Charles and Camilla: Visit to Japan, Brunei & Indonesia - October 27-November 4, 2008

[Menarue]

Diana was given a kimono, exactly who gave it to her I don´t know, but it was absolutely enormous!!!

 

[Al_bina]

Kimono could not be enormous. I doubt that Japanese gave a wrong size kimono to Diana Princess of Wales. One should know how to wear it. If properly tied and tucked, there would not have been any issues. Kimonos are a work of art. They have to be treated accordingly.

 

[Jo of Palatine]

Jo, you ask how stupid, but this write up is the usual vitriol from Amanda Platell. As you can see from this Wiki article, she is described as poisonous. She doesn't appear to have much understanding of the credit crisis poor little thing, well she wouldn't, the amount she is probably paid.

Depends on where she stores her money. Probably she is not yet in the zone where you own an estate, so that would explain a lot!

 

[Menarue]

Kimono could not be enormous. I doubt that Japanese gave a wrong size kimono to Diana Princess of Wales. One should know how to wear it. If properly tied and tucked, there would not have been any issues. Kimonos are a work of art. They have to be treated accordingly.

I am sorry Al Bina but I saw the photo and even Princess Diana was smiling about it. It wasn´t a ceremonial kimono, it was red (I think) and they had made it for a Western lady and probably knew she was tall but overestimated her height.

 

[TheTruth]

Yes, here's a picture of the event: ImageShack - Hosting :: 76214577gy2.jpg

 

[Al_bina]

You mean this one dianakimono on Flickr - Photo Sharing!. It was not properly tucked and tied with an obi belt (Japanese Obi Kimono Sash - Japanese Clothing Accessories). This kimono was made by Yasujiro Yamaguchi, the prominent artist. Thus, he could not give the wrong size kimono to Diana, Princess of Wales.

"Here," he said, lifting up a salmon-toned fabric depicting the first daffodils of spring, a pattern he gave to Princess Diana. "She was visiting Kyoto, and I presented her with a more elaborate one, but she saw this one, a bit more subdued, and asked for it, too. How could I refuse?"

Reference: Twilight for the Kimono - washingtonpost.com
Queen Rania wore the kimono presented to her in a proper fashion and looked magnificent.
The following is the YouTube clip that gives instructions on how to put a yukata (a summer light cotton kimono)on. This clip explains why a kimono tends to be long @2.:13 http://www.ichiroya.com/kitsukedvd.htm

 

[Elspeth]

Kimono could not be enormous. I doubt that Japanese gave a wrong size kimono to Diana Princess of Wales. One should know how to wear it. If properly tied and tucked, there would not have been any issues. Kimonos are a work of art. They have to be treated accordingly.

It was a furisode, which is the wrong sort of kimono for a married woman anyway. So I don't think that correctness was much of an issue.

 

[Al_bina]

Elspeth,
Thanks a lot! I believe TheTruth has already found a picture as well as I have found one myself.

 

[Mermaid1962]

This is totally off-topic, but "furisode" sounds like a temper tantrum; i.e. a "furious episode."

It was a furisode, which is the wrong sort of kimono for a married woman anyway. So I don't think that correctness was much of an issue.

 

[Duchess Ravenna]

I'm not a Royal, though I like to think I was kidnapped away as an infant from a cool royal family and raised by, oh, I don't know, storks, or Canadians.

But I have been on national book tours, and let me tell you, they are exhausting.

My first British one brought me to tears when I couldn't get anything to eat, not even a burger, after a day that consisted of a long-distance flight from the US, public appearances as soon as I hit the ground, four TV and three radio interviews and two book signings, all in one day!

A big US tour had me in seven cities in eight days (two days in LA), and by the end I was a basket case: exhausted, weepy, sleep-deprived, starved.

You fly in in the morning, go to the hotel, dump your stuff and change (if you're lucky; sometimes you have to go do appearances straight from the airport), MAYBE get a bite to eat, and then you're talking to people all day long, and by the time you get to bed it's almost midnight, and maybe you can get room service, if the hotel has it, which it doesn't always at that time of night, and you get like three hours' sleep because you have to be up at 4 a.m. to do hair and makeup for morning TV shows, then get on a plane for the next city, where you must do it all over again. For two or three weeks at a time.
No wonder rock bands trash their hotel rooms; I was feeling pretty tempted myself by the end of the tour.

