Royalty Thread #16: the best of times, the worst of times

[Vagabond]

It was sort of the norm in that social class that men fooled around and women generally stayed at home and turned a blind eye to whatever their husbands were doing.

Maybe for her grandparents' peer group, but certainly not for her parents' ....

I don't know about that. Diana's mother had an affair and left her father (who may have been having his own affairs). Fergie's mother did the same. The term "Bolter" for a married woman who left with another man was pretty common, and well known.

.... and even less so for her own, many of whom had parents, as Diana did, who whose extramarital affairs led to divorce.

Very few young upper-class Englishwomen of Diana' era got married at 19. Diana's sister Sarah, who had also been involved with Prince Charles, got married at 25, Their sister Jane got married at 21. Their brother Charles's first wife was 24 at the time of their marriage.

 

[MacMadame]

But yes, she probably did think it would be different for her.

Doesn't everyone?

 

[airgelaal]

Very few young upper-class Englishwomen of Diana' era got married at 19. Diana's sister Sarah, who had also been involved with Prince Charles, got married at 25, Their sister Jane got married at 21. Their brother Charles's first wife was 24 at the time of their marriage.

Being the wife of the crown prince is not just marriage, it is work. Maybe she was ready for marriage, but not for the job of crown princess. And your expectations of life at 19 may be very different from yours at 25. But if you are married to the crown prince, then you cannot resign. At least then she and everyone around were sure of it. I think this is one of the reasons why William and Kate dated for SO long. He had before his eyes an example of what early marriage at such a young age led to.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I thought she was quite successful at being the crown princess. If anything, I think she was more ready for the role than for the marriage.

 

[Winnipeg]

If true, her uncle vouching for her purity is really weird, I mean really weird and humiliating IMHO.

I always thought she had to see a doctor who then verified her virginity? Even that is kind weird even in 1980s

 

[cygnus]

If true, her uncle vouching for her purity is really weird, I mean really weird and humiliating IMHO.

I always thought she had to see a doctor who then verified her virginity? Even that is kind weird even in 1980s

No, there was no "virginity test". This is another rumour that has been repeated so often and for so long that people believe it's true. Such a test doesn't really prove anything anyway- it can prove you are ("technically"), but not that you are not. And given that it is not, and never has been, a law that she must be- imagine the outcry if he had called it off for that reason , assuming he wanted to?

 

[overedge]

Maybe for her grandparents' peer group, but certainly not for her parents' ....

Andrew Parker-Bowles had numerous affairs himself and boasted to his friends that the Prince of Wales was f***ing his wife. He may have been more of a horndog than others, but from what I've read, his attitudes and behaviour were not far from the norm of that era and that social class.

 

[Winnipeg]

I always wondered about that virginity test too because I know that it can offer a false negative.

The uncle story sounds a bit sketchy too.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I think some people thought that Grace Kelly was examined by a doctor before she could marry Prince Rainier with her having a virginity test. Given her very active romantic life in Hollywood, that would have been highly unlikely, but the exam was to ensure that there was nothing they could identify that would prevent her from having children, since the succession was critical for Monaco to keep its status.

That may have been the genesis of their being a test.

 

[once_upon]

The presence or non presence of a hymen does not provide proof of virginity. I suspect it would have been an exam to ensure no sexually transmitted diseases were present and to examine bone structure to assess for ability to carry and birth a child.

 

[Vagabond]

On to more important matters.

King Charles ruffles feathers as he drops royal patronage for pigeon racing

Monarch’s decision follows opposition from animal rights activists, leading to fears the sport’s days are numbered

www.theguardian.com

The monarch has declined to take on two patronages held by the late queen: the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, the sport’s governing body in the UK, and the country’s premier club, the National Flying Club.

Some in the sport now fear there is worse to come, and that King Charles may ultimately end his family’s participation in the sport entirely and shut the royal pigeon loft at his Sandringham estate.

 

[JJH]

Hasn't Charles significantly downsized royal patronages? Is there a list somewhere?

 

[Winnipeg]

I must admit, I know very little about pigeon racing as a sport.

However, if pigeon racing is dropped due to animal cruelty, what about the royal hunt???? and horse racing ??? and??? Seems a tad hypocritical.

 

[canbelto]

Polo horses are often very abused too.

 

[Garden Kitty]

Hasn't Charles significantly downsized royal patronages? Is there a list somewhere?

