So The Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales, otherwise know as Camilla Parker-Bowles and Prince Charles, are ‘stateside’ on their first official visit as a married couple. Today they leave Washington DC and head to the ‘Bible belt’ to shake a few more hands and attend a few more luncheons and stuff.
Twenty years ago the future King of England visited America with his then wife, Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales was a huge success. Young and beautiful, the Americans, like everyone it seems, were enthralled by the Princess.
Camilla Parker-Bowles will of course been unfairly compared to Diana, that much is inevitable. The British public haven’t warmed to her and British newspaper cartoonists often cruelly portray her as a horse! A woman in her fifties, not accustom to the kind of media focus that she now has, Camilla has often seemed ill at ease in her new role as Dutchess of Cornwall and wife to the would be King.
The harsh truth is that Camilla is simply never going to compare to the image of Diana that will forever be locked as a beautiful and tragic Princess. For a start Camilla is in her fifties and to be fair, she isn’t exactly the stuff of magazine covers. Indeed, for the next few years at least, Camilla will have to try and weather the comparisons to Diana. In order to help her improve her image and adjust to her new life, a legion of image and PR consultants have been hired.
The trip to America is being watched closely by the media of course. In his speech at the White House banquet, Prince Charles talked of people looking to the US to take a lead on the most crucial issues facing the planet, something that has been widely interpreted as an attempt to nudge the president to take a stronger line against global warming. But the real media attention is on Camilla, how she is coping. There were some rather rude comments in New York about Camilla’s clothes, with one tabloid calling her Frump Tower.
The brutal truth is that a happily married couple in their 50s does not set editorial pulses racing. The British media tell us you’re not really bothered. So how do you feel about the Royal visit to America?
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 9:19 am
I like Harry and William. They seem like nice guys. But on the whole I think the Royals are out-dated and essentially just well dressed and well spoken zoo animals. I wouldn’t ever want their lives. Imagine having everything you ever do put under such intense attention. Yuk!
Di was a total fruitcake in the end, but come on, it wasn’t like she didn’t get nudged in that direction. She was a Royal Hottie though! Definite MILF (am I allowed to say MILF I wonder?). In the end though ‘they’ killed her, whoever they are. The last straw was parading around topless on a yacht in Monaco harbor with the son of the Royal’s sworn enemy. Ah well.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 7:11 am
They’re ok, the whole monarchy is ‘ok’, except Phillip… who should have his mouth surgically sealed. They’re quirky, and they up tourism… But they don’t hold the power that they once did, and we are now apparently a democratic peoples. Ha.I don’t think Di was a saint, although she was the very best of a bad lot… Yes, quirky and sort of defunct, although I wouldn’t part with Queeny for the world ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 9:29 am
“I think the Royals are out-dated and essentially just well dressed and well spoken zoo animals.”
Harsh, Sie. Don’t you owe loyalty to the Queen?
And you are right. In my eyes, Camilla will NEVER compare to Diana. She forged herself an image that is well established all over the world. I watched her funeral in my hotel room and cried while hugging my mom.
And you think anybody will feel the same about Camilla after Charles wanted to be “her tampon” while he and Di were (un)happily married? Honestly.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 10:53 am
Ahahaha…my sister and I were talking about this very issue, and we noted that we are most enthralled by the incessant American media coverage regarding our LACK of enthralled-ness. I personally think she’s at least improved over the last few months, but it’s got to be hard to be in her position. Ok, well, if being immensely wealthy can be said to be a cross to bear. :-)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 6:01 pm
“Don’t you owe loyalty to the Queen?”LOL!! NO!!! :-DHowever, if Liz was to pop over for a cuppa, I wouldn’t turn her away. Just as I wouldn’t turn Yahoo Bush away or the Blair Witch. I’d enjoy a chat over a nice brew with all of them. But owing them some degree of loyalty? Not at all. Loyalty should be earned in my opinion, and Liz is just an old lady with a lot of jewels, I don’t owe her a damn thing.
And another thing. Our national anthem is rubbish! “God save the Queen” is such a rubbish theme for the anthem. I much prefer something a little more ‘victorious’ and jolly sounding. For example “Rule Britannia.” The other popular alternative anthems are “Land of Hope and Glory” and “The New Jerusalem.” Frankly any of the alternatives is better than the sentiment expressed in “God save the Queen.”
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 1:39 pm
I didn’t know they were here – I’ve not been following the news lately.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 4, 2005 at 3:25 pm
I think it’s cool they’re going to the organic hippie community near San Francisco.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 5, 2005 at 6:44 am
…eh…..
Wrote the following comment on Nov 5, 2005 at 7:06 am
eh what?
Wrote the following comment on Nov 6, 2005 at 6:09 am
There’s an exhibit on at the Museum of Natural Science here in Houston, “Celebrating Diana” and all that. Seems a bit much. Not too sure what she has to do with ‘Natural Science’. My mother is British, from Cheltenham, and really doesnt seem to give a rat’s hindquarters about the Royals. I seem to have inherited that feeling.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 6, 2005 at 7:32 am
My interest in Diana had little to do with her Royal work :-)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 6, 2005 at 3:03 pm
“So how do you feel about the Royal visit to America?” “….eh….”makes no difference one way or the other, unless they would like to invite me for lunch
Wrote the following comment on Nov 6, 2005 at 5:29 pm
Ah, I see. Well I agree Patti. To be honest I don’t think I’d really be into the idea of spending much time with any of them apart from Wills and Harry. It’d be a laugh being mates with them, ou know, larking about and having fun.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 7, 2005 at 6:49 pm
i didnt even know they were here…or married for that matter. shame on me.