On Easter Sunday in medieval and Tudor times, the candles in the church and around the Easter sepulchre were extinguished, and then the church lights were re-lit by the priest, from a fire. The sepulchre was opened, and Christ’s resurrection was celebrated with a special mass.
The Easter Sunday mass marked the end of Lent, a period where people’s diets were restricted, so it was only natural to celebrate it with good food. Dairy products and meat were back on the menu, and people enjoyed roasted meats like chicken, lamb and veal.
I love reformer William Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament and thought I’d share with you John 20, which, as she owned a copy of Tyndale’s New Testament, I’m sure Anne Boleyn would have read on Easter Sunday. The spelling is the original.
“The morow after the saboth daye came Mary Magdalene erly when it was yet darcke vnto ye sepulcre and sawe the stone taken awaye from ye toumbe. Then she ranne and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whome Iesus loved and sayde vnto them. They have taken awaye the Lorde out of the toumbe and we cannot tell where they have layde him. Peter went forth and that other disciple and came vnto the sepulcre. They ranne bothe to gether and that other disciple dyd out runne Peter and came fyrst to the sepulcre. And he stouped doune and sawe the lynnen clothes lyinge yet went he not in.
Then came Simon Peter folowynge him and went into ye sepulcre and sawe the lynnen clothes lye and the napkyn that was aboute his heed not lyinge with the lynnen clothe but wrapped togeder in a place by it selfe. Then went in also that other disciple which came fyrst to the sepulcre and he sawe and beleved. For as yet they knew not the scriptures that he shuld ryse agayne from deeth.
And the disciples went awaye agayne vnto their awne home. Mary stode with out at the sepulcre wepynge. And as she wept she bowed her selfe into the sepulcre and sawe two angels in whyte sittyng the one at the heed and the other at the fete where they had layde the body of Iesus. And they sayde vnto her: woman why wepest thou? She sayde vnto the: For they have taken awaye my lorde and I wote not where they have layde him. When she had thus sayde she turned her selfe backe and sawe Iesus stondynge and knewe not that it was Iesus. Iesus sayde vnto her: woman why wepest thou? Whom sekest thou? She supposynge that he had bene the gardener sayde vnto him. Syr yf thou have borne him hece tell me where thou hast layde him that I maye fet him. Iesus sayde vnto her: Mary. She turned her selfe and sayde vnto him: Rabboni which is to saye master. Iesus sayde vnto her touche me not for I am not yet ascended to my father. But goo to my brethren and saye vnto them I ascende vnto my father and youre father to: my god and youre god. Mary Magdalene came and tolde the disciples yt she had sene the lorde and yt he had spoken soche thinges vnto her.
The same daye at nyght which was the morowe after ye saboth daye when the dores were shut where the disciples were assembled to geder for feare of the Iewes came Iesus and stode in the myddes and sayd to the: peace be with you. And when he had so sayde he shewed vnto them his hondes and his syde. Then were the disciples glad when they sawe the Lorde. Then sayde Iesus to them agayne: peace be with you. As my father sent me even so sende I you. And when he had sayde that he brethed on them and sayde vnto the: Receave ye holy goost. Whosoevers synnes ye remyt they are remitted vnto the. And whosoevers synnes ye retayne they are retayned.” John 20: 1-23
Picture: Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Raphael, 1502.
Happy Easter to everyone hope you enjoy your hot x buns and chocolate eggs!
Happy Easter Weekend and Happy Liverpool River Lights Festival.
No I am not mad, we are out and about in Liverpool. Covid controls are in place so its safe and you can see 11 light shows until tomorrow across our River front. We have a 30 meter rainbow and butterflies and many fantastic lights, easter eggs and talking heads. Gor the local people only, a wonderful walk and very happy. Free at last. Six people from different houses can mix outside. Circles mark out the bubble space on the grass on Chavasse park. Sunshine and we are all very happy. Check out our pictures on Twitter and across social media and at Visit Liverpool website.
Happy Easter to one and all. Happy Resurrection Day and Passover.
Wow sounds great fun, I was invited round my sisters for lunch, she ordered fresh home made sandwiches cakes and scones, and I took round some Asti, weather was beautiful so warm not a cloud in the sky, was lovely to meet up after so long.
