Survivor Balmoral - Day 31

Trapped in their home for 39 days with no servants to wait on them, no private secretaries as go betweens, the royals must communicate directly with each other and make their own beds. Through a series of challenges, each contestant will prove that they are the real Royal Survivor.

On the last episode, Kate Middleton left the competition after being humiliated by Prince William once too often. Prince William seems to be coping well despite this set back. Princess Anne currently has the immunity idol after winning the letter mailing challenge. This week, Charles faces his toughest challenge yet: mowing the lawn.

Prince Charles looks for the gardening shed. Confused, he walks over to the Myrtle bush.

"Excuse me, do you know where the lawn mower is?". Receiving no answer, he goes over to the rose bush. "I'm in a bit of a hurry, can you help me find the gardening shed?"

Prince Harry comes by on the riding lawnmover. "Do you think I can play polo on this?"

Meanwhile, Prince Edward is inside Balmoral, trying to run his own bath. Princess Anne has come to his assistance.

Prince Edward: What does this H and C mean? How do you turn it on?

Princess Anne: This is so difficult, we really should pay our staff more.

Prince Edward: Shhhh..don't let them hear that! (looks at the camera) you will edit that out, won't you?

In another part of the castle, Prince Philip finds himself in trouble with The Queen after having forgotten her birthday.

Prince Philip: Lilibet, my memory is not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory is not what it used to be.

The Queen: Let's see whether I give you 'Prince Consort' for our anniversary in November!

The Queen walks off in a huff.

Prince Philip (to the camera): What is it with all of this sentimental nonsense. After 60 years, what does she expect?....wait a moment, no Prince Consort???...Lilibet...Lilibet...

Later in the day the Windsor tribe learn that they are safe from Tribal Council after Princess Michael of Kent, in the Hanover tribe, loses to Prince Charles in the jam making competition. Despite this victory, the Windsor's lose a member when Prince Harry is called to duty in Iraq. Prince William is incandescent with rage.

Prince William: It should have been me that went! Harry isn't going to be head of the armed services!

Prince Andrew: Would you really want him to be? Especially after the Nazi costume?

Prince William: But it should have been mmmmmeeeeeeee

Prince Andrew: Look at it as a compliment. We spares are expendible.

Prince William is still disappointed but visibly brightens. "Poor Chelsy, she must miss Harry. How terribly lonely she must be. Do you think she might need some comforting?"

On the next episode of Survivor Balmoral: Charles boils an egg and Anne opens her own door.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

A Danish Princess is born

On April 21st, 2007 The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark welcomed a daughter. This is the second child for the Crown couple, the first being Prince Christian, who was born in October 2005. As with Prince Christian, the baby's name will not be announced until her christening, which will take place on July 1st.

The birth of a healthy child is always a joyous event, but this particular baby is somewhat special. She is the first Danish princess born into the royal family in 60 years. The last was Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, sister of Queen Margrethe, in 1946. Queen Margarethe has two sisters, Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. After Margarethe married in 1967, she had two sons - Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim. Until the birth of this little girl she had three grandsons, Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix and Prince Christian.

There is much speculation on what her name will be. For unlike her brother, whose name comes from centuries of tradition and who I wrote about in The Christian Tradition Continues no such tradition exists for females. For now, she is called 'mini-Mary' in the press and 'Lillepige' (translation: little girl) by her parents.

Names they could choose if they wanted to honor the family include Margarethe (after her paternal grandmother), Henrietta (after the Crown Princess's late mother), Ingrid (after her great-grandmother, Queen Ingrid), or Margaret (after her great-great grandmother, the former Margaret of Connaught, sister of Princess Patricia of Connaught.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Photos courtesy of the official website of TRH The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark.

The Reign of Glamour

In a recent poll of Dutch citizens, 70% want Crown Prince Willem-Alexander to succeed his mother, Queen Beatrix, as King in the next three years. Unlike in the United Kingdom where sovereigns reign until their deaths, abdication has been a tradition in the Dutch royal house. Both his great-grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina, and grandmother Queen Juliana, abdicated in favour of their successor.

Should Queen Beatrix do so, Prince Willem-Alexander will become the first King of The Netherlands in over 100 years. The last was King Willem III, who died in 1890 and was suceeded by his daughter Princess Willhemna. The Princess was 10 when her father died, so her mother Queen Emma acted as Regent until she came of age.

In the 20th and so far the 21st century, The Netherlands has been ruled by women. When Queen Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948, Queen Juliana took the throne. After 32 years, she abdicated and Queen Beatrix suceeded in 1980. When Prince Willem-Alexander either abdicates or reigns until his death, The Netherlands of the mid to latter 21st century will once again be ruled by a woman, when his daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia succeeds. The young princess owes her position as heir to the 1983 change in the succession laws, allowing for full lineal primogeniture, where the eldest child becomes heir regardless of sex.

It's easy to understand why people would want a change. Currently Prince Willem-Alexander's wife, Princess Máxima, is the most popular member of the Dutch royal family, followed by himself. Queen Beatrix ranks third. A young family with three beautiful children, fills the need for glamour, which seems to be an important pre-requisite for todays European royal families.

Because of this, later in the 21st century, if the Dutch still want a monarchy, we may once again see a poll, this time in favour of Catharina-Amalia succeeding her father.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Photos courtesy of the Official Dutch Royal House Website.

Question: The Queen's Pearls

Can you tell me the history of the Queen's pearls?

With the exception of State dinners, if you see the Queen on any public occasion, she will rarely be without her pearl-and-diamond button earrings, a brooch, and her pearls (she wears all three in the photo at right).

The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, received her first set of pearls, a triple strand, as a young girl. They were given to her in 1935 by her grandfather, King George V, to celebrate his Silver Jubilee. Today, she usually wears these pearls in the daytime.

The other pearl necklaces, that I'm aware of at least, are the ones she received as a wedding gift from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The one string is said to have belonged to Queen Anne, last of the Stuart monarchs. The other to Queen Caroline, wife of King George II. She wore these necklaces on her wedding day in 1947, and they are now worn on informal evening occasions.

An oft told anecdote about the pearls. Having received them as a wedding gift, they were put on display at St. James Palace, along with the rest of the gifts. As she was getting ready for her wedding, she wanted to wear the pearls and realized they were still on display. Shortly before the Princess was to leave for Westminster Abbey, she sent John Colville, her Private Secretary, to collect the pearls.

He rushed down the seemingly endless corridor, hurtled down the Grand Staircase, and ended up in the quadrangle, where he commandeered King Haakon VII of Norway's large Daimler. Although traffic had been stopped since early morning, the crowds were so deeply packed across Marlborough Gate, that the car, even flying its royal flag, had to halt while he fought his way through on foot. When he arrived at the Friary Court entrance to the State Apartments there was only an elderly janitor to listen to his odd story, but he finally allowed Colville upstairs to explain his mission to the men who were guarding the 2,660 presents. The dilemma was: if they accepted is story and he turned out to be a clever jewel thief who had made off with the Crown pearls, they were in trouble; but if they refused to let him have the necklace and it all turned out to be true, they were equally in trouble. There was no one to consult; time was running out, and only after they found his name in the wedding programme as one of the Household officials in attendance on the Princess did they allow him to remove the pearls. *

Thanks for your question!

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Sources:

The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Field *
The Royal Jewels by Suzy Menkes
Official Site of the British Royal Family

More on royal jewels:

Jewels fit for a Queen
Camilla's Tiara
Royal Engagement Rings
Royal Focus: The Poltimore Tiara

Photo: Camera Press/Snowdon

Question: Who is of higher rank, a prince or a duke?

