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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not care about the royal baby?

157 replies

carlajean · 03/05/2015 16:33

Apologies if there's already a thread on this (I can't find one) but why do people care about this? My facebook page is full of people thinking it's great news and I just don't get it. Just another royal parasite in my view.

OP posts:
OrlandoWoolf · 03/05/2015 20:57

The people who should get a grip are probably those who have waited outside the hospital for days, have posted about the clothes Kate is wearing, the clothes George is wearing etc.

Discussing the Monarchy as an institution is important. Especially in a democracy.

Original poster
carlajean · 03/05/2015 21:03

alicelidl all I did was apologise if there was another thread, if there was one. Then say what I did in response to what I perceive as the OTT postings on the subject.
and yes, I hold with the word parasite. It doesn't mean I want her to die FFS, just a simple observation. Who do the rest of you think is going to pay for her?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 03/05/2015 21:07

Again, your use of the word "parasite" is offensive. You can see from the rest of my posts I'm no supported of the monarchy. But your issue is with the institution not this particular baby. People on benefits have babies that are entirely paid for by the state. Would you call them "parasites" as well?

Sistermillyrose · 03/05/2015 21:50

While not holding with the word parasite for a baby there is a massive difference to people on benefits and what they receive which is hardly enough to live on, and the huge amount of money the royal family get. People on benefits have also often paid into the system through national insurance contributions. You cannot compare people on benefits who often go to bed hungry with the very privileged royal family.

morethanpotatoprints · 03/05/2015 21:54

just registering my non interest here too.
I don't know them personally and has nothing to do with me.
Don't wish them any harm though.
it doesn't bother me if people are interested or not, each to their own.

PurpleDaisies · 03/05/2015 22:11

sistermilly I wasn't trying to say the situations are the same. I was trying to say that just because the parents of a child receive money from tax payers it doesn't make them the baby a parasite.

For what it's worth I don't think the royals should get any money from tax payers and poor families should be supported much better. It is ridiculous that while people on the lowest incomes struggle we still give money to the most privileged. I don't care if they "bring in more than they cost" (although I have never been shown convincing data on this). The principle is wrong.

PurpleDaisies · 03/05/2015 22:13

*it doesn't make the baby a parasite not "them the baby" in the above post

AliceLidl · 03/05/2015 22:21

carlajean I think you're over-reacting to my post.

The first bit was one of those dreaded lighthearted comments we're not supposed to say was lighthearted, but I thought the Grin gave it away.

The second bit, well I don't think it's acceptable to call a newborn abusive names of any sort

And if you read the post properly, I didn't accuse you of wanting anybody to die, I said I remembered one particular poster from last time saying they wished that on baby George and calling him a parasite, which was awful, and that I don't like it when people do this to babies.

If you have strong feelings about it, okay the adults are fair game, but the children don't deserve to be singled out, especially not when they are just hours old.

pocketsaviour · 03/05/2015 22:57

YANBU, I don't give a shiny shit and really can't get my head round those who do.

Mind you I don't really get the whole celebrity thing either.

OwlinaTree · 03/05/2015 23:13

Very interesting to read that about the Irish president, thank you. I must admit I had only considered the US model of election really.

coconutpie · 03/05/2015 23:17

Calling a newborn baby a parasite is absolutely vile and disgusting. OP, that is absolutely shameful behaviour. A baby was born, healthy and safely to a family who will love and adore her. If you're not interested then stop listening to the news of her birth. But there is no excuse to call an innocent, precious newborn a parasite. That's a fucking awful thing to say.

JohnCusacksWife · 03/05/2015 23:22

Can you imagine the outrage if someone called the child of benefit claimants a parasite? But clearly it's ok to be offensive about people as long as they're rich and posh.....

Sistermillyrose · 03/05/2015 23:23

Good post Notyounaanbread it's also worth noting that the presidency of the Republic of Ireland is two and a half times cheaper than the monarchy.
In actual fact there is no law that says a presidency is necessary. The UK could get by fine on just having a prime minister.

my2centsis · 03/05/2015 23:27

Royal parasite?? And innocent baby?? You disgusting human being!! Wow your just a delight. Vile vile vile person

Sistermillyrose · 03/05/2015 23:32

That's going a bit far my2centsis, she shouldn't have called the baby that but she probably means the royal family as a whole.

