Comments on: “Topping the list for extravagance” is not a compliment

By: something wicked

something wicked — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:56:29 +0000

The pope’s gift sent a clear message rooted in Catholic social teaching, an image of the kingship of Christ (an orb surmounted by a cross), with the insinuation (reminder?) that it’s the historical bedrock of any anointed monarchy, whether they like it or not. That’s what I think the snide remarks are about, rather than a “papist” dig. After all, nobody beats homegrown High Church Anglicans when it comes to camp extravagance.

By: Artemis

Artemis — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:55:00 +0000

Please, please for the love of God stop using that picture of Joseph Muscat! It’s been giving me nightmares. His face looks like a bag of spanners. Either that or he’s been chewing a wasp.

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:53:23 +0000

In reply to Conservative.

That’s not a boutonnière but a lapel pin.

If it is indeed the “mess dress” version of the KOM medal, then please take out the civil servant who came up with this blasphemy, and shoot them. If you haven’t got a gun, just club them to death. Medals are medals. There are miniature versions that you can wear with mess dress, and ribbons that you can wear when you’re not wearing the medals. But a lapel pin is just peasants trying to play at running a real country.

P.S. I know exactly what a SMOM rosette looks like. Sarcasm, my dear Conservative.

By: Conservative

Conservative — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:51:00 +0000

In reply to H.P. Baxxter.

Mr Baxxter

I should suspect that the ‘buttonniere’ (or ‘rosette’) is in fact the Maltese ‘Companion of the Order of Merit’ (‘KOM’). The Maltese republic has ridiculously enough usurped the insignia of the Order of St. John (dit ‘de Malte’).

A genuine SMOM or Venerable Order of St John rosette would be black not blue and red (the GC on our flag has a blue border or ‘tincture’ around it as in heraldry and vexillology, ‘silver’ cannot stand on ‘silver’).

Fenech Adami, de Marco and so on, have all worn it since 1990.

By: Conservative

Conservative — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:46:57 +0000

In reply to Be-witched.

Sir or Madam

HM The Queen was born in 1926; she will be well over 85 in 2015.

A couple of years back, a well-documented and publicised decision was taken that all foreign trips will be carried out by other members of the Royal Family, to preserve her energy and well-being.

I would not be very much surprised if HM were to come to Malta on a Royal Visit prior to CHOGM as Queen Elizabeth has expressed a wish to visit Villa Guardamangia again.

The residence used by Lord and Lady Mountbatten, and then TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (Princess Elizabeth was not Queen, yet), is in a very sorry state. I should recommend that HM Government buy it from the Maltese owners and use it for a formal purpose.

By: Conservative

Conservative — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 14:43:16 +0000

In reply to Angus Black. All gifts from Maltese Presidents and Prime Ministers to Pontiffs and HM The Queen were very tasteful when the PN were in government. They were often beautiful watercolours, or icons, or replicas.

By: Last Post

Last Post — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:50:15 +0000

In reply to Joe Fenech. So as he'll be better able to smell the coffee.

By: V.Vella

V.Vella — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 09:13:49 +0000

In reply to Be-witched. The Duchess of Cambridge is HRH. Her Grace is reserved for non-royal duchesses.

By: Joe Fenech

Joe Fenech — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:49:13 +0000

‘Silver BREAKFAST set’ ! Dan bis-serjeta?

By: Gaetano Pace

Gaetano Pace — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 07:26:27 +0000

In reply to H.P. Baxxter. More suitable would have bee a white Labour Taghhom ilkoll flag. The colour of surrender white as it may does not suit him whose tongue never gives up fibbing.