What It's Like to Meet a Prince or Two

I can say it was and was not normal. In today's world almost everything seems so accessible and almost nothing seems as awesome.

It was awesome when I first saw the Grand Canyon because not even the panorama movie of the Grand Canyon at Disneyland could aspire to that awesome feeling in real life. What man could create That?

But a prince or princess is but a man or woman; and I was privileged to experience the contact of 4 royal princes in one room from different cultures. My husband was invited to a reception by a Saudi Arabian prince who was honoring another royal prince from England. It was a very small reception of about 60 civilians from different organizations and some wives.

It was thought provoking to be in the great hall of the Hampton Court Palace which was built by Henry VIII in the 1500's.  It's a tourist palace and the great room was rented by the Saudi prince for this occasion. It was very low key. No ceremonial  'pomp and circumstances.'  Just 10 to 15 minutes of a 'nice to meet you' impromptu conversation from each prince wondering between small clusters of people.

Standing around in our small group awaiting the divine was rather exciting as we, the five commoners; plus a few others who joined us later; enjoyed each others company while a barrage of servers bombarded us with tiny savory hors d'oeuvres. 
There is no alcohol among the Saudis, so we were offered nutritious carrot, apple, sparkling water drinks to quench our thirst which was a blessing for some of us who tend to talk more when lubricated.

The Royal Saudi Arabian prince with glasses and my husband;second from the left with company

When the Saudi prince emerged with his two very tall and slender, beautiful children; one young woman with clear blue eyes and a younger son who escorted him through the crowd because he is legally blind; he was very gracious and polite to everyone in the room. His aura alone commanded respect.

Naturally, my American, down to earth, personality in that kind of relaxed environment brought out the camera, clicking away at the decor, the prince, the group; with only a slight apprehension, since I was told by the 'living historian guides' and one of the consultants to the Saudi prince that it was O.K.  My co-conspirator, fellow wife was doing the same. 

The only difference between us that seemed conspicuous was my personality. I could not resist nodding and greeting everyone I saw, including the doorman, the handlers, the security, and the servers.
My behavior reminds me of a remark some European stranger once made about me: I can tell you are an American, because you are so friendly.
Growing up in the South among the southern-belles, I remember vividly one southern belle waving and smiling at me from a distance, as if I were her long lost cousin. It was just her southern hospitality at that exact moment because tomorrow she would be waving to some other stranger.
It must be contagious.

The Duke and my husband (foreground) before our rendezvous

When the English prince or rather the Duke of York appeared, I stood back far enough to take pictures of him without too much attention, I thought. It wasn't until he joined our small group to converse that his attractive lady handler came out of the woodwork and stood just a few feet away from me. She stared straight at me and mumbled something. I had the feeling she was calling me out for bad behavior in the presence of royalty. Not having the same divine aura the Saudi prince emitted, the Duke's handlers were a little more Gestapo in nature. I am sure she saw me taking pictures which was permitted by the host and the custodians of the palace and she could not tell me to stop until it became very personal and up close.
I knew what she was going to say before she said it; so I beat her to the punch.
I asked, " May I take a picture of the Duke?" Knowing the answer.
In which she replied, " It would not be appropriate." I just nodded.
Although, I was thinking: It would not be appropriate, only if he were in the nude!
And if she had heard my conversation with the Duke, I am sure she would have preferred I took pictures, instead.

Slowly meandering towards our small group, the Duke pierced the edge of our circle. I decided to keep my distance at the tail end just outside the circle; although my husband kept reaching out to pull me in so I would be introduced.
I figured it would come in good time because I was in a good talkative mood, relaxed and not really nervous. It's not like I am 20 years old and tongue tied.
It wasn't until the Duke grabbed my hand forcibly, pulling me towards him, saying something to the effect 'nice to meet you' that I said, "thank you."  Under my breath so quietly my mouth barely moved.
I wasn't any more nervous than when I first met my daughter's psychiatrist who was also towering over me.

The way I talked to the Saudi prince was with the utmost respect because his whole persona commanded a more dignified response restricted to polite conversation; unlike the conversation I had with the Duke from England; the country we won our Independence from during the Revolutionary War. Just the presence of his handlers guarding him from a picture taken by me made me realize why we wanted our Independence from that country. There were other photographers in the room still taking pictures. Some professional. It was a very relaxed environment. The Duke was just doing his normal every day duties of entertaining the commoners.
Since we only had a fleeting moment to converse, the entire conversation was rather choppy. I could not feel my feet on the ground. It was as if I was floating and my sentences and words were floating around too. Nothing came together to make a cohesive sentence.

I don't know when or how we got on politics; although my husband will swear it would be in my nature. I do remember the Duke saying he was against our government's decisions to sue Arizona over the immigration law; to sue BP over the oil spill; trying to impress us with his knowledge of American politics. And since we knew little to nothing about English politics; we also were trying to impress him with our knowledge of American politics.

After listening to him talk about his political beliefs, I told him that he sounds like he listens to Fox News. He said he didn't know anything about Fox News. My husband inserted that it's a conservative news show that I record so I won't miss anything. He chuckled.
I told the Duke that I am a firm believer in the Tea Party and with that; he leaned towards me, towering over me with his six foot plus body, staring down into my upright face, slightly cocking his head; eyeing me like a bird inspecting a tiny insect before he ate it.

Then he said something to the affect of "Tea Party.....and Taxes?" My feet were still floating in the air and my mind couldn't connect all the words; so I stared up at his face without saying a word, but  thinking:  Is this a quiz?
I had no clue what he was asking me. When I did answer, "Do you mean,"taxation without representation," he had leaned back and rolled his eyes.

Later, I asked my friend who was standing with me what she made of the conversation. She said he definitely rolled his eyes twice; but she thought it might have been a gesture of thinking.
I said, 'no.'
I am sure he was rolling his eyes from something I had said; as I was wondering why he was doing that.

During the short 10 minute rendezvous with the Duke, all that mattered is that my husband felt I was an asset.
Although, the following day, we read in the newspaper that my husband's parent company and England who have a lucrative contract, was unexpectedly, canceled by England.  Some company people at the 'rendezvous' wondered if my remarks of being a 'Tea Party' sympathizer had anything to do with it.

Tea, anyone?