If you check the top left hand corner of the blog, just above recent articles, you'll see that I welcome questions on royalty. I love answering them, and sometimes I even learn something new. I recently received questions from two different people. Why am I mentioning this? Well, the questions were almost identical - Who is of higher rank, a prince or a duke?

Since this question seems to be so popular, I thought I'd post it here in case anyone else was wondering the same thing.

So, who does rank higher?

Well, it's easy to say that a prince ranks higher than a duke. However, there are two types of Duke's in the United Kingdom - Royal Duke's and noble (non-royal) Duke's.

It is customary, on the marriage of the sons of a sovereign, to be given a Dukedom upon their marriage. The Queen did this with Prince Andrew (Duke of York) in 1986 and Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex - to be created Duke of Edinburgh after his father's death), upon his marriage in 1999. The Prince of Wales, as the eldest son of the sovereign, automatically became Duke of Cornwall upon his mother's accession in 1952, making him the most senior of dukes. Therefore he was not given any titles when he married in 1981.

Although there is nothing that defines these titles as exclusive to the royal family or makes them royal in general, any available dukedom, created by the sovereign for one of her sons, could become a royal dukedom. These royal dukedom's, which unlike other dukedoms, do not come with any estate or property. A good example of this would be the Duke of Windsor, which was simply a title. As such, because they are royal dukedoms, they rank higher than that of an "ordinary" older dukedom.

So a prince, whether a royal duke or not, ranks higher than a noble duke, which is the highest rank, just below that of a king or a prince.

Thanks for your questions ladies!

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Greeting The Queen - A guide for the U.S. visit

I have previously written about what to do when you meet royalty and nobility. However, in honor of The Queen and Prince Philip's visit to the United States, I thought I would give a refresher:

• Contrary to popular belief, when you meet the Queen, it's optional to curtsey or bow. You could do both but you might get a strange look.
  

• When you greet her, speak when spoken to. But don't tell her your life story. If you do, you may notice her shifting her purse as a signal for her staff to rescue her.

• Address her as 'Your Majesty' and 'Ma'am' thereafter. Do not call her 'Cabbage' or 'Lilibet'

• Shake her hand when she offers it. Be gentle - no hand crushing grips.

• Outside of handshakes, do not, under any circumstances, hug or touch her in any way. Kissing is completely innapropriate.

• Don't ask for her autograph

• Don't ask to pose with her or ask Prince Philip to take a picture of you together.

• Don't offer her food or gum. Even if she looks hungry.

• Above all remember, if in doubt be polite.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

The Queen's American Visit

Today the Queen and Prince Philip touch down in Virginia to mark the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement.

The Jamestown what?

My knowledge of American history is minimal. In highschool we studied the American political and legal systems but little of its history. Our young and impressionable minds were also a captive audience for the teacher's sectarian views. I'll admit that I don't really pay that much attention to why the Queen visits, as much as just enjoying the fact that she does. This visit will mark the fourth time she's made a State Visit to the United States. The previous trips were in October 1957, July 1976 for the US Bicentennial, and in 1991 to visit President Bush. In 1983 the Queen and Prince Philip also made an official visit to the West Coast of America. She has also made some private visits to Kentucky for horse breeding.

In Canada we see far more of the Queen. Not including her tour when she was Princess Elizabeth, she has come to Canada 29 times in the course of her reign. Is it because she likes us better? We like to think so but being the Queen of Canada certainly helps. I have seen the Queen in person once, and that was from a distance when I attended the 1997 running of the Queen's Plate at Woodbine Race Track in Ontario. The Queen and Prince Philip rode by in their carriage, waving and smiling, and then they disappeared to the place where all good VIP's go after they've made their obligatory appearances.

This visit to the United States is more than just a polite call in. She is coming to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement - the first permament English settlement in North America, established in 1607 (thanks Wikipedia!). While no doubt an important event in American history, it's unlikely that it would get the same amount of global news coverage were it not for the Queen's visit. I'm glad to say that because of it I've learned something new.

One British newspaper noted that with her advancing age, this visit to the US will probably be her last. Let's hope that isn't true. She's the most traveled monarch in British history, so she's earned the right to put her feet up. If after this visit she does, then this visit marks a historic event in more ways than one.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Birthdays

Yesterday The Netherlands celebrated Queens Day, the official birthday of the Queen. Called Koninginnedag in Dutch, it is observed on April 30th, although this is not the birthday of the current Queen Beatrix (January 31st). This was originally the birthday of Queen Juliana and it has been continued to be celebrated on this date because the weather is better for the outdoor celebrations. Street parties and other events are held around the country and the Queen and members of the royal family visit one or two places each year.

The Sovereign's Official birthday is celebrated differently in various countries:

Demark: On April 16th, Danes celebrated the 67th birthday of Queen Margarethe. It is an annual event, beginning at 12.oo pm, after the changing of the guard. The doors of the Amalienborg, the royal palace is opened and the Queen and her family appear on the balcony to be greeted by loud cheers. After a while, they move back into the palace, but appear again after the traditional call from the crowd: Margrethe, Margrethe, kom nu frem, ellers går vi aldrig hjem" (Margrethe, Margrethe, come on out, or we will never go home). The Royal Guard wears celebratory attire, a red jacket and bright blue trousers, and the Royal Guard Music Corps plays birthday songs and other joyful music.

United Kingdom: Last year, the Queen turned 80, and this milestone was marked by several special events. The Queen has two birthdays - her real one on April 21st and her official birthday, which occurs on the first or second Saturday in June. Her official birthday is marked by the Trooping the Color ceremony and a balcony appearance by the royal family. Her birthday is celebrated in the various Commonwealth countries. Canada celebrates Her Majesty's birthday on Victoria Day - May 24th. While it is known as Queen Victoria's birthdate, this date is also intended to honor the present Queen's birthday as well.

Luxembourg: The national holiday celebrates the birthday of the sovereign. The date has changed with each monarch, but since 1961, by Grand Ducal decree, it has been celebrated on June 23rd. It is celebrated on this date regardless of the actual birthdate of the sovereign. Festivities begin the evening before, June 22, in one of the villages outside of the capital, attended by the Grand-Ducal couple. They arrive in the capital around 10.00 pm, to take part in the traditional torch-lit procession. A fireworks display is held at 11:30 pm. On June 23rd a military parade is held in the Avenue de la Liberté, and the Te Deum is celebrated in Luxembourg Cathedral at 11 a.m. The Grand Duchess' birthday is marked on January 23rd with a parade and fireworks.

The Emperors Birthday in Japan: Celebrated on the current Emperors birthday - December 23rd. In 1948 it was made a public holiday. A public ceremony takes place at the Imperial Palace, when it opens its gates to the public. The royal family appear on the balcony to acknowledge the crowds.

Sweden: Birthday of the royal family are observed by flag days. Name Days are also celebrated, but only for the King (January 28th), the Queen (August 8th) and Crown Princess Victoria (March 12th). This year, King Carl-Gustav's 61st birthday was celebrated at the Royal Palace, where the king inspected the outgoing guard and received flowers from children. Every year on July 14, the future Queen of Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria's birthday is celebrated on Victoria Day in Borgholm on Öland. The Royal Family attend and Victoria presents the Victoria scholarship to a outstanding Swedish athlete. Singers and artists perform throughout the day and evening and a mini-marathon race is run.

Norway: On February 21, 2007, King Harald of Norway celebrated his 70th birthday, with a church service and a gala concert at Oslo City Hall. The public was invited to attend a variety of events. A dinner was held, attended by a large number of royal guests and European heads of state.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Review: The Queen

I will admit, that when I first heard about this movie being made I was somewhat skeptical. Royal docudrama dialogue tends to be culled from sensationalized headlines and the characterizations are usually one-dimensional. In ths case, I thought it would be no different from the others, not to mention a bad career move for Helen Mirren.

