Royals - normal?

Russ · 28-06-2004, 00:43

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...141201,00.html

See, this is what I don't get. Zara claims she lives a 'normal' life, just like anyone else. But surely, just as we don't know what a day in the life of a Royal is like, how can she she knows what a 'normal' life is like? For example, I don't know of many people who were educated at one of the UK's top private schools.

For the record, I'm not having a go at her as she seems to be one of the more down-to-earth Royals, but she needs to get things in perspective. Over-doing the "I'm just like anyone else" bit can be a bit tiring sometimes.

kronas · 28-06-2004, 00:47

in my view no royal has earned the right for special treatment, i dont care if you will say that they bring x amount of trade in.... economics play a vial role in that (look at outsourcing of jobs)

also :

Quote:

She attended top private school Gordonstoun

'normal' people go to a 'normal' high school, not a private snobby establishment.

Russ · 28-06-2004, 00:52

I'm not begrudging her for going to a private school - perhaps it offered better security than a local comprehensive? She may be a minor Royal but she is still afforded protection. So possibly, a private school like that would be the better option. Fine - but she should not refer to her upbringing as 'normal'. At a guess I'd say she's been to Buck Palace a few times, I can't say many 'normal' people get to visit relatives there.

Charlie_Bubble · 28-06-2004, 01:01

She doesn't have a normal life. Do 'normal' girls of her age get the chance to go out with top jockeys, rugby players etc. She's had all the best things all her life and hob-****** with the upper crust which has let her achieve and do things normal people wouldn't have any hope of doing. I think her attitude of "I'm just a normal person and I've had a normal life" is insulting to people who have to struggle through life making ends meet and having to do crappy jobs they don't like to pay the rent and put food on the table. She wouldn't last 5 minutes in a 'normal' life!

**Paul** · 28-06-2004, 08:47

Quote:

Zara attended top private school Gordonstoun and Exeter University before embarking on a career in horse riding, following heer mother and father's footsteps

Normal ? yeah right ....

SMHarman · 28-06-2004, 11:12

Whilst not 'normal'. Does she mean normal in the sense of any privilaged child. I'm sure Bransons kids are afforded the same upbringing, her implication being that these are the benefits of wealth not royalty.

She still has to study and pass the exams in the same way every other kid on the planet does. Just a little more teacher support and fewer disruptive kids at Gordenstone (edit - Isn't that where Branson went too?).

28-06-2004, 20:58

So what is a "normal" life anyway? Is your life "normal"?

Is it "normal" in comparison to some "chav"? How can you say because you're not (presumably!) a "chav"!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

I don't know of many people who were educated at one of the UK's top private schools.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronas

'normal' people go to a 'normal' high school, not a private snobby establishment.

Well I don't know about "the UK's top private schools" (I can't seem to find any league tables), but I was certainly educated at one of Bristol's top private schools.

But so what? Does that make me less "normal"? (As opposed to anything else...!

) Or is this just sour grapes because they've got money and you haven't? And I don't think anyone's ever described me or the school as "snobby".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

At a guess I'd say she's been to Buck Palace a few times, I can't say many 'normal' people get to visit relatives there.

Again, so what? Not many "normal" people get to visit relatives who live and work at Number 10 Downing Street either. Now yes, of course, more people can get to live in No.10, but it's still really from a very select group of people, so it's hardly "normal" is it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

Do 'normal' girls of her age get the chance to go out with top jockeys, rugby players etc.

Again, is this just sour grapes? And do "normal" Welsh Schoolgirls get the same chance or maybe even the chance to sing for the Queen, the Pope and two American Presidents? Well Charlotte Church did. And I'm sure she went to events where there were top jockeys and rugby players as well.

Ok, so you can argue that she had a good voice and had to work at it, so what about "super models"? They were just lucky to be born with pretty faces, they didn't have to work to get to big events, did they?

