#the Duke of montague

[martianbugsbunny]

Fairy Godmother ex Machina in TSATR and Why it Kinda Works

at this point the movie I'm talking about is OLD so like...I'm putting my thoughts under the cut more for the potential rambling than for spoilers bc I doubt there are many people out there going "wait no don't tell me!!!! I gotta see it fresh-brained" but I found it on accident and I really enjoyed it so I'm gonna talk about it

read on and enjoy!

the biggest cheesy plot contrivance in The Slipper And The Rose came right at the very end. it's a Cinderella movie, as you might've guessed from the title, and so it comes with some classic Cinderella tropes that have to be overcome by the characters:

A) One of the driving forces for the whole story is that Prince Edward has to marry for alliance, and about fifteen (? I can't estimate time) minutes from the end of the movie his father has conspired to exile Cinderella and coerce him into marrying the daughter of a king who's threatening to invade. if this alliance falls apart, there's going to be war and the entire reason it was so important in the first place is that Euphrania is too small to defend itself, so it will be destroyed if Edward doesn't marry the Princess.

B) It's not emphasized much, beyond the ball only having foreign royalty and home nobility (to round out the numbers) in attendance, but it's in the constitution of Euphrania that the prince can't marry a commoner, which Cinderella is.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

Enter the Fairy Godmother ex Machina. She points out to the king that because he is, in fact, the king, he can unwrite the part of the constitution that prevents Edward from marrying Cinderella; she says something to him along the lines of "absolute monarchs should act absolutely, it's very becoming," and the king agrees to do it. One problem solved, one to go. But it turns out that the Princess and Edward's cousin have fallen in Love At First Sight, as officially confirmed by the Fairy Godmother, who knows a thing or two about it, and their marriage will preserve the alliance because you apparently can't attack your in-laws in this universe. Both problems solved at once within the span of like five minutes! But to me, it actually didn't feel super obnoxious or contrived, even though it was very much contrived, and I'm gonna tell you why.

Earlier in the movie, while Edward is resisting the idea of marrying for alliance instead of love, his best friend John is having a similar crisis but kind of in reverse: he's in love with a noble lady who loves him back, but he can't propose to her because he's a commoner. Edward's solution, once he thinks of it, is to knight John on the spot without a second thought, because as a prince he can just do that. Thus, the king amending the law to allow Edward and Cinderella to marry is made acceptable by means of precedent. John sets the tone and makes the solution for Edward feel a lot less out of nowhere by being the recipient of similar royal grace first.

The other plot device is admittedly more noticeable, although it still has one redeeming quality. The cousin appeared just often enough in the rest of the movie that it would have been strange and maybe even disappointing if he hadn't had any kind of resolution, but as a side character, it's not like he was ever going to get any significant emotional nuance or depth in a storyline of his own. Thus, while instantly falling in love with the Princess and solving the second problem keeping Edward and Cinderella apart, the cousin actually get the closest thing to a satisfying ending for him. In fact, in my personal taste, the contrived feeling is a worthwhile tradeoff for not having to be disappointed that his character never had a point at all.

So there you have it! There was definitely some magical solving-all-the-problems-in-the-last-ten-minutes going on here, but once I stopped to think about it, it kind of comes out in the wash. Besides, I wouldn't be happy with Edward and Cinderella not having a happy ending. I'll take the hit on reality for this one.

[yourfavebooklrsfavebooklr]

Some books I’d recommend that feature disabled characters to read this July!

image IDs in alt text!

Note: I’m aware that not all everyone in every community represented on this list considers themself disabled. As an outsider, it’s not my place to say- they are included because some people in these communities do consider themselves disabled, especially with many being spectrums where different people will experience different severities.

Cosmoknights - Amputee side character (major character in book 2)

Nimona - Amputee main character

Before the Devil Knows You’re Here - Dyslexic love interest

The Spirit Bares its Teeth - Autistic main character, autistic side character

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Love interest with epilepsy, main character becomes deaf in one ear, MC with anxiety in the third book of the series

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath - Autistic major side character, wheelchair user minor side character

A Lady For a Duke - Love interest with PTSD

Cemetery Boys - Love interest with undiagnosed ADHD (confirmed by author)

Into the Drowning Deep - Autistic character, two Deaf characters

Don’t Be a Drag - MC with depression and anxiety

Iron Widow - Wheelchair user MC with chronic pain

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Little person character

[davbertieloml]

OTD in 1901, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester was born in Montagu House, London ✨️

Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott was born on Christmas Day 1901 as the third daughter and fifth child of John Montagu Douglas Scott, Earl of Dalkeith and his wife, the former Lady Margaret Alice "Molly" Bridgeman, daughter of the 4th Earl of Bradford.

Lady Alice married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, on 6 February 1935 in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace. A much more elaborate wedding was originally planned at Westminster Abbey but after the bride-to-be's father died of cancer on 19 October 1935, and due to the King's failing health, it was decided that the wedding should be reduced to a more private one. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester later had two children, Prince William and Prince Richard of Gloucester.

The new Duchess of Gloucester had many activities, one of which was the launch of HMS Gloucester on 19 October 1937. From 1945 to 1947, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester lived in Canberra, where the Duke served as Governor General of Australia.

In 1972, she lost her eldest son, Prince William, who died at the age of 30 in a plane crash while participating in an amateur air show competition. Her husband, the Duke of Gloucester, died on 10 June 1974 at the age of 74.

On 21 August 2003, Princess Alice surpassed the Queen Mother's record as the oldest person in the history of the British royal family by reaching the age of 101 years 238 days. On 20 September 2003, at the age of 101 years and 269 days, she was certified by Guinness World Records as the longest-lived royal of all time, surpassing Leonilla, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.