So imagine my surprise when this movie started to get rave reviews and Helen Mirren was touted for an Oscar. People around me, who had no interest in royalty, praised her performance. I found myself rooting for her to win the Oscar. When she did, I became impatient to see this movie. After a long wait, I watched it last night.

The Queen, is set in 1997 during the week following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in a Paris car-crash. One aspect of this movie that is rather refreshing is that it isn't all about Diana. We don't have to deal with conspiracy theories, Dodi, or if an actress played Diana well. Except for a blur of blonde hair getting into the Mercedes on that fateful night, Diana is shown only in archival footage.

While Diana does permeate, the focus of this film is very much on the Queen and her inner conflict with tradition versus common sense. It would have been very easy to make the royals appear insensitive, but the portrayals are sympathetic and human. Queen is not made to be cold and aloof. Prince Charles isn't the villain he was made out to be at the time. Diana isn't sainted. And Prince Philip is...well...Prince Philip.

Helen Mirren gives a dignified performance as The Queen and, in some instances, bears a rather remarkable resemblance to her. James Cromwell, as Prince Philip, provides some comic relief with his irascible behavior and Sylvia Syms as the Queen Mother gives some wry asides. Alex Jennings, who portrays Prince Charles, has the pained expression perfected but, to me, still looks more like George W. Bush.

Through-out the movie it seems that we, the viewers, are getting royal lessons: 'the queen doesn't vote', 'one must keep ones feelings to oneselves', 'this situation is unprecendented', instead of it being part of the natural conversation. A writing teacher once said to me 'show, don't tell', and I think that phrase is somewhat apt for this movie.

We'll never know exactly what happened between Balmoral and Downing Street, but the dialogue seems to have been written from the benefit of hindsight. Did the Queen really not understand the impact of Diana's death? Was Tony Blair really that pivitol in saving the Queen from herself? Like other docudramas, the dialogue does occasionally veer into the extreme when Cherie Blair pronounces to her husband that 'the Queen hated Diana's guts'. Which, from Mirren's performance, I don't get a sense of.

The mixture of Diana footage with unfolding events at Balmoral and Downing Street is very well done. But despite the care taken to get events right, there are still some anachronisms with cell phones and vehicles appearing that didn't exist at the time.

While the outcome of the movie is no surprise, the movie is definately worth watching, if only to get a different view of the Queen from what we've been led to believe.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Click on this link to order The Queen

Other Royal Trivia

Did you know....

• King Abdullah II of Jordan, is a big Star Trek fan. When he was Prince Abdullah, he appeared as an exra, in a non-speaking role, on a 1995 episode of Star Trek.

• Queen Rania of Jordan, King Abdullah's wife, is (currently) the world's youngest queen.

• When Princess Margriet of The Netherlands was born in 1943, the hospital she was born in, Ottawa Civic, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, was placed, temporarily, outside of the jurisdiction of Canadian law to ensure she would not have dual nationality.

• King Constantine of Greece won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome for sailing.

• King Olav V of Norway won a gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics for sailing.

• King George VI, as Prince Albert, played in 1926 at the All England Championships at Wimbledon in the men's doubles.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Question: Why isn't the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Consort?

I recently received this question:

Can you blog us anything about "Prince Consort?" I take it this will be a big honor for Prince Philip since no one has held this title since Prince Albert...why has it taken the Queen this many years to bestow it?

Thanks very much for your question!

If you pay attention to recent royal news reports, you might have read that Queen Elizabeth II might/may/will make her husband Prince Consort on/around their 60th wedding anniversary on November 20th, 2007.

Should she do so, the Duke of Edinburgh, would become only the second male consort to hold the title, which carries with it no benefits or extra duties, but probably looks nice on business cards. Currently, there is only one Prince Consort, and that is the husband of Queen Margarethe of Denmark.

Such titles aren't always bestowed right away. Prince Henrik, Queen Margarethe's husband, became Prince Consort 33 years after her accession to the throne. Queen Victoria conferred the title of Prince Consort upon her husband Prince Albert in 1857, 17 years after their marriage. Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert, was the first male consort in the British royal family to hold the title.

The Duke of Edinburgh will be 86 in June of this year. In November he will have been married to the Queen for 60 years. He has been her consort since February 1952. In September 1952, the Queen granted her husband precedence next to herself and on February 22nd, 1957 she created him a Prince of the United Kingdom and his title then became HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

According to the official site:

Prince Philip chose not to take on the title of 'Prince Consort', and to continue to be known instead as 'The Duke of Edinburgh'. He still offers the support and undertakes the duties expected of a consort and was the first person to pay homage to The Queen following her Coronation, by kneeling at her feet and then kissing her cheek.

The Prince has served Her Majesty without any such title and, whether she choses to make him Prince Consort after all of this time, really makes no difference. Title or none, his duty to her is unquestioned.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

A Rose by a Royal name

When royal ladies arrive at an engagement, it is customary to give a bouquet of flowers. Usually the royal lady will also receive flowers from the crowds, sometimes in abundance. Some of the flowers are kept and some are given to local hospitals for patients to enjoy. However, there are some flowers which, when received, royalty might hang on to.

Of the many accolades that royalty receives, whether having food, a building, or a street in their name, many have also had the honor of having a flower, usually a rose, named after them as well. Here are just a few of the flowers:

Princesse de Monaco: Named for Princess Grace of Monaco. Some of her hobbies included flower arranging and pressing. Her daughter also has a rose named after her called the Caroline de Monaco.

Crown Princess Mary - a rose named after Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and sold through the Heart foundation of Austrailia. Particularly appropriate as her late mother, who passed away from heart disease, was an avid rose gardener.

What could be more appropriate for someone known as 'England's Rose', than to have a flower named after her. This is actually not the first flower named in her honor. There's also one called the 'Lady Diana' and another called 'The Princess of Wales'. The one pictured is the 'Diana, Princess of Wales' and is being sold to raise money for her memorial foundation.

Royal William. Depending on which source you check, this rose is either named to commemorate the birth of Prince William or to mark King William III's arrival in England in 1688.

Duchess of Cornwall - named after Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall to raise funds for the National Osteoporosis Society, a disease her mother died of.

Princess Alice Rose. Queen Victoria's third child and second daughter. She was also the mother of Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven .

Other royals who have had flowers named after them:

Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands
Princess Margaret
Princess Michael of Kent
Princess Marina and her daughter Princess Alexandra
Princess Michiko of Japan (now Empress Michiko)
Princess Alexandra of Denmark

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Happy 81st Birthday to The Queen

Survivor Balmoral

Trapped in their home for 39 days with no servants to wait on them, no private secretaries as go betweens, the royals must communicate directly with each other and make their own beds. Through a series of challenges, each contestant will prove that they are the real Royal Survivor.

Day 30

On last week's episode we saw tribe Hanover prevail in the immunity challenge. Currently there is dissention in tribe Windsor, alliances have been formed and broken. Andrew currently has the Immunity Idol after winning the smiling and waving challenge, which Edward failed.

Edward: "Mummy, my arms are tired".

The Queen is not amused, she rolls her eyes.

The Queen: "I've been doing this for 80 years. Suck it up".

Next challenge: Charles attempts to iron his shirts and squeeze his own toothpaste. Without success.

Charles: "I dare say, this is harder than it looks. Where do you plug the toothpaste in?"

Philip: (already brushing his teeth) "You don't know what hardship is really like do you?"

Exasperated, Charles looks for paper and pen to write a memo to his father.

Charles: "This really isn't fair. How are we supposed to communicate with each other anyways?"

Meanwhile, William and Kate Middleton are having a disagreement....

