Jayson’s Reviews > Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life > Status Update
Jayson
is on page 17 of 624
Notes:
(1) Finished the first chapter, which covers Charles' life pre-Gordonstoun. The key theme, repeated over and over, is that in the absence of his parents raising him, Charles gravitated and transferred affection to other women in his life.
- His nanny, his governess, his grandmother, etc.
- Over-mothering, ironically not from his mother, possibly instilling wimpiness.
— Jun 06, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) Finished the first chapter, which covers Charles' life pre-Gordonstoun. The key theme, repeated over and over, is that in the absence of his parents raising him, Charles gravitated and transferred affection to other women in his life.
- His nanny, his governess, his grandmother, etc.
- Over-mothering, ironically not from his mother, possibly instilling wimpiness.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is on page 495 of 624
Notes:
(1) Following retirement from the military, William and Kate moved into Kensington Palace apartment 1A, which features four stories, twenty rooms and a private garden.
- My first apartment was a one bedroom with a window view of a brick wall.
(2) In 2012 Harry was photographed naked at a party in Las Vegas.
- First rule of naked Vegas party: check phones at the door!
— Aug 23, 2021 04:30AM
Notes:
(1) Following retirement from the military, William and Kate moved into Kensington Palace apartment 1A, which features four stories, twenty rooms and a private garden.
- My first apartment was a one bedroom with a window view of a brick wall.
(2) In 2012 Harry was photographed naked at a party in Las Vegas.
- First rule of naked Vegas party: check phones at the door!
Jayson
is on page 439 of 624
Notes:
(1) Charles recycles his bathwater to water his garden.
- I'm more surprised that he takes baths.
(2) William's 21st birthday was fancy dress.
- It was notable for a gate-crasher dressed as Osama bin Laden, also as the first royal event attended by Kate Middleton.
(3) Harry's Nazi costume sparked international government condemnation.
- Seems overkill for kid idiocy.
— Aug 22, 2021 04:30AM
Notes:
(1) Charles recycles his bathwater to water his garden.
- I'm more surprised that he takes baths.
(2) William's 21st birthday was fancy dress.
- It was notable for a gate-crasher dressed as Osama bin Laden, also as the first royal event attended by Kate Middleton.
(3) Harry's Nazi costume sparked international government condemnation.
- Seems overkill for kid idiocy.
Jayson
is on page 359 of 624
Notes:
(1) "Stephen Fry['s] ubiquity at such functions put him perilously close to court jester status."
- From what I know of Stephen Fry, I'm sure he'd take court jester as an honor.
(2) Camilla was so unpopular that there were plans to elevate Princess Anne to "Royal Partner," to perform consort duties instead.
- Reminds me of when Chelsea Clinton was briefly First Lady.
— Aug 19, 2021 04:50AM
Notes:
(1) "Stephen Fry['s] ubiquity at such functions put him perilously close to court jester status."
- From what I know of Stephen Fry, I'm sure he'd take court jester as an honor.
(2) Camilla was so unpopular that there were plans to elevate Princess Anne to "Royal Partner," to perform consort duties instead.
- Reminds me of when Chelsea Clinton was briefly First Lady.
Jayson
is on page 329 of 624
Notes:
(1) The portion of the book dealing with Diana's death is both the most moving part of the book and the least interesting.
- I know it all already.
(2) In my opinion, the British public never really accepted the divorce. There wasn't enough time. As such, to the public, they always will be married and, no matter how official, Camilla will always be "the other woman."
— Aug 18, 2021 04:00AM
Notes:
(1) The portion of the book dealing with Diana's death is both the most moving part of the book and the least interesting.
- I know it all already.
(2) In my opinion, the British public never really accepted the divorce. There wasn't enough time. As such, to the public, they always will be married and, no matter how official, Camilla will always be "the other woman."
Jayson
is on page 317 of 624
Notes:
(1) Following a long royal tradition of hiring "men of indeterminate sexuality," Charles hired PR wunderkind Mark Bolland.
- William and Harry nicknamed him Lord Blackadder.
(2) Diana fell in love with a Pakistani heart surgeon. He dumped her for being "needy and suffocating."
- Eg. she would be furious with him for declining her phone calls while performing surgery.
— Aug 17, 2021 04:00AM
Notes:
(1) Following a long royal tradition of hiring "men of indeterminate sexuality," Charles hired PR wunderkind Mark Bolland.
- William and Harry nicknamed him Lord Blackadder.
(2) Diana fell in love with a Pakistani heart surgeon. He dumped her for being "needy and suffocating."
- Eg. she would be furious with him for declining her phone calls while performing surgery.
Jayson
is on page 303 of 624
Notes:
(1) To secure the infamous 1995 Panorama interview, Martin Bashir used fake financial documents to convince Diana that her staff was spying on her.
- This deceit was only uncovered this year.
