The British Royal Family - news, views, clothes & shoes! #9

[gregjrichards]

There is a lot of news about Princess Diana’s car crash in tomorrow’s papers and online. I do not understand why the driver of the Fiat UNO that hit the Mercedes has decided to come forward now 22 years later. Possibly he needs the money I don’t know. I am hesitant to post the story here because a big part of me thinks the late Princess should be allowed to Rest In Peace.

 

[gregjrichards]

Where were you when...Diana danced with John Travolta, 10 November 1985

“It was November when the Prince and Princess paid a three-day visit to the US. And, sure enough, Di-mania was just as rampant over there. President Reagan and his wife Nancy welcomed Charles and Diana to the White House. The Princess, so tall and elegant, wore a Victor Edelstein off-the-shoulder gown in midnight blue velvet for a gala dinner. She looked stunning. Among the A-list guests was the actor John Travolta and, along with half the world, I was a little in love with him, having watched him work some incredible moves in Saturday Night Fever and Grease. So when the pictures appeared of him taking to the dancefloor with the Princess, I was bewitched.”

Where were you when...Diana danced with John Travolta, 10 November 1985 | Daily Mail Online

This is a lovely photo of Princess Diana and John Travolta. The late Princess looked beautiful.

 

[mickey2942]

She truly is a beautiful classy lady.

Not to go too far off subject, but I have always admired Melania Trump. She is always dressed classy, looks good, and speaks several languages. I don't know why everyone is so down on her all of the time.

There is a lot to admire about someone who has been able to deal with as much criticism as she has had.

And this goes along with Fergie and Meghan. I think that they need some help with style. Melania Trump definitely has that. It isn't money that equals class and style.

 

[Keine Engel]

There is a lot of news about Princess Diana’s car crash in tomorrow’s papers and online. I do not understand why the driver of the Fiat UNO that hit the Mercedes has decided to come forward now 22 years later. Possibly he needs the money I don’t know. I am hesitant to post the story here because a big part of me thinks the late Princess should be allowed to Rest In Peace.

Don't worry, It's not really 'news'

Anyone following the inquiries knew this already.
It actually kills some of the conspiracy theories based on the 'mysterious missing fiat' so to be honest it's probably a good thing.

Driver in Princess Diana 'crash' claims he was told not to speak to UK police​

Le Van Thanh claims his Fiat Uno collided with Princess Diana's Mercedes moments before it hit a pillar in a Paris tunnel

Driver in Princess Diana 'crash' claims he was told not to speak to UK police

It has all been public knowledge for years
His name's been 'out there' since the time of the inquiry (although not verified I think? )

Found: The mystery white Fiat Uno driver in Diana death crash​

Saturday 23 December 2006

Exclusive: Mail on Sunday tracks down the missing man in Diana death crash... the only witness identified but not named by Lord Stevens in his report

Found: The mystery white Fiat Uno driver in Diana death crash

 

[Keine Engel]

Just to add to ^ above to be absolutely clear...

The drunk driver of the unsafe, unlicensed, previously written-off Mercedes is still the one responsible for the crash!

* Henri still HIT the Fiat from behind - He was Speeding !

 

[Lilibet]

I think Harry has probably been Megs worst enemy lately.
She needs help from a PR team with experience, (British) an unbiased opinion & expertise! Quickly

I agree. While they were dating, I wonder if “free spirit” Harry gave Meghan the impression that she could just “be herself” and not have to bend to Royal Family protocol, custom, dress “codes,” the press, etc. If so, it has cost her a lot of good will.

They both seem a bit “oppositional” to me, for lack of a better word. That may come from having to navigate their public and private lives...finding a balance is hard, and I suppose they fear that if they give an inch, the press/public would take a mile. And in Harry’s case, that cost him and William their mother. I hope they can find the right balance as William and Kate have done.

And while I do respect their privacy, a few more photos of Archie would go a long way and be a generous act. People are excited about him! Here’s hoping the trip to Africa will be his “coming out party” and we will see more of him.