Kate: "Where's the toilet?"

William: "No, it's called a 'lavatory'. Let's spell that together..L..A..V..."

Kate: "Pardon?"

William: "What?"

Later that day, at Tribal Council, the Queen waits for the remaining members of Tribe Windsor. Philip, Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward, William, Harry and Kate Middleton, meet at Balmoral to vote off the next contestant.

Kate: (to the Queen) "Pleased to meet you."

Everyone glares at her.

Queen: You have come here today because, once again, your tribe lost the immunity challenge against Hanover, why do you think this happened?

Andrew: "I blame Harry, claiming to be sick anytime there's work to be done"

Edward: "Someone should be tested for drugs...."

Charles: "At least he's doing his time in the military".

Edward: "Mummy, are you going to let him say that to me?"

Harry gets up, fists ready. William goes to restrain him.

Harry: "Look William, there's a cheap blonde at the bar!"

William is distracted and lets Harry go. Harry lunges at Edward. Kate phones her lawyers.

The Queen: "Kate, I'm under the impression that you're not suitable royal bride material..some say you're middle class".

Everyone gasps

Kate: "William doesn't mind...do you William?...William?"

Philip: (Looks over at the bar) "Does he have his hand on her...."

Kate: "That's it!...I can't take this anymore!"

Kate runs off into the night. The remaining contestants look at each other, confused.

The Queen: "I guess the commoner has spoken!"

On next week's episode:

Charles tries to mow the lawn. And Edward draws his own bath.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Candidates for Prince William's hand

Kate Middleton isn't even cold and already speculation has started on who will be on the commemorative china with him. While having tea in the old mugs, Woolworth's must be gleefully rubbing its hands together. Yes, maybe the next relationship will last!

In August 2005 I posted a list of potential royal brides should things not work out with Kate. At the time, he was dating her so he probably wouldn't have taken this list very seriously. Of course, now that Prince William is single again, he may want to take a closer look. Since the original list the availability has changed somewhat, Christina is married and Britney is divorced, but he still has plenty of choice. Of course, he could choose from a bevy of blonde aristocratic ladies with multi-hyphenated names bigger than their collective IQ's. But why not consider someone different?

Chelsey Davy: She can trade up if she gets tired of Prince Harry

Jennifer Aniston: Take that Brad!

Pamela Anderson: Blonde cougars have more fun

Paris Hilton: Looks good on video and rich enough that he doesn't have to worry about her marrying him for his money.

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen: I still maintain that it would be useful to have a bride with a twin sister. When he wants a change, he could swap them out. But if I were him I'd choose the cleaner looking of the two, Mary-Kate.*

Lindsay Lohan: He'd have someone to party with. But she might drink him under the table.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden: They'd look so good together we'd be jealous of their unborn babies.

Princess Beatrice: [Insert collective ewwww] If he wants to keep it in the same gene pool. At one point royals did marry their first cousins. No, really it's true! Which could explain quite a bit now.

Heather Mills-McCartney: She seems to like them rich and old. Hopefully William does too.

Kylie Minogue: A forerunner on the UK bookmakers list. But could she blow the corgi's out of the room like Christina?

Britney Spears: Well, maybe not a potential bride. But with the head shaving incident he could add her to his list of charities.

Christina Aguilera: She's married at the moment but that'll change. On the plus side, she doesn't have as much baggage as Britney.

Princess Theodora of Greece: If he wants to keep it in the family

There, now Prince William can't complain that he doesn't have any choice. He can thank me with an invitiation to his wedding.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

* I stand corrected. Apparently Ashley is the cleaner looking of the two!

The Kate Middleton story that will not die

Kate Middleton's breakup with Prince William is all over the media. One look at most royalty sites, forums and blogs that cover the British royal family devote posts to this saga. Some blogs, like The Royal Representative have moved on to other royal news. The World of Royalty blog briefly touched on it, and The Monarchist never covered it at all.

Three royal blogs down, six to go (including this one and The Royal Chronicles).

When will this story die?

The Dutch Crown Prince and Princess name their daughter? Queen Margarethe of Denmark turns 67? Nelson Mandela's royal link restored? No comparison. Royal watchers have hit the jackpot. In the absence of a royal death or divorce, it's the current hot topic and, seemingly, an endless source of discussion, speculation and material. Where's an abdication when we need one?

Why did Kate and Will's breakup? What did Kate do? Who dumped who? Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? Unless Kate writes a book or becomes a reality star, will we be talking about this in a month's time? Who knows? We're still talking about Diana 10 years later.

Will it be five blogs down? Not anytime soon.

But if I get tired of it, I'm reminded of some lyrics:

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Wanted: Royal Bride

Job Type: Permanent/Full time (after indeterminate probation period)
Location: Clarence House, London, UK
Job Category: Executive
Industry: World Rulers
Company Name: Windsor Inc.
Company URL: www.royal.gov.uk
Experience: None
Number Of Positions: 1
Position Start Date: TBD

The Opportunity

Do you have what it takes to be a future Queen? Are you looking for an opportunity for advancement? If so, an opening has just come up in Windsor Inc. Direct Line division for a Royal Bride.

The British Royal Family has a long history and is one of most well known royal families in the world. The Firm is looking for a Royal Bride to expand operations and provide top level support. Reporting to the Sovereign, the successful incumbent will be a self-starter, and capable of hitting the ground running. Serving the country, you will provide good value while liaising with all levels of society.

An amazing opportunity to take your place in history!

Qualifications

As the wife of the second-in-line to the throne, you should have the following qualifications:

• Ability to give and receive undue deference

• Good judgement and discretion

• Patience and the ability to look the other way

• Keen interest in people and the ability to make small talk

• Sensitivity to all cultures

• Strong fashion sense.

• Physical attractiveness is a definite plus

• Must like flowers

• Capable of operating scissors when opening hospitals, cutting ribbons.

• Must be able to review troops and sit for endless portraits
  

• Ability to ride a horse is an asset.

• Demonstrated skills in speech making and dealing with the media

• Comfortable in a high profile role

• Willingness to travel and a familiarity with the various global divisions

• Advanced Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook skills.

• Able to prioritize and multi-task

• Adaptable to changing duties

• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced and occasionally unpredictable environment.
  
  Benefits
  
  Dental, eyeglasses, vast properties, priceless jewels, generous fashion stipend. Travel to exotic locations.
  
  If this opportunity interests you please contact Trixie at trixie@royalrecruiting.com
  
  We thank you for your interest. Due to the large volume of applicants, only those qualified for the position will be contacted.
  
  © Marilyn Braun 2007
  

Kate Middleton's Future

It's all over the news - Kate Middleton and William have split. I haven't been this shocked since Brad and Jen. What went wrong? They looked so good on the Woolworth commemorative mugs. It's so sad. She invested five years of her life into the relationship. Not to mention all of time we wasted speculating. And for what? Didn't we deserve a happy ending?

Typically Clarence House remains tight lipped. We'll never know the true reason and many trees will fall in speculating. Did William feel up one too many drunken blondes? Did she show too much spunk with the media? What, if anything, did Camilla have to do with this? The questions and possibilities for spin are endless.

Our first instinct might be to feel sorry for her. After all, now that she no longer has to save the monarchy, she has time to think about her future. But don't feel so bad, she has several options before she becomes a royal footnote:

• She can write her autobiography. Nothing eases the pain like cashing in.

• She can parlay her fame into an acting, modelling or singing career. No singing experience required - look at J.Lo and Hilary Duff.

• She can become a motivational speaker, holding seminars on 'How not to become a princess'.

• Design a range of items, like purses or hats, for the discerning royal wannabe.

• Like Fergie, she can write childrens books and endorse Wedgewood.

