Here are some new photos of Prince Harry and Prince William doing separate events in England yesterday, shortly after Duchess Kate stole everybody’s thunder with the news that Prince George will have a new brother or sister to terrorize shortly. Harry was doing an event ahead of the Invictus Games and William was at Oxford for the opening of the Dickson Poon building (or whatever). Here are some various royal-themed stories going around:
*William was “greeted with cheers” upon his arrival at Oxford. He seemed in a good mood, despite the fact that Kate was supposed to do this event with him. She was too sick to go though. But William downplayed her sickness, saying: “She’s feeling okay, thanks. It’s been a tricky few days. But we’re immensely thrilled. It’s great news, and early days. We’re hoping things just settle down and she feels a bit better. I’m going to look after her now.” He also chatted with a young woman holding a 4-month-old baby and William complimented her on the baby’s silence.
*There are bets on the sex and the name of Baby Cambridge #2. London bookmakers think it’s far more likely that Kate will have another boy, and the most popular boy names are: James and Arthur. If it’s a girl, the most popular name choices are Elizabeth and Victoria. I don’t think they would do Victoria, honestly. But they would totally do Elizabeth. Oh, and I forgot about this too, but Queen Elizabeth changed her father’s previous edict about daughters born to princes. It used to be that if William and Kate had a daughter, she would only be Lady ~~~ Cambridge. The Queen changed it so any daughter they have will totally be a princess (unlike Kate!!).
*Prince Harry will be pushed back in the line of succession. When Baby #2 is born, Harry will become the fifth in line and Prince Andrew will be bumped to sixth.
*Harry spoke about his new little niece or nephew at the Invictus event. Harry was hilariously passive-aggressive about it, saying: “It’s very exciting news. [George] will be over the moon…I can’t wait to see my brother suffer more. If it’s a girl, he’ll suffer even more. I’d love to see him try and cope with that.” HAHAHA. Then Harry had a moment of seriousness and said: “In all seriousness, I hope my sister-in-law gets better soon. The last time I saw her, she was okay. Feeling pretty poorly, but I think that’s to be expected. Luckily I’m not a woman so I don’t have to go through that. It’s a pretty horrible thing.” I really hope Kate doesn’t end up baby-blocking the Invictus Games.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Ah, good old British sense of humour. People read way too much into it.
Oh, I’m one of the worst offenders about that (not getting it and thinking it was mean) and even I could tell he was just joking, brother torturing sort of thing. It was cute.
Was discussing this earlier today with my boss. Having a font used solely for sarcasm/bone dry humour would make life much much easier 😉
My husband does not get the British humour. My gramps was British and I get it.
I’m an American with a very dry sense of humor, and I’m constantly having to censor myself. The more I like you, the more sh*# I’ll give you, whereas I am scrupulously polite to people I dislike. Fortunately, I have a batch of British friends and co-workers who get the joke….
Are you of Polish decent by chance? In my experience polish people have an extremely dry sense of humor all their own. None dryer.
No, but my mother’s father was Slovak, a lot of my cousins are Polish-American from the other side of the family, and my aunt is from Poland. And they all have a really good sense of humor. (I’m from Chicago, which has always had a lot of Eastern European immigrants.)
I love how Harry stirs his brother, my own bro thought it was hilarious when I did not sleep for five years after I had my baby. Its payback time for me too, as his 8 month old is a non sleeper…..siblings…they like to give each other crap.
I am crossing my fingers for a girl… Only because I seriously don’t want them to name their boy “James.” I had my James about 3 weeks prior to PG and was thrilled they named him George in a totally irrational way. Please be a girl. Please be a girl. (Yep, I’m still irrational)
Kates brother is James so there’s no way they would name their son that. People are also betting on Henry which won’t happen either since that’s Harrys real name. My guess is Alexander since that was apparently Kates pic for George.
But George’s first middle name is Alexander.
They could do Albert, I guess. I don’t see the problem with Henry or James – British aristos (and wanna-be aristos) are all named like the same five names, generation after generation.
After how the Romanovs (to whom the RF is distantly related) came to a bad end, I don’t think that any princeling will be allowed to be named Alexander.
Why wouldn’t they name a girl child Victoria? The UK grew to be a great empire during the reign of the last Queen/Empress Victoria.
There’s something about how Victoria decreed that her name could be used, and she also had demands/requests about the use of Albert as well. I don’t remember right now, but maybe someone else can?
I also saw an interview with Harry where they mentioned that he’d be 6th in line to the throne and he laughed and said “Good!” Methinks he won’t be crying into his tea at the idea that he wouldn’t be king. 😛
Yes, Harry seems to be dancing his “happy jig” over this news. Adore Harry, I really do.
