From the Telegraph:

Prince William has echoed the environmental beliefs of his father at a charity event. Should the Princes take an active role in how Britain is run?

Speaking as a teacher, I think the Princes – especially William – need a better education first. Being well-educated in this day and age is of immeasurable value. This is what we tell our children, and the Princes should be no exception. Their money and position gives them carte blanche to attend only the finest institutions, and they should not take that for granted.

Training with the country’s armed forces is, of course, admirable and right. When kingship calls upon William, however, he needs to be educated across the board in everything from political science to conservation. The military is only a part of the responsibilities, just as art and geography are only part of the education.

Will the Prince be ready? Should Harry be at the forefront with him?

What are your thoughts?

british royals message board, prince william royalty

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…

Today, people are trashing tradition and putting their muddy boots up on the proverbial coffee table. They have no examples of how to behave, so now is the time for a young royal role model to step in. Serve your nation and re-establish the authority of monarchy by acting as a solid, dependable example that younger people can emulate. Make people rise to greater heights; don’t come down to suit laziness.

Returning to university, for instance, would be a good start.  William should be reading Economics or political science. His great-grandfather King George VI equated the institution of monarchy to a company, calling it ‘The Firm’. So what better way to prepare for your own role as king than to study business? Approach it as your own company and be passionate about it. Inspire your countrymen to do the same in their own lives.

That’s a big reason that a lot of the public is expecting a “closed” sign on the gates of the Palace after the death of the Queen. Younger members of the royal family drop their titles to seem “cool” and unaffected. They’re swept along in the tide of celebrity, where one can no longer distinguish Lindsey Lohan from Princess Eugenie. Knickers go amiss, drink flows freely, and paparazzi capture the tabloid shots that would even embarass a prostitute.

This new generation is so lackluster and careless, how do they expect the nation to care?

The answer: it won’t.

What will the United Kingdom do? Below, some of the top royals that the British Royal Family can look to for inspiration:

*The Netherlands’ Crown Princess Maxima was a former investment banker. She graduated with a degree in Economics from the Universidad Católica Argentina before working for large international companies in Finance in Argentina, New York and Europe.

*Queen Rania of Jordan has a degree in business from the American University in Cairo and has established scholarships in business studies. The queen’s idea is to educate Jordanians and help them to be independent as entrepreneurs.

* Crown Prince Felipe of Spain attended Autonomous University of Madrid, where he earned a degree in Law. He also completed several courses on economics. He completed his academic studies by obtaining a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University.

This is all constructive criticism and, I hope, a wake-up call for the British Royal family. I feel it is very important that we discuss this sort of thing, because if the UK decides to get rid of the monarchy, it will fall in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere.

Something of that magnitude has not happened since the war when monarchies fell across Europe due to invasion. Having it crumble due to lackluster performances and careless attitudes on the part of its members is a shattering thought. How embarrassing for the Western world…. Winston would spin in his grave.

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I wonder if Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall will wed first, and then we’ll see an engagement between William and Kate.

Since Wills is an heir to the throne, his wedding will be a huge deal. The family and the courtiers will be all a-twitter trying to organize such a big state event. He loves cousin Zara to pieces, so I imagine that Wills wouldn’t dream of upstaging her time in the sun of wedding planning.

I bet William will wait until Zara and Mike are married to propose to Kate. That’s my prediction.

I discuss the controversy and chaos swirling around the Royal Family right now. Does it ever end? Find out more at the RoyaltyNow! podcast.

British tabloid newspaper The News of the World is reporting that Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy have decided to split up “after a series of talks” last week.

I like how they describe it as a “series of talks”, as if it is some hotly debated world issue in the U.N.

Not that I don’t feel bad for Harry and Chelsy; it’s never pleasant to break up with someone, especially after being together for several years. It’s just that I have never really cared for Chelsy and I think Harry will be much better off on his own for a while.

The Prince is beginning to come into his own now, along with his brother Prince William. The two are close in age and are a good support for one another. Both are expected to take on more royal duties and behave accordingly. Crucially, they are going to need partners that suit them and the round of royal expectations.

