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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be unreasonably annoyed at Royals at the pantomime

548 replies

Gigheimer · 11/12/2020 23:24

I post knowing I’m totally unreasonable (probably) and you’ll all shout but I got both angry and sad and rage at seeing the press stories of Kate and Wills at the pantomime in the West End.

I’m normally a fan, and of course I don’t begrudge those cute kids a pantomime.

But my kids don’t get that this year, no Santa experiences, no pantomime no fucking nothing because we are tier 3 and if our local pub or theatre ever open again I’ll die of shock.

But we are in the North so who gives a fuck right?

I just have the absolute unreasonable fury tonight.

OP posts:
Time2change2 · 12/12/2020 10:02

@FindHungrySamurai

Just to be clear, I think there are definitely legitimate grievances about the school testing thing, but moaning that K&W are doing something that most children in the country are able to do doesn’t seem reasonable.
But many many can’t!!
Eleganz · 12/12/2020 10:03

Should the National Lottery refrain from funding projects such as this, because not everyone can access them?

The only London factor I can see here is population level - if you are going to support a project such as this, do you put it in London, where there are 8m residents within easy travel distance and a lot of public transport? Or somewhere else ?

It's a lazy excuse to not do anything outside London that has been used for decades.

The National Lottery could have funded a series of regional events undertaken in a COVID secure way compliant with the tier restrictions in force in that area. This would have provided support for regional theatres and companies and ensured that a larger, more representative section of key workers could have benefitted.

Instead they appear to have funded a single event in London and presumably covered the cost of public figures like wills and Kate and their kids to attend for no real purpose.

Teddy1970 · 12/12/2020 10:05

Tellmetruth4 I've found that there's a general hatred of London and the South on MN, I was reading a thread the other day opened mouthed, the people of Surrey and Hampshire were really getting it in the neck, it was horrible to read but they're fair game because they're from the South..

HitthatroadJack · 12/12/2020 10:05

Who cares if some posters don't like pantos? Many kids love it. Zone 2 or 3, good for you if your local pantos are still on

ours have been cancelled, and most Christmas attractions have been cancelled too.

The very few places offering a vague something have been fully booked for months, and had to up their prices A LOT. Great if you can afford it, but let's not pretend it's not a shit time for many families.

The royal family being offered prime seats to something many kids are upset to miss out is in poor taste. It's not just about a Panto, even the most contrary poster must have noticed there has been a lot of things cancelled and having a negative impact on kids, families and everybody.

ElizaLaLa · 12/12/2020 10:06

You are being very unreasonable. Its a bit of a disgraceful attitude, in my opinion, to think that others can't or shouldn't have something just because others can't.

ineedaholidaynow · 12/12/2020 10:07

The lottery funding pantos is a National scheme it isn’t just London.

Eleganz · 12/12/2020 10:07

Tellmetruth4 I've found that there's a general hatred of London and the South on MN, I was reading a thread the other day opened mouthed, the people of Surrey and Hampshire were really getting it in the neck, it was horrible to read but they're fair game because they're from the South..

You should try being from the north and just living in England. A bit of criticism on MN is not really the same deal.

ComDummings · 12/12/2020 10:07

@1AngelicFruitCake

It’s a bitter pill to swallow waking up to all this ‘woe is me, some areas going into tier 3.’ I’m usually a nice person but the different tiers has brought out the worst in me. I’m in the North West, we haven’t even been allowed in gardens for months. Wish it was the same tier for everyone, whether that’s horrible or not is easy to say for people who have had less restrictions for months. As someone upthread said, the very impression given is that unless it’s the South, nobody cares.
I agree. I think some people don’t understand how long some areas have had extra restrictions for and how completely draining it is. People don’t think London is favoured but how come their secondary schools are getting rapid tests ASAP when areas that have been under extra restrictions prior to lockdown 2 (so for months now) or are now in tier 3 don’t have access to this 🤷🏻‍♀️
HitthatroadJack · 12/12/2020 10:08

@ElizaLaLa

You are being very unreasonable. Its a bit of a disgraceful attitude, in my opinion, to think that others can't or shouldn't have something just because others can't.
did you miss the part about it being about the Royal Family....

If they want to be private individuals and treated as such, they are free to step away from their so-called 'duties.

ElizaLaLa · 12/12/2020 10:08

@FindHungrySamurai

Just to be clear, I think there are definitely legitimate grievances about the school testing thing, but moaning that K&W are doing something that most children in the country are able to do doesn’t seem reasonable.
But many many can’t

So 🤷‍♀️

Eleganz · 12/12/2020 10:09

The lottery funding pantos is a National scheme it isn’t just London.

Very clear in all the pressers that this was a one off special performance.

