Feeling rather sorry for The Queen

So unfair given that the next King is married to a divorcee. Of that time though.

Don't need a book Ab. Can remember it clearly.

I don't blame her for making the decision to give up Townsend. She knew no other life and would constantly be reminded of the bitterness that followed the abdication. She was also religious and would have been receptive to advice from the clergy.

I suggest you hunt out a copy of Towsends book .

She could have married him but it meant giving up her title and being struck off the civil list

And the Government

I think it was probably remembering Uncle David, Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson and the abdication that persuaded them to put pressure on her.
And the Church of England.

I think Prince Phillip had a hand in that as well.

Different times.

She was probably persuaded by her older sister, with her strong sense of duty, to give up Townsend. Sad decision.

I agree Tegan
Was it choice or was it pressure?
(oh, the shame of marrying a divorced man!)

I agree. She felt she mattered to everyone and she wasn't fussed about earning respect. The queen must have been embarrassed.

She loved being a Royal, loved it more than she cared for anyone . She didn't seem a pleasant person.

She really should have unroyaled herself and married that divorced man. She was stunningly beautiful and seemed to love acting etc. I wonder if she spent the rest of her life regretting it?

Difficult to have a perfect older sibling

I agree about her children.

Of all the Royals I felt [could be wrong]that she did the least when it came to charity work etc.

She and AAJ produced two level-headed children - surprisingly - and her daughter seems a lovely person.

I felt so sorry for Margaret as she aged , she seemed so lost

I still giggle about Princess Margaret scalding her feet in the bath - remember that? Could she not have jumped straight out or was she just too royal to do that without the aid of a minion? Sorry, slightly irreverant - giggle over.

That is a truly nasty thing to say about a woman who had had a stroke and presumably unable to 'jump straight out'.
Let's hope it never happens to you NotTooOld
I have come across cases of scalding over the years and some of the stories still make my stomach churn.

Sorry, merlotgran. I probably went over the top there. Shouldn't be so unfeeling. Many apologies.

PS Why did the miniions leave her in the scalding bath though? Shouldn't they have remained in attendance?

NotTooOld I am staggered over the cruelty of your post. It can't surely be for real?

Princess Margaret was already ill and obviously not capable of jumping out of a scalding bath. She spent the rest of her life in pain and in a wheelchair.

I once read something one of the princes said. I think it was William. It was quoted. He didn't have a problem with Camilla; he was happy that she had made his father happy.

thatbags - agree with you. Hard to feel sorry for someone who has led such a privileged life. I still giggle about Princess Margaret scalding her feet in the bath - remember that? Could she not have jumped straight out or was she just too royal to do that without the aid of a minion? Sorry, slightly irreverant - giggle over.

Merlotgran - do you have insider information about how William and Harry feel about their mother? Just wondering. Camilla seems ok to me. At least she has put a smile on the face of one right royal grumpy (see another thread).

Kate Cambridge isn't a Royal, she married one, same with Diana, Queen Mother and many more . I think if you wish to speak of royal blood, then only Phillip can claim this , both parents were royals

I've decided I never feel sorry for the Queen. I reckon she's had it good and still does. There's no resentment in those sentences. I agree with Stephen Fry's empirical argument about monarchies even though, theoretically, republics seem a better idea.

Re hangers on and the gallery parade, this article by Camilla Long about Beatrice's fashion sense made me chuckle. You have to scroll down past the stuff about bull rhinos.

I agree with Newquay about all those minor hangers-on in their finery. They should be quietly removed and no longer parade themselves, because they add nothing to such occasions nor to royal life in general. That was my point in allowing Camilla's grandson a place on the balcony. I have nothing against step children/grandchildren, but thought here comes another hanger-on with no doubt ten more Camilla relatives waiting for her to become Queen or whatever so they can join the queue and appear in their posh frocks too. They are NOT of royal blood.
In addition I dislike Camilla too, I was a Diana contemporary and think she was treated very badly.