CousinAmy

I read an excerpt in the Daily Mail from Eileen's autobiography where she talks about all the times the two couple spent together - going to movies, having dinner, etc. It sounded like they were actually friends during the years before Elizabeth became the Queen. I didn't realize that they had been so close. Eileen is, like Elizabeth, in her 90s now, but living in a "carer home."

Will Prince Charles become King Charles? Then King William? I guess they'll keep George VII for Little George. And, Queen Charlotte.

I need to re-watch Season 1 again!

She was concerned that Russia would gain more influence over Ghana and it would be tempted to Ally closer with them, rather than stay part of the United Kingdom. I don't think her advisors thought she was smart enough to handle the situation - the way they thought was best. Jackie kept the suit on because (as far as we know) she wanted "them" - the killer or killers - to see what they had done, in essence, stare them down. (I remember discussing this with my high school class - I think it was freshman biology - whether Jackie was a "cold fish" or was really "dazed" and out of it. I thought dazed, but was surprised so many people thought she was cold and unfeeling. She was not very well understood at the time - she was considered very aloof and more of a socialite than even the Queen, who seemed friendlier. Silk vs. Tweed.

I think the point is the cameras were not so easy to maneuver - they were set up at certain points to record rather large vistas, but couldn't swing around and point at some tiny figures yards away all of a sudden.

I love it. In fact, I had a Whopper for lunch 2 days ago, and pizza yesterday. The reasons may go back to my childhood (my mother was bulimic, she wasn't a good cook, etc.) but I really like the taste of them.

They haven't really shown much about her horses (just that one time when she was reading a book about breeding) even though I found a contemporaneous reference to her spending too much time at the racetrack; or the corgis, who she loved as if they were children. Maybe it doesn't make good drama, but it was indeed part of her personal life .

Wasn't there the suggestion that he could once again be placed on the British throne when Hitler had conquered Europe?

So George V had a brother named Prince Eddy. George VI was actually David but named George when he was crowned. Albert became George VII? What are they going to call little Prince George when he becomes King: Seymour? Not very creative when it comes to naming royalty, I fear.

As a child the same age as Charles and Anne, I remember seeing pictures and even film clips of the young family. Now I can see it's possible this was part of Philip's plan to make the Queen look more contemporary and "modern." Or maybe these were all candid photos that the Royal photographer just happened to "catch." It's so hard being a cynic. I do want to believe in the fairytale.

There were demonstrations and protests in New York City by Jewish workers, Socialists and Communists about what was happening to Jews in Germany by 1938, but I don't think it bothered anyone else at the time. I found articles in the archives of newspapers like The Daily Worker, but very little in the mainstream English-language papers. As long as the threat was just to Jews, who cared? There were fawning articles about Mussolini and Hitler at the same time.

I'm 68, which certainly sounds like a grown-up person, but when I talk to my 71 year old brother I still feel like the little sister (even when our mom died, and I handled most of the arrangements with some input from him, I was amazed that I was so competent.) There's a lot to be said for birth order. If Margaret had been born first, she would have had those special years as the only Princess, plus whatever thrills one gets by being treated as the eldest. (I wouldn't know.) Most likely she would have stepped up as Queen, but I don't think she would have let her husband bully her, as Elizabeth did. She could have been the first divorced Queen.

Kate had many slip-ups and fashion faux pass along the way. Mostly now she's criticized for being too stodgy, but her look suits her position. it took her awhile to find her personal style, and I'm sure Meghan will be the same. She won't have to look quite so establishment, but she'll get there.

But Margaret was 2nd, then 3rd, then 4th in line for the throne until Andrew was born. She was higher than her aunt. There must have been some other descendant of Queen Vickie trolling his way around Europe that she could have picked up.

The Netflix docu-series on The Royal House of Windsor is a great fact-checker to this series. Apparently there were many efforts on the part of Philip to modernize the Monarchy, and he did go up against the Queen Mum and the Palace Guard. But he also was an intelligent, knowledgeable, and well-spoken man, with matinee idol's looks, and not quite the whiny child that Matt Smith portrayed.