According to this Reuters article from May, Elizabeth, Charles and Camilla had slightly over 1,000 patronages among them and after Elizabeth passed, they did a review of all the organizations and maintained slightly over 800 (including some of those picked up by other members of the family). Elizabeth was patron to just over 490 organizations and I'm sure the health challenges of Charles and Kate limited how many they could pick up.

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/king-charles-uk-royals-relinquish-dozens-patronages-2024-05-03/

 

[Karen-W]

Kate and Charlotte attended Wimbledon today!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1812472119428526400

 

[canbelto]

More looks:

The Prince and Princess of Wales on Instagram: "Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There’s nothing quite like The Championships ?"

2M likes, 17K comments - princeandprincessofwales on July 14, 2024: "Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There’s nothing quite like The Championships ?".

www.instagram.com

I really like the dress. Interesting she doesn't appear to be wearing hose. I think the rules around that have relaxed since the queen passed.

 

[Karen-W]

More looks:

The Prince and Princess of Wales on Instagram: "Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There’s nothing quite like The Championships ?"

2M likes, 17K comments - princeandprincessofwales on July 14, 2024: "Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There’s nothing quite like The Championships ?".

www.instagram.com

I really like the dress. Interesting she doesn't appear to be wearing hose. I think the rules around that have relaxed since the queen passed.

That side profile pic of Princess Charlotte - my how she resembles QEII from that angle!

 

[canbelto]

That side profile pic of Princess Charlotte - my how she resembles QEII from that angle!

I've always said that Charlotte resembles Queen E the most.
I think George looks like Will and Louis looks like Kate.

 

[Karen-W]

I've always said that Charlotte resembles Queen E the most.
I think George looks like Will and Louis looks like Kate.

George is growing into his Windsor genes. The resemblances between Charlotte and her Gan-Gan were really strong when she was younger but the last few years she's been seeming to be more and more a feminine carbon copy of her dad. I can see the resemblance between Louis and Kate too but maybe not quite as strongly.

 

[once_upon]

Catherine looks more healthy than at the previous event(s).

 

[Parsley Sage]

More looks:

The Prince and Princess of Wales on Instagram: "Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There’s nothing quite like The Championships ?"

2M likes, 17K comments - princeandprincessofwales on July 14, 2024: "Great to be back at @Wimbledon! There’s nothing quite like The Championships ?".

www.instagram.com

I really like the dress. Interesting she doesn't appear to be wearing hose. I think the rules around that have relaxed since the queen passed.

I don't think that was a rule for events like Wimbledon. Maybe a few decades ago.

 

[taf2002]

Catherine looks more healthy than at the previous event(s).

I agree. She doesn't appear to be as thin.

 

[Lynn226]

Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa have left the hospital with their baby girl. Rajwa looks like she's in pain. At least, she wore sensible shoes.

Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa Head Home from Hospital with Baby, and Their Exit Is Like William and Kate's!

Princess Rajwa and Crown Prince of Hussein of Jordan's hospital departure with their daughter, Princess Iman, called back to Kate Middleton and Prince William's rides home with their babies.

people.com

 

[Lynn226]

People

? peoplem.ag/3Algfme The Prince and Princess of Wales continued the royal tradition of supporting British athletes as they competed at the Olympics — although this year they cheered from afar. ?️:...

www.facebook.com

The Prince and Princess of Wales congratulating Team GB in a job well done at the Olympics. And for some reason Snoop Dog puts in an appearance?! ?

 

[taf2002]

People

? peoplem.ag/3Algfme The Prince and Princess of Wales continued the royal tradition of supporting British athletes as they competed at the Olympics — although this year they cheered from afar. ?️:...

www.facebook.com

The Prince and Princess of Wales congratulating Team GB in a job well done at the Olympics. And for some reason Snoop Dog puts in an appearance?! ?

Snoop Dog was all over the Olys.

 

[Lynn226]

Snoop Dog was all over the Olys.

I know. I just thought it was funny he made an appearance on a Team GB video.

 

[barbk]

I know. I just thought it was funny he made an appearance on a Team GB video.

It was interesting --I don't voluntarily listen to rap (don't judge -- when you're very hearing impaired, rap is an especially frustrating genre), but I knew of him. I found him very likable based on the clips I saw at the Olympics. I guess he took over the spot Leslie Jones had at a prior time. It is nice to see people who seem to enjoy the heck out of celebrating the athletes and the events.

 

[taf2002]

I know. I just thought it was funny he made an appearance on a Team GB video.

Me too.

 

[canbelto]

So apparently Will and Harry were at their uncle's funeral this past week but didn't talk? That's kind of sad.