Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy to marry
The Sunday Mirror is reporting that Prince Harry has asked long-term girlfriend Chelsy Davy to marry him, and, apparently, she has said yes.
The Prince is said to have popped the question on a recent safari holiday in Botswana. “However, they do not intend to become officially engaged until Chelsy finishes her post-graduate course in politics at Leeds University and Harry has served the Army overseas.”
Chelsy, 21, is currently recuperating after an emergency appendix operation at home in Cape Town. She is said to be planning to spend weekends with Harry at Highgrove in Gloucestershire when she moves to Leeds next month.
A friend said, “[Harry] has come to realize that what he and Chelsy have is pretty special.”
However, the couple have decided to keep a low profile with Chelsy out of the public eye as much as possible. She will not be attending Princess Diana’s memorial service at the end of August.
So, an engagement at last in the Royal Family. How far behind will Willam be, I wonder?
Yep they want to keep a low profile but she wanted to alert the world about her appendix op while she is a private citizen. I will disagree if they become engaged. Chelsy is one of this kind of girls who demand too much attention. She doesnt know that she will spend almost half the year in cold houses all alone with people from a family who wont care about her. She couldnt not travel as she wants. She just dont know that she will have duties to honor, and it wont be very funny, being a royal is not just about wearing expensive clothes and a hat and being photographed 4 or 5 times a year. She really will be very unhappy. People will say oh yes she is lovely thats good news but dont think about the long term. People will be hurried and demanding to see her, she will be the next blonde princess, everybody will want to see her, she will an amazing number of people who will hate her, she will have an enormous pressure on her shoulders, ofcourse she wont be married to the heir but you must be very strong minded for the job and she is not. Let’s see if she is invited to some events where the Queen is present first, because they dont seem to take her seriously, and then we will see.
By Lilyfromfrance on August 19th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Lily, I agree. The Queen is a big factor in both Wills’ and Harry’s relationships. We still don’t know the effect of the Queen’s opposition to Kate. She may also take a dim view of Charles Davy’s business with the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.
But there are no others in sight for both Princes.
By John on August 19th, 2007 at 10:54 am
If Harry and Chelsy do marry, would she be a princess? The women who have married Charles’ siblings have received other titles. Is it only the wife of the Prince of Wales who becomes a princess upon her wedding day?
I had read somewhere that Harry asked the Queen’s permission to marry, and she said he’s too young. I assume that means that Harry would need to wait until he’s at least 25. Did anyone else hear that?
By Evelyn on August 19th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Evelyn, it’s customary for Princes to be made a Royal Duke on their marriage. Their current titles are the lowest form of Royal life which if they kept them at marriage would force the wife to adopt the Prince’s name — as with Princess Michael of Kent. I doubt Chelsy would want to be Princess Harry.
The Dukedom of York is taken, so maybe Duke of Windsor would be appropriate — it’s had a good rest, after all. Duke of Clarence could also do with an airing, as recent scholarship shows the last one was not as bad as people made out, and certainly was not Jack the Ripper.
Oh what a colourful Royal Family we’ve got. Never a dull moment.
By John on August 19th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Actually when the QM married the Duke of York she was a Duchess with the status of a Princess as was Princess Alice the late Duchess and widow of Prince Henry. I hope that Harry and Chelsy do marry they are well suited to each other and you can be sure that Harry will fight for Chelsy. This is the one couple who will bring fun and glamour back to the RF unlike it’s frumpy current members. Unlike William Harry is the same personality as his mother so far he is the only one who has started his own charity and has a real social awareness of problems that need to be adressed. For everyone who puts Chelsy down no one knows what she is truly like she doesn’t court the media and the only time one hears about her is when Harry is around. I say give her a chance she is not the air head she is made out to be just look at her record in higher education, unlike most girls who marry into the RF she will be highly educated.
By Trudie on August 19th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Yes, Trudie, Prince Albert was created Duke of York on his marriage, so his wife became Duchess of York, similarly with Andrew and Fergie. Harry will be found some suitable title.
The only exception to this I can think of is Prince Edward, who just got an Earldom on his marriage. But he will one day inherit his father’s Dukedom of Edinburgh.
By John on August 19th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I guess my question is, are they or aren’t they engaged? If he asked her and she accepted, why isn’t that official? I am sensing that Wills and Kate may have a similar status after their trip. This initial negativity reminds me of the time just prior to JFK jrs engagement and wedding.