In real life, they did just separate for awhile before divorcing. I don't think Thursday Club was the name if the place, just that it was a club where they had a standing reservation. Did Mike own it? Eileen was used as the anti-Elizabeth to show a modern woman of the same age, with 2 kids, who wore pants! and was not afraid to talk back to high officials, or even the Queen! She was perhaps, what Elizabeth may have turned into if she had been out in the world. But Liz remained very proper, and maintained that early 20th century version of royalty that she may have learned from Grandmama, Queen Mary.

Just remember it's fiction so make sure you double-check anything you see! (We knew within an hour that Kennedy had died, for example, so there's no way that Elizabeth and famiky had to wait for hours to confirm.)

Sometimes these historical fiction series lose me when their "history" bumps up against my own. We reached a point in Mad Men - 1967-68 - when I could remember what I was doing during those episodes. And with The Crown, I have memories of the Queen as a young mom, like mine, in the 1950s, but I'm not really fascinated by the late 1960s. Been there, done that. Can't wait for Victoria on PBS next week.

For a man of his times, King George lived a fairly long life. (Remember when FDR created Social Security, people weren't expected to live past 65.) Neither of my grandfather's, born in the 19th Century, lived long enough to collect. My dad and his 3 brothers died at 39, 49, 55, and 56.) And Philip was no stranger to Court life. He lived at Windsor Castle with his grandmother for a time! He would have known all about Kings, Queens, Princesses and Consorts. I think Charles changed what a Royal was "supposed to do." Personal life aside, he's been extremely active in his causes, especially environmental issues. If he ever makes it to King - I think Liz will outlast him - I can see him keeping that up as a vision for the future. Too bad Philip was such a complainer. That trip he was sent on was the adventure of a lifetime. And he had freedom and plenty of money. I think he should have had more Grace, and treated his lovely young wife better.

Here I was wondering how Jenna Coleman would play both Elizabeth and Victoria! Good thing we have Google now. The next Elizabeth will be in her 40s, no longer having children, and I imagine her life will be very different. There's only so much Claire Foy can do with cosmetics; she still looks dewy-fresh even with make-up on. I think a change is a good idea.

Way back in 1972 my best friend was bemoaning her existence; here she was 23 and some of our friends were already on their second husbands! and she hadn't been married at all! She married the first guy who asked her. (40+ years and they're still together.) I think Margaret was more than ready to be married off, nearing 30 she was getting near old maid territory. She kind of had to marry somebody. Her mistake was marrying Tony, although I think she would have been bored to tears with Peter or even some suitable young fellow. At least she got some whirlwind romance in the beginning.

Victoria starts on PBS in a few weeks. They are rerunning the first season now.

St. James Palace is the official home of The Crown. (US Ambassadors are posted to the Court of St. James.) I understand that Windsor is only slightly west of London, and probably not a long drive. But why do they go specifically to Sandringham specifically for Christmas? They already have so many castles! I was a little disappointed when I took a Google Street View tour of Windsor and found it swarming with tourists. I know that all these castles have public tours, but are they open when the Queen is in residence? It doesn't seem like a getaway when people are roaming around your home with their cell phones snapping photos..

I was reading articles on Wikipedia this evening (I know! But I just wanted a quick overview of the Royal castles) and came across the fact that Alexandra (daughter of Marina) was the first Royal birth at which the HS was not present, in the mid-1930s. At the time she was born, Alexandra was 6th in line to the throne. My mom had Twilight Sleep for both my brother and me, in 1946 & 1949, and she told me that she experienced excruciating pain, but when she woke up she didn't remember any of it.

I'm not sure we should believe this - who else was in the room while Elizabeth was giving birth to state this? Doctors, nurses; who blabbed? After three childbirths, I wonder if she gave birth in a bed, or if there was a delivery room specifically set up in the Castle? I think Diana had the right idea, opting for a hospital birth.