Prince Andrew, Duke of York Current Events 6: November 2009 -

[rmay286]

Prince Andrew was just in the UAE and gave a very in-depth interview there:

Magazine - The National Newspaper

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by rmay286

Prince Andrew was just in the UAE and gave a very in-depth interview there:

Magazine - The National Newspaper

No doubting he has a fan there, I read the article but I wouldn't say it was an 'in depth' interview.

[Mermaid1962]

That article covered a wide area: the Navy, his marriage, his daughter, his sister-in-law, his ex-wife, and his role as Special Representative. What I found most interesting, though, was that he said that the government asked him to leave the Navy to take on his current position. Thank you for posting this, rmay286.

Originally Posted by rmay286

Prince Andrew was just in the UAE and gave a very in-depth interview there:

Magazine - The National Newspaper

[rmay286]

You're welcome. I thought it gave a more personal glimpse into Prince Andrew's life than other interviews I've seen--what he likes to read, for example, or what he does when he gets home (calm down his excited dogs, apparently! )

It was also interesting to read that his engagements have doubled since 2005, but I was getting that sense already. I don't remember reading as much about Andrew's role as Trade Ambassador back then, but now it seems like he's in a different foreign country almost every week.

[Mermaid1962]

I'd really like to see someone put out a serious biography of the Duke of York when he turns 50 (like my husband) next year.

Originally Posted by rmay286

It was also interesting to read that his engagements have doubled since 2005, but I was getting that sense already. I don't remember reading as much about Andrew's role as Trade Ambassador back then, but now it seems like he's in a different foreign country almost every week.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

That article covered a wide area: the Navy, his marriage, his daughter, his sister-in-law, his ex-wife, and his role as Special Representative. What I found most interesting, though, was that he said that the government asked him to leave the Navy to take on his current position.

It's amazing the way some of the facts have been altered to fit a self publicist article, IMO. There were questions raised when Andrew was given a job within the naval command, that he was neither qualified or had worked for, (I posted an article some time ago on how he was jumped to the position). He left the Navy after 22 years, because that was the amount of time he had signed up for. He was lucky that the DoK was willing to gracefully retire when they couldn't find anything else for him.

I have read it through 3 times now and can find nothing 'in depth', just a few (probably prearranged) questions and it is worthwhile noting that it doesn't say anything about the businesses he has not helped, just a claim by the reporter of a couple of major deals he has allegedly struck, (all by himself)?

It may be amazingly simple to sell himself to his fans and non Brits but it will be a hard job to sell himself and the little he appears to be doing, to the UK.

I don't mean this, in any way, shape or form as an insult or dig at anyone, but can anyone explain why the Yorks find it easy to sell themselves to the US and Canada?

[Mermaid1962]

I'm not a fan of Sarah's. I think that the girls have yet to prove themselves, but I'm willing to give them that time. Canadians remember that Prince Andrew went to school here, which is part of our connection with him. He seems to like it here, because he comes back fairly often. Also, I've talked to someone who's seen Andrew in person and was impressed by something thoughtful that he did on one particular occasion. There was a senior's bowling display going on in a community nor far from where I live, and the seniors were due to make some shots. The mayor (who was known to not always act wisely), grabbed one of the balls and shot it down the green. Prince Andrew, as he was known at that time, retrieved the ball and put it back in the hands of the seniors who were supposed to be doing the display. This would have been on his 1985 tour of the Maritime Provinces. That story has always stuck with me, because it showed the Prince's realization that the display was "hi-jacked" by the mayor and and he had the presence of mind to correct it.

Originally Posted by Skydragon

I don't mean this, in any way, shape or form as an insult or dig at anyone, but can anyone explain why the Yorks find it easy to sell themselves to the US and Canada?

[Odette]

IMHO as much as the Americans pride themselves at how democratic they are, they have a soft spot in their hearts for the British royals. In addition to this, everyone who speaks with a British accent no matter what he/she may or may not say, sounds like it comes from someone educated and knowledgeable.
A lot of British stars made a fortune capitalising on this and it seems that the Yorks are doing great in that area as well. JMHO of course

[Zonk]

Not to get totally off topic but in the US, the York princesses are really not well known. Not in the context of William and Harry, who are known for being Diana and Charles (moreso Diana's) sons. Covers of Diana sold very well in the States.

We know that Sarah and Andrew had two daughters, but still I wouldn't think anyone could pick them out in the crowd. The same could be said for William and Harry but they have a little more face and name recognition.

From what I can see, those in the US who know of Andrew respect the fact that he is a veteran. Especially since for all intents and purposes, it appears that people of mean sometimes have a tendency not to serve. Not all mind you but a few names come to mind. Veterans are very revered here (as they should be). As they are revered in other countries as well.

