To be annoyed by the Duchess of Cambridge's claim that home schooling is 'exhausting'

[Livingtothefull]

www.edp24.co.uk/news/kate-middleton-video-call-parents-homeschooling-challenges-pandemic-7080128

I accept that lockdown has had an impact on everyone to some extent, however privileged. But I can't help being irritated by this. Even if we accept that she is doing the home schooling herself without any help, I don't think there is any comparison between her situation and that of many other people. I am not saying lockdown isn't difficult for her.....but it is a million times harder if you are say a single parent, struggling with home schooling and a minimum wage job which you may lose any time, worried sick about your and DC future if this happens. And doing it in a poky flat instead of a vast country estate.

And I know she may be trying to show empathy with the rest of us. But TBH I would have much more respect for the royals if they would just acknowledge their privilege rather than claim common ground which just isn't there.

@KatherineJaneway

You don't get to tell her how to feel based in your imagined scenario of her life.

No one is telling her how to feel. But she is very ill-advised to think she can compare her lifestyle with other parents. She can feel whatever she likes.

Except she didn’t compare her lifestyle with that of other parents. It’s her detractors who do that.

Really buffet? I can't imagine that myself which is probably why I do imagine they're fairly involved.

I missed the intelligent bit on the other post

@BuffetShark

I genuinely don’t understand those who truly believe these two go anywhere near ‘home schooling’ or ‘parenting’ for that matter.

Let’s face it, the only interaction they probably have with their dc is at meal times (maybe) and photo shoots.

I always think when someone projects that the Cambridge's don't bother to parent that it must be a reflection of how they'd choose to not parent if they had the cash.

Kate grew up in a normal if fairly well off family. Her parents actively parented and they're clearly still close. It's odd to think that given the choice then she'd have baby after baby then choose to see them for 30 minutes a day when they're presented to her.

William obv grew up much more with the full time Nanny they loved thing but it was clear Diana at least loved parenting her boys when she was alive and Charles was much closer to them afterwards. Again, it seems odd to assume that having had the experience of one parent at least involved as much as was permitted, he'd now not want to see his own kids. Or that Kate wouldn't put him in his place if he suggested it.

They're not running the country, they're not picking up thousands of engagements a year and I think partly that work load has been set because of the kids.

So why would they choose to not see their kids given they can choose to do so? Do you dislike your own so much you fantasize about them being locked away with Nanny 23 hours a day?

There's been a lot of vitriol towards Kate on MN since certain 'fans/squads' of other RF members decided they had to disparage Kate to support their favourite. It's an odd mentality that is rooted in competition and misogyny. It's disappointing and shockingly unaware

@SabrinaMorningstar

There's been a lot of vitriol towards Kate on MN since certain 'fans/squads' of other RF members decided they had to disparage Kate to support their favourite. It's an odd mentality that is rooted in competition and misogyny. It's disappointing and shockingly unaware

It certainly is! I have to say though that the Cambridge family seem generally popular. Where any royal is concerned there will always be people who want to drag them down, pounce on and exaggerate perceived mistakes but they seem OK to me, they do their best. Nobody's perfect - do we want them to be?

She could have said 'challenging' perhaps.

yy I think 'nobody is perfect' is exactly right. There's no way Kate will read any of this so it isn't going to impact on her but it could impact on people who are struggling but feel they can't say because they have a certain level of income. It feeds into isolation and stigma around MH.
There have been lots of cases in the media lately about people with apparently 'charmed, financially secure' lives who have struggled with caring duties; who have been in DV relationships, etc. It takes a distinct lack of empathy to think people can't and shouldn't be open about their difficulties just because they have more money than other people. By that reckoning, no-one in the UK could ever complain ever again or ask for help because globally we are all very privileged.

I suspect Kate is more hands on than a lot of people on here want to give her credit for.

@BuffetShark

I genuinely don’t understand those who truly believe these two go anywhere near ‘home schooling’ or ‘parenting’ for that matter.

Let’s face it, the only interaction they probably have with their dc is at meal times (maybe) and photo shoots.

