Well, somehow it’s already been two weeks since Beth and I launched the Throne Rangers podcast with Episode 1, which means it’s almost Easter, and school holidays (didn’t they only just start?!!), and now it’s time for Episode 2. Which is bursting at the seams, because apparently everything just happened in the last 14 days.
Cakes! Hats! Fashion wins and EXTREME misses! Trips down memory lane! We have the lot.
The Court Circular
We began the episode with our segment The Court Circular, where we covered off the previous fortnight’s engagements, which included:
The Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, which everyone was keen to see as it was Meghan’s first official engagement alongside the Queen.
And no, Kate and Meghan didn’t wear the same shoes. Kate’s are Rupert Sanderson, Meghan’s are Manolos. But sooo glad to see so much media uproar over it, obviously 🙄
Oh – and if you thought Theresa May’s reading sounded familiar, it was – she read part of the book of Romans, which overlapped with the part James Middleton read at Kate and William’s wedding.
Her Maj looked resplendent in maroon, and Beth and I very much enjoyed watching how nervous everyone got in the receiving line as she approached.
Our Cath was in emerald green at the St Patrick’s Day celebrations with Prince William and the Irish Guards at the Cavalry Barracks, where she presented shamrock to the guards, a favourite engagement of the Queen Mother’s, once upon a time.
And, as one of the many other engagements this fortnight, hosted an symposium on early intervention which brought together academics, practitioners and charities to better support the wellbeing of young children. Cath also announced her plans to create a long-term collaboration between experts and organisations to raise awareness of perinatal, maternal and infant mental health, as well as the need to support parents, families and teachers, and all in a speech, no less.
Bless her cotton socks. And only her cotton socks and absolutely not really this outfit. I’m afraid the mint wasn’t doing it for either one of us.
She also popped up with Willz at two engagements in London to celebrate the Commonwealth in the run up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April. This is of course where we saw a comeback of the Kate-staple skinny jean, so of course that came up for discussion.
Aaaand met with representatives from British Tennis, Wimbledon and Coach Core at Kensington Palace to discuss children’s tennis initiatives in the UK.
Dearly Beloved Harry popped up in quite a few engagements, including heading to the Army Aviation Centre where once upon a time he undertook helicopter training, to present the latest graduates with their Wings.
When he graduated, Haz was presented with his Wings from the Army Air Corps Colonel Chief, which also happened to be his dad.
Haz and Meg also popped into Birmingham on International Women’s Day, and pointedly celebrated girls and women with the engagements on that day, as well as meeting with Coach Core apprentices.
Harry and William also hosted a reception for winners of The Met Excellence Awards at Kensington, Harry attended the Mountbatten Festival of Music (the first engagement as Captain General of the Royal Marines), and he also delivered a keynote speech at the annual Veterans’ Mental Health Conference.
Prince Chuck was busy with the Prince’s Trust Awards, etching something at the Art Worker’s Guild, visiting Truro and Nansledan, Lincolnshire, and consolidating his various charities. We also enjoyed him hanging out with a cake at the 10th Anniversary of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5.
Camilla attended a Commonwealth Big Lunch, celebrated International Women’s Day, and received an honorary doctorate for her literacy work (no biggie!)
Liz was seen at:
- A parade at St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle to mark the appointment of The Duke of York as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. He has taken over from the Duke of Edinburgh, who held the position since 1975. The Queen herself was Colonel of the Grenadier Guards from when she was 16 to when she ascended the throne.
- Receiving various dignitaries at Buckingham Palace
- The Royal Academy of Arts to officially open the Burlington Gardens building & mark the Academy’s 250th anniversary
- an Investiture she held at the Palace
- various audiences held at the palace
Royal Wedding News
Invitations went out for Harry and Meghan’s wedding, created by Lottie Small at Barnard Westwood. Beth is waiting patiently by the mailbox for hers.
Because she’s ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AT WINDSOR CASTLE FOR THE WEDDING. Good grief.
Guests have been invited to the service at St George’s Chapel and to the lunchtime reception at St George’s Hall, which is being given by Her Majesty The Queen, and later that evening, around 200 guests are being invited to the reception at Frogmore House given by The Prince of Wales – you know that’s where the party’s at!
