Mavis Twiddlebottom

Last year when Eurovision was hosted in Liverpool, UK. Princess Catherine made a surprise appearance in the intro to the program playing Ukraine's winning 2022 song Stefania on the piano.

LONG LIVE THE ONCE AND FUTURE QUEEN

Following Catherine the Princess of Wales announcement to the entire world that she is undergoing treatment for cancer a few of the wild and rising tide of gossip mongers and conspiracy theorists have offered sheepish, back peddling apologies. Most have been quieted and yet some continue on, either unwilling to believe that Catherine is processing serious health issues just like she told us all in the first place, or maliciously making money off salacious rumors, or just grinding an axe because no one is more beautiful and admired than Princess Kate.

Whether foreign bots from Russia and China, celebrities like Stephen Colbert and Kim Kardashian, or the social media army of Harry and Meghan followers (called the sugars) the pile on has been intense and vicious. The most photographed woman in the world dropped out of sight and is being punished for it in a tsunami of cruel criticism Princess Di could never have imagined.

People said she was dead, in a coma, or brought up an old rumor about William being unfaithful that was never true and was debunked years ago yet still hurtful to the families involved. Stephen Colbert joked about it on his widely watched talk show instigating yet more speculative negativity toward a mother of three young children who just got a cancer diagnosis.

Why did she choose to speak now? A few reasons. She and William wanted to wait until their children were out of school for Easter holidays to explain things to them when they would not be subjected to questioning at school. Plus, there was a breech in hospital security regarding Catherine's medical records. Putting the information out to the public makes stealing it less lucrative. Money was being made by posting salacious click bait on social media. Hopefully her brave and dignified address will calm the waters.

On the positive side Catherine's prognosis seems hopeful. She has the consistent support of her family and the best medical care available. Her solid relationship with King Charles has only strengthened as he faces uncannily similar health issues. Catherine is loved. Even the Anti-Royalists have offered condolences and support. She remains one of the most beloved human beings in the United Kingdom and beyond.

The King has cancer. Long live the King... After his recent surgery for an enlarged prostrate, that the king openly shared the news about, we now know that while undergoing that treatment a separate issue of concern was discovered and after tests has been identified as cancer.

It is expected the King will maintain his constitutional duties while undergoing treatment. With Princess Catherine now home recuperating from her abdominal surgery it has been a tough time for the royal family with serious implications for the future.

While it is not likely the Counsellors of State, those in the line of succession authorized to stand in for the Sovereign, will be called upon in this circumstance it is a relief that recent adaptations have been made.

Counsellors of State are the Sovereign's spouse and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21. Until recently this would have been Queen Camilla, William Prince of Wales, Harry Duke of Sussex, Andrew Duke of York, and Princess Beatrice.

Due to the obvious problems of scandal and treachery this was an unacceptable prospect. Thus, per the King's request to both houses of Parliament, the Counsellors of State Act of 2022 was passed adding the King's siblings Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Anne, Princess Royal to the list while stipulating that Counsellors of State must be "working royals", thus without actually removing them from the line of succession Prince Andrew and Prince Harry are for all practical purposes off the roster. Thank God and Parliament for that!

It would take an Act of Parliament to remove anyone from the line of succession and Mavis hopes that will happen. Meanwhile she prays for the health, strength and longevity of Prince William as the full weight of the monarchy looms heavily before him.

THE NICKNAME LILIBET came about when the late Queen Elizabeth II was a toddler and could not quite pronounce Elizabeth. Affectionately called Lilibet by her parents, her sister, and later by her husband Prince Phillip it was a personal and intimate nickname.

According to royal biographer Robert Hardman, after naming their daughter Lilibet, Harry and Meghan insisted that they had the Queen's permission and would not have used the name without her blessing. The BBC asserted that the Queen had not been asked permission to use the nickname. Harry and Meghan then threatened to sue the BBC and expected the palace to support their case. It seems however that they told the Queen they were naming their daughter after her but did not mention the nickname Lilibet. It was assumed they meant Elizabeth. The palace refused to support Harry and Meghan's case and the legal action was then dropped.

The Queen's anger over the issue wasn't necessarily about the name itself. She may have felt uncomfortable about it's use but she deeply resented the attempt to railroad her into saying she had given it her blessing when she actually hadn't. One of the palace's senior aids said, "She was angrier that I've ever seen her". For the late Queen who was renowned for keeping calm and carrying on that is really saying something. She was not someone who could easily be manipulated and resented the attempt.

