it sparked much comment and attention in the press. Unlike other royal auctions, which have been conducted by Sotheby's or Christie's, Beatrice sold the item through eBay. Wisely capitalizing on the hat's notoriety, she sold it, with the eventual proceeds - $123,325 split between UNICEF and Children in Crisis.

Christie's - Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales - 1997

Via Ronald Reagan library

Inspired by Prince William, Diana, Princess of Wales sold 79 of her dresses, with proceeds of $3.6 million going to AIDS and cancer charities in the United States and the United Kingdom. Since the original sale, several of the dresses have been sold. In April, two dresses were sold for $279,000. 14 dresses, originally purchased by a Florida businesswoman Maureen Rorech Dunkel for $700,000 in 1997, will be sold in Toronto on June 23 through Canadian auction house Waddingtons. Through Ms Dunkel, the 14 dresses became a touring exhibit called Dresses for Humanity. The proceeds from these tours raised money for AIDS, cancer and children's charities globally. Included in this sale is the iconic ink blue Victor Edelstein dress that Diana wore when she danced with John Travolta at the White House in 1985.

Christie's - Property from the Collection of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon - 2006

One of the most glamorous women of her generation, Princess Margaret was renowned for her beauty and for her good taste. In 2006 her children controversially auctioned off her belongings to cover the death taxes for her estate. The 780-lot auction included the Politmore tiara worn at her 1960 wedding. Also included, an extensive collection of jewels, Faberge, silver, paintings, furniture as well as this famous Pietro Annigoni portrait. The proceeds from this sale were £13.7 million.

Sotheby's - The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor - 1987

Arguably one of the most famous jewelery auctions in history, the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor raised $50.3 million, 7 times its pre-sale estimate. To this day this auction holds the record for a single-owner jewelry collection. The auction comprised 305 lots, many bearing personal inscriptions and including 87 pieces from Cartier, the Duke and Duchess's favorite jeweler, and 23 items by Van Cleef & Arpels. The proceeds of the original auction went to The Pasteur Institute in Paris. Since 1987, pieces from the Duchess of Windsor's collection have continued to command high bids. In 2010, 20 brooches bracelets and other gems sold for $12.5 million.

Christie's - Property from the Collection of HRH The Prince George, Duke of Kent and HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and their families - 2009

This auction was not the first time Prince George, Duke of Kent's belongings had been sold at Christie's. After his death in 1942, to raise funds, his widow Princess Marina sold items in a 3-day auction in 1947. The sale included English furniture, objects of art and porcelain and raised £92,300.

In 2009, 200 lots were sold, including linen, photographs, clocks, silver, tapestries, rugs, works of art monogrammed and inscribed jewellery as well as a collection of trowels. Highlights of the auction included a portrait of 3-year old Princess Louise by her mother Queen Victoria. As well as a chair and stool from the 1937 Coronation of his brother King George VI. A similar chair was sold at Princess Margaret's auction in 2006. The Duke of Kent's auction raised £2.1 million.

Sotheby's - Duke and Duchess of Windsor auction - 1998

The auction for the contents of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's Paris home was originally set for September 11-19, 1997. But due to the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed, the son of Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of the Windsor's villa in Paris, the auction was postponed to February 1998. 40,000 personal effects belonging to the late Duke and Duchess were auctioned off. A wide range of items formed the auction, including the desk which the Duke, as King Edward VIII signed the Instrument of Abdication in 1936, a piece of their wedding cake, photographs, clothing, furniture, luggage, jewellery and all the way down to their monogrammed bathmats. The nine-day auction raised $23 million, three times the estimated value.

Christie's - Property from the Estate of His Royal Highness The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester - 2006

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was the third son of King George V. Unlike his brothers, he did not possess magnetic charm nor a fine eye for antiques. Despite their royal provenance, the items in this auction are practical rather than of greater historical significance. The 787 lots include christening gifts, tableware, menu holders, ink stands, furniture, fishing rods, oar blades, backgammon sets, fire irons, fans, parasols, illuminated manuscripts and a dog bed. This auction raised £5.1 million. Proceeds from some items went towards estate taxes as well as the charities Clubs for Young People and the Army Benevolent Fund.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday May 22, 2011 - Does Pippa Middleton deserve privacy?

2011-05-22T10:21:00.001-04:00

Since Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding, Pippa Middleton (Catherine's sister) has been the focus of intense media speculation for her looks as well as her relationships. Despite her sister having married into the royal family, does Pippa deserve privacy?

Listen to this episode to find out: Does Pippa Middleton deserve privacy?

Publications discussed:

Hello! Canada Weekly No 218 30 May 2011

From My Royal Collection

Doomed Queens: Royal Women Who Met Bad Ends, From Cleopatra to Princess Di

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday May 29, 2011 at 9:00PM ET.

The topic will be: Prince Philip at 90

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Fergie's back, and she's feeling sorrier for herself than she ever has before

2011-05-18T13:35:00.006-04:00

I've been meaning to write an article about Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. However, my problem was coming up with a title. Nothing seemed to convey the exasperation I feel every time I read about her.

Way back in May 2010 when she tried to sell access to her ex-husband's soul I thought 'well, now she's done it'. She will fade into obscurity, living on in her daughters questionable fashion choices. Unfortunately she made an appearance on Oprah and all was forgotten. To top it all off, somehow Fergie duped the ultimate enabler into giving her a six-part docu-series called 'Finding Sarah'.

Fortunately I don't have cable, so I can only live vicariously through those who tweet and blog about the show. However I am predicting that there will be a lot of emotional turmoil as each episode tackles a different issue. Sarah will make discoveries about herself while learning absolutely nothing in the process. For instance:

Episode 1 - Finances. Fergie receives her credit card statement and discovers how high it is. Will she pay it or won't she? Guest appearance by Suze Orman, Oprah's financial guru enabler to nag her about it.

Episode 2 - Health. Fergie realizes her cholesterol is too high. Guest appearances by Dr. Oz and fitness guru Bob Greene to nag her. Still has not paid credit card bill.

Episode 3 - Family and friends. Guest appearance by Princess Beatrice to remind us of Fergie's royal connections. Tearfully contemplates selling access to Eugenie. Oprah loans Fergie her ultimate BFF Gayle King, with interest. Maybe they'll take a soul searching road trip. Expenses everything because Fergie has no credit left.

Episode 4 - Fashion. Guest appearance by fashion expert Stacey London. This is a tougher job than she expected so Stacey recruits What not to wear cohort Clinton Kelly as backup. Sarah is strong-armed into something flattering. Clinton smirks and Stacey happily exclaims: "Shut up!" Fergie still hasn't paid her credit card nor the interest on Gayle. Guest appearance by Oprah via speaker-phone to turn up the heat.

Episode 5 - Charity and lost causes. Fergie is shown doing something charitable, as if to say 'See? There are people more needy than me!' Fergie gets into her limo feeling better about herself. As she returns to her luxury suite, she tearfully wonders if Diana would be proud of her. Guest appearance by a mystified Dr Phil.

Episode 6 - Redemption. As Fergie pays the minimum amount on her credit card she feels a renewed sense of optimism about the future. Refusing to fly commercial, she returns home on Oprah's private jet. Brainstorms titles for her next book. Wipes away tears."You haven't heard the last of me." she proudly proclaims.

Unfortunately, she's right.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Report for Sunday May 15, 2011 - Royal Wedding Dress Designers

2011-05-15T11:24:00.001-04:00

What do Norman Hartnell, David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, Lindka Cierach, Molyneux, Mainbocher, and Mme Handley Seymour have in common? All of them designed memorable royal wedding dresses. Sarah Burton from the House of Alexander McQueen has just joined those illustrious ranks.

On this episode, a look back at royal wedding dress designers

Listen to the episode here: Royal Wedding Dress Designers

Publications discussed

Hello! Canada No 217 - Royal Wedding Photo Album

The Illustrated Royal Weddings - Souvenir Issue

From My Royal Collection

Queen Elizabeth II - A Photographic Portrait by Philip Ziegler

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday May 22, 2011 at 9:00PM ET (North America)

The topic will be: Since Catherine's wedding, her siblings Pippa and James have come under increasing media scrutiny. Do they deserve privacy?

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Curious Case of Catherine's Womb

2011-05-13T19:47:00.000-04:00

The ink was barely dry on the royal marriage register when the first speculation began on when Catherine would get pregnant. On the evening of the wedding, a reporter noticing the knowing looks the couple gave each other during the service commented:"two may soon become three".

Almost 2 weeks into the marriage and still no announcement? Tsk tsk. Obviously Catherine needs to step up her game. She may be on honeymoon, frolicking in the sand, maybe doing some snorkeling, but that doesn't mean she can't multi-task. After all, a record is at stake. Diana gave birth to Prince William a month before her first wedding anniversary. The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, cut it close giving birth to Prince Charles 6 days before her first wedding anniversary. Slackers. Queen Victoria gave birth to her first child a bit over 9 months from the day of her wedding.

According to Andrew Morton, if Catherine doesn't get pregnant soon, she'll be defying 200 years of royal tradition. For heavens sake, it's also her duty! Just ask Royal Historian Hugo Vickers. Where oh where are the female historians to remind Prince William of his duty to provide an heir and make his spouse happy?

Forget enjoying married life or that there are 1,400 people in the line of succession behind Prince William. Not to mention that Catherine is not getting any younger. Besides, the sooner she gives birth, the sooner we can start divorce rumours.

With this ring, Catherine gave up not only her freedom but also her womb.

Don't worry Catherine, we'll take it from here.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

To wipe away your tears of joy...

2011-05-11T06:28:00.000-04:00

The low-battery light flickered on my rented cell-phone. Strange, I thought I had charged it the night before. The guests were arriving and I was trying to tweet but the phone kept getting slower and slower. Despite being plugged into the wall the phone powered off completely. Frustrated I gave up on tweeting. I was disappointed in not being able to share in the event with other royal bloggers. But I had no choice, the phone was dead. It would be several hours before I would get a replacement.

I did not have a plan for the day. Sure I'd thought of going to Hyde Park, or potentially taking a spot at the Mall. While there were screens set up in Hyde Park, in the Mall I would have had to wait to find out what Kate's dress looked like. So I stayed put in the hotel. Not wanting to miss a moment I ate a bag of crisps for my breakfast.

"To wipe away your tears of joy"

Once they had been pronounced man and wife I decided to head out. My hotel wasn't far from Buckingham Palace and as I was walking towards it, a girl was handing out samples of Kleenex. As she handed it to me, she said:

'To wipe away your tears of joy'.

I'm not sure I would go that far. She had probably been handing these samples out all morning and there was little inflection in her voice, her tone was bored as she said the phrase and the incongruity of it stuck with me.

Maybe she was bored to tears?

As I headed towards Buckingham Palace, the crowd of people got thicker. With people in front and behind, personal space was now non-existent. Not a place to be if you're claustrophobic. Complete gridlock. I turned around and tried a different approach, walking along a street where the foreign dignitaries cars were parked. People were gathered around a few of the cars, looking in the windows, presumably watching the ceremony with the driver.

I kept walking. There were people everywhere, along with police wearing florescent yellow vests. Every so often I would find myself in a sea of people slowly moving forward, direction unknown. I started to envy Kate, if only for the fact that she would never have to get stuck walking in a crowd this size ever again. But no one was pushing or shoving, everyone was calmly making their way towards the same direction. Occasionally the crowds would disperse and I could breathe again. I looked at my surroundings. Somehow I had made it to Hyde Park.The ceremony was over and people were leaving. I spotted the tents where the official programmes were being sold.

I went to London and all I got to show for it was....

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

William and Catherine's strange bedfellows

2011-05-10T15:05:00.004-04:00

William and Catherine have conducted their relationship in the public eye. They've shared their royal wedding with us. Now that St James's Palace has confirmed the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left for their honeymoon, you would think they deserve some privacy, right?

Apparently not. People magazine has revealed their location as the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. They're reportedly staying in a secluded villa on a private, unspecified island.

Duly noted. Can we leave them in peace now?

Not so fast. Their luggage just became a whole lot heavier. I'll bet that William and Catherine didn't realize they were bringing us with them on their honeymoon, did they?

The intention to give them privacy seemed too good to be true. After all, we were supposed to learn lessons from Diana's death, right? To cover ourselves we pay lip service to her memory. History couldn't possibility repeat itself? It's not as if the couple will be driving through any dark tunnels. They're on honeymoon, harmless stuff. Besides it will all be worth it when we see pictures of Catherine in a bikini.

Unlike their wedding I have yet to read complaints about the cost of this jaunt. Yet. Why would there be when there are royal babies to be made? If we could, I'll bet we would set up cameras in their bedroom, giving us exclusive reports by the minute. How else will we know that William and Catherine are trying?

According to a spokesperson from Clarence House: "The couple have asked that their privacy be respected during their honeymoon."

After eight years William and Catherine should know better than to expect privacy. And we should know better than to think we're capable of giving it to them.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

The Royal Wedding Report for Sunday May 8, 2011

2011-05-07T19:58:00.001-04:00

After months of speculation surrounding the ceremony, on April 29th Prince William and Catherine Middleton finally became husband and wife. The momentous occasion was filled with beautiful music and memorable moments. From Catherine's dress, to the ceremony, to the atmosphere in London, on this episode a recap of the royal wedding day.

You can listen to the episode here:

The Royal Wedding Report - Recap

Publications mentioned

London Evening Standard Friday April 29, 2011

The Sun Friday April 29, 2011

Hello! Canada - Special Double Issue - The Royal Wedding

Hello! Royal Wedding Special Commemorative Edition

British GQ - Cover story - Prince harry is Walking with the Wounded

From My Royal Collection

Kate and Wills Up the Aisle by Alison Jackson

Websites mentioned

For more details on Kate's dress and the ceremony go to the Official Royal Wedding Website

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report for Sunday May 15th, 2011 at 9:00PM ET (North America).

The topic will be: Royal Wedding Dress Designers

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Brace yourselves Middleton family, this is just the beginning

2011-05-05T12:17:00.001-04:00

Congratulations!

Your daughter has married a royal. And not just any royal. No, the second in line to the throne. Yep, your daughter is now at the pinnacle of the aristocracy. And it only took your family several of generations to get there. As every media outlet seems to want to remind you.

So now that all of the wedding bills have been paid. You've packed up your bags, smiling graciously as you get into your car to return to your normal life back in Berkshire.

Or will you?

Unlike some other families who have had relatives marry into the royal family, you have had the advantage of getting used to the spotlight. Unlike the Ferguson's or the Spencer's, you Middleton's are a stable and loyal family. Why if it weren't for Uncle Gary, the relatives who worked in the coal mines, or that you once worked in the airline industry, your family is close to ideal. As the media seems to want to remind all of us.

Unfortunately you made a mistake - without even knowing it. Something that might cost your family dearly when it comes to privacy. You only have to look at the wedding footage to prove it. In a nutshell:

Pippa.

The moment she stepped out of the car in that slinky Sarah Burton dress (a style, oddly, bearing no relation to anyone else's in the wedding party), you were in trouble. You may not have even realized it until you read the papers the next day.

Now for the most part, a maid of honor who overshadows the bride will test any friendship/family bond. Long after the wedding photos make the bride's dress look dated, a gorgeous maid of honor will live in infamy. Why, it's enough to get you removed from the Christmas card list or any invites to subsequent marriage ceremonies. In this instance it's different. Pippa is not only the star of the wedding album but now a tabloid cover girl. Unfortunately disowning Pippa will backfire. That is the stuff which juicy tell-alls are made of.

At least Diana had the good sense to put the lovely Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones in a larger version of the children's dresses. Pretty, but no sex appeal whatsoever. It was Diana's dress that was the most important. After all, it was her day now wasn't it?

What's done is done. Just when you thought your lives could go back to normal Pippa unwittingly unleashed a whole new focus on the Middleton family. That slinky body will inspire hundreds of potential story lines. Pictured beside Prince Harry on the palace balcony, who wouldn't see them as a couple? Maybe if you're lucky something will become of it. That will show them, won't it?

It's plain to see that your family is close-knit and loyal. Now that Kate is royal and Pippa is on the radar, you'll need those qualities to survive the continued and intense interest in your family. Think you've been through the ringer before?

Brace yourselves Middleton's, this is just the beginning.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

How long have you been out here for?

2011-05-04T20:04:00.001-04:00

'How long have you been out here for?' A reporter asked, as she shoved a microphone into the face of a woman wearing a union jack hat with a homemade banner attached to the railings. Clearly enjoying the attention the woman smiled, giving the same answer she probably gave to all reporters who came by.

Other reporters and camera crews were doing similar things to anyone with a creatively decorated sign or tent. Cameras were set up on scaffolds surrounding the Victoria memorial. Those that weren't were in the green media studios set up to cover the event outside Buckingham Palace. Groups of people stood behind those studios, waving signs and cheering to get on TV. Occasionally the crowd would be rewarded with a smile and a wave from the on-air personality.

Just off to the side of these studios, behind gates, stood huge satellite dishes and news caravans that hummed. Walking along Constitution Hill, Green Park, a peaceful retreat from the hoopla. Shaded, cool and quiet it didn't seem as though it was in the same area. Walking back towards Buckingham Palace, it was warm outside and I wished I'd left my coat back at the hotel. Except that it could, and did, turn cool at times.

There was an enormous amount of people, though not as many as there would be this time tomorrow. Nothing was happening. Maybe they were here for the same reason I was. Not to stake a claim on the pavement but to observe, take pictures and like me, savor the moment of just being there.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Whatever you do, don't go to sleep!

