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Original poster

To think seeing an older lady curtesy to KM is sad to see

375 replies

Julia2016 · 20/05/2016 13:05

Just saw a photo of an older lady curtesying to Kate Middleton, I felt so sad to see it. Sad as to why anyone would feel the need to bow down to another human being.

Every day I shake my head with who people admire in this world and how the general public swallow all these pr machines. 😒

OP posts:
AdrenalineFudge · 20/05/2016 16:02

I regularly have to catch up with various meetings and greetings going on in Brussels and Juncker's chief of staff makes my toes curl and my hairs stand on edge with his bowing to state-leaders. Not even a polite nod - a full on 90 degree bow.

To think seeing an older lady curtesy to KM is sad to see
To think seeing an older lady curtesy to KM is sad to see
Banderwassnatched · 20/05/2016 16:03

You doubt it, derxa? How curious you'd know me better than I know myself. Like I said, I have no interest in these people, just the roles they occupy- which have no place in 2016.

AnnieOnnieMouse · 20/05/2016 16:03

(upthread) Don't long distance lorry drivers deserve the same respect and love as others?
Mosy of what I see on this thread is a lot of nastiness from people - some snobbery and a lot of inverse snobbery. It's all part of the parade.
I think it's worse to get down on your knees and let your life be ruled by the 'representatives' of a sky wizard than to bob a curtsey to another human as a part of a performance.

Just5minswithDacre · 20/05/2016 16:04

But to attack someone who has followed the path that fell before her in such a vitriolic way is as bad as any other form of abuse.

Oh stop it. Criticism isn't attack.

I don't even know where to start on "path that fell before her".

sleeponeday · 20/05/2016 16:05

I think attacking the people making up the royal family is a massive own goal, and I think that as a republican. The entire point is that they could be the most exemplary, intelligent and unimpeachable people imaginable, and the system would still be unconscionable, undemocratic and snobbish.

Why people seem to feel they can be as gossipy, nasty and obsessive about famous people they don't know because they are being political escapes me. It's no different to those crazies insisting there's a weird conspiracy about that pop star's baby.

I don't agree with the monarchy. It's wrong in principle and it's very expensive - far more than the official figures represent, because they quietly leave out security and travel costs. I also side-eye claims that any of them work hard other than the Queen, who reads all the parliamentary papers etc on top of the ceremonial side. But the fact is, personal attacks on them as individuals is both nasty (how would you like to be in their situation, in terms of total privacy loss?) and a distraction from the main point, which should be the validity or otherwise of the system.

And I wouldn't bow or curtsey to anyone, but if someone chooses to do it of their own volition then that's really none of my business.

BonerSibary · 20/05/2016 16:06

You can object to both, though. It's not either/or. Given that this thread isn't about whether curtseying to KM is better or worse than deferring to religious leaders, that's a strawman.

GraysAnalogy · 20/05/2016 16:06

As of 2013 the queen had done 15,000 official engagements. She's now 90 years of age and continues to do her duty, last year completing 341. The year before that 391. That's more than 1 per day, at her age.

I think they should just let her rest instead of trotting her out at the whiff of an ambassador.

Banderwassnatched · 20/05/2016 16:10

I'm all up for letting her rest. She'll get plenty of rest in the British Republic.

AnnPerkins · 20/05/2016 16:13

Wow AdrenalineFudge!

I wouldn't be able to look directly at that Shock

He looks like Rik Mayall taking the piss.

derxa · 20/05/2016 16:14

I think attacking the people making up the royal family is a massive own goal, and I think that as a republican. The entire point is that they could be the most exemplary, intelligent and unimpeachable people imaginable, and the system would still be unconscionable, undemocratic and snobbish

Why people seem to feel they can be as gossipy, nasty and obsessive about famous people they don't know because they are being political escapes me. It's no different to those crazies insisting there's a weird conspiracy about that pop star's baby.

I don't agree with the monarchy. It's wrong in principle and it's very expensive - far more than the official figures represent, because they quietly leave out security and travel costs. I also side-eye claims that any of them work hard other than the Queen, who reads all the parliamentary papers etc on top of the ceremonial side. But the fact is, personal attacks on them as individuals is both nasty (how would you like to be in their situation, in terms of total privacy loss?) and a distraction from the main point, which should be the validity or otherwise of the system

And I wouldn't bow or curtsey to anyone, but if someone chooses to do it of their own volition then that's really none of my business

What an excellent post sleeponeday If people would like a republic then campaign for it. Personal attacks on the Duchess of Cambridge are just nasty and bullying.

RedToothBrush · 20/05/2016 16:16

Choice: Would you like to be curtsey to or have respect?

It has to be said that after The Queen dies we are going to have a real problem in this country, with Republicanism.

After the EU one, I can definitely see a referendum on the future of the Monarchy being the next one.