Americans (for the most part) who like Sarah like the fact that she is a survivor. She has a plucky sense of humor (can laugh at herself) and is very comfortable with herself (faults and all). It should also be noted that on the whole her selling herself (and using her royal connections) are not really frowned on. Its not what you know but who you know. Sarah, Duchess of York is legally her name. She had a debt, she cleared it up (it appears both times). Why hate?

It should also be noted that at present both Andrew and Sarah don't get a lot of press in the States. So a lot of people here (other than us royal watchers) are not aware of the controvery that surrounds Andrew and his travels. Sarah is pretty low key here, other than than Hello Magazine and probably the NY Post, there wasn't much of a mention in the press of her recent financial issues. She is not a corporate sponsor of Weight Watchers anymore so we barely see her on television, in print, or on the telly.

Finally, this is all my personal opinion of couse so I am sure others will disagree.

ETA: I would also agree with Odette's comments regarding the British accent. We love a British accent. And honestly, we love the British monarchy as well. As long as it isn't ours As previously mentioned in other threads, when other foreign royals visitthe US it doesn't get much press unless it happens in the city that they are visiting (Maxima and Wilem in NYC, Mary and Frederick in Chicago, and Felipe and Letizia in NM). I live in the Washington, DC area and if it wasn't for this forum or the internet, I would have never known that they were in the States.

[rmay286]

I don't live in the U.S., but I think your personal opinion about the American take on royalty sounds about right. I don't think most people in the U.S. and Canada actually know or care much about the Yorks, besides maybe seeing Sarah in a few Weight Watchers' commercials in the past. I think the difference between me, as a Canadian reading Andrew's interview, and a British person reading the same article, is that my tax dollars don't fund the royal family. We don't get press about whether Andrew is wasting taxpayer money, whether he's qualified for his role, etc.--none of that matters here.

I don't think Canada and the U.S. can be completely lumped together in their attitudes towards the royal family, though, because in the U.S. I think the royals are "just" celebrities, whereas Canadians know the royals have a historical connection to the country. But the royals aren't accountable to us as taxpayers. I think people in North America just take the royals more at face value, as who they seem to be as people. And Sarah and Andrew can be very outgoing, I think more than a lot of the royals, which doesn't mean everyone will be a fan of both or either of them, but I think sociable people tend to win friends more easily.

I wouldn't say that Sarah and Andrew have a big fan club in Canada by any means, though. What Zonk said about people in the U.S. not knowing who Beatrice and Eugenie are probably applies to Canada as well. But Andrew did go to school here, and from what I've read, he and Sarah were also well-received when they toured Canada in 1987. (I wasn't old enough to remember it.)

[Mermaid1962]

I agree with you, Zonk. Andrew was the first "warrior prince" that I knew of, and we all respect a person who's served his country in that way. At the time, he was two heart-beats away from the throne, too: his mother's and his elder brother's. So the Queen took quite a risk in allowing him to go into action.

Originally Posted by Zonk

From what I can see, those in the US who know of Andrew respect the fact that he is a veteran. Especially since for all intents and purposes, it appears that people of mean sometimes have a tendency not to serve. Not all mind you but a few names come to mind. Veterans are very revered here (as they should be). As they are revered in other countries as well.

[Zonk]

Oh rmy286...you are making me feel old!

I distinctly remember when the Yorks went to Canada, I reread my copies of Majesty and Royalty several times (because the internet wasn't public yet!). And at the time, you received your royal news via magazines, television and the newspaper. Oh, the good old days!

Yes, Mermaid1962 -- it was a big thing for Her Majesty to let Andrew fight in the Falklands War at the time. Andrew for all intents and purposes has always wanted to serve his country. Its a shame he didn't say in the services, but I figured it cost him a lot (contributing to the demise of his marriage --- not the main factor mind you one of them). Plus he had the girls (although many people who serve are family men and women).

Just makes you think what life could hve been for Andrew if he stayed in the Navy, Fergie could have handled being a Royal and Navy wife.....things would have been a lot different.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Mermaid1962

... Prince Andrew, as he was known at that time, retrieved the ball and put it back in the hands of the seniors who were supposed to be doing the display. This would have been on his 1985 tour of the Maritime Provinces. That story has always stuck with me, because it showed the Prince's realization that the display was "hi-jacked" by the mayor and and he had the presence of mind to correct it.

That sums up some of our differences. To me, he should never have humiliated the Mayor, in such a public manner. He was there for a short time, a visitor, he should have afforded the mayor the courtesy of staying out of it.

