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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Prince William and his wife are lacking appreciation of their position

806 replies

fideline · 02/03/2014 21:16

and good fortune?

He just seems a bit of an over-privileged posh boy?

I know everyone says he has lovely manners, but we can expect a bit more than that, surely?

They have just hired a 'forrin' nanny a) after making an enormous PR fuss about not having one b) at a time of high UK unemployment.

The list of god-parents for their baby was a bit multi-barrelled and Hmm No foreign royals, as is traditional, but Not the slightest whiff of any demographic diversity either.

There seem to be a LOT of luxury holidays going on with these two.

The uni course he is doing has been especially designed for him and seems designed to prepare him for inheriting the enormous (private) Duchy of Cornwall. Not exactly public-spirited?

In the much-hyped first post-baby interview, he was keen to promote a charity saving Kenyan Rhinos. Nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but the line between animals he shoots for fun and animals he wants to save is unclear and anyhow a charity for under-privileged (UK?) children would have been the nice, publicity-shrewd thing to do, maybe?

For a couple with a great deal of expensive PR expertise at their disposal they seem to be slightly missing the mark a bit too often.

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LessMissAbs · 02/03/2014 23:05

But there are loads of History of Art students who attend similar universities where they meet their future husbands who just happen to have trust funds. Loads of people like that. That's the set they move in. They actually work more than a lot of them. Some of that set live in parts of Europe and Africa, they holiday with each other and go to each other's weddings.

I also think a lot of what they do is curtailed by pr decisions. I don't think Kate being so apathetic was a good one but there must still be some element of personal acquiescence in the matter.

But plenty of people living similar lives: my SIL: first degree then second postgraduate degree, moved into flatshare with DH's brother, pursued him determinedly for years before becoming his girlfriend, lots of foreign holidays, first home bought by their parents, worked for less than a year, got married, got pregnant.

Friend's girlfriend: dropped out of first degree when met friend, moved in with him, found part time job in friend's shop, spends most of her time being a good girlfriend and hoping to get married.

Kate must be the only woman on here to be criticised for being a SAHM!

manicinsomniac · 02/03/2014 23:06

You used to be able to go to St Andrews with 'ordinary' A Levels SteamingNit My sister's offer in 2004 was B B C (for a Sciences degree). Her time there overlapped with William's so you definitely didn't need super grades to get in when he went. It was only the most popular courses such as English Literature which were demanding all As.
It's probably all courses nowadays.

I don't really mind one way or the other about the Royal Family. I don't 'follow' them (didn't even watch the Royal Wedding, I went shopping and it was like being in a ghost town!) but I think I'd feel a mild sense of loss if Britain didn't have them.

The thing is, if Britain didn't want a Royal Family then surely we wouldn't have one. It has to be a minority that don't like them.

Original poster
fideline · 02/03/2014 23:08

Hardly, body Grin . I like Charles, despite not being much of a royalist myself. I think he tries hard to do good things.

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gd1976 · 02/03/2014 23:09

You may want to think about how much they attract tourism to the uk? A huge part of the countries income......Smile

Original poster
fideline · 02/03/2014 23:10

That;s such a hoary old chestnut gd it really is.

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muffinino82 · 02/03/2014 23:11

I think a lot of people will agree with you Muffin don't understand why they aren't avoiding that particular elephant trap. They could, easily.

Makes me sick and as a proud Cymraes don't get me started on the 'Prince of Wales' title his father holds Shock

CumberCookie · 02/03/2014 23:11

That's it though - they can never have a normal life. Say they gave it all up tomorrow and went to live in a privately, do you think the press would let them off? do you think they could ever live like everyone else and be treated the same?? I don't.
Yes they are undoubtedly incredibly privileged but they are burdened too.

Original poster
fideline · 02/03/2014 23:11

I broadly agree with you Walton. Lots of people would.

Which is why these two need all the public goodwill they can muster. And they don't seem to be trying as hard as they could.

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DonnaDishwater · 02/03/2014 23:11

I wouldn't want to be in the Royal Family for all the money in the world!