By Cate on August 19th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
As I understand it, until Harry is 25 years old he must ask the Queen’s permission to marry (same with William). Rumor has it that Harry asked, and the Queen said he is too young to marry yet. So, while Harry and Chelsy might have an unofficial engagement (mutually agreed between them), he must wait until he’s 25 to make it official.
By Evelyn on August 19th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
They won’t be engaged officially until Chelsy finishes her post-grad (graduate in America) degree — probably in two years. Harry also has to go through the motions with the Army, since he’s not going to get onto any real front line. So 2009 could be significant for both Princes.
A lot can happen in two years, though.
By John on August 19th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
John, why will 2009 be significant for William?
By Evelyn on August 19th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Trudie, for my part Im wondering why I should give Chelsy a chance, Im not the person who has the power to let them get married or not. Im not putting her down, I dont know her, Im not one of those who say she looks like a cow or something. Im just pointing what her life would be if she enters in this family. Chelsy is active and energetic. I dont think she would like to cope with the hypocrisy required for a royal status. If they really are made for each other then there is no hurry, they have plenty of time, because except holidays they never spend “real” time together and it will be good for them to see how it is to live together in the rainy England. There is plenty of time, no need to rush.
“This is the one couple who will bring fun and glamour back to the RF”. No, Trudie. They will make amazing efforts for keeping their lives away from the limelight. Chelsy will be unhappy. So she is not going to sacrifice her life for giving glamour to the old RF. As for the educated thing, well, Diana was not educated and the RF have less than 10% of Diana’s intelligence. Thats not because you go at Uni that does mean you’re intelligent. I just cant see Chelsy blossom in such an atmosphere. Like Diana, she is young, in love, and excited by what is happening, there is no duty for the moment. And 1 year after the wedding she will wonder what an error she did and it would be too late. Wills and Harry dont have the right to make an error. This time it would be too much. Chelsy is the kind of girl who likes to do what she wants, whenever she wants, I just cant see her spending Christmas with strangers or spending a part of every summer at Balmoral, waiting for the Queen for 15 minutes before dinner with a bagpipe player. No really. She wont have the status of a consort but people will want to see her. There is no way that she will have the right to smoke in public or posing with her bikinis. As for that weird thing that I can read everywhere, I strongly disagree with people who like to compare Harry and his mother. If I understand well, Harry and Diana are the nice and Charles and William the bad? No, Harry is like Andrew and William is like his uncle Edward. Gentle, slow, hesitant. Wills has nothing in common with Charles except the blood. Wills is modern, not self centered, doesnt talk to rubarb and never complain.
By Lilyfromfrance on August 19th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I am quite indifferent to Chelsy Davy for the simple reason that she maintains a discreet distance from the limelight and conducts her life in such a way as to not invite criticism. If this rumour of a proposal is to be believed, good luck to them both. Their relationship appears a solid and happy one. Unlike Kate, Chelsy seems to be a charachter of substance and independence. She does not appear to revel in the limelight or play up to the cameras and given her choice to continue with her studies she clearly applies herself to something more than shopping, holidaying and clubbing. Kate should take note.
By Bella on August 19th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
It is easier for Chelsy to stay out of the limelight because the press don’t stalk her because the public havent warmed to her as they did Kate. You can’t praise one or criticise the other for the amount of interest others have in them. We see less pictures because less are taken.
By Eliza on August 19th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
This is, Bella, the mistake that no one should make: comparisions between Chelsy and Kate. Kate is in England. There are paps following her everywhere and everyday. You should read more things about Chelsy. Like Kate, she likes shopping, clubbing and holidaying, she has spent the last year doing nothing, but the difference is, people are not really interested on Chelsy thats why nobody really know who she is while everybody is obsessed with Kate. What I dont like in Chelsy is that stupid manner to talk to the press, you know, when Harry is seen drunk with other girls, using the press for making warnings, I just hate it “a friend of her said” and etc, ofcourse she is the friend. But I agree, Chelsy has more substance than Kate, because she is still a student, thats all. She doesnt show that she has a passion or something, except fashion. She does not maintain a distance with the medias, you can’t, it’s impossible, she is just afraid of it because she is scared to put a foot wrong.
By Lilyfromfrance on August 19th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Lily, I just read your post and I think you have a valid point. Chelsy does appear to be a free, unkindered spirit and she may find the constraints of the RF quite difficult to live with. I suppose only time will tell as to how she copes adjusting to the conservative traditions and lifestyle. I also agree with your point about them keeping their distance from the limelight. I doubt they would participate in the circus unless absolutely necessary. Harry has mentioned how much he loves Africa – maybe they will reside there for the majority of the year. I can see Harry being far more flexible with his lifestyle than William or any other member of the RF.