I know. Easter Day Services again, although with restrictions of course and there will be several events tested to see if they go ahead safely. This was the idea here, it was good, but there were a lot of people came later and they were not local. A steward was showing people the alternative routes to avoid the crowd. Both sides of the docks have a narrow bridge only and that causes a problem, but there is another route which is quiet, if you know it. It takes you out, then along the Strand to the Albert Dock. We have the best water front in the entire world. Its one big bloom of colour and culture. It was great to be out in the sun and it was a warm evening. The event will ve back in October and November but extended. The art works are all made locally. Next week the shops open and you can sit in a beer garden or cafe outside space. It’s good for some normality. I will not be going to the shops until the first week as you know what will happen, the world will be there. The sun is just rising. Its windy but so clear. Spring is here.
Its nice you could sit down with your friend after such a long time. Sounds lovely cake and drinks. I was so worn out I just had a quiet day. I have contorted my hip which is causing groin pain and my osteopath put it back but it takes four weeks to heal. It was having a party yesterday. I use some essential oil massage rubs as they get to the heart of the matter. Pain killers seem to go in the other direction. I think tomorrow it will be take away coffee and a light walk. We are going down to see another display that we missed today, and have something to eat at the bus outside buffet. Its all takeaway but with seats close by. We will be going early so will avoid any crowd. Its being extended until the end of the week so no rush.
On Chavasse park there are circles on the grass to mark out bubbles with space in between. That will allow social distancing. I hope they repair the lifts though as they and the escalators are off. There is a path up but its a bit steep. O. K coming down but Liverpool One have obviously not thought about wheelchair users. Its a real suntrap and a beautiful open area. It cost 4.5 million pounds and was paid for by a local benefactor. Hence Chavasse Park. Apart from shops there are cafes and restaurants and water ways and wide paths and always something different to see. There is landscapes and brilliant views over the Albert Dock and the River Mersey and its lovely all year round. The waterfront has of course the Three Graces, they now have many new buildings around them, the canal, several museums and art galleries, the Pier Head and the ferry of course. The lamb bananas are very colourful and the Tate is unique. The floating bridge is still there and of course its just beautiful lit up at night, especially at Christmas. It was especially beautiful in June 2019 when several hundred thousand people lined the routes for the football club. We were denied our party last year because of Covid but we intend to have it in June. The Giants have walked the famous Strand, which is being remodeled by the stupid council. Its a film set several times over. I may be biased but there is no water front to compare with ours. Maybe you can visit sometime.
Anyway Happy Easter and have a good Bank Holiday.
A friend of mine has always wanted to visit Liverpool (she’s a Londoner like me), so I said one day we will visit, I’m sorry you have some aches and pains Bq, hopefully you will feel better soon, that’s the trouble when we get older our joints wear out, ah well that’s one of the joys of ageing !
Hi Christine, from next week you can unofficially visit as the stay at home is lifted and we can meet outside so maybe you can both contact me and I can give you a tour. If you are vaccinated and Covid free its OK and I will say you are my sister if asked. 6 can come now. The unofficial day trip is allowed. When you come just give me an email a few days before and I can book if the museum is open or for a coffee or the ferry. It will be a pleasure to meet you both and have a nice day out.
I have just been to visit Cardinal Wolsey’s Hampton Court and on a tour of Rome and Italy at the turn of the 16th century circa 1503 to 1515. Well not literally but on a Zoom talk with Dr Jonathan Foyle. He did some reconstruction of how the Palace looked at the time, the influences on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey as a young churchman and scholar when he first built the Palace and it was even more beautiful than the rebuild by Henry Viii. The Great Hall was much more colourful, the Watching Chamber dedicated to Jane Seymour was blue not gold and it showed how the Minstrel Gallery should look. The Roman Emperors were even more colourful and on the inner court and the gate house was twice its current house. The building originally belonged to the Knights Templar and the haunted gallery is from the eighteenth century to the 21st because it was rebuilt many times. The interior is closer to those seen in the portraits of Henry Viii and his family. I must admit the Hammer Beam Hall is one of the finest I have seen and Henry Viii was looking back to the Middle Ages Renaissance of Richard ii. It is similar to the Hall in Westminster Palace.
