New ITV drama : The Palace
In what is sure to cause a few harumphs of indignation, ITV — Britain’s premier commercial TV channel — is to broadcast a thinly-veiled drama depicting the lives of an allegedly ficticious Royal family.
The Palace will go out next year in six one-hour episodes, and will focus on the lives of two young, tequila-swigging Princes. Naturally.
Veteran actress Jane Asher will play the Queen, who is described as the “beautiful, but emotionally-scarred mother” of the two boys. Now I wonder who that could be?
The story follows the premature death of the Princes’ father, the King. Clearly some gender bending going on here.
We’re told that one Prince is bogged down ruling the country. What, no Prime Minister?
The other Prince simply leads a decadent lifestyle — the producers claim he is “only loosely” based on Prince Harry. Of course he is!
More bizarrely still, the set for Buckingham Palace has been built in a dilapidated old Soviet cigarette factory in Lithuania. You really couldn’t make it up.
Buckingham Palace is refusing to comment.
Another date for your diary. Hmmm.
Well, from your description, John, it sounds as if the show will have something to offend just about everyone. Apparently the producers believe that the easiest way to make money is by appealing to the lowest instincts of the greatest number of people. This is a slippery slope they are attempting to climb. In my view the “dumbing down” of television programming is what, in part, lead to it’s demise here in America. I haven’t watched network television in decades and neither have a great many people. Intelligent, tasteful people are not entertained by viewing tasteless, offensive programs. As a result, except for a few totally pathetic programs, much of network TV is infomercials and paid programming. The movie industry is suffering the beginning stages of what I feel will be the same fate. The theaters are not full and people are not pleased with the movies offered nor the actors who play the parts. The message is clear but the money men evidently choose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.
By Gigi on December 10th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I’ve corrected “infomercials”, Gigi.
Over here the lowest expression of television quality can be summed up in the words, “ITV on Saturday night”. Amazingly, the BBC is even trying to outdumb that, and often succeeds.
As for this show, ITV may find it gets into the same hot water as the BBC did for A Year With the Queen.
By John on December 10th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
From your mouth to God’s ears, John. I am already fuming at the audacity of whomever thought this was an acceptable program! Thank you for correcting my typo, John.
On another point entirely, Hello Magazine has a photo of King Constantine of Greece (I refuse to accept that he is ex-King) attending a pre-Christmas service with his second cousin, Charles, and Camilla. Although King Constantine is 67, eight years senior to Charles, he is a former sailor and Olympic athlete and I am surprised to see him appear with ill-fitting, baggy clothes and bundled up as if he was in Antactica. I am also surprised to see that Queen Anne-Marie of Greece is not with him since this is a visit of family to celebrate pre-Christmas festivities. Is there something amiss?
By Gigi on December 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I’ve not heard anything about Constantine recently, Gigi. I’ll look at that Hello piece.
Which reminds me, the 3rd episode of the series about the Queen is on tonight. Mustn’t forget that.
By John on December 10th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Is it on here in America, too, John? I’d love to see it!
By Gigi on December 10th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Good afternoon, John. Good morning, Gigi.
This definitely is the type of show that appeals to the lowest common denominator. Undoubtedly, however, there will be those who view it as legitimate entertainment. It’s amazing how much junk succeeds on American airwaves and it only gets worse. It probably isn’t much different on the British airwaves. I rarely watch anything but news programs, documentaries and the occasional sports events because almost everything else is absolutely mindless. “The Palace” sounds like “Dynasty” meets the RF.
I am sitting here waiting for the rest of our neighbor’s tree to fall on our garage. I’ve experienced three house-shaking incidents where huge, heavy, ice-laden branches have crashed onto the house and am keeping my fingers crossed that the final branch that’s tenuously hovering over the garage will not be the piece de resistance that caves in the roof. We are in the midst of an epic ice storm and although most of our neighborhood and metro community are without power, we thankfully still have electricity. The freezing rain continues to fall, coating everything in sight. It’s not expected to end for 24 more hours. All of our small trees are decimated and thankfully had nothing to fall into but the ground. I enjoyed a cacophony of splitting trees and falling ice throughout the entire night. Never a dull weather moment in Oklahoma.