By Bella on August 19th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Well, Bella, I dont know if Harry will be allowed to live in Africa, afterall he is the second, not the fourth or the fifth, but one thing is sure, Chelsy could not stand the constraints of a royal status. She will be unhappy and it would be too bad. If someone of Harry’s staff read RA, then tell Harry that there is no hurry!
By Lilyfromfrance on August 19th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Eliza and Lily, you both have valid points, particuarly the comparisions between the level of interest and accessibility.
By Bella on August 19th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Well! We wait for months without a Royal engagement and now we have two! I wonder if the Queen literally means that she believes Prince Harry is too young to marry or if this is a stalling technique because the Queen considers Chelsy unsuitable. After Prince Harry’s disappointment about not being deployed to a forward area, I doubt the Palace will be able to dissuade him from his choice of life companion. This situation has a combustible quality to it.
By Gigi on August 19th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Lily I wasn’t implying your wrong I was just making my own musings on this subject. As far as royal hypocrisy is concerned well Harry it appears does not stand much for it himself. You are right about Diana she was not highly educated and yes she was the most intelligent member of the royal family what I meant by my comment is she would be the most highly educated young woman to marry into that family I did not say most intelligent and yes Chelsy and Harry like to have fun and if required to be present at royal functions they certainly would be a very glamourous couple. And I am sorry but Harry is like Diana he tends to wear his heart on his sleeve while William is very cautious as the heir but I did not say he is exactly like Charles who was just born old and stodgy and really never let his hair down going to a pub with his mates.
By Trudie on August 20th, 2007 at 1:04 am
Because Charles is the product of a different, more formal time and more formal upbringing. He had no vibrant Diana mother type that we know of, who was not afraid to let the boy have a good time. He was raised stodgy therefore he was and is stodgy. It’s who he was at a young age: very sheltered, shy, and socially ill at ease, I suppose. Of course age and maturity has fixed that for the most part.
William and Harry came along in a freer, less formal time, raised by a woman who likewise was scarred by her own lonely childhood and determined that her children would be shown love and affection openly by her and not suffer as she and her husband had. They also have the benefit of Diana’s blood coursing through their veins, so they can’t help but be charming young men. It’s who they are.
By Positive on August 20th, 2007 at 1:49 am
All these girls go into the Royal Family with their eyes wide open. No-one is concealing things from them. Diana was born on the Sandringham estate and her father was Equerry to the Queen. She was right there at the heartbeat of the system from childhood.
As Tina Brown points out in her book, she chased Charles from a young age — he was a glamorous figure in those days, and she was well aware of the restrictions of Royal life. You just can’t be a future King or Queen and have a rollicking private life. Not in this media-driven age.
Chelsy is smart and she’s seen enough of Royal life to decide if it’s what she wants. She should consider, however, the fate of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons, who fancied David (later Edward VIII) but had to settle for the spare, Bertie, little realizing that he would one day be King and she would end up the Queen mother.
By John on August 20th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Frankly, I wonder at Queen Elizabeth, telling Prince Harry that he is “too young” to marry at age 23 when she wed at age 21. Prince Harry has already had one serious blow when he was forbidden to join his men in a forward area in Iraq. If the Palace says “no” to him too often, they shall make him rebellious, which is the last thing that is wanted.
By Gigi on August 20th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Gigi, I doubt this story too. It’s probably true she said that two years ago, but he’s an Army officer now and has some considerable achievements under his belt.
I think she’s still worried about Chelsy’s father’s political connections though. That, after all, is a matter for the Prime Minister, and Gordon Brown is something of a puritan.
By John on August 20th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
A puritan?! Well! That may be the reason we did not name the delectible treats “brownies” after him! If he is going to be a stick-in-the-mud, he deserves no such attention.
As for Chelsy’s Father’s political connections, the Queen needs to recollect the skeletons in her own family tree and judge Chelsy on her own merits, not those her Father may or may not have. Just the instances of murder, treachery, thievery and sacrilege in the annals of the Royal Family is enough to chill the blood! (In the 100+ degree heat we now have, anything that chills the blood sounds remarkably refreshing!)
By Gigi on August 20th, 2007 at 6:00 pm