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 Review: The Young Victoria

I'll admit. Were it not for Sarah Ferguson's, (Duchess of York) involvement in this film I would have more than likely dismissed it as just another straight to DVD royal movie. Nice to eventually loan from the library but not something I would rush out to see otherwise.

However, with Sarah Ferguson's involvement I was somewhat intrigued by the idea. When I think of Queen Victoria I think of her later in life: the mournful, unsmiling, imposing, matriarch of a large extended inter-married royal family. I don't think of her as young, passionate and inexperienced. I also don't think of her as beautiful when portraits of her were said to be far more flattering than what she actually looked like in person.

Covering the period of her early teens and touching on the death of Prince Albert (sorry if I've given away the ending) The Young Victoria shows a princess under the thumb of her mother and advisor Sir John Conroy who want Victoria to sign a regency on her sickbed to put her mother in charge and Conroy the power behind the throne. However, Victoria is no docile princess. She is spirited and defiant and once she becomes Queen, Conroy and her mother are immediately jettisoned from her court.

But they're not the only ones with an agenda as politicians dismiss Victoria as too young and inexperienced, and Lord Melborne portraying himself as her protector and confidant. Then there's the King of the Belgians desire to infiltrate the court via his nephew, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Yet while Prince Albert initially does what's required of him, no one predicted that the new Queen and Prince Albert would actually develop feelings for each other. This makes those with agendas jealous, especially when the couple's loyalty to one another excludes them.

Although they are passionate, they are not without their disagreements. As Prince Albert struggles to find a meaningful role, Victoria becomes threatened by any interference to her power. After this fight, the couple go for a carriage ride and an assassination attempt is made on Victoria. Albert shields her with his body and is shot, suffering grievous injuries. He survives and Victoria realizes how important Albert is to her and gives him a more important role, illustrated by moving his desk next to hers and jettisoning her longtime servant and confidant, Baroness Lehzen.

Emily Blunt, (The Devil Wears Prada) portrays Queen Victoria in the bloom of her youth, as human and passionate - two qualities you wouldn't normally associate with her. Prince Albert is portrayed by the handsome Rupert Friend. Like Victoria, his looks may not be historically accurate, but using such photogenic actors makes their passion much more convincing. Mark Strong plays the glowering Sir John Conroy, Jim Broadbent is wonderful, hamming it up as Victoria's uncle, King William IV, Paul Bettany plays the charming, paternal and influential Lord Melborne and Victoria's great-great-great-great granddaughter Princess Beatrice has a minor cameo during the coronation scene.

Ultimately this film offers no great revelations but it's enjoyable and a good movie to watch if you'd like to see a side of Queen Victoria that most of us may be unfamiliar with.

© Marilyn Braun 2009

The Royal Report for Sunday August 30, 2009 - Are the younger royals taking their roles seriously?

On this episode Prince William drinks out of toilets, Princess Eugenie prefers ketchup bottles, Prince Harry likes wearing disguises and Princess Beatrice just wants people to call her Beatrice. Are the younger royals taking their roles seriously? Also on this episode, I called Party Pieces (several times) to find out if Kate works there.

You can listen to the show here.

Publications mentioned

Hello! Canada Weekly No 141 31 August 2009

Blog post that inspired this episode

The Royal Representative - Who's taking the business of Monarchy seriously?

Tune in to the next episode of The Royal Report on Sunday September 6, 2009 at 9:00PM EST.

The topic will be: It's September and still no engagement between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Is it time to *gasp* give up hope?

© Marilyn Braun 2009

A Royal E for Effort

In a regular series of unflattering photos Princess Beatrice get's scrutinized for everything. *Gasp* she's wearing high heels! Oh dear, she's wearing a bikini! Good grief, who let her out of the palace wearing butterflies on her head? Now she's wearing her beautiful hair in a plait across her forehead.

Like her mother, she may have little to no fashion sense, but give her some points for trying.

Let he/she who doesn't have body issues or an awful fashion choice in their history cast the first designer knock off bag.

© Marilyn Braun 2009

This post was inspired by the following link

Photo: Mail Online

The Royal Report for Sunday November 16th, 2008 - Is the monarchy in safe hands?

On this episode I discussed the future of the monarchy once the Queen dies. Is the monarchy in safe hands with Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie?

You can listen to the podcast here.

