Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when Kate Middleton got engaged and showed the world her ring, she looked PERFECT - hair, outfit, teeth, smile, manicure etc. When Zara Phillips got engaged and showed the world her ring, it was extremely modest and her nails were tatty and she had a hole in her sleeve. This is the difference between strivers and the truly wealthy.

Also yes to being unflappable and stoic.

Being impeccably groomed, especially all the time, is a mark of the middle class. Having impeccable table manners is also a mark of the middle class.

Being emotional - middle class.

I agree with the above characterization. Kate Middleton is middle class - in both attitude and life. Zara has always been upper class. On the other hand, Kate having to be impeccably dressed in public now - I wouldn't characterize her as middle class because of that. She's a royal and there are expectations; being impeccably dressed in public is her job. It would be disrespectful for her to not be impeccably dressed.

Agree with other posters here too - not being loud - that's upper class.

Being low key.. Drinking a lot.. Being outdoorsy.. Liking dogs (in many instances liking them better than people).. Certain activities - sailing, squash, skiing.

European vacations being not a big deal (that said cruises are usually lower class, unless you charter a boat that fits ... say ..10 people)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't upper classes perceived in movies ALWAYS as being white?

There is actually less upper class in America than there is in South America, Europe, or Asia so maybe for a realistic comparison look at those continents because the upper class in the US is very very little.

Upper classes don't like public embarassment and will avoid as much as possible.

No teen pregnancies
Psychiatric help is an embarrassment and therapy is unheard of.
They always dress well and never wear old raggedy clothing even when doing nothing.
They have help such as nannies, maids, cooks, drivers if need be.
They don't intermingle with the lower classes unless it is for business reasons.
They have to have good table manners and kids are taught from a young age not to intermingle with those of lower classes.
The kids go to the best schools that are often private.
Kids learn music and are pressured to marry well or succeed academically.

Many of these are true of old money in the U.S., but I have to disagree about the bolded. Old money with true class is always on a first-name basis with people such as their regular butcher, vet, doctor, housekeeper, gardener, etc. They teach their kids to treat everyone with the utmost respect and grace and treat those who work for them as if they are friends - which they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when Kate Middleton got engaged and showed the world her ring, she looked PERFECT - hair, outfit, teeth, smile, manicure etc. When Zara Phillips got engaged and showed the world her ring, it was extremely modest and her nails were tatty and she had a hole in her sleeve. This is the difference between strivers and the truly wealthy.

Also yes to being unflappable and stoic.

+1,000,000.

And if Kate had done that, she'd have been torn apart for it and all the "she's not worthy"/"she can never be a proper royal"/"the UK deserves better from their future Queen" sort of stuff would have begun in the media.

Kate Middleton knew she wasn't just marrying the love of her life, wasn't just marrying into a family or a social circle or a class but was marrying into a position and a role, and she obviously lived up to that. In general, people tend to expect their princesses to be PERFECT...from the moment of engagement on she belonged to the public and she knew what was expected of her.

Kate Middleton and Zara Phillips isn't really much of a comparison.

You're deluding yourself if you think there is anyone on earth who would rather look like ZP over KM.

We're not discussing looks, we're discussing class.

And yes, most aristocrats would not marry into the royal family. How many times did Prince Charles get turned down? As for Prince William, rumor is that he was really in love with Isabella Calthorpe; she wouldn't have any of it because she wasn't interested in the circus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when Kate Middleton got engaged and showed the world her ring, she looked PERFECT - hair, outfit, teeth, smile, manicure etc. When Zara Phillips got engaged and showed the world her ring, it was extremely modest and her nails were tatty and she had a hole in her sleeve. This is the difference between strivers and the truly wealthy.

Also yes to being unflappable and stoic.

+1,000,000.

And if Kate had done that, she'd have been torn apart for it and all the "she's not worthy"/"she can never be a proper royal"/"the UK deserves better from their future Queen" sort of stuff would have begun in the media.

Kate Middleton knew she wasn't just marrying the love of her life, wasn't just marrying into a family or a social circle or a class but was marrying into a position and a role, and she obviously lived up to that. In general, people tend to expect their princesses to be PERFECT...from the moment of engagement on she belonged to the public and she knew what was expected of her.

Kate Middleton and Zara Phillips isn't really much of a comparison.

You're deluding yourself if you think there is anyone on earth who would rather look like ZP over KM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when Kate Middleton got engaged and showed the world her ring, she looked PERFECT - hair, outfit, teeth, smile, manicure etc. When Zara Phillips got engaged and showed the world her ring, it was extremely modest and her nails were tatty and she had a hole in her sleeve. This is the difference between strivers and the truly wealthy.

Also yes to being unflappable and stoic.

+1,000,000.

And if Kate had done that, she'd have been torn apart for it and all the "she's not worthy"/"she can never be a proper royal"/"the UK deserves better from their future Queen" sort of stuff would have begun in the media.

Kate Middleton knew she wasn't just marrying the love of her life, wasn't just marrying into a family or a social circle or a class but was marrying into a position and a role, and she obviously lived up to that. In general, people tend to expect their princesses to be PERFECT...from the moment of engagement on she belonged to the public and she knew what was expected of her.

Kate Middleton and Zara Phillips isn't really much of a comparison.

Anonymous wrote:Define upper class (or as you so elegantly put it, upper ass). Are we talking royalty, top 1/2 percenters, family wealth, new money?

Anonymous wrote:Bringing your entire wardrobe, including pearls and ascots, on a 3-hour tour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flossing and bidet

That's funny. We bought a house in DC for $325. It came with a bidet. My DD is 10 at the end of the month. She flosses morning and night and uses the bidet before her shower. (I do too). We are TRULY not upperclass-but... she can roll with the best of them. Private school, private violin lessons, ballet lessons and swim team. Well-traveled with a passport since she was 22 months old. 3 cruises and ski vacations-out west. I always think-who is this AA child going to marry.

So-not sure that the bidet and flossing make one upper class-at least not in my house-but it does make you cultured. We are well-rounded and cultured.

Anonymous wrote:Pulling up next to people at red lights to ask for mustard.