Royal family's reputation as high as ever

It would seem that the renaissance of the British royal family is complete with a recent survey showing that their popularity has never been higher.

The last couple of years have worn a purple hue as far as the royal family are concerned with the newest generation firmly establishing themselves in the hearts and minds of the nation. A majority of people polled believe Britain is a better place with the monarchy in place and that the country would not be better off as a republic. This is perhaps no surprise with all of the recent scandals involving our politicians.

This is all a far cry from the aftermath of Princess Diana's death when the future of the Windsor's was cloudy to say the least.

It is perhaps difficult for younger royal watchers to imagine a time when ever the Queen was open to criticism but, such was Diana's popularity, the apparent shabbiness of her treatment at the hands of the senior royals, caused people to question the Queen's actions and for her own personal popularity to take a bashing.

It could be said that Charles' personal popularity has done miraculously well to rebound in the way it has. Despite his alleged cruelty towards and/or disdain of Diana, his subsequent marriage to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, appears to have rejuvenated his standing in the eyes of the public. Most seem to have a measure of sympathy for him now, realising that the choice of Diana as a wife may have been partly foisted upon him. In retrospect it's easy to see that the pairing of Charles and Diana was less than ideal.

Of course time is a great healer and the public forgave the Queen long ago for any wrongdoing on her part. She is as revered as ever and is, quite properly, regarded as an inspiration with her unstinting commitment to public duty. She is still seen as the most popular member of the royal family. Even the Scottish nationalists want to retain her as Head of State should they gain the independence they so desperately crave.

However, it’s not Charles or his Mother, or the Duke of Edinburgh with his inappropriate sense of humour, who are responsible for the most recent surge in the popularity of the royal family. Credit for that sits fairly and squarely in the laps of Wills and Kate and, to a lesser degree, Prince Harry.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, trails only the Queen in terms of public popularity, although Prince William and Harry are also highly regarded by the people, with those of the same age taking a particular interest in their lives.

William and Kate are, despite their place in the royal family, seen as a fairly normal couple, not that different from the rest of us. They lived in a modest house on Anglesey whilst William did his duty as an RAF helicopter pilot. They shopped and ate locally endearing themselves to the locals. They come across as a modest, grounded couple who are very much in love.

You can see these places on P & P Tours exclusive escorted Will and Kate Tour which encompasses their life on Anglesey as well as other key locations in their life, including the university where they met, the chapel in which they were married and the hospital where Prince George recently came into the world.

Harry is more of a wild card but that seems to work in his favour. He too has done his duty in the military, serving in Afghanistan. His well-publicised antics in Las Vegas and the stories of him partying with beautiful women only appear to add to his popularity as a 'jack-the-lad' or loveable rogue type figure, to whom young men, and women, can relate.

Academics would account for the rejuvenation of royal popularity differently, citing a national need to embrace, no celebrate, an institution that sits above the mundane ups-and-downs of normal everyday life. The flamboyant and ostentatious Jubilee celebrations of last year set against the current austerity echo the national desire to properly celebrate the coronation of the Queen during the post-war recovery, in amongst a similar period of belt-tightening. When life is unsure and the nation is in flux, doubtful of its place in the world, the monarchy is something to hold on to, to treasure, as a symbol of our greatness and difference from other countries.

When Queen Victoria graced the throne Walter Bagehot wrote that the British people required more than mundane, dreary logic. "People yield a deference to what we may call the theatrical show of society" he wrote. "The climax of the play is the Queen".

In an age when we apparently can't trust our elected representatives, our public servants and our captains of industry, we seem to grip more tightly to what the royal family represent - stability, a sense of duty, integrity and an example of what it means to be British. It seems the Windsors will be with us for some time to come.

As well as the William and Kate Tour, P & P Tours offer two other private escorted tours, the Princess Diana Tour and the Royal Family Tour. The popularity of Princess Diana remains undimmed and our exclusive tour takes in important aspects of her life and the places she enjoyed spending time. The Royal Family Tour takes in a number of royal residences such as Buckingham Palace, Kensington palace and Windsor Castle.

So whether you are a die-hard royalist, a Diana fan or follower of the new generation of royals, P & P Tours has a tour for you. We can even put together a completely bespoke royal tour, one that caters to your exact needs - just contact us and see what we can do for you.

 

The Top 5 Destinations Austen Fans MUST Visit

Guest blog for P&P Tours by Amber Kingsley

 

Doesn’t reading a Jane Austen novel just make you wish you could live it?  Cases in point include BBC miniseries Lost in Austen, and the recent film (adapted from Shannon Hale’s popular novel) Austenland.  There’s something about the inherent romance and witty sparkle of her stories that just make you wish you could step right into Regency England.

While you can’t live out the plot of Pride and Prejudice, you can do the next best thing: go on a Jane Austen highlights tour--visit all of her favourite haunts in real life, plus the ones she does such justice to in her writing.  Here’s a brief list of my pick of the top Austen destinations of England:

Chatsworth

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire was used as Pemberley, the residence of Mr.Darcy, in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and is mentioned in the actual novel as one of the estates Lizzie Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley . Home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House is open to the public for tours--it’s the perfect day trip for you and your friends!  And in addition to the beauty and splendour of the house itself, the surrounding grounds are also quite the sight for sore eyes.

 

Sidmouth

Take a break from Jane’s English countryside experience and stroll by the seaside in the town of Sidmouth. Although Jane never married, it is rumoured she may have experienced a summer romance with an unnamed man who was possibly a clergyman while on holiday in Sidmouth. The story goes that Austen and her mystery man never wed because he died unexpectedly soon after their meeting. Whether the story is true or false, one thing is for sure, you won’t want to miss out on this quaint seaside town. Much of the Regency period architecture still stands, and you can walk down to the same harbour that our favourite author once knew.

London

Jane Austen fan or not, London is a must-see.  But what about Austen acolytes in particular?  Visit St. Clements Church to see where Lydia and Wickham married, or Henrietta Place, where Jane Austen visited her brother in 1813 and 1814, or Kensington Garden where Elinor Dashwood went on a walk with Mrs. Jennings. London was and is the place to be for eligible ladies.


Bath

Jane Austen lived in Bath for short paeriods of her life , and it makes major appearances in two of her well-loved books, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.  For Austen devotees, a visit to the Jane Austen Centre is a must--they have period costumes on display, and their gift shop is quite lovely--you can get a button quoting I ♥ Mr. Darcy (or I ♥ Mr. Knightley, or I ♥ Mr. Tilney; whatever floats your boat!) .  You can also see Jane's  places of residence.  Plus, Bath offers some gorgeously picturesque Jane Austen walking tours and a natural hot springs spa that is perfect for an Austen themed hen party.

 

Chawton

Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life in Chawton--it’s where she wrote Emma, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park.  The red brick cottage in which she once lived is now a museum in her honour: showcasing Austen family portraits, and some of Jane's manuscripts as well as her precious writing desk.  Chawton is a beautiful village that is actually quite close to her birthplace in Steventon--another location that the Austen devotee is sure to love.

So where to first?  Happy travels!

 

Amber Kingsley is a freelance writer for RedSeven Leisure and has written several articles on her favourite travel tips for a variety of sites and blogs. As an avid fan of both travel and Jane Austen, she has visited several locations devoted to the famous author and hopes to explore more destinations frequented by her favourite authors.

A must for royal fans

William and Kate Tour... Princess Diana Tour... Royal Tours

I'm pleased as punch and very proud to announce that P and P Tours are now offering a new and exciting service, that of exclusive royal tours.

After a fairly long period of nothing but controversy, the royal family, that jewel in the UK's crown (no pun intended), is currently enjoying a real purple patch in the nation's affections. Avid royal family followers had already taken the princes, William and Harry, to their heart, even before Princess Diana's death. Now, with William married to the beautiful Kate, a fashion icon in her own right, and with the birth of their first child, Prince George, and Harry possibly looking to settle down himself, royal family fans have never had it so good.

The recent christening of Prince George and the subsequent massive public response shows that the young royals are set to remain in the nation's hearts, popular like the elder generation who still perform their public duties so diligently.

The Queen, a traditional monarch to her bones, is still regarded with extreme fondness by the vast majority of her subjects and, whilst Charles may be seen as something of an odd-ball, the Duke of Edinburgh is always good for some humour, even if sometimes it's not appropriate. Andrew and Edward may not generate headlines like they did a decade or two ago, but the next generation have stepped forward.

All this means that the royals are rarely out of the newspapers and off our screens. They're always news and their lives are endlessly fascinating. To some, the royal family is an anachronism, an outdated, privileged relic of our nation's past. To others they represent the best of this country and are nothing but beneficial..

Whilst we've always been able to visit certain royal palaces and other building notable for their royal connections, P and P Tours is now offering, for the first time, exclusive Royal Tours, private escorted tours that will bring together the grand homes of the beloved royals on single tours, and also take you to the other, lesser known haunts of our favourite royal family members.

P and P Tours can now offer you private escorted tours relating to Will and Kate's life, both in London and on the beautiful island of Anglesey in North Wales, where the couple lived and Will worked as an RAF helicopter pilot. You'll be able to visit where they lived, worked, shopped and enjoyed a meal, all in one enjoyable tour.

Whilst Will and Kate, and of course little Prince George, understandably dominate the royal headlines, their remains a deep and enduring love of, and fascination with Diana, the so-called Queen of Hearts. Sixteen years after her sad death she still holds a special place in the consciousness of the nation, as seen in the recent film that portrayed the last two years of her life.

Diana touched the lives of many people and PandP now provides an elite private tour that will take in some of the places in which she lived, such as Clarence House, some of her favourite shops, cafes and restaurants as well as key locations from her, including the church where she was baptised, St. Paul's Cathedral where she and Charles were married and, of course the Diana memorial on The Serpentine.

And, with another exclusive, PandP Tours are hopeful of being able to present a special guest speaker who knew Diana well and who will be able to offer precious insights into her life and personality.

There are of course many royal palaces and PandP Tours also offers a private escorted tour that visits the principle locations relating to the royal family including Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and many other sites - it's a must do tour for fans of the Queen and the rest of the Windsor's.

As always, here at PandP we will ensure that your private chauffeured tour is tailored to your precise needs.

So, check out details of our three exclusive royal tours and book your place soon:

Following William and Kate

We've been reading in the media with interest about how respectful the residents of Anglesey have been in protecting the privacy of the royal couple, both during the months they lived on the island, and since they moved away for William to increase his royal duties.

The residents were lucky enough to spot the young royals visiting their local cinema incognito, so that no-one would intrude on their privacy, and how they often enjoyed a 'Snowdon burger' at their local pub. William was often seen jogging along the lanes and although he was the picture of politeness, neighbours didn't stop him for autographs or photos. That's so refreshing to hear!

Although the pretty farmhouse that they shared until recently was going to be rented out again to a lucky new tenant, the owners have since decided that they would rather respect William and Kate's privacy and have removed it from the market.

Kate was often seen popping into the local supermarket and DIY store to pick up items for supper and to decorate the house, and she was never subjected to prying gossip or troubled with nosey neighbours!

We're really glad that William and Kate were able to experience a relatively normal life before they had to move to a more formal role and settle into royal duties, and they will no doubt miss the lovely beaches where they walked their dog when they are settled into their new apartments in Kensington Palace. perhaps they will take baby Georg ... and any future brothers or sisters for holidays on Anglesey in the future.

The locals have promised to give them a very warm welcome!

New film role for Downton's Dan Stevens

 



Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame will be starring with Dominic Cooper in a new film entitled Summer in February. A couple of days ago The Telegraph ran an article which tells us more. The film is based on the bohemian early life of Sir Alfred Munnings and a love triangle that ended in tragedy.

"As the leading equestrian artist of his day, collected by the Royal family and high society, Munnings was the epitome of respectability in the 20th-century establishment.

But a little-known bohemian period during his early career, where he became embroiled in a tragic love triangle, has, until now, been largely airbrushed from history.

A new film about Munnings will depict the artist’s turbulent love affair with his first wife, Florence - played by the Australian actress Emily Browning - whose relationship with Captain Gilbert Evans, a friend of the couple, led to her suicide.

Entitled Summer in February, the film will see Dominic Cooper star as Munnings opposite Dan Stevens, who plays Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey, as Evans.

Set between 1912 and 1914, when Munnings was in his early 30s, it depicts his time as a member of the Newlyn School, an artists’ colony in Cornwall, where he lived alongside fellow painters Dame Laura Knight and her husband, Harold.

There, Munnings met Florence Carter-Wood, known as “Flossie”, a troubled young artist 14 years his junior who joined the colony attempting to escape her upper-class background. She became Munnings’s muse and lover, and is depicted in his painting, Two Lady Riders Under An Evening Sky, the only portrait of her that Munnings kept.
The film portrays the love triangle between Florence, Munnings and Evans, a veteran of the Boer War and the manager of the Boskenna Estate in Lamorna, west Cornwall, where the Newlyn colony was located.
Based on Evans’s personal diaries, it depicts both men falling in love with Florence.
Florence and Munnings married in 1912, but the film shows her attempted suicide during their honeymoon, after she realises she has married the wrong man.
Munnings, a miller’s son from Suffolk, is portrayed as a wild and passionate artist who slashes his canvases in artistic rages while Evans is a steady, respectable gentleman who attempts to help Florence overcome her battles with depression.
When Munnings and Florence returned to Cornwall after their wedding, she and Evans embarked on an affair, which she later confessed to her husband. Summer in February depicts his furious reaction and her subsequent suicide in July 1914 by poisoning herself with cyanide.
The film, which is expected to be released this summer, also suggests that Florence was pregnant with Evans’s child when she killed herself and that her marriage to Munnings was never consummated.
Browning, who starred in the recent Hollywood thriller Sucker Punch, said of Florence: “She is genuinely in love with Gilbert but he represents what she is running from. Alfred appears to be everything she thinks she wants. He is free and a little crazy.”
The film has been adapted from a book of the same name, by Jonathan Smith. It also depicts Laura Knight’s unrequited love for Munnings and the jealousy of her husband Harold, who also harboured feelings for Florence.
Munnings never spoke of his first wife after her death and his three volumes of memoirs written in the early 1950s make no mention of their relationship.
In 1920, he married Violet McBride, a renowned equestrienne, with whom he lived until his death in 1959 aged 80, at Castle House in Dedham, Essex, home to the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum.
Cecil Hadingham, 74, Munnings’s great-nephew, said: “It was extraordinary that he never mentioned this period and it was never discussed amongst the family. I think he found it so painful that he wanted to cut it out of his life completely.”
James Johnston, the chairman of the Castle House Trust, said: “It will be a fascinating take on a part of his life that has been entirely unexplored. Although he produced some of his finest work during this turbulent time, he never spoke of it or of Florence, and she has been airbrushed from history.”
Jeremy Cowdrey, one of the film’s producers, said: “Munnings became very establishment later in his life, but the film shows his wilder days when he lived rather like a rock-star.”

Downton Abbey crockery on the way

At last - a range of Downton inspired crockery is coming out. There has never been anything Downton related in the Highclere gift shop - is this set to change?

T"he Telegraph writes

The makers of the ITV series Downton Abbey are planning to cash in on its success by launching a range of kitchen utensils and crockery bearing its branding.

The moves will mean that the fans of the Golden Globe, Emmy and Bafta award winning series cannot only watch their favourite characters but cook and dine like them too.

There could also be other more substantial furniture items including candlesticks and lamps.

Gareth Neame, producer of the series, revealed details of the plan for stores in an American interview.

He said:"We’re looking into merchandising. Homeware, crockery, pots and pans.

 

"Kitchen items. Merchandising takes time. It’s a slower burn but we’re not proud. We’re on message.
"We’ll even do household decorations like candlesticks.”

The merchandising, which will not include action figures based on Lord Grantham or even Bates, will be launched next year.

The move to produce official merchandise comes as the third series is about to be shown in the US where it has enjoyed critical success having been nominated for a record 16 Emmy TV awards.
Merchandising spin offs from successful films have proved very lucrative in the past.
Toys, clothing, books, video games, and anything associated with the Star Wars films has brought in more than £2bn since the film’s release in 1973.

Disney also make millions each year from merchandise linked to their animated films while toys based on the characters from the “Transformers” films have earned hundreds of millions.

Manufacturers have not been slow to try an capitalise on the success of Downton by producing goods that can be linked to the show.
But as they are not officially endorsed by the makers of the series they can only label them as “inspired by Downton Abbey".
The high street chain Past Times sells a range of goods inspired that includes mugs and cushions with the shows famously pithy one-liners written across them.
They include phrases such as “You’ll find there’s never a dull moment in this house” and “What is a weekend?” among them."

Colin Firth in Sequel to Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

We just loved this hit film, starring some of the best actors in the world today. After the huge success at the Box Office I guess it was inevitable that a sequel would be quick in coming.
The quote of the movie for me was 'Everything will be alright in the end... and if it isn't alright then it isnt the end.'

Showbiz 411 writes "The chief target audience of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was easy to spot from the blue rinse in their hair. Of course, the same is going to apply with the sequel, so I’m not the slightest bit surprised that Helen Mirren and Colin Firth are “likely” to join up. They make those blue hairs light right up.
Apparently there’s also an American actress required to round out the roles in Ol Parker’s screenplay – an original, based upon his first film which was, to be frank, also an original, despite ostensibly being based upon the novel by Deborah Moggach.
Roger Friedman at Showbiz 411 nominates Jane Fonda for the American role. I’d prefer Diane Keaton, maybe Swoosie Kurtz.
John Madden will be directing once again, with many of the original cast returning to India. I have a feeling this franchise could run and run. I at least expect a trilogy."