Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be edging towards an anti-Monarchy position purely because of the Cambridges?

355 replies

Buxhoeveden · 17/08/2015 07:29

As a couple they are starting to grate.

Is it too early to focus on them?

OP posts:
SuperFlyHigh · 18/08/2015 16:50

Laurie she was given a stern talking to over the Fake Sheikh stuff so she got warned off... see.

otherwise there'd be media attention and maybe unwise stories.

still many of the stories/pics of the Middletons have calmed down now but not until they've had to be told. would think they'd learn.

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 16:56

It was Kara Noble, a radio presenter, who sold her photo of Chris Tarrant pulling Sophie's top up.

Sophie was blameless. She was a junior PR with an important person who assaulted her.

Kara Noble was slaughtered for flogging the picture.

Chris Tarrant sailed on.

SuperFlyHigh · 18/08/2015 17:04

Sansarya Grin I know exactly what you're on about.

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 17:07

SuperHighFly

Sophie Wessex was extremely greedy and stupid which was why she got caught by the News Of The World's Fake Sheikh, Mahzer Mahmood. It's probably as well that she sticks to good works these days.

He also caught Fergie, who is even greedier and more brainless.

Both of them were flogging access to the Royal Family. It is inconceivable that Prince Edward and the Duke of York did not know that.

There was also a big row with Charles when Edward tried to flog footage of William and Harry at a private event.

Oh and there was the time that Peter Phillips flogged his wedding pictures to Hello without telling members of his family that they were going to be appearing.

It's not just the Middletons who are money grubbers.

Sansarya · 18/08/2015 17:11

You'd think Sophie, who worked in PR (and IIRC continued to until the fake sheikh debacle) would've been a bit more savvy and not spilled the beans to a total stranger!

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 17:13

Oh and let's not forget Charles flogging off gaudy but extremely valuable wedding presents - like a model of a dhow, a traditional middle eastern trading boat, from the Saudi royal family, not in wood but in solid gold.

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 17:14

You have a touching faith in the intelligence of some of the people who work in PR Sansayra

SuperFlyHigh · 18/08/2015 17:22

limited most of the general public who heard about Sophie working in PR and flogging her story thought she was very stupid and naive.

It was Prince Charle's aide who apparently sold the Middle Eastern Dhow on Prince Charles behalf - no specific authorization there from Charles.

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 17:33

It was Prince Charle's aide who apparently sold the Middle Eastern Dhow on Prince Charles behalf - no specific authorization there from Charles.

Really? Would you take it upon yourself to sell your employer's belongings without his permission?

It's not theft we're talking about here. He gave Charles the money and was rewarded with a cut.

fancyanotherfez · 18/08/2015 17:40

I know someone who was running a small business who pitched a business proposal to a large organisation. The contracts were about to be signed when they mysteriously pulled out. A few weeks later, it came out that they had done a deal to sell James Middleton's marshmallows. The business was an identical concept to JM but a more viable product. The person I know has made a profit despite the setback. JM has made a massive loss, but to say he's not using his name to get into places is ridiculous. That the Middleton's had such a strong work ethic yet have managed to not instil that in any of their children in any way is pathetic.

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 17:48

That the Middleton's had such a strong work ethic yet have managed to not instil that in any of their children in any way is pathetic.

Why? It's often the way. Just because your parents are thrusting entrepreneurs doesn't mean you want to do it.

Perhaps it's frustrating for the Middleton parents but that's for them to deal with.

It's not as if any of their children except one is claiming benefits Wink

fancyanotherfez · 18/08/2015 17:56

You don't have to want to be a thrusting entrepreneur, just expect your children to have some ambition and drive for the thousands spent on their extrememy good education but to send your daughters to Marlborough to meet a rich man just seems so regressive and disappointing as I write this I think of the Hilton/Kardashian kids and I know you are right limited but its still disappointing!

limitedperiodonly · 18/08/2015 18:08

I was thinking of Mick Jagger, who was at the LSE before becoming an international rock star, and his feckless offspring fancyanotherday.

Sansarya · 18/08/2015 21:19

Mick was at LSE? I did not know that!

CatWithKittens · 19/08/2015 09:42

SuperFlyHigh says even the Queen isn't happy with the Middletons' behaviour and goes on to cite as her "authority" for this proposition some magazine article, which itself cites another gutter press article. I am fascinated by the idea that HM has passed on her private thoughts to a journalist. I wonder what has made her suddenly so garrulous and indiscreet when she has always been the opposite of that?

SuperFlyHigh · 19/08/2015 09:49

cat there's almost always a hint of truth about these rumours... why was Sophie Wessex obviously told to behave after her Fake Sheikh scandal??

MagalyMaman · 19/08/2015 19:56

WEll, it's true that Diana's siblings were never included in the photos, but Diana was isolated and I think that the 'courtiers' learnt from that?? and also, the impression has been given that kate and william thrashed all this out before they got married. This has been alluded to in the past.

James and Pippa haven't done anything particularly shameful imo.

If they didn't want 'nearly royals' William should have married a less attractive woman with less attractive siblings.

Viviennemary · 19/08/2015 20:50

I think it's often the way for sucessful business people. They have worked hard and given their children the best of everything. And then the children expect all that but without the work. The whole concept of royalty is wrong IMHO. So it will always have the hangers on and boot lickers out for all they can get.

ajandjjmum · 19/08/2015 21:17

One of the best traits any parent can encourage is a strong work ethic.

ajandjjmum · 19/08/2015 21:18

Isn't there a saying 'clogs to clogs in three generations'?

BuggersMuddle · 20/08/2015 00:10

I can't be doing with them either tbh.

I've always been republican in principle, but I'm a pragmatist, so if we can demonstrate the queen offers good value, there are probably bigger fish to fry for me and various countries have demonstrated that presidency has its own issues (although I quite like the Irish model).

I had an odd lightbulb moment though a few years back when I realised a lot of the reverence I had for people was partly an age thing (the queen, my old priest despite being an atheist). Stick someone my own age or younger in the role and I suddenly queried why I ought to be doffing my proverbial hat.

Had to laugh upthread about the queen owning the country and paying tax (recent thing). I'm not particularly leftwing btw (centrist, some would say centre right), but an inherited right from feudalist times isn't exactly a mortgage & likewise the tax paid is based on years and years of take. I do wonder if they will pay inheritance tax, that'd be a doozy (I suspect not).

I couldn't really care about the Royal box at Wimbledon, except to note there were plenty of others in there who were 'slebs' but not especially worthy, so that wasn't exactly limited to Middletons. (This includes some very successful sportspeople who I respect, but still couldn't work out wtf they were there. Perhaps the criteria for the Royal Box seats could be a bit more transparent.)

SuperFlyHigh · 20/08/2015 09:40

ajand - this strong work ethic trait seems to have bypassed Kate...

at least Pippa and James 'try' with their ventures... (although Pippa can't write for toffee).

SansaryaAgain · 20/08/2015 13:30

I've been reading a bit about the Duchy of Cornwall today and found this (it's Wikipedia but it's referenced)

"Tax [on the Duchy] is calculated after deducting official expenditure, the biggest source of which is the Prince's staff of about 110 who assist with his performance of official duties, including private secretaries and a valet working in his office at Clarence House and at Highgrove House. The official expenditure of the Prince of Wales is not audited by the National Audit Office."

110 members of staff to assist him in performing his official duties? 110??? I don't see how anyone in this day and age could need a valet. And why isn't his expenditure audited?

SenecaFalls · 20/08/2015 21:09

Maybe a valet is needed to keep all those military uniforms in good shape? I'm sure that the Queen has a dresser.