The main influences are of course Rome and Italy through the connections established by King Henry Vii who employed several Italian artists, architects and artists here and paid for the English Palace in Rome. He also established the English Cardinal Protectors in Rome who were people who represented England in Rome and he was the first to do so on Europe. Through this many connections came to England, many texts came to England and much Italian influences on our Royal Palace and Church decoration and design. Even the tomb of Henry’s parents, Henry Vii and Elizabeth of York is Italian as was the original tomb for Cardinal Wolsey, which was pinched by Henry Viii. The Bardo tomb was too elaborate and never finished. It was dismantled and bits are in various Churches and as we all know, the sarcophagus was used for Lord Nelson in Saint Paul’s. The early Popes under Henry Viii were Renaissance men and they very much favoured him. Julius II in particular encouraged Henry Viii to go to war against Louis xii of France and Leo X named him Defender of the Faith. Wolsey maintained personal contacts with both France and Italy and he was the architect of the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 and the idea of Universal Peace. He was also a war minister but most importantly he knew the best people and books to use in the building of Hampton Court and his other properties. Henry Viii built for pleasure, Wolsey built for beauty.
One thing we have had as a constant theme in all the buildings we have been looking at for the last twelve weeks has been the red and white roses all over the place. These represented Mary and have been a theme since the 12th century. Henry Tudor pinched them. They have nothing to do with either the House of York or Lancaster, but dont tell anyone. Now I do actually know the House of Lancaster never used any red roses. The symbols of the white rose did have some kind of association with York, but so did many like the Sun in Splendour, followed from the 12th century as well, not the para Helion. Edward iv painted it on the ceiling at Tewkesbury. His young enemy was actually buried underneath. Edward of Lancaster was just seventeen when he was killed there in 1471. The red rose was used by Mary as one of her symbols and as everyone was a Catholic they both used all of her symbols. So called Tudor Roses decorated Churches, guilds and many other places long before the Tudors pinched them as an official symbol. Having united the two sides in a war, a symbol of peace was needed, thus the Tudor Rose was designed with the marriage of Henry vii and Elizabeth of York. Its merely a beautiful myth. But that was how you conveyed a powerful message. You used symbols, you painted everything gold and silver and you said look at me, I’m powerful, I am making my mark, I have got style.
Aw that’s so sweet of you Bq, itl probably be in the summer now maybe June or July, a weekend would be preferable as well, yes we will definitely sort something out, if you put your email address down il be able to email you, take care
Yes, its [email address removed by admin] and yes, June or July will be the best time. We have a lot to look forward to, I think. Did you have snow today? We did, later on about six p.m.
We had a flurry yesterday afternoon but not since, it was freezing Monday cold yesterday but not as bad as Monday, not sure about today will venture out later.
Hi Christine, I think Tim or Claire hid my email because its a public place, so if you ask them, they will let you have it. I will email them in the morning to say its OK. Its for privacy that its not shown as anyone can see it.
It was very odd weather on Monday and Tuesday. I was asleep and it was cold but sunny and then woke up as there was a sudden icy wind. I got up to put the fire on and close the window over when I realised it had gone white and grey and then it was snowing. Not even on the cold days over the winter have we had snow. Its very rare in Liverpool because of the Pennines and the Pendal Hills. It usually turns around and goes back again but we do get it occasionally. In 1995 we had the great freeze when it snowed for a full week and then just fronze solid on the ground. I don’t believe I took my boots off all winter. That was also the year I dyed my hair for the first time and never looked back. It was very odd. Its the last real snow we had. We get a day or two but nothing like that. Its an event, especially in April, although to be honest its still just Spring.
Have you heard about the vaccination passport?
