To think that if the only black adult in your family says they have experienced racism...

[Overcastcloudy]

... it's counterproductive to send a white man out to say, We're very much not racist?

That just is never going to end well. Ask Ian Murray how it worked out for him.

I couldn't care much either way about the Royal Family. Just baffled at the headline of William saying this.

In William's shoes I would have foresaw being asked about it and run some scenarios/questions through with my staff to prepare for it.

Good for you!

Yes HmmmmmmInteresting I read people on here complaining that people are quick to call racist. I think it's simply that people on here simply don't understand what is and isn't racist and what can be perceived as racist. They simply don't know what they are saying is racist. Saying a black person 'doesn't look black enough' as Chewingle was basically suggesting, as one of the most deeply offensive things you can say to a person who is black and who identifies as black. It is a classic example of racism. Even if that person was unaware that it is racist. It is.

[quote Cokie3]@CecilyP In his job William should be prepared to answer questions from the press, whether at an official press conference or not. If William expected to attend official engagements and not be asked by press (or anyone really) about THE number one royal hot topic at the time, especially given how controversial it is, then he's an idiot. And his staff didn't prep him. In William's shoes I would have foresaw being asked about it and run some scenarios/questions through with my staff to prepare for it.[/quote]
But we're not all perfect like you. Although I don't think calling people you don't know an idiot is particularly clever but then I'm sure you do.

My response was thought up on the spot when I first saw William's response. It's really not that hard to be diplomatic, especially if you actually mean it. It's so telling that William just shot it down, clearly he is judge and jury about racism as a white man... NB I'm white myself and appalled.

@ancientgran This has nothing to do with being 'perfect'. It's being in the public eye and knowing what the role entails. People go on about Meghan, but one would at be slow if one were William and didn't know he was - obviously - going to be asked about this. Right? You'd think he'd know and, as all people in his position would, be prepped for it.

I mean, what did he honestly think would happen next time he appeared in public with the press?

*would at be

should be would at least be

I agree that white people have no right to speak over POC about what is and isn’t racist.

again cokie you show that you don't know what you're talking about with the RF.

The royals attend at events like that all the time - it's their day job. The royal don't answer the questions shouted at them as they're their to highlight the project they're visiting.

It was inappropriate and cheeky from the press and to be ignored, but W felt compelled outside of normal protocol to answer. As I said, you know absolutely nothing about what the royal family actually do.

It's shocking how much you keep revealing of your lack of knowledge
"should have something prepared to say". Embarrassing how you keep misunderstanding the royals aren't celebrities.

Harry knows he is doing damage because the royal family aren't in a position to answer back. He feels safe in his tower, but I think the foundations are looking wobbly.

I can see why you blame everything on racism, as you have no knowledge of how the UK system works at all. It is quite funny though really, as above, with your shouting uk are wrong for calling public schools public. You don't seem at all grasp that you may be misunderstanding a hell of a lot.

[quote Cokie3]@ancientgran This has nothing to do with being 'perfect'. It's being in the public eye and knowing what the role entails. People go on about Meghan, but one would at be slow if one were William and didn't know he was - obviously - going to be asked about this. Right? You'd think he'd know and, as all people in his position would, be prepped for it.

I mean, what did he honestly think would happen next time he appeared in public with the press?[/quote]
Totally agree. I work in the public sector and lines to take/briefings for ongoing contentious issues are absolutely the norm in the job. You have to be prepared, always.

Lady Davina Windsor ... married a Maori lad ... sometimes seen at royal events

Not any more - that was yet another Windsor divorce, this time in 2018

@Marmaladeagain The royal family are MY royal family, as much as yours. The Queen is the Queen of Australia. We are not (unfortunately) a Republic yet. I DO understand what there role is. And on official engagements, usually the royal will address the press or at least take questions from the press.

He knew he would be asked about it.

He knew.

And if he didn't know, then that doesn't say much about his capabilities.

@SugarbabyMilly

I agree that white people have no right to speak over POC about what is and isn’t racist.

But if someone directly accuses someone of being racist, the 'accused' surely has right of reply, due process, etc. I find it chilling to think that someone could be tried and found guilty (if only in the court of public opinion) purely on one persons say so or their perception of something. I don't much care WHAT the issue is. I don't think accusations of racism are so different from accusations of anything else. Are they?

Do you think Harry's manner of dealing with racism within his family is okay?

Harry should have dealt with at the time in the very conversation surely? Not wave it around 3 or 4 years later on TV and not say who it is or give the person a chance to respond to an actual statement of fact - just " a person". Just vague and conflicting timeline from M then H.

He tells people he's no longer an important royal because his wife is mixed race.

