Hurricane threatens Royal Estates
In the last genuine hurricane to hit the British Isles, in 1987, many of the great country estates, including historic Royal lands, were left looking like the aftermath of the Battle of the Somme.
Now, after the mildest and most benign winter I can remember, we are to suffer another great storm — according to the Met Office. Conditions will deteriorate through today and tomorrow — it’s already very gusty — until we get the full fury of it during Sunday night and Monday morning. The advice is to remain indoors throughout. What else would we do? Take a leisurely stroll in the park?
Last time, many great trees were lost right across southern England and parts of the Midlands. Some treasured landscapes were decimated of woodland and forest.
Nature has now recovered, but faces a repeat performance over the next 48 hours. Already wind speeds of 250mph are reported in the Atlantic jetstream, five miles up. Air travellers from America to Britain and Europe may be surprised how quickly they get here. The reverse journey could be a nightmare.
We shall be battening down the hatches here at Royal Anecdotes — we seem to be right in its path and, being so near to the coast, may experience flooding. The highest tides of the year are predicted to coincide with the high winds.
Hold on to your coronets, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
John,
May you and your family be safe and peaceful.
By Madelaine on March 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Thank you, Madelaine. Let’s hope the internet connections survive.
By John on March 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I hope you stay safe.
By dally on March 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I hope that everything stays calm and well for all of you tomorrow. Yes, by all means, save the internet connection.
What would I read with my morning coffee to keep me updated on all things royal? I will definitely keep my fingers crossed for everyone. Take care.
By kat on March 8th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I hope your safe too.
On another note, seems that Camilla Duchess of Cornwall is having a hard time in the Caribbean Tour, navigation problems due to bad weather. Anyway, I hope she and Charles are well, although she does look weary in the pics.
Nightmare tour of West Indies has left me exhausted, says Camilla
But an exhausted Duchess of Cornwall has confided to friends that bad weather has turned her four-nation West Indies tour with Prince Charles into a nightmare.
LINK
By Me on March 8th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Having lived through flooding and some horrible blizzards, I know how dangerous bad weather can be. You and all in the UK will be in my prayers, John. Send us a note every now and then, as power and internet allow, or we may worry that you’ve been swept away with the spring tide!
By Evelyn on March 9th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Thanks, everyone. We are in a sheltered spot here, just inland, although our new location close the the Quay may pose problems with water rather than wind.
We are mostly worried about the great trees on Duchy of Cornwall estates, though.
By John on March 9th, 2008 at 10:38 am
The Royalist just posted an article (from the Sunday Express) that says Kate has a new job since the beginnin of the year and therefore moved back to her parent’s place in Berkshire. She supposedly works on an industrial estate near the M4 motorway.
By Isana on March 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Beware the Express, Isana. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but they are not the best “news”paper to get your facts from.
By John on March 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
We are just back from a few days in Florida, where we had very bad weather–high winds and torrential rain storms! We are praying that all will be well with you, John, and all in the UK who are in the path of the wrath of Mother Nature. It is raining and chilly here, with wind gusts. Where in the world is Spring?
By Gigi on March 9th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
You’re in my prayers John, we evacuated with the fires in San Diego last fall. Not fun!
By Cindy on March 9th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Maybe, the story is just a cover. It might have been leaked to give Kate a reason not to be in London. Maybe, the story was supposed to throw everyone off the hunt of the true
place that Kate is staying. If she found a place near William
then the story would throw off would be hunters for such a residence off the track. To me that is the best explanation for the story. It could also be a cover for working with a photography career or planning a wedding. I am so hoping for the best for the two of them.(together)
By kat on March 9th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I have returned to Royal Anecdotes in the hope that you are the best place to find out where on earth Kate seems to have disappeared to? She appears to be in hiding somewhere? Anyone have any clues?
By SuffolkSim on March 10th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Hi Sim, good to see you back. At least you’re out of the storm there on the East coast.
Kate is just keeping her head down. Lots of speculation about another split etc, or that she’s working on some industrial estate. My own view is that she’s rented a little hideaway somewhere near Cranwell so that she and William can be together.
I can’t be certain about that, of course, but it’s what I’d do in the circumstances, so it must be right.
By John on March 10th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Exactly, Kat. The Express would have had photographers staked out around the industrial estate to get the first pictures of her going in and coming out. This is a red herring.
By John on March 10th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I have to admit I had to look up on Wikipedia what an “Industrial Estate” is. N.ow that I realize it is equivelant to an “Industrial Park”, I couldn’t possibly imagine that with so many people working in that type of area, that someone would not have told the paps, and therefore we would have had some type of picture by now.