There have been rumours for weeks and most people thought it was a joke and they meant the card you get. Then the government came out with them and the rumours went viral. There was a big fuss as its not about travel, but going to the pub or restaurant or even the shops. Everyone was going mad. Of course this was just media hype as usual and you don’t need it for anything like that. They are trialling them at the football at Wembley next weekend. Not that anyone will actually have one by then. Its a pity it’s not Liverpool supporters, not one person would have one. Scouse not English was trending on social media and that’s a bad sign. Its a call for civil disobedience. Its not a call for protest, just none compliance. The minister was wanting to make people get one to go to the cinema or theatre or any entertainment venue. He also said restaurants and bars and other places but several businesses said they would not take part as it will cause discrimination and difficulties and civil rights groups complaining and health charities as its a violation of privacy in health records. We don’t yet know what is going on but 70 Tory MPs will vote against it. It really has caused a lot of confusion as the vaccination program won’t be finished before the end of July. Its utter nonsense. At least they realised its not practical to need such a thing to go out to eat or socialising. Just keep places Covid safe like they have been. Believe me a lot of cafes are cleaner now than they have ever been. Benches are actually clean. Its taken a virus for things to be cleaned. Trollies are clean now as well. Can you imagine going to the supermarket and being asked to show a vaccination passport? For one thing the staff have enough to do and don’t even enforce social distance let alone this. It would cause a lot of distress and anger. The government soon said that is not going to happen. You don’t need one for the hairdresser either.
My hairdresser rang me yesterday and I have a facial and hair appointment next week. I was booked in before lockdown so am on the list. I am looking forward to the attention.
I have been watching Robin of Sherwood, the series from the 1980s, repeating on ITV4. I love the music by Clanaed. Its really beautiful and haunting. Robin the Hooded Man. Those outlaws wore the original hoodie. Its full of magic and mystery but its great escapism.
Hi BQ,
I’ve just emailed Christine with your email address. Yes, it gets removed as otherwise you may end up with people spamming you – not nice!
Hope you’re well!
Claire x
Thanks for that Claire. I forgot I wasn’t on a private forum with a DM for a moment. I have just sent you an email so thank you for sharing it with Christine. I am well but having to wrap up again as now its cold again. I am signed up for a Hist Fest over the weekend and booked up for two days. I also have Jonathan Foyle on Sunday and the last of his talks, on the Bed of Henry vii and Elizabeth of York. He has been talking about various buildings for the last ten weeks, including Hampton Court, Lincoln Cathedral, Windsor, Beverly Minster, Exeter, Canterbury and so on. I am not sure I ever want lockdown to end lol.
Its amazing what you can do with technology. Maybe we can zoom a talk one month. Then we can all wave to you and share our animals and a glass of wine. It will be lovely to see Christine and her friend, after chatting for so many years. Its grand to be seeing the city open again.
Take care and stay safe. See you soon.
LynMarie
Hi Bq, I was going to say that I cannot access your email address, but yes I have received it now from Claire, I will email you over the weekend.
That’s great. Claire sent it to you. Looking forward to seeing you.
Yes I have heard about the vaccination passports but I don’t know if itl be a good idea or not, like you mention they won’t have the staff to carry out checks, your right places are cleaner now than they have ever been, people use the disinfectant to wipe shopping baskets and trolleys, I don’t do that because to me it’s a faff, I just make sure I use my hand sanitizer, the shops and other places are opening from the 12th, so I’m looking forward to going back to work again, itl be lovely to nip across the road and have my usual tea and cake as well, it was my boss’s birthday on the 5th the one who died of covid last year, and her Facebook was flooded with tributes, we still cannot believe she’s gone and we hope to celebrate her life with a big party, for those of us who couldn’t attend her funeral but of course it all depends on the lockdown rules, they say we may well be wearing masks for another year to, I’m just waiting for my second vaccine, the first time I had it my arm was very sore and I felt very tired for a few days, they say it’s a good thing because it means your immune system is working well, that was about eight weeks ago now so hopefully won’t have to wait to long, I had it before my sister who’s eighteen months older than me, and lives in Chingford, I was told Enfield was ahead than most other boroughs, I got a few friends who are unsure though, one of them has lots of allergies so she’s worried about having the jab, and the other one reckons they are not 100% safe, but as the scientists say, the safety of them far outnumber the risks involved.
