York Family News and Pictures 2: Sep 2015 - Sep 2022

[Countessmeout]

Originally Posted by Osipi

I believe I've read that Beatrice was involved with her father's Pitch@Palace and perhaps was on the board for that organization. If I'm not mistaken though, it'll be Andrew's private secretary, Amanda Thirsk that will head up the Pitch@Palace scheme now.

As Beatrice is not a working royal for the "Firm", I don't see her taking on any of the organizations and patronages that Andrew held in relation to his official royal roles in the "Firm". What will happen to those is anyone's guess at this point.

Beatrice has attended many events for pitch even traveling abroad with her father for it. Though amanda may head it, woukd not be shocked if Beatrice continued to be involved.

Beatrice is already patron of the Royal ballet school. It would be a sensible transition for her to take her father's patronage with the ballet.

With Harry and Meghan gone, I think the royals may be a bit more open to Bea taking on some if her father's patronages. In at least part time role.

[Lumutqueen]

The Duke of York, Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice and her fiance Edoardo were invited by the Chinese Ambassador to the UK to celebrate Lunar New Year.

https://twitter.com/AmbLiuXiaoMing/s...217546753?s=20

The Duke of York brought a message of support for China from HM The Queen in relation to the ongoing coronavirus.

[Moonmaiden23]

Sounds like quite an honor for the Yorks...

[ACO]

Why is the palace being weird about this engagement or private visit or whatever it was. ITV's Chris Ship says they refuse to even confirm it took place and won't confirm any statement the Queen allegedly said. Very strange.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by ACO

Why is the palace being weird about this engagement or private visit or whatever it was. ITV's Chris Ship says they refuse to even confirm it took place and won't confirm any statement the Queen allegedly said. Very strange.

Perhaps because the meeting never went through official channels. Why would The Queen send Andrew to give a message to the ambassador during a dinner for lunar new year, which was attended by his ex-wife, daughter and fiancé?

Again, another member of the royal family has put the Buckingham Palace PR and The Queen on the back foot.

[ACO]

Andrew should have made it clear because the Chinese Ambassador for the UK tweeting this out while the palace is all but dismissing it is a very bizarre look.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by ACO

Andrew should have made it clear because the Chinese Ambassador for the UK tweeting this out while the palace is all but dismissing it is a very bizarre look.

Odd as well that Chinese Lunar New Year was 25th January, this was tweeted out yesterday around midnight and has only just been picked up by the press. The words used in the message of “comfort” are also not in line with what The Queen would say.

The only explanation I can think of, if Andrew truly wasn’t aware, the York’s were invited for dinner and the Chinese Ambassador has simply ran with his own non approved story for the whole thing.

[Osipi]

There's just something totally off about this. I smell a rat in the works somewhere along the line. Oh! Waitaminute, its the Year of the Rat. Nevermind.

[Betsypaige]

I just saw this now...wth? Why in earth would the Queen ask Andrew to give a message of support from her when he’s no longer representing her? I think it’s disgraceful that Andrew went and yet almost as bad that the Ambassador would invite him.

[Somebody]

Sounds a lot like prince Laurent visiting the Chines embassy (against strict instructions not to meet/mingle with foreign powers without approval from the government).

[Lady Daly]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

Odd as well that Chinese Lunar New Year was 25th January, this was tweeted out yesterday around midnight and has only just been picked up by the press. The words used in the message of “comfort” are also not in line with what The Queen would say.

The only explanation I can think of, if Andrew truly wasn’t aware, the York’s were invited for dinner and the Chinese Ambassador has simply ran with his own non approved story for the whole thing.

Xinhua Chinese News Agency (government sponsored)
Queen Elizabeth expresses sympathy, blessings to China on anti-epidemic fight - Xinhua | English.news.cn
Lumutqueen's explanation sounds about right, the dinner was scheduled on or off the books but it's difficult to know the authorship of the Queen's message. Considering the first source was China and not the UK we are hearing this from the perspective and interpretation of the Chinese; the UK may have been caught off guard.

I added the Chinese News (government sanctioned) website above but I use filters. If anyone is interested in what the Chinese article is saying beyond the Chinese ambassador's tweet and can't bring the website up you might try accessing it directly from your browser or I will post excerpts below.

[Lady Daly]

Queen Elizabeth expresses sympathy, blessings to China on anti-epidemic fight - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II conveyed her condolences to Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming for China's losses, as well as blessings for the Chinese people's efforts in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Chinese embassy in Britain said Friday.

The Queen's message was conveyed by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, while he and his family attended a celebration for the Chinese New Year at the ambassador's official residence on Thursday.

