TV and Movies

[Oznell]

A few days ago, Princess Anne sat down with Adrienne Arsenault, of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, for an interview about the Coronation, the loss of her parents, and Britain's constitutional monarchy, among other things.

It's pretty interesting.  Now, those of us who grew up with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, know it to be a little pompous and overwrought, with some of its subjects, and there's a little of that here too.  The interviewer clearly did her best, with rather convoluted questions, but I preferred Anne's no-nonsense, rather crisp responses, so consistent with her persona.  She was entirely civil, of course, and rather revealing at times.

They show tons and tons of little seen, as well as famous photos.  Anne's the little curly haired blonde cherub in front of Prince Philip here.  She says she remembers little of her mother's coronation, and in fact, was too little to attend the actual ceremony, unlike her older brother--

The interview's a bit heavy on Canadian content, exploring the close relationship that all the royals, and especially Anne, have had with Canada over time.  But I think even an American audience might enjoy the inside scoop.

Gremlins seem to whisk away youtube videos that I attempt to post;  so, if interested, just check youtube or google:

Princess Anne's Take on the Monarchy Under King Charles.  CBC News. The National.

[ValuSkr]

I read this morning that Anne objects to Camilla as "Queen." She commented to Camilla directly that Elizabeth said she'd be "Queen Consort" not "Queen."  

Good for her for speaking up.

[Oznell]

Ha, that wouldn't surprise me, @ValuSkr --  Anne's known for her 'straight talk'.

[SoCal Bred]

Charles went against his mother's request and changed Camilla's title to Queen, glad for Anne for not holding back as I am sure alot of the RF agree with her.

[Love my grandkids]

IMO Anne is the brains and class of that family. A shame SHE can't be the monarch. I have nothing nice to say about "him" so I won't say anything.

[Janey2]

I watched the interview. I never really focused in on her before. She comes across as a very intelligent woman who would not take nonsense from anyone. And yes, too bad she is not going to be the head of the monarchy. I suspect she has a lot of her mother in her.

[twinsister]

@Oznell - thanks for posting about this interview.  I saw a brief clip on the news and was interested in seeing it.   I always liked Princess Anne and her no nonsense attitude.

[cindyNC]

I'm currently reading the book below about King Charles. Have to say it's not really flattering. Of the "royal reads" the one that was the most enjoyable was the one by Angela Kelly "The Other Side of the Coin"

[kaydee50]

Of all the "royals" Anne seems to be the best of the lot.  All her brothers leave something to be desired.  And I agree, she should be Queen.

[Oznell]

I think that Princess Anne was quite right--  Charles made a mistake.  He should have left well enough alone with "Queen Consort",  as his mother wished.

I've always had mixed feelings about him.  He's long been susceptible to all the "fashionable" causes, and few of the unfashionable ones.   He's not a deep thinker,  and he's emotional, a weathervane, as in the 'Queen/ Queen Consort' kerfuffle.

However, for those who see the historical "long game",  the individual personalities of monarchs, who come and go, are not as important as the continuity that they represent.   Charles is not an "evil" person, in my view, disqualified from reigning.  I have no way of knowing whether he's fully repented of his personal errors, but suspect that he's had to reckon with them, like all of us as we grow older.

Thank goodness he's not Andrew-- by all acounts, a petulant and slippery, shadowy character.

Personally, I'd prefer Anne or Edward to Charles, but those aren't the cards.   Anne spoke very sensibly on this topic, with an historian's eye.  She spoke of the continuity of a constitutional monarchy, and the long-term stability it can represent, that few other things can bring in the same way.

This coronation to me, is not about the personalities, as much as it is about the history of a national institution.  From this side of the pond, I want all of our loyal, good allies like Britain, to have as much stability and peace as they can handle-- it's in our national interest as well.