It is not fun or easy or restful but very, very hard work, and it is not a free vacation paid for by the publishing company. Sure, you get an "escort" paid for by them to take you around to your appearances and appointments and presumably make sure you get fed, but your time is not your own, and you can't treat it as anything but a job, and a demanding one at that. And the appearances rule what you can do: there were plenty of times, on US and UK tours both, where a signing ran over and I was late for the next interview and never got lunch or dinner.

And when you're as hungry as that, and as tired and cranky and sleep-deprived as that, and the weather is 95 degrees with 87% humidity, and you still have to be gracious and smile and converse intelligently...and 61 years old...come on!

And that's just a tiny little version of what a Royal tour must be like, where you have to be "on" a million times more and the whole world is sniping at you if you wear a dress they don't like or too many/not enough jewels or if you get faint or dizzy. Didn't that happen to Diana once, on tour? Would you rather see Camilla collapse in Indonesia?

Yeah, she has handlers to look after her and make sure she doesn't get too stressed out, but it is still very, very rugged.

I sympathize with you entirely, YRH Camilla, ma'am. I'd back out of that part of the tour too.


ETA: I don't mean to boast, I just wanted people to see that this kind of thing isn't a doddle.

 

[Elspeth]

So if I'm reading this right, the Daily Mail is criticising Camilla for not going, and it's criticising Charles for going.

They really can't do it right for the Mail, can they?

 

[AuroraB]

That sounds about right. It falls in the category of darned if you do and darned if you don't.

 

[Menarue]

I really don´t blame her for not going if she isn´t up to it, what I do criticize is the excuse that was given. They could have said anything that would have been acceptable, "she had to leave early to have a nose job?" No, perhaps not that one. This is bad PR entirely, a lack of "finesse" as she has had some criticism in the past, either rightly or wrongly, for not being as enthusiastic about royal duties as she is expected to be, something a bit more than the heat and upcoming parties would have been better. I think they just told the truth and sometimes it is better not to be so frank. Just a PR problem nothing else.
The criticism of Prince Charles for going it shows that they were going to be attacked by the papers no matter what they did, and in this case their PR played into the hands of their critics.

 

[milla Ca]

The way ´The Mail´ describes a line between the global credit crisis and the life and job of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (in this nasty way) is another top of cheek.
And again they don´t publish critical comments of readers.

This paper is only good to be a pocket for fish & chips...or do this rubbish articles maybe poison a good meal?

 

[Elspeth]

Well, it might be interesting to see how they manage to pin the blame for the economic meltdown on Camilla; they're inventive enough to figure out a way.

 

[Skydragon]

For all the griping on here, I think most people would prefer to be told the truth instead of the appallingly bad PR we had from CH over William clocking up his flying time. It speaks volumes that very few of the TV programmes have taken up the Mail story.

If Camilla doesn't feel up to it, that is fine and honest enough for me.

I for one, look forward to seeing news of the countries and events she is attending.

 

[Al_bina]

Officials have made changes to the four-day visit to Japan by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla from Oct 27 due to the financial crisis, the prince’s office said Tuesday. In an attempt to avoid appearing extravagant, the size of his entourage will be reduced from the normal figure of around 21 staff to approximately 15 personnel.

Costs for Prince Charles' trip to Japan cut over financial crisis › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion
Given the current situation in the economic environment, I expect Japanese media to be reserved, when commenting on the visit. I hope there will be no more British tourists swimming in the sacred moat of the Japanese Imperial residence.

 

[Skydragon]

This paper is only good to be a pocket for fish & chips...or do this rubbish articles maybe poison a good meal?

No, No, No, it would taint the meal. The only use for this publication when they insist on publishing unproven and derogatory articles, is the bottom of a bird cage!

 

[muriel]

How stupid and thoughtless can a publication be?

Where's the pampered prince in this crisis? | Mail Online

Where's the pampered prince in this crisis?


A catastrophe for capitalism; the new austerity; financial Armageddon: however you describe the national crisis, few of us have known such dark days. And at such times, we turn instinctively to our leaders - political, spiritual and royal.
Now, more than ever, is the moment when our future King and his Queen could - and should - lead by example.

