Duchess right to follow a royal tradition
THERE has been criticism of the Duchess of Cambridge’s white outfit at the Passchendaele ceremony as not being sober enough for such a solemn occasion. However, there is a royal precedent.
In 1938, three weeks before George VI and his wife, Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, were due to make a state visit to Paris, her mother died and the court went into mourning. Norman Hartnell, the newly appointed official dressmaker to the Queen, suggested that white, a royal prerogative for mourning, be worn instead of the traditional black or purple.
The effect on Paris was sensational and Elizabeth’s white ensemble was much admired. Kate looked beautiful, too, in her white outfit worn with such dignity. Mrs W. WiLLiS, Walton-on-the-naze, Essex SOME say the Duchess of Cambridge should not have worn white at Ypres as it ‘is not the colour of mourning’.
Sorry, but Kate was not in mourning for a family member. Instead she represented the country at a commemorative service for the sacrifices of Passchendaele.
And we can all agree John Swinney was a total embarrassment after turning up with an SNP badge as though he was at the party’s conference.
S. MOrriSOn, Edinburgh IF John Swinney simply forgot his poppy (Mail) at the service of commemoration for the centenary of Passchendaele in Belgium, he should have said so.
The SNP spokesman who said the Deputy First Minister was ‘solely focused’ on the events ducked the issue of his nakedly political SNP lapel badge.The impression given – right or wrong – was that Mr Swinney wore a political symbol to a series of events that have nothing to do with politics.
He was there to represent Scotland, not the SNP – and no, the two are not the same. JiM KEnnEDY, Glasgow SINCE John Swinney wore an SNP badge when he travelled to Ypres for the Passchendaele commemorations, will the SNP now be paying for the costs of his travel since he appears to be representing them and not Scotland? tOnY FULLErtOn, Glasgow IT is good that John Swinney has been called out over his lack of a poppy (Weekender).
All the top SNP types swap in ‘Scotland’ when what they mean is ‘SNP’ and Mr Swinney thought he could roll up in Belgium and be the Scottish/SNP big cheese.
Badges from any party have no place at war cemeteries. Mr Swinney let Scotland down badly. G. Watt, ayr