Princess Alice died on 29 October 2004 in her sleep at Kensington Palace, aged 102 years and 309 days. She was buried next to her husband, Prince Henry, and eldest son, Prince William, at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore.

[ask-the-young-nor-westers]

Just then, a well-dressed couple walked up before the haughty boy could let another remark escape his lips.

"Oh, there you are Brandon. Who are your new friends?" Before Brandon could answer his mother, Olivia spoke up.

"My name's Olivia! This is Montague and Monique. It's nice to meet you."

"Lovely to meet you three. It's nice that our son has made friends already." Brandon could only stay silent in embarrassment while his parents made small talk with his "new friends."

(2/2; Part 1 here )

[blackcur-rants]

Okay, so we all know Charles Dickens was a huge Shakespeare fan and a theatre guy in general. Like, he did so many theatrical productions alongside Wilkie Collins and loved himself some dramatic readings of his own prose.

What I’m saying is that I kind of feel that “A Tale of Two Cities” lifts quite a lot from Shakespeare. For example, in both ATOTC and “Romeo and Juliet”, we have a story about two factions (the two countries of England and France in Dickens’ novel and the two noble houses of Montague and Capulet in Shakespeare’s play) who have been at each other’s throats for so long they don’t even quite remember why they’re at each other’s throats in the first place and what happens when two members of these respective factions (Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay in “A Tale of Two Cities” and Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet in “Romeo and Juliet”) meet and become close to each other. And of course, both stories end with a desperate person sacrificing themselves for the one that they love with said sacrifice being less a noble and definitive ending to the story and more an act of desperation in the face of impending death (Carton takes Darnay’s place on the guillotine in a desperate attempt to buy Darnay, Lucie, and their daughter time to escape back to London while Juliet commits suicide in what is very likely a desperate attempt to escape from what she still sees as her impending arranged marriage to Count Paris). There’s also a strong parallel between the main character trio in “A Tale of Two Cities” and the main character trio in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”, I.E…

•Both Viola and Charles Darnay are sweet, sensitive young nobles who find themselves living in a new land and assume new names in order to avoid suspicion and end up in a relationship they didn’t expect with the second character of the main trio.

•Both Olivia and Lucie Manette are smart, pious young women living in mourning for a dead or at least severely traumatised loved one and end up falling in love with the disguised protagonist while fending off the attentions of an annoying suitor (Malvolio for Olivia and Stryver for Lucie).

•Orsino and Sydney Carton are both the depressed young men uncertain of their purpose in life who become acquainted with Viola/Darnay while also being in love with Olivia/Lucie.

Where am I going with all this, by the way? Well basically, I’m kind of suggesting that there being queer subtext between Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay might actually have been intentional on Dickens’ part. However, because queerness was so verboten and punishable by prison or death in the 1850s, Dickens had to cloak all of this in ambiguity and subtext, using these allusions to classic Shakespeare plays as a way of coding/broadcasting his true intent to the audience who would know what he was doing.

@cynicalclassicist @eleftherian @secretmellowblog @dachi-chan25 @uncleasriel

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands invite the British Royal Family to a banquet at Carpenters' Hall in the City of London, UK, 13th April 1972. From left to right, Prince Richard of Gloucester, the Duchess of Gloucester, Prince William of Gloucester, the Queen Mother, Prince Bernhard, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Juliana, Princess Alexandra and Princess Margaret. 

[thurlocker]

Check out my e-book, available at Amazon and other e-publishing platforms!

Henry Scott, Third Duke of Buccleuch

By Tim Hurlocker

Henry Scott, Third Duke of Buccleuch tells the true story of an entitled young Scot who learns tough lessons in life and love as he travels through France with his famous tutor, the Scottish philosopher Adam Smith.

At seventeen, Henry Scott was a boy who had it all – wealth, title, and servants to attend to his every desire. After graduating Eton, his ambitious stepfather, the British politician Charles Townshend, hired Smith to be Henry’s personal teacher while they toured France in the mid-1760s. The plan was for Henry to gain Continental refinement, sow his wild oats, return to England, choose a wife, inherit his vast Scottish estates, and then stand for Parliament. Who could ask for more?

Yet as Henry completes his privileged education, he realizes that money can’t buy love and happiness, lofty titles imply great responsibilities, and that death strikes rich and poor alike. His lofty title assured a life of ease, but also decided who he could marry, who his sister could marry, and that his younger brother was slated for the military. As the date of his Majority nears, Henry must choose between the dueling influences of his scheming stepfather and his famous teacher over his estate, his marriage, and the future of Scotland.

Along the way, Henry and Adam encounter the luminaries of eighteenth-century France and England, including David Hume, Voltaire, Rousseau, Shelburne, Burke, and Ben Franklin, the American Representative in London. Henry met the kings of both France and England before he turned 21 but discovered that humble servants had the greater impact on his life. His education charts the birth of the modern liberal order that presaged the American and French Revolutions. Henry Scott is the dramatization of a true story; it reads like a novel and contains essential lessons for us all.

[ace-with--a-mace]

1996 romeo and juliet :P

[docotokautism]

with the amount of times i've auditioned for musicals alone in my house youd think i'd have a role in something

Sometimes you just gotta dance around your kitchen to a musical soundtrack and pretend that you’re on Broadway😌✨

[tragic-ships-tournament]

GUYS!! GALS!! AND EVERYONE ELSE IN BETWEEN AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM THAT IS GENDER!!

THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR... IT'S THEEEEEE-

TRAGIC SHIPS TOURNAMENT!

All 64 of your favorite tragic ships will be going up against each other in this head to head single elimination brawl! To figure out the answer to this age old question.... who is the best tragic ship?