By Madelaine on March 10th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Absolutely, pictures would be all over the place! Hope you are safe and dry John at headquarters! We think the storm may well be making its way over this coast this evening – at the moment plenty of strong gusts and rain. I will be keeping clear of the seaside spots over the next few days I think.
Hopefully you are correct in thinking she has rented somewhere near William, wasn’t it in the papers a while ago about her looking for a house – maybe it was for that reason.
I do indeed hope so, I have always been a great supporter of Kate and William and just praying we won’t see ‘break-up’ news again.
By SuffolkSim on March 10th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
john
hope all is well with you and your family… is the worst of it over??
By coni on March 10th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Does anyone know if John and the RA staff are safe? If anyone is in the UK and has news of John, please post. Suffolk Sim, I hope you are also safe and sheltered from the storm. What weather!!
By Gigi on March 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
BBC has not reported any deaths from the storms, through 12,000 are without power.
By Evelyn on March 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Richard Kay from the DM reported in his column that William and Kate had lunch together with another couple in the Builders Arms on King’s Road on Sunday. They supposedly left through a rear entrance after the paps arrived.
By Isana on March 10th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I read it too.
“Reports that Prince William has put his relationship with Kate Middleton on hold while he completes his military training are clearly wide of the mark.
Yesterday the pair enjoyed a leisurely Sunday lunch at the Builders Arms, a gastro-pub just off the King’s Road in Chelsea. “
By Me on March 10th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
We’re all fine, Gigi, although we have another night of storms to come.
Thank you for your concern.
By John on March 10th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I am both relieved and grateful to hear that you are well, John. Another night of storms??
Batten down the hatches!
As for the leisurely Sunday lunch in Chelsea for Prince William and Kate, I am very pleased to hear about it.
A true ray of sunshine in the midst of storms.
By Gigi on March 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Yes that is true Gigi. Of course William & Kate is always in my prayers. I knew that they are doing just fine.
By Claudius on March 10th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
William and Kate seem to be trying hard to keep their relationship out of the press and I’m glad to see that they are so far, somewhat, achieving their goal. Good for them!
By Ash on March 10th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
am glad they are able to have some sort of privacy and “court” as a normal couple as much as possible – as difficult as that may be..
wondering if harry and chelsy were ever on the outs or if is was a cover for his miltary service
By coni on March 10th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I’m guessing it was a cover, coni.
By Evelyn on March 11th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Good morning all, a rather windswept SuffolkSim here, I think we are seeing very little of what poor John is seeing – hope all is well there.
Very glad to see the news of a casual Sunday lunch in the papers today – renewed enthusiasm for that Royal wedding afterall we hope.
By SuffolkSim on March 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I am glad to hear that you have not been swept into the ocean by the mercurial weather, SuffolkSim! What a storm! The photo I saw of giant waves crashing halfway up the side of a very large lighthouse were frightening, to say the least. John survived as well, and has delighted us with a post regarding a possible house hunting trip by Prince William and Kate!
Shall we man the pumps and pass the towels?
By Gigi on March 11th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Gigi, the high winds are over for us now, but they are striking the north until tomorrow afternoon.
However, I’ve just been down to the river and was a bit concerned that it’s right up to path level. Let’s hope flooding is not the next Biblical plague to hit us. Frogs from Frogmore may well be next.
By John on March 11th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I am glad to hear that everyone seems to have weathered the storm and are alright. It will be good when the storm passes and everyone can start drying out. What a frightening experience. I’ve also been happy to hear positive news about William and Kate. I might be wrong,but it looks like things are progressing nicely for them.
By kat on March 12th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Thank you for this site with just conversation and no bashing of Kate. I have been reading another site and the hate-mongers have taken over. I hope a get a lovely picture of them together at Peter and Autumns wedding, if not before.
By Grandma828 on March 12th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Hi Grandma828,
I recognize you from another site, where you where always the voice of reason. I had to stop going there, it was depressing and kind of scary. THIS site is amazing, they have “Teas”, and champagne to toast the goodtimes………! Happy to see you.
By Madelaine on March 12th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Grandma828 — (I hope that’s not the number of your grandchildren
), I think you have to have a certain hysterical personality to be comfortable on the Kate-hating sites. We prefer to look at the facts and inject a little bit of humour, where appropriate.
By John on March 12th, 2008 at 9:24 am
My dear John, one can never have too many grandchildren!
