The Royal Report for Sunday September 19, 2010 - The Life and times of Prince Andrew, Duke of York

On this episode, a look back at the life and times of Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

Listen to the episode here

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 187 20 September 2010

Toronto Star July 29, 1981

Hamilton Spectator July 30, 1981

From My Royal Collection

H. R. H. Prince Andrew by Anwar Hussein

Website Mentioned

The Duke of York - The UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment

Resources used to research this episode

The Official Site of the British Monarchy

Prince Andrew by Nicholas Courtney

Royal Heritage Series: The Story Of Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew and Prince Edward by Lornie Leete-Hodge

The Queen's Children by Donald Edgar

Little Princes: From Cradle to Crown by Sue Arnold



Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday September 26, 2010 at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: The wit, the wisdom, a look back at the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

© Marilyn Braun 2010

The Royal Report for Sunday July 25th, 2010 - Should Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie lose their royal titles?

As granddaughters of the Sovereign in the male line, Prince Andrew's daughters are styled HRH Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Yet there is talk of removing these royal titles and making them Ladies instead. Should they lose their royal titles?

Find out by listening to this episode

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 180 19 July 2010

Hello! Canada Weekly No 181 26 July 2010

Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer by Michael Mansfield


Blogs and websites mentioned

World of Royalty Blog

World of Royalty Website

From My Royal Collection

The Royal Encyclopedia -Edited by Ronald Allison and Sarah Riddell

Tune in to the next episode of

Royal Focus: Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York's wedding dress

When asked about her wedding dress in 1986, Sarah Ferguson said "there will never be a dress to match it." And to date she has been correct. 

Her dress was designed by Lindka Cierach and was made from heavy ivory duchess satin, which was manufactured at Britain's only silk farm, Lullingstone near Sherborne in Dorset.The fabric was chosen because, according to Sarah 'it is the creamiest material in the world. It never creases. It is as smooth as glass and hangs beautifully.'

The champagne color of the dress flattered the bride's hair and skin tone. The design had a renaissance silhouette and the fitted, boned bodice had a dropped waist coming into a point at the front and a lower 'V' at the back. The neckline was gently curved and edged with pearls. The sleeves were full, coming into a simple pearl-edged point just below the elbow. 

The skirt was flat in front, widening on the sides and full at the back. The 17 1/2 foot train flowed from beneath a fan shaped bow and the underskirt was bordered by a silk scalloped lace flounce billowing out the heavy sheen of the satin skirt. The designer's hallmark - heavy beading - was most strikingly evident on the train and was based on Sarah's Coat-of-Arms.  Worked in seed pearls and diamante, the train was embroidered with thistles, bees and hearts and in a nod to Prince Andrew's naval career, anchors, and waves. Rising in a scale at the bottom of the train, a heraldic 'A' led into a double 'S'.  The pure silk tulle veil had scalloped edging and was embroidered with true lover's knots and shimmered with sequins. The total number of bugle beads, sequins, crystals pearls and stones on the wedding dress amounted to 155,000.

The satin shoes were designed by Manolo Blahnik and beaded with bees and ribbons in pearls and diamonds. She wore a necklace of cultured pearls intertwined with 18 carat gold and a diamond pearl pendant. She wore a headdress off fresh flowers - roses, lily petals , gardenias (Andrew's favorite flower) and lilies-of-the-valley. At the end of the ceremony the headdress was removed to reveal a diamond tiara, symbolic of her metamorphosis from commoner to royal. As Sarah recalled 'I had stepped up as the country girl; I would walk back as a princess.'

In her hands Sarah carried an "S' shaped spray of cream lilies, palest yellow roses, gardenias, lilies of the valley and the traditional sprig of myrtle.  

© Marilyn Braun 2010

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Resources

Their Royal Highnesses the Duke & Duchess of York by Christopher Warwick and Valerie Garner

Royal Style Wars : The Trend-Setting Fashion Feud Between the Princess of wales And the Duchess of York

Royalty in Vogue by Josephine Ross

My Story by Sarah, Duchess of York

Invitation To a Royal Wedding ( Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew by Trevor Hall

Official Celebration of the Royal Wedding by Gordon Honeycombe

The Royal Report for Sunday May 30, 2010 - Can Fergie bounce back?

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York was recently caught in a video sting by an undercover News of the World reporter offering access to Prince Andrew in exchange for money. With a history of mishaps, can she bounce back from this one?

Listen to the episode to find out

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 174 Spring 2010

Hello! Canada Weekly No 149 9 November 2010

My Story by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

News of the World Video mentioned

Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson in cash for access scandal

Blogs and websites mentioned

World of Royalty Website

World of Royalty Blog

Royal News Blog

The Ceremonial Funeral of Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma

From My Royal Collection

The Royal Way of Death (History & Politics) by Olivia Bland

Tune in LIVE to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday June 6, 2010 at 9:00PM EST (North America).

The topic to be determined

© Marilyn Braun 2010

Why Prince Andrew should forgive Fergie

Prince Andrew must, no doubt, be aware of the story of his ex-wife having been caught in a sting by a journalist from the News of the World. We can only imagine the 'apoleptic rage' he keeps hidden behind the royal reserve while attending engagements. To his credit he ignored questions by reporters, thereby not engaging in a public mud slinging match. One well chosen syllable of which would have been enough to destroy her reputation for good.