Prince Andrew said the Queen was very concerned about China's novel coronavirus epidemic and understood that the fight against it is now at a crucial stage.

"At the critical time of fighting the coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for the Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus," the Queen said in her message to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people.

The Queen also extended Chinese New Year greetings to Xi and the Chinese people, said the prince.

[Leopoldine]

Originally Posted by Betsypaige

I just saw this now...wth? Why in earth would the Queen ask Andrew to give a message of support from her when he’s no longer representing her? I think it’s disgraceful that Andrew went and yet almost as bad that the Ambassador would invite him.

Sarah and Beatrice are not wearing dressy enough clothes for the official visit that this is purported to be. Sarah's posture and leg arrangement implies that she has to urinate very soon. Ugh.


HM, The PoW, The Princess Royal, Prince William, the Prime Minister, Dominic Raab when he gets home, these are the people who are appropriate, not a guy who has a giant black cloud over his head, or his wife who no doubt is eyeing the Chinese market with her new line of household products.

I suspect that the Ambassador was bamboozled by the visit.

[Madame Verseau]

Here's the back story according to DM

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dai...ing-Queen.html

China is supposedly not happy with the UK's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. For BP not confirming it looks like this visit should have been off the books. Doesn't the Foreign Office ask members of the royal family step in to interface with foreign ambassadors? Even if the FO did not ask for a royal, this looks like the Windsors are free lancing in a political situation. I also think China is aware of Andrew's mess and what's going on with the BRF and decided to use the Yorks to embarrass the British government. No.10 can't be happy about this.

[Lady Daly]

Originally Posted by Leopoldine

Sarah and Beatrice are not wearing dressy enough clothes for the official visit that this is purported to be. Sarah's posture and leg arrangement implies that she has to urinate very soon. Ugh.

HM, The PoW, The Princess Royal, Prince William, the Prime Minister, Dominic Raab when he gets home, these are the people who are appropriate, not a guy who has a giant black cloud over his head, or his wife who no doubt is eyeing the Chinese market with her new line of household products.

I suspect that the Ambassador was bamboozled by the visit.

Yes to everything!!

[Lady Daly]

Originally Posted by Madame Verseau

Here's the back story according to DM

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dai...ing-Queen.html

China is supposedly not happy with the UK's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. For BP not confirming it looks like this visit should have been off the books. Doesn't the Foreign Office ask members of the royal family step in to interface with foreign ambassadors? Even if the FO did not ask for a royal, this looks like the Windsors are free lancing in a political situation. I also think China is aware of Andrew's mess and what's going on with the BRF and decided to use the Yorks to embarrass the British government. No.10 can't be happy about this.

Well, this is kinda starting to make sense kinda.

[Lilyflo]

I don't think Prince Andrew should be there at all. If he's a personal friend of the ambassador then it should be a private visit with no publicity. He most certainly should not be delivering a message from HMQ. I hope whoever is responsible for this is held to account & steps are taken to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

[Betsypaige]

Originally Posted by Lilyflo

I don't think Prince Andrew should be there at all. If he's a personal friend of the ambassador then it should be a private visit with no publicity. He most certainly should not be delivering a message from HMQ. I hope whoever is responsible for this is held to account & steps are taken to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.

I agree. Well first, if I’m the Queen, I make sure the Ambassador knows what a big screw up this was - and I’m sure she knows how to get her point across. He can sit near the kitchen at the next State dinner, lol - or maybe not be invited at all. Then she needs to have a nice, long talk with Andrew - favorite son or not, I kind of wish she’d blow up at him (and Sarah, while she’s at it). Does Andrew still have a private secretary ? Would HM’s own courtiers have been aware of this? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, she needs to take them to task...maybe reassign then or fire them. I know that sounds drastic, but this looks so bad, and people have to understand that there will be consequences for making monumentally stupid decisions

[O-H Anglophile]

As far as publicity, none of the Yorks said anything. This was all the Chinese ambassador,... and I think he used the Yorks.

[Madame Verseau]

Express - Andrew was there for a private visit to the Chinese ambassador and not speaking for the queen

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.exp...or-meeting/amp

I thought in times of a nation's crisis the queen would offer condolences through official BP communications. Either the ambassador lied in his tweet or Andrew lied to the ambassador to get a meet and greet (and possibly any special goodies). Beatrice and her fiancé look bad for being a part of this meeting (sorry she's an adult now). It's a bad look anyway and the queen (with Charles if necessary) needs to jerk a knot into the Yorks for exposing themselves in this political mess.