| MONDAY'S PAPERS: Camilla "Snubbed" By The Queen? |
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| Written by Joanne Leyland | |||||||
| Monday, 26 December 2005 | |||||||
 It's silly season in the British newspapers today with wall-to-wall front page coverage of what they ridiculously claim is a "snub" to Camilla from her new mother-in-law, the Queen. The front pages relate to the fact that Camilla wasn't mentioned in the Queen's televised Christmas speech, but since when has the Queen ever truly made this annual speech a 'personalised' run-down of what's happened to her family? And isn't the institution of monarchy about more than one just one person? I agree it would have been nice to see some behind-the-scenes footage of the Royal Family — as I've already mentioned, my own opinion is that the Queen's TV broadcast really should try to also reach out to the younger generation by including some reference or footage of Princes William and Harry who are, after all, the future of the monarchy — but surely it would have been too controversial to make this a 'Charles and Camilla' show? We've discovered here at The Royalist that this couple really do continue to provoke vastly different reactions, either very positive or very (very!) negative, and so it would have surely been too risky for the Queen to have made a great deal of 'welcoming' Camilla to the family. What do you think?  The Daily Telegraph at least doesn't focus on what was 'missing' from the Queen's speech, instead celebrating the fact so many people — around 2,000 — turned out on Christmas morning to see the Royal Family walk to Church. The front page has a lovely image of Andrew and Sarah's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York, but here too the story is Camilla, Camilla, Camilla, with two seasoned royal watchers almost falling over themselves as they speak of their admiration of the new Duchess. Norfolk-based pensioner Mary Relph tells the paper: "I haven't seen crowds here like this for a long time - and I think everyone has come to see Camilla. She was definitely the star of the show - even more than Prince William - and I told her that she looked stunning". And Sheila Clark from Glasgow is equally effusive, saying of her meeting with Camilla: "I gave her an album of photographs I had taken of her since the wedding. She looked stunning. She looked as if she was having a lovely Christmas". The Queen, though, does feature almost as prominently as the Duchess of Cornwall in the Daily Mail, with Her Majesty being rightly praised for the beautiful outfit she wore to Church on Sunday (personally, I have to agree with at least one of our readers who said the Queen was the real star on Christmas morning).  However, even here — in the newspaper that has always been so closely associated with Diana — Camilla is celebrated. They even show a photograph of a Union Flag which an admirer of the later Princess had decorated to read 'Happy Xmas Camilla', which the Duchess stopped to admire. Deborah Judd tells the Mail: "I am a Diana fan but I am really pleased Camilla was here. She looked so very pleased to be here and absolutely beautiful".  By the way, for your information Camilla was wearing a hat by her favourite milliner (and friend) Phillip Treacy and an outfit by designer Roy Allen. Also, in case you're wondering what the red circle is which the Mail has put around an area of Prince Harry's head, it relates to their small story that the 21-year-old, just back home from Army training in Cyprus, appeared to have a bump on his head. Exciting stuff, eh? And sorry for our friends who've written in asking to see photos of Sophie but, at this moment at least, there are none available to us, although we promise to rectify this as soon as we possibly can as, personally speaking (again) I'm a great fan of the Countess of Wessex and am disappointed to see how she has been ignored in all of the media coverage this Christmas and Boxing Day. Meanwhile, there's been little reaction from Buckingham Palace and Clarence House to claims that this was the last Christmas the royals will spend at Sandringham in Norfolk, due to 'pressure' from Princes Charles, William and Harry. The young Princes in particular wish to be able to spend Christmas Day with their girlfriends and Windsor Castle is (obviously!) so large that it can easily accommodate extended members of the family and friends. A source is quoted as saying: "It shows just how things have rapidly changed since the death of the Queen Mother. It is clear the Prince {of Wales} now wants to do things to suit himself and his new immediate family. Some may see a big row here, but that is not the case. It just shows the Queen is happy to listen to the needs of her family". Today, though, their minds are firmly on the holidays as Prince William is reportedly set to leave Sandringham today (Boxing Day) to enjoy a skiing break in Verbier with girlfriend Kate Middleton, while his younger brother Harry is reportedly also set to jet out for a holiday in Africa with his girlfriend, Chelsy Davy. Sadly for William and Harry, no doubt the photographers are not too far behind! However, William, unlike Harry, is apparently set to return to Norfolk to enjoy one of his favourite past-times, shooting, at a January the 2nd party to be hosted by his grandfather Prince Philip, whom he adores. Charles and Camilla, meanwhile, are reportedly set to enjoy a 'Victorian style' Hogmanay at Birkhall in Scotland, having returned there on December the 28th. Comment on this article
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