(2) As intended, the interview permanently burnt bridges with the royals.
- As a direct result, the Queen demanded Charles and Diana divorce. She could no longer be queen-to-be.
— Aug 16, 2021 04:00AM
Notes:
(1) To secure the infamous 1995 Panorama interview, Martin Bashir used fake financial documents to convince Diana that her staff was spying on her.
- This deceit was only uncovered this year.
(2) As intended, the interview permanently burnt bridges with the royals.
- As a direct result, the Queen demanded Charles and Diana divorce. She could no longer be queen-to-be.
Jayson
is on page 283 of 624
Notes:
(1) Though there was little doubt that Diana would be "the fun parent," she made extra effort to have her fun in public, so that Charles would by contrast look uninvolved in raising his sons.
(2) When Buckingham Palace opened to the public, the Queen put Charles in charge.
- He bemoaned selling cheap items in the gift shop. Though, what exactly is "cheap" to Charles?
— Aug 12, 2021 04:20AM
Notes:
(1) Though there was little doubt that Diana would be "the fun parent," she made extra effort to have her fun in public, so that Charles would by contrast look uninvolved in raising his sons.
(2) When Buckingham Palace opened to the public, the Queen put Charles in charge.
- He bemoaned selling cheap items in the gift shop. Though, what exactly is "cheap" to Charles?
Jayson
is on page 271 of 624
Notes:
(1) Best chapter of the book so far covers 1991-1992, from Diana's press offensive against Charles, to the Morton biography, to the separation.
- I sort of wish the entire book was the scandalous parts, but then, it wouldn't be a comprehensive biography.
(2) In 1992, there was still hope, despite the separation, that Diana would be crowned Queen.
- How very medieval.
— Aug 11, 2021 04:00AM
Notes:
(1) Best chapter of the book so far covers 1991-1992, from Diana's press offensive against Charles, to the Morton biography, to the separation.
- I sort of wish the entire book was the scandalous parts, but then, it wouldn't be a comprehensive biography.
(2) In 1992, there was still hope, despite the separation, that Diana would be crowned Queen.
- How very medieval.
Jayson
is on page 251 of 624
Notes:
(1) Diana's nickname for Camilla was "Rottweiler."
- I can't tell whether that was a reference to her appearance or her temperament.
(2) Charles kept his affair monogamous and out of public view. Conversely, Diana carried on several affairs simultaneously, and in full view of Kensington Palace staff and her children.
- So very different. Little wonder it didn't work.
— Aug 09, 2021 04:00AM
Notes:
(1) Diana's nickname for Camilla was "Rottweiler."
- I can't tell whether that was a reference to her appearance or her temperament.
(2) Charles kept his affair monogamous and out of public view. Conversely, Diana carried on several affairs simultaneously, and in full view of Kensington Palace staff and her children.
- So very different. Little wonder it didn't work.
Jayson
is on page 241 of 624
Notes:
(1) Dorchester needed to expand. Rather than sell off land to developers, Charles decided to build his own town, Poundbury.
- As Duke of Cornwall, I suppose it's technically his land to decide what do with.
(2) Seems very authoritarian to deny townsfolk a supermarket and cinema for aesthetic reasons.
- Though, to be fair, they did choose to live in Charles' Sim City.
— Aug 08, 2021 04:35AM
Notes:
(1) Dorchester needed to expand. Rather than sell off land to developers, Charles decided to build his own town, Poundbury.
- As Duke of Cornwall, I suppose it's technically his land to decide what do with.
(2) Seems very authoritarian to deny townsfolk a supermarket and cinema for aesthetic reasons.
- Though, to be fair, they did choose to live in Charles' Sim City.
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Nicholas
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Jun 07, 2021 05:17AM
The Netflix series 'The Crown" often emphasized some of those observations.
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Nicholas wrote: "The Netflix series 'The Crown" often emphasized some of those observations."That's interesting. I've not actually seen the show yet. Must be something of a widely held view then.
Didn’t Charles have the most time with his mother out of all her children though? He was 4 when she became Queen so that’s 4 years without Queenly duties to distract her more than any of her other children got. I guess 4 isn’t a lot but you get what you’re given, Charles!
Kadi wrote: "Didn’t Charles have the most time with his mother out of all her children though? He was 4 when she became Queen so that’s 4 years without Queenly duties to distract her more than any of her other ..."That's true in a sense, though not in practicality. Before she was the queen, Philip was a naval officer stationed in Malta, and so she left Charles in the care of nannies as she lived as the wife of a naval officer there. And that's on top of all the royal tours she had to embark on because her father was fighting cancer. Past the point where she had to stop breastfeeding him because she caught measles, the two kept relatively separate lives.
Lisa wrote: "I feel more passion when I've stomped through the woods and then a muddy creek!!"Passion is often lacking when taking infants for a stroll.
