The Royalist - Plain Sailing For Sophie In Glasgow

Plain Sailing For Sophie In Glasgow

Written by Joanne Leyland

Thursday, 02 February 2006

The Countess of Wessex undertook one of her most high-profile engagements on Wednesday when she launched the most powerful warship ever built for the Royal Navy at a ceremony at BAE Systems Naval Ships yard in Glasgow.

Sophie, whose public work is often overshadowed by other, more senior and (according to the Press at least) more newsworthy members of the Royal Family, put on a dignified performance as she spoke before thousands of onlookers before launching HMS Daring.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology you can listen to Sophie making the speech that is very familiar to so many members of the Royal Family, it being the mainstay of every launch. Just click the play button situated below the photograph of Sophie preparing to launch the ship.

It's often the case that the launch of such significant ships as HMS Daring are undertaken by the most senior members of the Royal Family, be it the Queen herself or, in times past, the Prince or Princess of Wales (Diana).

TV blooper shows are full of footage of royals looking sheepish as the champagne bottle swings to the side of the vessel and fails to smash, a very bad omen according to seafaring lore.

One of the most repeated clips of recent years is that showing Princess Anne launching the German-built P&O cruise liner Aurora in 2000. On this occasion the champagne bottle failed to smash — a rather too regular occurence when the Queen's daughter is officiating at such ceremonies. Almost from the moment it took to the water, the two hundred million pounds liner suffered what seemed to be a never ending list of problems.

Thankfully, there was only one small glitch in the proceedings for Sophie in this, her first ceremony as ship's sponsor. The Countess's speech over, the warship stubbornly refused to move for around a minute until, finally, it slipped out of the dockyard and into the surrounding waters, to the cheers and applause of the thousands lining the banks of the River Clyde.

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Name: lailani beth pinch

Comment:
its so nice to have a royal bride that generally
has a good relationship with the press.its a shame that sara ferguson/WINSOR was unhappy and
publicly had toe sucking problems , i felt that she was kind ,bloody minded ,and stronge.
dianna like her fathers aunt was obsessed with
weight: its really none of the presses business
weather she was pregnant when she died. she was
divorced from prince charles and i bet he still loved her despite everything. therefore i feel the press are mongrells pestering the royal family instead of letting her rest in peace,i
dont believe for a minute that the queen would
have her ex daughter in law assassinated. i despise any member of the public or press who would be so mean hearted against the queen.

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Name: lisa	Comment: hey! very nice of you all. thx.but i can say that happily i found the video on amazon yesterday. well, for all, who lookes also: i didn't found it with the keyword "sophie wessex" or sth similar, just with "sophie bbc". yeah great now i am waiting. the preparing in the video is that that interview which she gave with edward before the wedding?

Name: Margaret

Comment:
In this nice photo of Sophie, the man whoever he is, is blocking the view of Sophie for hundreds of people.
They are on a platform very high up - and if he moved back, hundreds of people on that side, could see Sophie - as it is, they will have seen nothing.

With over 55 years of waiting for hours to see members of the Royal Family at so many events, this sort of thing has always absolutely INFURIATED me.....especially trying to get my own photos.

Do these oh so officious so VERY thoughtless people not realise they always block the view ?

No, of course they don't.
They are so taken up with being with a Royal...

County Leiutenants are one of the worst as they go along a line of people introducing them - when the Royal arrives - constantly blocking the view of the Royal.

Then officials like this twit in the above photo, block the view of the event, instead of standing back. District councillors, mayors, staff - you name it, they are there, blocking the view.

Then when the Royal leaves, at least 6 crowd around the Royal to shake hands goodbye.
And they never shake hands then step backwards !
They stay where they are - it is so stupid and thoughtless.

At least when it was Diana, as she was tall, we could still see, just, her head.

It never fails to amaze me that there has never been a directive from B.P. officials, on their time consuming pre-check visits, to TELL people - "After introductions and leave taking, ALWAYS immediately stand back from .....".

And then there is the press to contend with - not in the ratpack 'pen', but the usual rota ones who turn up 10 mins before the Royal arrives, when you have been there waiting 1-4 hours , carefully picking a good spot on the barriers to be able to see well, and get those all important photographs - and now it is camcorder we want too - - and the photographers and particularly numerous TV cameramen, led backwards by a collegue AND accompanied by reporters who do NOT need to be so close to do their reporting - ALL walking backwards in front of the Royal who is doing the now usual walkabout along the barriers accepting flowers and talking...

And what was a many feet long clear view - is now the backs of the press and media, until the Royal is only 6 feet away, and you have to juggle camera, camcorder and the flowers you yourself want to give them.

I could SCREAM !!!

And the above photo sums it all up !

Margaret

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Name: LJ	Comment: Hi, Lisa If you are interested, I have an unopened copy of BBC's 'Edward & Sophie: A Royal Celebration', which includes the pre-wedding interview.

Name: Laura	Comment: Lisa, I have tried looking for a copy on ebay, amazon etc but have had no luck. Are you a member of the forum? If I see a copy online I'll send you a private message. Regards Laura

Name: lisa	Comment: hey is there any possibility to save that what she spoke? and: very nice that you put it here! do you know from where to get a bbc video?

Name: Laura	Comment: Thanks Joanne for this interesting soundbite! For those who wish to hear Sophie speak. On the BBC video of Sophie and Edward's wedding there is a extensive interview and footage with Sophie as she prepares for her big day. I am sure this video is still available on the somewhere online.

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