Royal Round Up 3-16-10: Madge takes on Wallis; Discovering your heritage; Junior royals on their own
March 15, 2010 by Mandy Littlefield
Filed under Mandy's Royalty, Royal Family
Madge to tackle the story of Wallis Simpson
Madonna, the 1980s pop music icon, is turning to Queen Elizabeth II for help on a film she intends to make.
Madge is looking to Her Maj’ to provide information on Wallis Simpson, who married King Edward VIII after he abdicated the British throne. The singer is reported to be fascinated by the 1936 crisis, in which Edward VIII’s decision to marry Wallis, an American divorcee with Nazi leanings, caused a constitutional dilemma. With his abdication, the crown passed to his younger brother Prince Albert, the Queen’s father. Edward and Wallis became known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and were effectively banished from England, bouncing between France, the Bahamas, and Palm Beach, Florida.
Madonna’s constantly morphing public persona settled on ‘English lady-of-the-manor’ when she married British director Guy Ritchie in 2000. Since then, the singer has been enraptured by all things British and aristocratic.
Buckingham Palace courtiers, according to the Telegraph, says that Madonna shouldn’t get her hopes too high.
Lord of the Manor or a maid? New research program finds out
We all wish we could claim blue blood and inherit a grand estate. Now, a new research program that is being backed by the National Trust can tell you for certain.
Research suggests four per cent of people have some link to royalty in the family tree, a fifth find ancestors who were born illegitimate and six per cent unearth a missing family member.
The National Trust, with help from Ancestry.co.uk, is helping to fund investigations into the family trees of the people who lived and worked in Britain’s stately homes through the centuries. Many people may find that they have direct links to royalty and aristocracy, whether through legitimacy or illegitimacy, through this program. It can also tell you if your ancestors were scullery maids and butlers to the rich in the luxurious country homes of England.
The genealogical database Ancestry.co.uk contributed to the BBC television series Who Do You Think You Are?.
The show revealed that Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, is related to several European royal houses and can claim direct descent from King George II. German Prince Paul von Wurttemberg, a great-great-grandson of George II, produced an illegitimate daughter with an actress of the time. Their child, Karoline, married Baron Charles de Pfeffel. They were the great-grandparents of Johnson’s grandmother Irene.
Small world, eh?
How Posh Do You Think You Are?
Eugenie and ‘minor’ royals on their own
A former Scotland Yard officer claims that junior members of the Royal family do not require constant police presence.
The cost to taxpayers is hundreds of thousands of pounds, according to Dai Davis, formerly of the Metropolitan Police’s royal protection squad.
“I am not aware of any evidence of any threat to her. If there isn’t a threat, it would appear to be a pointless exercise,” said Davis.
Eugenie Does Not Require Police Protection
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Royal Round Up 3-02-2010: Charles ‘meddles’; Anne’s Surprise Trip; Going Underground
March 2, 2010 by Mandy Littlefield
Filed under Mandy's Royalty
Prince of Wales Accused of ‘Meddling’
Baroness Quin claims that Prince Charles is unfit to be King because of “grotesque” meddling in national affairs.
The Labour Party politician makes the claim in her new book, “The British Constitution, Continuity and Change – An Inside View”.
“The Prince’s views on a number of subjects will need to be curbed if he is to undertake the duties of a monarch, particularly in the instances when these views are clearly contrary to the Government of the day,” said Lady Quin.
The former Joyce Quin served as MEP for Tyne and Wear and subsequently became MP for Gateshead East and Washington West. During her time in Parliament, Quin served as a Minister in Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and the Home Office.
In April 2006 it was announced that Quin had been nominated for a life peerage by the Labour Party. The following month she was created Baroness Quin amidst the ‘Cash for Honors’ scandal, which erupted into a 16-month inquiry.
All of the new peers – known as “working life peers” – were listed on the BBC’s website that year. Working life peers are appointed by their political party, rather than being chosen by the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Quin is not the first, nor will she be the last, critic of Prince Charles’ outspoken views. The prince has come under fire several times over his opinions on genetically modified food and architecture.