The vaccination is safe for people who are immune suppressed so any allegies and you should be given a different one. I would get the facts from her doctor and discuss which one is best. I know it depends on where you go but your friend should be able to go where there is a suitable one. I was actually given the AZ because Phizer wasn’t suitable. I think they are all similar but maybe they have slightly different things in them. My second one is 20th May. I have an online friend who’s granny had hers in Westminster Abbey. I am having my second one in a shopping centre and the shops will be open then, so any excuse to go to Waterstones afterwards and Pizza Hut. I don’t eat Pizza but they do fantastic pasta with chicken and bacon.
It will be lovely to remember your friends birthday and have a cake in her honour. It will be nice to have a drink to her. It was so sad to hear when you told us about her passing and a lot of people have been taken prematurely. My mum has had both jabs. She is 93 and looking forward to going out with us to a cafe in a couple of weeks when we have some nice weather as its cold again. The beer gardens are open and we are going to book for a walk around Speke Hall grounds in a couple of weeks. Your friend will be watching over you and be with you at your work and celebration of her life. Its so good to be able to actually sit at leisure and not just have a takeaway coffee. Here’s to the next steps to freedom.
Two other friends of mine lost their father to it just a few days before my boss, it’s coming upto the anniversary of his death soon and Paula died on the 20th of this month, so itl be a sad day for them as well, my other friends mum died of covid to she was about 86 in a care home, she was dying of cancer but it doesn’t make it any less tragic and her boyfriend to, bless her also caught it and died, I didn’t know her but my elderly neighbour died to, so that’s three people I know of who died from it, all four of them died in April so it’s not a nice month for them, I lost my sweet mother on the 13th April 2008 she suffered from a rare cancer, so yes it’s not a very nice month for me and my friends south of the border, but I will drink a toast to them all and as for ourselves, we have to be lucky we are still alive, must mention of course the sad passing of Prince Philip, the queen must be bereft but at least she haa her family round her for support, in the Mail they say that Harry is going to return I’d be too ashamed if I were him!
Hi Christine, yes you have had to say goodbye to a lot of people and I am sure you miss them terribly. Its been a very difficult time of loss and sorrow, but hope as well. I think your friends are watching over you and will have a big tea party in heaven. Its so sad reading about and hearing all the stories this last year or so. However, life goes on and its nice to recall the good times and raise a glass in their memory.
The Queen has been married to Prince Philip since 1947. She will miss him terribly and I am sure she is bereft despite his great age. They were devoted to each other and seeing some of the films of them with their children from the 1970s makes you realise they are just like all of us in many ways. Its sad for the Queen and we all wish her well. If Prince Harry comes home, this may bring about healing and forgiveness and moving on. We don’t know what really happened but it has torn the family apart and that’s always sad, especially at a time of illness and stress. Hopefully the family can heal. My thoughts are for the Queen, as it would be for anyone who has lost a loved one. Let’s hope she can find peace and the strength from the love they both shared.
To be honest I didn’t think Megs would go the distance because she’s American and they are more independent than British girls, also it’s a very hard institution for any person to join , both Di and Fergie found it stifling and yet they knew the royal family anyway and had often mixed with them, they were/ are both British and knew about tradition and ceremony and such, but for a young American woman to suddenly have to adapt to their life style it must have been much more difficult, Meghan also appears to be by nature difficult, there are reports that she’s fallen out with ex friends and her family have been treated very badly, especially her poor father, who is delicate and could die any minute, Kate who is lovely and very down to earth also came in for some criticism, it was so pathetic because it was some trivial nonsense about the wedding fittings, to complain about that on national tv when all it was was a little family squabble is immature, and Harry seems to blindly follow where his wife leads, and I I think he really has done an awful thing in agreeing to having an interview in the first place, because rarely any good comes of it and sadly, both him and his wife’s name are now mud amongst the largely British population, to give interviews is not something that they do and I recall the queen mother, once giving an interview to it could have been to a radio chat show or one of the society magazines, and her mother in law grim faced Queen Mary chided her most strongly for it, she was told in no uncertain terms that no member of the family gives interviews full stop, they also never air their dirty linen in public and it’s shameful that Harry, who was born a prince goes on American tv and bleats on about daddy cutting of his allowance, when there are people who are in dire financial straits in this country and have to rely on food banks and the charity of others to get by, in the Mail the following day they said that after Edward V111 abdicated was forced to leave and live abroad, he never ever spoke about how he was financially worse of, it is a vulgar thing to do because these people have the most privileged lives and have no idea what it is to be poor, their very titles give them access to every door in the kingdom and Europe, because he’s a prince