To think the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge need to work on their PR strategy?

[SamanthaBrique]

In recent months they've been accused of being work shy and what's their solution? To release photos of them and the children on a luxury skiing break! Now I don't begrudge them a holiday, but why make it so public? If they wanted to release photos of the kids then they could've just released a few shots of George and Charlotte at Kensington Palace or Anmer Hall. I don't know who is advising them on their PR but AIBU to think they need to engage someone a bit more in touch with public sentiment?

It must be good or they wouldn't do it. But really their whole lives aren't scrutinised. Only to a degree, what goes on in the palace, stays in the palace. Wouldn't like to imagine the secret goings on there. Princess Margaret had the chance to opt out when she wanted to marry that Townsend fella, the only trouble was she'd have had to give up her title and all the wealth and privilege that went with it.
Hmm, wonder which she chose.......

Again that was a sister not the queen we all have wayward relatives.

Im assuming our next monarch will be William. He and his wife are young and bringing their children up etc. before that HUGE responsibility has to take place. Good for them. Catherine is obviously very nervous about the prospect and its a learning curve for her. She was very sweet and endearing on the latest documentary.

To think the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge need to work on their PR strategy?

Thing is, you could lose the last four words of the thread title and it would still be a question to which the answer would be 'yes'.

But it is extraordinary how quickly they blown the considerable goodwill they inherited. Not so long ago they were basking in the glow of the fairytale wedding and William's status as the first born of St Diana. Some of the more feeble minded monarchists were advocating that the thrown should bypass Charles and be handed straight to William as the one most likely to follow dutifully in his grandmother's footsteps.

Very quickly the narrative around them has changed. I wonder how and why that is? I suppose when he was in the RAF that provided something of a fig leaf and allowed the line that he and Katherine were a normal forces couple living a close to ordinary life.

Why are you missing out Charles as the next king? But really, by the time Charles goes we might no longer have a monarchy. Only the very gullible will be taken in by it all. The "sweet and endearing" Catherine will no longer have to be scrutinised and her and William can enjoy their lives in total obscurity. It was all rather tiresome for them anyway.

Just curious, does anyone think Kate or William have ever had to get up for a night feed or to change a nappy? I seriously doubt if either of them have.

As William's father employs four valets and has them squeeze his toothpaste onto the brush, I think the likelihood of them being upnto their elbows in shitey nappies.

If they had, I'm sure the Royal PR department would be making a great song and dance of it and we'd have been treated to press stories about 'Wills the hands on dad'

I think they have irishdad - i think they actually are very hands on. The giveaway was in Australia when baby George was happily chomping on Kate's hair and she had the resigned look of being a mere toddler's plaything. I bet Charles never did that to The Queen, do you?

Of course if the latest news about their choice of London pre-prep for George is true, then that certainly backs-up previous stories of them wanting to spend the children's younger years in Norfolk before becoming 'full time' Royals residing in London.

I think public opinion will really turn once the Queen is gone. Many people have a lot of respect for her and think she does a very good job. I don't see the rest as being able to command the respect of the public like she does.

This.

I think when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh go it will just be a downward spiral for the popularity of the Royals

I don't get taken in by those photos, the contrived "look at us we're just like any normal family". There's never anything spontaneous about these pics, they're done to convey a certain look. Everything to keep an adoring public happy. It's all about preserving the monarchy.

Well I like them!
William works, Kate may have postnatal depression... Does anyone here know that she doesn't? We don't know ANYTHING about their private lives. They've obviously chosen not to appear publicly for whatever reason they have, and it's their choice.

I wouldn't want my children plastered all over the media, and I certainly wouldn't want my life scrutinised.

William is the grandson of the queen. And as a pp said, it could be another 30 years before he takes the throne. And I for one don't blame them for having as much private life with their children now, while that can, before he steps up to his role of King in the future.

Williams father actually has 147 servants.

I'm not a royalist as such, but I really can't get worked up or annoyed about K&W - they seem like nice people and actually seem to work hard (remember Charlotte is not yet 1 Kate could still be on maternity leave). They're likeable enough, as is Harry. The boys have performed plenty of duties and both serves their country.

I can't bear the lazy feckers that are Andrew and his kids. No effort at all to work, when people DM readers talk about Royals being spongers, it's hard to argue when you have those gormless ones in the pack!

There is some rabid hatred out there for Kate and will at the moment. There's a gossip blog called celebitchy where a group of about five people type reams and reams of very articulate but nonetheless furious diatribe about how feckless and lazy they are- I read it (sometimes when I can be arsed) because I marvel at where they find the time to be so emotionally invested in it all. I was thinking of asking them one day but
Am too scared In case they hunt me down with pitchforks and big torches People on the Internet can be so weird.

Anyway FWIW I was at uni with k and w so feel weirdly protective of them really. Wouldn't trade places with them for the world.

Speaking of the Yorks. Perhaps all you Cambridge-doubters should think yourselves very lucky.

If Wills and Harry decide to jack it all in and live their lives in rich, happy, quiet obscurity that would leave us with Prince Andrew as heir to the throne and Beatrice to follow. And if that happens you can bet your bottom dollar Fergie will end up at Buckingham Palace.

Pretty scary stuff, eh?

I think the monarchy would collapse if both wills and harry abdicated.

I doubt anyone would accept airmiles Andrew and his lazy daughters.

If Wills and Harry decide to jack it all in and live their lives in rich, happy, quiet obscurity that would leave us with Prince Andrew

Wills can't jack it all in for George and Charlotte.

they seem like nice people and actually seem to work hard
im sorry but I really don't agree.

What do you mean fugg?

Younger years meaning 'until they are 3yrs and 18months respectively' ? That was what all the Norfolk house expenditure was for?

The giveaway was in Australia when baby George was happily chomping on Kate's hair and she had the resigned look of being a mere toddler's plaything. I bet Charles never did that to The Queen, do you?

Maybe this is the 1940s version of hair chomping.

Wills can't jack it all in for George and Charlotte. I don't get that (maybe it's a bit early still )

Younger years meaning 'until they are 3yrs and 18months respectively' ? That was what all the Norfolk house expenditure was for?

George is due to start reception September 2017, when Charlotte will be 2 1/2. If they don't have anymore children that'll be the baby years over with. And Anmer will be for 17 weeks of school holidays and maybe some weekends obviously.

That's if you believe the Wetherby rumour.

I thought I read he'd start pre-prep next year (3 yrs old)

You mean 2016, next academic year Gooseberry? That would be nursery school. I don't think Wetherby (the London pre-prep near Kensington) do nursery. There are Norfolk pre-preps with nursery classes, but all are a fair distance from Anmer.

Nothing personal against the pair of them.
They crystallise what is bothering many people. In a democracy can we justify funding a monarchy, especially one that actually has political power?
Tradition is not enough of a justification imo.