Corgi and Wess
MORE WIT AND WISDOM FROM THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR
THOMAS BLAIKIE
Contents
Family Rivalry — Who is the Loveliest of Them All?
Who’s in Charge? The Struggle for Power
You Look Awfully Like the Queen, my previous collection of Royal stories, was my first book. For me, it was thrilling enough just to be published. It never occurred to me that anyone might buy the book or that sales might even be necessary.
But fortunately many of you did buy it, and in quite large numbers.
Informal, behind-the-scenes glimpses of Royal life, sometimes quirky (for the Windsors are odd, as you might expect), not always as fawningly flattering as old-fashioned deference would have demanded, but always affectionate, seem to be popular. Perhaps it is that they catch the spirit of the modern, more cheerful and friendly Monarchy which we all want and in fact have — for the Queen and the Monarchy have changed, despite all claims and appearance to the contrary. Gratifyingly for me, members of the Royal Family have taken to telling Royal anecdotes themselves. To mark his mother’s 8oth birthday, Prince Andrew gave a number of interviews in which he retold the title story of You Look Awfully Like the Queen, getting it slightly wrong, if I may say so.
Here, in Corgi and Bess, you will find many tantalising vignettes, the majority of them never before published or from elusive sources, of all the peculiar, contradictory traits of Royalty. One minute they are just like us, worrying about the shabby state of the curtains, and the next doing something really quite strange, like kissing a small child goodnight with a crown on or showing astonishing knowledge of the smoking habits of goats. You will find yourself experiencing, perhaps, equally contradictory feelings about them, veering from anxiety as to exactly how seriously to take them to respect and admiration.
You will see also changes in the Royal Family reflected. There are a number of exclusive stories about the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Princes William and Harry. It is interesting that Princess Margaret, a few years after her death, begins to look less and less … well, I hesitate to say this … awful. Her idea was that there was no point in being a Princess unless you could do exactly as you liked — and that’s just what she did, with breathtaking dash and aplomb. You’ve got to give it to her.
Royal anecdotes may be popular but that doesn‘t mean they’re easy to come by. No, they are rare. People who know them guard them jealously. I could write another whole book about the struggle I’ve had to excavate the stories in this one; but I was fortunate to come across some highly exclusive sources without, I can honestly say, having to penetrate the Palace disguised as a footman.
But in one maddening instance no amount of digging could achieve anything. Somebody told me a story about the Queen walking her dogs and meeting a member of the public who didn’t recognise her (this could be true if it happened some time ago). This person had the cheek to suggest that the Queen’s dogs were badly behaved and she ought to do something about it. Her Majesty made some funny reply, but my source couldn’t remember what it was. Can you believe it?
So, if anyone thinks they know, do be in touch. I’m sure a suitable reward can be arranged.
‘Royalty are marvellous — they never crease or stain.’
EVE POLLARD, commenting on the fashions at Royal Ascot in the 1970s
In May 2006, the Queen was moved and delighted to open a garden in memory of Princess Margaret at Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute. She had just one little reservation — the lettering on the plinth, was it big enough? She could hardly read her sister’s name! Her hosts’ explanation that maybe it was owing to the brightness of the day did not convince. On her way out, the Queen came across a poster for a student rock concert with outrageously bold lettering. ‘That’s the sort of thing you want,’ she said.
Skinny-dipping in the River Dee on the Balmoral estate is a favourite pursuit of Royal