A warm RA welcome to Grandma828 and we hope you will be commenting and comfortable here on our favorite site! We are all most collegial and John is wonderfully professional and conscientious in role as C-in-C of Royal Anecdotes. Like you, I await a lovely wedding photograph of Peter and Autumn! It seems we have waited quite a long time for a Royal wedding and now that one is swiftly approaching, I feel quite giddy. 
By Gigi on March 12th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
You may be right, Gigi, but I would draw the line at 750.
By John on March 12th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
By Gigi on March 12th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Exactly, let’s be sensible about it, Gigi.
By John on March 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
are there really alot of those “kate bashing” sites out there? whats the motivation behind that? seems rather sad for those who participate…
By coni on March 12th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
John, I have always been under the impression that you could take 5 Balmoral Dundee cakes and 2 Cream Puffs and feed the multitudes, no matter how large.
By Arthur on March 12th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Thanks for the welcome. The number of grandchildren is 8 and they are now in the courting stage, so we could be adding great-grandchildren. I was around when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip got married. I was a starry eyed young girl at that time. I’m not sure how I knew about that Royal wedding, but I suspect that my Mother brought books home from the Library to read. The magic of the internet now makes it possible to keep up on news daily. John, I am glad your storm blew over and you are safe. We have to dig out of the snow banks.
By Grandma828 on March 13th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Coni,
The one site I was referring to was absolutely shameful! It referred to Kate as really awful names that I wouldn’t repeat, questioned and accused her of low morals and worse yet – even send out direct messages to William supposedly from God. Kind of creepy really.
Anyway, if I may be so forward – “There is no place like home”, (Royal Anecdotes)
By Madelaine on March 13th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Madelaine, I have read some of those very sites. I keep hoping that they realize how good William and Kate go together.
I think that they might really want to be Kate and have the life that she has. I could go on but nothing that I could say would change any of their minds. It will be many years when Kate and William are happily married with children that they might realize that they were wrong about her and the relationship.
Until then, I am enjoying reading this site. It is indeed positive.
John, Claudius, and all seem to have an insight into the workings of the royals. They are pulling for Kate and William to be happy and successful couple.
By kat on March 13th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth (as Queen Elizabeth II was then) married November 20, 1947 and I was born in March of 1948, so I do not actually remember the wedding, but I have seen many photographs and descriptions of it. I clearly recall watching the Coronation on television when I was five, and coloring in my special Coronation coloring book, which I still have.
By Gigi on March 13th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Thanks everyone.
Some people use forum-type websites to live out their fantasies and vent their spleens against anyone who interferes in their grand plans, i.e. in this case their marrying William and becoming a Princess.
I suppose it’s just teen angst in most cases, but if you let a few in, all the rest turn up and the thoughtful ones go away. Not a very good bargain.
By John on March 13th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I have never visited one of those negative sites, nor do I have anay plans to do so, but from the descriptions I have read here, it sounds very much to me as if the people who post so negatively and with such vitriolic comments need to sit down and have a hot, strong cup of tea on a regular basis. Furthermore, I am certain that a slice of Balmoral Dundee cake would not go amiss.
Tea is among the most calming, soothing of beverages and is nearly as therapeutic as hot homemade chicken soup, in my opinion.
By Gigi on March 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Gigi, I am in my 70′s so I do remember the end of world war II and the wedding. Somehow, I can still be a young person at heart and enjoy talking about a princess. My youngest granddaughter is really into princesses now, so I get to share with her. I hope Kate gives us many happy visuals when she becomes a princess. She seems like a lovely lady, and I believe that she has given a lot of thought to the roll she will have as Williams Consort. It is a big responsibility she will be taking on.
By Grandma828 on March 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I agree with you, Grandma828! Kate Middleton will indeed make a marvelous Queen Consort for Prince William and I look forward to many years of observing with delight and admiration the blessings Kate and Prince William bring to Britain through their service to the Royal Family and the United Kingdom.
By Gigi on March 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Well, I’m glad you ladies agree with us here at Royal Anecdotes. I suspect we won’t be short of articles once this fallow period is over.
By John on March 13th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Welcome, Grandma828! It’s good to hear a new voice like yours.
Happy Birthday, Gigi! I see from your timeline that you are celebrating a special year sometime this month. I hope you have a wonderful tea party!
By Evelyn on March 14th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Thank you, dear Evelyn! I had a lovely 60th birthday with beautiful flowers and gifts from my family. We are postponing my birthday fete until Easter when both of our children can be with us. It is fun to be in a new decade!
By Gigi on March 16th, 2008 at 1:34 am