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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the royal family are a bloody embarrassment THREAD 2

957 replies

MyOhMySimon · 19/09/2021 06:47

Carrying on from Thread 1.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4347032-To-think-the-royal-family-are-a-bloody-embarrassment?msgid=110733144#110733144

Haven't seen the OP around, thread 1 is about to run out and someone asked for a new thread.

OP posts:
ChurchofLatterDayPaints · 25/09/2021 12:18

@Roussette I downloaded the Baker book, it really is excellent although doing nothing for my blood pressure

Original poster
MyOhMySimon · 25/09/2021 12:21

But that would make it non optional because it would be stopping people who want to do it

By saying so, I mean telling people they don't have to do so, so that others, who feel lucky just to breathe the same air they do, would hear too. Let's face it, these are really the people who want to do it. Others are trying not to appear rude or disrespectful.

They can't physically stop anyone from doing so but they can make a show (at least) of saying 'oh no you don't have to'. That would become news, I tell you.

I don't think they want to. It's part of 'feeling Royal'.

OP posts:
Original poster
MyOhMySimon · 25/09/2021 12:23

The dos and don'ts are so ludicrous, one can't believe such things are still being practiced in this day and age, and in a supposedly modern country like the UK.

OP posts:
Roussette · 25/09/2021 12:25

@ChurchofLatterDayPaints

It made me want to go on a March!

Roussette · 25/09/2021 12:27

I agree. Why do elderly people have to stand for hours for a royal to swoop in and out again whilst you've been stood like a spare part.
As for not speaking till you're spoken to...Shock

TheKeatingFive · 25/09/2021 12:32

People are right to point out it’s part of how they maintain the illusion.

If they dress them up in enough fancy clothes, pin enough ‘madey up’ medals on their chests, parade them around in enough carriages, have all the bowing and scraping, perhaps Joe public won’t notice they’re bog standard average humans, with no real distinguishing features.

It is getting harder and harder to maintain this idea though.

Blossomtoes · 25/09/2021 12:39

@Roussette

I agree. Why do elderly people have to stand for hours for a royal to swoop in and out again whilst you've been stood like a spare part. As for not speaking till you're spoken to...Shock
They don’t have to. It’s a choice. There’s no compulsion on anyone to be presented to royalty, yet it’s very rare for anyone to turn it down.
TheKeatingFive · 25/09/2021 12:43

I’m not sure it’s that rare actually, it’s just not something that gets talked about much. I know quite a few people who’ve turned down invitations.

Roussette · 25/09/2021 12:46

Disagree Blossom

When a royal comes to your institution or place if work, all those rules of what you can and can't do apply

There is no choice.
And it's not 'being presented to royalty'.

It's going in to your place of work and having to do all this.
That is what happens.
As told by someone who knows

SecretSpAD · 25/09/2021 12:50

@Blossomtoes

I can't get my head round the claim that they ever expected to see him alive again

I can. The human brain is a very odd thing. My dad died in his sleep at 99. It never occurred to me when I kissed him goodbye the previous day that it would be the last time. Completely illogical.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I'm the complete opposite - mine is early 80's and every day I'm unsettled until I hear from him in case he dies in his sleep. I've been known to send the dog around to wake him up (which he does so well).

Anyway, sorry for derailing.

Blossomtoes · 25/09/2021 12:50

@Roussette

Disagree Blossom

When a royal comes to your institution or place if work, all those rules of what you can and can't do apply

There is no choice.
And it's not 'being presented to royalty'.

It's going in to your place of work and having to do all this.
That is what happens.
As told by someone who knows

I’ve told you before I organised a royal visit to a workplace. People were queuing up to go on the presentation list. If anyone had said they didn’t want to be there it would have been a huge relief. Literally nobody said no. Not one.
Roussette · 25/09/2021 13:07

Which Royal?

Do you honestly think it will be the same for everybody in the UK?

HarrisonStickle · 25/09/2021 13:31

This is bollocks about having to be there in the workplace. I've worked for lots of organisations over the years and I've always been upfront about not having anything to do with visits from the RF and that has always been respected.

I worked for one organisation whose new wing was opened by someone relevant and with enormous stature (think along the lines of David Attenburgh for conservation), which was then opened again by Charles because Charles wanted to visit and open it!

Sometimes I actually feel I'm being stalked by Charles the number of times I've had to avoid him over the years! (JOKE.)

Btw, Kate's having a boat trip on Windermere today.