“He’ll never be king.”
“No, but he’ll be happier than the man who is.”
If prinesses can’t be born to princes, then what are Eugenie and Beatrice? I’m confused.
Is it because Kate was a commoner?
But they are their parents’ only children. The “Lady” provision only applied to girls with brothers. If Andrew and Sarah had gone on to have a son after the two girls, they would get bumped down to Ladies. That’s why.
If memory serves, Andrew pitched a fit to get his girls the ‘princess’ title with the Queen. According to the letters patent it is only supposed to be male grandchildren/great grandchildren of the sovereign in all other cases. But I’m sure one of the other royal commentators knows for sure.
Princess Anne got her title because her grandfather George VI made a exception for Elizabeth and Phillip’s kids or else she would have been a lady as well.
Beatrice and Eugenie were given the title of Princess when they were born. The Earl and Countess of Wessex’s daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor is also technically a princess, but her parents decided, with the Queen’s agreement, that she would use the courtesy title of the daughter of an Earl instead.
This is a very confusing issue. Anne was HRH as the daughter of a future monarch–there may have been some fuzzing of the rules because Elizabeth was only heir presumptive when Anne was born, but she would have been HRH absolutely when her mother became queen.
Beatrice and Eugenie were HRH as the granddaughters of a monarch through the male line. Edward and Sophie chose not to style Louise and James as HRH, but it wasn’t backed by decree. There’s a parallel to Camilla not styling herself The Princess of Wales — they all did it for various PR reasons, although in the Wessex case, it was because the queen convinced them to be the vanguard of “we are shrinking the civil service list and going forward, the only members of the Firm will be the heir and the heir’s children.” Andrew was encouraged to downgrade his daughters’ titles at the same time, threw God’s Own Fit, and the Queen backed down.
The test of that resolution will be what they style Harry’s children, if he has them. Under the new order, they would presumably not be HRH because they are not children to an heir. But here’s the wrinkle:
As of now, William’s children (and Harry’s, under the old order) are only the GREAT-grandchildren of a monarch. When the Queen dies, they would become HRH, but as things currently stand, they would have been only Lord/Lady (or Viscount, if the Duchy of Cambridge had been invested with that subsidiary title as the Earldom of Wessex was). It’s because they aren’t “close enough” to the throne. Of course that’s a bit nonsensical, so the decree was issued to give them the HRH now and not make them wait on Grannie’s death.
As I said, we will learn a lot about whether the retrenchment was a post-1997 PR move or a genuine drive to reform the Firm, if and when Harry has kids.
The Queen has 4Great Grandchildren, just George is the only titled/HRH one.
Beatrice and Eugenie are princesses because they were born to a son of the reigning monarch.
It’s because they’re the grandaughters of a monarch through the male line (ie, children of the monarch’s son.) Rule is, child is not prince or princess if they’re the great grand child, unless they’re the oldest son of the oldest son of thr prince of wales. Inother words, only prince or princess in third generation would be George. The rule change the queen made would only make a daughter of Will and Kate a princess if she were first born. Of course, child becomes a prince or princess when Charles becomes king beause they are then just second generation from the monarch.
It’s the rules of inheritance of princ(ess) titles.
George V’s letters patent on the subject limited the use of ‘princ(ess) titles to children and grandchildren of the monarch in the male line ONLY.
HM’s father, George VI, had to create a special caveat to create HM’s children ‘princ(ess) due to her being female and therefore unable to pass on any titles despite her being the heir presumptive.
As the letters stop at grandchildren, any further generations would be Lord/Lady and not automatically princ(ess) unless their parent became the monarch in which case they’d receive an ungrade on the occasion of their parent’s upgrade per the rules.
HM had to create another caveat to the letters patent, just like her father, such that the children of the eldest son of the POW is now also Princ(ess).
Translation: in the current situation, William (eldest son)’s children will be Princ(ess), but not Harry’s children. Harry’s children will be Lord/Lady until Charles becomes monarch when they will be upgraded on account of being monarch’s grandchildren and therefore within the club. IF Charles never becomes monarch and William inherits instead, Harry’s kids will remain Lord/Lady – unless William decides to change the rules again.
Due to the restriction to grandchildren generation of a monarch, HM’s great grandchildren fall outside the rules and are therefore not princ(ess) unless she decides to do so. In the case of William, she made the change.
Sidenote: on a feminist note, I hate that the wording of her caveat wasn’t gender neutral because she continued the tradition of excluding females even though she accepted that females can inherit the throne. Don’t you just love those gender biased rules. You’d think that HM having experienced them herself would think to change them accordingly!!!!