Publications mentioned:

Hello! Canada Weekly no. 106 November 24, 2008

Patronages

Prince William's Charities & Patronages

Prince Harry's Charities & Patronages

Information on Princess Beatrice's and Princess Eugenie's ITV Orphanage Report

Blogs mentioned:

Royal Truth

Tune in to the next Royal Report on Sunday November 23rd, 2008. It will be live at 9:00PM EST (North America)

The topic will be: A Salute to Prince Charles

© Marilyn Braun 2008

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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Like royal books? Visit Marilyn's Royal Bookstore!
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Candidates for Prince William's hand

Kate Middleton isn't even cold and already speculation has started on who will be on the commemorative china with him. While having tea in the old mugs, Woolworth's must be gleefully rubbing its hands together. Yes, maybe the next relationship will last!

In August 2005 I posted a list of potential royal brides should things not work out with Kate. At the time, he was dating her so he probably wouldn't have taken this list very seriously. Of course, now that Prince William is single again, he may want to take a closer look. Since the original list the availability has changed somewhat, Christina is married and Britney is divorced, but he still has plenty of choice. Of course, he could choose from a bevy of blonde aristocratic ladies with multi-hyphenated names bigger than their collective IQ's. But why not consider someone different?

Chelsey Davy: She can trade up if she gets tired of Prince Harry

Jennifer Aniston: Take that Brad!

Pamela Anderson: Blonde cougars have more fun

Paris Hilton: Looks good on video and rich enough that he doesn't have to worry about her marrying him for his money.

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen: I still maintain that it would be useful to have a bride with a twin sister. When he wants a change, he could swap them out. But if I were him I'd choose the cleaner looking of the two, Mary-Kate.*

Lindsay Lohan: He'd have someone to party with. But she might drink him under the table.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden: They'd look so good together we'd be jealous of their unborn babies.

Princess Beatrice: [Insert collective ewwww] If he wants to keep it in the same gene pool. At one point royals did marry their first cousins. No, really it's true! Which could explain quite a bit now.

Heather Mills-McCartney: She seems to like them rich and old. Hopefully William does too.

Kylie Minogue: A forerunner on the UK bookmakers list. But could she blow the corgi's out of the room like Christina?

Britney Spears: Well, maybe not a potential bride. But with the head shaving incident he could add her to his list of charities.

Christina Aguilera: She's married at the moment but that'll change. On the plus side, she doesn't have as much baggage as Britney.

Princess Theodora of Greece: If he wants to keep it in the family

There, now Prince William can't complain that he doesn't have any choice. He can thank me with an invitiation to his wedding.

© Marilyn Braun 2007

* I stand corrected. Apparently Ashley is the cleaner looking of the two!

The Royal It Girl

Ahhh...the first blush of youth. Enviable and uncapturable once gone.

A recent photo of Princess Beatrice, released to celebrate her 18th birthday, shows her in all of her youthful, stunning glory. Not since the coming of age of her grandmother and late great-aunt Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, has there been such wonderful potential on the horizon. For unlike male royals, it's hard to resist a beautiful princess. After all, how many fairy tale books are written about Prince Charming? One has only to look at Hello magazine in order to see the appeal of a beautiful and glamourous princess (something I wrote about in Royal Glamour Girls).

You might notice that royalty that doesn't have this asset doesn't get nearly the same amount of media attention. Were it not for the succession crisis in Japan, or that Nepal's ruling family were murdered several years ago, would we pay much attention? For the less superficial royal watchers, it's possible. But yet nothing competes with beauty (or even an 18 year old). Dedication and stoicism simply aren't sexy and don't sell newspapers.

Since the departure of Princess Diana, the position of royal glamour girl has been vacant and Princess Beatrice could indeed fill the void. However, unlike her grandmother (who was heir when she came of age in the 1940's), as fifth in line to the throne Princess Beatrice's profile may not be nearly as high and therefore the attention may not nearly be nearly as great, but for now she's the one. Every royal generation seems to have an "It" girl: Princess Margaret (1950's), Princess Alexandra of Kent (1960's), Princess Anne (1970's), Diana and Fergie, Lady Helen Taylor (nee Windsor) (1980's), Diana (1990's), Lady Gabriella Windsor, Zara Philips, Princess Beatrice (2000's). Whether they take up the mantle is another question.

Unlike other 18 year olds, Princess Beatrice exhudes class. Unlike Paris Hilton, Princess Beatrice will not simply fade away. She may get less attention as she gets older, or until Prince William marries, but like previous royal "It" girls, her place in the family tree of the world's best known royal family is assured.

So dear Bea, enjoy your time in the spotlight. Kate Middleton might be waiting to take your place.

© Marilyn Braun 2006