The Camilla Non-issue

It's almost predictable.At every major royal event, you could set your watch by it.

In the absence of any real news, the subject of Camilla is bound to come up. Camilla can't possibly have a 60th birthday without the issue of what her title will be once Charles becomes king. The upcoming Diana memorial needs an injection of Camilla in order to gain some type of momentum. Will she attend? Won't she attend? According to the media, Camilla is terrified and she should feel guilty about Diana. One thing is clear, if she attends or doesn't attend, the media won't let her win either way.

So far Prince Harry wisely defused the Camilla issue by stating that she's wonderful. Prince William has been seen kissing her and greeting her warmly. He also deftly announced that the older guard had been banned from attending the Concert for Diana - thus ending the issue of where to seat Charles, Camilla and the Queen, but inadvertently focusing us on Kate Middleton instead. The Queen has been seen smiling at Camilla and loaning her priceless jewels. Everyone of importance seems to like Camilla, why can't we let it drop?

While we can't change what the media will do, let's take a look at the cold, hard reality of these supposed Camilla issues:

Camilla's present title and her future title when Charles becomes king

This is the most popular non-issue for royal watchers. No doubt we will hear about this for some time and no amount of official clarification will change that. Camilla's present title is H.R.H. The Duchess of Cornwall. Yes, legally she is Princess of Wales but she has chosen to be known as Duchess of Cornwall instead. A wise move to appease people who choose to live in the past. But had she chosen to take the title, so what? The title of Princess of Wales did not die with Diana. If this were the case, the title should have died with one of the 8 women who held it before her.

When Charles becomes King, she's chosen to be known as H.R.H. The Princess Consort. Yes, once again, for traditionalists she will be Queen. But she doesn't want to be called that. It may be hard for us to accept, but that's our problem now isn't it?

The marriage of Charles, Diana and Camilla.

Yes, there were three people in the marriage of Charles and Diana. Regardless of when the affair started, whether it never ended, Camilla was the third person and we can't change that. Hasn't she been raked over the coals long enough?

Camilla and the family jewels

Yes, Camilla is starting to wear the family jewels. And why shouldn't she? She would look a tad under dressed at State Dinners otherwise. People look to this as a sign of acceptance, when it's a non-issue. Someone should wear them. Why should these jewels languish in the vaults to appease us?

Camilla's life as a royal.

Camilla is doing well in her new role and Charles looks happy, truly happy, for once in his life. We know very little about Camilla as a person, so how could we have predicted, one way or the other, how she would cope as a royal? She may not have the same glamour as Diana but there's no point comparing them. Let's give Camilla a chance to make her own mark as a royal.

The death of Diana

Diana is dead. Last time I checked, she is still dead. Charles and Camilla, and the rest of the royal family are not responsible for her death. There's no point in trying to make Charles and Camilla feel guilty or assign blame to anyone. Time to move on.

The discussion of these non-issues have become a sport akin to the non-issue of whether Charles should become king. Ultimately, can we really blame royal commentators for using these subjects to fill time during their coverage of royal events? Not really. There's more mileage in speculation than in the truth. We definitely haven't heard the last of these non-issues.

So when the next big royal event happens, set your watch.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Royal Profile: Tim Graham

Tim Graham has been photographing the royal family over 30 years. He may not be as well known a photographer as Patrick Lichfield or Snowdon . And you may not recognize him but, chances are, if you follow the royal family, you've seen his work.

He started his career working as an assistant in a Fleet Street picture agency and slowly started taking over photographic assignments, including the royal family. However, his career as a royal photographer got off to a shaky start when he covered the Queen Mother's arrival at an engagement. He had shown up early to get a prime position. and 'as she stepped from her car and I went to take the picture, I found to my dismay that my flash did not fire. My not-very-well-stifled grown alerted the Queen Mother and she stopped to ask if I would like to take another shot. I was eighteen years old, just started in the job, and it is an incident I have never forgotten.' He worked for several years on Fleet Street, and after three years as a staff photographer with the Daily Mail, he left to become a freelancer in 1978.

A love of travelling sparked his interest in photographing the royal family. In 1968 he covered the first of many royal tours, when the Queen and Princess Anne visited Austria. Since then he has traveled with the royal family to over a hundred countries. His photographs have appeared in every major magazine, newspaper, on stamps, TV documentaries, posters, and he has won on several occasions, the Martini award for best royal photograph of the year. Such is his reputation that he has been invited to take official photographs. In 1982 he took the official 18th birthday photographs of Prince Edward, and in 1983 the Prince and Princess of Wales chose him to photograph them with Prince William ahead of their Australian tour. In 1987 he took the official photograph's of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip for their 40th wedding anniversary.

More recently he was invited by the Queen, in her Golden Jubilee year, to photograph her and the other six reigning monarchs of Europe at Windsor Castle. This photograph was historic as it is only the second time in a hundred years that such a gathering has taken place. He considers this photograph to be the most difficult he has ever taken: ‘Dreading the prospect of having to direct Your Majesty and His Majesty and Her Majesty, I was relieved to find that, having had such photographs taken on countless occasions during their reigns, the monarchs needed very little directing.'

He is the author of several books, including: On the Royal Road - A decade of photographing the Royal Family, Diana - H.R.H The Princess of Wales, In Private, In Public: The Prince and Princess of Wales, Jubilee - A Celebration of 50 years of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. His book Diana, Princess of Wales A Tribute and William to mark the Prince's 21st birthday have been on the best-seller lists.