Back to regular programming! LOL
By Melissa on December 10th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Gigi, it’s on ABC January 18 (says Arthur).
By John on December 10th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Melissa, that sounds dreadful. I hope the weather abates and you save your trees.
Here we’ve had nothing but rain for two weeks.
By John on December 10th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Thanks, John.
By Melissa on December 10th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
John, it was Claudius, not I, who stated that The Royal Family at Work will be broadcast in the US on January 18th, by ABC. I only mention this because I not wish to incur the wrath of Gigi, if the information is incorrect.
Usually, BBC programs about the Royal Family are broadcast in the US by non-profit PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), which can be viewed on any number of television stations. It is rare that a major commercial network, like ABC, will devote prime time programming to a series like The Royal Family at Work. Claudius’ information my be correct, in which case I apologize to him in advance, but I recommend checking PBS’ programming schedules as well.
Melissa, we also had a major ice storm last night, but I am doubly fortunate. I have no trees close to my home to cause concern and I did not loose electricity, as did many of the towns surrounding mine. I am commiserating with you and hope you and your home survive the storm unscathed. I just heard on the news that 500,000 homes in Oklahoma City are without electricity and could remain that way for a week. That’s dreadful.
I thought we were experiencing global warming, Mr. Gore? Looks like you better return the Nobel Peace Prize!!!!
By Arthur on December 10th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I don’t know anything about ITV, but it’s possible the description of this show has simply been sexed-up. Every reader of this site would happily sit down to watch a well-written, well-acted drama about a royal family only vaguely similar to our own.
For example, HBO’s Entourage is certainly low-brow (please don’t say “LCD”, Melissa, it doesn’t mean what you think it means), but it has its moments of poignancy.
By ClassyCanuck on December 10th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Melissa, I know exactly what you are going through. Our part of Texas had a similar dreadful ice storm last year and the year before and the damage was considerable. Please stay inside and be safe! Mother Nature is really being quite mercurial. I admit I cannot account for her shocking behavior lately! Arthur, please be as safe as possible where you are, also. This weather is simply the limit!
By Gigi on December 10th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Going back to a previous discussion, today was the day Cunard’s Queen Victoria was launched by the Duchess of Cornwall. Unfortunately for Camilla (and Prince Charles), the champagne bottle didn’t break, which is a sign of bad luck for the ship. I’d say that’s a sign of bad luck for Camilla, too!
By Evelyn on December 10th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Evelyn, how do you know the champagne bottle didn’t break? Was this reported somewhere? I’d like to read about it if there is a source.
By Gigi on December 10th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I read about it on The Royalist website (sorry, John).
http://www.theroyalist.com
They’ve been reliable in the past.
By Evelyn on December 11th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Gigi, I’ve also just found that The Daily Mail has an article with photos, in the right hand column, down under “Fancy That.” I haven’t read it yet….
By Evelyn on December 11th, 2007 at 1:30 am
Thanks, Evelyn!
By Gigi on December 11th, 2007 at 2:37 am
Evelyn, I read both the sites you kindly provided. It all sounds quite odd to me. Evidently it did not go very well and perhaps that is the reason for there being so little coverage.
By Gigi on December 11th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Here’s another website you might enjoy, Gigi. It provides handy links to royal news stories each day, from Britain and other monarchies around the world:
http://www.etoile.co.uk/Rnews.html
By Evelyn on December 11th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Arthur, my apologies for the wrong attribution. I knew it was someone with a Roman or Dark Ages name.
Also, I heard earlier that ABC had bought the series when it was called A Year With the Queen, so I think we’re right on ABC. I imagine most of the lesser stuff goes out on PBS though.
By John on December 11th, 2007 at 10:23 am
John, after watching the programme I have to ask who would be monarch? It is such a difficult job how the Queen keeps her patience and diligence is beyond me, most people would have run screaming years ago. I think it is probably her sense of duty and genuine feeling for the importance of what she is doing. More and more I am concerned for when she goes, her shoes will be impossible to fill.
By Eliza on December 11th, 2007 at 11:07 am
Yes, those endless meetings with people you don’t know, and finding something to say, must be wearing to put it mildly. Charles may be good at that, though. He has a lot of interests.
