To find Prince William a bit smug

[strawberriesandpecans]

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?

they represent national unity and continuity, not latching onto fashionable causes

You’re kidding right? This is the opposite to truth.

I think some of the critisms are unfair. I don't think anyone has a good 'zoom face' it is bloody hard to come across well when you look like your in the opening sequence of the brady bunch.

I don't like the way that Kate dresses her kids, but she wouldn't like the way I dressed mine.

I think they TRY to get things right. Sometimes they don't always manage it

Nothing against William and Kate personally - but imo monarchy is useless, pointless and expensive. In a way I feel sorry for them...I am willing to believe they are sincere, but try as they might they can't be relevant. Though not as sorry as I feel for many many other people at the moment.

Those who say that monarchy is a 'unifying force' for the nation...I'm afraid that just makes me laugh. If there is one thing the last few years have shown us it is how utterly useless monarchy is in unifying the country against existential threats, or defending assaults on democracy as its defenders claim it does. Again I am not blaming the current incumbents, it is the institution itself that is the problem.

I do think Harry and Meghan have done the right thing in getting out. Something has clearly gone badly wrong within the family to prompt them to do this. But the media vilification they received is a sight to behold (especially against Meghan, no sexism or racism there oh dear me know). Still, it takes the heat off others such as Andrew who can stay put within the bosom of the family.

Oh dear me no

I'd replace them with Steve Backshall and Helen Glover.

Also I've met Kate's mother and she genuinely is the smuggest person I have ever met.
Couldn't understand a word I said bless her, as she has always had a problem with "Northern accents"

It must have proved very difficult for her when she was on the planes.

I'd replace them with Steve Backshall and Helen Glover.

In fairness, you could probably pluck two names out of the air at random French and Saunders? Mario and Luigi? Han Solo and Chewbacca? and get better value for money, more insight into the lives of ordinary people, and more amusement factor as charity patrons and ribbon-cutters.

In that moment I suddenly thought, William, you won't ever be on a packed children's ward with George, watching him struggle for breath, without the proper monitoring equipment. So please don't take the piss out of us peasants here on the ground worried about a fucking pandemic

Oh god, and brought the paps in as well to record the whole thing too 🤮

I also remember that time at Wimbledon when there was a strike and an announcement was made that the last train was imminent. PW pretended to get up like he was going to race to get the last train. When likely a helicopter was going to take him home 🙄 what a jolly jape!

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

Straying off-topic here, but if we stopped farming for meat, what would happen to the land that isn't good enough for growing crops but is fine as pasture? Imo, most of it would be abandoned and revert to scrub or built on, which would also lead loss of species.

Chalk downland (which is what I know most about, as that's what we have in my area) has been created, in part, by being grazed. To lose that habitat to scrub would mean the loss of the bee orchid and chalkhill blue and Adonis butterflies, and probably skylarks as well.

I'm sure there are other species that are indigenous to upland pasture.

And if we were all to give up meat, wouldn't we have to import more stuff like beans and pulses to make up for it?

I think eating meat that is outdoor reared and sustainably farmed is no bad thing, tbh. And it keeps my food miles down, as most of the meat I buy comes from the farmer whose land starts a 10 minute walk from my house.

I really really like him. He does loads for children's mental health charities and seems an all round nice bloke.

I really really like him.

Lol, come on. He has the charisma of a pot plant.

Its a miserable and pointless existence being a royal and it looks to me that William knows it and is boring himself to death dutifully doing it. He's rather dull and so is his wife. His brother is as thick as two short planks, (though he used to be cheery and fun and nice with people). Most of what the royals come out with is either hypocritical or anodyne twaddle and generally smug.

@hexmeginny

I really really like him.

Lol, come on. He has the charisma of a pot plant.

In fairness, I have a giant cheese plant with approximately twenty times his charisma.

Then, again, it's not his lack of charisma I fault him, or any of the RF, for, it's the whole expensive and embarrassing anachronism stuff.

I wish they'd stop bloody whining about how hard they work (like 2 zoom calls a week then back to your life of full-time nannies, cooks, cleaners and housekeepers is "work") and threatening legal action every time the press says something that hurts their feelings.

They play the press game plenty when they want to.

Be more like the Queen and develop a bit of stiff upper lip!

I once read something along the lines of 'the cleverest thing about the Windsors is how they've convinced the public that what they do is actually hard work' and I thought that was fairly accurate. This is a family who have charity 'engagements' that last maybe a few hours at a time and who decamp to their summer residences for months at a time. I accept they need to do prep work and factor in travel time for their engagements but still it's hardly a full time job for most of them. Especially given how much wealth they have been allowed to continue to accumulate through the lack of transparency around royal funding. I'd be smug if I'd pulled this off!

LakieLady have a look on Veganuary or other such websites for answers about replacing meat farming with plant options.

@LadyWithLapdog

LakieLady have a look on Veganuary or other such websites for answers about replacing meat farming with plant options.

derxa my reply seems appropriate. I’ll leave you to roll your eyes.

As if it was easy to switch from one type of farming to another.

I once read something along the lines of 'the cleverest thing about the Windsors is how they've convinced the public that what they do is actually hard work' and I thought that was fairly accurate. This is a family who have charity 'engagements' that last maybe a few hours at a time and who decamp to their summer residences for months at a time. I accept they need to do prep work and factor in travel time for their engagements but still it's hardly a full time job for most of them. Especially given how much wealth they have been allowed to continue to accumulate through the lack of transparency around royal funding. I'd be smug if I'd pulled this off!

The other bonus is no need to worry about changing the sheets, housework, making sure you've got enough food in or indeed cooking, because there's servants for all that

Derxa did I say it was easy? Does anyone say it’s easy? It’s not easy but it’s not a crackpot idea. Read about it.

@LadyWithLapdog

LakieLady have a look on Veganuary or other such websites for answers about replacing meat farming with plant options.

Surely a less biased opinion would be better? Thats like saying look for the info on why a meat only diet is better on ilovemeat.com. No?

Ooooo don’t type “ilovemeat.com” into the search bar, goodness knows what will come up.

'Of course he's smug. Unless we go all French 1790s style he'll always live a life of luxury with zero comprehension of how difficult ordinary people have it.

The self-made wealthy are disconnected from reality...but they might remember what it's like to see your parents worry about affording heating or eating. The born wealthy will never understand because it's never been remotely close to their world.

What he spends on travel to another country for one trip could transform my family's life and yet he preaches to the rest of us about social and environmental responsibilities.

Smug doesn't come close.'

Exactly this ^ He is out of touch with real life and in no place to give any lectures. I bet an episode featuring the royal couple swapping lives with a poor family and have to budget and feed their DC with a low income would be quite the eye opener for them

having*

I feel a bit sorry for Kate married to the smug one! She knew what she was letting herself in for I know , but he comes across as quite cold and very reluctant in his role.
The children are told what to say and will have just as privileged a life as he has had and won't ever know what it's like to have to choose to eat or heat their home or lose their 'job' or do anything that ordinary people do or put up with in life.
Once the Queen dies , I rather hope the others will back off and maybe we could abolish them altogether? Can but hope.
Let them live their lives and not tell us what to do! Most of them are hypocrites and don't let me get started about prince Andrew and his past alleged antics. That is all being hushed up I bet.