I agree about KC. He’s really aged quite a bit in the last 2-3 years. Probably his mother’s/father’s death and Harry have caused a lot of stress.
I’m sure Elton was thinking “hell, no”.
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He may well have thought it, but he’s also in Germany on tour.
I think KC missed an opportunity to help heal his family by not inviting Harry to join him on the balcony. On the day taxpayers spent $125 million on his coronation, it seems stubbornly silly to insist on presenting a slimmed down monarchy by having only “working royals” on the balcony (even though many of those working royals only worked a few hours wrangling robes). It was a national celebration, and KC could have reasonably chosen to celebrate with family.
In the months before the coronation, it was widely reported it was important to KC to have Harry in attendance. Harry came through for him, and I thought he was treated as a “spare”. It seemed KC’s desire to have him there was self-serving. As a parent, I can’t understand not having time to talk to one of my kids, and treating kids so differently. I’m sure he was hurt by Harry’s book, but I guess he caused Harry a lot of hurt over the years, too. A coronation and a balcony appearance aren’t a magic fix, but it could have been a start.
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He looked really awful at the queen’s funeral, but that was to be expected because of the huge responsibility he was taking on, his mother had just died, his children were fighting…
I thought he looked better on Sat and even better at the concert. Camilla has been sick this year, and she’s older and smoked for a lot of years. I don’t know about her family’s longevity, but I don’t have hopes she’ll last until her 90’s.
Agree!
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My opinion.
If Prince Harry had made an appearance on the balcony, Prince Andrew would have asserted that he had to be on the balcony also.
I think it’s so very wrong that Prince Andrew seems to expect preferential treatment, he wore robes when I suspect he wasn’t supposed to as only working royals wore robes. He’s done everything he can to worm his way into all the ceremonies when he knows why he shouldn’t.
So make an exception for one, and the other is a rude prig who barges his way into everything and knows exactly why he shouldn’t.
Doesn’t make it right, but it’s an explanation.
Do I think Prince Harry should have disclosed what he did in his book? Probably not. I think his brother is quite angry but I suspect his father would like things to be different. Parents always do.
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I keep forgetting about Andrew. You’re right in that respect. Couldn’t do one without Andrew throwing a fit. I did think it odd he wore a robe.
Maybe Dior didn’t offer him a nice looking suit!
I did think Harry’s suit was really nice. Dior probably didn’t want Harry covering it up with a robe. For all the talk of Catherine’s dress, we never got to see it.
Neither Harry nor Andrew are included in the official portrait
In case anyone wants to know who’s who:
From left to Right
The Duke of Kent, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Gloucester, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Princess Royal, The King, The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Princess of Wales, The Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, The Duke of Edinburgh
Who the heck are those people?? Don’t think I’ve ever heard of half of them.
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The Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra are first cousins to QE2, grandchildren of George V. The Duchess of Gloucester is married to the Duke. Timothy Laurence is Princess Anne’s husband. The rest you probably know.
All were considered “working royals” under QE2
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I guess they have to replace the wayward immediate family with people from the extended family. 
Some of these working royals are pretty old so there will be some paring down of numbers sooner than later.
Okay, thanks, and yes, I recognized the others.
The motivation for my question was what significance they have that would warrant them being included in the official portrait. My guess is KC3 is perhaps trying to signal respect to the late queen, or something like that. Doesn’t seem to make sense otherwise.
The Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra, the Honorable Lady Ogilvy are the late Queen’s first cousins. They are working royals as they are patrons of various charities and organizations. At the time of her birth in 1936, Lady Ogilvy was 6th in line to the throne. She is now 56th.
Prince Andrew is wearing the robes of the of the Royal Order of the Garter. It is the highest order of chivalry in England. It dates back to the 1300’s. That hasn’t been taken away from him. I think he could lose it if he takes up arms against the sovereign. The Dukes of Kent, Gloucester and Princess Alexandra are also members, as are all of the late Queen’s children. The King and the Prince of Wales are automatically members. Queen Elizabeth II made Camilla a member in 2022. I believe that her appointment really showed the Queen’s approval of Camilla. If she had not been made a member, then I am sure that King Charles would have appointed her.
I am waiting to see who the King will appoint the next go around. I figure that Kate and Sophie will one day be appointed, with Kate being appointed first.
Kate will. Sophie will not. I can’t think of a single instance of someone marrying into the RF who got the Garter if they were not the Consort or would one day be.
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Yup. And it took me a minute to recognize Princess Alexandra, who really seems to have dramatically aged.
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I found this article illuminating.
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That was a great read.
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