Time2change2 · 12/12/2020 10:09

@HitthatroadJack

Who cares if some posters don't like pantos? Many kids love it. Zone 2 or 3, good for you if your local pantos are still on

ours have been cancelled, and most Christmas attractions have been cancelled too.

The very few places offering a vague something have been fully booked for months, and had to up their prices A LOT. Great if you can afford it, but let's not pretend it's not a shit time for many families.

The royal family being offered prime seats to something many kids are upset to miss out is in poor taste. It's not just about a Panto, even the most contrary poster must have noticed there has been a lot of things cancelled and having a negative impact on kids, families and everybody.

Exactly this. My kids love panto. We go every year. We book this years in early sept and like pretty much everything else it’s been cancelled. Tier 3. It’s really poor taste. Not W&K fault as they just do as their are told, but the PR team are very out of touch with this one
TheFairyCaravan · 12/12/2020 10:10

It’s really annoyed me. The pair of them have annoyed me all week. I can’t see my son, who is a key worker, over Christmas because he’s working. He can’t just turn up to see me like they did to see Charles and the Queen. I might get to do Christmas with him in February sometime the way things are going.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/12/2020 10:10

No, just don’t flaunt it on mainstream news in all its oppulance

Cancel all PR for everyone and everything then🤷🏻
It was a promo for the theatres.

ineedaholidaynow · 12/12/2020 10:11

I bet the theatres are glad it was on the news to encourage others to go if possible

GroundAlmonds · 12/12/2020 10:11

@ElizaLaLa

You are being very unreasonable. Its a bit of a disgraceful attitude, in my opinion, to think that others can't or shouldn't have something just because others can't.
This isn’t about “some people” this is about the royals, and only about their public appearances, at that.

They can (and do) all manner of luxurious things behind the scenes, but when they are working, they should try to get the tone right.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/12/2020 10:12

@ineedaholidaynow

I bet the theatres are glad it was on the news to encourage others to go if possible
Exactly 🤷🏻
Time2change2 · 12/12/2020 10:13

@SchrodingersImmigrant

No, just don’t flaunt it on mainstream news in all its oppulance

Cancel all PR for everyone and everything then🤷🏻
It was a promo for the theatres.

Is the reason theatres are earining no money because of no promo then? Silly me, I thought it’s because many are shut, only able to have 1/2 the audience, and when you can actually book and pay for a ticket, you have no actual idea of you will be able to attend because at any moment the theatre could shut or you or a member of your household have to isolate?
DrFoxtrot · 12/12/2020 10:13

I think it's clear that many in Tier 3 are at the end of their tether having had months of the highest restrictions. And it seems that all stops are being pulled to try and prevent London having the same fate.

I am understanding of the need for restrictions but even I am feeling anger bubbling below the surface.

Eleganz · 12/12/2020 10:14

But many many can’t

So 🤷‍♀️

Because the royals are their on our buck. They are supposed to be doing things that raise the spirits of the nation, not solely highlight their privilege. It is a time where great sensitivity is required and their advisors appear to be tone deaf to the feelings in many parts of the country.

It would be like King George attending a well-publicised gala dinner during rationing. Or even worse, if rationing had just been imposed on the poorest parts of the country.

mathanxiety · 12/12/2020 10:14

Is there absolutely nothing else you and your DCs could do to celebrate the season besides switching on of lights, pantos, etc?

I am a little confused here as to what exactly people are complaining about. Do you understand that this isn't a case of the government randomly picking on certain regions of the UK just because they feel like it? Do you want to go to a panto and catch covid?

(I agree with Cam2020 that pantos are shite).

bendmeoverbackwards · 12/12/2020 10:14

YABU

Some theatres are open, we should be supporting those that are.

They are struggling financially, if people don’t go to the few shows that are on, theatres will make very little money and affect their long term future.

Plenty of children in Tier 2 will see a panto, how are the Cambridges any different?

Eleganz · 12/12/2020 10:15

I bet the theatres are glad it was on the news to encourage others to go if possible

Are they struggling to fill seats? That doesn't seem to be what most people are reporting ("sold out well in advance").

Time2change2 · 12/12/2020 10:17

@bendmeoverbackwards

YABU

Some theatres are open, we should be supporting those that are.

They are struggling financially, if people don’t go to the few shows that are on, theatres will make very little money and affect their long term future.

Plenty of children in Tier 2 will see a panto, how are the Cambridges any different?

They are different because they arnt just ‘some children in tier 2’ Eleganz’s post above is exactly right
ineedaholidaynow · 12/12/2020 10:17

But the ignorance shown on this thread shows that theatres do need more promotion. PP thinking this was a one off show only put on for the Royals, not realising theatres are open in other parts of the country, thinking that this ‘one off’ show was paid for by the Lottery and why aren’t they funding shows elsewhere when in fact they are.