He lives in London with his wife Eileen and his two children, Lucy and Tom.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Royal Review: Diana, An Amazing Life

In my quest to buy anything Diana related, this will be my year. In the 10th anniversary of her death, a deluge of books, magazines and events will commemorate her life and call my name. This book is one of them.

It beckoned me, but I have complaints. The slick silver cover shows finger prints easily. For someone who collects these types of books, having to wipe it clean after every perusal is frustrating. I've almost given up in trying. My second complaint is that the spine and the introduction erroneously say 'Princess Diana'. While I understand that referring to her as 'Princess Diana' is shorthand for her real title, it's still wrong. For the record, her title during her marriage was HRH The Princess of Wales. After her divorce it was Diana, Princess of Wales.

This 192 page volume spans the 16 years of Diana's royal life from 1981 to her death in 1997. Celebrating her life in 42 covers - the most appearances of anyone before or since. While this may sound impressive, you really need to remember that People is a weekly magazine, not a monthly one. She made the cover sometimes only once a year and averaging no more than twice a year. In 1985 she appears 4 times. In 1989 she doesn't appear at all. In 1992, the year of the separation, she appears a whopping 7 times. Overall the editors of People may want to look at the archives of the monthly Majesty magazine before they brag about this record.

Like most of these books, it shows her evolution from a shy, kindergarten teacher to royal superstar, in a varying degree of photogenic photos and as the fairy tale ended, suitably morose ones. Each issue is presented in a two page synopsis of the main points. The happily ever after pronouncements, birth of Prince William, apocalyptic royal feuds, glamorous fashions, the strain Diana causes on Princes Charles and the birth of Prince Harry. All in the first 53 pages. Having covered all of the real or imagined inter-family conflicts, People then moves to analysing the marriage itself. In sensational headlines, People reports on the coping, moping, Diana's mental stability, her lonliness, their separate lives, and the heartbreak as the fairy-tale ends. Should we have any doubt about the situation, the cover of the November 30th, 1992 issue proclaims 'It's Over', before the December 9th, 1992 official announcement. But it doesn't end there. People reports on Diana's daring new life as a strong, independant woman, her lovers, the battle for her boys and 'Di-vorce!' Her 1997 death earns another two covers.

According to the introduction, 'the goal of this book isn't to analyze her life, but to re-create...something of what those 16 years felt like'. In my opinion, it has suceeded. I couldn't help but be swept up in the happy events, mesmerized by her glamour, and given pause by her tragic ending. While this book is no different from any other commemorative magazine about Diana, I recommend it for any collector.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Click here to order Diana: An Amazing Life

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Royal Review: A Dress for Diana

Okay, I admit it. I have a mission to buy every book ever written about Diana. So when I read that this book was coming out, there was no way it wouldn't end up in my collection. I love royal weddings and I also love seeing behind the scenes. This book combines both, making it the ultimate look at the making of a fairytale.

A wedding dress is usually the centerpiece of any wedding and Diana's was no exception. Anyone who watched the 1981 wedding of Charles and Diana will remember 'The Dress'. With its 25 foot train, still the longest on royal record, it is arguably the most famous royal wedding dress in history.

From Diana's tentative phone call to the designers, to her post-wedding thank you note, A Dress for Diana details the remarkable journey the unknown young designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, went through in order to produce it. Pictures of the process: the fresh faced designers, the inspirations, original sketches, hands embroidering fabric, the flowers, shoes and close-ups of the intricate details. It's all there courtesy of the Emanuel's archives.

While many designers of royal wedding dresses have experienced fleeting fame (Lindka Cierach, anyone?) the Emanuel's will always have a place in history. Not only for designing her wedding dress but also for creating the infamous strapless black dress that Diana wore to her first official evening engagement with Prince Charles. Beginning with these striking fashion statements, the Emanuel's would continue to make evening dresses for Diana throughout her official royal life.

Today, Diana's wedding dress can be seen on display at her ancestral home, Althorp. And it recently formed part of the Diana, A Celebration travelling exhibit. While nothing can compare to actually seeing the dress in person, this book is the next best thing.

Click on the link to order A Dress for Diana.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Photo of the dress exhibit courtesy of the Althorp website

My quest to prove I'm not royal

Some may look at me and think I've got something special about me. A certain je ne sais quoi. While I do have a picture of a princess on my profile (Princess Grace of Monaco), most people wouldn't mistake me for royalty in real life. At least that's what I thought. Yet the rumours persist. I've been unlucky in having the burden of people think I'm royalty. It's hard, it really is.

I don't remember when it started. It's always been there. As a baby my ears protruded. Maybe I shouldn't have dressed up as a princess for Halloween. Wearing a tiara at my wedding and pretending to do the royal wave didn't help. To this day people comment on my blue veins. Lab technicians say it's normal. But yet people persist in seeing this as evidence of my blue blood. Rest assured, I put my pantyhose on one leg at a time.

So recently I found a lawyer who was only too happy to take on my case. I've had to go to court, to prove that, in fact, those pictures of Princess Margaret circa 1972 do not show me in utero. It's just some middle age girth. It's so tiring to prove, time after time, that no, I'm not royalty. I produced childhood pictures of me that she didn't take.I presented my birth certificate to prove those are the names of my real parents. The judge ended up throwing the case out of court due to overwhelming lack of evidence. My hope is that this post will, ultimately establish the truth.