Original poster
fideline · 02/03/2014 23:13

Less she wasn't a SAHM in her 20s

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gd1976 · 02/03/2014 23:14

Sorry fideline, I was just being genuine and trying to find a positive from all this negativity.... Sorry!

KaFayOLay · 02/03/2014 23:14

Personally, I love the pomp and ceremony that revolves round the royal's. The same pomp and ceremony that brings 100's of 1000's of visitors to our shores every year. Visitors with money.

troglodad speaks a lot of sense regarding the courting of other countries and northern too is another who is on the ball with facts.

Burren · 02/03/2014 23:15

Dear god, this is like the thread that ended up with posters frothing over with their desire to defend that famously marginalised, disempowered group -Old Etonians.

The mere existence of a monarchy is a blot - not the only blot, but one of them - on the face of this country. I cannot get excited about the lack of educational attainment, hair loss, childcare arrangements or fancy dress costumes of individual family members, the existence of an institution legitimising privilege is appalling in itself. And no, opening the odd community centre while being curtseyed at or supporting British designers doesn't make it ok.

LessMissAbs · 02/03/2014 23:16

Fideline I know, but plenty of women (and men) don't have careers or much in the way of jobs before becoming SAHPs. Its not unusual.

movingmovingmoving · 02/03/2014 23:16

Fideline - exactly. I just think she is such a sad 'princess' role model for little girls. Even Charles has interests and causes; she is just so vacuous.

Morloth · 02/03/2014 23:16

Well clearly they have enough of the public's goodwill.

Just because you aren't keen doesn't mean others are not.

Perhaps Kate is being 'boring' and 'pretty' and 'thin' for a very good reason.

Troglodad · 02/03/2014 23:17

Sadly, unlike schmoozing middle eastern royalty (for instance ones only interested in speaking to royalty and/or inaccessible to elected politicians at a given time due to diplomatic considerations), impressing people who want them to drive everywhere in an Austin Montego, will not prevent the British economy collapsing overnight. :)

Greythorne · 02/03/2014 23:17

Trouble is she was a SAHM before she had a baby. She was a SAH fiancée when she could easily have been a busy working fiancée or a busy volunteering fiancée.

Joysmum · 02/03/2014 23:17

I wouldn't know if they do or not, I don't know them personally.

Original poster
fideline · 02/03/2014 23:17

It's fine gd. It's just that no-one has ever proved that it's true. The tourism thing I mean.

The positive is that they seem a nice couple, who were allowed to marry for love and who possess immense wealth and a healthy child.

So i'm sure they will absolutely fine ni matter how unpopular the monarchy becomes.

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JanineStHubbins · 02/03/2014 23:17

Ah, the tourism cul-de-sac again, from Kafay and gd1976. Look at France, they don't need a monarchy to be the most popular tourist destination in Europe, do they?

Burren · 02/03/2014 23:18

Ka, look what the French did with their royals - no lack of tourists to Versailles, despite its inhabitants having been guillotined. Or do you honestly think Buckingham Palace only attracts tourists because the Queen occasionally eats her cornflakes there?

Mignonette · 02/03/2014 23:19

What it really comes down to is whether you see yourselves as a subject of another human being or not.

Would you bow to another human being because of the family they were born into as opposed to what they have achieved?

I wouldn't.

And Versailles makes more money than any of our royal tourist attractions so it is a fallacy that without an active royal family, we'd lose billions. Not that I am suggesting we lop their heads off but 'decommissioning' would be a start.

fortyplus · 02/03/2014 23:19

Without the Royal family we'd have to have a President as Head of State - shall we give the job to David Cameron? Who was it who said they'd rather have someone who's got to do the job than someone who wants to do it! Grin

Original poster
fideline · 02/03/2014 23:20

"Fideline I know, but plenty of women (and men) don't have careers or much in the way of jobs before becoming SAHPs. Its not unusual."

I agree, Less but they don't need popularity. I just find it all a bit puzzling. Maybe a lot of the 'don't care' attitude comes from William's feelings about the press.

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