• She can do tearful appearances on Oprah. And make the cover of Hello magazine looking despondent.

• She can appear on reality shows eating questionable animal parts with Paul Burrell.

• Like spurned Bachelor contestant Trista Rehn, she can become the new Bachellorette.

• She can become a contestant on Dancing with the stars.

• If she's feeling charitable, she could go out with Kevin Federline.

• She can become BFF with Paris Hilton.

And most importantly:

She can get on with her life.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Note: This article made an online magazine!!!!

Now Open! Marilyn's Royal Bookstore

Book shopping is one of my favorite past times. My motto is you can never have enough royal books, even if you have no room for them. In an ideal world, there would be a great selection of royal books in every bookstore. Alas, the subject of royalty may get half a shelf at the most.

Instead of dreaming about such a store, I've created it! Now in the comfort of your own home you can shop for books at my store. Instead of searching for royal books, they're conveniently in one place. Like me, you may even discover interesting books you didn't know existed!

Happy Shopping!

Click on the image to access the store or the link to Marilyn's Royal Bookstore on the sidebar.

Royal Profile: The Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson

Adrienne Clarkson had a distinguished career in broadcasting journalism, the arts and public service, before becoming the first immigrant, person of Asian heritage, and the second woman, to become the 26th Governor General of Canada, whose role is to represent The Queen in Canada.

She was born Adrienne Poy in Hong Kong on February 10, 1939, the daughter of William Poy and Ethel Lam. Her father was a successful jockey and horse owner through the Hong Kong Jockey Club and she and her brother Neville (born in 1935) grew up in a life of priviledge. Upon the Japanese invasion in December 1941, her family's lifestyle vanished. They lived on the run for six months, while her father utilized his contacts to get his family out of the country. After they made a Red Cross list to be exchanged, they boarded a Japanese ship and came to Canada as refugees in 1942.

During her early years in Canada she lived in a small triplex on Sussex Avenue in Ottawa, which is also the location of Rideau Hall; the traditional residence of the Governor General. She attended Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa and later she attended Trinity College in the University of Toronto, earning a B.A. and M.A. in English literature. She did her post-graduate work at the Sorbonne in France. During her education she wrote and published two novels, one while she was still an undergraduate.

She married fellow Trinity student Stephen Clarkson and the couple had three daughters, Kyra (born 1969) and twins Blaise and Chloe (born in 1971). Chloe died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome when she was nine months old. Their marriage ended in 1975 and after the divorce, Adrienne became estranged from her two surviving daughters; who have since reconciled with their mother.

She began her career with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) by chance. A former classmate encouraged her to audition, where her natural ease in front of the camera was recognized. She stayed at the CBC for 30 years, beginning with the popular afternoon show, Take Thirty. In 1974 she began her program Adrienne at Large and in 1975 joined the public affairs program, The Fifth Estate. In 1983 she became Ontario's Agent General in Paris, a role she held until 1987, when she became Publisher and President of McClelland and Stewart. After 18 months she resigned and returned to television in the arts program Adrienne Clarkson Presents, for which she won a Gemini award (the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy). In 1992 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

She married her second husband, John Ralston Saul in 1999. In the same year, on October 7th, she was sworn in as Governor General. Just prior to the announcement of her appointment, to better understand and prepare for the role, she researched it at the Toronto Reference Library. Upon her appointment she became Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada. She held the position of Governor General until September 27th, 2005.

Since leaving the position, she published her memoirs, Heart Matters, and was appointed the Colonel-in-Chief of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, a position she took over from Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Review - Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures

I found the book quite by mistake. Surfing amazon.ca, I was looking for new royalty books and I came up with this. Without thinking twice, or bothering with reviews, I ordered it. Receiving the confirmation email made me one step closer to owning this book. The estimated delivery date reassured me that it would arrive soon and I eagerly checked my doorstep for the familiar cardboard box. After a day or so of waiting, I went to check the superbox (neighborhood mailbox) and there it was, wedged into the oversized bin. Tossing dignity aside I braced myself against the box with my foot, pulled the book out, taking care not to destroy the box or the hinges on the door. Yes, finally, here it is!

Can you tell I love books like this?

So much so, that I actually own several other books by the same author. Of the seven books in the series, I own the ones on John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and John F. Kennedy Jr. Will I buy the Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg version? Probably, I love anything to do with the Kennedy family.

But I digress.

Grace Kelly: A life in pictures covers her life from infancy to her death. Like the other versions, this book has several pages in front of the book with biographical information. If you're familiar with her life story you, like myself, can skip these pages and go directly to the beautiful photographs. While the book can be enjoyed just for the photographs themselves, care has been taken to not make her appear as just a pretty face or a fairytale princess. The quotations by her, indispersed throughout the book, remind us that there was a real person behind whatever idealistic image we may continue to hold of her.

We see Grace as a baby and a somewhat awkward little girl in a family of over achievers. We see her in all her glamour shot glory, and at the pinacle of her success as she wins an Academy Award. Then we see her transformation to a princess on her wedding day. She is shown with her husband and children at work and at play. As she grows older, some of the photographs aren't necessarily flattering, but this makes her more human. If I have any complaint about this book, it's the title. While she may be more familiar to people as a movie star, she spent more of her life as a princess. Also, some of the photographs aren't always chronologically organized. Several years into her life as a princess, for no inexplicable reason, pre-wedding photos during her engagement period show up.

While the book claims to have never before seen photos, Princess Grace fan that I am, I've actually seen almost all of them. Still, I was not disappointed. Whether you're a Grace Kelly/Princess Grace fan, I recommend this book for encapsulating a fascinating life and for the sheer beauty of the photographs.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

To order this book, click here.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are engaged!

After months and months of speculation, here's the announcement we've all been waiting for!

The following announcement is issued by the Press Secretary to the Prince of Wales

The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of his son, Prince William, to Miss Kate Middleton, daughter of Mr and Mrs Michael and Carole Middleton, to which union the Queen has gladly given her consent.

The couple sought the permission of their respective parents early in the New Year. Both families are thrilled at the news.

No decision has been taken yet regarding the venue and date for the wedding. However, Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton hope that it might be possible to use Westminster Abbey, in the late Summer or early Fall.

© Marilyn Braun 2007


PS: Happy April Fool's Day!

Royal memorabilia with a difference

I'm sure we've all had this problem. At the end of a trip to some far off exotic location, like the UK, we search for souvenirs that will fit into our luggage, make it past customs, and won't get thrown out by the recipient. T-Shirts, Union-Jack thongs, mugs, spoons, thimbles, the selction is endless. But what if you want to buy something different? Instead of rushing around the airport, desperately in search of the least tacky gift, why not consider these items? As an added bonus, you can shop from the comfort of your own home by convieniently ordering these gifts ahead of time.

Ever wondered about executioners blocks? This item allows you to build your own! Not only fun but educational too. Hours and hours of fun ensue as your child learns about capital punishment. "Gee, thanks Mom and Dad!"



In order to enhance the experience of that toy, why not buy a figurine of one of its most famous victims? Lady Jane Grey, the nine-days Queen, is a perfect example. You can even add Anne Boleyn to your collection. No word whether they come with detachable heads.


Charles I, Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More, and the Earl of Essex, are just some of the famous names that went to the executioners block for treason. You too can experience the thrill without the dire consequences by playing the Treason Game.



Once you have gained the Crown, why not stage your very own Coronation? No ceremony is complete without the anointing spoon. With the soundtrack playing in the background, take the solemn vows and line up your friends to pay homage to you. Holy oil sold separately.