You will not find me anywhere on the family tree. I've even gone to Buckingham Palace for help, but they refuse to officially deny it. I don't want money. I don't want to be in line for the throne. I don't want wills to be unsealed. Wearing some of the jewels might be nice on occasion but all I want is for the rumours to stop.

For the record, I'm not a member of the royal family and I've never claimed to be. Please stop this insanity before it gets out of hand. Before the press latch on to my story. Before I start to question my own sanity.

Please.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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

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Royal Focus: The Spencer Family Tiara

Out of the almost 200 posts I've made on this blog, my article Jewels fit for a Queen is the most popular. In fact, anything on royal jewellery, particularly tiaras, seems to be a popular subject. Not a day goes by where someone doesn't find my site by searching for those terms.

Although worn by several Spencer women, this tiara is most associated with Diana, Princess of Wales. Worn most famously at her wedding in 1981 as her something borrowed. She also wore it all through her official life as a member of the royal family, for state banquets, openings of Parliament, and diplomatic receptions. Diana regarded this tiara as her 'spare', the other being the Lover's Knot Tiara, which she received as a wedding gift from the Queen.. Throughout the later part of her married life, she wore the Spencer tiara more often, taking pride in her Spencer heritage, and also because it wasn't as heavy as the Lover's Knot tiara.

Mounted in gold in the form of scrolling tulips and star shaped flowers, it is decorated with diamonds in silver settings. It has been reported that this tiara is a family heirloom from the eighteenth century, but this is a misconception. Instead, it is a composite of several elements. Of the entire tiara, only two elements at the end are old, and are said to have come from a tiara owned by Frances, Viscountess Montagu and left to Lady Sarah Spencer in 1875. The tiara is thought to have been made in 1767, but the style suggests the 1830s. The central element was a wedding gift from Lady Sarah Spencer to Cynthia, Viscountess Althorp (Diana's grandmother) in 1919. In the 20th century, it was remounted and four other elements were made to match it.

Along with Diana, some of the other brides to wear it on their wedding day include Diana's sister Lady Jane Fellowes in 1978, and Victoria Lockwood, the first wife of her brother Charles Spencer, in 1989.

© Marilyn Braun 2007


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.

For Sale: G.I. Wales

He's handsome, educated, and he's a prince. Whether it's pushing paperclips in London, repelling down a mountain, or defending his mother's honor, he's the action man, in touch with his emotions, for the new millenium.

And for $29.95 CDN he can be yours!

Waiting for your prince to come? Now you can buy one! Impress your friends, stun your family and earn curious looks with the ultimate royal collectors item.

Need a date for a wedding? no problem! Dress him up in a suit and he's ready to go. Portable, at 12-inches long, you can walk confidently into any social situation knowing that you're with the most handsome man in the room. Prop him up beside you at the bar and you're guaranteed to fend off unwanted attention.

A trendsetter since birth, he comes with chili-pepper swim trunks. Fun in the sun takes on a whole new meaning as you frolic on the beach with your prince. He also comes with a tweed suit, degree, and honorary medal.*

Do you like Royal Weddings? Hold your own with the Kate Middleton action figure. Or just pretend what could have been. This deal won't last!

Order now and we'll throw in the Matt Lauer action figure!

Operators are standing by!


* Polo horse, paperclips, Kate Middleton action figures sold separately.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Will Kate Middleton become a royal footnote?

Recent reports indicate that Prince William and Kate Middleton are back together. Earlier in the year, speculation was rife that an engagement between the two was imminent and like pre-engagement Diana, Kate was hounded by the media. When the news broke on April 13th, 2007 that they were no longer an item, it sent shock waves through the media and royal message boards. There were many theories on why they broke-up, some of the reasons included: she wasn't aristocratic, the media pressure was too much, or that William wanted to concentrate on his military career and didn't want to settle down. Some even went as far as to theorize that they never broke up at all. That this was a clever ruse on their part to buy some time.

Despite this break-up, the media interest in Kate hasn't ended. And it's becoming increasingly apparent that, regardless of how she feels about it, Kate Middleton isn't going to join the royal-ex files anytime soon. But while Kate is hot now, will this always be the case? Looking at the romantic histories of royalty in the past century, some royal exes have been more famous, in their day, than others: Lilly Langtry, Alice Keppel (great-grandmother of Camilla), the actress Sarah Berhardt, Freda Dudley Ward, Lady Furness, Koo Stark, Roddy Llewellyn, and Peter Townsend. Ultimately, if Kate ends up there, she's in good company.

Included in this group are the ex-girlfriends of Prince Charles. In his heyday, Prince Charles was considered to be one of the most eligible bachelors in the world. He only had to stand beside a woman, or have a woman stand beside him, in order to be linked with her. The names of those he supposedly sowed his wild oats with seemed to go on and on: Sabrina Guinness, Lady Jane Welleslley, Anna Wallace, Camilla Shand (now his second wife), Amanda Knatchbull, Susan George, and Lady Sarah Spencer (sister of Diana, Princess of Wales). But unlike those other women, when Lady Diana Spencer showed up on the scene, the media fell in love with her - and so began our sixteen year love affair with her too. His previous girlfriends were summarily relegated to obscurity. With the exception of Camilla, where are they now?

