Still Seeking, Royalties? 

Think twice, about what seems to US "A far cry off"

Return Engagement: As we commoners return to our ho-hum existence, back to our work-a-day lives, we at least envision those Royals to simply go on Their merry way, merri-meant. Some of US just can't seem to get enough of this, after such an extravagant event, a real horse and buggy show, supplemented with swords, lots and lots of shields (well, family crests, that is). Left many wanting more. As well as yearning to be in Their shoes (aside from those pumps--ouch!). But, as the saying goes, you can't always tell a book by its cover. BTW what were all those books they kept putting in front of the King's face, pointing out his lines, to be read aloud, to those favored ones in attendance (if "favored" means not being allowed to visit the restroom for seven hours, I'm good right where I'm at, thank you), heard by loudspeakers by the waiting throng, as well as the protesters and the rest of the world who, like me, may have actually risen pre-dawn here, to watch it "Live!". Listening in on the "watchers" commenting on the "best and worst" dressed but who am I to judge, dressed as I was...So, what would you have given to be there and just how much would you hand over to be king or queen for a day? Would it be worth the trip, sacrifice? Well, like many things in life if you truly want to know the scoop, the 'skinny' on the Royal Family, ask the kids...(oh, I meant the young princes, princesses, for you orthodox watchers)...

Limited Access: Something we've already become accustomed to around here recently, so this is not a problem for me. With some limited sampling and just a bit of conjecture, we can all ex-trapolate what it's like to grow up, royally. Plus, given my experience in interviewing children and the editorial license of having my own blog, I can have almost as much credibility as those so-called royal watchers, who only get a glimpse of the little princes and princesses on these special occasions and the youngsters usually have someone speaking for them, as in a so-called "spokesperson" also known as a nanny. But not here. Because here in this space we're gonna' allow them to go back and forth like sibling to sibling and child to parent have done for eons: "Can't!" says one..."Can so!" retorts the other...Here re-envisaged as simply the "pros" and "cons" of being in the royal family...having a privileged life, so it seems, complete with great wealth from birth, caregivers galore, and access to so many things in life we commoners can only dream of. But at what cost? Not just to the taxpayers who have a hard enough time making ends meet, even harder time to unravel the convoluted pathways by which the royal family gains their wealth (the so-called "Trust"). But that's for another day and for some who are way for experienced in the "ways and means" of such things, the royal family Treasury...what I'll simply offer you is a glimpse into a day in the life of a youngster who is experiencing the early stages of a life of royalty--one which starts out with great advantage but, like anything else, has its own shortcomings, here in the form of lots and lots of rules...way more than we here can even think about, let alone tolerate -- 40 at last count! It's from this list that I offer you, invite you to play alongside the royal youngsters, whose point of view I'll try to represent...

Would you rather? A game that has been around for centuries but has gained a lot of momentum again, with the aid of psychologists who like to sample personalities via "forced choice, one or the other" formats, enhanced big time by the rise of binary AI-like thinking. But simply put, what would you choose, if...you could, from the start...

Monopolize: As in have, own (as you eventually find out, when it's "fit and proper" to be informed of your holdings) or, on the other hand be given free reign, to actually play "Monopoly" like the rest of US -- turns out, little did I know, that they are not officially allowed to play this particular game, for fear it might induce too much competition...so much for sibling rivalry...takes all the fun out of it...

Push comes to shove: Would you rather have a parent, nanny, the whole royal family (including dukes, duchesses, et al.) get involved in your sibling conflicts, take it all the way up to the queen or king, for their own wisdom...or just be allowed to "duke it out" yourselves, and be done with it...? See, there's already some advantage to not be so advantaged, eh? And, what about...those times where we all...

Get "dressed down" (i.e., "reprimanded") or otherwise criticized for not wearing the right thing at the right time...it's 'barely' noticeable in how boys are expected to wear shorts in public, girls dresses, no wearing black, especially in the morning, except when in mourning...and little princesses, whom we presume to have a drawer-full, are frowned on for wearing a tiara in public if not yet married (what little princess here would be caught without one?).  So much self-discipline, a life full of it...men are expected to serve in the military but are not allowed to actually work, hold an official job, given that they will have many other more royal things to attend to. Which is why they go to the school of their royal parents' choosing, I guess. So much for free choice, eh? And, speaking of discipline, children are expected to always represent the family with poise, practicing good posture, complete with bowing, curtsying to those of even more royalty than themselves. And, similar to what children around here are told, scolded each morning...(something We have in common-er with Them) "You have to at least behave when in the public eye". Which, of course, includes...

"No name calling!" Here, the kinds of names that might provoke "put up your dukes" whereas there, for Them, it means not usually using your last name but "So and So of Wales" a custom that is giving way a bit. But one thing we can count on, so it seems from what the paparazzi have supplied US, is the time-tested way that children, no matter how they are brought up, as evidenced by Prince Harry on more than one occasion, has been caught showing either displeasure or just "I can so!"...sticking out his tongue. Some things never change. Out of the mouths of babes, indeed. 

The bottom line: Or, what was listed as the 40th out of 40 listed: "They are expected to adhere to a higher standard of behavior than the average child... 

Royal Rules, Regs:  after all, to whom much is given, much is expected...it's only fair"

So, after careful consideration, a side-by-side comparison, which would you choose, rather have? As for me, the choice is obvious but who am I to judge; guess it all depends on your ad-vantage point in life -- relative-ly speaking, that is.