The tournament will (hopefully) be starting 1 week from now! On Saturday, January 11th, for 24 hours only vote in our preliminaries to figure out who will be moving on to the next round. There are two brackets, Bracket A and Bracket B, and the winners of each respective bracket

Without further ado, let's see our brackets!

(apologies if there's any typos or mistakes- I had to google like 70% of these characters to get their names.)

Click for quality please! Tumblr is... Tumblr.

Here is the full list of ships!

Marvin Gardens and Whizzer Brown

Orpheus and Eurydice

Ivan and Till

Mizi and Sua

Donald Trump and Joe Biden

The RMS Titanic

Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt Bukater

Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper

Optimus Prime and Elita-1

The Ship of Theseus

My Hopes and Dreams 😔

Miss Holloway and Duke Keane

Lex Foster and Ethan Green

Margaret Cavendish and Samuel Stratford

Charlotte Sweetly and Ted Spankoffski

Melina Whistler and Janice Quatlane

Dorian Gray and Basil Hallward

Fiddleford McGucket and Stanford Pines

Dean Winchester and Castiel

Glinda Upland and Elphaba Thropp

Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet

Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan

Yamato and Portgas D. Ace

Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers

Archibald Clare and Ludovico Valentinelli

Aura Blackquill and Metis Cykes

Michaela Arklow and Clarith Netsuma

Peter Simonds and Jason McConnell

Jayce Talis and Viktor

Achilles and Patroclus

Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones

Farilane and Kile

The 10th Doctor and Rose Tyler

Jonathan sims and Martin Blackwood

Enjolras and Grantaire

Rachel and Tobias

Rem and Misa Amane

Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi

Erwin Smith and Levi Ackerman

Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough

The Captain and Lieut Havers

Crick Wellsley and Temenos Mistral

Jason Dean and Veronica Sawyer

Seymour Krelborn and Audrey Fulquard

Agent Curt Mega and Owen Carvour

Jesus Christ and Judas Isacriot

Goro Akechi and Joker

L Lawliet and Touta Matsuda

Thor Odinson and Jane Foster

Tessa Gray, Will Herondale, and Jem Carstairs

Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry

Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru

Tony Wyzek and MarIa Vasquez

Lou Clark and Will Traynor

Phob and Phat

Taranza and Queen Sectonia

Anakin Skywalker and Padme Naberrie

Lawrence Gordon amd Adam Faulkner-Stanheight

Pearl and Rose/Pink Diamond

Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura

Charles Xavier and Erik Magnus Lehnsherr

Normal Oak and Hermie Unworthy

Rintaro Okabe and Kurisu Makise

Rootspring and Bristlefrost

[hyperactively-me]

regency era!ghost x reader au (part 3)

The social calendar brought you and Duke Simon Riley together once again, this time at the annual charity horse race organized by Lady Montague. The event was held on the expansive family estate, where the elite of the ton gathered to watch, place bets, and socialize in the exhilarating clamor of neighing horses and cheering spectators. 

You stood by the paddock, watching the horses being paraded before the race. The sun was warm on your face, and the air was brimming with excitement. You had always enjoyed the thrill of horse racing, and today was no exception. As you chat with friends, discussing the prospects of the various riders, you feel a presence beside you.

Turning, you find Simon standing there, his eyes fixed on the horses. He looks as stern as ever, his jaw set in a hard line. 

“Your Grace,” you say, bowing your head slightly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” 

“Lady Montague was quite insistent,” he replies, not bothering to look at you or greet you properly. You huff at his impoliteness, already wanting to rid of him. “I couldn’t refuse her invitation.” 

“Of course,” you say, a hint of sarcasm creeping into your voice. “It’s your duty, even at a charity event.”

He finally glances at you, his eyes narrowing. “Yes, duty. Something I believe you understand, though our interpretations seem to differ.”

You bristle at his tone but keep your composure. “Is there no place where we can avoid bickering, Mister Riley?” 

“I could ask you the same, my lady,” he shoots back, voice gruff.

Before you could retort, Lady Montague’s voice rings out, calling for everyone’s attention. The races are about to begin, and you move toward the grandstand, taking a seat with a group of your friends. To your dismay, Simon took a seat not far from you; you turn your nose up, trying your best to ignore him.

The first few races pass without incident, the crowd cheering and clapping as the horses and riders thundered past the finish line. When the final race of the day was about to start, the crowd grew quiet, everyone on the edge of their seat to see who would win their bets. 

The race began, and you found yourself caught up in the excitement, leaning forward in your seat as the horses sprinted around the track. Just as the horse in the lead was about to cross the finish line, another horse stumbled, causing a chain reaction that sent several horses and their riders crashing into the ground. Gasps and shouts filled the air, and you stood up in shock, watching the chaos unfold.

Without a second thought, you hurry down the grandstand, making your way toward the track to see if anyone was seriously hurt. As you reach the scene, you see Simon already there, helping one of the fallen riders to his feet.

You spot another rider struggling to get up, your heart pounding in your chest, adrenaline coursing through your veins. 

You start to push through the crowd, but before you could make your way towards the rider, Simon steps in front of you, blocking your path. 

Despite your urgency to help the injured rider, Simon's abrupt intervention halts your progress, and frustration bubbles within you. You lock eyes with him, ready to demand an explanation for his interference, but before you can speak, he raises a hand in a commanding gesture.

"Wait," he says, his tone firm and authoritative. "It's too dangerous."

Your eye twitches at his presumption, your concern for the injured rider outweighing any patience you might have mustered. "I can't just stand by and do nothing," you retort, your voice edged with frustration.

"You could get hurt," he says, his voice low and stern. "There's a difference between helping and being reckless, my lady."

"And you think I don't know that? Don’t lecture me about recklessness,” you reply, your voice equally low but sharp. "I can’t just stand by and do nothing."