Originally Posted by rmay286

And Sarah and Andrew can be very outgoing, I think more than a lot of the royals, which doesn't mean everyone will be a fan of both or either of them, but I think sociable people tend to win friends more easily

Andrew, IMO, tends to demand formality when it suits him and his apparent belief that he has any 'genetic right' to do jobs he is not qualified for, is . He reminds me of the people who say 'we built this', when in fact they didn't, they simply paid someone else to do it and that is I believe what happens on his T&I jaunts. He is wined and dined whilst the minions do the real work.

Originally Posted by zonk

it was a big thing for Her Majesty to let Andrew fight in the Falklands War at the time. Andrew for all intents and purposes has always wanted to serve his country. Its a shame he didn't say in the services, but I figured it cost him a lot (contributing to the demise of his marriage --- not the main factor mind you one of them). Plus he had the girls (although many people who serve are family men and women).

No greater sacrifice than all the parents/wives who without fanfare allow their husbands/sons/daughters/wives to serve their country and HM, every single day. I think it unfair to blame his job for the demise of his marriage, children or not, the fault lies firmly on the apparent lack of maturity and commitment from Sarah.

I do want to thank you for the answers so far, including the ones by pm.

[rmay286]

Originally Posted by Zonk

Oh rmy286...you are making me feel old!

I distinctly remember when the Yorks went to Canada, I reread my copies of Majesty and Royalty several times (because the internet wasn't public yet!). And at the time, you received your royal news via magazines, television and the newspaper. Oh, the good old days!

I wish I remembered the Yorks' tour to Canada, but no...I was definitely far too young. I do remember when you could only get your royal news from magazines, though. 10 or 12 years ago when I first was interested in royalty, I remember eagerly anticipating the next trip to the library to see if the new issue of Majesty was there yet! There's a generation of kids now who actually can't remember life before the internet, and that makes me feel old.

I have to say that I think a lot of the differences between how British people view the royals, and how North Americans view them, comes down to the fact that we don't see them every day. For example, in Canada, we hear about our government leaders and MPs all the time, and they get criticized regularly, but if one of them came to Britain, I bet most people wouldn't know about the criticism and it wouldn't mean much to them if they did.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by rmay286

There's a generation of kids now who actually can't remember life before the internet, and that makes me feel old.

I am ancient, I can remember the computers that took up huge rooms, more than that I can clearly remember the time before computers!

I have to say that I think a lot of the differences between how British people view the royals, and how North Americans view them, comes down to the fact that we don't see them every day. For example, in Canada, we hear about our government leaders and MPs all the time, and they get criticized regularly, but if one of them came to Britain, I bet most people wouldn't know about the criticism and it wouldn't mean much to them if they did.

There you have hit the nail firmly on the head, IMO. If not in the media, there is always someone who has had dealings with or heard gossip concerning one royal or another.

[Russophile]

I only remember that Fergie had put red and white ribbons in her hair. Isn't that funny? They go to Canada and the biggest news is her hair.

[Mermaid1962]

What I remember from that tour is how much less formal it was than Charles and Diana's--to put it mildly. The Yorks were very tactile, for one thing...Sarah was sitting on Andrew's lap and "snuggling" in a gift shop at one point. I think that the Canadian tour was the one where Sarah spoke at a banquet and pretended to "strangle" Andrew. She was dressed like Tinkerbelle: a big-skirted chiffon gown with a tiara.

Originally Posted by Russophile

I only remember that Fergie had put red and white ribbons in her hair. Isn't that funny? They go to Canada and the biggest news is her hair.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Andrew, IMO, tends to demand formality when it suits him and his apparent belief that he has any 'genetic right' to do jobs he is not qualified for, is . He reminds me of the people who say 'we built this', when in fact they didn't, they simply paid someone else to do it and that is I believe what happens on his T&I jaunts. He is wined and dined whilst the minions do the real work.

I think that this is a statement that is true of all of the Queen's children

I think it unfair to blame his job for the demise of his marriage, children or not, the fault lies firmly on the apparent lack of maturity and commitment from Sarah.

In most countries, there are two (usually, unless there is someone else agitating) in the marriage, no?

[Wisteria]

I don´t think it was the army that caused the end of his marriage, at the time Sarah was complaining mainly about his golf playing.
I just think that Sarah made a huge mistake, or miscalculation or something. At the moment they are just like a married couple, she lives at his house, they go on family holidays but she has lost the prestige she had as HRH but not the comfort by the sound of it. I really think they were entirely suited to each other and it was a pity they didn´t stay married but I think the debts she ran up played a very large part in the separation.
HM at one time said she would not be responsible for any more, meaning I understgand that she bailed Sarah out a few times so when Sarah was caught out, for once HM put her foot down.

[Annie.M.]

Whoops, I guess you meant the Navy in which Prince Andrew served, not the Army!

I agree it is nice to hear they are still close. Their enduring relationship will always have us speculating. Certainly has that fairytale feel about it, as the Duchess has alluded to in the past.