General Chat

The root cause of the English Civil War David had little to do with the "divine right" of kings it was far more prosaic.

Up until 1640 the King had much the same role as the US president today - chief exec. The Commons held the purse strings. The Tudors hated the arrangement.

The Commons saw such fripperies as Defence of the Realm very much as the King's personal problem especially if they represented inland constituencies. The King wanted to extend the tax of "Ship Money" to the whole country, including Scotland. The Commons and the Scots would not have it so the King invoked what he saw as his right to govern and the civil war kicked off.

Soon after the end of the Civil War the Dutch hammered the English navy in the Thames estuary. After that ship money did not seem such a bad idea after all, The monarchy was restored and under Samuel Pepys the Engish navy was rebuilt from scratch. I don't think there has been very much unease for the crowned heads of the UK since then though - even James III and Edward VIII were allowed exile.

Who has to pay for what and when was sorted out in 1688.
May is currenrlty getting a sharp and brutal practical lesson in the English Constitution. Most of it seems quite new to her.

The 'nanny' was in fact Lady Louise Windsor helping the children up the steps, she did well at only 14. Edward and Sophie will be very proud after her eye problems.

Rollo, I think David's post was just commenting, and quite honestly I don't think any of us on here need a history lesson! Those of us who are interested know all this anyway, and those who aren't, frankly don't care!
Yes Lady Louise did do well with her rather boisterous charges, I thought it a bit odd that the Maid of Honour wasn't more in evidence, helping with the dress, bridesmaids etc, but I think she was escorting and looking after her mother - I think!!!

I think Fergie would have looked isolated without her daughter until Prince Andrew sat down. It would have all been worked out prior to the wedding. No doubt Beatrice would have helped her sister with everything before the event.

It was the most important thing for Beatrice on the day as her sister had others to help with the dress.

Not very usual for the bride's father and an Usher to help with arranging the bride's dress particularly with that very long train!! Ditto a 14 year old being in charge of half a dozen lively young children! Lucky it went so well!

Only saw TV news clips but the dress was so elegant and regal plus it suited her stature.......bet copies are in th shops now. :-D.

I wish the Queen would have smiled a bit more, she looked miserable all the way through the ceremony.

Lizx

Maybe she felt that the event wasn't about her, so didn't want to appear to upstage the bride! Perhaps she was concerned about 97 year old Prince Phillip, or perhaps she just felt like keeping a low profile!

I just think she's got one of those faces that if she's not smiling she looks unhappy. Maybe her mouth naturally turns down at each end. I know someone who has this and she looks miserable most of the time yet is a very happy person. She has curved down ends to her mouth.

Yes, I think you're right PC, When the Queen smiles her whole face lights up - she can't 'light up' ALL the time !!

The Queen always looks very smart & Prince Philip they had the dignity to step aside at their Granddaughters wedding .cant expect to smile all the time .Andrew & Sarah .didn't do a lot of smiling either .thought bits I saw Sarah looked uncomfortable .a lot of familly.s have good & bad relationships .we don't live in the limelight must be very hard sometimes to ignore gutter press .& to carry on smiling .Barbara :-D

Have you seen Mia Tindal on the official wedding photo she looks so full of mischief .(hurry up & get on with it ) bless her :-)