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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the Royals really aren't normal are they?

74 replies

PompholyxOfUnknownOrigin · 12/04/2018 19:19

Prince Philip has been in hospital since 4th April. Today his daughter went to visit him, the first member of his family to do so since he was admitted, according to the BBC.
I'm sure he is being very well looked after but surely some other relatives could have visited before now?

OP posts:
PinkCalluna · 12/04/2018 19:22

How they conduct their family is entirely their own business.

I would assume that the BBC is not privy to all private visits.

I would further assume that if Prince Philip wanted family visitors the Queen’s people would organise it.

For all you know he hasn’t been well enough before now.

MissionItsPossible · 12/04/2018 19:24

Well they're not normal no, so YANBU on that, but regarding who visits him is nobody's business but the family's.

HolyMountain · 12/04/2018 19:25

No they’re not from a ‘normal’ family and don’t do things us commoners assume to be the norm.

AnUtterIdiot · 12/04/2018 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blueskyinmarch · 12/04/2018 19:28

If he is anything like my FIL who is 90, he probably doesn't want anyone in visiting, preferring just to get on with it himself. He will be able to watch TV, read the paper and do the crossword in blissful peace!

Original poster
PompholyxOfUnknownOrigin · 12/04/2018 19:29

yes I get that it's entirely their own business. Just think that all families I know would be going to see their 96 yr old patriarch a lot sooner than that, even if he were a grumpy old codger.

OP posts:
EllenJanethickerknickers · 12/04/2018 19:30

Do you know, I read that story and I can't imagine not visiting my dad for that long. I get that they all work and it has to fit in around their schedules but when my parents were in hospital long term, we children took turns visiting them. I wasn't local so went at the weekend, my DB and DSis were local and went in the week after work. So a visitor every other day or so.

I always thought Anne seemed the most normal out of them.

Pengggwn · 12/04/2018 19:30

It's a bit strange, I agree.

MrsJayy · 12/04/2018 19:31

I think at 90 odd he might not have wanted visitors after his surgery or maybe the bbc don't have the full facts.

ilovesooty · 12/04/2018 19:32

I've always wondered whether Anne is the only one of his children he actually likes.

halfwitpicker · 12/04/2018 19:32

I'm sure they all sneaked in the back door under a paper bag.

BigGreenOlives · 12/04/2018 19:34

I can’t believe the Queen, his WIFE, hasn’t been. Really weird.

Original poster
PompholyxOfUnknownOrigin · 12/04/2018 19:35

Anne does seem to be the most normal one.

OP posts:
milliesmaller · 12/04/2018 19:35

I have friends who work in Care homes. Apparently, some residents NEVER see their relatives (that includes children). This seems to be normal in this Great Britain.

TheQueenOfWands · 12/04/2018 19:35

I thought the Queen and Prince P hated each other?

x2boys · 12/04/2018 19:45

You would be surprised about the number of elderly people that don't get visitors, when I worked in dementia care some patients never had visitors despite having family's, understandably it must be distressing to visit your mum or dad and they don't recognise you but even so ...

Clandestino · 12/04/2018 19:48

According to the agc blind, it's not a hip surgery, he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, could this be the issue? That page is extremely spot on.

TheDailyMailLovesTheEUReally · 12/04/2018 19:51

I used to work in a care home. Sadly, it was only too common to see a resident's relatives twice during their time at the home. Once, when they came to move their relative in, and a second and final time when they came to clear the possessions after they'd died. The number of people who would literally never get a visit from any of their family members beggared belief.

VikingVolva · 12/04/2018 19:51

I'm on't really se it as News, IYSWIM.

OK, his admission yes, because it cuts down tasteless speculation about imminent death, but once there's been the 'yes it's all gone according to plan' announcement I din't see why they can't just be left to recuperate without further news coverage.

Walkingthroughawall · 12/04/2018 20:03

Apparently the senior royals don't tend to visit each other in hospital because of the security issues and disruption to normal hospital functions. It's probably a reassuring sign that the Old Boy's doing ok that no-one's shown up to visit sooner!

Penfold007 · 12/04/2018 20:04

No the Royal family aren't 'normal' whatever that means. Isn't it likely though that the Queen and other family members have made secret visits, through the back door if you like, and now the formal visits start? If the queen made an official visit the press would assume something was wrong.

ForalltheSaints · 12/04/2018 20:15

If you were in hospital, who did and didn't visit would be a private matter, as it should be for the Royal Family.

RoseWhiteTips · 12/04/2018 20:18

You’re right. They are very strange creatures, indeed.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 12/04/2018 20:24

I'm not saying it's not a private matter, but it screamed out to me that it seemed strange that Anne was the first relative to visit him in a week. I don't need to know, just reading that news item it was what struck me.

When my MIL was in hospital after her stroke we visited often. Once she was settled into her nursing home we visited regularly but less often, maybe once a fortnight as it was her home by then. But hospital is never your home, it's really boring and you live for visiting time.

It's very sad that some people are forgotten by their families once in a nursing home. I hope it never happens to me.

ValleyClouds · 12/04/2018 20:24

I'm sure I remember him being hospitalised over Christmas once and every single one of the adult grandchildren went En Masse.

He must have told them not to bother. He seems that type