Also regarded as one of the most eligible bachelors in the world, William doesn't seem to have had as many girlfriends, so Kate may have the advantage or disadvantage of being the first serious one. Ever since pictures of her appeared walking down a runway modelling a diaphanous outfit, she was news. During his university days, William and Kate were able to keep their relationship somewhat private. Certainly there were articles praising her fashion sense, Hello Magazine profiles, and photogenic pictures of her looking demure, yet with a knowing smile, but it was tame in comparison to what happened once they graduated.

So are they back together? What is so special about Kate? Why is she any more remarkable for her ordinariness than we are? Dating/Having dated a prince helps. But trying to pinpoint exactly what makes Kate unique is like trying to define ourselves in one word. Regardless of her future with William, does she have the staying power to become more than a royal footnote?

Time will tell.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Diana's Childhood

While I enjoyed the Concert for Diana, my absolute favorite moment came at the end, when footage of Diana as a child was played. This footage is also shown as you enter the Diana, A Celebration exhibit. Knowing how her story ends, this footage is very poignant.









© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Was the Concert for Diana about Diana?

On Sunday July 1st I sat, almost, rivited to the TV, watching the Concert for Diana. It looked like a great and wonderful event. But after a while I started to wonder.

What exactly is this concert about?

Is it about celebrating the life of Diana? Yes.

Is it about great music from people I've never heard of? Yes indeed.

Is it about raising money for the charities chosen by Prince William and Prince Harry. Yes, and good for them.

Is it about the chance for me to yell at my TV as the commentators got the royals mixed up? I always enjoy that but no.

Listening to the commentators after a while, I got the impression that, on the face of it, the first three were the main points. But one issue seemed to consume the reporters after a while. And that was the attendance of Kate Middleton. Despite the break-up, Kate put on a brave face and seemed to enjoy the show. Sometimes the camera caught her animatedly talking with her brother, sometimes it caught her looking serious as she watched people that, maybe she'd never heard about either. The important point was, she was there. What did it mean?

Unlike Chelsy, who had pride of place beside Prince Harry, Kate did not sit with William, she sat about two or three rows back from him. This seating arrangement was poured over by reporters, who tried to imbue this with significance. How else to fill their time between sets? Every wistful or affectionate glance at the back of William's head. Every non-glance from William. Did they make eye-contact? Did they talk to each other? Why is she sitting so far from him? Are they back together? If so, is this just a ruse on their part to fool us? Unqualified to speculate and lucky to get anyone's name right, the CTV commentator managed to corrall the ubiquitous Ingrid Seward for help. A big fish to catch on his part. If anything, wouldn't she know something? Alas she could not shed any light on the meaning or lack of meaning of this turn of events. One wonders what they would have done had Kate not been there? Maybe that would have been significant to them too.

Personally I was surprised to see her there. I was also surprised to see where she was seated. Her spot beside William filled by a far less attractive male friend. But there was no royal pecking order here. Sitting just behind a group of unfamiliar, homely girls - who must have won a contest in order to be there - yet in front of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Kate looked like she'd been left out in the cold. Sure she had her family with her, no doubt for moral support, but still. Couldn't William have made some sort of show of it. Perhaps a consolation prize placement, down the row, beside Peter Philips? Either way people would have talked, but Kate might have looked less forlorn. Everytime the camera focused on her, I felt for her, I truly did.

So what do we make of this? What should we make of this? In the grand scheme of things does it really matter? So many rhetorical questions. But one real question comes to mind.

Was the Concert for Diana about Diana? Yes, I guess it was about that too.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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The Royal Watcher on CBC Newsworld

Today I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Andrew Nichols on CBC Newsworld about Princes William and Harry and the Concert for Diana.



With Permission of CBC Newsworld. Thank you to Andrea at the CBC.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

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What if Diana had lived?

But had she lived through years more of controversial love affairs, marriages, more divorces...and the decline of her beauty, society would perhaps have grown cynical about its princess. Her funeral - in the year 2000 and something - might have been a minor and depressing event. As it was, through such a premature death, the aura she had magically generated in sixteen years remained untarnished, intact into the afterlife.

Diana, an English rose by Susan Maxwell Skinner & Anwar Hussein

A new book, called Lady D, by Isabelle Rivère and Caroline Babert, asks the question, What would Diana's life have been like had she lived?

Ultimately, I believe that this premise is an exercise in futility. What would have happened had King Edward VIII not abdicated, John F. Kennedy not been assassinated, or the catastrophe of September 11th not occurred. We'll never know, but life goes on. The death of Diana did happen. With the supposed 'spiral of self-destruction' she went through in her last summer, some might say it was inevitable.

In the year that marks the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, some will feel nostalgic, some will make a note of it, and many won't care. Had she lived it's more than likely that, over time, less and less people would have cared. Without the restraint of Princess Grace, the class of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, or the elegance of Princess Alexandra of Denmark (now Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg), Diana's life would have become somewhat sad over time. Despite paying lip-service to forgiving Prince Charles, the game of one-upmanship would have continued, with Diana pathetically trying to grab headlines in any way she could.