What will be missed is the buzz when the Queen arrives anywhere. Alas, they won’t turn out for Charles and Camilla.
By John on December 11th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Eliza, there are many reasons why Queen Elizabeth II is such a magnificent monarch. For one thing, she learned a great deal from her Father, King George VI, a very worthy monarch who was diligent in his work for the Kingdom, and during a very challenging time in history, too. From her Father, the Queen gained a very deep sense of duty and an incredible work ethic. Her patience, her beautiful manners and her ability to see value and usefulness in everything she learned from her Mother, who was the kindest, most charming and most beautifully mannered person ever to grace the Royal Family, in my opinion. I also believe that, like the Queen’s parents, Queen Elizabeth II sees her Queenship as an extension of her deep belief and trust in God, and understands, to the highest degree possible, that the ‘wedding ring of England’ she had placed on her finger during her Coronation was far more than a symbol. The Queen comprehends and accepts that she is responsible to God for her actions on behalf of the Kingdom and in advancing the welfare of her people. The Prince Consort used to quote a saying by his mentor, Baron Christian Stockmar who said, many years ago, “Let us be better and everything will be better.” It remains one of my favorite quotations, and even if the Queen has never heard this quote, I believe it to be an accurate reflection of the Queen’s personal creed.
By Gigi on December 11th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
…..that the ‘wedding ring of England’ she had placed on her finger during her Coronation was far more than a symbol.
Gigi, I’ve never heard about this ring. Does the Queen wear it all the time, or is it part of the Crown Jewels and only worn on ceremonial occasions?.
By Arthur on December 11th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
The ring is part of the Crown Regalia and is placed on the finger of the Monarch during the Coronation by the Archbishop of Canterbury. I have the official Coronation Programs from the Coronations of King George VI and his Consort, Queen Elizabeth and of Queen Elizabeth II, and part of the words the Archbishop intones as he places the ring on the Monarch’s finger are: “…receive this ring, the seal of a sincere faith; and God, to whom belongeth all power and dignity, prosper you in this your honour, and grant you therein long to continue, fearing Him always, and always doing such things as shall please Him, through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.” These regalia and the sacred service of the annointing are from very ancient times and the ring is considered to be the symbol of the sacred union between God, the monarch and the kingdom. It is only worn during the Coronation, I believe.
By Gigi on December 11th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I should add that of all the Regalia, only the spoon and ampula which are used to anoint the Monarch with Holy Oil are the ancient portions of the Regalia. Cromwell melted down the rest and they had to be recreated when the Royal Family returned to power in Britain. But the ritual and the service are from very early times.
By Gigi on December 11th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Thank you, Gigi. Once again, you help broaden my knowledge of royalty. I can’t help but wonder, in this increasingly secular world in which we live, if there will be a movement to strip the religiosity from the Coronation ceremony before Prince Charles takes the throne?
By Arthur on December 12th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Prince Charles himself has hinted at doing something more interfaith and ecumenical, but not necessarily something less religious. If I remember correctly, leaders of the Anglican Church expressed disapproval of Charles’ idea.
By Evelyn on December 12th, 2007 at 3:32 am
The Diamond Wedding service for HM and PP had speakers from all major organized religions in Britain. But the service itself was Anglican. I imagine something similar will be done if Charles is crowned King. The Church would not allow anything other.
Charles would not want to begin his reign by losing his status as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, while possibly losing the title of Head of the Commonwealth, and with a Queen who daren’t speak her name. That would be too much like a calamity.
By John on December 12th, 2007 at 11:32 am
I am all for inclusion, but it is not a good idea for Charles to meddle with the ancient and sacred religious rites that have comprised the Coronation for centuries. Some ill-advised monarchs have meddled in the past and met an unfortunate end. Napoleon, for example, at the height of his egomania, seized the crown of France from the hands of the appalled Pope and crowned himself at his coronation, and then crowned Josephine. We all know what happened to him! There will be enough controversy with Camilla being there without totally upsetting the apple cart by changing the ritual. I realize that Charles believes he is a law unto himself, but there are limits, or should be, and let us all hope he realizes that before he makes another ghastly mistake.
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I quite agree with you, Gigi.