he’s been able to secure big deals in the states and if he were plain Mr Nobody, he would be in the dole queue Monday mornings, out of all this sorry affair I really feel for the queen, because they were asked to show some consideration and to put the interview on hold out of respect because of the Dukes illness, but no they blithely went ahead, their popularity has taken a nose dive since, it’s been an awful year for the queen who has had to deal with the fallout from her son Andrews connections to sleazy Epstein, on their website the Sussex’s really made me laugh because they posted, ‘we thank the Duke for a life of service’, what on earth does that pair know about service ? They seem to have no idea how the public view them and everyone says that Harry is being very badly advised, I’m looking forward to seeing the funeral however and at the moment there’s a dilemma because only thirty are allowed, that really only involves the close family and other members, there won’t be any heads of state and Boris has said he won’t be going, also due to Covid crowds won’t be allowed, but Iv no doubt there will be hundreds there, there are many people in this country who have grown up with Prince Philip and many are saddened by his loss, he was also very handsome when he was young and I can plainly see why the young Elizabeth was attracted to him.
I actually thought Meghan was Australian so it goes to show how much attention I have been paying. Personally I feel sorry for anyone marrying into that disfunctional family but these women who have done are from a very narrow gene pool. They know the royals well and are all related anyway. Ironically the most Royal of the lot is Kate Middleton. You only have to see her surname and you know she is related to the Seymour family and she is a descendent of Mary Boleyn as well. Her own family line is older than the Queens.
I think Harry and Meghan will settle in America. I don’t know how but I just have a feeling. Its not as if they will be the first lot to settle there. I don’t know if they were right or wrong to go on Oprah but boy do they have issues. Has she been married before? Or is it her family who are divorced? Not that the Windsors can talk. How many marriages have broken down? Anne, Princess Margaret, the Yorks, the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles and if they didn’t get out, the Countess of Wessex and Meghan and Harry. I am sure the Queen must be heartbroken after all of this and now with the death of her beloved husband. Eugene just got married as well. The interview on Oprah was badly timed because Prince Philip was very ill and Prince Charles had just been to see him. It could have waited. I still hope they work things out with the Queen but it’s going to be difficult for some time.
The funeral is next Saturday at Windsor with just 30 people allowed. The PM isn’t going to attend in order to allow another family member to go. People seem to be respecting the requests not to crowd and leave flowers. They are being respectful and sensitive and staying away for the sake of the virus. Even with a massive vaccination program there are still 30 million people who have not been immunised. We still have to be vigilant. I will not watch all of the funeral but will watch the service at Windsor. It will be a Royal but not a state funeral. I have to say I should think so. This is a Pandemic and rules are still in place. There is also the cost. State funerals are very expensive. I don’t believe Philip would want a grand fuss. I don’t believe he likes too much fuss. He came with Elizabeth to open our new law courts and he drove off leaving the Queen to do the walk about. He had an emergency to attend to. He responded well to young people and encouraged children to go forward with their flowers for the Queen. I think he will appreciate a quiet affair.
He’s having a military funeral because of his association with the Royal Navy, and yes he didn’t like any fuss so there’s going to be no lying in state, it will be interesting to watch because Britain always does do pomp and ceremony well, had it not been for the covid I might have gone to Windsor, I hope it’s going to be a nice sunny day for them, that report about Kate being descended from Mary Boleyn was proved to be inaccurate, although she has lineage back to Edward 1st or 111, Meghan was married before for about a few years, and she sent her wedding ring back to him in an envelope, he hasn’t much good to say about her either, yes I think they will stay in America but I feel really that Harry has made a big mistake, he obviously loves her and is happy with her, but he has given up such a lot for her, where Meghan has given up nothing, they say he misses his old army life and was devastated when he lost the title Captain General Of The Marines, as well as other titles, it seems he thought he could have his cake and eat it, they wanted to be in the Royal family but not have to do the tedious jobs that came with it, half in half out they say, but that’s not the way it works with the royals, they moan about lack of privacy again you can hear Meghan’s voice in this, Harry as a Royal knew privacy is the price they pay for their privileged lifestyle, he never complained about that before, they cut ties with the family then blab about their problems on national television, where is the privacy they wanted so much? They do come across as petulant and selfish and think it’s all about them, they could have postponed the Oprah interview out of respect for the queen, but no it’s all about them as usual, god only knows what will become of that pair but I think Harry has lost his way in life, he’s become now just a Prince in exile, using his titles to make his way in the celebrity obsessed world of America, and I think because of them, William and Kate have become so much more popular, I have always liked her, regal dignified and unassuming, I think she will make an excellent queen one day.
