OT: The Royal's

"Jangchub" wrote

I have watched it before; there is a companion book that your library can likely find for you. I was both amused and fascinated by the precision of things like the placement of chairs and centrepieces on banquet tables, or setting up for a garden party.

Dawne

Some years ago i saw a film about a Dinner To which The Queen of England invited the President of Polland , It was facinating to see. But i don`t think Usa would like to have such Traditions [after all they wanted to b e independent and have self rule] , even though many of the Diplomatic Gestures and traditions come from those of the various Royal courts. After all Democraties grew out of the need of people to have other styles of life. mirjam

We do, but it's more subtle and not put on display as much. And, of course, US etiquette proceeds from a slightly different set of foundational principles, so it's different from British etiquette and protocol.

Best wishes, Ericka

We watched for most of two hours last night. Mid-way through my DH said that working here in D.C. he sometimes thinks we are taking the pomp and ceremony thing too far. But now that he's seen just how far things can go, he's no longer worried.

Donna in Virginia

Since the pomp and circumstance is just ceremonial and the Queen doesn't make political decisions, it's just nice. Live history. I was wondering where Camilla was in all the places they shot. In all fairness, they didnt show much of the boys and Prince Charles.

Maybe I'm romanticizing it all, being a Jane Austen fan and all.

Victoria

This is a new one. I also watched another version of a year in the live of the Queen, or monarchy, rather. This is the newer version and was filmed just before Tony Blair left office.

I am going to request the library buy the book and the DVD set.

I loved the sense of humor of the handlers of all the medals, and flatware, and like you said, the precision. It's nice to see some kind of respectful protocol. Maybe that's what I also enjoy about Tibetan Buddhism. There is a lot of protocol where His Holiness is concerned. How to look, not to touch, etc.

Victoria

I saw one episode but what I like is the precision and how it is arrived at, the Queen has to be as near on time as possible and many things go into achieving that.

When they arrange the tables at Windsor for a State Dinner (don't know if they have shown that) the tables run the length of the hall and are very wide. They use tremendous centre pieces and they are put in place by footmen standing on the tables with felt slippers. They also measure exactly where cutlery goes, glasses etc. and when the table is completely laid with such military precision, they look fantastic.

Although I am not a monarchist as such, I think it is great these traditions carry on, they bring a lot of tourist money for the UK, and it is different to feel things are being done, as they have been done, for literally centuries. As a Canadian the Queen costs each of us a couple of dollars per year and I think it is well worth it when I consider the alternative. Some political appointment made by some PM, and we all know how expensive that would get !!

They did show the set up for the State Dinner last week. Magnificent! Such an array of guests, too. All walks of life were there. The Queen herself seems to have a good sense of humor.

It does appear they have to move her along to keep the schedule. As she was speaking with people and asking questions she seemed genuinely interested. Mark said she has to appear that way, but I have a BS barometer and I may be wrong, but I didn't sense it with her. I hope she lives a good long, healthy life.

Harry is simply beautiful in his military suit. So tall! They didn't show Prince William. They are both so beautiful. They must miss their mom.

Victoria

Oh I suspect that is not the reason at all. If you are invited to stay in a guest room in the Palace you would be of some stature and would never consider stealing anything! LOL.

Victoria

Unless you were President of Romania "While staying in Buckingham Palace in 1978, Ceausescu, in addition to swiping trinkets from the palace, believed that the British had bugged his room. He would talk politics only in the gardens. Petrified of infection, he washed his hands with rubbing alcohol after touching the queen. He even required a food-taster before he would eat palace food." Source:

And not only Buckingham Palace: "...Buckingham Palace had been furious about having had the 1978 state visit of the Romanian dictator imposed on it by the Government of the day... ...In the event, Buckingham Palace did not suffer the level of theft experienced by the quarters provided by the French head of state, which lost almost everything of value, plate, clocks, porcelain, that could readily be moved, as well as having wiring ripped out by secret servicemen who suspected French bugging. But, as Behr revealed, there was still a certain amount of pilfering by Romanian staff, and Her Majesty was not best pleased." Source:

Oh that is just disgusting! Plain and simple disgusting. I would never think such a thing would happen, but I guess when I think something is okay, it changes. Yuck.

Victoria

Oh that's nothing on what Ceausescu did in his own country. He was a real prize, you know.

Elizabeth

Nobody gets out alive. Nothing goes unnoticed. Victoria

They bumped him off in the end, didn't they?

A trivial factoid: we (the city of N'cle, NSW, Oz) got his helicopter! It's a Jell Betranger or something and it's our rescue 'copter.

You should hear DH on the subject! He lived in Romania for five years during Ceausescu's era as Assistant Air Attache at the Embassy. In fact he had to present his credentials to him when he arrived in the country, inasmuch as he was a diplomat. (Yup, those of you who have met Jim may giggle at that). DH, his ex and kids lived in a house in Bucharest. He loves the Romanian people, and says they are so warm and kind. What C did to them was totally outrageous.

Gillian

Yup, they found him and his wife guilty, took them out back and shot them.

Gillian

Having been born and brought up in England, but spent my entire adult life on this side of the pond, I have a different viewpoint. When people ask me "what use are the Royals?" I tell them that their greatest utility is that they keep the politicians from acting too royal.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

I always thought that was very classy. After all the years he tormented his people and she lorded it over them, just to be unceremoniously taken out and shot must have really made him mad ! Too bad more people don't do that with their former dictators.

I think that Mr Mugabe (Zimbabwe) must be high on the list of candidates...