Which Royals Smoke?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Osipi

I wouldn't put too much stock in that statement either considering that back around 1947 when Elizabeth and Philip married, doctors were still telling women to take up smoking to relax and aid in losing weight. The health concerns from smoking are no where near what they are today.

Exactly. And while the queen has always led a healthy life, sensible eating, exercise, I don't think she ever smoked.. and probably just likes an occasional drink..i doubt if she'd try to impose "No smoking" on her family. the only thing I've heard of her imposing on Philip was thtat she doesn't like beards and he sometimes had one.. in his Navy days..
A lot of her relatives were heavy smokers, and I'm sure she didn't in the 40s or 50s, think of it as a health problem....

[Queen Claude]

The story I am familiar with is that Philip gave up smoking because he knew that Elizabeth hated the habit, he had his last cigarette on or right before his wedding day. The reason given for her hating the habit was because she had family members who smoked and suffered ill health because of it. Perhaps in 1947 there had not been any official discouragement of smoking by government and physicians group but I am pretty sure it was known by both professionals and laypeople that smoking could cause health problems.

[Denville]

It was known by some experts but it wasn't generally considered to be a health risk. SHe might not have liked the habit, but I find ti hard to believe she was all that aware of the health risks. Its possible that if she didn't like cig smoke, Philip gave up to please her..

[Curbside]

Lots of smokers have a distinctive cough. It doesn't take a genius to figure out smoking is bad for your health.

[ladongas]

And perhaps she didn’t want cigarettes stinking up her home and her clothes. Many smokers don’t seem to realize the vile smell is offensive to others.

[Denville]

Im not a smoker but I don't think it is a vile smell. Siomeone of the queen's age, was not likely 70 years ago, to think of health risks when most doctors didn't think of them.

[ladongas]

Originally Posted by Denville

Im not a smoker but I don't think it is a vile smell. Siomeone of the queen's age, was not likely 70 years ago, to think of health risks when most doctors didn't think of them.

I used to visit my mother who was an enthusiastic smoker (but lived until age 90). Before I brought my suitcase into her house, I would put it into a giant black plastic bag. I would take my clothing out when I was ready to dress, and I would put my previous day’s clothing into another bag.
I’ve never been a smoker, I have a great sense of smell, and I don’t want to smell like a smoker.

Had I been Queen, I would have commanded that my mother stop smoking!(She would have defied me.)

[Queen Claude]

Originally Posted by Curbside

Lots of smokers have a distinctive cough. It doesn't take a genius to figure out smoking is bad for your health.

Absolutely! The Queen does not merely come from a family of smokers, she comes from a family of heavy smokers and both her grandfather (who was euthanized) and father spent their final years suffering from illnesses that could be easily traced to their smoking habit. My guess is that the same was true of her grandmother Queen Mary, who also smoked, but her health decline has not been reported on as much as her father and grandfather's.

[ladongas]

...is a term used for cigarettes as early as the 1880’s. Even then, smoking was thought to be dangerous. And the British Medical Journal published research in 1950 showing a link between smoking and lung cancer.

[Princess Squirrel]

I can tell when a heavy smoker sits next to me on a bus or train or tube. They smell like a used ashtray. I can hardly believe they don't know how much they stink. Perhaps the Queen felt the same.

[ladongas]

Originally Posted by Princess Squirrel

I can tell when a heavy smoker sits next to me on a bus or train or tube. They smell like a used ashtray. I can hardly believe they don't know how much they stink. Perhaps the Queen felt the same.

And their houses stink, too!

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Smoking and smokers have never bothered me, some of them smell quite good. Ironic that we can't "fat shame" people but we can "cigarette shame" despite both being killers.

[Denville]

I don't see that it is anyone else's business, either for people who smoke or over eat. You can request htat someone not smoke near you, fair enough but IMO its impertinent to "shame" them....(or overweight people of whom I'm one)...

[XeniaCasaraghi]

Denville you are officially my BRF soulmate; I agree with u.

[O-H Anglophile]

Originally Posted by Denville

I don't see that it is anyone else's business, either for people who smoke or over eat. You can request htat someone not smoke near you, fair enough but IMO its impertinent to "shame" them....(or overweight people of whom I'm one)...

Because secondhand smoke can be detrimental to others' health.
(And the smell permeates everywhere, on everything and lingers.)

[Princess Squirrel]

Smokers have really horrible yellow ceilings in their houses. A smoker friend who came to visit me remarked on how nice and white my ceiling was.

[Princess Squirrel]

Originally Posted by O-H Anglophile

Because secondhand smoke can be detrimental to others' health.
(And the smell permeates everywhere, on everything and lingers.)

This.

Overweight people don't make me share their food, whereas with smokers you get to share their charming habit whenever they are near you. Google Roy Castle. American forum members won't have heard of him, but he was a popular presenter here in the UK who famously died of lung cancer from performing in clubs playing the trumpet. He was a non smoker. My mum has a non smoker friend who used to run a pub back when people smoked inside pubs. She got cancer and was no longer able to eat solid food, only liquids. Then the cancer came back and she can now no longer even drink liquids, she has to be fed through a tube in her stomach. Her oncologist told her she got cancer because of the smoky pub. I'm so glad they banned smoking in pubs. I used to work part time in a pub and even though I don't smoke and used to ask to be put in the non smoking bar, they always put me in the smoking bar. Cleaning out the ashtrays was the most vile job. I am glad employees of pubs don't have to put up with smoking any longer.

[XeniaCasaraghi]

We may not have to deal with immediate issues with regarding weight but obesity and eating habits is an epidemic; I thought it was only the US but apparently its even in the UK.
I'm not saying people should put up with second hand smoke, but no royal being discussed in this thread is affecting you in anyway. A person who smokes outside alone with other smokers is still treated with disdain and shamed as is evidenced by this thread. Sorry I just have an issue with how smokers are treated in society.

[Countessmeout]

They aren't being criticized for smoking in private. No one would know they were smoking in private. They aren't being photographed in private alone from people. The photographs are in public.

Its not simply a matter of second hand smoke, though that is a major issue. There are other health issues. For people like me who have a serious allergy to cigarette smoke, and have trouble going into public spaces at time because of people lingering outside doors smoking cigarettes.

Smoking is a choice. The issue with over eating/fat is we don't know. It may very well be a choice. And yes that is a major issue, an epidemic. But it also may be health issues. It may be mental health issues. There may be plenty of other factors outside that we don't know. Smoking is not the same.

[XeniaCasaraghi]

How is smoking not the same, nicotine is addicting which is why it is so hard to quit and can take Medical assistance.
Yes the people in this thread were smoking in public and the situation may have been that no one cared; if that was the case it has no effect on you.
Also I am overweight and I do overeat so I know it is also a choice. Please don't think I'm some skinny gym rat who hates fat people.

Anyway back to the topic of royals who smoke, I heard William used to but I have never heard if Kate used to as well.