Whether that's a good or a bad thing, I'm not sure but the difference in the level of respect Charles or William/Kate and The Queen have is huge.

PirateSmile · 20/05/2016 16:23

I'm sure I read somewhere that Kate has to curtsy to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie

There is no way on God's green earth I'd ever curtsy to those two!

Hairyspiderinyourunderwear · 20/05/2016 16:23

Why does everyone call her Kate Middleton? It is the oddest thing. She has been married five years and has two children and she is still being referred to by her maiden name.

Also if someone wants to curtesy why on earth shouldn't they? Why is her age relevant and why on earth is it sad?

PirateSmile · 20/05/2016 16:24

What's weirder is when people still say Lady Di...

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 20/05/2016 16:25

I would say that getting to be one of the top five most important and influential women in the country is pretty ambitious

Oh, my sides.... Yep. Thin woman wears clothes. Marries man with title. Is photographed a lot. Produces heir and spare. Fucks off to the countryside to do bugger all. Has lots of staff.

She has never overcome any kind of adversity, has enjoyed every privilege imaginable, yet has never volunteered (pre-marriage) travelled independently nor has she done anything else particularly interesting as far as I can see. She has never even earned her own money, which I could grudgingly respect. And she is a role model for young girls? Jesus, not in my world...

PirateSmile · 20/05/2016 16:27

From Princess Beatrice's Wiki page.

Several years after obtaining her degree, Beatrice briefly worked 12 months as a junior producer at Sony Pictures, earning £20,000 per year. She left the position in January 2015. After her departure, she went on eleven vacations in a six-month period then settled into unemployment.

acasualobserver · 20/05/2016 16:38

how would you like to be in their situation, in terms of total privacy loss?

The loss of privacy is self-inflicted. No-one is obliged to retain their title/public money/palace.

mythbustinggov · 20/05/2016 16:39

Oh stop it. Criticism isn't attack.
There's been some rather nasty personal 'criticism' up thread... (not from Just but from others)

I don't even know where to start on "path that fell before her".

Oh, come on. It's just a (rather flowery) way of saying 'did some stuff, met some people, made some choices, lived her life, ended up where she is now' - pretty much like anyone else (conceptually rather than the detail of course). What's to start on?

blindsider · 20/05/2016 16:42

Im sure I read somewhere that Kate has to curtsy to Princesses Beatriceand Eugenie*

I think I am right in saying that is only in the absence of William, if he is present it is the other way round. (confusing)

londonmummy1966 · 20/05/2016 16:43

I don't think it was unreasonable. The older lady has accepted a ceremonial post and adhering to formal court etiquette is part of the job description. A completely different matter to anyone else being introduced to a member of the royal family when they can make their own decisions about whether or not to bow/curtsey. What did get my goat a few years ago was the newspaper story that Prince Edward had complained that Princess Anne wasn't curtseying to Sophie Wessex when she outranked her. In what parallel fantasy world is your older sister meant to curtsey to your wife?

BonerSibary · 20/05/2016 16:45

Also if someone wants to curtesy why on earth shouldn't they? Why is her age relevant and why on earth is it sad?

It's sad because it's embarrassing, fawning, debasing. It's a free country so she can of course act like a feudal relic if she likes, but then that's not really in question here. Another strawman.

desertmum · 20/05/2016 16:45

Red - I think you are right - once the Queen goes people will want to see change. I don't know any of them personally but do think while the Queen works very hard, the younger crew don't. I know KM has children, well so do many, many women all over the world and they manage to work and run a house and do the shopping and help with homework and, and, and . . . . . . realistically KM only has to do one 'event' a day to look busy. Be that opening a shopping mall, visiting an old people's home or shaking hands with a few soldiers. She can still have breakfast with the kids, and be home in time for tea (which she doesn't have to cook). Not difficult or arduous. No public transport, no stress of trying to find a parking space.
Yes, I think she is lazy. Her job is to be a royal and represent the country, a job in my mind she doesn't do very well. And if her bloody skirt blows up in the wind again I shall scream.

acasualobserver · 20/05/2016 16:45

I think I am right in saying that is only in the absence of William, if he is present it is the other way round. (confusing)

It's not confusing, it's utterly fucking fatuous.

Just5minswithDacre · 20/05/2016 16:50

And she is a role model for young girls? Jesus, not in my world...

If one of my DDs decided KM was a role model, I'd arrange some kind of urgent intervention and flagellate myself for failing to bring them up properly. Not that I'd have any problem with either them or DS being a SAHP for a while; Just the layabout singleton lifestyle, the extreme dieting and the clothes horse nonsense.

acasualobserver · 20/05/2016 16:51

I'm beginning to rage at the 'Queen works very hard' shtick. Yes, fine, she's launched a lot of ships, eaten a lot of banquets and shot some Scottish animals ... but she's been more than adequately compensated for these terrible sacrifices.

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