Royal Magazines (PdeV, Hello, Majesty etc)

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I am so happy I am not alone and that others can commiserate. I don't want to read a blow by blow account of how some dippy starlet "made a baby" with her live in lover...and then an equally tacky description of labor and delivery and how many pushes it took to get the newborn out! I want to poke my eyes out with a fork when they print those articles!

Point de Vue was my safe haven from all the tackiness and I think the days are coming to an end...at my local library you can read back issues of PDV going back to the 80's and it was SUCH a quality Royals mag in those days. It's like all the Royalty mags threw in the towel after the death of the Princess of Wales because they feel there are no other newsworthy, glamorous or interesting Royals. WRONG. I want to pick up Point de Vue and read about what went wrong with the Count and Countess of Paris. I want to read about the lives of their children and grandchildren. I want an insider's view of the day to day lives of Their Majesties Juan Carlos and Sophie of Spain. I want a retrospective article on the love story of Baudouin and Fabiola of Belgium, and how they overcame the heartache of infertility to form one of the 20th Century's most enduring Royal couples.THIS is what I will subscribe to in Point de Vue!

[kalnel]

Yes, yes, yes, on the "old" Point de Vue. Years ago, PDV used to *suggest* scandals and overtones in a way that fascinated me -- I'd get the drift of what they meant, but everything was sort of discreet.

(These days, rather than talking about Baudouin and Fabiola's love story, we'd probably get ovulation schedules and sperm counts.)

But, I wonder if today's younger royals even have enough glamour or mystique to create the stories we saw years ago. I think that the generation born after, say, the mid-1960s has grown up with such a sense of being "like everyone else," there's nothing special about them at all. They just don't have the "presence" their elders had.

I've had a chance to see several royals up close in real life. Elizabeth and Philip, Charles, Farah Diba, Beatrix, Grace, Henrik, Anne-Marie, Sophia and Juan Carlos, Felipe, Pavlos, Noor, and Silvia all had *magic* -- they truly changed the electricity in the rooms they were in, even though several of them were "off duty" and dining or shopping in private circumstances. By contrast, I literally didn't notice that Mary, Laurent, Zara, or Willem-Alexander were in the room or at the event until someone pointed them out. They seemed like nice, charming people, but they didn't have the presence their elders have.

(But, I'd bet they'd still run rings around Britney Spears!)

[Alison20]

I have had an order for PDV through my local newsagent for about 7 years. The problem is that it can be quite erratic. The shop tells me it is the distributer's problem, not theirs. The distributer, when I eventually managed to get someone to respond, said it was that they often didn't get enough magazines themselves.

Now, I know I am one of a very small minority in Scotland who orders/reads PDV (most people are into awful, shoddy celebrities), but business is business, and you would think the publishers would be keen to publish more and sell more magazines.

It is also impossible for me to get a back copy once I discover that it has not been delivered (rather than just being delayed!). I would say that one does not arrive about every couple of months. Since I also get a German magazine through the same system, and it practically always turns up, I feel it is not so much the system at our end (poor though that may be) but something at either PDV's end, or the French distributers. Frustrating! I must try the website, though.

[kalnel]

Originally Posted by Alison20

It is also impossible for me to get a back copy once I discover that it has not been delivered (rather than just being delayed!). I would say that one does not arrive about every couple of months. Since I also get a German magazine through the same system, and it practically always turns up, I feel it is not so much the system at our end (poor though that may be) but something at either PDV's end, or the French distributers. Frustrating! I must try the website, though.

I had that problem years ago with both Hello and PDV from time to time here in the U.S. Any time either magazine had an issue that was a big seller at the newsstands in Europe or the UK, I'd either get my copy late or not at all. For about a month after Diana died, I didn't receive either magazine, then I got about 6 back issues and special issues in mail all on one day.

If you're looking for a recent back issue, both Hello and PDV have past issues going back to around 2004/2005 available online. It won't get your money back, but if you're interested in the articles, you can find them.

kal

[Alison20]

Thanks, Kalnel. I will look at the online option in future.

But you are right - they don't seem to produce extra copies of issues which are likely to sell well, so people outside of France (or the UK in the case of Hello) are likely to be dropped off the circulation.

Currently my last issue of PDV is week 51, so I am a couple of issues behind already. Here's hoping they come eventually!

