William, Harry and the Spencers

[Mike]

How much time do the Princes spend with their maternal relations?  I may be way off base, but it occurred to me the Windsors might want to minimize that.

[Georgiana]

I remember reading in an article where somebody was interviewing Kitty and she said she had never met Kate or Chelsy so I'm guessing the children of Earl Spencer don't see the Princes much. Also there has not been many pictures of them together that I have seen anyway. 

[DeeRoyal]

I think Kitty has spent most of her life in Cape Town, (although she has been back in the UK in the last couple of years at least on and off) so I suppose meeting up with her cousins' girlfriends would be a rare enough event. Probably has more to do with the gfs not attending family occasions than Kitty not meeting up with William and/or Harry.

I don't know how much Charles Spencer succeeded in keeping contact with the boys after Diana's death as he pledged to do, but I guess now that they are grown men and their lives have become more independant and career driven, these opportunities become less regular.

[ap3]

I think charles spencer lives mostly (or at least significant amount of the year) in south africa. i think i remember an article where he says he doesnt see the boys that often, esp now that they have their own career responsibilities. 

spencer went on to say (if i remember correctly) that the boys see the spencer aunts more often, since they live in or near london (which makes sense).  the older spencer sister, lady jane fellowes, is married to the queen's former secretary so i'm sure she gets invited to royal events more often on her/her husband's connections rather than just as the boys' aunt.

[wannabe]

How much time do the Princes spend with their maternal relations?  I may be way off base, but it occurred to me the Windsors might want to minimize that.

I think W&H visit the Spencers. How much, I'm clueless with what they do with their free time and weekends, other than the reported (W&K spend weekends in the countryside at family and friends), we don't see it often, but we do get the rare photo once in a while, or during Summer and Winter season. The following where taken 2009; candid by two tourists who happened to be in Norfolk by the Church and sneaked in, private photographer (there's a video too) at PW 1st Wing ceremony and paparazzi at a restaurant/pub outlet.  

http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/SGJ//TH1_106200944Prince%20William.jpg Prince William and Kate Middleton at the low key wedding of Honorable Laura Fellowes in Norfolk. In the background Earl Spencer. June 09, 2009

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04_02/kateMS1204_468x386.jpg Kate Middleton, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton at Prince William's Elementary Wings Ceremony. April 12, 2009

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/10/article-0-0300A233000005DC-993_468x552.jpg Lady Eliza Spencer on a night out with cousin Prince Harry, after attending HVS memorial fund. January 09, 2009

January 2009

They had a few days in London last week staying with family and friends, before driving up to the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire to spend time with their father - brother of the late Princess Diana.
Harry's cousin Lady Eliza Spencer. Earl Spencer's 16-year-old daughter was in London with her twin Amelia and their older sister Kitty, 18.
The prince is understood to have invited the girls to a party after the launch of a charity founded in honour of a former schoolfriend.

I understand that PW has been spotted various times riding his motorcycle nearby Althorp.

[Jenee]

They don't seem to visit them that often do they?  Although that wouldn't really make the press.

[RoyalB]

I seem to remember reading in some press article that for a while after Diana's death, Harry was seeing his uncle quite often, but not so Wills.  Don't know why that should be.  I guess that those visits are much rarer now, so much for both boys to fit in what with full time work and charity stuff, plus other family commitments and then the girlfriends.

[Lady63]

I don't think they 'visit' often and I don't think William is particulary close to Diana's brother's or sister's, he might be to his cousins but imho William comes across as being a Windsor through and through and I believe he's very close to Camilla's son and daughter.  Imho a tad disloyal to his mother's memory but then again who knows.  As for Harry well who knows.

Regards,
Lady63

[Lucy]

Actually it was William who went to the Spencer family wedding of the Fellowes girl and he has been at the Island where Diana is buried on several occasions reported in North Hants. His Grandmother Frances Shand Kydd spoke of his visits to her in Scotland when he was at St. Andrew's and she and the Earl have said that when Diana died both lads were discouraged from visiting her family, perhaps even barred.

Harry attended the younger Parker Bowles's weddings even though he didn't attend the Spencer wedding (s).....albeit both lads have been spotted playing rugby with some of their Spencer Cousins in Norfolk.

William is very unWindsor in every aspect of his life, from sleeping on the bare concrete on the street, to his dedication to his Mother's causes. He is VERY tactile and loving toward the masses.....not Windsorish at all.

[Scarlet Flowers]

It was reported they do see them more often now than when growing up.