JohnCusacksWife · 03/05/2015 23:38

Without googling it I'd guess that very few people who aren't Irish would have a clue who the president of Ireland is. Or could care less. People all over the world know our royal family and while I don't believe they are any better than the rest of us i do think they do a great job as ambassadors for our country. I know republicans will disagree but i think they are one of the USPs of the UK.

OrlandoWoolf · 03/05/2015 23:42

i do think they do a great job as ambassadors for our country

One of them does go abroad and represent our country. But let's not talk about Prince Andrew and his actions abroad, shall we?

JohnCusacksWife · 03/05/2015 23:43

There's an exception to every rule, Orlando ;-)

UncertainSmile · 03/05/2015 23:46

People who go on about the Queen still 'working' at her age. My nan was born in the same year as Liz Windsor, was worn out by working by 60, dead by 75. Waving out of car windows and cutting ribbons ain't working.

OrlandoWoolf · 04/05/2015 00:01

I have respect for Prince Harry and William. But I also feel sorry for them. If he had been "an ordinary person", Harry could have had an enjoyable life in the Forces. He could have served in Afghanistan, flown helicopters and stayed in it. It's obviously something he enjoys.

Same for William. He seems to have found happiness flying helicopters. And to work for the air ambulance must be a rewarding job.

But he has expectations upon him. Yes, he has the option of abdicating. But I suspect duty is important to him.

Hell, I even feel sorry for Charles. He is passionate about things - things I believe in. But he can't really do anything about them apart from write a few letters to Parliament. He can't be an activist, he can't chain himself to fracking sites etc. He is restricted.

And Kate. Well, she knew what she was letting herself in for. Her love for William must be strong. Diana was a prisoner in a gilded cage.

It's a very strange institution. One family - and don't forget, if you go back several generations, there are actually many people related to previous Monarchs, this one just got there by chance. One family whose role in life is to be Head of State and to be treated nowadays as celebrities to sell papers.

I am sure that in future times, people will look back on this era and write papers on the cult of the British Monarchy.

NotYouNaanBread · 04/05/2015 10:07

JohnCusacksWife That's because he fulfils his role with dignity and modesty. Most presidents do (some exceptions, of course like America and France, although in those countries the President has become blended with what the Prime Minister does in other republics), because the excesses of monarchy are repulsive to them. That's the point of being a republic.

Sistermillyrose Good point - a president is probably largely redundant in some ways, but I can see virtues to having somebody who is not elected at the same time as the government, and for a slightly longer term, who has the power to step in. I think British politics are suffering (or rather, British people are) at the moment from the short life cycle of a prime minister, and for all my complaints about the US system, at least their President is (in effect) there for 8 years, all things being equal.

Sistermillyrose · 04/05/2015 11:23

Orlando why do you feel sorry for Harry and William. They could easily have fulfilled full roles in the military if they stood down from royal duties and gave up their royal status. They choose not to because the super privileges and lifestyles given to them are too beneficial.

harshbuttrue1980 · 04/05/2015 20:50

In response to the person who replied to me by asking whether I would be prepared to face the cameras without having my hair and makeup done - I can honestly say that no one I know has ever cared about how they look in the first few hours after giving birth. Of course, you don't have to be a martyr to motherhood, and I'm not saying that to be a good mum you can't care about your appearance, but calling a hairdresser to your hospital bed only hours after having a baby?? That's one hell of a narcissistic thing to do. Her obsession with her appearance and image will not make for a happy childhood. And a full-time, live-in nanny when you only work for a few days a month?? I think she's having children to cement her place in the royal family, rather than for the genuine desire to be a mum. Fake, fake, fake.

Bursarymum · 04/05/2015 20:59

OMG sorry for them lmao

I feel sorry for many people but not the Royal Family. Yes, their lives are intruded into. But come on.

fatlazymummy · 04/05/2015 21:06

I'm not particularly interested in the royal baby either, at least not from the viewpoint of her being royal. I have posted on a couple of threads about her name and Kate coming out of hospital, because I'm quite interested in babies and childbirth generally.
As far as I can see, the glory days of the monarchy are over now. Most people just aren't that interested.