It's not unlike any person dealing with their parent's personal estate. You are not going to keep every last possession of your late parent. Charles does not have the deep interest in horse racing that his mom had. He parted with a number of the racing horses, not horses used for everyday riding. The corgis found a new home with the Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson,) and reside at the Royal Lodge, Windsor. Sarah used to walk the corgis with the Queen, so she is a familiar and comforting person to them.
I agree, summer. I wasn't intending any criticism of Charles in my comment above, in case that isn't clear. It makes sense that he didn't share every passion of the Queen's and anyway there will inevitably be changes as things don't stand still, no matter which family it is.
It's good to see that the animals' welfare has been considered. I'm sure they're all in good second homes, especially those fortunate enough to stay with people they know. I don't know anything about horses - not sure they form the same attachment to their humans as do dogs. I am not following every detail so don't know who bought the horses.
And yes, race horses are immensely valuable animals and well looked after. I don't think Charles has the same interest in racing that the Queen did - I haven't heard that he was at the track but the Queen reportedly loved the sport.
In any event, my comment was meant more as a clarification. Charles's actions did make me reflect that the problems of the rich are on a whole different scale from those of regular folk. I think it can be immensely difficult for any child to have to sort through their parent's things. It was for me. I couldn't even tackle my mom's jewelry chest until a good ten years after she passed.
Sometimes I take things to my local animal shelter. I often visit the pets at the same time. One of the saddest things to me is when animals are put up for adoption after their owner dies (the shelter notes when this happens.) You just want to give that little dog or cat a hug.
summer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think it can be immensely difficult for any > child to have to sort through their parent's > things. It was for me. I couldn't even tackle my > mom's jewelry chest until a good ten years after > she passed.
I was just thinking this very same thing 10 seconds ago. I'm on my way to the car repair shop (darn brakes!) (about my 2nd all-time most-disliked ways to spend a day). As I grabbed my raincoat out of the closet I saw my mum's still hanging there. Lovely soft, mauve, warm, cozy rain jacket. I can never resist stroking it, like I'm giving her a hug. I still have all her clothes and books and paintings and Sunday-best dishes and crystal vases. Although I don't really have room for it all, I can't yet bring myself to let it go. One sister doesn't have room either and one is in the USA. The brothers aren't into it so much. It's been 3 years since Mum moved on, on my birthday morning. I was thinking maybe I need to "see someone" because of prolonged grief reaction, or something. At least now I get some comfort from displaying photos of her around. I couldn't even do that before. It's a tough one.
I have mentioned here before that once I attended a grief group after a number of my close relatives all died in a short while and I felt overwhelmed, to my surprise because usually you just carry on, right? A young woman in the group had just had a baby. Her mother had died 10 years previously but after she gave birth she was overcome with massive grief that her mother wasn't there to see the babe. She was inconsolable. It was heartbreaking to witness. It's easy to judge and think that 10 years is a long time so she should be "over it", at least enough not to be literally wailing so long after the loss. But some things just touch your heart and a trigger here and there can make it seem like yesterday. I feel that way often.
The price of love is often grief. If I were in charge of the universe I'd go for that eternal life thing. That's partly why I was drawn to the JWs in high school, their belief in the restoration of Paradise on earth, including eternal life. What's not to love. As long as you never age or sicken or pile up regrets it could be a bit of all right.
Did I mention that it also took ten years for my brother and I to bury our mother's ashes? I get it, believe me.
I still have a jacket of hers that is imitation Persian lamb. Everyone thinks it's real, and I get a lot of compliments on it. I also have some of her antique mahogany furniture, her china and silverware, and much of her crystal. An oil painting that she owned hangs in my hallway.
My mourning for her took a full three years, I would say. I still think of her often.
Thanks, summer. I haven't scattered either of my parents' ashes yet and Dad's been gone quite a bit longer than Mum. My sibs leave it up to me to make decisions about that as well as their belongings that I have left. I'm not ready yet. Although I have to laugh now and then about my parents both being in the closet.
It's not disrespect though. Just delay. Too, the pandemic didn't help. It started just shortly after Mum died so schedules, along with pretty much everything else, got messed up.
The funeral home that looked after both parents does a Christmas celebration of life thingie. I attended a few months after Mum died and it was lovely, tasteful, low key, comforting, not religious other than some carols. But they haven't held it in the two Decembers since. I hope they do it again this year. Mum didn't have a funeral - she never wanted to "make a fuss" so that was a good alternative for me, to do something, even if it was just to take an hour in reflection.
If my younger sis didn't live in the US I would have been happy to give her Ma's dishes and glassware as well as paintings or anything else she would like to have. I did give some of the antique furniture to my older sis, who told me that she cried the other day just looking at it "because it's so beautiful". I care about it mostly because it was Mum's, not because it's my style - ancient and huge. I prefer to travel light. It's less of a wrench for sure to know some of it will stay in the family and continue to give people pleasure.
I couldn't fit into Ma's jackets to save my life - she was a tiny wee thing, 10 inches shorter than me. She took great care with her beautiful clothes - I have donated some of them and will do so with more soon. The hospital shop folks were thrilled to receive them. Mum would be pleased.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2022 03:24PM by Nightingale.
I imagine Elizabeth spinning in her grave at the thought of her stable being sold off. And FYI photos a her majesty riding a stunning black steed are of horses gifted to her by the RCMP from their RCMP Musical Ride stable in Regina Saskatchewan.
I saw the Musical Ride once in person and afterwards we were escorted around the stables by an RCMP officer. Amazing spectacle and fabulous animals. The horses I mean. :)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2022 01:11PM by Nightingale.
I'm thinking King Charles might not be so bad. I think he probably cares for the wellbeing of the horses and will do the right thing.
He just banned foie gras from being served in royal residences, a letter from Buckingham Palace to animal rights campaigners has confirmed. King Charles is understood to have been a longstanding opponent of the food, made from the liver of a duck or goose, that campaigners say is cruel.
I've seen them force feed the birds to produce foie gras. It's horrible. Kudos to Charles.
Charles has always been way ahead of his time, to the point that he suffered in younger years, being mocked for being an environmentalist which it turns out was prescient of him.
He, like so many people, has been caught in the place and time and family he was born into. It has likely been drilled into him since birth that he must do his "duty".
I think he will do well. I hope people can appreciate him for what he can offer and not be so clamorous about skipping him and moving directly to William. You just don't know British tradition if you think that would ever happen, short of Charles himself willingly abdicating. I wouldn't hold my breath. Born to be King is a thing.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2022 08:46PM by Nightingale.