You attempt to move around him, and he grabs your arm gently but firmly, his grip insistent. His hand feels hot against your skin. “Please, trust me on this,” he implores, his voice resolute. “I can’t believe you are so stubborn that you would try to put yourself in harm’s way without thinking.” 

"I am thinking!" you snap. “I’m thinking about those riders, the horses, and—"

"And not about your own safety," he interrupts, his voice rising. "Which is exactly my point."

You go silent at that, swallowing your words. 

Simon presses his fingers into the flesh of your arm a little more firmly, but not uncomfortably. “I understand your desire to help, but rushing in without a plan only adds to the chaos. Let the professionals handle it.”

You hesitate, torn between your desire to help and the logic in Simon’s words. Taking a breath, you relent, biting your tongue and acknowledging the truth in his words. “Fine,” you concede, your voice tight. “But only because it’s the sensible thing to do.” 

Simon nods, a flicker of relief passing across his features as he lets go of your arm. "Thank you," he says, his voice genuine, though still laced with his usual aloofness. With that, he turns on his heel and starts directing the crowd. 

As Simon takes charge, organizing the crowd and ensuring the injured riders receive prompt medical attention, you step back slightly, watching his authoritative demeanor with an apprehensive appreciation. You can't deny the effectiveness of his approach.

And, despite his usual arrogance and abrasive demeanor, there was something undeniably compelling about the way he handled himself in this moment. 

Your gaze lingered on him, the lines of his face etched with determination as he barked orders at the crowd, his every move calculated and precise. For a brief moment, you found yourself seeing him in a different light, the harsh edges of his personality softened by the gravity of the whole situation. 

Unexpectedly, Simon's gaze flickers to your direction, his eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that sends a shiver down your spine. You quickly avert your eyes, a faint heat flooding into your face at the sudden rush of self-awareness.

You’re left feeling both unsettled and strangely captivated, and you can’t help but wonder if there was more to the Duke than met the eye. 

part 2 < > part 4

[msfcatlover]

Nightwing!Damian would still be of the Corruption, though he has so many healthy relationships in his life that its influence on him is slipping. His swarm is smaller now than it’s ever been. His power fades day by day. He might even manage to be human again someday (he doesn’t know how he feels about that, when his swarm are so beloved & his monster side has always been a source of pride for Damian.)

Tim was always going to be of the Eye, being Oracle only doubles down on it.

Cass in the TMA AU is basically Agnes Montague, but for the Stranger. That wouldn’t change either.

Steph was only just starting out when Damian took her under his wing. She never fully got caught in the spiraling fixation on destroying her father by any means necessary, she couldn’t pursue one goal to the exclusion of all others, and as the first fully human (non-Alfred) member of the team, everyone would be doing their best to protect that humanity, monitoring her for any sign of supernatural influence and guiding her away before it could get its hooks in her (they are still Bruce’s children, after all.) Until she came out of the dirt, unsheltered & unprotected, already marked so many times over, with fear & rage boiling in her blood. Until Talia gave Steph her mind back, gave Steph a purpose again, and the rage boiled over plasmatic hate. Until Steph laughed like a roaring maelstrom, sparks crackling in her wild hair, something bordering on madness in her eyes, and Talia thought: Oh. I have made a mistake. (The storm would be leashed, eventually. Steph does have self control, she has goals to achieve, plans to make, and power alone could not do that. But in that moment, when Steph realized her killer was still killing people despite everything that had happened, in her pain & fury, she gave in. She stepped backwards off that invisible ledge and plunged headfirst into what she knew she was Becoming. She embraced it, wholeheartedly. In that moment, it almost wasn’t Stephanie Brown in that garden, but the Cataclysm itself inside her skin. Almost.)

Duke… I’m still struggling to think of a good match for, but honestly in this AU… His ability to connect, to make people listen to him, his desire to step up & save the city himself if he has to, and the fact Duke is the eldest/first batkid in this AU (giving him & Bruce even more in common when Batman had only ever fought alone) all make me want to say Web. BUT with his powers, his ability to lead a crowd, the sheer scale of his potential, I also want to say Vast? What little I know of Gnomon also says Vast, ALTHOUGH…. …we could play off their shadow control, invert Duke’s light powers for this AU, and say Dark. Which would make Duke borderline antithetical to Web!Bruce, but hey, maybe Web!Bruce wants to prove to himself just how much choice he still has—that the Web can make him as uncomfortable as it likes, but he’s still going to take care of a child in need. (Assuming he is going against the Web’s wishes, of course, and it isn’t reverse psychologying him…) (My gut says Web!Duke, though. The more I think about it, the more I like Web!Duke conceptually… but I am worried that it doesn’t fit him. That Duke’s all-or-nothing “if no one else is going to, I’ll do it myself” attitude & raw charisma is not close enough to the Web’s need for control. I don’t like it when people just assign characters an Entity for the Aesthetic(TM) or for shallow, surface-level reasons—it has to resonate with their own personal failings, or else what’s even the point?)

Jason was human when he joined the family, and they’d want to keep him that way… but I think by the time he gets back from the Red Robin arc, Jason would’ve been claimed by the Hunt.

Dick gets scooped up by the family almost immediately in this AU, and Cass does her best to temper in his early-days bloodlust. With Cass as his Batman, I think Dick would be tempted by the Vast, but ultimately chase after her by embracing his own Otherness. (Or Dick was already a Stranger when his parents fell. But honestly, I like the arc of Dick learning to love himself & following in his mentor’s footsteps so much more than making him a Stranger because Circus.)

[royaltysimblr]

Princess Anne, The Double Duchess (1825-1906)

read more about her below!