[TheTruth]

Guess who's on the front page of Point de Vue ? Carla Bruni ... again ! "Is she going to say 'yes' ?". What a bunch of tabloid writers !

[Hannelore]

It's pure selling technique. PDV is a very well selling mag. Suppose you could only place royals on the cover, it would have to be reduced to the Grimaldis and the Windsors, the ones the big public knows ... That would get on our nerves too. I don't mind they use persons like Ingrid Bettancourt (after all big issue for France) and someone glamorous like Cécilia Sarkozy or Carla Bruni, who'se in the news and hangs around in a royal/presidential atmoshere. PDV has always been a mixture of royalty-aristocracy, moviestars, fashion, art, glamorous news and history. One issue is better than the other, but on the whole I'm satisfied.

I do notice that they try to reach a younger audience. I don't know how it is in France, but in Belgium it's an old ladies magazine.

[TheTruth]

Well in France it's a "serious" magazine, not considered as a tabloid. It's the upper class of celebrity magazines and most readers are old women lol. But I'm 16 and I read it so I believe there are exeptions

[sirhon11234]

When I was in Paris in July Grace Kelly was on the cover of Point De Vue but I couldn't read it since it was in French.

[highpriestess]

Originally Posted by Hannelore

It's pure selling technique. PDV is a very well selling mag. Suppose you could only place royals on the cover, it would have to be reduced to the Grimaldis and the Windsors, the ones the big public knows ...

Not quite. Felipe & Letizia's wedding was one of the best selling PdV issue ever according to PdV's own report. After all, Spanish royal family was Borbon, originally from France.

[Katrianna]

Royalty is still around. They were having a change over in their printing process or so I was told when I e-mailed them earlier this fall. I received my new issue last week.

[HRH Abigail]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

The English 'Majesty' Magazine is pretty trustworthy. They have a brilliant mix of old and new as well. But Pro-Camilla if thats an issue for you. I was reading that someone wrote in to say that they would no longer buy the magazine if it featured Camilla. I buy it more often to see the Camilla coverage!

YES, quite reputable it is!

I have subscribed to it FOREVER.

The editor-in-Chief, Ingrid Seqard, takes great care not to be salacious, although once in awhile one can throw in a tidbit or two ... and, she does!

I love that Charles married Camilla, finally. NOT to have done, would have been a complete sham, IMHO.

Originally Posted by Hannelore

I'm addicted to point de vue. Royals is nice as well (great photos but silly texts), but only a monthly. PdV brings something fresh every week.

For those intrested in Belgian aristocracy I can recommend L'éventail

L'Eventail >> Accueil

I buy it when it has coverage of The Monegasque Royals, especially Princess Stephanie de Monaco, and Caroline's "children".
I pick my way thru' it, French-English dictionary firmly in hand, LOL

Originally Posted by caroline mathilda

I would add Hola! to the list.

... for the photos, especially.

I like Vanidades, although it doesn't devote itself to Royalty as much as do other 'zines.

-- Abbie

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by kalnel

Yes, yes, yes, on the "old" Point de Vue. Years ago, PDV used to *suggest* scandals and overtones in a way that fascinated me -- I'd get the drift of what they meant, but everything was sort of discreet.

(These days, rather than talking about Baudouin and Fabiola's love story, we'd probably get ovulation schedules and sperm counts.)

But, I wonder if today's younger royals even have enough glamour or mystique to create the stories we saw years ago. I think that the generation born after, say, the mid-1960s has grown up with such a sense of being "like everyone else," there's nothing special about them at all. They just don't have the "presence" their elders had.

I've had a chance to see several royals up close in real life. Elizabeth and Philip, Charles, Farah Diba, Beatrix, Grace, Henrik, Anne-Marie, Sophia and Juan Carlos, Felipe, Pavlos, Noor, and Silvia all had *magic* -- they truly changed the electricity in the rooms they were in, even though several of them were "off duty" and dining or shopping in private circumstances. By contrast, I literally didn't notice that Mary, Laurent, Zara, or Willem-Alexander were in the room or at the event until someone pointed them out. They seemed like nice, charming people, but they didn't have the presence their elders have.

(But, I'd bet they'd still run rings around Britney Spears!)

You certainly hit the nail on the head with every word of this post! It's very depressing isn't it? The young Royals are trying sooo hard to be "relevant" and just like everyone else and they are succeeding to the point of not really seeming Royal anymore.