By Evelyn on December 13th, 2007 at 4:02 am
I’ve been gone over a week (no power for nine days) and was just catching up on the posts…
What a wealth of information you provided, Gigi! Thanks so much. That’s why I love reading all the posts here.
Thanks to those who offered kind words of concern.
ClassyC, I think my use of ‘lowest common denominator’ was completely correct. I do, of course, realize that its traditional use is a mathematical one but I was intending it in its figurative form. I found this online explanation is able to convey my intended usage better than I am able to explain it (and it means exactly what I think it means):
“Another figurative use is as a rhetorical device in criticism of mass media. When a media outlet has been charged with appealing to the “lowest common denominator”, it means they have targeted the lowest, meanest, crudest, most basic and perhaps prurient of all possible hopes and dreams of their intended audience.”
By Melissa on December 19th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Glad you’re safe and well, Melissa. The pictures out of Oklahoma looked frightful. Let’s hope that’s the last of it for this winter.
By John on December 19th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Thanks, John. We were without power for nearly nine days. Our power initially went out when a large tree crippled the service line that supplies our neighborhood. Our service line that runs directly to our house subsequently succumbed to the ice and snapped from the pole, after which a large branch from a neighbor’s tree fell on the downed wire. We then had to clear the debris from the line. Our phone line went down but miraculously our phone service was not interrupted. I presume our DSL service was still operative, but without electricity for the modem, we were without internet and unable to retrieve email. Thanks so much for your concern in emailing me. I did see the message last night when I finally got online.
I am so glad to have electricity back that I don’t care if I have no presents under the tree! I did seven loads of laundry yesterday afternoon and evening and was absolutely thrilled to take the vacuum cleaner for a spin around the house. LOL How many women ever say THAT in their lifetimes?
At any rate, I’m quite thrilled to be safe and warm and touched that people, including yourself, were concerned. I hope you will be spared the vagaries of the winter weather throughout the remainder of the holiday season and during the upcoming winter. It sounds funny to say that winter is still upcoming with what has already transpired! 
It is still officially autumn!
I think I have caught up on all of the posts that I missed, along with the comments attached. Whew! I missed a lot of royal doings.
My New Year’s resolution is to try to stay as on-topic as I can when I post here. Of course, it’s not New Year’s yet…
By Melissa on December 19th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
hey there! I just wanted to say that there’s nothing offensive in “The Palace”, drama on ITV. I myself worked while making this movie and this is going to be an amazing drama. You cannot imagine how many young talented actors worked on it and great crew and script is not offensive or boring or anything like that. Watch everybody and then judge… there are so many funny thing goin on there upstairs and downstairs:) bless u all and I hope The Palace comes again to Lithuania to shoot more series soon:)
By Goda on January 14th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Goda, it started on ITV last night, but I was not able to see it. It’s had a lot of publicity, but the newspaper reviews think it very bad. I may be able to catch it next week.
By John on January 15th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I know that they wrote lots of bad things about it in newspapers, but its not fear they do it before it comes to TV…its like gossip and making bad reputation to it before anybody saw it in reality…like trying to cut down audience to a minimum… But I worked on this project for 4months and I know what it is going to be like, so I can frankly say IT’S WORTH BIGGEST AUDIENCE!!! it’s so much fun and I hope anybody who sees it will be able to say only good comments
by the way I was in first episode as well 
By Goda on January 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Well, on your recommendation I will certainly watch the next episode on Sunday.
By John on January 15th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
keep me posted about what u think!!
and everybody else of course as well!! I am so excited about it, this project means to me a lot 
By Goda on January 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
SOOOooo….how was it John???
Anybody else??
I am curious…
By Goda on January 23rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I missed it again, Goda. I’m usually out on Monday evenings, unfortunately. But Eliza watched it. Check for her comments further up the comment list.
By John on January 23rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Well, this is why it looses audience:) U need to find some time…its really worth it. I am so unhappy not having possibility to watch it myself :/ I cannot wait to get full copy of all series!!! and how come I read comments above?? they are said without watching it on screen…so they are not fair!!:) I really want to hear what people say after watching it. It has to be very cute, funny and light, just right for Monday eve! Waiting for comments! Cheers x
By Goda on January 23rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm