The Royal Report for Sunday February 28, 2010 - Royal Love Stories: Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend

She was the Princess Diana of her day, he was a dashing divorced war veteran. When they fell in love, Princess Margaret would be made to choose between her royal title and lifestyle and the man she loved -Peter Townsend. This is their story.

Listen to their story here.

Publications discussed

Hello! Canada Weekly No 163 1 March 2010

From My Royal Collection

Dinner at Buckingham Palace by Charles Oliver

Blogs mentioned

World of Royalty Blog

Resources used to research this episode

The Little Princesses by Marion Crawford

Time and Chance: An autobiography by Peter Townsend

Royal Sisters by Anne Edwards

Princess Margaret: A Biography by Theo Aronson

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday March 7th, 2010 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: Royal Fashions - The good, the bad, and everything in between!

© Marilyn Braun 2010

The Royal Report for Sunday February 21, 2010 - Royal Love Stories: Edward and Wallis

Argubly the most tragic and romantic of royal love stories. He was the most dashing public figure of his day. She was a twice married American born out of wedlock. He gave up his throne for her and changed the course of royal history.

Listen to their story here.

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 162 22 February 2010

Film mentioned

The Duchess

From my royal collection

Rock and Royalty by Gianni Versace

Resources used to research this episode

King Edward VIII by Philip Ziegler

The Windsor Years  by Lord Kinross

Edward VIII The Road to Abdication by Frances Donaldson

The Heart has its reasons by The Duchess of Windsor

A King's Story The Memoirs of H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor

The Secret Life of The Duchess of Windsor by Charles  Higham

Wallis & Edward Letters 1931-1937 - The intimate correspondence of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor by Michael Bloch

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday February 28, 2010 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: She was the Princess Diana of her day, he was a dashing divorced war veteran. When they fell in love, Princess Margaret would be made to choose between her royal title and lifestyle and the man she loved - Peter Townsend. This is their story.

© Marilyn Braun 2010

Prince William's Hairy Situation

King Edward VII enjoyed a good meal and was called 'tum tum'. Prince Charles has his ears. Diana had her nose - when anyone decided to notice. Now Prince William has his hair - computer generated on the cover of Hello! in this case.

It's not secret that William has a bald spot, like his father. Royal reporters, with nothing better to report on other than his relationship with Kate and his resemblance to his mother, will pick on the regal thinning bean. It's a good way to take the royal golden boy down a notch. Until his early twenties, William had everything going for him. The standard bearer for Diana's memory, he could do no wrong.

And then he had the nerve to get older.

As a child he bore a striking resemblance to his maternal grandfather - Earl Spencer - and like his brother, as he gets older he becomes less Windsor and more Spencer. Not necessarily a bad thing. With the exception of Prince Philip, the royals do not age well. Case in point - Look at a picture of Prince 'Randy Andy' Andrew in his heyday and one taken now. I rest my case.

But in this day and age anything can be changed with the click of a button. Size 0 models can be made to look even thinner, Joan Collins can be made to look like she's 40 something (she's 77), William can be given a full head of hair. Could Tiger Wood's reputation be next? If not, he could be made to look better trying to salvage it.

Like the rest of us mere mortals, William obviously has a vain-streak. It's only natural, as a public figure, to want to appear in the best light. If he wants his hair electronically enhanced then I say go for it! However, if he wanted all of us to ignore the issue then he's gone about it the wrong way. Like a mole on someone's face. When they try to hide it then you notice it more.

Maybe William could try to make amends to all of those men who get toupees and hair transplants. Start a charity? Become a patron of a pre-existing one? Camp out at a hair salon amongst over priced products to highlight the issue? Lamblast Hello! like Kate Winslet did a few years ago when the UK edition of GQ shaved a few inches off her waist?

If this is supposed to be the 'real' Prince William, maybe it's time for him to stand up and embrace reality. Or maybe it's time for the media to give it a rest.

© Marilyn Braun 2010

The Royal Report for Sunday February 14, 2010 - Bertie and Elizabeth - A Love Story

He was the reluctant King. When he proposed, she turned him down three times! This is their love story.

Listen to the episode here.

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 161 15 February 2010

From My Royal Collection

Princess Diana's Maternity Fashion & Nursery Handbook

Resources used to research this episode

Elizabeth The Queen Mother by Hugo Vickers

The Queen Mother by Hugo Vickers

The Last Great Edwardian Lady  by Ingrid Seward

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother - The Official Biography by William Shawcross

George VI by Sarah Bradford

Five Gold Rings A Royal Wedding Souvenir Album

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth by Frances Donaldson

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday February 21, 2010 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: Wallis and Edward - A Love Story

© Marilyn Braun 2010

The Royal Report for Sunday February 7, 2010 - Queen Victoria and Prince Albert - A Love Story

She gave her name to an era. When he died she mourned him for the rest of her life. This is their story.

To listen to this episode click here.

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No. 160. 8 February 2010

From my Royal Collection

The Princess Diana Paper Doll Book of Fashion by Clarissa Harlowe and Mary Anne Bedford. Illustrated by Dona Granata.

Books used for researching this episode:

Britain's Royal Bridges by Josie Argy and Wendy Riches

Five Gold Rings A royal wedding souvenir album

Two Centuries of Royal Weddings by Christofer Warwick

The Life and Times of Victoria by Dorothy Marshall

Royal Weddings by Friederike Haedecke and Julia Melchior

Victoria - A celebration by Deborah Jaffe

The Young Victoria by Alison Plowden

Queen Victoria an eminent Illustrated Biography by Lytton Strachey

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday February 14, 2010 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic will be: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother - A Love Story

© Marilyn Braun 2010

Question: Does Prince Charles own a yacht?

I read a news article that said prince charles and camilla rented a yacht to travel thru the caribbean some time ago but also read an article that said president bill clinton was on ' prince charles yacht in 1992 for Rio conference on enviromental protection '. so I was wondering if he owns a yacht or just rents one from time to time?

As far as I'm aware, Prince Charles does not own a yacht. The Royal Family did, at one point, have the use of the Royal Yacht Britannia to entertain dignitaries over the years including Sir Winston Churchill, Rajiv Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Boris Yeltsin, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. This yacht was decommissioned in 1997.

Prince Charles has chartered or been lent the use of a yacht in the past. In 1991 he was loaned the Alexandros by Greek shipping magnate John Latsis. This was for a reported 'second honeymoon' with his then wife, Diana Princess of Wales. He also used the yacht in 2002 for a cruise with Camilla Parker Bowles. In 2008 he chartered one of the most expensive private yachts, the £50 million, 245ft Leander from car parks tycoon Sir Donald Gosling for an official tour of the Carribean Islands. The first time since the Royal Yacht Britannia was scrapped in 1997 that a member of the Royal Family has hired a private vessel for an official overseas visit.

According to Clarence House, the Prince of Wales chartered the yacht not for reasons of comfort but but to minimize his carbon footprint. If you're going to be environmentally friendly, might as well do it in style.

© Marilyn Braun 2010