Eamon
Was reading earlier that some people have been camping outside the Maternity hospital in London for some days now where Kate is going to give birth to her second child despite the newspaper report her and Wills have been shopping in Kensington, her buying articles for son George and Wills buying himself pullovers for 800 quid! Are you one of those campers? Is that why you were not posting?
donald

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3054345/William-Kate-s-pre-baby-shopping-spree-Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-spotted-relaxing-retail-therapy-Kensington-arrival-child-number-two.html

Donald, people are fixated with anything Royal and I must confess I am a bit that way myself. However, not to the point of queuing up for days to await the new Royal baby. I trust that the new infant arrives safe and well any day now and that those people will at last go home and content themselves.

Ann
I remember in February 1960, working in Nr. 3 Winding in Hilden mill and suddenly the whole department stopped working in excitement. Someone from Hilden came to the Department windows facing Hilden school and shouted up that Prince Andrew was born and there was singing and celebrating.
donald

Price Andrew. He didn't turn out too well. Spoilt and arrogant. I think at one time he was the Queen's favourite, but I'm sure she's had second thoughts since then. The cheering at the time was definitely misguided.

Ann
Which prince piloted a helicopter in the Falklands war?

Dabbler, Prince Andrew of course was flying a helicopter in the Falklands war, I don't know very much about the personalities of the younger members of the Royal Family but he took his life in his hands during that period.???
In 1947 I was one of the thousand navy personnel who lined the approach in Portsmouth to HMS Vanguard when the Royal Family was embarking for their South African tour and shortly afterwards was in South Africa myself to join HMS Nigeria which had escorted the "Vanguard" up to Freetown West Africa.
In August 1948 I was drafted to HMS Vanguard which was preparing to do a world cruise with the Royal Family, we done a shake down cruise to Gibralter and Malta to prepare but shortly after arrival back in the UK we were informed the cruise was cancelled because of the King's illness, so in January 1949 we were sent back to the Mediteranean for six months working out of Malta and visiting just about every country bordering the Mediteranean. I wonder what most of the contributors to the Forum were doing then.???? Mauri

Mauri,

I was at the Technical School then, when you were touring the World.

Pat

Mauri
Thanks! I was of course being slightly facetious. A relation, currently in Australia, was a nurse aboard HMS Ark Royal.

Dabbler, why wouldn't Prince Andrew pilot a helicopter in a war zone? Wasn't he a member of the armed forces? He was only one of thousands, but the others will hardly be mentioned nor given any great credence for their bravery. Since the Falklands Prince Andrew has shamed himself, his family and the Queen. A lesser mortal might have been jailed for his behaviour over recent times with a very young lady. "Dirty old man" comes to mind.

Ann, I am not a great lover of Royalty but fairs fair??, I always thought that Andrew was a pretty decent guy from the little that I heard about him, so what is it he has done that makes you dislike him so much. Just Curious. Mauri

Ann

Like Mauri, Y have forgotten what was reported about the prince. I presume he had sexual intercourse with somebody, or was alleged to have done so. That he risked his life in a war is of far greater significance, God bless him

Mauri, Prince Andrew was using the services of an under-age young lady, one of a group, hired out by "businessmen" to wealthy clients. One of the young ladies is apparently now taking the "businessmen" and the Prince to court. These girls are teenagers. Shame on him. I wonder what his daughters think of him. Great example to them.

Ann Well said and Dabbler and you meant to be a socialist my foot

I know that these comments can be seen by anyone in the world who chooses to look, so I must use caution in my replies. There is nothing nasty happening that was not happening sixty years ago. I'm not sure if Ann is disgusted by the sleazy report because it may have involved older men, or because there was a financial connection. If true, I hope the young lady gets her pound of flesh, if you'll pardon the pun. I personally remember, and here I must be careful, a fourteen-year-old girl in Lisburn telling me that she and her friend provided the same services to ten young men in the back of a van for two Babycham. Although I was still a teenager, and tempted, I advised the girl to make a vow to the Virgin Mary not to let them touch her again.

I hope they call the new arrival Diana in memory of Williams mother

Barney, the new baby has arrived now and everyone is speculating on names for a girl. Personally speaking, Diana is too obvious and I doubt very much whether the name would be approved. However, we shall have to wait and see. The bookies' favourite is Alice. Whatever the name, I think the addition of Frances would be a nice touch. Frances is one of the late Diana's names. We should all know soon.