[Stix Chix]

here's the whole quote from Kitty Spencer's recent interview....

Kitty insists she never feels any pressure about being related to the Royal Family when she returns to Britain: ‘I just go home and see my family and it’s all very relaxed. I suppose because I’ve grown up with my mum in Cape Town, I don’t feel part of that.’

She, does, however, see her first cousins William and Harry although, as yet, has not met either Kate Middleton or Chelsy Davy. ‘I don’t feel like it’s my place to talk about them,’ she adds.

‘I’m not really part of the Royal Family – that’s their family. I’m not actually married into the family. I feel very disconnected. It’s impossible not to if you’ve been brought up in Cape Town.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1250811/Im-proud-Dad-stood-says-Earl-Spencers-daughter-Kitty.html#ixzz0iNxZUyc3

i think distance, sibling and marital problems between their parents played a pretty big role in them not seeing their Spencer cousins very often, at least during their childhood to teenage years.  these days its probably distance and busy lives.  as Kitty herself says she spent most of her life in Africa.....where Harry and William didn't go until they were teenagers.  but she did say that she sees them.  we probably just don't hear or see it very often.  they were all at the memorial and Diana concert in 2007.  a couple Christmases ago they were spotted playing football with their cousin George McCorquodale.  and Eliza Spencer was mistaken for Chelsy last year when she was seen leaving the Straubenzee after party with Harry.

so they see each other but not very often....mainly during holiday and family events.  i could say the same for a lot of my cousins.

Diana was said to occasionally break off contact from her sisters and brother (and sister-in-law Fergie too) after fights.  in consequence the cousins wouldn't see much of each other during those times.  her sister Jane was married to the Queen's private secretary which probably caused some tensions when Diana was having a hard time as a member of the RF.  and Diana and Charles Spencer had a massive falling out after he withdrew an invitation for her to live on his estate after her separation/divorce.  not to mention the rumored rift between Charles Spencer and Prince Charles after the speech he gave at Diana's funeral.

[Mike]

His Grandmother Frances Shand Kydd spoke of his visits to her in Scotland when he was at St. Andrew's and she and the Earl have said that when Diana died both lads were discouraged from visiting her family, perhaps even barred.

Lucy, did I understand that right?  The boys were discouraged or barred from visiting Diana's family?   Barred by whom?  I have the book on Frances and couldn't find a reference to that.

Thanks.

[drezzle]

Harry attended the younger Parker Bowles's weddings even though he didn't attend the Spencer wedding (s).....albeit both lads have been spotted playing rugby with some of their Spencer Cousins in Norfolk.

William is very unWindsor in every aspect of his life, from sleeping on the bare concrete on the street, to his dedication to his Mother's causes. He is VERY tactile and loving toward the masses.....not Windsorish at all.

Somehow this reminds me of Charles and Camilla and the Queen Mother who thought/think they have to trash Harry to make William look better.  What they didn't realize is they were doing neither Harry or William any favors by these divisive judgments.

[Lucy]

Facts don't lie, Drezzle. Harry wasn't being trashed....he simply didn't attend the Spencer side wedding.....and William was the one who visited his Spencer side Grandmother in  Scotland....and both lads attended the PB 's weddings. Where you get that makes Harry BAD escapes me but seems to be a theme running through your posts.

Actually both boys saw a lot of the Spencer family when Diana was alive...they holidayed together and visited KP and then Diana took them to the country to be with their cousins. Some of these events are covered in the book by Ken Wharfe.

Diana, her Mother and sister, her children and neices and nephews:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/52100800/Tim-Graham-Photo-Library

William and Harry at Frances' funeral....Wm gave the lesson:
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/50946846/Getty-Images-Entertainment

Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer believes that princes William and Harry "may not be encouraged to stay in touch with their mother's side of the family".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2129004.stm

Frances spoke of how rude Chas was to her when she went to Highgrove to visit her grandsons after Diana's death and said they had obviously been banned from seeing Diana's family because all invitations were disregarded by whoever collected their mail which is what prompted her to bar Chas from her funeral.

This she said in an interview I think......lost the link.

[drezzle]

Where you get that makes Harry BAD escapes me but seems to be a theme running through your posts.

A theme running through ones posts!!  That's rich coming from you.      Your theme as usual is trying to making Harry look worse than William.  This time you did it by attempting to distance Harry from his mother (her side of the family). 

[Lucy]

Right, that's why I said he played rugby with them and attended his Grandmother's funeral etc....