So how does Prince Charles show he is standing with us through these troubled times? By announcing he is pushing ahead with his £250,000 ten-day jolly to Japan and Indonesia to promote trade and inter-faith understanding with Muslims. "


The crisis the world faces at the moment is a crisis started by greedy bankers and politicians who created a climate of mistrust. Japan has been through a similar crisis 20 years agao and following that, has changed the laws, so today Japan is the nation with the most potential to help Europe in this crisis. What could be better than to send The Prince of Wales to this most important partner of the EU, a person people can believe when he says that he is not in for the fast win but for the long-term stability?

A jolly? A very necessary duty for the Prince and the right one at the right time. Or should he stop doing engagements because he wants to save money? Spending his time instead cleaning his home and growing vegetables on his own on sending his staff out into the street? And that stupid propsal from a paper who has no qualms sending people to all corners of the world to follow celebs or report about fashion shows? Come on!

Did Amanda miss out the bit about the Foreign Office having asked the PoW to undertake the tour, despite the costs as it was considered to be of strategic importance?

I do accept that the PR surrounding Camilla's missing out on the Indonesian leg of the tour should have been handled better, and I hope somebody at CH is going t have their knuckles rapped.

 

[Little_star]

I really don´t blame her for not going if she isn´t up to it, what I do criticize is the excuse that was given. They could have said anything that would have been acceptable, "she had to leave early to have a nose job?" No, perhaps not that one. This is bad PR entirely, a lack of "finesse" as she has had some criticism in the past, either rightly or wrongly, for not being as enthusiastic about royal duties as she is expected to be, something a bit more than the heat and upcoming parties would have been better. I think they just told the truth and sometimes it is better not to be so frank. Just a PR problem nothing else.

Excellent post, Menarue. Irrespective of the past, in her role as Charles' wife Camilla does her job well (imo). However this recent event has been handled badyl and as a result it ends up reflecting badly on Camilla.

 

[Al_bina]

Does Duchess of Cornwall genuinely care about how some of her actions reflecting on her? I doubt it. Duchess of Cornwall skips the final leg of the trip due to arduous conditions in Indonesia. So what? Is she going to be punished or rebuked? No. Definitely she is no stranger to the unfavourable public opinion. One more or one less... why should it bother her..?

 

[Skydragon]

Does Duchess of Cornwall genuinely care about how some of her actions reflecting on her? I doubt it.---snipped---- One more or one less... why should it bother her..?

Indeed, why should she let some nasty remarks and judgments by strangers bother her or the spite that emanates from some publications? Those that helped make the decision know the reasons, (not the Mail though, they must be peeved that they weren't informed or consulted), including HM. No major outcry from her future subjects either, from some, sympathy and understanding.

 

[Al_bina]

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, will begin a five-day visit to Japan tomorrow as part of celebrations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20081026/BREAKING/81026087/-1/RSS01

As reported in this article Sympathy turns to scepticism as courtiers whisper princess does not do her duty - Times Online, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako will give a private dinner party for Prince of Wales and his wife. It is a truly good news.

 

[ada]

Indeed, why should she let some nasty remarks and judgments by strangers bother her or the spite that emanates from some publications? Those that helped make the decision know the reasons, (not the Mail though, they must be peeved that they weren't informed or consulted), including HM. No major outcry from her future subjects either, from some, sympathy and understanding.

Yet another press release on the D of C badly handled by CH

 

[milla Ca]

Prince and Duchess tour Far East
October 27

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall fly into Tokyo to begin their official 10-day tour of the Far East.
Later on Monday Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito will greet the Prince and Duchess at the airport before escorting them to Tokyo.

The Press Association: Prince and Duchess tour Far East

 

[Skydragon]

As reported in this article Sympathy turns to scepticism as courtiers whisper princess does not do her duty - Times Online,

I'm afraid your link would not work for me and I could not find the article in The Times regarding Charles and Camilla!

As it turns out, it is an article regarding the lovely Crown Princess Masako,

 

[BeatrixFan]

And they have arrived. Both look extremely jet-lagged and Camilla is in a blue shapeless thing, suitable for travelling though so we'll let her off.

 

[milla Ca]

And they have arrived. Both look extremely jet-lagged and Camilla is in a blue shapeless thing, suitable for travelling though so we'll let her off.

And here they are:

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Tokyo Airport
October 27

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[Skydragon]

Thank you milla Ca, I do like these!

Camilla

and Charles and Camilla

I wonder what Crown Prince Naruhito said to make her laugh?

Camilla and Crown Prince Naruhito

 

[BeatrixFan]

So is the state dinner with the Emperor and Empress tonight?