The tell-all books from the likes of Paul Burrell and Simone Simmons - no longer posthumous - would have been postponed. With the cachet of being an insider, Diana was much more valuable to them alive. But like Sarah, Duchess of York, Diana might have created her own cottage industry as a patron of various charities, a foundation in her name, a guest editor of fashion magazines, writing forwards for books or even writing a few books of her own.

It's nice to think that Diana was blossoming and it seems, coming into her own. She was steering two young men towards their destiny. While unlucky in love, the tide might have turned. Like Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, had she chosen to return to private life, it might even have been possible to find happiness. The list of lives she could have touched, causes she could have highlighted, good she could have done is endless, and sad to think about.

Could Diana have changed the world? Could she have lived happily ever after?

Because of August 31, 1997, we'll never know.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Like royal books? Visit Marilyn's Royal Bookstore!

Question: Is Prince Harry ready to rule?

Should Prince William not be able to fulfill his role as the King of England, what preparation has Prince Harry had that would qualify him to reign?

In the royal family, there is a precedent of the second son succeeding the throne. I'm sure there are lots of examples of this being so* but two men who immediately come to mind are King George V and his son, King George VI. Neither of these men expected, or likely anticipated that they would become kings.

The future King George V, Prince George, Duke of York, became heir to the throne after his older brother, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale died unexpectedly at the age of 28. Prince George had been pursuing a military career, which was regarded as the most suitable occupation for the second son. Prince Albert Victor, at the time of his death third-in-line for the throne, was to be married a month later to Princess May of Teck, but he died on January 14th, 1892. Prince George then became heir, and in time 'inherited' his brother's fiance, the future Queen Mary.

Unlike his future son, Prince Albert, King George V had plenty of time to adapt to his new role before he himself became king in 1910. His own father, King Edward VII, despite being the longest serving heir to the throne - 59 years, had little training himself, as his mother Queen Victoria didn't allow him access to her papers. Despite this, King Edward VII went on to become a successful monarch who gave his name to an era. During his reign, King Edward VII made certain that his son was well trained when the time came for him to succeed.

King George V had five sons and one daughter, Edward - Prince of Wales, Albert - Duke of York, Mary - Princess Royal, George - Duke of Kent, Henry - Duke of Gloucester, and John - who died as a child. Edward had been destined to be king from birth and he eventually would succeed the throne in 1936 upon the death of his father. However, Edward decided to abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson and his brother, Albert - who was seen as a rather unlikely candidate for the throne, became King George VI in the same year (incidently 1936 is known as the year of three kings). King George VI wasn't nearly as well trained as his father had been but he eventually became a good king. As the father of the present Queen, he ensured that she had the best possible training for her future role.

While it's hard to ignore precedent, I doubt that Prince Harry would have the same type of training. Is he qualified? Yes - from the moment of his birth. There really isn't anything that defines what criteria makes a good monarch. You'd be hard pressed to find a career counsellor who could tell you. Should something unfortunate happen to William, hopefully Harry will have plenty of time to adapt to his new role. He could have no better instructor than his grandmother.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

* if anyone knows of other examples, feel free to comment.

Diana the Cover Girl

It's no surprise that on the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, there will be an onslaught of magazines covers. When she was alive she could significantly boost readership. Even after her death, Diana is still making covers, possesing a longevity Maxim girls would envy. It's guaranteed that Majesty Magazine, Royalty Monthly, Hello and People will feature her. Good Housekeeping and TV Guide have already had her on the cover. The Special edition TV Guide, eschewing its normal subject in favor of a magazine packed with photos and blurbs, but no upcoming Diana tv shows. But what other magazines could jump on the bandwagon?


Sports Illustrated: Diana, her life through sport.


Skeptic Magazine: Is Diana still alive?


The American Journal of Medicine: Diana - still curing waiting room malaise


Rolling Stone: Ex-Wife, Mother, Music lover. Will Duran Duran's career ever be the same?


UFO Digest: Connecting with Diana in the afterlife.


Maxim: Diana - just because she looks nice.


Better Homes & Gardens: How Diana changed the floral industry.


Popular Photography: Diana - Just because we can.


Travel + Leisure: Hot spots Diana loved


British Journalism Review: Diana - What do we write about now?


And my personal favorite:


Gun World: Diana Memorabilia - Defending your right to collect.


© Marilyn Braun 2007

Happy Birthday Prince William!

Prince William was born 25 years ago today. I was 10 years old and I remember hearing about his birth on the radio.

NOTE: Okay, well then, this video has been removed from youtube. Too bad, it was actually nice to go down memory lane. Couldn't they have waited until the 22nd to do this? ;)

Oh well, Happy Birthday to Prince William anyways!



This video isn't as 'poignant' as the other one but it has some nice photos.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Lilibet's Royal Blog

June 1, 2007

Now that I have an email address, a website and I can use a cell phone, I've decided to start my own royal blog. I was going to call it 'The Adventures of Lilibet' or 'I'm the Queen' but I thought the first one was too long and the second too presumptuous - even though it's completely true - I AM the Queen. Anyways, after much thought I've decided on Lilibet's Royal Blog.

I must be crazy to do this, with all of my endless engagements, correspondence, Openings of Parliament, Trooping the Color, etc. But I thought I would give it a go. Wish me luck!


June 5, 2007

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Been busy with the ruling thing and all. Today I had a dress fitting and sat for a portrait. I'm completely exhausted.


