Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder where the royal family are for the Olympic closing ceremony?

100 replies

hermioneweasley · 12/08/2012 21:09

I mean, isn't this what we have them for?

If they can't be arsed to turn up for this, when the eyes of the world are n London, what is their purpose?

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 13/08/2012 00:43

Harry was there. Anne and Tim were there and Kate.

I think it was more of a young persons event and Prince Phillip has had a fairly recent health scare.

TapirBackRider · 13/08/2012 00:55

So the Queen doesn't attend ONE event, and in some people's eyes that means that she's not an active monarch?

Aye, ok then. Hmm

Pandemoniaa · 13/08/2012 01:05

I think she saved herself for the Morris Dancing. You won't have recognised her underneath the baldricks.

Whatmeworry · 13/08/2012 01:19

Maybe they're worried Paul McCartney might sing again

Worse - they knew George Michael would sing twice......

Sunnydelight · 13/08/2012 03:56

Weren't people on here moaning a couple of weeks back that the royal family were at all the events - ffs, they really can't win (and I'm not even British!).

ddubsgirl · 13/08/2012 04:00

i thinking seeing as the queen is into her 80`s and was there at the start + this time it was more music she was at home tucked up in bed!
shes passed the torch so to speak to the younger royals.

danteV · 13/08/2012 06:01

Can't really win can they.
A couple of weeks ago they were getting a bashing for being at too many events and about how William just seemed to be able to take as much time as he wanted off.
Fact is queen and prince Phil are old, it wasn't a state event. Prince Charlie and cammi are knocking on a bit.
Kate and harry were there, 2 representatives of the royal family. There you go.

Animation · 13/08/2012 06:15

Was he on his own poor lad?

Not surprised he was nervous - think the prefers to have his bother with him... and Kate.

Seems a bit odd though that everyone has taken off.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 13/08/2012 08:35

The queen is damned if she goes and has the nerve to look vaguely uninterested at something
And damned if she doesn't go!

Poor woman!

Hopeforever · 13/08/2012 08:43

I'm more concerned about the lack of Charlie. Anne had to be there due to Olympic connections.

I do hope that there hasn't been bad news in the Royal household

SoupDragon · 13/08/2012 08:45

The Royal Family were represented. What is the problem?

HmmThinkingAboutIt · 13/08/2012 08:47

Question: Was this the first REALLY big public event that Harry has done on his own?

William & Harry have been ambassadors for sport and the Olympics or something - Charles wasn't. And the Olympics were about youth and the idea of inspiring a generation. So it means the Queen can easily pass the torch to her grandsons on this one.

I personally feel this is part of the plan to pass the crown. The Queen can't do it forever and I rather suspect that Charles will take the role of the King's Father rather than become King himself - I bet it was the only way the Queen would allow him to marry Camilla.

I note that Harry had a face on him all night. I bet it is because he always thought he'd dodged the bullet of the responsibility for the Monarch. But last night was the first time he shouldered it all.

William might be the next King, but I think its being lined up so Harry takes a substantial portion of the royal responsibility. He's very popular and seems to 'connect with people', whereas William can still be a bit aloof.

I feel a bit sorry for him actually.

MrsKeithRichards · 13/08/2012 08:49

She's a lazy dog!

danteV · 13/08/2012 09:00

I would be a bit uncomfortable with a spotlight in my face.
He knows the majority of the world was asking 'who is prince Henry?'

EssexGurl · 13/08/2012 09:12

I love this. When the Royals were at everything, people were complaining. When they aren't there, people are still complaining. Poor William, can't get it right, can he? If he is there, he is neglecting his RAF duties, if he isn't there, he is dissing the country.

HildaOgden · 13/08/2012 09:19

The Queen opens things,apparently she never closes things,it's protocol.

Loshad · 13/08/2012 09:21

I was more worried one of them was I'll so reassuring to hear the non attendance was prep landed. Bet the queen is knackered after the past 2 weeks, my mum is 10 years younger than her and pretty fit and still couldn't do half of what the queen does

McHappyPants2012 · 13/08/2012 09:30

I would want my nan in a very noisy areina that time of night. She is 86 and in the last 16 months have had alot of duties to attend.

I bet Prince harry had fun last night

SamuelWestsMistress · 13/08/2012 10:12

Kate was there trying to out scrawn Posh.

ClaireRacing · 13/08/2012 10:16

I think that it is tradition for the Queen to open the Olympic Games but not to close them (eg Montreal 1976). She does the opposite in the Commonwealth Games, iirc.

jandymaccomesback · 13/08/2012 10:19

My mother is the same age as the Queen and would have hated the whole thing.I expect she had her TV on mute! Why would it be suitable for an 86 year old?
I was a bit worried about Harry though. He looked distinctly uncomfortable.

SamuelWestsMistress · 13/08/2012 10:21

Uncomfortable but hot as fuck!

Olympicnmix · 13/08/2012 10:25

Aw c'mon, it's her Jubilee year, she shouldn't have to suffer Madness and Emeli Sande on repeat.

MrsKeithRichards · 13/08/2012 10:27

It did read a bit like they'd put the cannon fodder out for the night, all spares and no heirs.

jandymaccomesback · 13/08/2012 10:30

Kate was there and in the scheme of things she is pretty important in that she has to provide the next heir.