Maggiemaynot
VIP Member
I have been away for a few days and on my travels met up with a friend who spent a couple of nights last week in Ballater, the village near Balmoral.
He stayed in a small family owned guest house where the owner, a man in his late sixties has lived all his life.
My friend checked in at the same time as an American couple who were also staying for a couple of nights and the owner started to tell them about the area, things to do etc. before talk turned to the Royals and the owner asked the Americans how Haz and Smeg were being seen in the States now. They replied that no one really cares about them but that their ‘privacy’ thing is seen as a joke and was mainly greeted by a laugh and a collective eye roll. South Park went down well.
So they all had a giggle and then the owner went on to tell them a few stories about the Royal family…
Charles and Camilla… Both lovely. When a member of the estate staff or a member of their family is ill or having a hard time they will go to the village and carefully choose and buy various items to be made up into a basket which they will then take in person to the recipient’s house. Camilla will quite happily drive herself around will also smile and wave to the residents. No airs and graces.
William and Catherine… Also lovely. Catherine takes the children to the local shops to buy colouring books, crayons etc. to keep them amused while they’re staying there. Delightful well mannered children.
Princess Anne… Not seen too often these days but always pleasant.
Edward and Sophie… Again, always pleasant.
And now,
Andrew… Arsehole. If you even as much as glanced at him he’d scowl and turn his face away as though you weren’t worthy of gazing upon him.
Harry.. Was a nasty petulant child who grew into a nasty petulant man. When he was a child it was a good idea to keep an eye on him if he was in the vicinity of any of the estate animals. (This man had family members who worked on the estate)
Diana… Could be charm personified but could also storm around looking sulky and annoyed.
The general thing is that the locals are happy to have them there and the family can go about their business with no one batting an eye because everyone is used to seeing them around.
There is a heightened sense of security since Harry made the Taliban thing public and people are angry about that. Even though it’s not visible they can feel the difference.
Birkhall is being made ready and Charles and Camilla are expected to be there after Easter.
That’s all I have and to be fair I don’t think there’s much there that we tattlers didn’t know or guess at before.
But this came from someone who’s been there his whole life and had family work on the Balmoral estate. He didn’t give away any great secrets but still interesting.
Thank you to @Duee for the great title and @Cassandra333 for the great recap and new thread. I’ve missed most of the last one.
He stayed in a small family owned guest house where the owner, a man in his late sixties has lived all his life.
My friend checked in at the same time as an American couple who were also staying for a couple of nights and the owner started to tell them about the area, things to do etc. before talk turned to the Royals and the owner asked the Americans how Haz and Smeg were being seen in the States now. They replied that no one really cares about them but that their ‘privacy’ thing is seen as a joke and was mainly greeted by a laugh and a collective eye roll. South Park went down well.
So they all had a giggle and then the owner went on to tell them a few stories about the Royal family…
Charles and Camilla… Both lovely. When a member of the estate staff or a member of their family is ill or having a hard time they will go to the village and carefully choose and buy various items to be made up into a basket which they will then take in person to the recipient’s house. Camilla will quite happily drive herself around will also smile and wave to the residents. No airs and graces.
William and Catherine… Also lovely. Catherine takes the children to the local shops to buy colouring books, crayons etc. to keep them amused while they’re staying there. Delightful well mannered children.
Princess Anne… Not seen too often these days but always pleasant.
Edward and Sophie… Again, always pleasant.
And now,
Andrew… Arsehole. If you even as much as glanced at him he’d scowl and turn his face away as though you weren’t worthy of gazing upon him.
Harry.. Was a nasty petulant child who grew into a nasty petulant man. When he was a child it was a good idea to keep an eye on him if he was in the vicinity of any of the estate animals. (This man had family members who worked on the estate)
Diana… Could be charm personified but could also storm around looking sulky and annoyed.
The general thing is that the locals are happy to have them there and the family can go about their business with no one batting an eye because everyone is used to seeing them around.
There is a heightened sense of security since Harry made the Taliban thing public and people are angry about that. Even though it’s not visible they can feel the difference.
Birkhall is being made ready and Charles and Camilla are expected to be there after Easter.
That’s all I have and to be fair I don’t think there’s much there that we tattlers didn’t know or guess at before.
But this came from someone who’s been there his whole life and had family work on the Balmoral estate. He didn’t give away any great secrets but still interesting.
Thank you to @Duee for the great title and @Cassandra333 for the great recap and new thread. I’ve missed most of the last one.
x
does anyone else practice?