I would see this comment as more of a reflection on you @BuffetShark than on the Cambridge’s.

I work FT and have a FT nanny but I’m still doing the homeschooling myself.

I believe you @Handsoffstrikesagain as I also know someone who is closely connected to W.

Apart from anything else, the evidence is there in the photos and video footage. The video of baby George chomping on Kate’s hair in Australia was just the start

She maybe very hands on I believe she is

But that doesn’t take away all the help she does get we know they have nannies, cooks, cleaners, housekeepers, gardeners and assistants that prepare their work for them and I think it’s highly unlikely they don’t have tutors

She doesn’t even have to think about putting a wash on or what to make for lunch

@OhWhyNot

She maybe very hands on I believe she is

But that doesn’t take away all the help she does get we know they have nannies, cooks, cleaners, housekeepers, gardeners and assistants that prepare their work for them and I think it’s highly unlikely they don’t have tutors

She doesn’t even have to think about putting a wash on or what to make for lunch

Yes, it is this exactly.

As I say, I really like them. It's hardly their fault they have all the wealth and support in the world while many of us have practically none!

But this was poorly judged.

They deign to be hands on. Many people have nobody else at all. That's life! We can't expect to all have that level of help, but don't make out it is the same or anything like it. And it has its pitfalls too being in the public eye as they are. But this comment was misjudged. Probably just a silly slip of the tongue and, as I said earlier, it's all relative really.

Reminds me of someone moaning on at me that her Christmas was going to be so shit because her mum couldn't be there to help with her dcs so she could put her feet up. Completely missing that my mum died suddenly one Christmas before I had dc1 and I have no help from GPs any time of any year. Not her fault, but...read the room you know?

@youngestisapsycho

#Bekind

@youngestisapsycho They should #bekind to us and start paying taxes as they should, and stop using taxpayers money when they are one of the richest families in the world when that money would be much better spent on people who actually need it.

@youngestisapsycho They should #bekind to us and start paying taxes as they should, and stop using taxpayers money when they are one of the richest families in the world when that money would be much better spent on people who actually need it.

They should #bekind to us and start paying taxes as they should, and stop using taxpayers money when they are one of the richest families in the world when that money would be much better spent on people who actually need it

They do pay tax. The Queen’s quite a fair way down the British rich list, let alone the world’s. You’d be better off going after Amazon, Google and their ilk with that argument.

@Handsoffstrikesagain

velveteen she is very much hands on. I’ve avoided saying this as wondered if it was a bit outing but sod it I don’t care. My DH knows William due to something they worked on together years ago. I have seen Kate parent. She is very hands on. I have seen her tell her children off at events we’ve all been to, let them run wild when all the children have been, she regularly takes the children out without the Nanny (her mum will sometimes come along if William isn’t there). They try very hard to give their children a normal childhood and normal experiences. To be clear, I am not saying I am friends with them or know their deepest darkest secrets but have been around them a fair few times now to know that a lot of what is being said on this thread is rubbish.

I shall await the comments calling me a liar 🤪😂

@VelveteenChair I don't doubt she loves her children and interacts with them (as all normal parents do) but the point is that it's blindingly obvious she has nowhere near the level of pressure as the average parent without nannies, chef, cleaners, PAs etc. On top of this, they're likely to have tutors to help. I personally think Kate has been great for the Royal family's image but that's besides the point

Everything they do and say is about projecting an image to the public that makes them seem relevant and engaged. Because at the end of the day a democracy does not need (and certainly should not have) an unelected rich family funded by taxpayers because of an accident of birth. They have no business whatsoever taking money from the tax payer and enjoying undeserved privileges. And they damn well know it hence all the photo ops and carefully crafted speeches. The continuation of their horribly unfair funding and privilege depends on enough people not asking questions about it.

@VinylDetective

They should #bekind to us and start paying taxes as they should, and stop using taxpayers money when they are one of the richest families in the world when that money would be much better spent on people who actually need it

They do pay tax. The Queen’s quite a fair way down the British rich list, let alone the world’s. You’d be better off going after Amazon, Google and their ilk with that argument.

