Jayson’s Reviews > Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life > Status Update

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!

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.