Cokie: It's because William has children, he moves sideways and downwards over next 10 years - goodbye Harry was always on the card. He would be a Prince Edward at best.

Could someone pitch an idea to Oprah please?

Let's get Dave on TV in US to speak about how Harry's racism towards him wasn't funny after all.

"Harry and how he made others feel with his racist slurs etc "- could be the first documentary idea for them right there.

Further episodes: How Harry came not to be a racist through army training courses.

Then: how to deal with racism with your family members. New go-to method is Harry's style of public humiliation, really creates harmony and a way forward. About 3 or 4 episodes Harry could get out of that pitch. Come on Oprah.

Cokie: she's Queen for sure but:
"In Australia the powers of the Queen have been delegated by the Australian Constitution to her representative in Australia, the Governor-General. ... The Queen's only necessary constitutional function is to appoint the Governor-General, and in doing this the Queen acts as advised by the Australian Prime Minister."

Governor general in Australia. The Queen's only necessary constitutional function - I've repeated that so you get the idea of your in Australia is different. Blimey, it's as if you don't know your own system either.

bangs head on desk - blimey
Not the same.

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

It boils down to this. I, for one, do not want a bunch of unelected representatives foisted on me, who I'm unable to vote out, with the stench of racism hanging over them. On that score Harry isn't innocent either and as for his grandfather, well, Google anything he's on record as saying and that's enough to see that William's remark is demonstrably false. On a global stage it looks appalling, it's extremely bad for diplomacy, and politicians as well as overseas media are turning on us. An unelected Head of State is unfathomable even here, but on the other side of the globe? Why would countries like Canada and Australia be willing to continue with such an antiquated system?

This family's only biracial member has gone on record as saying she experienced racism on a systemic as well as an individual level. In their position you ignore that at your peril. It's so humiliatingly evident that the first thing [some] white people do when a POC says they've experienced racism is to tell them they haven't, or that they are imagining things, or to 'racesplain' it away as what they - who experience their lack of racial privilege every single do - think of as racism not really being racism.

It's very like the cries of NAMALT on platforms where women are (bravely) sharing their experiences of sometimes hideous abuse at the hands of men. And it's sickening. Some vox pop columns are saturated with comments like these, making me see exactly why Eddo-Lodge wrote Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race.

Why, indeed.

Round of applause - well said.

Hmm interesting if very depressing thread.

I agree with OP.

What really strikes me is the degree of ignorance about race.

Oh and FWIW @Cokie3 is not the one coming as poorly informed.

@Marmaladeagain Oh good grief indeed! Fact is we are all well versed on what the Queen and the royal family do. Very well versed. She may not be physically in Australia, but we know all about the protocol and duties of the royal family. We know far more about it than you think.

MM is a massive lying liar, she knows exactly what she’s doing.

Well if you do know that then you know they are not in a position to respond to personal opinions on anything? You understand the role in the political system?

"The Governor-General does not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the government but has a role in both the government and the Parliament. ... Whenever the Governor-General makes a public statement, they avoid personal opinions and do not comment on political and other controversies."

They are not celebrities no more than your governor general is.

No you know far less than you think unfortunately.

I find it chilling to think that someone could be tried and found guilty (if only in the court of public opinion) purely on one persons say so or their perception of something

I agree

@confused14453 No, she isn't, and you have no proof she is. You are simply prejudiced against her.

@Marmaladeagain I think you like arguing for the sake of arguing. When something happens to a member of the royal family, that is not the same as the Governor General.

@AIMummy

My experience of racism in Britain since my nursery days are that in Britain, people are more offended being called a racist than they are about the actual racism.

This with Ffing bells on! I was constantly racialy abused at my mixed comprehensive school in the 80's. I was one of only a handful of black children I was tiny compared to the girls in my year group let alone the older boys some of whom paraded around in skinhead NF type clothes. I was terrified to go to certain areas during break time as they congregated and would shout racist abuse. The teachers knew it was going on but did nothing until one day I was abused and my best friend wasn't at school so I became really upset two older black boys (I knew one vaguely as are parents were friends) got into an altercation with the racists leading to one of them being punched. I remember vividly being called to the front of the class and my teacher shouting at me for being a bully whilst I cried in front the class. One of my classmates said to the teacher that those boys are always picking "Duchess" and "she can't help being black" I was told that I should have told one of the teachers. I had told the teachers they saw what was going on I was a small 11year old the boys were 15 or 16. Nothing was done I think the boys might have been punished but the Teacher did nothing to help me or try and change the racists behaviour. It has got better for my children but it's far from an equal society. Although pretty sure someone will say like Meghan I'm lying.