I suggest you do some research of your own. Theyre not paying the level of tax that they should and as an abundantly rich family, they should not be taking money from the taxpayer.

Theyre not paying the level of tax that they should and as an abundantly rich family, they should not be taking money from the taxpayer

What level of tax do you think they should pay? They pay income tax, VAT, council tax - what else do you think they should pay?

It would be interesting trying to disentangle the Sovereign Grant from the Crown Estate, given that the taxpayer benefits from 75% of its income.

@Livingtothefull

'Prince Andrew but look how he was pilloried for much the same - how come PC gets off so lightly?)

Because he didn’t fuck trafficked women perhaps? It’s nowhere near the same'.

I accept that Charles unlike Andrew has never been accused of an actual offence so the circumstances are different in that regard. But when someone in his position has a succession of paedophiles as close friends, confidants and mentors, is it not natural for eyebrows to be raised?

Like all RF members, Charles is above the law and never compelled to give an account of himself. For example, he refused to give a legal statement to the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse whose stated aim was to ensure that children get the care and protection from sexual abuse they need and deserve, now and in the future.’

This despite the following:

'Our remit is wide ranging, but as a statutory inquiry we have unique authority to compel both witnesses and any material we feel is necessary in order to investigate where institutions have let children down in the past'.
Charles REFUSES to comply with this. A statement would require him to swear an oath – and Charles' legal advisers state that the court couldn’t compel him to release a statement. Why is he above the law? Why would he not want to do all he can to support the inquiry? Does he have anything to hide?

It's crazy isn't it that we still have people defending the royal family and their privilege in the face of things like this. Makes my blood boil.

@Whattheactual20201

She couldn’t of got it right if she had said “ easy “ then people would be complaining that she said it was easy etc

She literally could not have said anything right.

The point is that she shouldn't be saying anything at all. I wish her well and it's great for her that she has the help she does but she should just get on with it like other rich families. The main reason they're involved in these video calls is to bolster their public image because they receive unnecessary funding from hard pressed taxpayers, including in this economic crisis, and they need to maintain slick PR.

The pandemic has emphasised the true heroes in our society and that includes people such as NHS and care staff, and researchers who've developed vaccines which will hopefully save lives around the world. It's certainly not an unelected "royal" family. Any challenges that family has faced will pale in comparison to the average person in the UK who's been funding them.

"I accept that Charles unlike Andrew has never been accused of an actual offence so the circumstances are different in that regard. But when someone in his position has a succession of paedophiles as close friends, confidants and mentors, is it not natural for eyebrows to be raised?"

I wasn't aware he did! Hardly confidantes and mentors. I know he had met Jimmy Saville a few times but so did lots of people - and liked him 'til it all came out. I liked him!

He also knew Bishop Ball and the revelations about him were a dreadful shock to the establishment who revered him. He once came to my son's school to give a talk on Speech Day which was highly entertaining.
Gordon Bennett, we could all know people who are paedophiles, hebophiles, perpetrators of domestic violence.......Mel Gibson springs to mind, presenting himself for so many years as a devoted husband and father and a devout man. His poor wife!

I doubt very much that Prince Andrew knew about Epstein, same as all the other prominent people (more 'high up' than Andrew), who were his 'friends' and accepted his hospitality and sometimes his patronage. He was done for having sex with an underage girl, accepted a plea and served a short sentence but obviously said he didn't know her age. Now of course we know Epstein had a penchant for young girls but he was clever and careful, cultivating the great and the good in all walks of life.

There are secrets everywhere but there's no point in trying to spread scandal as if everyone is guilty by association. They're not. These unsavoury people are cunning. Trouble is so many people want to believe the worst, they enjoy it. You can almost see them rubbing their hands in glee at the slightest whiff of scandal!

What has this got to do with the Duchess of Cambridge (one of her uncles was involved in some sort of sex scandal iirc, don't remember the details, but it's not her fault)? I'll have to go back and look at the top of the thread to see if it is the one about and her home schooling.

It is. Leave them alone! And I'm not particularly a royalist.

I doubt very much that Prince Andrew knew about Epstein

Hahahahahahahaha