Hard work helps you lose weight says Prince Eitel Friedrich

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August 16, 1908


Prince Eitel Friedrich, second son of the German Emperor, has "decided that hard work, and plenty of it," is the best cure for his obesity problem, reports the New York Times.

At his summer home, Schloss Ingenheim, near Charlottenburg in Berlin,  the prince "engages from morning til night in the most strenuous labor."

He "applies himself to gardening, tree-felling, cutting hedges, sawing wood, carpentry, and the building of potting sheds."   The estate's gardeners and other workmen on the fair-sized natural park on the banks of the Havel," find they have little leisure time, while Prince Eitel Friedrich is in residence.  He expects them to put in a full days of work every day in the week.

During the past week, the Prince has taken a "leading part" in the construction of a new riding school.  One one occasion, during the "great heat," he was chastised by his wife, Princess Sophie Charlotte, for "working so hard.

"Oh, this kind of work is good for my figure," he responded.  He continued to work as if he were a "paid laborer."

When he is not working on the estate,  the Prince and Princess enjoy long horseback rides, leaving the castle before 7 a.m.  They prefer to ride without a groom, and usually take a "light lunch" with them, which they eat in the forest.

The couple return to the castle just in time to change for dinner. 

Other times, they drive together "in a dog-cart with a tandem team and a picnic in the woods."  The princess usually brings her sketchbook with her.  But even after their return to the castle, Prince Eitel Friedrich likes to apply himself to several hours of manual labor at the castle.

Note to the Markles -- just shut up, please

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Since the announcement of the engagement of Prince Henry of Wales to Miss Meghan Markle last November,  the British media, largely the tabloids, let by the we-do-not-believe-in-facts-but-we-pay-well Daily Mail, have feasted on the carcasses of comments spewed by the Duchess of Sussex's much older half-siblings,  Samantha and Thomas, and, more recently, by the non-stop whining by daddy dearest.

We do not know the entire story.  We -- meaning the general public  -- do not need to know about the apparent toxic relationship that the Duchess has with her half-siblings and her father.  There is no doubt that the Daily Fail and other tabloids waved big checks in front of dad to pose for photos and spill his guts for the entire world to see.

There is no doubt that Meghan's relationship with her father has been difficult for sometime, long before the engagement was announced,  perhaps even before she met Harry.

That blowhard Piers Morgan stated this morning that Meghan needs to see her father before he dies.  Yo, Piers.  FYI.  This is not your fight.  Meghan's relationship with her father is  NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.  Let's me repeat this:  Meghan's relationship with her father is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Nor is it ours.

The tabloids continue to publish every ounce of excrement that comes out of the mouths of the Markles.  It has got to stop.  I realize that the Mail, for one, does not understand what integrity means, especially journalistic integrity. Never too late to learn.

Did these "reporters" skip the class on journalistic ethics?  What about sticking to reporting the news?   There is a lot happening in the United Kingdom right now, politically, socially, economically?  Boring, I know ... but real news.

I cannot imagine the pain that Meghan must feel when she wakes up in the morning to the reports of yet another Daddy exclusive.  She can confide in her family, call her mom,  get a snuggle from her husband, a wet nose kiss from Guy, but nothing will totally assuage the pain or anxiety of what will the next day bring from the Markles.

It is time -- it was time months ago, actually -- for the tabloids to stop being the Markles' mouthpieces.  Do not give them money.  Do not offer them an opportunity to give what they perceive is their side of the story.

There is no doubt in my mind that racism is playing role in this tabloid's pathetic saga.  Would they have run similar stories about Cressida Bonas, whose parents have seven marriages between them?   Cressida has half and step-siblings.   But -- gasp -- Cressida's mother, Lady Mary-Gaye is the daughter of the 6th Earl of Howe.

No, they would not have run similar stories.   Cressida is an English rose, a granddaughter of an earl, unlike the Duchess of Sussex, who happens to be a bi-racial American.  The tabloids cannot get over the fact that Prince Harry's kids will probably have brown eyes, rather than the usual blue.  TDB.

Meghan Markle chose to accept Harry's proposal because she loves him.  She knew from the moment she said yes that her life would change.  A change that includes far more than learning protocol, the history of your new home, how the monarchy works, precedence, and make sure you have weights sewed into the hems of your dresses and skirts.

It came as  no surprise that after the wedding it was announced that Meghan would be spending time during the rest of the year to learn more about the monarchy, the  Commonwealth, traditions, expectations and so on.  Princess classes.  One of those classes was taught by the Queen, when Meghan accompanied her on an official visit  to Chester.  I think Meghan aced that class.

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Dad tends to focus on himself  ..what I did for Meghan?   Everything Meghan has is thanks to me.  Er. No.  Meghan certainly used family connections for early auditions -- that is not unusual in the business -- but what she has achieved - from her university degree to her co-starring role on Suits is due to her own hard work and initiative.   Yes, dad did pay the tuition for private school, but Meghan, not dad, got the grades, did the work.  It was an 11-year-old Meghan -- let me repeat this --- Meghan was 11 years old -- when she discussed the sexist attitude of a dish washing liquid and she wrote a letter to the company --- and Proctor & Gamble changed the commercial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfaGleA4qYo

Let me repeat this again.  It was 11-year-old Meghan Markle's persuasive letter that effected change.  Not dad, although her parents were presumably very proud of her achievement.

