Royalty Thread #4 Nappies and Nuptials

[AxelAnnie]

...........and HMQ gave the Duchess a FABULOUS birthday present!

*HUGE NEWS!!!!*

It appears that HMQ has issued letters patent that ALL children born to William & Catherine will be given the title and style of His/Her Royal Highness Prince/Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland!!!

Under George V's letters patent of 1917, their daughters would only be known as "The Lady So-and-So" (like daughters of a duke).

However, since the Commonwealth realms have accepted a change in the succession laws, ALL of William and Kate's progeny will be TRULY royal!!!!!

I'm plotzing so hard right now..........

Although that is lovely....and about time.........but they already know the gender........or could know if they wanted. So, it was either a safe bet (cause it is a boy) or a big deal (knowing it is a girl)

[liv]

I am saying now it will be a girl. Just a feeling I've had since the beginning...we'll see if I"m right!!

[avivadawn]

I'm also thinking that she's carrying a girl.

[*Jen*]

I think it's time for a girl too - but that has nothing to do with this legislation, which had actually been proposed well before the pregnancy was announced They pushed through similar reforms in Denmark and then Prince Christian turned out to be a boy!

But...there are odd coincidences and patterns in my family regarding gender, so I'm using the pattern for the royals. The Queen had a sister - two girls. She had 3 boys and a girl. Charles had 2 boys. It's time for some girls!

[PDilemma]

Although that is lovely....and about time.........but they already know the gender........or could know if they wanted. So, it was either a safe bet (cause it is a boy) or a big deal (knowing it is a girl)

William and Kate may know, but that doesn't mean the Queen or anyone else has been told. Just saying.

[*Jen*]

I doubt they already know the gender. She was well under 12 weeks when the pregnancy was announced and the baby is rumoured to be due June/July, putting her at 12 weeks now. I don't think you can know so early?

And anyway, like I said, this change was proposed long before the pregnancy was announced.

[Jenny]

So what does everyone think of Kate's first official portrait?

[my little pony]

So what does everyone think of Kate's first official portrait?

i dont like it at all. it looks like someone did an age progression to show what she will look like in 30 years after an all night bender.

[Jenny]

i dont like it at all. it looks like someone did an age progression to show what she will look like in 30 years after an all night bender.

That's what a lot of comments are saying on Facebook - perhaps in an effort to make it timeless, they made her look older, and slightly plumper. Maybe it's better in person, but her most important attribute - her natural radiance - is sadly missing.

[skatesindreams]

That portrait doesn't capture "her" in any way.
How in the world could the artist make her look "matronly" - at 30!
She is a beautiful, charming young woman.

Better to have enlarged and displayed one of the very fine photographs which have been made instead.

The worse thing is that "smirk".
Who thought that was a good idea?

[Jenny]

The worse thing is that "smirk".
Who thought that was a good idea?

Some have compared it to Mona Lisa's smile, but I think it does look like a smirk, which is uncharacteristic for her. She usually smiles with her mouth open, much more engaging.

[skatingfan5]

I'm afraid the portrait doesn't seem to capture any of Kate's vibrant personality and does make her look older than her 31 years -- although I certainly wouldn't mind looking like that at age 60! The "Mona Lisa smile" is indeed much more like a smirk. When I saw a brief glimpse of it on TV, I thought why is Kate doing the "McKayla is not amused" face?!? Oh well, this is only the first official portrait -- one can hope that future ones are more flattering.

[professordeb]

I absolutely HATE the portrait. It just isn't the Kate we have come to know/admire/love. It's just one big whopping UGH!

[danceronice]

Question: If the Commonwealth has agreed to the change in succession rules, have they also agreed to Cameron's proposal to rescind the Settlement Act provision that bars the heir from marrying a Catholic? Considering the heir is free to marry anyone else of any other religion or lack thereof, that one is as outdated as the male primogeniture laws.

And of the subject of multiple titles and ranks, besides William using a lesser title, there's always that third rail of titles--Camilla is really entitled to be known as Princess of Wales and the only reason they don't use that one is the Diana-fanatics flip out over it.

[milanessa]

Question: If the Commonwealth has agreed to the change in succession rules, have they also agreed to Cameron's proposal to rescind the Settlement Act provision that bars the heir from marrying a Catholic?

Apparently so.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/...?storyid=12211

[PDilemma]

So what does everyone think of Kate's first official portrait?

Why does she have bags/dark circles under her eyes???? Did the artist hate her????

[Garden Kitty]

Why does she have bags/dark circles under her eyes???? Did the artist hate her????

That's what struck me too. I'd say the artist was trying to be "realistic" except I've never seen pics of her that look that bad.

[Jenny]

Exactly. I've never seen her look anything but flawless, in a nice, natural and approachable way. If the artist wanted her to look "real" he should have worked harder on her smile, because that's what does it. In one squib I read that he changed the colour of her eyes to match her blouse, which is all fine and dandy if you are doing an interpretive image, but not if it's supposed to be a realistic portrait. The very idea that he thought he might improve her look! Centuries from now scholars will argue that this portrait was done when she was much older - although my bet is that she ages a lot more gracefully than this.

Every time I look at that portrait, I hate it even more.

[Skittl1321]

I don't like the portrait. She looks like she is smirking, not smiling, and her eyes look like she is glaring- as if she is plotting something, or mad. It just doesn't fit her personality at all.

[skatesindreams]

This "official" portrait painter hardly seems an "artist" to me.
He certainly didn't "serve" his subject.

Is this person the best the UK has to offer?