With playing treason and hosting your own religious ceremonies, you're bound to develop an appetite. There's nothing like a dish of mussels to complete the day. Pry those suckers open in style with your very own silver mussell opener.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

The Sport of Royal Watchers

A recent Angus Reid survey revealed that 42% of Britons would prefer Prince William to succeed Queen Elizabeth II. While 36% prefer Prince Charles to succeed.

This question, usually raised during significant birthday's (such as the Queen's 80th), significant deaths (Diana), or just because, is no more than a harmless pastime for people. Especially those who do not seem to understand how the succession to the British throne works. For those who should know (such as professional royal watchers), they either genuinely don't know or choose to ignore it because it's newsworthy to discuss this non-issue.

So, let me state categorically, for the record, that barring any tragedy (i.e. should Prince Charles succumb to an unfortunate skiing, polo, gardening, or watercolor painting accident), he will succeed the Queen as the next King. No Angus Reid poll, heated message board discussions, or your personal opinion on the matter will change that. You can quote me on it and even tell people that you heard it here first. I don't mind at all.

Now, admittedly, there isn't much of a difference between the two percentages. The remaining shares are made up of people who either don't mind (15%) or don't care (7%). One would think that the amount of people who don't mind or don't care, should be significantly larger than this. After all, whether one or the other or neither suceed has no bearing on our lives. Prince William would look better on the coins and stamps, but in all honesty, that's really about the only advantage.

Should Prince William by-pass Charles, we wouldn't have to deal with questions regarding Camilla's title, Charles' suitability, and potentially the length of Charles' reign should the Queen live as long as her mother did (Note: The Queen Mother died at the age of 101). All those interesting questions would be replaced by what William and his consort will wear, maybe even whether William, depending on how young he is, is up to the job himself.

Commentators will discuss duty and the sacrifice William will make, as they did when his grandmother came to the throne at the age of 25. The beautiful princess, not yet married five years, with two small children, prematurely burdened by the weight of office. Yet, for all of this discussion, and after a long line of aged King's, people no doubt welcomed having a young and glamourous sovereign.

Maybe these redundant polls are a sign of people's focus on appearances and desire for some glamour. Prince William, bursting with vitality and his mother's looks, trumps Prince Charles regardless of his age. And unlike an elderly King, a young and handsome sovereign with a beautiful consort sells more souvenirs.

Regardless of the facts, people will still play this game. And like it or not, the answer will remain the same. So, upon the death of the Queen, long live the King.

Whoever that happens to be.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

The Kate Middleton story of the week

It seems like a week cannot go by without someone speculating/betting/predicting/announcing the imminent engagement of Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton. For royal insiders and watchers alike, it seems to be a popular pastime. With the top four royals still alive, Camilla recovering from surgery, Mary and Maxima pregnant, and Harry going to Iraq, we're starved for some news. Any news.

Now we have someone who says he's 'in the know'. Photographer Arthur Edwards claims that William himself told him that he plans to marry Kate. When and where are incidental to keeping the flame alive. But predictions come and go. Most recently there were rumours it would happen on Valentine's Day. When February 14th came and went without nary a proposal, no problem. It gives us more time to speculate about next Valentine's Day.

After all, everyone loves a royal engagement. Spring is coming, and love is in the air. When the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) married Prince Philip in 1947, the wedding gave a touch of much needed glamour after the war. Charles and Diana's 1981 engagement distracted from recession, high unemployment and chronic rioting. Prince Andrew's wedding in 1986 and Prince Edward's in 1999 were minor bright spots while waiting for Prince William to come of age.

An engagement for William, while not necessarily lifting the spirit of the nation or distracting from challenging economic times, would be...uh....cool. After all, it's been almost two years since the last wedding. Souvenir makers, dress designers, newspaper reporters, authors, photographers, stamp makers, and the Republicans wait to offer their wares. Do we ever really hear from the Republican's otherwise?

Newspapers would look for angles. Does she have a former nanny? She must have something new to add. Noted psychics will predict if the marriage will last. Astrologers chart whether William and Kate are astrologically compatable. Then there are the former paramours. Unlike Diana, she probably hasn't 'kept herself tidy for what lay ahead', but nowadays (and realistically) bridal virtue isn't a pre-requisite. Yet, it's still newsworthy to find out whether her heart was broken or whether she callously cast aside men on her path to glory.

Yes, we would get all sorts of tidbits about Kate. Some Starbucks barista would tell us about what type of coffee Kate likes to drink. Would it be a non-fat latte? If not, she needs to switch so she can fit into 'the dress'. We would hear from more of Kate's classmates and teachers. Ancestry would be traced. Cute baby pictures produced. The family would demand privacy. People would be misquoted.....

But, until and engagement is announced, that's another Kate Middleton story.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Review: Charles & Camilla: Whatever Love Means

With all of the fuss surrounding the movie 'The Queen', one would think this is the first dramatization of the royal family. In fact, it isn't. Who could forget the 1982 movie: The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana starring Catherine Oxenberg as a young and naive Diana? or the 1992 update Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After, where she reprises her role, this time as disillusioned Diana. Diana seems to be an extremely popular subject for royal movies, but what about the other side of the story?

After a long wait, finally, we have a docu-drama telling the story of Charles and Camilla! They would be impressed by it; a sympathetic portrayal and it shows them young and relatively good looking. The title of this comes from the often quoted phrase Prince Charles used during his engagement interview. When the happy couple were asked whether they were in love, Diana replied "of course", and then Charles "Whatever in love means". Did Prince Charles know this phrase would haunt him the rest of his days?

The story covers the period from when they met in 1971, until the day of Prince Charles' wedding to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. First of all, I was a bit disappointed they ended it there. Where was the Dynasty worthy confrontation of Diana and Camilla? the slow-motion flying bread-rolls? They completely missed out on all the juicy stuff which would have made this bearable to watch.

The docu-drama begins with the disclaimer: For the purpose of dramatization, some characters, events, and dialogue have been invented'. This show thereby becomes a dramatization of all of the unsubstantiated quotes attributed to Charles, Camilla, Prince Philip and other members of the family. But it's not without it's fun points. Part of the fun became predicting the lines. While watching, I was waiting for Camilla to say "My great-grandmother and your great-great-grandfather had an affair, so how about it?". The fact that they didn't fall back on this sensational chestnut appealed to me. But they don't completely avoid it. The closest they come is Camilla saying that her great-grandmother's duty was to curtsey and then get into bed. Who says romance is dead?

The character of Camilla, portrayed by Olivia Poulet, bears more than a passing resemblance to the real Camilla at the same age. Prince Charles, stiffly portrayed by Laurence Fox has the awkward mannerisms down pat. Uncle Dickie, Prince Philip, and the Queen are in the background, while Princess Anne, acting as the sardonic voice of reason, is completely bored by it all. Ah, if only we could all be so blase about ruining other people's lives!

Charles seriously considers marrying Camilla, but Camilla, as her character says, has 'no desire to be Queen'. They contemplate the ramifications of having a future together. But there are obstacles: Uncle Dickie disapproves and duty calls. Charles goes off to the navy, hoping that Camilla will wait for him. Unfortunately for Charles, in the interim, Camilla marries Andrew Parker-Bowles and starts a family. But however hard he tries, Charles can't forget Camilla.

Andrew Parker-Bowles (Simon Wilson), hardly the cuckolded husband, has his own affairs, and is happy to 'lay down his wife' for the country. Her husband's unfaithfulness sets the stage for our sympathy and understanding when an unhappy Camilla, reluctantly turns to Charles for comfort.

But there's an obstacle to their happiness: Charles has to find a wife and sire heirs. Number one on their priority list is someone who will not interfere with their affair. Sitting at a table, pen in hand, Camilla and Charles brainstorm possible spouses. After a series of unsuitable women, they find Diana, pathetically portrayed by her doppelganger Michelle Duncan. Watching Lady Diana Spencer plead with Charles about Camilla, any sympathy we might have for the main characters is lost. Especially when Charles and Camilla get ready for the wedding with melodramatic, funereal music playing in the background.