Princess Anne was the third child of Queen Mary II and Prince Charles, the Earl of Statford. Although the Queen had resented her daughter for her gender, her father Prince Charles showered the princess with love and affection. Queen Mary distanced herself from her children after the birth, with historians agreeing she most likely suffered from post-partum depression. Princess Anne grew up to be a lively and joyful girl who enjoyed reading literature and had a passion for dance. Princess Anne married Prince Jean of Magnolia, the Duke of Claremont in 1849. The marriage was arranged as a part of Queen Mary’s agenda to improve relations between the two former rival countries. Anne disliked the stuffy opulent court of Magnolia and longed for a simpler life in Windenburg. Princess Anne struggled to integrate well into Magnolian society and had an infamous rivalry with her sister-in-law, Crown Princess Marie Louise. Princess Anne loathed her husband, who paid little attention to his wife. It was rumored for many years that the Prince had an affair with his secretary, the Baron of Aubin.  Princess Anne had two miscarriages before giving birth to a son, Prince Philippe, Count of Vermandois in 1855. While Princess Anne was visiting her mother at the San Myshuno Palace in 1862, her husband died, leaving the young princess a widow. Princess Anne decided to return to San Myshuno with her young son and lived with her mother at Statford Castle. Princess Anne would elope with her childhood friend, James Montague, 8th Duke of Vermont in 1864. The couple would have a happy marriage which produced a daughter, Lady Mary Montague. Social circles in San Myshuno High Society dubbed the princess the "double duchess". For the first year and a half of marriage, the queen refused to speak to Anne who in turn refused to attend court. However, her younger sister, Princess Mary, was able to mend the relationship between them. Although the Queen was opposed to the match initially, she later described the Duke as "her favorite son-in-law". Princess Anne spent most of her time away from court, and instead in the countryside of Victoria. Princess Anne lived a happy and fulfilled life and died at her country estate, Vermont Park in 1906 surrounded by her grandchildren.

[bruhstation]

I don't know if you've covered this already but, how old are your gijinkas? (steam team + side characters)

there's a lot of characters in casa tidmouth obviously but I'll just mention the ones I've thought of

thomas a. billington: 23 edward pettigrew: 46 henry stanier: 42 gordon j. gresley: 41 james a. hughes: 35 percival "percy" avonside: 22 tobias "toby" holden: 56

montague "duck" collett: 34 donald and douglas dunalastair: 29 oliver t. swindon: 32 emily stirling: 29 giovanni vin diesel: 35 mavis hawthorne: 28 rosemary "rosie" hill: 24 daisy heath-cammell: 30 diesel 10: 32 lady: 1000+ (physically in her early 30s)

skarloey fletcher: 57 rheneas jennings: 55 corris "sir handel" handel: 37 peter sam kerr-stuart: 34 "rusty": 28 duncan barclay: 31 duke gwynedd: 64 lucas "luke" joseph garside: 26

rebecca nassif: 23 nia e. wanjala: 24 ace herald: 22 sonny haydock: 26

scott f. gresley: 42 spencer s. gresley: 40 mallard m. gresley: 38 ryan stephenson: 25

hiro hideki: 62 kenji shirogane: 22 kana shirogane: 16

[haydenigmatic]

Members of House Sarpe

As the wardens of Vessier, the Sarpes maintain a balance of moderate military strength and considerable wealth. This wealth is primarily derived from the kingdom's renowned production of wine and poisons, as well as their extensive trade networks. Vessier's fertile lands and the presence of the Generel, a prestigious university, further augment their influence.

The Duke of Rouge Lake (Vessier) Lord Veneger Sarpe

FC: Michael Wincott and his deep, raspy voice.

Duke Veneger Sarpe is a master of manipulation and political strategy, yet he is powerless against the personal anguish he feels over Jyne's illness. His love for her is profound, and watching her deteriorate has inflicted a deep wound on his soul. To cope, he buries himself in his duties as the king’s spymaster, using his work to distract from the pain of his personal life. His frequent absences are not merely about duty but are also a way to avoid the heart-wrenching reality at home. Veneger’s love for Jyne drives him to maintain the strength and stability of House Sarpe, but his sorrow is a constant, underlying force in his actions.

The Duchess, Lady Jayne Montague

Duchess Jyne is a tragic figure, her illness rendering her unable to participate in family and political life as she once did. Her past wisdom and contributions are still valued, and her presence, though limited, carries a quiet strength.

(The Heir) Lord Veredus Sarpe

Lord Veredus is the paragon of traditional nobility. As the heir to House Sarpe, he clings to societal expectations with unwavering resolve. His sister Verena's seductive and manipulative tactics are an affront to everything he stands for. His fear of being overshadowed by her abilities creates a deep-seated tension between them. He struggles with the possibility that she might be more capable of filling their father's shoes, which threatens his identity and his place as the rightful heir. This rivalry drives him to prove himself, but it also exposes his vulnerabilities.

The Second child- Lord Vardan Sarpe

Lord Vardan is the adventurer of the family. His explorations to distant lands provide him with a wealth of knowledge and experiences. His neutral stance on family matters and frequent absences make him a mysterious and detached figure.

The Youngest - Lady Verena Sarpe

Lady Verena is the sharpest blade in House Sarpe's arsenal. She embodies her father's cunning and strategic brilliance, using her beauty and charm to manipulate and seduce her way to power. Her seductive skills are her weapon of choice, and she wields them with unmatched precision. She understands the value of influence and uses every tool at her disposal to secure her political advantage. Her elder brother's disdain for her methods only fuels her determination, and she thrives on the challenge of outmanoeuvring him. her unconventional ways make her a force to be reckoned with, and her ability to play the game of politics puts her in a league of her own.

[kellyvela]

Sophie's Hon 💋

If you want to know more about the guy Sophie Turner is smooching lately, you know, that very tall, very very rich, British aristocrat with a fantasy novel name, this post is for you . . . . lol

His full name is The Hon Peregrine John Dickinson Pearson, but he goes by “Perry.” And the photo above is his company profile picture.

