Crowns

Bearded Young Fogey

HRH Prince George of Cambridge

Young Folks

"Young people are the same as they always were. They are just as ignorant."

- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (2005)

Young Fogey

Bearded Weirdies

As you know, I'm generally not the kind of chap who would turn his nose up at a hairy puss. Not when the beard in question belongs to an angry Viking or mountain sage. Or HRH Prince Michael of Kent (at left), whose beard looks entirely proper and appropriate. I myself have been known to grow wild whiskers in blonde and red. But when carefully-cultivated facial hair starts showing up on the smug mugs of young middle-class professionals--well, even I have second thoughts. In recent months I have noticed an increase in young beards in the local community, including the office. It almost goes without saying there are some chaps who simply shouldn't even try, such as a certain short, weedy 59-year old senior tutor with curly hair, thick specs, and a rangy beard with bits of Weetabix stuck in it, who is inadvertently caught down the pub skipping his lecture. But I can't explain the latest trend. There's something suspicious about it. It screams "trying too hard". Are young men following the dictates of some pop icon or fashion guru? Are they trying to showcase their masculinity, or hide a chubby face? It's bad enough that they are young. Why must they be scruffy, too?

Royal Wedding Message

LBF and the crack editorial team at Admiral Cod send their Heartfelt Congratulations and Best Wishes to the newly-wed T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to H.M. The Queen and to all the Royal Family on this blessed day. God save the Queen!



"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."

~ Bishop of London, 29 April 2011, quoting Saint Catherine of Siena

Tartan Tuesday



HRH The Prince of Wales and the
then-Lady Diana Spencer



Superfogey (1985)

'Charles had, come to think of it, always been a bit Fogeyish. Now he had clear focus. His love of opera, his devotion to the Church of which he will one day be the Head, his goonish sense of humour, his shy gallantry, his interest in the countryside and gentlemanly sports. Of course! There he stood, turn-ups in his jacket: although he rarely wears a waistcoat and could not exactly be described as donnish, the Young Fogeys could not have found a better patron. The Prince doesn't wear old tweeds, naturally, but buys the real thing; he is the walking epitome of the old aristocracy to which the YF aspires in his dreams. He seems so stalwart for old values, too--family, fishing, duty--and the whole package is even neater when one remembers that his wife is Super Sloane.'

The Young Fogey Handbook, by Suzanne Lowry (1985)