Royal News Links
When will Wills pop the question? – The Canberra Times
A royal engagement between Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton could be at least 18 months away. Royal sources have played down speculation the prince is preparing to propose to his long-time girlfriend later this year, saying the couple may not tie the knot until 2010…
Prince Harry gains motorbike licence – Telegraph
The 23-year-old passed his test after an intensive training course as the Telegraph revealed he and his brother plan to make a 1,000 mile charity motorbike trek across South Africa and Lesotho. The Prince has not yet bought his own motorbike but is instead reported to be riding his brother’s 175mph superbike. Prince William bought his Honda Super Blackbird two years ago, but concerns over his safety have meant he now rarely rides the bike…
Prince Charles’ fan mail to Celebrity Chef, Jamie Oliver – The Sun
Prince Charles has revealed he wrote a fan letter to TV chef Jamie Oliver. The Royal praised efforts to improve pupils’ grub in Channel 4 show Jamie’s School Dinners. Charles, 59, said of celebrity chefs: “They have rekindled fascination with food and I congratulate them.” He told National Trust mag: “Jamie Oliver’s brilliant campaign stands out.”…
September 9th, 2008 06:55
Harry supposedly wasted 5000 Pounds on a recent night out.
http://tinyurl.com/6kcvfd
They call him an idiot for doing so…
http://tinyurl.com/6lrevu
September 9th, 2008 07:06
every question about Wills and catherine romances , when they are finally to get married make me afraid and envy too cause i’m not ready to see both of them married someday at Television on live hiks…hiks..
September 9th, 2008 07:30
Hello,
Anyone really think that PH pays full account when at nightclub.
No way.
His , or other royal presence guarantees punters will swarm there and pay outrageous prices for simple cocktails . No owner would risk any animosity from their Royal guests.
Most times ” its on the house” or they don’t go back.
How cynical can one get
September 9th, 2008 07:47
Trixie
Quote
Prince Harry’s 23 now and should know better. How long before they wheel him out for a new PR stunt?
Unquote
I know it hurts, I love Harry, but I always had the strong feeling that PH deployment to a reasonable “safe” area in Afganistan, plus being taken care off, pics of him in his bunker, playing ball, motorcycle, shooting the machine gun was a PR Stunt.
September 9th, 2008 08:04
Me, I agree.
September 9th, 2008 08:18
listen guys, i don’t care what Harry doing it, more excelent his brother news of course
September 9th, 2008 08:28
Ked and Me, I agree with both of your points. I’m sure there are lots of freebies when one is a Prince. Even Kate is said to get freebies, and she’s not even officially Royal yet. PR and all that.
Me, I’m not sure that there’s area in Afghanistan that can be considered safe, but the fact is well known that summertime is Taleban fighting season, and winter is usually quiet. I did find the timing suspect.
Let me say for the record, I do not believe in any way that had to do with Harry’s wishes, as he is a willing soldier, but I do believe it was part of the “mollycoddling” that William spoke about in his St. Andy’s interview.
September 9th, 2008 08:30
The more I read about James Tatler, the more I think this wedding is not going to happen. Why would James grant this interview? No one would care about his cake making if his sister was not dating a prince. It looks like he is cashing in on the hope that one day his sister will marry William. This seems like something James should have done after the wedding. Maybe I am reading to much into it, but it feeds into the profile the DM had printed of him.
September 9th, 2008 08:43
Gracie, as you may have noticed, I am Kate Middleton’s 100% greatest supporter! At least to my mind, that gal can do no wrong and I think she’s fantastic future Queen material.
That said, I feel it was not a good idea for James to have posed for photos in a risque manner as common sense says it’s obvious they could be used against him. Look, I know the British upper classes are different, but surely they must know grabbing one’s crotch whilst dressed as a French maid is not going to play well to the elderly monarchists across the UK. I would have thought Clarence House would have warned against this sort of thing, but maybe they aren’t as involved as I would have hoped.
Also, while I think it’s fanstastic handsome James is showing the entreprenuerial spirit I think most know Tatler wouldn’t have given him the time of day if it wasn’t for who his sister is in love with. So, yes, I can see how that might read as a bit “opportunistic” and is somewhat, in my POV, ill advised.
September 9th, 2008 09:03
I am not sure whether it was wise for James to give that interview. Soem of his commetns sound rather .. uhm .. unfortunate.
I can understad that he’s probably very proud of his little firm and jumped the chance to speak about it when asked but this could cause another string of accusation of the Middletons cashing in on their Royal connections.
September 9th, 2008 09:10
Trixie, very well said! I’m sure he is proud of his venture, and rightfully so — and I also don’t get the sense that it was part of some dark calculating plan to “cash in” if you will, but it really is probably best if he can hold off on this sort of thing until after the Wedding.