Regarding Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. Per George VI’s special caveat regarding HM’s kids, they are princ(ess).
As the titles are passed through the male line only, and their kids ARE grandchildren of the Monarch, everyone’s kids except Anne’s kids are automatically Princ(ess).
The only way Anne’s kids can have titles is if their father had accepted a title. He didn’t and so her kids are without titles.
Edward asked that his kids be referred to by the titles that go with the children of an Earl, but legally they are Princ(ess) and can take that up any time they choose.
What is the value of the title “princess”? Do they inherit more money, do they get extra privileges, or is it just a status symbol? What is the purpose of being titled?
LAK
Just out of interest…..tis not that I object!…..why is Edward an earl, rather than a duke? There were royal duchies ‘spare’, such as Clarence, weren’t there? Still, I approve of a title involving ‘Wessex’, all the same.
(If the Cambridges do have a daughter, I vote for ‘Caroline’, honouring C of Ansbach, a royal heroine of mine) 🙂
Chris2: funny, but true strory.
Edward’s title reverted to the crown many aeons ago, but when it was used in the film SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, he adored it and asked for it.
On a serious note, no one except the monarch knows which ducal title will be granted, if at all. HM has always taken into consideration the wishes of her kids (and grandkids) within reason.
She granted the title of EoW to Edward with a request that he inherit Philip’s DoE title on his death. Therefore it doesn’t matter that he is EoW now because he is more than *likely to be DoE on Philip’s death.
For a proud man like Philip, it makes sense that one of his sons should inherit his title which would have been automatic IF he hadn’t married a monarch who comes with a system of reserved titles for each child according to birth order that trumps his own titles.
*when current DoE dies, it will revert back to the crown before being handed to Edward by whoever is the monarch assuming they honour Philip’s wishes.
@Chris It is believed that when Philip dies,new letters patent will be made creating Edward Duke of Edinburgh. As it is now his title would be Inherited by his eldest son, Charles. So this creation will be allowed to end and a new one created for Edward.
LAK, Kori
Aha, many thanks. Yes, it does ring a bell re Edinburgh after all. (I’d been spinning notions about various no-goodnik Dukes of Clarence, and Cumberland)
That’s a good story LAK, ties in with his time in the thee-ayter!
Harry is probably destined to get the title of one of those no goodniks. Lots of unhappy stories about dying childless and that’s why the titles died out. What are we thinking for Harry? Clarence is the most obvious I suppose.
I hope he gets Clarence or Suffolk.
I hope he doesn’t receive Sussex – to easy to make fun of.
It’s a pity York will revert to the crown when Andrew dies. It would have been nice for the inheritance rules to have been changed already so that B inherits it.
LAK, I agree on Sussex, just a bad idea all around. I hadn’t thought of Suffolk. Maybe fewer negative associations with that one? I’m thinking that Clarence House will be turned into something else (not a private home) when Charles is king, so Harry wouldn’t get Clarence House along with the title.
If they’re going to be stingy with the HRH title, at least give the female heirs in close line of succession hereditary duchys of their own. There aren’t that many hereditary duchys around anyway, and now that hereditary nobles can’t vote in the House of Lords, noble titles are almost purely ceremonial (unless they come with actual lands). Their progeny can always disavow their inherited titles if they wish to avoid the life of a toff.
If George gets a sister, she’s going to be one tough little girl. She’ll probably learn to hold her own against her bruiser big brother pretty quickly.
She’ll also have Zara’s daughter as a close-in-age cousin.
They are so close as brothers. I’m sure William is wanting the same for little George, to grow up playing with a sibling close in age. Harry is adorable. What a lucky child to have him for an uncle.
I like Harry’s honesty.
I wonder how much William complained with the first baby, George, if Harry talks of his suffering. William must have been moaning a lot. I hope the second baby is easier for him and he complains less.
Hahaha, I can totally see William moaning to everyone who’d listen about the hardship of being a first time dad! And then dumping the baby on Kate.
Cue the holier-than-thou, I was in labour for 87 hours and lost 16 pints of blood, Kate’s not really ill she should stop moaning, mom brigade in 3… 2…. 1…
Good god, woman… after that, you deserve to play the “holier than thou” every time you please. Glad you got through that.
Um… I don’t have kids? Perhaps my post was badly worded?
Your post is sort of confusing. I had to read it again to get what you meant.
I suffered from this extreme morning sickness , was bedridden and on and off IV fluids for a month. It’s absolute hell. You pray to feel better, but know the only way this is possible is to not be pregnant…which is also the thing you want most in the world. It’s horrible mentally and physically. I feel for her and can’t imagine being in the public eye through it…being judged. People just can’t imagine how extremely sick you can get as a result of pregnancy. It’s debilitating.
