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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find Prince William a bit smug

534 replies

strawberriesandpecans · 08/10/2020 12:42

I'm sure he means well, it's just that he seems to be lecturing everyone on the environment while he travels by helicopter a lot and has a mansion. Also I just find them quite twee and irritating, particularly at the moment when so many people are struggling. AIBU?

OP posts:
contrmary · 08/10/2020 13:26

Smug? No, well at least not in comparison to his brother.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/10/2020 13:27

"We're on an absolute precipice." But you still chose to have three children, didn't you Wills? And not just that, but children whose carbon footprints will be many, many, many times as large of those of an average child in a poor African village.

His grandad is the same - he's on record as saying that, if there's such a thing as reincarnation, he wants to come back as a virus to kill off a large proportion of the currently-unsustainable population. He had four children. James Lovelock has been telling similar stories of doom about overpopulation and urging action for decades. he had four children too.

The rich and privileged seem to think they're entitled to way above their fair share and just assume that the little people will have less or almost nothing to balance them out.

Just to clarify, if anybody reading this is the parent of 3, 4, 6, 10, 20 children, I am NOT criticising you in the least. Unless you've been personally banging on and preaching to others about needing urgent measures to deal with world overpopulation, that is....

Zilla1 · 08/10/2020 13:27

three children. large staff. multiple houses. many long haul flights. I'm not sure the helicopter flights would be the first thing I'd criticise. Massive hypocrisy though I suppose the thinking was it would be better PR to greenwash than to stay quiet.

WeAllHaveWings · 08/10/2020 13:27

Look at us ultra rich playing with the nice animals and David Attenbourgh while the minions are continuing to suffer through the health, social and economic consequences of a pandemic.

Ok, they need to do charity things, but how about doing something relevant for that situation the country is in now. Timing seriously crap and patronising.

Friendsoftheearth · 08/10/2020 13:28

Timing of this isn't great, as much as love campaigning for the climate and saving our wonderful planet, now is not the time to start preaching. Especially to those that are losing family, that are ill, losing jobs or losing the plot.

The message will be lost, and it will just annoy people is my guess.

Zilla1 · 08/10/2020 13:28

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26105706

IcedPurple · 08/10/2020 13:29

I used to dislike both him and Kate but they seem to have grown into their roles over the past few years. I still disagree with the institution of royalty but if we have to have it, I suppose they're as good as any. Pretty bland and inoffensive, which is kind of what royals are meant to be.

I do think he should keep away from the subject of the environment though, considering his carbon footprint is likely to be sky high. Same for any famous people really. It's an area they should all steer clear of unless they want to be the subjec of 'do as I say not as I do' accusations.

ancientgran · 08/10/2020 13:29

I heard about the Earthshot Prize and thought how great it was, hopefully will be as successful as his grandfather's Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Nomorepies · 08/10/2020 13:29

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Friendsoftheearth · 08/10/2020 13:29

We're on an absolute precipice says William

Yes we are, replies everyone else, but not the same one that you imagine.

TheKeatingFive · 08/10/2020 13:33

He doesn't fly in private jets unlike his useless brother and and his narcissistic wife.

Yes he does Hmm

Friendsoftheearth · 08/10/2020 13:33

nomorepies no one cares right now about William's limits or the climate right now. I have devoted my life to it, and even I am not even considering it at the moment.
A stint in the foodbank, contributing some of the millions he has to a covid fund to help those families that have lost everything, highlighting the issues some have with loneliness/MH - there are many many topics he could get involved with that would seem far more effective than this right now. This is just annoying and ill timed.

Bubblebu · 08/10/2020 13:33

one of the things which annoys me about Attenborough is that he does not appear to be mentoring anyone from the generation below him - its like a lot of that generation - just keeping all of the limelight exclusively to himself for decades and decades. Hogging it all for themselves.

