I don't normally criticise the royals but...

[DorothyL]

... another day of Kate and William away from their tiny baby for a substantial amount of time.

I just don't understand it, when they were this small I couldn't bear to be apart from them.

Now getting my hard hat 👩‍🚒👷‍♀️😬

But this persistent finding fault and conjecture based on snap shots is just reaching dizzy heights of silliness.

But don't you see, that's exactly what you've done with your "how utterly idyllic" they all looked comment. The royal family have always done this, every now and again release a few idyllic looking photos with the kids on, to an adoring public and hey presto, job done. It's all about keeping the public happy, but ultimately to keep the money rolling in, keep the monarchy relevant. It's so easy to see.

It's a few hours, it's not as if they've gone off for a fortnight in Magaluf.

The royal family have always done this, every now and again release a few idyllic looking photos with the kids on, to an adoring public and hey presto, job done.

The polo ones are paparazzi shots.

This is beyond absurd. Babies don't need the exclusive company of their parents 24/7, particularly when the family is blessed with many relatives and top class professional help.

William and Kate probably fancied a day out. It was a charity commitment for him and a chance for some childfree time together.

I didn't have hardly any maternity leave with DC2 as I was running my own tiny but profitable business from home. Being apart from my baby for hours didn't bother me. Or him. He was a confident and sociable child.

He's 22 now and people comment how close we are.

Oh, and OP, YABU.

I'm sure the royals will have a change of heart ref their child rearing once they read this thread, after all, doesn't MN advocate listening to total randoms about how you raise your kids?! I'm not a huge fan of the royals, but can't get het up about how they raise children.

Actually greenvalleys I think you'll find the press releases are less about image and more about security. See when someone high profile tries to be totally private, what happens? Paps & journos go to extraordinary - and dangerous - lengths to get their photos and stories. Give the papers something to run every now and then and the bloodthirst dies down a bit. Most celebrities learn this; they learn to work the press to not only try to promote what they need to but also to keep themselves as safe as possible. Basic PR. And if you look at what happened with Dianna - yeah, I don't blame them for trying to manage the press as best they can. And for shielding their kids and family as much as possible the rest of the time.

I'm not a royalist, I have no skin in this game, but I find this thread about as depressing as reading Fox News. Kate and William's parenting is none of your business, and the fact you think you alone know "the real story" about people you don't actually know speaks volumes about you.

But don't you see, that's exactly what you've done with your "how utterly idyllic" they all looked comment. The royal family have always done this, every now and again release a few idyllic looking photos with the kids on, to an adoring public and hey presto, job done. It's all about keeping the public happy, but ultimately to keep the money rolling in, keep the monarchy relevant. It's so easy to see.

Yeah, they clearly trained Charlotte to perform a headstand to demo to us cap doffers how idyllic they are.

Can you see how preposterous this is?

Maybe Kate just wanted a relaxing day out, watching her husband play polo, and playing with the older children. Not much fun having a small baby tagging along when there are plenty of people to care for him at KP.

Well I don't think they should have shut him in that cupboard, in the dark 'n' all. A decent parent would have hired a childminder, but the Royals have always been mean with other people's money.

What do you mean, they didn't shut him in a cupboard? Of course they did. Royal tradition. Well known fact. Also a fact that no Royal parent has changed a nappy, ever. We know this because there are no photos of a Royal parent changing a nappy, ergo it isn't happening.

I'm sure they were both happy to get a break from a screaming baby.
If we all had nannies we'd probably do the same.

I thought they looked happy and relaxed and like a normal family doing normal things

Don't you mean 'on 'cue'?

nerfballs it isn't just about security at all, these photo calls are more about their ever growing demands for privacy. William especially can hardly hide his irritation at the press. He loves all the wealth and huge privilege whilst at the same time resentful of any obligations he owes to the people. Talk about wanting your cake and eating it.....

The photo calls are planned weeks if not months in advance, so of course they're going to be staged, right down to the smallest detail.

I never said their parenting was anything to do with me, why does that stop me giving an opinion, i didn't start the thread in case you'd forgotten.i don't know who you're referring to with "the real story" btw.

Tssn so you really think these photo calls aren't planned meticulously just because a child did a handstand? How naive and gullible.

I feel like it’s royal policy of some kind to not have small babies out in public. It’s probably viewed as an embarrassment to have Kate pictured breastfeeding or holding a screaming baby. She was never spotted with the other two as babies either to my knowledge.

And don't be naive enough to assume that they don't know the paparazzi are there and that they need to perform to them as well.

I do sometimes wonder whether some of their most ardent supporters are from their own social media pr people anyway...

so you really think these photo calls aren't planned meticulously just because a child did a handstand? How naive and gullible.

The polo was not a photo call.

But I get it - all photos that do not substantiate your personal belief are all fake. 👍

That's fine soupdragon and you carry on in your acceptance that everything is as it seems because of what they present to us. Sorry but i don't take everything at face value as far as the royals are concerned. 👍🏻

Of course they know there will be photographers there. Also bringing the children anywhere public creates a stir of publicity and they are well aware of that too.

It’s all a trade off with the press. Some family outings in return for privacy when walking in the park or going to the beach. Have you ever seen the children eating while sitting around? Or Kate holding a coffee? The no eating in public rule doesn’t apply to young children. There are no photographs because the RF don’t want to be photographed with messy mouths or potential spills. My small kids constantly ask for snacks and water when we are anywhere. The RF know when the press is around and act accordingly.

Louis does seem very absent, but just because it's been a much busier Royal calendar than when George and Charlotte came along. You can't really involve a 4/6 week old in a big wedding or a state occasion. And maybe she's been taking the older two out precisely to give them some attention. Babies do have a tendency to take over home life.

there are pictures of the children eating ice creams at Houghton horse trials (with Kate) a couple of weeks ago.

I'm just surprised there are so many pap photos around atm - I wonder if the agreement that they'd allow formal pictures in return for privacy in real life has broken down. Anyway it's irrelevant, as they are our lizard overlords - rise up people!

(never quite sure if I need to put a disclaimer on that, it is mn after all)

when my youngest was born I had a 10yo, a 5yo & a 2yo. I was perfectly happy to leave the baby with my mum or dh for a few hours so I could do stuff with the older children (& yes I managed the breastfeed them all). I'm sure if I had a nanny available I'd have done it more.

I have parenty friends who were horrified (no exaggeration) that I let dh take my babies** out on his own pretty much from as soon as we came home from hospital. Will they ever overcome the horrible abandonment they must surely feel ... weep for my babies.

(** I'm not sure at what age they regard babyhood to have ended & it be okay for a dad to do stuff with their kids without mama bear )

Royals have historically always been distant parents. Remember when George was born, and K and W went off to the Maldives for a week when he was a few weeks old. Considering Louis wasn't at trooping the colour yesterday, I would have thought she'd want to spend time with Louis today. Royals and celebs are different though, and they seem to prefer more distant parenting and leaving it to nannies. Then they send them to boarding school.
Charles was open about the Queen being a distant parent, and its a shame that K and W are carrying on the tradition when they don't even do very many royal duties. Hopefully Meghan will be a more hands-on parent, as she wasn't brought up with 24/7 nannies and boarding school.

I breastfed mine and hated to be apart before they were weaned.

I don't think Louis is breastfed, and presumably they have a nanny. It's therefore fine.

I don't see the point of royals, and although I'd always vote for a republic given the opportunity, I shamefully like the gossip and clothes.

YABU. New babies take up time. The baby at this age doesn’t care who changes his bum. Her older children get to spend time with their mum, watching their dad, and playing. Can’t see the problem.