Agreed, now I come to look at it, my phrasing and punctuation could have been improved!
Exactly about the being judged. I am a Brit, anti-monarchist and not a great lover of kids, I just feel so sorry for this woman whose every move, even getting ill, gets judged by complete strangers who know absolutely nothing about her medical history.
She looks after her kid = she’s lazy
She goes on holiday or to events = she’s a bad mother
She gets ill = she’s faking it
She seems well = she’s just a smug spoiled b*tch
They get married = she was desperate for a ring
They have a child = she’s desperate to keep him
I just… do the people saying these things have any clue how many vile, misogynistic assumptions are wrapped up with their words? We really are our own worst enemies sometimes, particularly when it comes to policing other women’s bodies/sexuality/parenting.
Right, I’m sad and angry now. Is it wine o’clock yet?!
@embertine
I thought your meaning was clear and that your post was funny, for what it’s worth. Funny and very true.
Just a little kidding from a younger brother; nothing to see here. 🙂
I bet these two would make the cutest little girl…
I have no problem with Kate staying at home. Honestly i expect nothing great from her. My expectations were way too high when she married. Now i´m disillusioned.
But in this case i have great sympathy for her, she´s pregnant, feels sick and has a little child at home. Even with nannies and family that situation isn´t “fun”.
I feel so bad, but i hope she has to cancel Malta and Harry goes instead. Kate is ok and i´m sure she will/would do her job as requested. And that would be all. Typically Kate, not too much, just the minimum because she isn´t very outgoing. Harry has the power of charm, he makes people smile.
Wouldn´t there already be a Frederick in the Windsor family i would vote for the name Frederick for a boy… then it would be FRED & GEORGE 😉
William´s uncle Edward has a young son named James (a great name!), so it´s unlikely they will use this name.
I was surprised that they didn´t choose Philip as one of the names for George. So i hope they call a second son Philip, that would be very sweet considering that Prince Philip will likely die in the next few years.
Girl: Elizabeth (lazy choice, but it´s a classic name) or Caroline (mummy Carole would be pleased)
Dany
Let’s give George a brother called Gilbert. (That would liven up the royal art collection!)
@embertine
I am so with you !
I don’t care how privileged Royal’s lives appear, its got to be a tough gig living under such constant scrutiny. I think we should remember these accusations are all based on perspective.
Seeing the lens through which people view others can be depressing and more of inditement on them then the subject!!
I’m going to look after her now.
This made me laugh.
Is she at KP or Bucklebury? What is going to happen to Wills’ training now that she’s preggers? Isn’t he supposed to be beginning it this month?
hmmm
Doesn’t he need a new certification before he starts? If so did he geet it already or is he starting the process for his cert?
I thought the Palace had said that he needed to pass a six month training program with multiple exams before he could begin work for EAAA. So he isn’t estimated to start at EAAA until spring.
It’s all a mystery right now, isn’t it, FLORC. It’s like it’s not happening. Maybe later in the month? I found this in The Guardian:
Before beginning the job, William will be required to gain an air transport pilot licence to complement his military training, and to undergo training specific to his new role. In order to gain the licence, he must complete five months of training followed by 14 exams and a flight test.
Other reports are predictably vague about when he actually begins in September.
So he’ll qualify as a pilot just in time for paternity leave?
@notasugarhere, exactly! He’ll qualify (we guess) in time to take another 6 weeks off.
I read he was “greeted with cheese”. I like the thought of that…
“Blessed are the cheesemakers”.
🙂
🙂
Bwahahahaha!!!!! Monty Python would approve!
I wanna marry Harry! I’ve always been Will’s fan but the more I see and read about what harry does and say, I realize I’ve been pining for the wrong guy all along 😀 😀
Hmm Dany
+10000
Waity supposedly several weeks pregnant by reports; she seem fine from HG for her and Willnot to stage date night and train ride except close to work events at Oxford and HM reps at important historical Malta (now its case by case..) With workless Waity and HG – incredible!
Willnot will be using HG at the drop – easy excuse as well he already stated he is “going home to take care of” Waity’. The PR is really low grade and cheezy for a RF, more Hollywood Kardashion type (should not is not same to HM GB Commonwealth .
P Willnot and Waity doolittle muddletons quickly removing the regalness from the BRF.
Waity if at KP with approx 20 rooms is an easy distance from P Georgie with nanny staff.
Reach, much? Morning sickness doesn’t start from day one, you know. Just because she was fine then, does not mean she didn’t get it later.