Ultimately, there were no surprises. However it was refreshing to watch something which shows some sympathy for Charles and Camilla. Fallible, but not the diabolical schemers we would be led to believe by the press.

Although no one will win an Oscar for their performances, this is recommended if you're want a brief synopsis of their love story. Royal watchers, however, may find this extremely contrived.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

With this piston...

Forget an official announcement or pictures of the ring. A true sign that Kate Middleton is closer than ever to becoming royal, is the fact that she has just bought the same make of car favored by the royal family.

Yes, yes, I know. You're wondering, if it was so easy, why didn't she just go out and buy the car earlier? What about those other young, single, passably attractive women who bought the same car before her? The ones also pining away for their prince to come. I think I know why Kate waited, patiently driving her Volkswagen Golf all this time, she didn't want to make it obvious. She wanted to play hard to get. I mean, anyone can go out and buy this car right? Sensibly, Kate has a good head on her shoulders and didn't want to be too hasty. No, maybe she looked at Nissan's or BMW's or even to please her potential father-in-law, something environmentally friendly, but she was teasing us all along.

"A powerfully bold front end, the striking, sharply broken-off rear and the wedge-shaped outline....conveys a very typical sense of dynamism - even when stationary". Yes, this could describe Kate herself. But while she may be buying the same make of car, she's steering clear of the same model. It's good to maintain one's individuality. And no doubt William will respect her for it. Will she go for the same color? It's hard to say. She's got to be careful on this, as we've seen, royalty doesn't like non-conformists.

Will she go for the three-door or five-door? Let's face it, she has to make room for the body guards, and it's a lot harder to alight gracefully while crawling out the backseat. Also, a five-door makes room for the future heirs and spares. It could lead to some rabid speculation by royal watchers, but it's practical to think long term.

But not to offend her future husband, she's shouldn't go for something faster. The royal spouse must always stay two steps behind, even if they are coughing in the dust. No, she'll never compete with him. But don't worry, she won't be alone with Prince Harry to keep her company.

It's said that she negotiated a good deal. Maybe William told her to mention him. But, it must be emphasized, not too good a deal. She has to wait until later to exercise her royal perogative.

However, if this leads to a royal wedding, it could be the best deal of all.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

The Diana Phenomenon

She married a prince and was supposed to live happily ever after. She was beautiful and misunderstood. People related to her. When she died there was an unprecedented outpouring of grief.

Why?

10 years after her death Diana still makes news. One could say it's a phenomenon. It's fashionable to say one doesn't understand it. To admit you've been sucked in gives others the chance to take the high ground to your naivete and delusions. Trying to explain her appeal can be compared to explaining the enduring fascination of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean or even Elvis Presley. Regardless of whether you were a fan, it's inexplicable. It's possible that it will always be so. No matter how many tell-all books are written or tv specials made, we will never have the definitive answer. We don't want to. What would we talk about then? Because she's no longer alive, what else do we have?

True, Diana may not have been perfect. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the world and she was no saint. Nor should we have ever claimed that she was. To insist on that takes her appeal to the extreme. In my opinion, we elevate Diana, like movie stars and musicians, to a level that we could never possibly obtain in our lifetime. We need to see someone reach that level so that we can envy them and then have the satisfaction of tearing them down. Like the firing squad member with the blank cartridge in their gun, it's human nature and in our case, because we didn't know her, we haven't hurt anyone directly. Yet, we will still buy the newspapers so that we can read how someone else did the job for us.

Some might ask, does Diana has some deep and significant cultural resonance? It's arguable. But in my opinion, she did. Maybe not deep but she continues to resonate because people related to her. To the point where, when she died, people felt they had lost a member of their family. They grieved publicly, in a way that might not otherwise have been appropriate were it their own kin. An estimated 2.5 billion people watched her funeral. Countless bouquets of flowers and poems were left at Kensington Palace. Today, for a fee, we can visit her grave at her ancestral home. It's as close as some of us will ever get to her.

During the week leading up to the funeral, it was impossible to avoid hearing about her. From the day she died there was blanket coverage. The only way to escape was to turn off the tv, radio and hide in your home. Still, had you tried to carry on as normal, there were people talking about it. Headlines of 'Diana Dead', couldn't help but grab your attention. The press at the time ignored her human qualities. People didn't want to hear about that at the time; it would have canceled out the fact that people were indeed grieving for her. Whether genuine or simply a domino effect of the media coverage, it's hard to define why people responded the way they did. Some might be embarassed by their reaction and deny it. Today we still don't understand it.

The Diana phenomenon has taken on a life of its own, to the point where it doesn't seem to have anything to do with her, as a person, any longer. And why should it? For people who buy the books, visit her grave, and idolize her, the reality of her life is irrelevant. People may judge such fans ill-informed, but ultimately, does it really do anyone any harm?

I don't think so. But then maybe I'm one of the ill-informed.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

This article was inspired by a post on the World of Royalty message board.

My Favorite Royal Books

I have an extensive collection of books on the royal family. One look at my bookcases, floors and and bedside table, you will note that my tastes are anything but highbrow. I prefer informative, easy to understand books with nice pictures. So, to prove this point, I thought I would compile a short list of my favorite books. As a helpful aside, you can click on the titles to order them.

The Royal encyclopediaThe authoritative book of the Royal Family - Edited by Ronald Allison and Sarah Riddell. Sometimes the word for word source for Wikipedia articles this A to Z book covers Abbey Court, Holyroodhouse to Zoological Gardens, Regent Park and everything in between. 632 pages of royal information, no royal collection is complete without it. If you don't have it, then too bad for you. So rare, I can't even locate a picture of it. Suffice to say that it's heavy, has the title in gold letters and a nice close up of the Imperial State Crown. Some would say it's wine colored...Merlot?..Bordeaux?..oh never mind.


Queen Victoria's Family: A Century of Photographs by Charlotte Zeepvat. I love old photos and this book is chock-full of them. I'm surprised my copy isn't dog eared for all of the time I've..uhh..spent "reading" it. For me, one very interesting aspect of this book is watching various descendants grow from babies to old age.


The Complete Idiot's Guide to British Royalty A good standby, this book has rescued me from many a confused look when someone asks me a serious question about the relevance of the royal family and what they actually do. Hopefully the recently published The British Monarchy For Dummies will fill in any blanks and cover me in all awkward situations.


Tsar: The Lost World of Nicholas and Alexandraby Peter Kurth. Beyond the connection to the Brit's, the Russian royal family is not my forte. This book has beautiful pictures of the various palaces, and the royal family before it all went horribly wrong. The last chapter details the discovery of the Romanov remains and the process to authenticate them. It also has a modern day section on DNA analysis and attempts to answer the question: Was Anna Anderson the Grand Duchess Anastasia?


The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II: Her Personal Collection by Leslie Field.This is one of my all-time favorite books. Authorized by Buckingham Palace it details the collection of Her Majesty The Queen. Broken down by type of stone, it has gorgeous photos of tiaras, brooches, necklaces, bracelets, along with the history behind these pieces.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Celebration of Her Majesty's Fifty-Year Reign
by Tim Graham. Released to coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Want to know where the Queen gets her shoes, hats, and coats made? Information on the endless round of engagements the Queen performs? How the Garden Parties are organized? Released in 2002 to coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations, this wonderful book tells you about this and much much more!

I could list many many more, but that's another article!

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Prince William, just step up to the plate already!

Good grief!