 

[gregjrichards]

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle skip the second day of celebrations for Misha Nonoo's wedding and head back to the UK to collect baby Archie before flying to Africa for their ten day tour

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle skip the second day of celebrations for Misha Nonoo's wedding | Daily Mail Online

Do you think we will see much of Archie in Africa? They have a packed itinerary I was exhausted just reading it.

 

[gregjrichards]

Don't worry, It's not really 'news'

Anyone following the inquiries knew this already.
It actually kills some of the conspiracy theories based on the 'mysterious missing fiat' so to be honest it's probably a good thing.

Driver in Princess Diana 'crash' claims he was told not to speak to UK police​

Le Van Thanh claims his Fiat Uno collided with Princess Diana's Mercedes moments before it hit a pillar in a Paris tunnel

Driver in Princess Diana 'crash' claims he was told not to speak to UK police

It has all been public knowledge for years
His name's been 'out there' since the time of the inquiry (although not verified I think? )

Found: The mystery white Fiat Uno driver in Diana death crash​

Saturday 23 December 2006

Exclusive: Mail on Sunday tracks down the missing man in Diana death crash... the only witness identified but not named by Lord Stevens in his report

Found: The mystery white Fiat Uno driver in Diana death crash

Thank you @Keine Engel for stating the facts. I hate when the media tries to reuse old information and misrepresent it as new.

Just to add to ^ above to be absolutely clear...

The drunk driver of the unsafe, unlicensed, previously written-off Mercedes is still the one responsible for the crash!

* Henri still HIT the Fiat from behind - He was Speeding !

Thank you for making this clear. If only Princess Diana had got to keep her HRH police protection he would never have been driving and she would have had a police escort. It is absolutely tragic.

 

[Keine Engel]

I agree. While they were dating, I wonder if “free spirit” Harry gave Meghan the impression that she could just “be herself” and not have to bend to Royal Family protocol, custom, dress “codes,” the press, etc. If so, it has cost her a lot of good will.

They both seem a bit “oppositional” to me, for lack of a better word. That may come from having to navigate their public and private lives...finding a balance is hard, and I suppose they fear that if they give an inch, the press/public would take a mile. And in Harry’s case, that cost him and William their mother. I hope they can find the right balance as William and Kate have done.

And while I do respect their privacy, a few more photos of Archie would go a long way and be a generous act. People are excited about him! Here’s hoping the trip to Africa will be his “coming out party” and we will see more of him.

But that's kinda it...I don't think Meg is 'just being herself'
I really wish she would be as I don't feel her real 'self' is that 'Hollywood-Celeb' she's made out to be?

The whole her wanting to "break royal protocols/traditions" stuff most people take with a large amount of salt so a few minor -ups isn't that big of a deal if that's what they are.
Let's face it Fergie still has a great deal of support & love from the British public, she's still thought of as, even though she hasn't technically been, a member of the Royal Family for almost 1/4 century and this despite her occasional misjudgments along with the odd fashion/hair faux pas

need I say anymore

Quite honestly it's Harry that's pi$$ed people off lately, it's him that made the patronising speeches, he's the one antagonising the public with the 'saving the planet-2 kids only' type digs at William & Kate & I am pretty sure many of the decisions with the whole 'privacy' stuff have been down to him.

Meghan has gone through how many huge life-changing situations in the last couple of years?
She needs some support, help in adjusting & some real honest advice - NOT from Harry.

He's really pushing his luck with his own relationship with the public at the moment, & Meghan is the one that anger's being turned upon
(She's not doing herself a lot of favours right now!)

Harry... well he has the luxury of riding this storm

He DOES have a massive amount of empathy from so many here & ...
HE always will!

 

[Keine Engel]

Thank you @Keine Engel for stating the facts. I hate when the media tries to reuse old information and misrepresent it as new.

Thank you for making this clear. If only Princess Diana had got to keep her HRH police protection he would never have been driving and she would have had a police escort. It is absolutely tragic.

Well to be fair I think this is the first time Van Thanh has openly spoke up himself publicly?

From the investigation ( particularly the statement from his father) it was pretty obvious THIS was the Fiat involved, his reasons for not coming forward are kinda understandable to a point - I guess?

