The royals - Kitty Kelley [302]
* The Palace press secretary was shocked when reporters suggested that Her Majesty hold regular press conferences. “It would be in keeping with a film star,” said Commander Colville, “but not with the Queen. The monarchy doesn’t need that sort of publicity.”
* The Duke of Edinburgh was not a rock and roll fan. During a Royal Variety show, he scowled at the performance by Tom Jones and then asked the singer, “What do you gargle with—pebbles?”
The next day, in a speech to businessmen, the Prince mentioned the singer. “He’s a young man of about twenty-five or something, probably worth about three million [$6 million],” said Philip. “It is very difficult at all to see how it is possible to become immensely valuable by singing what I think are most hideous songs.”
* The title Prince of Wales is reserved for the eldest son of the reigning sovereign, but it is not hereditary. The title is conferred only by the sovereign’s personal grant.
* Within a few years the Queen knew she had made a mistake in cooperating with the BBC to make Royal Family. Viewing the film is almost impossible in the United Kingdom. Since the Queen retains the copyright, she requires a viewing fee of approximately $70, plus written permission from the Palace. That permission is rarely, if ever, given.
† The film was shown three times in the United Kingdom, twice in the United States, and once in 124 other countries. The Palace declined to divulge the amount of money earned, but industry estimates placed the amount at $2.5 million.
† In deference to her mother, she did not invite the Duke of Windsor to his brother’s burial.
* The outtakes—more than thirty-eight hours of film left on the cutting room floor—were shipped to the royal archives at Windsor Castle.
* Charles received $500,000 a year from his Duchy of Cornwall properties, plus $125,000 salary as Prince of Wales. By 1995 he received more than $4 million a year from his Duchy properties and paid 40 percent in taxes.
† Camilla bragged to her brother-in-law that she had been the first woman to seduce Prince Charles. “She told me that she approached him [in 1971], but he didn’t know how to have sex,” said Richard Parker Bowles. “He didn’t know how to do it. She laughed and said, ‘Pretend I am a rocking horse.’ ”
† To illustrate the entanglement of British titles: Patricia Mountbatten, daughter of Lord Mountbatten—more correctly Earl Mountbatten of Burma—married John Knatchbull, who inherited his father’s title and became Lord Brabourne. Patricia Mountbatten Knatchbull then became Lady Brabourne. Her father, having no male heirs, asked the Queen to give his title to his eldest daughter. Upon Mountbatten’s death, Lady Brabourne became Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Upon her death, her son, Norton Knatchbull, will inherit the title. Until she dies, he has the courtesy title of Lord Romsey.
* British students who want to enter a university take A-level examinations in subjects of their choice. The best students take four exams. Average students take three. Poor students take two. Charles took two.
* While removing himself from the line of succession, Prince Michael retained the standing for his children. He said that any children of the marriage would be raised in the Church of England. So his son, Lord Frederick Windsor, and his daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, remain in the line of succession.
* Lichfield’s mother, Anne, was the daughter of John Bowes-Lyon, brother of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
* The Sea Scouts are the maritime counterpart of the Boy Scouts. They tie