I will probably watch more out of interest because these things are always interesting. I think it must be around 3pm because the football has been moved, well the Premier League anyway. They haven’t moved the FA Cup Semi Finals though and one kicks off at 5.30pm. I know its at Wembley but they are allowing fans back and Chelsea fans are trouble. Lets hope they just go to the game and don’t fancy a gawp at the funeral. I think it would be nice to have some well wishers on the route to Windsor but Covid only allows 30 people.
I think William and Kate will be quite good at the job of King and Queen. They seem to have taken everything on board. They had to put up with really silly things like drones flying over their home really low to take pictures. Going about in a public role is one thing, but they should be allowed to remain out of the gaze in private at home. That’s one reason why Buckingham Palace is designed as it is. We see the back of the Palace. The front is the other side where the coach goes and the gardens are there as well. The state rooms probably look out there and Victoria had them designed for privacy.
One person I cannot imagine shunning the public gaze and who would love posing for the camera is Henry Viii. He soaked it up and despite some murmmering over Anne Boleyn, despite his growing cruelty, he remained popular. As a young man, though, he was a super star, the rock and roll King. He would definitely have loved all the groupies and the attention. I bet there would be souvenirs of him winning the jousting. And Charles Brandon and Will Compton. Just like Byron he was a celebrity but didn’t treat his women very well. Yet they flocked around him. He might have to control his public image and would probably own Twitter but then again he dud so back then. That’s what the huge Holbein is all about. Its the King being bigger than life and everyone knows him. Other Kings had similar images, although not as ott as this one. Everyone had versions of it, it was sent out to country houses and now galleries have several versions. Ours is the best at the Walker. Ot was meant to intimidate and it did. Not to mention the cod piece. They were worn as protection but they were mainly for show and as part of the idea of masculinity. Henry would definitely be wild on Twitter.
You are absolutely right. I don’t know how much is true regarding Meghan and Harry or the reality behind what they said but they should have waited. Maybe she was treated badly by people, maybe there is racism in the institution of the Palace or some members of the extended family but going on air at such a delicate time was not the way forward. It certainly could have waited. Its an institution that can be demanding and you may find it difficult. In the past you married royalty to royalty and you were raised for all this but even then not everyone managed to get things right and some people did have real problems. Diana felt smothered and swamped. It wouldn’t surprise me if Meghan did encounter problems, but to what extent we really can’t be certain. She could have had more respect, however, waiting until a more appropriate time or dealing with it in private.
Princes Anne is my favourite Royal. She seems never to tire and to be constantly working. She can’t drive, but then none of them can but she was fantastic on a horse and she competed in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games and many other events. She is fond of photography as her husband was and art. She’s the most human and most intelligent and most outspoken but she always has respect for her mother. Edward is the historian in the family and I like him as well. Maybe just put Anne on the throne.
I like Anne she’s very down to earth you can see she’s not one for ceremony and bowing and scraping, my mother knew someone who through horse riding met her one day, she was very friendly and chatty, she’s sensible very level headed and you can see a lot of both parents in her, Andrew on the other hand is known for being pompous rude arrogant and conceited, there are rumours he wants to be at the forefront with the other senior royals at his fathers funeral, but because of his circumstances it’s not deemed wise, palace officials do not want him to think he can just waltz back into his old roles as if nothings happened, and also to think he can use his fathers death as an excuse to do so is considered reprehensible.