Royals at Sandringham.....

To me Kate looks very unwell and much too thin. No need for her to be worn out with household help. She is almost anorexic and looks so much older than Meghan.

The anti royals want Corbyn and the present Mrs Corbyn ?

EllanVannin Well, except the war when we chopped the King's head off! And no, I'm not suggesting we do the same again!

gma, what a wonderful person your mother is. I would love to think that I could continue living like that. I do at the moment with no health " obstacles " in the way as yet and 13 or so years to catch up.
Not sure if it has anything to do with the independent life ? I've been widowed since 1994 and the Queen is her own person so far as decision making ( keeping the brain active )

Anyway I don't like to hear, see or read about false news on Royal rifts. The media just love fabricating because it knows it will set off those members of the public whose favour lies with a Republican country ( God forbid ) and the more there looks to be a division because of a mixed race wife the further the race card will be played among the airheads who just use the word to whip up a frenzy of racism.

Perhaps the anti-Royals would prefer Tony and Cherie Blair heading our country ? Or why don't they flit off and go and live under a Republican ruling if they don't like our Royals. If the truth be known it's because of the Royal families that we've never had a war here.

We were at DD2's house (the one with the unreconstructed SIL) and she knew we always like to see the Queens message on TV and usually they take the p.. out of us. After losing DD1s husband in December we all seem a lot closer and this year they came and sat with as well in respectful silence. DD2 usually goes off the deep end about the royals but she didn't as she knew we find the message comforting and I hope she took something from it.

My mum is 2 months older than the Queen! She lives on her own in a house with 3 short flights of stairs! She has no carers or outside support. She has a taxi to take her shopping twice a week (£5 each way) she says she enjoys this little bit of expense as it is her “independence “ we do all the bulky shopping, and call her at least once a day and see her a couple of times a week. Her health is reasonable, and she looks after herself, cooking lunch every day. She admires the Queen intensely, and marvels at how she can stand for so long, but believes it’s all in the genes and the way the Queen has lived her whole life. She appreciates that the Queen has had worries about her children and a great deal of sadness also. I would dearly love to see them Sit down together and have a cup of tea and a chat! Probably a bit of granny boasting too! Maybe 1926 was just a good year!

I agree Sparklefizz two women with different life styles, different interests .

I don't think there's any rift between Kate and Meghan, although the press are keen to generate one and to constantly compare one to the other.

They are totally different women who, like many in-laws, jog along as best they can even though they have little in common. Perhaps they don't even like one another but Kate, certainly, is too well-mannered to let it show.

The brothers will surely have fallen out with each other at times over the years as families do. I hate all this comparison in the media, even with comments from body language so-called experts, trying to drum up some interest. You can take a one-off photo and read something into it just because someone is looking in the opposite direction. It's nonsense. But since drones have stopped flying over Gatwick, there is nothing else to write about!!

The photographs on her desk this year were interesting, her father, she with her husband and first born, Charles with his family , two monarchs and three to come.

I don't get any of this c**p on facebook.

I clearly don't move in the right circles.

I don't think we're a poorly educated country BTW. Every country has its share of idiots.

I was surprised at the level of criticism as well. I agree Grandma70 the antiques don't belong to the Queen personally, it would be such a shame to see our history sold off.
As usual the keyboard warriors go for the easy targets. No support for a woman who has done her best for the country for so many years.

Grandma70s well said. I wish people would appreciate the country that we live in, free education, health care, safe to walk the streets, etc. Loyalty to ones country is sadly lacking. I know it’s not perfect but at least some of us are trying to improve the situation, not bashing those who are just getting on with the job.
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I saw a lot of horrible comments on FB, the language used in some comments was absolutely vile.
If you don't like the royal family do not watch the Queen's speech and more importantly do not spout vitriol on social media it just makes you look and sound ignorant.

Grandma70s I did see some of the bashing on fb, pic of queen with gold piano behind and whilst I am not a royalist I couldn't help but notice the piano looked Victorian and my immediate thought was Prince Albert's piano.

Maybe people should watch more of Antiques Roadshow or even Bargain Hunt that way they will be able to see what was likely made in the past decade or what "came with the house"

It has been quite horrifying to read the Queen-bashing on Twitter, from people with no sense of history and, clearly, no appreciation of fine antiques such as the beautiful Erard piano made of gold-painted wood (mahogany). It was Queen Victoria’s. I love to see these things. Perhaps she’d better bring out her Argos keyboard next year.

They also seem unaware of the fact that the Queen is far from the richest person in this country. There are various people who have made vast mounts of money, many no doubt through dodgy business deals, who are far richer than she is. They don’t seem to attract the same degree of bitterness.

Stand by for the scorn that will be poured by the ignorant on Prince Charles, when he reveals on Desert Island Discs that he likes classical music.

I have come to the conclusion that we are largely a very poorly educated country.

She is genetically lucky- not amazing

She is.
I will watch it at some point.

I liked the Queen's speech and I think she is amazing for 93.

I can’t remember the last time I subjected myself to being patronised by her and apparently this year the whole scene was dripping in gold as well as being full of patronising crap

How did it all pass me by?

#oblivious

I thought the Queens speech interesting

Goodness me how on earth do all those parents with little children manage at Christmas? I’m told that some of them have to do all their own shopping, cooking, washing up, cleaning - and some even host their own parents. But to be fair, they don’t alll fit in getting glammed up to walk to church. FFS

Well we were there. Harry talked to us.
Everyone looked happy enough to us.

Kate did look tired , but with a 5 and 3 year old on Christmas morning no surprise . I thought queenie looked well and liked her outfit . I was surprised at the distance the rest of the family walked behind the four.

Have William and Kate escaped to Bucklebury yet?