RIP HM Queen Elizabeth II

[AlterEgo]

About Princess Anne's hard work: I've always suspected that Meghan Markle's real problems came from the fact that she was expected to work as hard as Anne does, which is that she simply doesn't stop.

And that most of Anne's work is not especially glamorous. She's a low-key royal who has the busiest schedule even after her 70th birthday.

A typical entry from Court Circular just before the Queen's death:

The Princess Royal this morning visited Kyles Camans, Shinty Stick manufacturers, at Neil Blair and Sons, Goirtean Beag, Tighnabruaich, and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute (Mrs. Jane MacLeod).

Her Royal Highness, President, Royal Yachting Association, this afternoon visited Tighnabruaich Sailing School, Carry Farm, Ardlamont, Tighnabruaich, and was received by Mrs. Miranda van Lynden (Deputy Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute).

The Princess Royal later opened new facilities at Tarbert Harbour, Garval Road, Tarbert, and was received by Mr. Kenneth McNab (Deputy Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute).

Her Royal Highness, Patron, the Pony Club, subsequently visited the Argyll South Branch, the Gather, Campbeltown Road, Tarbert.

That's two trips in a day and four engagements, not bad for someone her age. She went to Skye the next day and took on another couple of duties.

I don't think Meghan really wanted to be visiting a shinty stick factory in Scotland or a bus depot in Plymouth or a mobile library in Orkney or a Welsh poetry reading in Amlwch. The royal aesthetic has moved far beyond Diana's international, glamorous and coruscating presence to something more austere and lower-wattage. This is only underscored further by the new King. I have found it strange to see the monarch, hatless and dressed soberly in a suit, outside in public. Of course, that is entirely normal for British male monarchs, but it makes a marked difference to the late Queen's Portillo-palette clothing and exquisite hats, which made her the centre of attention everywhere.

Much of the working royals' schedules are tedious beyond extreme in the abstract with the additional expectation that when the royal does arrive they are alert, present and fully engaged with everyone who's been looking forward to their arrival.

I suspect King Charles III's plan for a smaller cast of characters in the Royal Family and generally running the "Firm" in a more straightforward and accessible way is wise, and helped by the absence of his idiot brother and prodigal son.

 

[westv]

(Freeview 232 for anyone who wants to watch without streaming it).

or just press the red button.

 

[adc82140]

I do wonder what will become of some Royal residences that do not belong to the Crown. Will the King want to keep on Sandringham, for example.

He has Highgrove as his personal bolt hole.

 

[Snow1964]

I do wonder what will become of some Royal residences that do not belong to the Crown. Will the King want to keep on Sandringham, for example.

He has Highgrove as his personal bolt hole.

Camilla has kept her home at Reybridge (near Laycock, between Chippenham and Melksham).

 

[yorksrob]

My (Polish!) mother-in-law is utterly obsessed with the Royal Family, and she said the same thing today.

About Princess Anne's hard work: I've always suspected that Meghan Markle's real problems came from the fact that she was expected to work as hard as Anne does, which is that she simply doesn't stop.

I don't follow Harry and Meghan much, but it's good that they seem to have made up to an extent with the rest of the family.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2022 ==

I do wonder what will become of some Royal residences that do not belong to the Crown. Will the King want to keep on Sandringham, for example.

He has Highgrove as his personal bolt hole.

I can't imagine them getting rid of Sandringham. Too much of a family home.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I don't follow Harry and Meghan much, but it's good that they seem to have made up to an extent with the rest of the family.

My feeling has always been that any rift has been greatly exaggerated by the tabloids who resent the fact that Harry and Meghan refuse to fall in line with their agenda. The Queen's passing has forced a truce on the tabloids but I don't expect that will last.

 

[Urobach]

My feeling has always been that any rift has been greatly exaggerated by the tabloids who resent the fact that Harry and Meghan refuse to fall in line with their agenda. The Queen's passing has forced a truce on the tabloids but I don't expect that will last.

Glad I'm not the only one who's thought that

 

[westv]

I don't suppose there are many wives that live to 96 but still die at a younger age than their husband.

 

[Butts]

I don't suppose there are many wives that live to 96 but still die at a younger age than their husband.

Or their Mother ?

 

[DerekC]

Am I going to get thoroughly jumped on and kicked around for saying that, although I will watch today's ceremonies with respect and a degree of sadness, I will be very glad when it's all over and we can get away from the wall-to-wall royal reminiscences and back to normal life. I was listening to the Archbishop of York on R4 a few minutes ago. He said that the Queen's last gift to the nation was a return to a feeling of unity. Whilst I think that's true to a degree, I wonder how long it will last. I suspect not long.