It is time for the tabloids to stop writing about the toxicity that exists in the Markle family.  Samantha's jealous rants (she is estranged from her children ... hmmm, wonder why) and dad's speed dial remarks to British tabloids are all poison.  It is not the job of a NEWSpaper to publish this drivel.   None of these reporters could get jobs on real newspapers.  Hey, I have an idea -- send all of them to Afghanistan to cover what is happening there.  They probably could not hack it -- even through they are all hacks.

The Duchess of Sussex is not the first royal, certainly not the first person in the world, to not have a close relationship with a parent.  It does happen.

The Daily Fail and others have to stop providing coverage to the Markles.  Their hot air causes pain, not just to Meghan and Harry, but also to others who suffer from toxic family relationships. 

Earlier today, Sky News royal reporter Rhiannon Mills wrote a piece that  is getting a lot of comments.   I am disappointed by her comments.


"But, what Thomas Markle gives us is a unique insight into the girl he watched grow up, and as someone who reports on her, I want to know more about Meghan; and that's not easy when the royal press pack is kept at a distance."

https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-leave-meghan-and-thomas-markle-to-work-it-out-11468088

Insight?  Is that what you call Thomas's comments about not knowing her address or that Harry hung up on him?   No, Rhiannon, that's not insight.  Thomas is not providing insight on his younger daughter.  He is screaming for attention and playing the victim card.

He changes his story more often than I change cat food brands.   His victim card expired ages ago.

There is no doubt that the British media, especially the royal reporters, want to hear from Meghan. We all do.  She is an intelligent, inspiring woman.  That is not going to happen anytime soon.  Her first patronages have not been announced.  She is still learning the ropes.  She has a royal baptism-by-fire tour upcoming in the fall.   She is learning to live in a new country, where she cannot leave her home with a personal protector officer.

She has yet to become a permanent resident of the country.  Meghan applied for the fiancee visa before the wedding.  Now married, she must apply for a marriage visa, which will be good for 2.5 years.  Only after the 2 and half years of marriage, can the Duchess of Sussex apply for permanent residency.  Meghan will be using her U.S. passport for at least the next five years until she can begin the process toward UK citizenship.

(No her mom is not moving to the United Kingdom.  Apart from the usual tourist visas, Dora is not eligible for any visas that would allow her to live full time in the United Kingdom.  She can certainly fly over and spend a few months each year with her daughter, but she cannot move to the country.)


Thomas' words are not insight, but streams of invective.  He is encouraged to continue the abusive content because the tabloids provide the opportunity.  He is not doing himself or his family any favors.   He's not hurting the monarchy, but he is causing great pain to a lovely newly married couple.

How to end this?   I would not recommend a meeting between father and daughter anytime soon.  Thomas would be wired and Piers Morgan would be hiding in the bushes with his phone, tweeting out the conversation. 

The end must come from the tabloids' paymasters.  Stop the payments.  Stop the offers.  Ignore the whines, the cries, the poor-me-I-don't-know-if-Meghan-got-my-birthday-cards comments and focus on the upcoming tour, on the issues, the opportunities for the Duke and Duchess to wave their magic wands to help others.

Stop providing the Markles with opportunity to lie,  make up stories, change stories and attack two people who will not respond.  Two people with class.  Just stop it.  It is not reporting nor is it news.

The Markles keep digging downward, which means far less of a chance of a phone call from Nottingham Cottage.  The Daily Fail, the Sun and the Mirror have been in hell for years.

One final thing:  stop using the word protocol for everything that you think goes wrong, especially with clothing or crossing one's legs.   Surely the newsrooms still have dictionaries.  Look up what the word protocol means ... you will be surprised that you misuse the word nearly every day!

and from February

http://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2018/02/it-is-time-to-stop-yes-racist-attacks.html

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The Grand Ducal family in Cabasson

Back row:  Antonius  Willms, holding his son, Zeno,  HRH Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau,  HRH Prince Jean of Luxembourg (father of Marie Gabrielle)  Front row:  The Grand Duke of Luxembourg,  Grand Duke Jean and the Grand Duchess

all four photos © Cour grand-ducale / Cyril Moreau / Bestimage

The Grand Ducal family on holiday in France.   Princess Marie Gabrielle of Nassau, accompanied by her husband, Antonius Willms, and their infant son, Zeno, and her father, Prince Jean of Luxembourg, are among the guests.   A good time to introduce Zeno to his great-grandfather.

The Stunning Longwood Gardens

On Friday 27, I visited Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.   The estate was once the summer home of Pierre DuPont.  A hot day, ending with an evening thunderstorm.

I had the pepperoni pizza and the Victory Longwood Seasoms: Summer Strawberry