Fergie, who was in the US to accept an award will be returning to the UK soon. The Daily Mail predicts there will be a showdown, where she will be called to account to her ex-husband for her latest gaffe.  Fergie, in her 'fragile mental state,', according to the Express, is 'throwing herself at the mercy of friends.' "Desperate and in a bad place' she has taken to leaving 'anguished messages' on a friend's answering machine.  Oh the melodrama!

Prince Andrew of all people must be aware of the predicament Fergie is in. After all, didn't his family help place her there by shafting her in the divorce settlement? Leaving her with little more than £15,000 and the remnants of a royal title. Who can blame her for trading off on what she has? Isn't he doing the same? Were it not for his title, would he be in the same position he is now?

The Prince is also well aware of how the media has treated members of his family. This is not the first run in with News of the World, and it probably won't be the last. Hopefully the Duchess will be wiser the next time but given her track record I doubt it. Placing the blame solely on Fergie and permanently faulting her for being naive would make them both look bad.

Let's also not forget that she is the mother of his children. The princesses must be caught in the middle, their loyalties divided. Beatrice and Eugenie must know their mother and the position she's in better than most, yet at the same time realizing that a price shouldn't be put on their royal heritage. I've always gotten the impression that Andrew and Sarah, sharing living arrangements and holidays, as the 'happiest divorced couple in the world' who, in Andrew's words, are 'divorced to each other, but not from each other' must share a special bond that the rest of us find hard to comprehend. A bond which survives even through her previous gaffes, some which have been more humiliating to him than being offered up for £500,000.

My money is on them weathering this storm too. After all of these years and after all they have been through, they must be fairly familiar with the following quote: 'to err is human, to forgive is divine.'

© Marilyn Braun 2010

Can Fergie bounce back?

Fergie.

Fergie, Fergie, Fergie (insert dramatic sigh here).

What have you done this time? Just when we thought you were on the road to royal redemption, breaking scones with the royal family at tea time and cozily living with your ex-husband as, what you call yourselves: "the happiest divorced couple in the world." You get caught in a video sting by an undercover reporter for News of the World. I hate when that happens.

My first reaction to your video? Holy c**p!

Second reaction to your video? She's done it again!

How, I wondered, could you still be so naive after all of these years?

Yes, you were shafted by the royal family in the divorce settlement. Yes, you have had to make your own way in the world. Having a title didn't hurt you. But your royal connections seemed to be off limits. Watching this video they obviously are not. Yet you are not the first person connected to the royal family to be captured making unflattered revealtions - Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Princess Michael of Kent to name but two. If anything, you're in good company.

You have apologized for your "serious lapse in judgement."  As the royals supposedly react to these things, the Queen herself must be 'incandescent with rage', Charles must be 'knashing his teeth' and the scandal is said to have shaken the royals. Then there are the rest of us who may be bemused, shocked, or indifferent. It is incredibly unfortunate, especially for some of us who had held out hope that when the Queen goes to that great palace in the sky, that you two might once again be reunited on commmemorative china. Like waiting for William and Kate to get married, we all have unrealistic dreams.

Reports of your financial difficulties are nothing new. You have denied them in the past but there is no denying it now. It must be a desperate situation for you to offer up the Duke of York to the higest bidder. While the deal you were trying to broker is shocking, it is your naivety that is painful to watch. Your appearance in the video, smoking, looking stressed and hunched over was pathetic for a woman circa 1986 who joined the royal family with such 'breath of fresh air' potential.

It's hard to say how this will affect your future with your business and your credibilty. I feel sad that for all of the progress you have made with the royal family you might be back to square one. Not to mention how your daughters must feel being caught in the middle. But you have bounced back before and you have proven that you are a survivor when others have chosen to count you out. And in that respect I'm not worried about you - for now.

This too shall pass...until the next time...

© Marilyn Braun 2010

Happy 19th birthday Princess Beatrice!

Today is Princess Beatrice's 19th birthday. This is an interview from her 18th birthday.



© Marilyn Braun 2007

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Saying what's already been said

I have several drafts in the inbox where I weigh in about Kate Middleton and Prince William. I haven't been able to finish any of these drafts because sometimes I wonder whether I have anything new to add to the subject. Finding something to say that hasn't already been said about this issue is difficult. What angle should I take when there isn't one left?

The subject seems to have been beaten to death, with no end in sight. In the absence of an engagement ring, plenty of speculation and 'insider' reports take its place. The ghost of Diana makes its ubiquitous appeance. One can only wonder what the principal players in this media frenzy think. The royal family is no doubt used to this. But unlike his father with the young Lady Diana Spencer, Prince William seems to be protective of Kate Middleton. Or so the reports would have us believe. Has William ordered police protection for Kate? A chivalrous royal suitor rescuing his damsel in distress makes for a better story. William on his polo pony and Kate, a present day Cinderella, running the gaunlet of rabid press. Hounded while doing the most menial of tasks, arguments about Kate's privacy add a newsworthy dimension.

One thing is certain, both sides have to handle the situation carefully. Learning lessons from Diana's death, regardless of Kate's status, the royal family can't be seen to be insensitive. Kate, should she want to become the next royal bride, needs to be discreet while playing the waiting game. Should an announcement be forthcoming, we can only hope it will be worth it. Angle: Love conquers all.

But what does Kate think? Does she want to be a princess? What if things don't pan out? Book deals and appearances on Oprah follow. It could work out either way for her. Just look at Fergie.

Maybe I'll ponder these things while I'm thinking of something to write about.

© Marilyn Braun 2007