Nevertheless proving it in a court of law thou was a different matter & any decision to not name him officially is understandably under the circumstances. They had no evidence to definite proof. The consequences of doing so would have been extremely risky.
He still wasn't to blame!

Hindsight? - Well who knows?

I doubt the decision by Diana ( & it was her own decision) to not continue using the Police Protection Squad actually made any difference to the tragic events that night thou, Dodi's own bodyguards weren't happy with the situation & the constant changing plans. They did try to intervene & stop them (They were lied to, they were told this had all been discussed & authorised as o.k. by Mohamed - It hadn't ) but ultimately & unfortunately all their concerns were ignored

I suppose as tragic as it all is I like to try remember the pics of Diana from those last few weeks, because she did look relaxed, it did look as if she was having some fun, but mostly thou
...
she looked happy!

 

[Kensie]

Prince Harry definitely needs a hair trim and neck trim. I know that natural curls are hard to control but get a neck trim. I am sure that he has a barber at his disposal.

 

[Keine Engel]

O.k. this looks like it is gonna be dominating the 'News' so to get a few facts straight right now,

Here's the first report naming Le Van Than also with his father's statement in it.

(Full article is a more in depth summary detailing this part of the investigation & Operation Paget)

Ironically from of all places it just had to be ... The Mail (2006)

Found: The mystery white Fiat Uno driver in Diana death crash​

23 Dec 2006

The father of a man who was driving a white Fiat Uno in Paris the night Princess Diana was killed has sensationally admitted his son had the car painted red just hours after the fatal crash and revealed his suspicions that his son was involved.
Le Van Thanh was questioned by French detectives in 1997 after forensic experts established the white paint on his car matched that found on the wreckage of the Mercedes Diana was travelling in.

At the time, the Paris Criminal Brigade, which led the investigation into the crash that also killed her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, ruled out Vietnamese-born Le Van because they found no evidence he had replaced a rear tail light - the remains of a Fiat Uno light were found at the crash scene.

But this month's report by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens singled out - but did not name - Le Van as the Fiat Uno driver most likely to have fled the Alma Tunnel on August 31, 1997, after colliding with the Mercedes seconds before it crashed into a concrete pillar...

British scientists commissioned by Scotland Yard's Operation Paget inquiry re-examined forensic evidence collected by French police and contradicted their findings, suggesting Le Van, 31, should not have been eliminated from inquiries...

Following publication of the 833-page dossier, which dismissed conspiracy theories that Diana was murdered and the driver of the Fiat Uno was part of the assassination plot, Lord Stevens wrote: "The French experts ruled the car out because they could find no trace of damage at the likely point of impact and the rear light fittings showed a date of manufacture which matched the vehicle." But Lord Stevens suggested the driver could simply have bought a second-hand light.
Crucially, Le Van's brother was a mechanic and there was also a two-month gap between the crash and interviewing him - ample time to find an ideal replacement. The Stevens report also says the Operation Paget team spoke to a friend of Le Van who said the respray took place after the crash - conflicting with what Le Van told them in a brief phone conversation...

Le Van admits he was driving his car in Paris on the night Diana was killed and, in an exclusive interview, his father Francois has provided the most compelling evidence yet that his son was involved in the crash and took part in a cover-up after fleeing the scene...

He recalls Le Van, then 22, returning home from his job as a night-time security guard in a frightened and bewildered state but unwilling to tell his father what was troubling him. Instead, he had a whispered conversation with his brother Dung, who worked as a mechanic, which culminated in the brothers rushing off in the middle of the night to radically alter the appearance of Le Van's 15-year-old car. During the next two hours, and with no one else around, the brothers resprayed the white Fiat a bright red.

Breaking a nine-year silence, Francois said: "I do not want to believe that Le Van was in the tunnel that night but I know as a father that he has said things which just do not add up. "He behaved very strangely at the time and has behaved strangely since. "Dung helped with the respray of the car but he will not talk to me about it. What I do know is that the Fiat was resprayed very soon after the crash that killed your Princess - only a few hours later. "Police became involved and everything became very serious afterwards."

