Has Catherine's privacy become a royal paradox?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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.Read more...

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

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

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

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!

Choose a Royal Prince Charles The Queen Prince Philip Prince William Prince Harry Princess Michael Prince Andrew Sarah Ferguson Princess Anne Catherine

Is Has Wants Needs

Choose a Problem/Issue In Love Furious Having marital problemsJealous Lonely Seething Predicting the end of the worldParental Approval Disappointed Won't abdicate Jealous Amused Not Amused Incandescent with rage Having an affair with a topless model Pregnant Not PregnantRecycling clothing Texting

With In Because Because of

Choose a person Chelsy Davy Catherine Prince Harry Prince William Princess Michael Prince Philip Camilla Pippa MiddletonThe Ghost of Diana Mohammed Al Fayed Sarah Ferguson

Of WithIs Because Because They Because they're Because He Because SheHas HaveWantsis bored

Choose a reason EnviousWon't go quietly Wants to be sovereign Too thinHungry for power Self-esteem issuesWon't wear something newDesperate Curious Attracted to themFrugal Pregnant Not PregnantGetting engagedGetting divorced

Which will result in

Choose a result An epic Constitutional Crisis worse than Edward VIII in 1936 The Queen Abdicating A Shotgun Wedding The continuation of the Windsor Dynasty The End of the Monarchy The End of the WorldInteresting Reading Controversy A Reality Show Conspiracy TheoriesAn Oprah Winfrey SeriesNothing

Royal Watchers Are

Choose what they're doing In a tizzy Blogging Bemused Stunned Shocked Fervently DiscussingWatching CelebratingGloating Running for coverTweeting

And Predicting

Choose a Prediction The End of the Monarchy

© 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.Read more...