Born on October 27th, 1994, he's 29 years old and the future 5th Viscount Cowdray.

Perry is from Midhurst, West Sussex, and now lives in a £5million house in Chelsea, West London.

The Hon before his name means The Honourable, a title used for all sons and daughters of viscounts and barons. Hon also works for 'honey' and 'sweetheart', hence this post's title.

Peregrine may come from Henry Winston Peregrine Spencer-Churchill, nephew of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Winston (Leonard Spencer) Churchill.

Yes, Churchill, you read it right! Perry's grandfather Weetman John Churchill Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, was the son of Agnes Beryl Spencer-Churchill, who was the granddaughter of George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough.

So Perry is distant related to Winston Churchill and Diana Spencer, The Lady D . . . . In fact, he has already introduced Sophie to some of the current Spencer-Churchills (they are cousins with Perry, I guess 🤷‍♀️).

Now, I have no idea why his parents opted to name him Peregrine over Weetman, since each of the four former Viscounts Cowdray were all named Weetman; but his peculiar fantasy novel/bird-like name inmmediately made me think of House Arryn and Harry Hardyng. More on this later.

But since he's not named Weetman, he fixed that by naming his own property investment and development company 'Weetman'.

John is for both grandfathers: Weetman John Churchill Pearson, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, and John Howard Cordle. 

Dickinson is for his great-great-grandfather: Weetman Dickinson Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray.

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Family

The seat of the Pearson Family is Cowdray Estate, Cowdray Park, Midhurst, West Sussex. The picture of the family above was taken at Buck Hall, the atrium of Cowdray House.

The name Cowdray comes from Coudreye, the Norman word for the nearby hazel woods.

Perry is the son and heir of Michael Orlando Weetman Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray, and Marina Rose Cordle.

His dad produced the documentary "Sympathy for the Devil," directed and written by Jean-Luc Godard, documenting the creative evolution of the song "Sympathy for the Devil" as the Rolling Stones developed it during recording sessions at Olympic Studios in London.

His mom is an artist, sculptress, interior designer and mindfulness coach, she's keenly interested in spiritual matters, she practises Transcendental Meditation (a form of silent meditation) and Qigong.

His parents separated in August 2023, after 36 years of marriage.

Perry has three older sisters and a younger brother:

Eliza Anne Venetia Pearson (born 31 May 1988). She married her first husband at 21. Later he left her for the Kate Winslet . . . . She remarried, had children and lives in Ibiza now.

Emily Jane Marina Pearson (born 13 December 1989). Tatler Magazine included her as one of the 10 perfect potential brides for Prince Harry . . . . She she studied Plant-based Nutrition and is one of the founders of the vegan restaurant "Farmacy" in Notting Hill.

Catrina Sophie Lavinia Pearson (born 13 March 1991). She goes by "Catty." She's a musician and a film-school graduate.

Montague Orlando William Pearson (born 17 May 1997). He goes by "Monty". Wee brother is 6'4. He's a helicopter pilot, enjoys flying drones and studied film production and graphic design. He was named after the former owners of Cowdray Estate, the Viscounts of Montague.

Perry also has an older half brother:

Sebastian William Orlando Pearson (born 1970).

As you can see, Perry is privileged to be the heir above his older half brother Sebastian, since he was born out of wedlock, and above his older sisters: Eliza, Emily and Catrina, since they were born women . . . . Where have I heard this before???

Sometimes I'm glad I'm an only child . . . .

As any other younger brother of three older sisters, he was annoying. According to Tatler Magazine, Perry liked to wind up his sisters (then vegan) by scoffing meat.

Perry is also an uncle, his sisters Eliza and Emily are mothers of cute babies, but sadly I can't show you pictures. He looks cute holding a baby tho.

Talking about cute babies, that little curly blonde boy sat in a chair next to his standing father in one of the portraits in the picture above, is Perry. His portrait was painted by Chinese artist Chen Yanning, who also painted Queen Elizabeth II's portrait:

Here a few more childhood pics:

That picture of of him as a baby peeing on a plant, is his Instagram profile picture . . . .

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Education

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services at the University of West London, UK.

Not Oxford or Cambridge? Shocking!

UX Desing at General Assembly in New York, NY, US.

Dear Perry, you can improve my user experience by making your instagram account public. That would do!

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Occupation

In January 2015, it was reported by Tatler Magazine that he was working for Aylesford International Estate Agents in London.

He also worked as an assistant site manager for Cordles, a London based contractor company founded by his maternal uncle Rupert Cordle.

He started working at Cowdray Estate in West Sussex, his family estate and heirdom, since 2016 to this day.

He's also the founder, partner and director of Weetman Developments, his own property investment and development company in London, since 2019 to this day.

Perry is also a Le Chameau – the wellington boot brand – ambassador.

As you can see, Perry is basically a nepo baby lol

But that doesn't mean he doesn't work, Cowdray Estate is huge (16,500 acre), and offers a vast variety of activities like golf, clay-pigeon shooting, fly fishing on the river Rother, walking, cycling, riding, polo, truffle hunting, hospitality at the farm shop & café, holiday cottages, tree houses, wedding venues, private stays and events at Cowdray House, filming locations (the Cowdray Ruins were used during the filming of Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan’s film, "Mary Queen of Scots"), among others, and Perry is/will be in charge of all of that.

According to his mom, back in 2019 he was pioneering aquaponic farming on a commercial scale [The Telegraph - June, 2019].

In an interview for The Gentleman's Journal, Perry said that he's working to pass the estate on to his heir in better conditions: “But the dream is to pass it on to my son or daughter in better nick than it’s in now. That’s the mentality when it comes to estates,” “You’re so grateful that you’ve been given this opportunity, you want others to have the same opportunity that you had.”

