2016 royal news can best be illustrated by the following GIF...

Gosh it has been a long time since I updated this blog. So much so that I even forgot my login information.

Anyhoo...

Yes I have been neglectful of my royal blog. I am currently a full-time student and well, for whatever crazy reason, have decided to focus on my studies. Good grades? What's up with that?

With a short Christmas break between semesters, I have decided to end 2016 with a blog post. Although I have been focusing on my studies, I still find the time to check twitter to keep up to date with what is going on in the royal world. 2016 did not disappoint as it has been filled with a variety of stories that can best be illustrated by the following GIF. Good heavens, it hurts just to look at it.


via GIPHY

In no particular order:

Why does Kate wear plasters on her fingers - Have we finally run out of topics that we need to write an article about this? Honestly, it is amazing that plasters (otherwise known as Bandaids) haven't sold out yet. That people have not written articles detailing different plaster styles and how Kate has made them cool in some way. How wearing them humanizes her and we can relate to her more because she bleeds just like us! Who would have thought?

William and Kate are lazy - One of several types of articles that rears its head throughout the year. Emboldened by numbers it is a favorite topic on twitter for royal watchers to discuss ad nauseam and come to no particular resolution other than to agree to disagree.

I personally feel that William and Kate did increase their royal duties, taking on high profile visits to India, Bhutan and Canada. Even if people disagree with the numbers. In any rate, Kate must be doing something right because she has upped her fashion game and her wardrobe was more expensive this year.

Prince Harry's year was notable for his work with the Invictus games, tour of the Caribbean and promoting HIV awareness in South Africa. He even found time to make Rhianna pregnant despite confirming his relationship with actress Meghan Markle and *gasp* daring to ask for people to respect her privacy. Engagement speculation inevitably ensued. According to this article, they could be engaged before 2017. With one day left in 2016 anything is possible. Can Harry and Meghan survive this onslaught of media attention? We will find out in 2017 or, if Harry is follows William's example, 2026.

Not to be outdone, Prince Andrew released a statement setting the record straight about his daughters, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and reported family rifts. According to various royal commentators, he just made things worse when should have just left 'well enough alone.' Geez, can't a father defend his daughters? Apparently not!

As many royal watchers know, 2016 has ended on a sad note. Zara Phillips suffered a miscarriage. The Queen reminded us of her mortality and age by handing off some duties to Charles and giving up a handful of her charities. Most worrisome for the media and public the Queen and Prince Philip are both suffering from colds. Cue the obituary articles.

2017 looks to be a year of the media chasing royal ambulances, potential future wives away, pregnancy rumours, more significant milestones and endless twitter discussions about William and Kate's lackluster workload.

Barring any major royal tragedy, I predict we will begin 2018 on the same note.

© Marilyn Braun 2016

 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...

A bumper year for royal news!

2010 began like any other year. Ho hum royal tours and continuous nauseating royal engagement speculation. If it wasn't Prince William and Kate Middleton's will they/won't they saga, then it was Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy's on/off relationship.

Therefore, there was no reason to believe that 2010 would be any more remarkable than previous years. Royal news tends to come in spurts.The family hadn't had a major royal wedding since 1999 and the Queen's last grandchild had been born in 2007, the same year, The Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary.  Her first grandchild married a Canadian in 2008. With the exception of a few minor weddings and births, it seemed like the royal family hadn't had any real news in ages.

Then, in the summer of 2010 that changed. Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn, were expecting a baby. But this would not be just any baby but the Queen's first great-grandchild. The last reiging sovereign to welcome a great-grandchild was Queen Victoria, whose eldest, Princess Feodora Saxe-Meiningen, had been born in 1879.  Peter Phillips himself is not only the Queen's first grandchild but also the first-great grandchild of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

This year would continue to bring happy news with the long-awaited engagement of Prince William to Kate (Catherine) Middleton. And now today's engagement announcement of Zara Phillips to her long-time boyfriend Mike Tindall. With two upcoming weddings and a new baby, what better news could anyone ask for?

At this rate, 2011 promises to be a bumper year for royal watchers!

© Marilyn Braun 2010