Most of what I've read in this thread is just petty bitching because someone else has been luckier than you and you seem to want to drag them down to your level because it's "not fair".

Well, tough, that's life, grow up and get over it.

Russ · 28-06-2004, 21:02

Jeepers Graham, who rattled your cage tonight? In comparison to the majority of people in the UK I'd say it's a pretty sure bet that her upbringing was different to theirs. Yes Charlotte Church has lived a life which many would not call 'normal'.

On the subject of your comments of my life, you know NOTHING of my life and your assertion that I'm commenting because I don't think it's fair? Yeah right Graham, get much exercise from jumping to conclusions do you?

Charlie_Bubble · 28-06-2004, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Again, is this just sour grapes? And do "normal" Welsh Schoolgirls get the same chance or maybe even the chance to sing for the Queen, the Pope and two American Presidents? Well Charlotte Church did. And I'm sure she went to events where there were top jockeys and rugby players as well.

No, but I would say that Charlotte Church isn't normal either. Although not to my tastes, she has a very good singing voice and has earnt the right to do the above through her own hard work, practice and talent, not just because she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. I think your comparison here is unfounded.

Russ · 28-06-2004, 21:08

That's your opinion

Others seem to agree with me (so far).

As for Charlotte Church, why mention the silver spoon? What's that got to do with anything? I don't consider her teenage years to be anything like 'normal'.

28-06-2004, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

In comparison to the majority of people in the UK I'd say it's a pretty sure bet that her upbringing was different to theirs.

In comparison to everyone else, most upbringings have something that could probably be defined as "not normal". Hell, these days being brought up by two parents for 16 years could probably be defined as "not normal"!!

Quote:

On the subject of your comments of my life, you know NOTHING of my life and your assertion that I'm commenting because I don't think it's fair? Yeah right Graham, get much exercise from jumping to conclusions do you?

And today's award for the "Missing the Irony" award goes to...!

I wrote that *knowing* that someone would jump on it because I "knew nothing of their life", yet all through this thread we have people making assumptions and jumping to conclusions about what a "Royal Life" actually is and nobody else has made comment about that!

Charlie_Bubble · 28-06-2004, 21:11

I don't have sour grapes about this. I have a good job, good flat, a couple of cars, all from my own hard work, not because of who my dad is. I don't begrudge her the things she has, but please, to have her say she has lived a normal life like the rest of us!

Russ · 28-06-2004, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

In comparison to everyone else, most upbringings have something that could probably be defined as "not normal". Hell, these days being brought up by two parents for 16 years could probably be defined as "not normal"!!

I wouldn't say having armed guards is 'normal' - I wouldn't say having the Head of the Commonwealth (if that's still Liz's title) as a grandmother is 'normal' - I wouldn't say having parents with a royal title is 'normal' - would you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

I wrote that *knowing* that someone would jump on it because I "knew nothing of their life", yet all through this thread we have people making assumptions and jumping to conclusions about what a "Royal Life" actually is and nobody else has made comment about that!

Yayy!!

Good for you Graham!! I'm sure that's made your day....

28-06-2004, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

I don't have sour grapes about this. I have a good job, good flat, a couple of cars, all from my own hard work, not because of who my dad is.

And what if you dad had been chairman of one of the privatised rail companies who got masses of cash from the sell offs? Or your parents died leaving you a house worth loads of dosh? You wouldn't have got *that* through your own hard work, would you?

Quote:

I don't begrudge her the things she has, but please, to have her say she has lived a normal life like the rest of us!

So why make such a big deal about it?

Charlie_Bubble · 28-06-2004, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

I wouldn't say having armed guards is 'normal' - I wouldn't say having the Head of the Commonwealth (if that's still Liz's title) as a grandmother is 'normal' - I wouldn't say having parents with a royal title is 'normal' - would you?

Don't know about you, but I gave the sentries the night off and I'll only require Jeeves services until 10pm this evening!