The Monarchy under Charles

[Osipi]

To amplify what Iluvbertie is saying, I was reminded of Margaret Rhodes, the Queen's first cousin and childhood friend. I did some searching and found an article from the not so distant past that I really enjoyed.

The Queen and I: Her Majesty's cousin lifts the lid on the private lives of the Royals | Mail Online

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

Actually she has had her cousins around her for most of her life...

Thank you, Iluvbertie. I realize I was taking her life at face value - official - and not being realistic. Interesting perspective - a full extended family life. Simply lived, too, from the below article.

Originally Posted by Osipi

To amplify what Iluvbertie is saying, I was reminded of Margaret Rhodes, the Queen's first cousin and childhood friend. I did some searching and found an article from the not so distant past that I really enjoyed.

The Queen and I: Her Majesty's cousin lifts the lid on the private lives of the Royals | Mail Online

Thank you, Osipi. Interesting insight.

Later: I had a heart-stopping moment: one of the pictures - the one with her sitting eating her lunch on her lap with a drink to the side (see link below) - reminded me forcefully of my mother: the white hair, yes, but the roll of hair at the crown - a type of hair-do women who came of age in the 40's seem(ed) to be fond of (my mother sure was) and just the general gesture and attitude of the face - so like my mother - sans the glasses (my mother had darker rimmed ones).

http://tinyurl.com/7vag7cy

[Iluvbertie]

This is a short report about her visit to church at Filcham last Sunday and it includes mention of Philip's nephew and his wife - Ludwig is Philip's sister, Theodora's son.

The Queen meets well-wishers at Flitcham church - News - Eastern Daily Press

These Baden's are amongst the many first cousins of the Queen's children. People often only think of them having the children of Princess Margaret but they have way more first cousins on their father's side as his three sister with suriving children had many of them but because of the ages at which his sisters married most of these cousins are closer in age to The Queen than to Charles and certainly to Edward. All four of Philip's sisters married between 1930 and 1931, although the youngest remarried sometime later after her husband was shot down during WWII.

From Theodora Philip has two nephews and a neice all still living - it is the youngest of these three who visited last week.

From Margarita Philip had two neices (one stillborn) and four nephews with only one still living.

From Sophie - the youngest sister, the first to marry and the last to die (in late 2001 - about six weeks before Princess Margaret died) he had/has four neices and four nephews with the eldest of Sophie's children dying as recently as last November. Her younger three children, from her second marriage are much closer to Charles in age being born in 1947, 1949 and 1954 although the one born in 1947 is also deceased.

So Philip still has 10 living nieces and nephews all of whom regularly visit.

The Queen herself has extended family in Britain with whom she is in regular contact - the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent, Prince Michael and Princess Alexandra. She also has regular contact with their children and their grandchildren.

[Lumutqueen]

Still waiting for the crown - but Charles finally accepts he will never have a Jubilee of his own (and hopes biding his time will make us accept Queen Camilla) | Mail Online

[Warren]

I've moved the recent discussion into a new thread in the POW & DOC subforum: Charles as King: Choice of Regnal Name.
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[Jenafran]

Originally Posted by muriel

Russophile - I hate to say it, but the thought of Windsor or Sandringham operating as some form of an upmarket B&B is quite ridiculous!

Why? They are renting out rooms at Buck House for the Olympics...

[James VI]

I would imagine that several visiting heads of state, will be staying at Buckingham palace, for the opening ceremony of the Olympic games, but no more than that. Beyond the Belgian suite and a few others, the Palace does not have the substantial accommodation, that we might imagine. In addition, the protocols surrounding the visit of a head of state, to this country, are very strictly observed. As it is not a state visit, the Queen would not be expected to recieve dignatries as official guests, therefor they would stay in private accommodation, not in one of the palaces. I could be wrong, of course?

[Jenafran]

London 2012 Olympics: Queen to rent out St James' Palace room for £30k a day | Mail Online

??????

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by Jenafran

London 2012 Olympics: Queen to rent out St James' Palace room for £30k a day | Mail Online

??????

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Jenafran

Why? They are renting out rooms at Buck House for the Olympics...

Originally Posted by Jenafran

London 2012 Olympics: Queen to rent out St James' Palace room for £30k a day | Mail Online

??????

Well St James' is not Buckingham Palace which was what you originally said. St James' is barely used and The Queen's making money from some empty rooms, good on her!

[James VI]

Thank you for that link, Jennafran!! Reading some of the comments posted after the article, one can see just how nasty and vile the republican fringe in Britain, really is. Such sad people. As i imagined, these are not visting dignatries, Olympic officials or tourists staying at St James palace, as paying guests, i think that headline is a little misleading!! There is nothing wrong with business people, associated with the Olympic games, using the facilities of St James for corporate purposes, and paying for the privillege. HMS Britannia often played host to such events and the concept is well established. As Lumutqueen rightly says, the Queen is simply showing a good business head and if others object to this, then that is their problem.

[Patra]

I think this is a brilliant idea! If given the opportunity and means, I'd love to stay at St. James' Palace! Am so looking forward to the Summer Olympics in London!

[HM King Edward VII]

Yes, I don't quite know what to expect when that dreadful day comes, when Queen Elizabeth II dies. Will Charles be able to uphold the monarchy as She did. It really is quite a question isn't it?

[Artemisia]

There were fears that the man in your avatar - Edward VII - would not be able to live up to the reputation of his great mother, Queen Victoria.
Having waited most of his life to ascend to the Throne, he was considered too old, too progressive (or, depending on others' point of view, too traditional), too unlike Victoria to be a good Monarch. And yet when be did become King, by his short but very successful reign the Peacemaker King proved his critics wrong.

Something tells me that will be the case with Prince Charles as well; he has, after all, trained for the job whole his life, is a dedicated and hard-working person and a brilliant Prince of Wales. All in all, I think he'll be able to uphold the legacy left by his mother when the sad day comes.

[Angelique]

I agree Artemisia, (what a lovely name!) like you, I believe Charles will be a wonderful Monarch. Through all the trials and tribulations, I believe He has become a wiser, more compassionate and stronger man. Just look how fond His sons are of Him. In addition, He is courageous enough to speak His mind, even if some of His views are somewhat different, which I believe to be an asset. However, I doubt if He will ever have the chance to become King.....We'll see.