I'm tired of hearing about Kate Middleton's fashion sense, awful (yet significant and prophetic)high school plays where she plays a maiden accepting the proposal of her teenage co-star dressed up as a prince. How Kate will/might/wants/doesn't want to be the future queen of England.

William, will you propose already?

That way we can all get on with our lives.

Sure you may still be young, and have your whole life ahead of you, but think of all of us royal watchers on the edge of our seats. All of us, who in the absence of a royal death, wait for some real news. You've dated for four years, surely you've kept Kate and the rest of us, waiting for long enough. Why, Kate's practically put her life on hold. Poor girl. Luckily you're a prince, otherwise Kate might have moved on long ago.

Forget that this is the most important decision of your life. Or, one of them, should you decide to abdicate and leave it all behind. Forget precedent, that you parent's marriage failed, and the Duke of Windsor lived unhappily in exile. We'll remind you about that later at the first sign of trouble.

As your grandfather said to your father: "Get on with it". So that we can start speculating on when/if Kate gets pregnant. After the blessed arrival, you'll be expected to go on foreign tours. Come to Canada, we love the royal family. Propose for the Republicans, so that they can complain about how much it costs to maintain both of you. Ignore them while we talk about how fashionable Kate is, how beautiful she looks, and how she spends too much money.

Why, you're practically keeping the souvenir industry on stand-by. Think of all the workers, just waiting to make tacky oven mitts. Don't disappoint them. What about those of us waiting to buy these collectors items? Let's talk about the fashionistas. Your mother single-handedly revitalized the milliner, ruffled blouse, pearl choker making industries. Then there are the designers, known and unknown, vying for the chance to make Kate's wedding dress.

Oh think of the professional royal watchers! Penny Junor and Brian Hoey need something to write about; they can only re-hash revelations about the Queen for so long. Why, we haven't heard from Paul Burrell in a while, have we? He can tell us all about what Diana would have thought. He will throw in some sage words of advice about the perils of royal life and what fork to use.

William, what are you waiting for? More medals on the uniform you'll wear on your wedding day? Your Dad can lend you some. You can't possibly be too busy. Yes, you're in the military. True, you've got causes to highlight, token high profile positions in various organizations to occupy and polo to play. But still. What's that William? The concert for your mother? You've got people to organize that for you, so it's not like you're going to be hands on involved with putting up the stage and collecting tickets. No excuses.

What about ME? I need something to write about don't I? I can't keep writing informative royal profiles on forgotten members of the royal family and hangers on. I had so much fun satirizing Camilla's wedding to your father. I could recycle all of these ideas instead of just shamelessly linking to them. All my suggestions for wedding venues, gifts, Camilla's title, not to mention the good advice proffered. It could all be yours if you just get down on one knee and say those four crucial words.

We're waiting William....

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Is Prince William a style icon?

We know that Kate Middleton is being lauded for her sense of style. But what about Prince William? Sure, he's good looking and when the occasion calls for it, he cleans up well in a bespoke suit, but is he really a style icon? Let's review the evidence.

Most recently we've watched Prince William pass out of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was impressive in his uniform. But the question on the minds royal watchers and fashionista's alike: Did that black uniform do him justice? The answer is a resounding yes!Admirably showing off his toned waist, he decided to accessorize with a rifle, red sash and the Sovereign's banner.

Yes, black seems to be his color. He looked especially smart in his silk university graduation gown. But he doesn't shy away from brighter colors. Like his father before him, he has shown that from an early age, he can wear such classics as the 160 year old royal christening gown.

Although William looked great in his uniform, not everyone can pull this look off. William's height works to his advantage, but like the rest of us, he works with what he's got. However, that shiny token medal on his uniform can't detract from the thinning spot on the back of his head. He effortlessly drew attention away from this by wearing the mandatory hat. But let's face it, he can't do that forever. Luckily last year's trend continues and thanks to Howie Mandel, bald is still beautiful.

Despite this, he plays up his assets: flawless skin, good muscle definition and blue eyes; the color of two deep pools of Tide laundry detergent. You'll feel cleaner just staring into them. From his first appearance leaving the hospital as a blanket clad bundle in his mother's arms, to last summer's chili pepper swim shorts, William's outfits are always climate appropriate. Wearing military fatigues, his face covered in mud, he exudes an air of elegance.

One must be tempted to ask: where does he get his sense of style? It's inevitable that he will be compared to his father - who, in 1952, at the age of four, was voted one of the 'World's Ten Best Dressed Men'. It runs in the family. In 1929, his grandmother made the cover of Time Magazine by 'setting the babe fashion for yellow'. William himself used to set trends as a child, wearing his silk baby rompers and toddler snowsuit. More recently he made the Vanity Fair 2006 International Best Dressed list.

But while William may be in good company, he still stands out in a crowd. Unlike the rest of us, William is lucky, he has the fashion accessory everyone is talking about: Kate Middleton. Indeed, fashion wise he has yet to put a foot wrong. Things can only go up from here.

Verdict: Prince William is the style icon to watch for 2007.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Beautiful Kate?

A recent post on a message board that I frequent, asked the question: Why does everyone call Kate Middleton beautiful? Food for thought and I was about to reply on the site. Instead I decided to post my reply here.

There have been many comparisons made between Prince William's girlfriend Kate Middleton and his mother Diana. Regardless of who Prince William dates, this is inevitable. If this keeps William up at night, we'll never know. Should he worry about it, he's in good company. Prince Albert of Monaco, no doubt holds the same concern; his future wife will be compared to his mother, the late (and in her youth, impossibly beautiful) Princess Grace of Monaco. Whether this would be the case for William's wife or not, it's a tough act to follow.

The comparisons are mainly in looks and style. In all reality, Kate looks nothing like Diana. And neither is prettier than the other. Sophie is actually closer in appearance to Diana, yet the comparisons died quickly when it turned out she didn't have the same fashion sense or high profile to warrant it.

Since Diana died, my theory, is that the royal family needs a new 'star' and for the media, someone to sell newspapers. Not a star that will steal the thunder of the more senior royals, but someone who will bring glamour and interest back. Something the royals are severely lacking at the moment. Apologies to Princess Beatrice and Zara Philips.

Kate is being built up in the media. Sold to us, if you will. The anti-Diana, mentally stable, she's the one person that can save the monarchy. It's a lot to live up to. Ask Prince William, he should know all about it. If things don't work out for Kate, no need to worry, William's next girlfriend will save the day.

I tend to agree that Kate is pretty but not drop dead-gorgeous. At least not yet. She seems to have become more polished since entering the public eye. At this rate, the longer she remains Prince William's girlfriend (or should she become his wife), she'll be shinier than the Crown Jewels. But the same could be said for the other European crown princesses. Would we have looked twice at Mette-Marit of Norway were it not for her marriage to Prince Haakon? Or even Maxima of the Netherlands or Mary of Denmark? Out of all of them, I think Mathilde of Belgium is the most beautiful. Feel free to disagree with me on that.

When Diana came on the scene, people were surprised that Charles could be involved with someone so plain and unremarkable. Especially when he was previously dating stunning blondes. At the time we knew nothing about Camilla. Indeed, one early book describes Diana as 'handsome'. Other books, like Diana - A Portrait, mention her 'star quality', that special something that she always had. Looking at pictures of her before her marriage, I honestly don't see it. I think that Diana became beautiful because she was built up in the media, so then she started to believe it. Because of this, Diana had an image to maintain. Yes, she may have been vain but marrying someone with almost unlimited resources would make anyone become high maintenance.

So, whatever your thoughts on Kate Middleton or whether she becomes a member of the royal family, one thing is certain - to quote Benjamin Franklin:

Beauty, like supreme dominion, is but supported by opinion

© Marilyn Braun 2007

This article was inspired by a post on the World of Royalty message board.