Friday was Prince Charles’s birthday. He was 60. That shook me up a bit, because he was a young, eligible bachelor of 30 when I first came to England. He reminds me (if I needed reminding) that I am getting old.
Nevertheless, I quite like Prince Charles, mainly because he is the most famous guy in history who responded to his mid life crisis by ditching the young and beautiful trophy wife and finally marrying instead a menopausal old bat with a thickening waist, tinted hair and sensible shoes.
It positively makes my heart sing.
And since my heart was already in the mood, I had no trouble belting out the words to the national anthem (Americans will know the tune as My Country ‘Tis of Thee) just before 8 am, chiming in with the radio. We get a chorus of the anthem on the radio at just that time on each of Her Majesty’s two birthdays (hey, when you are queen you can have two too), once a year for Charles, and, when it happens to fall on a slow news day, now and again even for the Duke of Edinburgh.
It may be a wee bit hard on the aging Prince to mark his birthday with all that God Save the Queen stuff. He has waited most of a lifetime to fulfill his destiny and may wait awhile yet, since his family is a long lived lot, but I don’t suppose even in yearning finally to be king he would wish his mother gone.
Meanwhile Charles is, by all accounts, happier than he has ever been with his second wife.
Middle aged love. Frumpy and sweet. A prince should set an example to his people, and I think Charles has done his princely job.
It is quite a change for a man to behave in such a manner, as you’ve so eloquently pointed out. Such a refreshing change and proof there are sensible men in this world. Not exactly thrilled about the way he went about getting to this point, but so be it and to each his own. Happy Birthday, Prince…..and I hope you live long enough to fulfill your royal destiny.
I wonder if he has stopped chanting “God save the Queen”?? 🙂
Happy Trails, Duchess
Comment by MLS — November 16, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
I feel even older. I remember standing in my bedsit in Earl’s Court listening to his birthday wishes when he was in his early 20s. I felt so close to him because we were roughly the same age. I think I’ve held up better, but then I don’t spend all that time in the winds of Scotland.
Comment by ByJane — November 17, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
OMG … he’s SIXTY?! Oh I feel soooooooooo OLD!
Comment by Twenty Four At Heart — November 18, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
I am glad when anyone can find happiness in this crazy world, and I wish Prince Charles a happy birthday from across the pond (and many more).
Pearl
(a Yank who loves England)
Comment by Pearl — November 22, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
I can’t imagine spending your whole life waiting patiently in the wings. Considering that, plus unexpectedly becoming a single parent, i think Charles has done an admirable job waiting for his real job. Wonder how old he’ll be when he finally gets it.
Comment by Darryle — November 23, 2008 @ 1:34 am