The Duke



 I got home last night and took a rain check at the what’s app video meet I had planned with a friend.
I was all out of talk
Instead I poured myself a very large gin and sat down to watch the Prince Philip-The Royal Family Remembers 
The documentary was filled with personal memories spoken to camera by all of Philip’s Children, their spouses and his adult grandchildren. The only absentees were Kate and Meghan and of course the Queen and the only addition was one of Prince Philip’s personal secretaries who quite movingly gave the audience a stiff upper lip viewing of her boss’ private offices.

I liked the documentary 
It humanised the Duke enormously and it reeked of respect and affection for a man who didn’t suffer fools   but who had a sharp brain and a talent for leadership.
The Royals collectively came out very well too.
I was especially impressed by Anne ( wearing double denim without a care) and her children Peter and Zara who all spoke eloquently and movingly about their memories. 
The best anecdote surly came from Prince William who shared the story of when his grandfather stopped a  young man hiking on one of his own Duke of Edinburgh award challenges and asked him how he was getting on. The young hiker, irritated  with the interruption shot out with a “ Fuck off Grandad” comment which apparently amused the Duke no end.

I slept long and heavy last night and got up late this morning
Outside the back door my sister had left a bucket of sunflowers she had grown on her allotment
And I cut and arranged them in a glass vase.
They have lifted the living room with their sunny faces



46 comments:

  1. I enjoyed the documentary too.

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    1. Don’t you love Ann? No nonsense and funny

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    2. Camille looks like fun after a few runs too

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  2. Anonymous11:41 am

    Please no. Don't tell me Anne wore double denim. Contrasting blue, surely not. I saw a recent photo of her living room. I so wished someone could give it a minimalist makeover. Ann, get rid of all this old crap, including the wall board with the pinned speeding fine tickets.

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    1. The jacket was brushed denim and she had jeans on but a great scarf to mix it up a bit

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  3. Love the DoE story, made me laugh. Whenever I see or read about Princess Anne I'm reminded of Billy Connolly's description of her - "the woman looks as if a horse has just shit in her handbag".............

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  4. I've always admired Princess Anne. She has her father's no nonsense approach, and basically just gets on and does her own thing, quietly and without expecting recognition. I remember when she told reporters to "Naff orf!". Classic! Lovely sunflowers to brighten your day. xx

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    1. I remember reading just how calm she was during the 1974 kidnap attempt

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  5. "Fuck off Grandad" HAHAHAHAHAHA!

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    1. I know though William used the euphemism “ jog on grandad”

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  6. suzanne dorries12:38 pm

    I wish I could have seen the Documentary. But alas was quite tired. Lovely sunflowers very cheery.

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  7. "F off, Grandad!" HILARIOUS! He would have liked that, wouldn't he? We watched the first episode of Bake-Off!

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  8. The documentary sounds like a great tribute. Hopefully it will come to the US. Your sunflowers are fantastic. Your sister is a master gardener and able to grow anything she chooses. Well done.

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    1. My two sisters are talented horticulturists…their gardens are show standards

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  9. I miss him x

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    1. He certainly has left a hole in lives flis

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  10. Yes I thought it came over very well. I found Charles so sad. I do love your sunflowers.

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    1. Really , I thought he just looked incredibly old
      I liked Edward and Sophie and their slightly gauche daughter

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  11. Princess Anne is brilliant. A good sense of humour and very hardworking - but she doesn't have to Sword of Damocles hanging over her head that Prince Charles has. I wouldn't fancy waiting until I'm in my 70s (80s?!), and for my mother to die, before starting my job - would you?

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    1. Good point……he should be ready though

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  12. Barbara Anne2:24 pm

    When I was a child, I wished my middle name, Ann, had a "E" on the end because Princess Anne's name did and it seems so royal (or something). Now, on-line, I'm Barbara Anne!
    Sunflowers always make me smile. Hope they make you smile, too. How nice of Janet to bring them.

    Hugs!

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  13. We watched and enjoyed it too ….. I like Princess Anne .. I think she takes after the Duke of Edinburgh …. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She was really pretty in her late teens, early twenties. Works really hard as well and just gets on with it. D of E was so good looking. XXXX

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    1. Yes, she was incredibly attractive ….mind you Beatrice and Eugene have grown into their looks and are very pretty young women

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  14. Philip had the greatest sense of humour 🤣. Love the sunflowers. Viv

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    1. I adore these especially as they are more delicate than the ones in the #supermarket

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  15. I can't wait to be told to "Fuck off grandpa".

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    1. Lol I think I have been already 😒

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    2. I've been called an old hag-which at the time I thought funny-now I'm pissed off x

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    3. I’ve been called an old hag too

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  16. Looking forward to seeing it here. Sounds like a perfect ending to your day.

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  17. countrygal5:30 pm

    Princess Anne is certainly like her father; no fuss or nonsense. I knew someone who was working for a charity in Africa and Princess Anne arrived - she had visited 5 years previously - she toured the school and hospital and then demanded a meeting with the organisers because some work had not been done but apparently funds allocated.
    My friend said, 'Anne could stun a bull elephant at 30 paces with one look'.

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    1. Lol , I’m sure she could , she reminds me the most of her father

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  18. The program sounds wonderful and I am hoping we will eventually be able to see it here. Your sister is such a talented gardener, those sunflowers are beautiful and cheerful!

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    1. Like I said both of them are so talented when it comes to garden design

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  19. I like Princess Anne she appears to be really solid and aware of herself without coming across as look at me. Does your sister Ann live in the village? or close by John. Love the sunflowers

    Jo in Auckland

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  20. “ Fuck off Grandad” would have made me laugh too. Good for him.

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  21. Well, being an American, I'm not much interested in the royals . . . although I guess being American has nothing to do with it. Plenty of Americans love 'em all, past and present. Go figure.

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  22. I remember growing sunflowers; they were a joy to do so.

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  23. My late Father-in-Law (who was a diplomat) met him of many occasions, and liked him. He could be very 'forthright' but always in an amusing way.

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  24. I've never paid him much attention but after reading about how he was petty much a penniless semi orphan, I think he came through really well. He appears to have been a great consort for Queen Liz and he had an excellent innings. I doubt we'll get to see it. Hardly republicans down here but not much exposure to such things.

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