Adding insult to injury before the child's birth Harry and Meghan registered the name Lilibet as a domain name and had it copyrighted indicating future monetization. Sadly this controversy could effect an innocent child. Perhaps when she is older young Lilibet could use her middle name, Diana.

Another new book about the royal family has just come out and readers may well ask... really? We need another one? Yet unlike the recent unsubstantiated smear campaign, Endgame by Omid Scobi, New King, New Court, Charles III The Inside Story is written by well respected royal biographer Robert Hardman. You know he has done his homework when even the most knee jerk litigious actors (Mavis is looking at you Prince Harry) are not threatening to sue. While little is said to be newly revealed in this tome much of the suspected treachery of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry including Harry's refusal to visit the Queen before her death, naming their daughter the Queen's personal nickname Lilibet without asking her permission and then lying about it, and having a Netflix crew on hand during the Queen's funeral is all confirmed. Just in case you still think Meghan and Harry have an ounce of decency between the two of them this new book should help to clear that up for you.

Dear me! Princess Catherine is in the hospital and King Charles is going into the hospital next week! Catherine, the palace tells us, was admitted to the hospital for a planned abdominal surgery. The surgery went well and she is expected to remain in the hospital for two weeks before continuing recovery at home. She is not likely to return to public duties until after Easter. Meanwhile Charles is going in next week for treatment of an enlarged prostrate. As the palace says, "In common with thousands of men each year". He is said to have postponed a number of appointments but a full recovery is expected. The King is said to be especially keen to share his diagnosis encouraging other men with symptoms to seek medical advice. Both the King's and Catherine's medical issues are said to be benign.

Mavis wishes Princess Catherine a very happy 42nd birthday today. In her honor the bells of Westminister Abbey rang out in celebration. Happy birthday Kate!

Mavis recommends this BBC documentary for a behind the scenes look at the lead up to the coronation of King Charles III. Crown jewels, carriages, and some absolutely splendid embroidery...

Charles III: The Coronation Year (2023) Air date: 26 December 2023The UK was a different country the last time a monarch was crowned. Now, 70 years on, Charles III has to show what sort of a monarc...

In the holiday spirit Catherine Princess of Wales hosted the third annual Carol Service, Together at Christmas, at Westminister Abbey. Guests included people working with charities and will be broadcast in the U.K. on Christmas Eve. Said Catherine, "Join me this Christmas Eve for a special service, as we say a heartfelt thank you to all those supporting the very youngest members of our society during those crucial early years."

Mavis cannot say for certain why King Charles wore a tie featuring the Greek flag recently while giving the keynote speech at the climate change summit in Dubai or later when he met with UK Prime minister Rishi Sunak. As monarch Charles must refrain from politically partisan speech. Word from the palace is that the tie was a random wardrobe choice. Mavis knows better than that.

The week prior to the summit Sunak cancelled a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over disagreements regarding the Elgin Marbles. The 2,500 year old sculptures were taken from the Parthenon by British diplomat Lord Elgin in 1806. At that time Greece was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and the legalities around the acquisition were dubious enough without even involving the Greeks who have consistently sought the return of the ancient masterpieces. Currently the marbles are in the British Museum and Sunak would like to keep them there.

Mavis suspects that Charles, who is a champion of the arts and whose father, the late Prince Philip, was born in Greece and was a member of the Greek royal family, sides with the Greeks who are said to be livid over the Sunak snub.

Before wading into the weedy business of bombshell books, the palace and the prince, Mavis would like to make a public service announcement. If you watch The Crown and are looking forward to the final episodes coming out on December 14 there are 2 recommend podcasts. One is the official podcast of the program giving behind the scenes insights and interviews featuring the creators of the program. The other, The Crown: Fact or Fiction, goes through the episodes separating fact from fiction pointing out where creative license has been taken. To avoid spoilers watch first and then listen. Mavis is quite sure that William Shakespeare took artistic liberties with the royal family as well but still, she hopes you will check your facts!

After having been trapped in an oak tree in Wales for a good long while certain rumblings in the force (yes, Mavis is a Jedi) have caused Mavis Twiddlebottom, royal reporter and oversoul, to reawaken. She is going to need a good brisk pot of tea before she can tackle all the shenanigans going on...