Yes, when I was young and freshly-educated, I was always a bit nervous before going on job interviews, or when meeting prospective in-laws, or when encountering new situations at my employment. And of course I got better at all those things over time. But I didn't always have the luxury of many days' advance preparation, either. And I certainly didn't have a raft of advisors to help me out, nor a suave prince by my side! But I had grit and intelligence and spunk and common sense, and I generally did well.
And of course Her Majesty could no doubt carry out her engagements while sleep-walking if she had to, after 8 decades of public life. But the nodding and smiling and hand-shaking won't be too hard for Catherine to master, and she will have superb counsel for the other duties and knowledge she will need to perform and acquire. And I think that people will be charmed by her as they were by Diana, even in the early days; she'll get the benefit of the doubt more often than not.
My point about Catherine's primary responsibility ties in nicely with what you point out. If she can be beside William for the majority of her early engagements, she certainly will be more confident and less likely to make serious errors. But if she is rushed into performing huge numbers of royal duties and having to be away from home in the early months and years, then the success of her marriage will be less assured. And if the marriage doesn't work, then it won't matter how well she performs her duties.
It seems to me that if HM thinks this is the right way to start "the kids" off in their lives together, then she is probably right.
I actually think you and I agree, Iluvbertie. Let William and Catherine settle into their own life together before requiring them to be movers and shakers in the Royal Family. Some seem to think that she must hit the ground running right out of the honeymoon gate regardless of anything else. She is mature, educated, and worldly- not a bad starting place. Youth, glamour and romance will help her immensely. And if there's no romance between the couple, there won't be between the couple and the people whom they serve.
PS- I don't know which Bertie you love, but I've just seen The Kings Speech, and I definitely love Colin Firth's Bertie! Wonderful movie.
And of course Her Majesty could no doubt carry out her engagements while sleep-walking if she had to, after 8 decades of public life. But the nodding and smiling and hand-shaking won't be too hard for Catherine to master, and she will have superb counsel for the other duties and knowledge she will need to perform and acquire. And I think that people will be charmed by her as they were by Diana, even in the early days; she'll get the benefit of the doubt more often than not.
My point about Catherine's primary responsibility ties in nicely with what you point out. If she can be beside William for the majority of her early engagements, she certainly will be more confident and less likely to make serious errors. But if she is rushed into performing huge numbers of royal duties and having to be away from home in the early months and years, then the success of her marriage will be less assured. And if the marriage doesn't work, then it won't matter how well she performs her duties.
It seems to me that if HM thinks this is the right way to start "the kids" off in their lives together, then she is probably right.
I actually think you and I agree, Iluvbertie. Let William and Catherine settle into their own life together before requiring them to be movers and shakers in the Royal Family. Some seem to think that she must hit the ground running right out of the honeymoon gate regardless of anything else. She is mature, educated, and worldly- not a bad starting place. Youth, glamour and romance will help her immensely. And if there's no romance between the couple, there won't be between the couple and the people whom they serve.
PS- I don't know which Bertie you love, but I've just seen The Kings Speech, and I definitely love Colin Firth's Bertie! Wonderful movie.
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