Poppingnostopping · 08/10/2020 13:34

I must admit, I think the online covid/video thing is really not suiting the Royal Family. Luckily the Queen only speaks to us once a year. The other, including Harry and Megan all feel obliged to do Zoom calls with worthy causes and give us mini lectures about things they are intensely hypocritical about. I think it's making them seem less accessible, not more. It also shows up that neither William or Harry are very articulate or very 'media' good looking which isn't their actual fault, but does kind of point up the problem with a hereditary monarchy. Diana was fabulous and glamourous as she was snapshotted and put on the front page, if we'd had to endure weekly lectures from her on various causes, I don't think she would have been nearly so beloved.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/10/2020 13:34

Well, he is the future King so I think living in a big house is fitting.

I like him. I think he will be a great King.

YouveGotMeWhosGotYou · 08/10/2020 13:35

David Attenborough has admitted that he feels like a hypocrite as he eats free range chicken and fish. I dont think you can preach about the planet if you infact contribute to an industry which is well documented to have a devestating impact on the planet. Free range/Red tractor etc mean nothing. Its not about how they are killed, its THAT they are killed.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 08/10/2020 13:36

I think he does ok, given that he was born into an archaic system that's hard to justify on rational grounds.

And if 7-year-old Prince George really did ask, 'Why has it come to this?' about the state of the planet, I feel PW's entitled to feel smug about his son, if nothing else.

Friendsoftheearth · 08/10/2020 13:37

It has as much to do with competing for the headlines and the wokeness with Harry as it has to do anything else I imagine.

Almost like they sat down and said how can we be more woke than H&M and came up with this, complete with little kids beaming at us about their favourite animals. A PR game plan to outsmart Archiewell. I expect it to get a lot worse if anything.

This is not for us, or the planet it is to score a win over Harry.

ajandjjmum · 08/10/2020 13:37

@katy1213

Royalty should be seen and not heard.
Then what would be the point of them?
TheKeatingFive · 08/10/2020 13:39

And if 7-year-old Prince George really did ask, 'Why has it come to this?' about the state of the planet, I feel PW's entitled to feel smug about his son, if nothing else.

Do you seriously think that line wasn’t fed to him?

ajandjjmum · 08/10/2020 13:39

@cheezy

I always get the impression that he hates his role and resents the work it involves.
I'm sure there are times when he has resented the ties that are presented by his role. He obviously loved working with AirSea rescue teams and the Air Ambulance, but it could never be a longterm future.

I sense that he has grown in the acceptance of his role - with Kate as a great support - and is gaining gravitas as time goes by.

thegcatsmother · 08/10/2020 13:39

highlighting the issues some have with loneliness/MH

That is what Heads Together has been all about. The DoC has visited a university to see how the students were getting on, and she asked about the mental health support provided; she has also had a session in a park with new parents to see that they were being supported iirc. They are very aware of mental health afaik, and do lots to promote more awareness of it.

Original poster
strawberriesandpecans · 08/10/2020 13:40

A stint in the foodbank, contributing some of the millions he has to a covid fund to help those families that have lost everything, highlighting the issues some have with loneliness/MH - there are many many topics he could get involved with that would seem far more effective than this right now. This is just annoying and ill timed.

Yes

OP posts:
Friendsoftheearth · 08/10/2020 13:40

David Attenborough is a hypocrite for still eating meat at all.

Royalty should be seen and not heard.Then what would be the point of them?

You said it...

IcedPurple · 08/10/2020 13:41

@Friendsoftheearth

It has as much to do with competing for the headlines and the wokeness with Harry as it has to do anything else I imagine.

Almost like they sat down and said how can we be more woke than H&M and came up with this, complete with little kids beaming at us about their favourite animals. A PR game plan to outsmart Archiewell. I expect it to get a lot worse if anything.

This is not for us, or the planet it is to score a win over Harry.

This project has been two years in the making, so I doubt the daftly named and as yet nonexistent 'Archewell' was a major factor.