June 10, 2007

Philip's 86th birthday today. It's so hard to shop for him nowadays. Settled on some new socks but held out on giving the Prince Consort title - that's going to be a surprise for our anniversary.Off to walk the corgis now.


June 15, 2007

My goodness, this royal blogging is harder than it looks. What was I getting myself into?


June 18, 2007

Yesterday we had the Garter Ceremony. I always enjoy getting dressed up for that. Had scones for tea. They were a bit on the stale side.

June 19, 2007

Is anybody still reading this?


© Marilyn Braun 2007

Excerpts from the Princes William and Harry interview.

Some excerpts from the interview with Prince William and Prince Harry to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death.






© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Review: Diana, A Celebration

On my recent visit to Cleveland, Ohio I got the chance to visit 'Diana: A Celebration'. This is not the first time I've seen this exhibit. Prior to this, I went to Althorp, Diana's ancestral estate in 2003. At the time I didn't have this blog so I couldn't share my thoughts about it. But even if I'd had the blog, I still would have been too overawed by the estate, her grave and lure of the gift-shop to truly give a worthy review.

People have differing opinions on this exhibit. Many people may feel that her brother is trying to cash in on her memory. Some may think this exhibit doesn't do her justice. After all how can you really condense the life of someone who had such a global impact into four or five rooms? But her brother doesn't try to. Instead he shows us where Diana came from, and then takes us on a journey of her remarkable life.

The exhibit begins with some short, edited home movies of Diana, showing her through various stages of her childhood, until the age of seven. Seeing her as an infant on her christening day, her first birthday, taking her first tentative steps, and at the age of seven dancing with the wild abandon of the young and carefree. Watching this five minute film was an emotional experience for me. It gave me a strong sense of loss I really didn't have at the time of her death. Seeing her, so young and full of promise, and knowing the terrible ending to her story, made me realize how tragic her death truly was.

The exhibit continues on to showing where Diana came from with a brief history of the Spencer family, portraits and beautiful heirloom jewels. Then on to her childhood belongings - her favorite stuffed animals, ballet slippers, letters she wrote home, typewriter, her first passport, private photo albums, and school tuck box; to name but a few of the items. These belongings would be no more remarkable were it not for its owner. But there's a sense of charm in her letters, report cards and toys stitched with her name, which if nothing else, show us that she was like us, albeit raised in better surroundings.

The next part of the exhibit moves on to her wedding day. To give us a true sense of the occasion, footage of her wedding day, her arrival at St. Paul's Cathedral, walking up the aisle and later on the balcony waving to the crowds, is shown. But this is just a mere accompaniment to 'The Dress'. If nothing else, the view of her historic wedding dress is worth the price of admission, which is the reason I came to see the exhibit. Displayed in a case long enough to show the length of her 25 foot train, the Spencer tiara, the embroidery on the dress, including the panel of Queen Mary lace on the bodice is truly a stunning combination. I had a hard time moving on to the next room.

A large part of the exhibit focuses on Diana's glamour, and in the beginning this was really her claim to fame. But as Diana moved through her royal life, the exhibit shows the evolution from glamorous fashion icon to the serious side to her work in letters to her various charity heads, and briefs for foreign visits. Also included is a short display for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial foundation, and the work it continues to do in her memory.

While I have seen this exhibit before, I didn't expect to be pulled in emotionally on such a profound level. The most touching display was the wall of at least two-hundred condolence books - a fraction of the amount on display at Althorp, which lead into the final room. As Elton John's famous ode to Diana 'Goodbye England's Rose' plays in the background, a video is shown of her cortage as it makes its way to Westminster Abbey, the emotion of the crowds, her funeral, and then our last view of her as the coffin arrives at the gates of Althorp. Below the screen is a small carpet of flowers. As with the display at Althorp, it honestly brought tears to my eyes.

Visiting the exhibit in Cleveland wasn't quite the same as seeing it at Althorp, where you can get a better sense of her family from a historical standpoint and pay your respects to her grave, I still recommend it, whether you are a Diana fan or not. It is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Exhibit photos courtesy of the Althorp website.

I'm off on vacation!

I'm going on vacation, so I won't be updating this blog for a week. Taking a trip to Cleveland, Ohio. I'm going to check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and eat whatever Cleveland is famous for!

Who knows, there might even be something royal to blog about too!

In the interim, I've created a drop down menu of labels for my posts (to the left under the archives menu) - Commentary! Satire! Royal Jewels! Royal Profiles! Royal Trivia!

It's (almost) all there! (okay, enough with the exclamation marks)

As always, I welcome your questions, blog topic suggestions, and comments via email. I will try to respond to as quickly as possible on my return.

Take care,

Marilyn :o)

Operation Queen Camilla

Public opinion indicates that 90% of the populace do not want Camilla to become Queen. This operation is highly risky. The public can be quite fickle and Diana sentiment is still strong. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to make Camilla Queen. Should you get caught, we will disavow your actions. You may dispose of this tape in the usual manner. Or this tape will self-destruct in five seconds. *Pooof*[Tape disappears in a cloud of smoke]

Location: A palace somewhere in London.

The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles sit at the table and open their dossiers. They pull out 8 x 10 autographed glossies of Ingrid Seward, Matt Lauer, Ferne Cotton, and James Whittaker.

Prince Charles: I want to see Camilla be crowned Queen beside me.