With the Royals from my parents and grandparent's generation I wouldn't have thought twice about curtsying to them...it would have been instinctual!

The ones from today? I'd PROBABLY do it, but I'd have to think about it first!

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by kalnel

I had that problem years ago with both Hello and PDV from time to time here in the U.S. Any time either magazine had an issue that was a big seller at the newsstands in Europe or the UK, I'd either get my copy late or not at all. For about a month after Diana died, I didn't receive either magazine, then I got about 6 back issues and special issues in mail all on one day.

If you're looking for a recent back issue, both Hello and PDV have past issues going back to around 2004/2005 available online. It won't get your money back, but if you're interested in the articles, you can find them.

kal

If you are interested in REALLY old issues..like from the 60's and 70's you can get them on ebay or other online venues...it's probably worth it because some of the old covers of Paris Match and Point de Vue look glamorous beyond belief! Princess Margaret, Gracy Kelly, Princess Paola(now Queen Paola of Belgium) and on and on..so gorgeous!

There is no way today's starlets could compete with those women!

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by TheTruth

Well in France it's a "serious" magazine, not considered as a tabloid. It's the upper class of celebrity magazines and most readers are old women lol. But I'm 16 and I read it so I believe there are exeptions

I'm not nearly as young as you are, but I am not an old lady either and I love Point de Vue...WHEN they stick to Royal subjects!

I almost never read the American tabloids like People, Star Mag or even the Enquirer anymore. All they talk about is who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, or who is overweight. Every week it's either Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan or Britney Spears. Seriously, the tabloids in this country are OBSESSED with those three and I just can't take it!

[sirhon11234]

I don't consider People Magazine a tabloid, its very informative.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by HRH Abigail

YES, quite reputable it is!

I have subscribed to it FOREVER.

The editor-in-Chief, Ingrid Seqard, takes great care not to be salacious, although once in awhile one can throw in a tidbit or two ... and, she does!

I love that Charles married Camilla, finally. NOT to have done, would have been a complete sham, IMHO.



I buy it when it has coverage of The Monegasque Royals, especially Princess Stephanie de Monaco, and Caroline's "children".
I pick my way thru' it, French-English dictionary firmly in hand, LOL



... for the photos, especially.

I like Vanidades, although it doesn't devote itself to Royalty as much as do other 'zines.

-- Abbie

Vanidades is interesting..a new "discovery" for me! They tend to be much more daring in the Royalty gossip they print. For example a month or so ago they published an old photo of a young and beautiful Princess Paola(now Queen) of Belgium...romping on the beach with one of her lovers. It had been taken in the 70's. The entire article was about how wild Paola was and now she has settled down, of course. Then there was an article about Charlotte Casiraghi and how she likes lounge lizard/playboys just her her mom Princess Caroline did when she was young. I couldn't believe it! They would SO get sued if they published that in France!

I don't speak Spanish, and I can read very little of it(Vanidades is in Spanish)
but I can read enough to know a good gossip when I see it LOL!

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Originally Posted by sirhon11234

I don't consider People Magazine a tabloid, its very informative.

It's definitely more reliable than say, The National Enquirer or Star. But yes, I think it's considered a tabloid especially now with the stories they print.

How many "How I Lost 100 Pounds Without Surgery!" movie star articles can they print? How many times can they show Britney Spears falling out of an automobile without any panties on?

I hate People now. I only read it when I am standing in line at the market...I rarely buy it.

[TheTruth]

Oh well, Carla Bruni again on the front page ... I think we'd better get use to it since it's been already the third week

[iloveroyals]

In the early seventies, I would go to the Point de Vue and Jours de France headquarters in Paris to browse through their old issues and bought the ones I was interested in. Then Jours de France (the best quality magazine at the time in terms of glossy, beautiful, flattering pictures of royals) folded, (I ran into all these absolutely gorgeous models going there to show their portfolios, it was on the Champs Elysees, metro Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau if anyone cares, they seemed from another planet they were so gorgeous (Jours de France hired very beautiful models indeed), and I have no idea what happened to the headquarters of Point de Vue, not having lived in Paris in a long time, and having little time for that time of errand when I did visit.

Anyway, it was a sweet time, going through their collection in a private room, making your selection, paying for it, and leaving with your treasure in your hands.