2011-05-03T13:43:00.002-04:00

'What ever you do, DON'T go to sleep!'

My husband's warning came into my head as I started to doze off in the hotel room. Just five more minutes I thought to myself. It was 10AM London time, 5AM back home. I had barely slept on the flight. No wonder I was tired. At least I had survived the underground. Mainly thanks to the kindness of strangers, something I would rely on many times through this trip.

But I hadn't come to London to sleep. I sat up, grabbed my cell phone and camera and headed out the door. My hotel was near enough to Buckingham Palace, about a 15 minute walk. I didn't need a map to find it. I only needed to look down the road to see the royal standard flapping in the wind.

As I walked along the sidewalk, multiple souvenir shops caught my eye. William and Kate on every conceivable item imaginable. There were knockoffs of Kate's ring, knockoff commemorative coins, hats, magnets, and condoms. Yes, condoms - holy buzz killer!

Heading further along I found a tea shop selling William and Kate tea bags, then the Buckingham Palace shop. Utopia for those searching for the tasteful items. The store was small and crowded and I hugged my purse close to my body lest I knock over something tastefully expensive. I made a mental note to come back when it was less crowded.

A few blocks down the road I finally arrived at Buckingham Palace. The Queen's Royal Standard on the flagpole. Beyond the imposing black gates an immaculate gravel forecourt. And there was the famous balcony. By this time the next day, the newly married William and Kate would share a kiss for the world to see.

By the looks of it, I wasn't the only one imagining the same thing.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

I'm in London, baby!

2011-05-02T12:43:00.001-04:00

"What is the purpose of your visit?"

Steeling myself for the suspicious look and potential interrogation, I replied, "I'm here for the royal wedding."

The customs agent smiled and stamped my passport.

Hmm, very different reaction to the one I received when I went to New York for Jerramy Fine's book signing.

Obviously in this instance, customs wasn't going to ask me what the resolution to William and Kate's particular situation would be. This agent wasn't chewing gum either, nor did she have a moustache.

So I'd arrived in London. What began as a crazy idea was now a reality. What on earth was I thinking? Jet-lagged and unfamiliar with my surroundings I regrouped for a moment before braving the underground. I had been dreading this part. Back home a map filled with a labyrinth of multicolored tube lines had filled me with anxiety. I had gotten lost on the New York subway system, how would I ever manage this one?

But I had to get to my hotel. So I asked a ticket agent what the easiest way to get to Victoria station was. As he gave me directions he asked where I was from.

"Canada! One of my relatives is a government minister" he said proudly, writing the surname of his kin on the back of a receipt for me. Presumably so I could share in his pride when I returned home. I stuffed the paper into my purse, took a deep breath and headed for the gates.

There was no way of knowing where I would end up.

© Marilyn Braun 2011

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

All about the dress

2011-05-01T22:02:00.006-04:00

You already know that Catherine Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. But did you know Kate reportedly held her secret meetings with the designer in Henry VIII's favorite palace? Or that the workers who did the embroidery had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace clean?

If you want to see the dress in real life, you may get the chance. A Clarence House spokeswoman says the Duchess of Cambridge is "considering a number of options" for putting the dress on public display.

And if you want to get married in a dress like Kate's, that's possible, too. Low-priced designers are racing to create copies.

A modern dream dress

2011-04-30T04:19:00.003-04:00

Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress, praises Catherine Middleton's dress:

Kate Middleton's wedding dress

2011-04-29T06:41:00.004-04:00

Catherine Middleton's much-anticipated wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, creative director for Alexander McQueen. According to the official royal wedding website, "Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress."

The dress, made of ivory and white satin gazar, features English lace and French Chantilly lace throughout the bodice and skirt. The bride also wore a veil of ivory silk tulle held in place by a Cartier "halo" tiara borrowed from the Queen.

All of these details came from the official wedding site. Go here to learn more about Kate Middleton's attire, jewelry, and bouquet, as well as the bridesmaids' dresses and page uniforms.

Don't miss the wedding!

2011-04-29T00:00:00.003-04:00

Want to watch today's royal wedding on your computer? Well, you're in luck, because it will be streamed live on the British monarchy's official YouTube channel.

Marilyn's in London right now, but she'll probably be tweeting during the royal wedding. You can follow her on Twitter at marilynsrylblog.

You can also follow me, your friendly blog babysitter, at worldofroyalty. Happy wedding watching!