The Queen: I think it's too soon to discuss Queen Camilla. Look at all the time it took for her to be accepted as your companion and then your wife. We need to take this slow, launch a careful media campaign. At minimum get James Whittaker on board.

Prince Charles: That ghastly man!

Prince Philip: Don't you think we should test the waters? start with Princess of Wales and see how that goes?

Prince Charles: Both of you are always against me. Don't you understand. I love her and I want to make her my queen.

The Queen: Charles, don't play the 'blame your parents card'. We're getting off topic here. Where's Prince Harry? Shouldn't he be in on this meeting?

The group look up to see Prince Harry, suspended by a cable, dropping from the ceiling. He stops and hovers just above the table.

Prince Philip: Glad you could finally make it.

Prince Harry: Is there something I can help with?

The Queen: Yes Harry, we need you to go out and distract people. Get into a fight with someone. Break up with Chelsy..or something like that.

Prince Harry: The things I do for England!

The Queen: That will be all Harry.

Prince Harry tries to retract the cable but gets stuck.

Prince Harry: Can someone help me down from here?

Later on, at another palace in London Prince Philip, Prince William, and Prince Harry meet to finalize plans.

Prince Philip: You must infiltrate the offices of Majesty magazine. Ingrid Seward writes a monthly column, which this month will be anti-Queen Camilla. Make sure you edit it put a positive spin. Here is the equipment you will need for your mission: Commemorative china, your Coronation medals and a trained monkey. Prince Harry, make sure to bring Chelsy's watch, women like it when you wear their gifts.

Prince William and Prince Harry gather up their equipment.

Prince Philip (with a tear in his eye): Good luck boys.

To be Continued.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Is Chelsy Davy 'The One' for us?

Ever since Prince William and Kate Middleton broke up, it's inevitable that the focus would have turned to the future of Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy's relationship. Or has it?

Despite being the 'only British royal girlfriend left standing,' one label that is rarely used in relation to Chelsy is 'royal bride.' This term seemed inextricably linked to Kate. Regardless of whether Prince Harry regards her as 'his one true love,' Chelsy is invariably described as the bleached blonde, 'fag* smoking South African boozer' and according to the catty set, 'who can't even spell her own name'.

Everyone liked Kate and the path was clear. Only Prince William had to cooperate. When he didn't, Kate no longer had anything to show for five years of ladylike patience and restraint. And neither did we. Chelsy unabashedly canoodles with her man, buys him a tacky £20,000 diamond encrusted watch and stays the course. What did we do wrong?

Who knew Chelsy would last as long as she has? Whereas we welcomed Kate with open arms, and the royal family did too. Chelsy seems to be lucky if we'll let her near the door. She may be rich but that can't buy our love. And maybe that's for the best as she doesn't seem to care.

Do we approve? Should we approve? Chelsy may be a wonderful person, but offering out approval betrays all that we made Kate out to be - 'The One'. If we settle for Chelsy, what does that say about us? Can we really picture her in the extravagant dress, on the balcony, filling the void left by her predecessors? Should Chelsy make it that far, will we let her have a happy ending? For all our initial love for Diana and Fergie, knowing us, it's unlikely.

Is Chelsy 'The One'? We'll let Prince Harry know.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

* fag is British slang for cigarette

Why I'm sad Prince Harry is not going to war

Her blonde hair blew in the wind and her brow was furrowed as she watched the plane touch down. She had dreamed of this moment, and now it was here. Not one to wear her heart on her sleeve, she could hardly contain the tears in her eyes. She wanted to light a cigarette but knew that it wouldn't look good. The plane door opened, Prince Harry stood at the door way, blinking in the sunlight. He put on his sunglasses and spotted her right away. He raced down the stairs. Forgetting royal protocol and formalities, Chelsy Davy ran from her discreet, yet media friendly, spot on the tarmac, into Harry's waiting arms.

See how I could have written so much about Prince Harry returning from Iraq?

I will admit that I was disappointed when I heard that Prince Harry wasn't going to the front lines. While I have no particular attachment to him, I'm glad he's safe. My reasons for being disappointed stem from all the potential article ideas I could have thought of, drafted and published. It could have been wonderful. A veritable windfall of possibilities. Instead:

Prince Harry sat at his desk, waiting for the phone to ring. He played with a paperclip, his impotent rage barely concealed. Prince William looked at him across the desk, picking up an elastic band, he aimed and fired, hitting Prince Harry right between the eyes.

Almost makes you want to cry, doesn't it?

Like me, Harry must be incredibly frustrated. We've both been stymied by the system into which he was born. But no, his safety had to come first. Don't people understand the testosterone filled need for him to prove himself? Put his training to proper use? Show up his brother and actually earn his medals?

I'm sure I'm not alone in my disappointment. Sadly, all of the 'I'm Harry' t-shirts will go unsold. If you bought one you either have a collectors item or a conversation piece. Or, maybe it might come in handy. If you were kept from the front lines too, taping the word 'like' between the 'I'm' and 'Harry', could show your solidarity.