[sandy]

Why throw stones at Harry. William was closer to her location wise and was said not to visit his grandmother when she was gravely ill. If Harry is knocked for "neglect" why not his brother?

At the Diana Memorial, Harry took his place WITH the Spencer side of the family and Wills on the Windsor side. If it were the opposite all sorts of "evil" motives would be attrbuted to Harry.

Nothing was recorded about the times of visits by Wlliam and/or Harry to Diana's gravesite. The boys apparently keep it prvate and there's no proof that William outdid Harry in visits

William was seen (and pictured) at a family dinner with Camilla and her children. This picture was published in the press. Harry was not there.

Sarah invited Harry and WIlls to a book signing honoring Diana's charities. Harry could not attend because he had a good excuse--he was out of the country. OTOH Wills said no but the press photographed him the night of the event pub crawlng with his mates and just blocks away. I shudder to think the bashing Harry would get here if he had been done it. But of course Wills will be excused for it.

[Lucy]

Such bitterness toward William!!

It can't be helped that he is like he is; so similar to his mother in looks and actions. She was proud of both boys and I'm sure would destest how Wm is Always singled out as the 'Windsorish' one when it simply isn't true and there are many links and truths to prove it.

I was responding to a VERY nasty post regarding William, WITH NO BASIS IN FACT....and now, the hatefulness toward William has been multiplied by those who have the audacity to think that their William Claws are concealed. Not so.

[Mike]

At the Diana Memorial, Harry took his place WITH the Spencer side of the family and Wills on the Windsor side. If it were the opposite all sorts of "evil" motives would be attrbuted to Harry.

I can see each son with the different families.  Imagine the picture if both were on one side or the other.  Since William is the future King, perhaps it was proper for him to be with the Windsors.

God bless them both.   

[someonewholovesharry]

God bless them both.   

[guysguy]

they don't see much of the spencers, but they do see the fellowes and mccorquodales.

[Trudie]

I saw the photos of the boys at Frances funeral and Harry seemed to be more at ease with the Spencer's than William. I am not saying that William is too Windsorish I just think that due to his position he probably has been more discouraged from seeing his mother's family. I think William is more shy and not as outgoing as Harry and it has been said the even HM is known to be shy. I noticed this also at the memorial service for Diana. I will say that IMHO William seems to have more readily accepted the woman who made his mothers life such a misery more so than Harry.

[Ursula]

Trudie, I think Charles put both boys in an awkward, no-win situation but I don't believe Diana would have wanted them to alienate their father in order to honor her memory.  As much as I don't care for C&C, Charles is the only parent they've got.      

[Hattie]

I think it speaks well for Diana's mothering if she tried to stop the boys resenting their father's mistress, once they were apart and it was plain he was with Camilla. I have no respect for parents, however atrociously treated, who put their own pain ahead of their child's. As a mother your job is to suck up what life hands you and then cushion the blow for your kids, and given both her sons seem to have accepted Camilla, and treat her and her family with affection, Diana presumably did that well. Good for her. Why would it serve her memory well for the suffering to carry into the next generation? Divorce is horrific for children, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for parents who manage to overcome their own hurt to shield them as far as humanly possible.

No child can be happy in their own skin if they hate the other parent. Good for Diana for not doing that to her sons, even in the teeth of such unhappiness.

As to their contact with the Spencers... I am pretty sure they will have some we just don't know about. Nobody knew they were at one family wedding until it was leaked to the local press, did they? And I agree that PW seems shy and slightly stiff where PH is relaxed and outgoing. I think PW is possibly more thoughtful and careful, too, whereas PH is more prone to act as he feels. I remember after Diana's death when they met the public outside KP, PW smiled politely, shook hands and repeated "thank you so much" in a perfectly royal (not grand - just somehow professional) way, while PH seemed dazed but very sincerely grateful - a couple of the crowd were middle aged woman and they literally hugged him and he hugged them back. Admittedly one was a teenager and the other still a little boy in lots of ways, but that difference was I thought telling. PW had retreated into being courteous and, well, royal, as a shell almost, while PH was acting completely naturally.

[Stix Chix]

good post Hattie.

i've said it before but if William and Harry are able to deal with the Camilla situation then i'm relieved to hear it.  i think she's been clever enough to not try to replace their mother and she makes their father happy which no doubt makes life easier for them.


but to get back to topic i wonder if we'll see H&W at Earl Spencer's latest wedding?