I’m not a true royal watcher in the sense that I send birthday cards, own memorabilia or aspire to meet them in person. I do follow a couple of royal-related Instagram accounts and of course I love keeping up with the Princess of Wales fashion 🙂 Usually I find royal news to be a pleasant escape from the real world.
Royal news has been heavy lately, however, with the Princess just returning from the hospital after an operation and the King having just been diagnosed with cancer. It hits close to home for me given that I have many friends/relatives who have experienced similar diagnoses over the past few years.
Since they’re on my mind at the moment, I thought I would share some things I find inspiring about the royal family, especially the women.
- They take excellent care of themselves, physically and mentally. I’ve read many articles over the years about how the royal family eats a healthy diet, loves to cook their own food and participates in a variety of sports to stay fit. They work hard but take regular breaks, especially when under the weather (the Princess of Wales won’t be returning to royal duties until after Easter to recover from her operation). Most people don’t have quite the capacity to rest for such long periods of time, but it’s a good reminder not to push yourself so hard when your body needs a break.
- They pursue purpose-driven work and are constantly unveiling new initiatives. I love how the PoW has brought attention to the importance of early childhood and how early development shapes the rest of our lives (as of last fall). Or the King and Prince William’s interest in sustainability via several initiatives and charities. It’s a good reminder that even when we’re busy, it’s important to be charitable and find a cause to support beyond our day-to-day lives. My parents were hugely into community service when I was a kid, and that definitely helped embed those values in me as well.
- They are well-dressed: classy, functional and often reworn clothing. Sometimes I think about other celebrities who essentially show up to an awards ceremony in lingerie, and wearing something so impractical it will never be worn again. The royals are well-dressed–I could certainly never afford those clothes!–but they always wear clothes that are relatively modest, appropriate to the occasion and can often be worn again. They have classic style that ages well and shows they are unconcerned with keeping up with momentary trends. I saw a photo of Princess Anne wearing one of her late mother’s coats to a work event recently!
- They have healthy boundaries–we don’t know everything about their personal lives. Some celebrities have a tendency to dump everything about their health, kids, family issues or whatnot on the public. The royal family is quite the opposite, and I admire them for that. The whole world should not know every detail about your child’s latest medical problem or your marital issues. Stay classy, and don’t overshare.
- They are genuine. When they interact with the public, they are not haughty and untouchable. They’re friendly, chat with common people and are kind. They often take commercial flights, drive their own cars and cook their own meals. We love a celebrity who’s self-aware and down-to-earth, and to me, the royal family qualifies as that.
Who’s someone that’s been inspiring you lately?
xx Claire