September 9th, 2008 09:35
Me,
Saying Harry’s service was a PR stunt may be true but he is said to be a trained ’spotter’ and there were some “outside” quotes of his directing American Fighter/Bombers to targets with a foot soldiers view point. He also chatted up a female American Pilot , it was said.
William however is and was in a different position. Each one of his postings was accompanied by a PR blurb with his RN commanding officer saying he played part in planning Drug Bust when he had only been on ship for a few days. That was rubbish as plans like that are made weeks in advance on receiving intelligence reports from police and agents on land.
His flight to Afghanistan certainly misfired on the PR side when they alluded to his flying a Hero’s body back to UK The Hero’s familly certainly gave that story short shift.
PW whole detachments and even his army service was an expensive waste of valuable time. Eg. Army short of 100+ helicopter pilots for operational flights and RAF helicopters being withdrawn from coastal rescue work due to shortages in the war zones.
He needed to get experience in land and estate management as well as experience in Governmental and constitutional matters so that his time would have been better served and time spent training him could have been given to ‘real pilots’ who would be helpful to injured soldiers in battle zones.
If PH’s service was PR stunt, what was PW’s ?
September 9th, 2008 09:45
Ked, it seems however good the intentions, it ended up being largely a PR disaster, as no matter how legitimate PW’s talents or training may have been, it was sold in the press as as a silly, extravagant PR excersise that wasted taxpayers money.
I’ve tried to break apart how the press got to this angle, and yet, I remain puzzled. PW did many of the same things as Harry did (Chinook aside) and yet Harry’s service was/ is presented as much more authentic. The only reason I can think for that is perhaps because Harry had planned to be a soldier for a long time, and often discussed it publicly, whereas William didn’t. So maybe the press assumed William’s heart wasn’t really in it like Harry’s was.
Sad though, as I’m sure he’s been a great soldier too.
September 9th, 2008 09:53
I didn’t mention PW, cause I was referring to PH latest article. And the excess of photoshoots shooting, etc. looked posed and PR.
But Ked I agree with you, but what can I say, PW one year with all the military branch was planned by CH people. It was announced Nov-Dec. 2007. Perhaps the many articles that have recently appeared on PW 2009 plans include what you have posted.
September 9th, 2008 10:28
Gracie, it really does look like William nor Kate cares what James do. What he do is his business and it has no effect on them. I don’t think Harry’s service was a PR stunt but a dream come true for him.
September 9th, 2008 10:35
I am a big Kate supporter too and I think that James should be able to promote his skills as well as anyone trying to get a business off the ground should. The problem lies with the fact that, as sad as it is, his life is not his own because of Kate relationship with the RF. I am sure he did not do this interview to damage Kate relationship with some members of the RF, but in truth, IMO, some RF/CH will see James as another reason why the RF should not marry below their status. I think they will see this as another example, much like Autumn Kelly, as to why it’s best to stick to ones own kind. This is not my personal belief, but the monarchy has a different set of rules that apply to them and those around them. Kate already has alot going against her, in that she is not aristo, so she and her family have to tread a fine line and really almost be of no faults simply because they are not of blueblood. Whereas, if you are already from a titled family(Isabella Calthorpe-modeling and acting) it is viewed differently.
September 9th, 2008 10:51
I hear what you are saying but I’m sure they would have put a stop to it all if it really mattered. William has the upper hand on these things and if it was really damaging then they would have sorted that all out. William & Kate is going on strong and nothing is standing in their way. You can tell that William can care less about status and he has found the love of his life and that is final to him.
September 9th, 2008 10:59
I don’t believe the Royals are snobs and things have changed in the RF — look at the acceptance of Sophie, also middleclass and the daughter of a tyre salesman. She’s been a shining example of what Royalty can be, and is a personal favorite of Her Majesty.
We should also remember that Kate is only from “humble” albeit hardworking stock on her mother’s side; her father hails from the very distinguished Lipton family of either Leeds or Hull (sorry can’t remember) who have quite a bit of blue blood in their veins. They are the ones who make the tea bags so how much more British can one be? They are a very impressive family indeed from what I’ve read.
No, Kate is not aristocratic per se but if one reads back to the origins of most of these so-called “grand families” ill-gotten wealth, that’s hardly something to be ashamed of. Take away the crumbling old statelies and a few pieces of art, and you have people who haven’t accomplished much for themselves except to marry and reproduce with others like them. Big whoop, Kate is from much better stock then that I say.
September 9th, 2008 13:24
That’s nice to hear Prince Harry passedto get his motor bike License. Also Prince Charles wrote a nice letter to Jamie Oliver to improve dinners in his show.
