Trek Freak After all the "movies" being made these days this was a truly breath of fresh air. I've been renting/buying most of Lacey Chabert's Hallmark movies lately (some decent, some not so much) and this one by far is the best. Everyone was very relaxed and having a lot of fun. The prince guy was unexpectedly watchable (not too self-conscious and played remarkably well off of his co-stars). Even Jane Seymour seemed to be enjoying her part. So yeah, it's not an academy award winning drama or a complex spy movie... it's a Hallmark. It's on the light side and you pretty much know what's coming... except it was surprisingly engaging and highly entertaining. Best movie I've watched in a while. Give it a try.

SimonJack "A Royal Christmas" is a very good movie that works as a very good Christmas film as well. That's because it also is a comedy-romance, and one with a different twist. Many a film has been made in which the commoner American (usually) makes all sorts of mistakes and wreaks havoc in and on a royal household. Instead, this film has an American commoner who rises to the occasion and foils the witty attempts of the royal head of household. Thus, "A Royal Christmas" is much more than another tale of princess meets prince charming. The film has a very good cast that bring the comedy off just right. The love interests are Emily Taylor (played by Lacey Chabert) and Leo James (aka, Prince Leopold, played by Stephen Hagan). Emily comes close to being too sugary at times, but fortunately, the timing in the screenplay creates switches at the appropriate moments to contain the syrup. Leo, on the other hand, starts a little cool in the first scenes, but then seems to get into his role with conviviality. There's a handful of supporting cast with smaller roles who do a lot to give life to the plot. But two other major leads stand out and guide the film to its successful finish. Jane Seymour is sparking as Isador, Queen of Cordinia, and Leo's mother. She has a match planned for him in childhood friend and sweetheart, Natasha, Duchess of Warren (played very well by Katherine Flynn). And, she loathes the thought of Leo marrying Emily, a commoner. Her conniving to make it all unbearable for Emily mostly backfires when Emily makes friends with the royal household staff, and takes a quick day-long lesson in royal behavior from Victor, the chief butler. Simon Dutton plays Victor wonderfully. He's the one staff person who isn't intimidated by the queen, while always maintaining his proper place (of course). Naturally, there's a happy ending in this film. There are more details and some small subplots within that add nice touches and enhance it as a Christmas movie. While it isn't loaded with laughter, the many foiled plots and scenarios just bring smiles and chuckles. As a chick flick, this would probably be rated tops. As a very good comedy-romance and Christmas film, it rates eight stars from me. It's a very entertaining movie that the whole family should enjoy.

Lanus story I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." – Elizabeth I, Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. "When I'm dead that boy will ruin himself within 12 months" – George V on his son, who became Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in the first year of his reign to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson. "Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love." – Elizabeth II in a message to the USA after 9/11. "I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" – Prince Philip, after being offered wine in Rome in 2000Royalty through the ages have been attributed with coining many quotes; in battle and even in their own court. Here is our list of the top 15 quotes from members of the Royal Family, past and present. "I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." – Elizabeth I, Speech to the Troops at Tilbury. "When I'm dead that boy will ruin himself within 12 months" – George V on his son, who became Edward VIII. Edward abdicated in the first year of his reign to marry divorcée Wallis Simpson. "Nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love." – Elizabeth II in a message to the USA after 9/11. "I don't care what kind it is, just get me a beer!" – Prince Philip, after being offered wine in Rome in 2000."I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." – The Queen Mother in 1940 after Buckingham Palace had been bombed. "I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the world." – Charles I on the scaffold just before his execution in 1649. "It was with some emotion…that I beheld Albert—who is beautiful." – Victoria, on meeting Prince Albert, her future husband at the time. "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm an alien!" – George V after hearing that HG Wells called his court 'alien and uninspiring'. "My father was frightened of his mother; I was frightened of my father, and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me." – George V on discipline of his children. "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great Imperial family to which we all belong." – Elizabeth II, 21st birthday speech, committing herself to her then future role as Sovereign of the United Kingdom. "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." – Elizabeth II, 1957 Christmas Broadcast to the nation. "All these questions about do you want to be king? It's not a question of wanting to be, it's something I was born into and it's my duty, wanting is not the right word. But those stories about me not wanting to be king are all wrong." – Prince William, 21st birthday interview with the Press Association. "You are a pest, by the very nature of that camera in your hand." – Princess Anne. "I really hope I can make a difference, even in the smallest way. I am looking forward to helping as much as I can." – The Duchess of Cambridge post-engagement interview. "To be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it... ...And though you have had, and may have, many princes more mighty and wise sitting on this seat, yet you never had, nor shall have, any who will be more careful and loving." Both quotes from Elizabeth I's 'Golden Speech', the last speech she gave to Parliament in 1601, 16 months before her death.

knofaith While there were parts that were good, and I've watched it a few times (silly but sometimes heart-warming and cute), Hallmark made the American characters appear warm-hearted but classless, goofy, and downright stupid. Royalty doesn't float around the US falling in love & marrying classless, poorly-dressed dolts who would call a queen "your majesty-ness". Further, it's highly unlikely that Prince William walked into Buckingham Palace with Kate on his arm without Kate having some serious coaching, and untrained staff would likely never serve a queen. As for the comparison to 'a princess for Christmas', the only thing I will mention is that both movies portrayed the (American) women as weak and sloppy with neither having a decent career or job, and the costumes were hideous. Jane Seymour had some good lines, but she is portrayed a heartless witch with no other purpose, and the staff is portrayed as incompetent idiots. Victor and the Baroness are the only characters I really liked. More work next year Hallmark.