A Royal Dinner Party

Tomorrow, sadly, I'll be attending a funeral. I've spent the week thinking of the funerals I'd been to and feeling very lonesome for some of the special people who are no longer in my life. I dreamt that I had a dinner party in my home and they were all there. We had the best time just catching up and discussing special times in their lives. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were there too. My grandfather, a retired member of New York's Finest (Policeman) told me that he was on duty in Manhattan when the Duke came to visit after World War I. The Duke and my grandfather had a lovely conversation about the excitement of the day and the Duke recounted the tale of the ticker tape parade when he was almost hit by a large falling object which he was told was probably part of a phone book an over zealous person forgotten to shred. We all had a good laugh about that. When I awoke, I felt less lonesome and closer to my grandfather - though I honestly have no idea if he was on duty that day or not. It got me to thinking about that game that Fraizer and Niles Crane play - if you could invite five people living or dead to a dinner party who would they be? And I decided to write this column on the five members of the Windsor Family - living or dead - that I would like to meet at a dinner party and why.

Starting with the founding members - George V and Queen Mary - I would like to invite Queen Mary. As I'd mentioned in "Queen Mary's Early Life" I'd long thought of her as a very stern and formidable woman. After seeing her sense of humor in "Queen Mary's Photograph Albums" edited by Christopher Warwick and reading some of the sentiments she shared with her son, David, during the abdication crisis and afterward, the attention she paid to the detail of her granddaughters', Elizabeth and Margaret, education as well as the unwavering support she showed her son, George VI, upon his sudden inheritance of the throne, I warmed up. Add that to her education, her fascination with history and genealogy, her unlikely path to the altar with her husband, George V, and I'd say she would be a fascinating guest worthy of sharing many astute observations about her extended royal family and the times in which she lived.

My second guest would have to be her eldest son, David, who took the throne as Edward VIII in January of 1936 abdicating it less than eleven months later in December of the same year. His abdication and the source of it, the love of Wallis Warfield, have long fascinated me. I'd ask him what made him choose love over duty. How was his life different than he expected after the abdication? Was there any regret and if so, what was it? Was he ever able to forgive his family for not attending his wedding or accepting his wife? How does he feel about the current situation with Prince Charles and his paramour? If he were in that position, would he have abdicated early in favor of his brother or would he have also waited until his hand was forced? Though I some how feel I know the answers to all these questions, I would relish listening to the engaging David share their answers with me.

Third would definitely have to be the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, sister-in-law to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, wife of George VI and mother of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the recently deceased, Princess Margaret Rose. On this earth for over 100 years and a member of the House of Windsor for over 75 she would be a wellspring of knowledge. I'd ask her why she could never find it in her heart to forgive Wallis and David - or did she? What was it like to marry into the royal family in the 1920's? What did she think of her mother and father-in-law, George V and Queen Mary? What was the most disturbing thing about the abdication crisis - her husband's reluctance or the disruption to the routine of the life they were leading? Does she believe she adored her husband as much as he adored her? How did she feel about Margaret's marrying Antony Armstrong-Jones? Would she have given her blessing for Margaret to marry Peter Townsend? I'm sure I wouldn't stop there!

Fourth, would have to be Diana, Princess of Wales - though she died an unofficial member of the House of Windsor. I'd love to ask her if she had it to over again what would she do differently. Would she have married Charles? Would she have given him an ultimatum during the courtship? Would she have had her sons so early on in the marriage? Would she have had more children? Would she have cooperated with Andrew Morton on the books? Would she have conducted her affair with James Hewitt? Would she have given Martin Bashir his interview? If so, would she have been as candid? Would she have agreed to a separation? If so, would she have named Camilla in her divorce proceedings? Would she have fought more publicly to save the marriage and kept other details more private? Would she have had her affair with Dodi Al Fayed? What is the biggest regret of her life? Why? Knowing that her death came so young, is there a pearl of wisdom she wished she had passed onto her sons? What is it?

The last member - and certainly not the least - would be Queen Elizabeth II. To her I would ask what it felt like to take the throne at 25 years of age in the wake of her father's death? Are there any particular boundaries she set between her duty and her family to help maintain some sense of balance? How hard is it to understand Prince Charles' issues with his childhood when so much of it seems easier than her own? What is the best thing about being the Queen? What is the worst thing about being Queen? Could she imagine living one day without the red dispatch box? Who was her favorite PM? Why? What is the single most extraordinary thing that has happened in her 50 years on the throne? What is her proudest moment as Queen? What is her proudest moment as a parent? How fun is it to have created her own breed of dog? What does she think will be the most memorable thing about her reign? Was she saddened to have to advise Margaret about the natural consequences of a marriage with Peter Townsend? Does she think that the Church of England will adopt a policy of divorce? Does she believe that the next monarch will still be the Supreme Head of the Church of England? Does she enjoy touring the Commonwealth more now than she did when she was younger - or vice versa? Who is the most interesting person she has met? What does she see as her greatest strength? What does she see as her greatest weakness? How does she feel about this wonderful anniversary? HM is definitely a woman I could ask a million questions of!

After writing this the only thing I would want to do differently than the game is to have each person at a one-on-one dinner. I would want the whole night to pick their brains and try to learn as much about them as I possibly could. It would be marvelous to understand their perspectives and get a glimpse into their lives.