Current Perception of the Windsors and the Future of the Monarchy

[Eric_Lowe]

I think the structure itself made it impossible. Those who think it could work do not understand the workings of the British Monarchy. It is very different from the Dutch. Apart from Britain, there is also the Commonwealth.

[darius]

Anyone outside of that central core should be working and funding their lifestyles themselves.Rachelxx

Well, I'm going to have to concede on that point myself Rachel.  The current RF is too large - particularly when you throw the Queen's cousins into to the mix.  

However, how can they win?  The Kents and Glouchesters came of age in another era - when it was not only acceptable but expected that persons holding the HRH style lead royal lives.  It was not that long ago that it was considered disgraceful for a royal to hold a job.  Heck, even Sarah (a former royal) has been heavily criticized for her various efforts to support herself.  They cry "She's trading in on her status".  Well, excuse me, she IS the former wife of a prince.  Unless Britain's public wants to support her, she's going to have to earn her keep and yes, that means drawing from her circle - which happens to include many high rollers due to her title.  What is she to do?

It is obvious, however, that the RF is contracting.  30 years ago, cousins like the York princesses would be given apartments at Kensington and put out on the royal circuit.  Today, they are likely to raise their families privately, appearing only for major royal family events.

By the end of the present reign, the core RF will have shrunk by 1/3 from 30 years ago.  After the retirement or passing of Andrew, Anne, Edward & Sophie, it will shrink even further.  Makes sense too - they seem to be adopting the continental approach which often separtes the "Royal "House" from the "Royal Family".

Of course these cousins have been a great support to The Queen during the past 60 years - and have represented the UK abroad without any scandal on numerous occasions.  I think that the same should be true today.  The York princesses should be put out on the royal circuit - its what their title represents, what they were born to do - not ski and jet off to the caribbean at every available opportunity.  It is such a shame that British princesses have become little more than eurotrash.

[Eddie_uk]

Totally agree Darius! They should set an example. They give the Royal Family a bad name with there antics!! They should have been sent to a very expensive finishing school in Paris say & then returned ready to do there job, I'm sure the public would be interested to see them presiding over functions wearing some of there grandmothers choosiest jewels & elegant gowns & doing good!! They have a duty.

[darius]

I don´t think that the French finishing school would have been necessary - their predecessors managed without that.  I think that DUTY has not been instilled into them and they pretty much carry on as they please ... a bit like their mother - its all fun and games for them.

[Eddie_uk]

So very true...

[darius]

Don´t they spend time with their grandmother at all?  Supposedly Beatrice is very interested in her Romanov ancestry and with her mother´s books on Queen Victoria etc you would expect them to have some notion of their heritage and what is expected from them.  I´m half expecting them to turn up as contestants on the X Factor or something!

[Lindelle]

Well Darius their mother WAS involved in that stupid 'It's A Royal Knockout', so where there's smoke.....................................

[Adagietto]

"The York princesses should be put out on the royal circuit - its what their title represents, what they were born to do - not ski and jet off to the caribbean at every available opportunity."

Oh, please no! Jet them off to some remote island in the Pacific.

[darius]

Following on from post regarding the POW attending the State Opening of Parliament for first time in 17 years and earlier announcement in the press that HM would not attend the biennial CHOGM in Sri Lanka due to a desire to "pace" her public duties, does anyone know when the Queen Mother ceased to travel abroad and to where she last travelled?

[Jen_94]

I'm not so sure when her last international trips abroad were. I have read she made trips to Continental Europe between 1963-1992? So it appears she was still going abroad well into her 80's/early 90's?

[TimM]

She was a pretty active woman for much of her life.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

The QM was in Edmonton and Toronto in Canada in 1985 for four days total and had a pretty busy time then.
I believe she went to Venice in the late 90's;  I've seen a photo of her in a gondola there.

Larry

[CHRISinUSA]

Her last official tour was in 1989, during a visit to Canada which marked the 50th anniversary of her first visit there.  She did make private annual visits to continental Europe until 1992 (when she was 91).

[Eric_Lowe]

I think the Queen can go on until 91 too...

[Jen_94]

The Duke has recently returned from a solo international visit to Canada. Yes, I think she'll go on into her early 90's. 

She's got so much stamina in her, I admire her for the sense of duty, and how she promised that 'her whole live with be dedicated to service'. She's done exactly that.  She'll definitely be on the list of one of GB's greatest Monarchs in my opinion!