I don't know if Perry will try to change the primogeniture rules, but it was really nice to read that he thinks his heir could be a son or a daughter.

Perry's family was always wealthy (construction and petroleum in the past, publishing nowadays); but not always aristocrats.

His great-great-grandfather, Weetman Dickinson Pearson, was made a Baronet of Paddockhurst in 1894, then he purchased Cowdray Estate in 1909. Later he was made Baron Cowdray first, in 1910, and then the 1st Viscount Cowdray in 1917.

Viscount, is a European title of nobility, ranking immediately below a count, or earl. It is one of the five ranks of British nobility and peerage, which, in descending order, are duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.

So, when Perry becomes the 5th Viscount Cowdray, he won't be on top of the british nobility; but he will be richer. At present, Perry's family is thought to be worth £224million, and one day, he will inherit all of that.

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Hobbies

Riding (Not Polo)

His family estate includes Cowdray Park Polo Club, dubbed The Home of British Polo, but Perry doesn't play Polo.

His parents never pushed him to, perhaps fearing that he could get hurt by falling from a horse. "Michael (Perry's father) never sought polo glory after a fall from a horse at the age of 13" [standard.co.uk - 2010].

In 2018 he said: “Cowdray is to polo what Goodwood is to racing and Glyndebourne to opera.” “I’m getting lessons.” “I grew up riding and over the next few years it’s something I can see myself doing a lot more” [The Telegraph - August, 2018].

Later, in an interview for The Gentleman's Journal, he joked by saying that "he’s not particularly good at it".

So far, I only saw him presenting Polo trophies and congratulating the champions, so I guess the lessons didn't work . . . . lol

Maybe is better that way, if he doesn't play polo he wont smell of horses. Sophie is asthmatic and allergic to horses.

Golf

He plays golf for some charity and corporate events. No idea if he's good at it.

Clay-pigeon shooting

Not sure if he really shoots at flying clay targets or he only modeled to promote the shooting school at his family estate.

Huntings

He likes to attend posh huntings wearing tweed, baker boy caps and suspenders.

He already took Sophie to one of those last December, but she didn't wear tweed, she defied the rules by wearing a Zara black jacket and a pair of acid washed jeans. . . . She would look great wearing tweed, tho . . . .

(There have been hunters in my family, so I can't judge much)

Here some pics:

Skiing

He seems very skilled at it.

Meribel in France seems to be his family favorite destination to enjoy the snow.

He already took Sophie to ski & “après ski” there, and they were having the time of their lives!

Going to the beach

Yeah!

Ibiza is a favorite destination for his family, his dad used to live there, and now his eldest sister established there with her own family.

Can't wait to see Sophie enjoying the sun in Ibiza next . . . .

Enjoy some pics:

Partying

Fuck yeah!

"Like all the Cowdrays, he loves a party" [Tatler Magazine, January 2015].

"(...) the Hon Peregrine Pearson (the Cowdray heir), known for throwing ‘wild afterparties’ at his house in Chelsea, which he shares with Ella (Richards)’s boyfriend, Sascha von Bismarck" [Tatler Magazine, March 2023]. 

Here abundant evidence:

Pottery

Perry enjoyed spending time in his mom's pottery studio in the garden: “We were brought up being quite creative – spending time in her studio was very bonding” [The Telegraph - August, 2018].

I would love to see one of those creative pieces made by Perry 👀

Meditation

Like his mom, Perry practises meditation as well. [The Telegraph - June, 2019].

From pictures, it seems he usually wears a silver Meditator pendant. The Meditator is a seated figure, with a pointed head, a heart and a hole in its middle. His mom designed it herself, as a reminder to live in the present moment, rather than fretting about the past or future.

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Previous relationships

His only known/famous relationship was with Princess Maria Olympia of Greece and Denmark.

He dated Olympia for three years, since 2020 to 2023.

She seemed really into Perry during the relationship:

But shortly after their break up was official, she was reported being in a relationship with an older, married with children man . . . .

His wife kicked him out of the house after the news. Good for her! [Read more about it here]

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So far, this is all I learnt about Sophie's Hon Perry Pearson. I love that he's so tall and the way he can hug her being so tall, I bet Sophie loves it too.

But I kinda hate that the press only uses his most unflattering pictures, when is easy to find public pictures where he actually looks good.

Also, my friend told me that he reminds her a bit of Paul Mescal, and now I can't unsee it . . . .

What more can I say about him after my research? Oh, maybe that he has met the Dalai Lama and sat next to Kim Kardashian and Kimora Lee Simmons at Paris Hilton's wedding lol

He also loves to wear sunglasses, even indoors . . . .

Anyways, now to the point of this post!

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Romance with Sophie Turner

Perry is a Scorpio and Sophie is a Pisces, like Scorpio Ryan Gosling and Pisces Eva Mendes . . . .

I have no idea how they met, where they met, or when they met, but we have evidence that they spent the last part of October 2023 together.

2023 was a rough year for both of them, with her divorce and custody battle, and with his own break up with his ex, and the separation of his parents after 36 years of marriage.

The first time we saw him next to Sophie, we have no idea who he was. It was during the Rugby World Cup final on October 28th 2023, just before Sophie unveiled the trophy:

Perry was there with Sophie, but we had no idea they were together until October 31th 2023, when a couple of pictures of them sharing a kiss outside Paris’s Gare du Nord train station were made public and got viral:

The pictures were taken on the same day as the Rugby World Cup final. It was reported that they arrived together in Paris from London via the Eurostar, and said goodbye with a kiss before meeting again later at the Stade de France.