September 9th, 2008 20:58
Ked
Good to hear you back. I did miss your comments on the forum whether they did or didn’t agree with my points of view and with the points of views of others. Having different opinions is what makes this site very interesting because if we all had the same opinions then there wouldnt be any debates and this site would be really boring.
Anyways, it sounds really scary that PW is taking so long to pop the question. KM may get tired of waiting or love may fade out in the relationship because both are going to get bored of just dating (or going out) without any sort of compromise. Other royal couples have taken a long time to wed (like autumn and peter, or lady rose and her fiance) but at least there was something more in the relationship than just dating. They already living together, so there was more commitment. Because KM and PW have waited too long to marry, It sounds kind of unrealistic to me that they will one day.
September 12th, 2008 01:52
I agree with Sonia. William has been kind of unpredictable the last couple of years, and he did say “now is not the time” recently. If I were royalty, I would not tell the press my plans about anything, unless the queen made me.
September 12th, 2008 02:18
I think the same thing about William. He and Kate is letting people know that they are running this show and they will do what they want. It’s no matter what the media writes and what the public thinks, they have the upper hand on this. I always say, that announcement will come when we least expect it to. People may get hints but it will be a suprise.
September 12th, 2008 03:59
Rman.
I do think you overestimate PW capacity to control his own life. He does as he is told as PC did until he eventually rebelled against having his life managed for him.
That caused upset but he eventually got his way.
It will be some time before PW reaches that point.
Believe me.
September 12th, 2008 14:08
Ked I’m talking about thow they carry their relationship personally. I’m not talking about what the Palace think.
September 12th, 2008 14:34
Ked, so unless William stands up to “The Firm” then are you suggesting that a marriage between them is not going to happen? Charles didn’t stand up for himself until he reached middle-age and more so when Diana past. So is CH/RF looking for potential aristo mates for William then, to fix what Camilla and Charles broke?
September 12th, 2008 15:09
I’m sorry but that may have happened to Charles, but we are in the 21st century, much has been learned from those aristo match mistakes.
September 12th, 2008 15:17
Me, I am not giving my personal belief on this. I am asking Ked about why he is always saying William has to stand up for himself and that leads me to believe that some of those inside the palace don’t care for Kate. I think Ked has stated that before as well. I am just trying to figure out why and the only thing I can up with is she is not as aristo as they CH may like. To me she seems like she would make a wonderful addition to the RF.
September 12th, 2008 15:22
I know gracie, me too
September 12th, 2008 16:06
I think PC is letting William & Harry handle their own relationships. He knows that is best. William did not fall in love with a aristo so that is that. Kate is fine and obviously the royal family think so too. So being a aristo is not the case.
September 12th, 2008 16:11
And that is why the Ked and perhaps other people theory of the BP vs. CH, the old grey vs. the CH + new generation staff members.
But HM knows well, there will be no repeated mistakes of mismatches.
September 12th, 2008 17:40
Let’s hope not!
September 12th, 2008 18:06
I think PW/KM have their own timetable as Rman says. And the future King is PC and his people will move with the future King to BP, the old greys will have to retire some day, or die of old age in the position. Ha hoping and wishing for some daughter, grand daughter or a friends daughter to be the next one.
September 12th, 2008 18:57
What might concern the men in grey is the worry that if titles and lineage cease to be important, if the Monarchy gets “watered down,” then how will they justify having a Monarchy and the aristocracy that comes with it?
The grey men probably feel that Sophie or Autumn are OK as the token middle class brides “See, we aren’t snobs!” seeing as they are so far removed from the throne, but that when it comes to actually producing a King or Queen, no “brood mare” less than a Lady or some other member from the aristocracy has ever been Queen, I believe.
(True, Camilla was a mere Mrs. but also the granddaughter of a Lord and the daughter of an Honourable, and could hardly be considered of middle or working class origins.)
IMO Kate would make a fantastic Queen as she has shown she’s got the ambition and the determination to be William’s wife. This might end up making for a far better consort than a Duke or Earl’s daughter who considers herself to be William’s equal or superior.
September 12th, 2008 19:11
Well said Alsgal. You hit the nail on the head!
September 13th, 2008 00:15
Does anyone know how you can order one of the Prince Harry dolls? Thank you.
September 13th, 2008 03:02
Hi Jade,
The doll hasn’t been released yet (I think Oct/Nov this year) but you can pre-order at a few online retailers in the USA.
Google “hot toys military usa”. It doesn’t seem to be real cheap though…
September 13th, 2008 04:00
\hello,
Take care when you order these sort of things.
I have seen 4 sets of thimbles ordered recently and they are very poor quality photographs poached from newspapers or magazines.
I understand that the order has ben returned to the pottery