HarrisonStickle · 25/09/2021 13:39

Oops, Kate's visit to the Lakes wasn't today, it was earlier in the week. Read the report wrong.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/09/2021 13:44

I organised a royal visit to a workplace. People were queuing up to go on the presentation list

I believe you, Blossom, even though I find it very sad. It's also why I feel it'll take some years (and probably Charles's reign) for a tipping point to be reached - not because I want it to take that long, but because even as a republican I try to be realistic

And though I've not mentioned this before on here, I'm another who turned down a royal visit when he was in our area and thought he could get a bit of PR out of an initiative I'm involved in. Not on my time or those I care about you don't Hmm

UsedUpUsername · 25/09/2021 13:46

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I organised a royal visit to a workplace. People were queuing up to go on the presentation list

I believe you, Blossom, even though I find it very sad. It's also why I feel it'll take some years (and probably Charles's reign) for a tipping point to be reached - not because I want it to take that long, but because even as a republican I try to be realistic

And though I've not mentioned this before on here, I'm another who turned down a royal visit when he was in our area and thought he could get a bit of PR out of an initiative I'm involved in. Not on my time or those I care about you don't Hmm

Tbh I’d turn out for the Queen, she’s a total relic and from a completely different era.

Not for any of the rest of them though.

derxa · 25/09/2021 13:53

This is bollocks about having to be there in the workplace. I've worked for lots of organisations over the years and I've always been upfront about not having anything to do with visits from the RF and that has always been respected I'm sure the royal family are devastated.

Livingtothefull · 25/09/2021 13:55

I can believe that plenty of people would be keen to meet the royals in most workplaces. And for a variety of reasons; eg they could be avid supporters of the monarchy, or just want to meet a famous person.

Most of those who want no part of it will probably just quietly make themselves scarce. Hopefully, most workplaces respect this.

The situation is similar to that of the long list of distinguished people who have refused honours from our antiquated, cronyistic Honours system, supported by the Royal Family who dole these honours out. Again, those offered them probably refuse for a number of reasons, but in many cases the individuals do not care to receive honours from the Establishment in the name of a non-existent British Empire.

The whole system is crying out for reform - so when and how is reform going to happen?

GrimDamnFanjo · 25/09/2021 14:05

I've helped organise a few royal visits including the Queen. There's a massive amount of planning involved.
These were for organisations who had royalty as figureheads so we're fairly regular.
One organisation even had a special "Royal Loo" behind an unmarked door. I confess I used it from time to time.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/09/2021 14:08

One organisation even had a special "Royal Loo" behind an unmarked door. I confess I used it from time to time

Relax - I'm sure the Tower still has room for one more, and they probably even have the chopping block stashed away somewhere Wink

HarrisonStickle · 25/09/2021 14:08

@GrimDamnFanjo

I've helped organise a few royal visits including the Queen. There's a massive amount of planning involved. These were for organisations who had royalty as figureheads so we're fairly regular. One organisation even had a special "Royal Loo" behind an unmarked door. I confess I used it from time to time.
Same! I never used it because I was always wary of it not working properly and causing a flood!
HarrisonStickle · 25/09/2021 14:24

I can believe that plenty of people would be keen to meet the royals in most workplaces. And for a variety of reasons; eg they could be avid supporters of the monarchy, or just want to meet a famous person.

There's loads of reasons my colleagues over the years have been fine with meeting the RF. The big fans who think it's an honour, others who are generally supportive and would like to meet them, those who just want to see them in the flesh, some who took advantage of a bit of time away from 'real' work, others who thought it might look bad if they didn't show up etc etc.

Livingtothefull · 25/09/2021 16:59

So just because a lot of people turn up, doesn't mean they are all avid monarchists - although undoubtedly many of them are. But the RF are in trouble if people start to turn away in large numbers.

Those who support them may be confident that will never happen; but time will tell and will prove if your faith in their popularity is justified.

CathyorClaire · 25/09/2021 20:30

@yacketyyak

This has probably already been discussed and I haven't had time to rtft so apologies.... but was anyone else gobsmacked to see Prince Andrew interviewed for the shoe about Prince Phillip which aired during the week??? I thought is was do brass necked and stank of arrogance! I got so annoyed I had to switch it off! I wondered if this was the RF's way of testing the water for Andrew to return to public life?!
He's been flying kites to that end pretty much since the infamous interview.

I CBA to watch the drivel on Philip but I read an article saying the randy one had taken part. Didn't surprise me given the eager pontificating about the 'nation's grandfather' on Philip's death but still utterly nauseating. I genuinely think he thinks the VG nastiness is all going to go away and he'll be back in Admiral dress-up and gongs on the balcony waving when it does.

Blossomtoes · 25/09/2021 22:33

I genuinely think he thinks the VG nastiness is all going to go away and he'll be back in Admiral dress-up and gongs on the balcony waving when it does.

He’s deluded if he thinks that. His days are numbered.