Yes, I could have written about the dynastic ramifications of sending him, how he's expendible in the grand scheme of things. William's simmering jealousy is an article in itself. Would Chelsy have waited for him? Now we'll never know! Should the unfortunate have happened, I could have written about his lost potential, and how he was misunderstood. And like other public figures when they die, made him out to be more important than he actually was. Instead:

Marilyn sat by her laptop. Frustrated by the news that Prince Harry wasn't going to Iraq. First William and Kate Middleton, now this! All the drafts gone to waste. As she checked her news alerts, her mind drew a blank. What would she write about now? She sighed deeply, closed the laptop and put it away...

Doesn't that make you want to cry?

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Review: The Way We Were, Remembering Diana by Paul Burrell

Say what you will about the man, he knows how to write a tell-all. I'll admit that, other than waiting for him to do something ridiculous for me to satirize, I really don't pay that much attention to him. So, why am I reviewing this book? well, I have to write about something don't I? Not to mention, it was also at the library.

Considering his somewhat obsessive closeness to her and her memory, he is one of the few people who could be said to have seen her in all of her glorious inconsistencies. The one person, who because of his proximity to her, can authoritatively fill the public's need for endless personal details about her. One would think that he's shamelessly cashing in on her memory, but Burrell doesn't see it that way: 'In painting an accurate record of history, I have breached none of that confidence'. One has to wonder whether he would offer this accurate record of history were Diana still alive.

Reading The Way We Were is almost like sitting with Burrell for coffee, while he confides in us the turn by turn layout of her apartments at Kensington Palace, the color scheme of the walls and furniture, her shoe size, favourite nail polish color, and what she liked to eat for breakfast. Also included is Burrell's memory of the untold love story between Diana and Hasnat Khan, an eminent heart surgeon who smokes, drinks, and likes KFC. Burrell is indignant about her memory being associated with Dodi, discussing the relationship with Hasnat in detail in a chapter called 'The One'. He also writes with candor about the true nature of her relationship with Dodi, as well as the famous 'engagement' ring.

I was prepared to dislike this book, but Burrell reminisces about Diana in a graceful and respectful way. His continuous references to her as 'The Boss' get a bit tiresome. While Burrell claims friendship, the relationship was obviously never equal, so calling her 'The Boss' unnecessarily elevates her. Despite this, he presents her as a spiritual and introspective person and not a myth. But photographs of her personal space and the details he reveals regarding her death are somewhat intimate and it made me feel, as a reader, somewhat of an intruder. Such information should not be for public consumption.

Burrell claims that this is his last book on Diana, which I find hard to believe. However, if this is so, then Burrell has honored and done justice to her memory.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Click on this link to purchase The Way We Were: Remembering Diana

Question: Rank of the Royal Ladies

Thank you on your informative "Who is of Higher Rank?" article. However, what about the ladies? What are their ranks and how are they addressed (be they royal or non-royal)?

Thank you very much for your question.

I have written an article, called Meeting Royalty and Nobility, which may be helpful in terms of addressing them.

The ranking of the various royal ladies is a bit different. It goes by an order of precedence. In general you could say that the ranking, without taking into consideration the order of precedence, is as follows:

The Queen
Princess
Duchess (royal)
Countess (royal)

And then the noble titles would start, such as non-royal Duchess and Countesses. In the case of women in the royal family, the order of precedence is as follows:

The Queen
The Princess Royal
Princess Alexandra
The Duchess of Cornwall (unless accompanied by the Prince of Wales).

One would think, that because Camilla is the wife of the heir to the throne that she would automatically be the second lady in the land, but this is not the case. Because she chose to be known as the Duchess of Cornwall and not as The Princess of Wales, her position reflects the fact that she is a Duchess and not a princess. Were this the case she would outrank the Princess Royal, as Diana did when she was Princess of Wales.

I hope this answers your questions!

Thanks,

Marilyn

© Marilyn Braun 2007

Royal Focus: Victoria Day

For many Canadians, the Victoria Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Commonly known as the May long weekend or May two-four*, it's the first long weekend of the summer. Most people have the day off and spend the weekend opening the cottage and being stuck in traffic. However, there is more to Victoria Day than just beer, barbeques, and fireworks.

Each year, Victoria Day usually occurs the Monday on or before May 25th. This day celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria and, marks the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Victoria, the longest reiging monarch in British history, was born on May 24th, 1819. She came to the throne in 1837, as a vivacious 18 year old and died in January 1901, at the age of 81, elderly, remote and venerated.

The Sovereign's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria. But it wasn't until 1845, that the Legislature of the Province of Canada declared her birthday a holiday. After Confederation, Queen Victoria's birthday was celebrated on May 24th, unless the day was a Sunday, then it was held on May 25th.

After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24 in each year, under the name Victoria Day. An amendment to the Statutes of Canada in 1952 established the celebration of Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25.

The birthdays of subsequent sovereigns have been officially marked on different days. Queen Victoria's successor, Edward VII's birthday, was celebrated on Victoria Day, despite his natural birthdate being in November. From the reign of King George V to the present Queen, Canada celebrated the sovereign's birthday in June, until 1952. From 1953 to 1956, the Queen's birthday was celebrated in Canada on Victoria Day, by proclamation of the Governor General, with Her Majesty's approval. In 1957, Victoria Day was permanently appointed as the Queen's birthday in Canada.

So, while you're sitting by the lake at your cottage, stuck in traffic on the highway, or watching a fireworks display, raise a cheer to Her Majesty!

© Marilyn Braun 2007

*Two-four is Canadian slang for a case of 24 bottles of beer.

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