Found: The mystery white Fiat Uno driver in Diana death crash | Daily Mail Online

 

[human]

Harry is used to it.Probably does not even notice the bodyguards .

I cannot imagine life being surrounded by bodyguards.
Even going to the neighborhood pub probably is an ordeal

 

[maggieg]

I cannot imagine life being surrounded by bodyguards.

I would hate to ever give up anonymity and privacy, not that anyone has asked me to join a royal family (yet!). I think the British Royals have it much worse than the other European ones who are very well known in their own country but much less so abroad.

There were great photos over the summer of the King and Queen of the Netherlands just walking around New York, popping in to Sephora, Gap and the Container Store
Playing tourist! Dutch Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander keep a VERY low profile in New York | Daily Mail Online

 

[gregjrichards]

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have secretly donated £4,350 to a charitable cause in their son's name, according to reports.

The royal couple are believed to have made the generous pledge to the Love the Oceans Conservation fund.

The fundraiser was set up to help residents in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique, learn how to swim.

Around 12 people from the area drown every year.

It's believed 90% of people living in the village can not swim - despite many of them being fishermen.

Meghan and Harry's incredibly kind gesture in little Archie's name

 

[gregjrichards]

“The Duchess of Sussex will deliver colouring books, pens and baby clothes from her son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor to the children of South Africa, as the family embark on their official tour this week.”

Duchess of Sussex to take colouring books, pens and Archie's baby clothes for South African children on royal tour

 

[gregjrichards]

A family affair! The Queen heads to Balmoral church service with grandson Prince William by her side - while Charles takes the wheel and drives himself and Camilla

The Queen heads to church in Balmoral with Prince William Prince Charles and Camilla | Daily Mail Online

 

[Laughing]

View attachment 205772

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have secretly donated £4,350 to a charitable cause in their son's name, according to reports.

The royal couple are believed to have made the generous pledge to the Love the Oceans Conservation fund.

The fundraiser was set up to help residents in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique, learn how to swim.

Around 12 people from the area drown every year.

It's believed 90% of people living in the village can not swim - despite many of them being fishermen.

Meghan and Harry's incredibly kind gesture in little Archie's name

Taking exception to the use of the term "secret" here....

JMHO YMMV

 

[Lilibet]

View attachment 205772

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have secretly donated £4,350 to a charitable cause in their son's name, according to reports.

The royal couple are believed to have made the generous pledge to the Love the Oceans Conservation fund.

The fundraiser was set up to help residents in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique, learn how to swim.

Around 12 people from the area drown every year.

It's believed 90% of people living in the village can not swim - despite many of them being fishermen.

Meghan and Harry's incredibly kind gesture in little Archie's name

From the link:

She has reportedly been asking advice on what she can bring with her to make an 'immediate, useful' difference to the people she meets, according to the Sunday Telegraph .

A source close to the royal couple said Meghan will be packing quality hand-me-down baby clothes that Archie has grown out of to fellow mothers.

The insider said: "She's been very thoughtful about asking, 'What can we bring? What else can we do?'

"She wants to be really personally engaged. This is important to her."

Taking exception to the use of the term "secret" here....

JMHO YMMV

Yes, I would call it low key and not showy, since the donation just said Archie HMW and the recipients had to check to make sure it was from them. So the recipient organization made it public, not Harry and Meghan.

 

[Herat]

A source close to the royal couple said Meghan will be packing quality hand-me-down baby clothes that Archie has grown out of to fellow mothers.

The insider said: "She's been very thoughtful about asking, 'What can we bring? What else can we do?'

"She wants to be really personally engaged. This is important to her."

I just cringed reading that.

Why is she bringing a handful of her son's used baby clothes? It's patronizing. Those clothes are going to be prizes for the most connnected people and likely to be sold for the notoriety. People may get into fights over having a piece of clothing worn by the son of an heir to the throne of Britain.

Always best to give out things that can be Bought there, so that local businesses and local craftsmen/ artisans/ textile workers, whatever also get the benefit of giveaways. Local needs for baby clothes may be very different from those of a british baby.

I understand she "wants to help" but this seems just very poorly thought out. Once again. Can't someone instill some common sense into this woman?