Folks over at The Royal Forums enjoy tiara-swapping among royal women via Photoshop.
I, too, enjoy the combination of Photoshop and tiaras, so I thought I’d try my hand at it and see how it came out. Click here to see my attempts…
The system of monarchy will never die, but some royals are treading dangerously close to extinction.
Without your title and dynasty, you’re Victoria Beckham and you rely on the pages of Hello! magazine for your publicity. Some royals, unfortunately, don’t seem to mind that eventuality.
Princes William and Harry and their cousin Princess Beatrice seem content to live a socialite’s life with scads of money, but want none of the responsibility that comes with being royal. Hence Beatrice’s casual request, “Just call me plain Beatrice” when referred to as Her Royal Highness. God forbid you’re associated with an institution or idea that puts country before self…
Read more…
People have made it quite clear that the rules of admittance into the Royal Family are archaic.
Only Protestants can inherit the throne, according to the Act of Settlement, and if a member of the Royal Family marries a Catholic, they are tossed out of the line of succession. There have been heated discussions about abolishing this law throughout the kingdom, and many say that the Act goes against human rights.
So what I want to know then, is this: Why is it that Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, had to convert to the Orthodox Jewish religion in order to please her fiance’s parents? The Kushner clan made it plain that they would not allow her to marry their son Jared until she converted to their religion. Where is the outrage, the accusations of that family being non-inclusive, etc.?
Truly, I am wondering what viewpoint people hold on this. Comments below.
Picture of the moment: Lightness Of Being
Picture: Chris Levine
via The Guardian:
I was commissioned to make a holographic portrait of the Queen in 2004, as part of Jersey’s celebrations of its 800-year-old relationship with the monarchy. She was tickled by the idea of having a hologram done. I assumed there would be layers of bureaucracy when it came to telling her what to do — but the truth is, if she wants to be involved, it goes straight on to her desk. She is in control, there’s no question about that.
I also assumed there would be committees dealing with what had to be put into the image: props, or iconography, or costumes. But they asked me what I wanted her to wear, so I got the opportunity to style the Queen. I looked at the crown jewels, and picked out a clean, simple crown with a cross. It was quite a thrilling moment when she walked in the door, wearing exactly what I’d asked her to.
During the shoot, there was a lot of bright light, noise, and each exposure took eight seconds, which is a long time to have to sit still. I wanted the Queen to feel peaceful, so I asked her to rest between shots; this was a moment of stillness that just happened.
Meditation was having a profound impact on my life at the time. I told her about how I’d go off on 10-day silent retreats, and she was very interested. I timed the exposures around her breathing – it seemed a way of tuning into her. Later, this image really stood out – it has such an aura about it, a power.
The challenge was to make an image that was modern, and to convey the Queen’s relationship with the new millennium. It didn’t have to be an oil painting or a conventional photograph. Why not have her eyes shut? We all close our eyes: this picture takes us into the Queen’s mind, her inner realm.
Curriculum vitae
Born: Ontario, Canada, 1972
Studied: “I did graphics at Chelsea. I don’t consider myself a photographer – I’m an artist who works with light and who uses photography in his projects.”
Inspirations: “I’m fascinated at the moment with [the artist] Takis, because he’s using a lot of magnetic forces in his work. Björk, too.”
Pet hates: “Numbing out. We’re so saturated with image-making that’s diluted and soulless. You see a lot of work out there that’s so processed – not original, basically.”
Many people like to think they’re above the fantasy of royalty. Serious people dress in suits, work in an office in a capitol building, and they certainly don’t wear crowns! Hmph!
In truth, fame, money, and the trappings of titles are things that people dream about. Some even make it a reality.
The American media loves the Kennedys and once proclaimed Jackie O. as their “Queen”. The former first lady even had frocks and hats made in the style of Her Majesty’s outfits.
With both Crown Princess Victoria AND her sister Princess Madeleine getting engaged, the British (and American, and Canadian…) public are chomping at the bit for a Royal Wales Wedding.
You almost don’t want to think about it, because somehow you just know you’re going to end up disappointed. It’s like armageddon: people keep coming up with “concrete” dates of when it’s supposed to happen and what the signs were that helped them determine that date!
It’s maddening! What do you think? Will 2010 be the year? Will the Prince and Kate Middleton throw down with CP Victoria in the media for most watched wedding? Or will they stomp out Princess Madeleine in 2011? Will it just never happen? It’s your guess…
J. Marc Schmidt of Australia says that he doesn’t want a president.
“Our head of state ought to be one of us. We rejected the idea of our own president once, and with good cause, because a president is not what we need,” says Schmidt. “We need something more; a living, breathing symbol of our land.”
That said, Schmidt doesn’t want Queen Elizabeth II as Australia’s head of state, either. He thinks that Prince Harry should become an Australian citizen and become their king.
Read his article below:
