Friday, December 21, 2007

Countdown to the Royal Divorce - part 17

I was loathe to begin this little essay because I know how you all tire of hearing the regular christmas nonsense of my complaints about the Windsors and their persistent urging of me to spend the holiday season with them. I am, as you know, blessed with a patient nature, but many years ago I swore that enough was enough, and my first year at home I sent them all a biography of Cromwell. Camilla got a copy and without bothering to read it, telephoned to ask if Mrs Cromwell was the duchess of Cromwell like her, and were they related? I quietly agreed, and said that she should get someone to draw up a family tree. I said that I knew of people who could trace their ancestry back to the Norman conquest. She was really excited and said that maybe Charles was related to someone famous like William the Conqueror. Yes, I said, shocked that she should be able to relate William the Conqueror to the Norman Conquest. But I needed not to fret, because she then told me that her cousin used to go out with someone called Norman Conquest, and perhaps he was related too. Can you imagine what it is like playing charades with these people? They spend most of the time finding one of the staff to work out whether their title is a book, a film or a play, which is quite amazing since none of them have ever finished a book, and the only play they have seen is the annual panto - Aladdin – at the King’s Lynn rep.

Anyway, it was Camilla who has been disrupting my week again. She saw on the news that Liz is now the oldest reigning monarch. “We must do something to celebrate it, darling,” she oozed. I expect her motive is to set a precedent so that if she manages to outlive Liz and become queen herself (yes, I know, but you trying telling her), then she will be assured of a party. Her daftest idea (and I know you won’t believe it) (and there was some pretty healthy competition in that particular category) was to re-enact Liz’s birth by having her come down a slide and some curtains smeared in loganberry jam. “Do you know the meaning of the word ‘undignified’ you daft bastard?” I asked the future consort of the head of state. “It was exactly that sort of stupid antic that finished off other contenders for the title of eldest monarch. See if anyone can tell you the story of Edward the second and the little party game of ‘what will fit up your bum’.”

Calls alternated between various members of the family wanting me to go to Sandringham, and those asking if I would act as babysitter to David Linley. The poor boy is the dullest company at the best of times – have you ever known a bright chippy? I told Liz I couldn’t possibly entertain him because I was out of brandy snaps, but I don’t think she got the reference.

Simple Sophie Wessex seems to think that she is the only woman on the planet to have given birth. She still can’t think of a name for him. I read that he will be given the title “Viscount Severn”. I told her to call him “Blake”. I might get away with it - I thought “Magnificent” was too obvious even for her, neither would it be particularly appropriate given his genetic make-up. I told her that she would be less tired if she put both the new baby and Edward to bed at the same time, and read them both the same bedtime story. It wasn’t entirely true, last January she had to be taken to bed with exhaustion when one of her birthday cards had a poem with more than one verse.

12 comments:

Romeo Morningwood said...

"her cousin used to go out with someone called Norman Conquest"
HAHAHAHAHA! Oh gawd that is priceless!

As consort presumptive to the throne, I can only hope that you shall remain her Walsingham.
Good luck with that.

Anonymous said...

Blake Severn. I actually lauged out loud. Brilliant!

Dave said...

Did you deliberately say 'future consort of the head of state' to annoy me, rather than 'consort of the future head of state'?

I did almost smile at Blake Severn though.

Zig said...

Sleepy, Grumpy, Sneezy, Happy, Dock, Bashful, or Dopey (although I think that one's been taken)

I, Like The View said...

I was thinking Deadly Sins, personally. . .

I, Like The View said...

(Dock ziggi? I didn't know that Snow White's dwarves had a sailor in their midst! mind you the Royals have one or two, so I suppose that makes sense)

;-)

Vicus Scurra said...

For those of you not familiar with the court of Elizabeth I, HE is referring to the original "M" in James Bond, not the village in Norfolk. I could never be a village, at least not in Norfolk.
Dave. Thank you. Don't you have some tinsel to polish?
Ziggi. It is Viscount Severn. She has not had seven children, as your comment seems to imply.
I,LTV. Welcome to Dave's school of pedantry.

I, Like The View said...

;-)

thanks!

you'll find I'm am excellent pupil

no sitting in the corner with the D hat for me. . .

xx

Zig said...

just thought a choice might be nice . . . sorry I spoke, where's my Xmas card anyway?

(is it Doc then?)

Vicus Scurra said...

Ziggi, I posted your card.
Is this address correct?
Ziggi
Silly Tart,
Didn't Send
Her Address.
Nutts.
D0H SH1T.

Barry Lawrence said...

I think you'll find the kid is called Arty - as in, Arty Fishal Insemination Sax Coburg Gotha.
You wouldn't like the Sandringham gig these days - they've even stopped playing Pin The Tail On The Donkey because Edward's arse doesn't heal up in time between parties?
There's been no gin since the Bionic Grandma finally went to the scrapheap in the sky and the only fun now is watching the Viscount (you mentioned him first, not me!) bugger the serving staff on top of the Playstation after they've all watched the Christmas EastEnders......allegedly.

Zig said...

I didn't like to appear needy, but now I regret that I won't have something to sell when you're famous.

(post code is surprisingly accurate so it might get here after all - keeping my fingers crossed)