When their Paris kiss pictures were all over the press, someone claimed that their friend had seen them together the week before:

So, if the Rugby World Cup final was on October 28th 2023 and Perry's 29th birthday was the day before, I bet the lovebirds spent his birthday together in London.

I wonder what Sophie got Perry for his birthday??? An appointment with a fashion stylist, I hope!

(Perry, honey, burn those double breasted suits in your closet, please! They don't fit your large body 🙏 King Felipe II of Spain, has a similar body and his tailoring is👌)

I also believe they spent the last days of October together in Paris, since they were seen all cozy during a romantic dinner at some fancy Parisian restaurant:

After that Sophie was seen back in New York on November 3th 2023. We don't know if Perry travelled with her to New York, but some anon claims he saw them holding hands in West Village:

Back in London, they were seen making out in a famous spot on November 2023 . . . .

. . . . And having dinner with friends on early December 2023:

Later, we have graphic evidence of them spending time together from the 7th to the 10th of December 2023, at least.

December 7th 2023:

They went to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland at night, where they walked around, hugged and kissed:

December 8th 2023:

They had brunch in West London and walked around hand in hand, eventually stopping so Perry could gently caress Sophie's face and kiss her:

That day, this also happened . . . . 🤨

December 9th 2023:

They attended a posh hunting weekend at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, held by some of the current Spencer-Churchills: George Spencer-Churchill and his wife Camilla Thorp, Marquess and Marchioness of Blandford (they will be Duke and Duchess of Marlborough one day).

The event was full of Perry's aristocrat friends like Alexander Spencer-Churchill, Lady Jemima Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke’s daughter, and Eleanor Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington’s niece, among others.

So, Perry has basically already introduced Sophie to some relative and close friends:

Can someone please explain to me why is Perry wearing a pink ribbon around his neck in the last picture? Is a mystery I need to resolve in this lifetime.

Here a few more pics:

After that, I suspect they spent the holidays together in London, or, at least, that they saw each other for a few hours during those days. I'm not saying she introduced him to her family and daughters, but it's obvious that they are dating and Christmas and the New Year are festivities you want to share with the people you care for.

I wonder what Perry got Sophie for Christmas? A handmade ceramic vase? A basket full of hydroponic vegetables that he grew himself?Diamonds?

And most recently, on January 17, 2024, they were seen walking around London at night all cozied up:

I want her UGGS!!!

Also, are those really mini liquor bottles at Perry's hand??? At first I thought they were Sophie's nail polish bottles 💅🏼

Someone spotted them skiing in Meribel, France. It was reported on January 28th, 2024, but it was probably before that date. Deuixmoi titled the stories as "let's see what your fave celebs have been up to the past week"

She's having the time of her life with Perry? GOOD FOR HER!

OK, today January 29th 2024, Sophie herself posted pics of them skiing in Meribel together with a couple of Perry's friends:

Lol at Perry not looking at the camera in the first pic 🤭

So, I suppose they are official now, right? Maybe it's time to post this post . . . .

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Now, in the beginning of this post I said that after knowing Perry's fantasy novel/bird-like name, I immediately thought about ASOIAF's House Arryn and Harry Hardyng, you know, since House Arryn's sigil is a falcon, Harry Hardyng is dubbed the Young Falcon, and the peregrine is literally a species of falcon.

And since Harry Hardyng is the current Sansa's suitor in the ASOIAF incomplete series, I joked with my friends by saying that Sophie has entered his Harry Hardyng era . . . .

Perry also made me remember that passage in A Storm of Swords where Margaery's peregrine took a heron in full flight the day she and Sansa went hawking.

Peregrine is also the name of a ship that Arianne Martell boards in one of the few chapters of The Winds of Winter that GRRM released in advance.

Perry's name also reminds me of Pippin from The Lord of the Rings, since his full name is Peregrin Tuk, but this is a story for another day.

But if the Pearsons of Cowdray were a House from Westeros, they would be the Arryns enemies, since the Pearson's sigil is a gryphon:

And thanks to Sansa/Alayne we all know that the Winged Knight and the Griffin King were mortal enemies:

The Winged Knight was Ser Artys Arryn. Legend said that he had driven the First Men from the Vale and flown to the top of the Giant's Lance on a huge falcon to slay the Griffin King.  —A Feast for Crows - Alayne II

You know, in some ancient mythologies, the creature known as gryphon is depicted as fire-belching: "winged, tailed, and taloned dragon which spat fire." 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 Just saying . . . .

House Pearson motto is:

'Do it with thy might'

These words are carved on the stone fireplace in Buck Hall, the atrium at the heart of Cowdray House.

According to The Gentleman's Journal, Perry translates his family motto to simpler words: “Just do it — that might be a more modern approximation.”

But he's more into Adidas and North Star. Sorry Nike . . . . lol

Anyways, GRRM has the opportunity to do the funniest thing . . . .

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And talking about GRRM, it's time to tell you that Perry's family are the founders and large share holders of Pearson plc, a British multinational publishing and education company headquartered in London.

Pearson plc owns Penguin Random House, you know, GRRM's publishers, the ones that publish the ASOIAF series . . . .

And I recently came to know that Penguin Random House is going to republish Joan Hannington’s autobiography “I Am What I Am” under the title ‘Joan.’ And, you know, Sophie's upcoming project is precisely a tv series called ‘Joan,’ with Sophie taking the role of Joan Hannington . . . .

Some will say that this is part of the j word agenda, lol

Again, GRRM has the opportunity to do the funniest thing . . . .

~~~

Finally, we need to answer an important question!

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So . . . .

A match made in heaven? Or maybe we won't see his face again?

Only time will tell. I only hope that he makes Sophie super happy as long as they are together.

I will probably update this post with time or make a part 2, because Tumblr doesn't let me add more pictures 😢

Thanks for reading!