Prince William’s future wife will certainly have to have a spine of steel and a selfless attitude towards the country. Whoever she is, she has to know that she and her Prince stand to inherit the cavernous beast that is Buckingham Palace, along with endless royal and social duties, personal criticism, world speculation, ad infinitum. Harry’s girl will not have to worry quite so much, but she’ll still have to have a responsible head on her shoulders and learn that country comes before self, even if it’s just cutting the ribbon to a new wing of a hospital.

In the words of Queen Mary, “You are part of the British Royal Family. We are never tired, and we all love hospitals.”

via News Summary Royalblog.nl.

Members of London’s exclusive Turf Club received a letter this week informing them they are to be joined by a couple of high-profile new recruits – Princes William and Harry.

More at Hello!

Amanda Platell of the Daily Mail has given Prince William some useful career advice: “Get a proper job”.

Ms. Platell, if you remember, was the columnist who roundly criticized Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party. She was in a snit about the Princess and her guests dressing up as Victorian belles and gentlemen, declaring their outfits a “disaster”.

Complaining about someone’s themed birthday party doesn’t strike me as a “proper job” itself, but I do think Amanda Platell’s opinion is actually valid in this case. She has simply added yet another voice to the masses of people – monarchists included – who decry princely playboy behavior. William’s stints in the Army are not viewed as serious or earnest enough, and this is exactly what I had hoped to avoid. Instead, he should have returned to university.

I wrote a letter to Charles’ advisors, saying that Prince William should be seen furthering his education and taking his future role more seriously. Being a part of the military is admirable, but since William is the direct heir to the throne, he won’t see much action. It does help the prince gain an understanding of what goes on in military life and he gets to meet all kinds of people, but it is political science and international relations that are crucial right now. At least in my opinion.

There is so much turmoil in the government and fuss surrounding the monarchy that William needs to learn how to survive it all. The Queen can teach him quite a bit, but he also needs an official diplomatic education to deal with the cut-throat tactics out there.

My response from the advisors? Barely a paragraph. Clarence House treated me as if I was a sixteen year old girl who had written a gushy fan letter about William instead.

Slightly insulted, I realized that I would just have to sit back and watch the Prince’s official life roll out before the media for better or for worse. Not like I really expected them to take my ideas on board or invite me over for tea and a brainstorm, but I thought their letter would be a bit more… responsive. Instead, I got the old brush-off. Queen Noor’s people were a lot more friendly!!

Oh well… at least I’m not going to be on the royal blacklist for an article entitled “Wills must get a job or he’ll end up like Charles”. You mean the same Charles who has the Prince’s Trust, Duchy Originals, etc. etc.? Yeah, please don’t end up successful, William!

Thanks to The Monarchist
The Daily Mail Article in full

Prince William has been made a Royal Knight of the Garter, the most senior British order of chivalry.

The Prince was officially appointed by his grandmother the Queen at a service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

The Order of the Garter – established by Edward III in 1348 – honours those who have contributed to national life or served the Queen.

See the video at the BBC.

LONDON (AP) — Prince William earned high marks from commanding officers for his boat-handling skills Tuesday after he took the helm of a 40-foot craft at the beginning of his two-month stint in the Royal Navy.

“The important point to make is that some of the maneuvers he did today would ordinarily take a young officer a number of weeks or months of training and he’s got the hang of it in just a day — so pretty good,” said Cmdr. Paul Halton.

Halton said the skills William is learning now will be useful when he makes a five-week trip aboard the frigate, HMS Iron Duke, to take part in counter-narcotic patrols and hurricane relief duty in the Caribbean.

The Associated Press

Kate Middleton now has her own gym at Prince William’s Clarence House residence.

To make Kate feel more at home in the London pad, once the residence of his late great-grandmother, William had the gym installed so that she could work out at her leisure.

“Kate has all her things there and asked William and Harry if they would allow her to build a gym,” reveals an unnamed (of course) royal aide.

Looks like there may be wedding bells after all if Kate is this settled. Watch for the engagement announcement after Peter Phillip’s wedding to Autumn Kelly.

Prince William has earned his wings after more than 12 weeks of training. HRH is the fourth generation of the monarchy to become a Royal Air Force pilot, following Prince Charles, Prince Philip, and great-grandfather King George VI.

A series of official photographs of the prince in training was released to mark the occasion, seen at The Monarchist and The Telegraph.