Her Majesty Gets Her Own Underground Sign
The Queen visited Aldgate Station last week, one of several stops on a royal tour of the City of London. Her Majesty was presented with a specially made Tube sign that read “Buckingham Palace”, a recreation of the famous logo of the London Underground.
The roundel, or circular design, was first used on the Underground back in 1908 to highlight station names on platforms. The now-famous red circle with blue name bar was quickly adopted, with the word “UNDERGROUND” across the bar, as an early corporate identity.
Soon after departing Aldgate, the Queen’s official car ran into a spot of trouble. Her chauffeur was unable to get the royal Bentley started, so the monarch hitched a ride with a police officer in his Range Rover.
Perhaps the Queen should’ve hopped on the Tube?
Princess Royal’s Surprise Visit
Princess Anne, the Queen’s only daughter, arrived for a morale-boosting visit to Afghanistan yesterday.
The Princess Royal met with British troops stationed at Camp Bastion. Her last visit was in the autumn of 2006, the first royal to visit the troops in that country at the time.
Anne also toured the Information Systems Headquarters at Kandahar in her capacity as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Corps of Signals.
Captain Jo Barr, Adjutant of Bastion Joint Operating Base said, “This visit has been a great morale boost for the troops. They see that dignitaries like the Princess Royal are genuinely interested in what we do out here.”
For security reasons, the royal visits to military installments are never announced until that person has left the country. Princess Anne’s nephew, Prince Harry, has seen action in Afghanistan but it was not publicly announced for fear that the soldiers would be bigger targets with a royal in their midst.
Princess Royal’s Surprise Visit
Royal Round Up 2-23-10: Kents, Interrupted; Murderous Pilot; Harry and Wills Joint Tour
February 23, 2010 by Mandy Littlefield
Filed under Mandy's Royalty
Queen’s former pilot on trial for murders
Respected air force commander Colonel Russell Williams has been arrested in connection with the deaths of two women and is currently being questioned about eight other killings.
Williams, who was chosen to fly the Queen to Canada for her 2005 tour, allegedly had his tire tracks matched to those found near the scene of the murder of a flight attendant. He was arrested and connected to the killing of a second woman, a 27-year-old missing since late January.
Buckingham Palace gave no comment, stating that it was a matter for the police.
William and Harry on first joint tour
Prince Charles’ sons William and Harry plan to join forces and launch their first royal tour together.
Clarence House has stated that the Princes intend to carry out a series of official engagements in Africa together this summer. The official statement announcing the tour has yet to be announced, however, as the princes are unsure whether their time off from military training will coincide.
Prince William is eager to travel to Botswana, where he will visit his conservation charity Tusk Trust. The royal brothers will also make a trip to Lesotho, where Prince Harry set up the charity Sentebale to help children orphaned by the AIDS scourge.
Living in a royal “theme park”
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, as well as other royal relations, have discovered that their Kensington Palace home is being turned into a royal “theme park”.
The conservation organization Historic Royal Palaces has teamed up with the Cornish theatre company Wildworks to transform the building into what is being called an “Enchanted Palace” .
During a performance that combines fashion with theatre, visitors will get to walk through Kensington and listen to tales of its previous residents, who include the late Diana, Princess of Wales, the late Princess Margaret, and Queen Victoria.
Of course, those residents won’t be disturbed at all – it’s the current residents who may feel the disruption. Besides Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, KP houses the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Aside from Kensington Palace, HRP maintains the upkeep and well-being of the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, and Kew Palace. Visit their website at: Historic Royal Palaces
Duke of York celebrates his 50th birthday
Andrew Albert Christian Edward was born February 19th, 1960. The prince is the second son and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Andrew was named for his paternal grandfather, Prince Andrew of Greece. He was educated at Heatherdown Preparatory School and eventually at Prince Philip’s alma mater Gordonstoun, in northern Scotland. Andrew then went on to the Royal Naval College Flight, undergoing pilot training. The prince joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and attended the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a cadet.
In 1982, the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands was invaded by Argentina. This event precipitated the Falklands War, in which Prince Andrew participated as a helicopter pilot. The British government was hesitant to let the Queen’s son see battle, and preferred to keep him at a desk job. The Queen had other ideas, and insisted that Andrew be allowed to remain with his ship HMS Invincible.