 

[Butts]

Am I going to get thoroughly jumped on and kicked around for saying that, although I will watch today's ceremonies with respect and a degree of sadness, I will be very glad when it's all over and we can get away from the wall-to-wall royal reminiscences and back to normal life. I was listening to the Archbishop of York on R4 a few minutes ago. He said that the Queen's last gift to the nation was a return to a feeling of unity. Whilst I think that's true to a degree, I wonder how long it will last. I suspect not long.

Not sure what it's like outside for others, but in Falkirk it's as quiet as Christmas Day.

Had to nip to RS Mcolls for a paper as just about all shops closed.

 

[DelayRepay]

Not sure what it's like outside for others, but in Falkirk it's as quiet as Christmas Day.

Had to nip to RS Mcolls for a paper as just about all shops closed.

The same here. I went out for a walk earlier, hardly a car on the roads. The newsagent is open until 10am, none of the other shops are open.

It reminds me a bit of the first day of lockdown.

 

[adc82140]

Is there any particular reason why Jacob Rees Mogg has turned up dressed like an undertaker?

 

[Mag_seven]

Is there any particular reason why Jacob Rees Mogg has turned up dressed like an undertaker?

He is an absolute caricature of himself isn't he.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Update from The Telegraph as follows:

Safety fears scotch plans to use Royal Train to transport Queen Elizabeth II to London

Decision causes dismay in rail industry, where staff were preparing to play their part in national mourning

www.telegraph.co.uk

I can see why they didn't. The stuff you see when a bog standard heritage train goes through defies belief sometimes.

 

[yorksrob]

Indeed I forgot about that - although it did not travel North whole.

it was fixed by a stone mason up here using a rod with a message inside that has never been read - intriguing.

Is it known who wrote, or at least dictated, the message?

Given the time of those events, I wonder if the secret message reads "down with railway privatisation".

 

[birchesgreen]

Is there any particular reason why Jacob Rees Mogg has turned up dressed like an undertaker?

Isn't that his normal look?

 

[Gloster]

I don’t have a TV and haven’t been reading the endless piles of newspaper filler, but if I had I might have given up when one of the papers (Independent?) spoke to Michael Fagan, the man who broke into the Queen’s bedroom. How long before The Mail gets it campaign again the Duchess of Sussex going again at full throttle?

 

[52290]

The same here. I went out for a walk earlier, hardly a car on the roads. The newsagent is open until 10am, none of the other shops are open.

It reminds me a bit of the first day of lockdown.

One big difference from lockdown, the pubs are open.

 

[Jamesrob637]

One big difference from lockdown, the pubs are open.

Some only after 14:00.

 

[DelayRepay]

Some only after 14:00.

My local opened early today, to allow people to watch the funeral. Only tea and coffee on offer though.

 

[341o2]

I can see why they didn't. The stuff you see when a bog standard heritage train goes through defies belief sometimes.

Apparently the Queen wanted as many as possible to view her on her final journey, some have said they were put off by the long queues when she was lying in state, so have come to pay their final respects on the journey to Windsor

 

[Butts]

Nice to hear David Dimbleby back at the "commentary wheel" on BBC at the moment.

Still think he tops his successor Huw Edwards albeit largely through familial credibility and gravitas.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Is there any particular reason why Jacob Rees Mogg has turned up dressed like an undertaker?

It’s what he wore to Victoria’s funeral.

 

[Bovverboy]

Who's the guy about two feet taller than everyone else? He was marching a few feet in front of the hearse.

 

[Strat-tastic]

He reminded me of Richard Osman.

 

[AlterEgo]

I thought the funeral was excellent, especially the latter part in Windsor. Hard to put into words what it felt like, seeing the instruments of state removed and placed back on cushions for safe keeping. An outstanding occasion.

 

[najaB]

Hard to put into words what it felt like, seeing the instruments of state removed and placed back on cushions for safe keeping.

That's one of the moments that really got me as well.

 

[341o2]

Same here. A unique occasion, which I will probably never see again.

Also another link with the past gone. As a Princess, during WW2, she served in the ATS, driving ambulances and the like. In fact, the King expressed his concern regarding the future Queen putting her life at risk.

 

[westv]

That's one of the moments that really got me as well.

me too