Mel C responded to rumours that the Spice Girls were going to reunite to perform at the wedding reception: that’s a big, fat NO.
Meghan was (reportedly) baptised and confirmed at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, followed by dinner for 18 at Clarence House. A very special part of St James’s palace – it was where Diana’s body rested in the week prior to her funeral, and also where bonny Prince George was baptised.
The Queen has officially given her consent to the royal wedding, which she must do as Harry is in the order of succession that requires the Queen’s permission. Her “dearly beloved grandson” and his future wife were given that permission in a letter to the Privy Council.
We also were given information about the royal wedding cake, which is to be provided by Claire Ptak of Violet bakery in Hackney (she has a gorgeous recipe book from the shop and also a chockers Guardian column of deliciousness). A lemon and elderflower situation, covered in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. Tick, tick, tick!
More royal family news
- Cambridge baby number 3 now has their own official webpage ahead of their April appearance
- Zara Tindall and her baby bump was seen at the Cheltenham Races. Most often described as the heralder of the great Kate and Willz breakup in 2007, it’s for serious horse-lovin’ folk, so no surprise to see Zara there.
- There’s been chat that Ed Sheeran is the one to watch for reception entertainment duties (I mean everyone else in the world has their wedding singers sing Ed Sheeran songs, so you may as well go for the best). Ellie Goulding sang Elton John’s “Your Song” for Kate and William’s first dance at their wedding, which I assume they chose after seeing her 2010 John Lewis Christmas ad:
- Princess Eugenie now has an Instagram, to “use the platform to share the causes, passions and people close to her heart” (scoliosis being one of them), which joins our favourite Fergie Ferg’s insta, and her dad Prince Andrew‘s.
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Royal Ascot (coming up in June) has updated its dress code, men now have to wear socks in all enclosures and ladies, you can wave goodbye to those Bardot necklines. Which I had to Google.
- Camz very possibly will be known as Queen when Charles becomes King, as Clarence House has removed the reference to her being known as “princess consort” from their website. Now, I am fully in favour of this. I love Diana dearly, and she was an absolute legend, but I’ve come to really appreciate Camilla and everything she does over my years of royal watching, so I’m pro #QueenCamilla
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Harry’s possible outfits: I had to do a bit more research into this, post-Episode One as he’s no longer in active military service. He has two choices really: Morning Dress, or the uniform of a ceremonial member of Household Cavalry, etc. Prince William wore his Colonel of the Irish Guards uniform because he had recently been appointed to this by The Queen and his wedding was ceremonial, as future monarch. Harry may not be given a ceremonial title, but he is currently Captain General Royal Marines, which he just took over from Phil, and he is very military-minded, so that’s a possibility.
- Harry and Meghan were reported to have had lunch with the Queen on Mother’s Day.
- Edward had a birthday. Happy birthday, old chap!
- We had a listener question, which asked why do William and Kate not show affection in public? Are they not allowed to? The answer is partially because they’re the future King and Queen and have to be a bit formal, but also: they ARE affectionate. I’m not sure if everyone just got retroactive amnesia or something ever since Harry and Meghan held hands all up and down the country, but Willz and Our Cath are very handsy. You only have to Google “William and Kate affectionate” and you can see a good 16 years of PDA pics. Cath loves an arm pat or a knee touch, and they hold hands like, EVERY CHRISTMAS.
- It’s almost Easter, so we discuss what the royal family will be doing over the weekend. They usually spend Easter at Windsor Castle, with a church service on Easter Sunday at St George’s Chapel, and liz distributes Maundy Money each year on the Thursday before Easter Sunday. That’s where The Queen travels to a different cathedral across the country to hand out special coins to men and women in recognition for their contribution to their community and church. Sometimes there are even Easter Egg hunts open to the locals at various palaces. The 1952 Maundy Service was the first official engagement Elizabeth performed as the new Queen after taking three month’s off to grieve the death of her father.
Episode 3 will be available April 9. Enjoy!
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