Andrew returned home after the battle to a rapturous welcome. He would lay the wreath at the Cenotaph each year on Remembrance Sunday to commemorate the event.
Prince Andrew would meet Sarah Ferguson within the next few years. She came to his attention when she was invited by Andrew’s sister-in-law, Princess Diana, to a dinner. Andrew and Sarah hit it off, and they married at Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986. His mother the Queen created him Duke of York that morning.
The seemingly happy pair appeared to be perfect for one another, but after a while cracks began to show. The new Duchess was accused of grabbing ‘freebies’ and spending the Queen’s money left and right. Andrew said nothing and continued his official duties, often leaving Sarah alone for weeks on end with their two young daughters. Sarah turned to various lovers and would eventually have her personal affairs splashed all over the newspapers.
Distraught, the Queen would see the separation of her eldest son, Charles, just months after the announced separation of the Yorks.
However, Andrew and Sarah have remained on very good terms and have raised their daughters amicably. Neither the prince nor Ms. Ferguson ever say a negative thing about the other in public, and they have been praised for their healthy attitude for the sake of their daughters.
Today, the Duke of York serves as the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. He has held this position since 2001, traveling all across the world to promote British business. As the Duke enters his fifth decade, it seems that he is content and successful with two happy daughters and a lasting friendship with his ex-wife. We wish them all the best for many decades to come.
See the Telegraph’s retrospective of the Duke’s life
Royal Roundup 2-16-10: Cam and the Queen; Andrew’s traffic trouble; Kate’s Cakes
February 16, 2010 by Mandy Littlefield
Filed under Mandy's Royalty
Camilla’s steps out with the “Queen”
The Duchess of Cornwall was recently the guest of honor at a charity fashion show featuring the spring/summer collection of designer Anna Valentine. Sweeping into the massive lobby of London’s High Court, where the show was set, photographers snapped the Duchess carrying her mother-in-law!
It’s not as strange as it sounds – Camilla was actually carrying a black purse that had a rainbow of sequins in the form of Her Majesty in profile. It was a design by Lulu Guinness, who created the purse to look like a stylized stamp.
Camilla attended the Valentine show to support Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, of which she is President. Anna Valentine designed the Duchess’ wedding gown and has created several outfits for Her Royal Highness for various official engagements.
The show’s program contained a message from the Duchess, who is quoted saying, “Each Maggie’s Centre is a beautifully designed building offering essential advice and emotional support, a sanctuary in a world where everything has been turned upside down.”
Duke of York injures policeman
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, clipped a policeman as he drove by in his car. Police are now looking at the security camera footage to see what exactly happened.
The Duke reportedly failed to stop or slow down after hitting the officer, who later filed a complaint. The prince almost hit a pair of tourists when the officer pushed them aside to safety. It was then that the officer himself took a hit to his arm by the prince’s Range Rover. A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed the incident and said that the matter is being looked into.
Kate Middleton probably knows the Muffin Man, too
The ever-entrepreneurial girlfriend of Prince William has created yet another job for herself: posh baker.
Concerns that she doesn’t have a real job have spurred Miss Middleton into doing every job. Prior to this latest scheme to open an upmarket cake shop with her brother James, Kate has been a fashion buyer, photographer, and has worked with her parents at their own company, Party Pieces.
The Middleton siblings’ venture into the world of party goods is called Cake Kit, said to be tied in with Party Pieces.
Anglotopia is Now a Sponsor of the RoyaltyNow Podcast!
February 10, 2010 by jonathan
Filed under Anglophilia, Mandy's Royalty, Royal Family, Site News
Mandy from Mandy’s Royalty has been doing a great job writing for Anglotopia every week, rain or shine and telling us all about the latest happenings with the Royal Family in her Weekly Royal Roundup for several months now.
Mandy also has a great website and blog on her own and runs a fabulous podcast called RoyaltyNow – about all the latest happenings in the Royalty World.
We’ve had the opportunity to sponsor her podcast and have taken her up on the offer. Check out the podcast here.
