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Original poster

Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge tour … is it just me?

334 replies

PodgePie · 23/03/2022 21:25

I am a huge royalist (obviously not Andrew but definitely William and Kate). However, I am struggling with their current tour, in a time of war, of crippling price rises and also Covid, it seems tasteless to be parading around in the sunshine in a stream of hugely expensive outfits, each one more luxurious than the next. I understand why international tours take place - and agree they have an important role - but shouldn’t this have been postponed given the climate?

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MissBattleaxe · 23/03/2022 21:28

I agree. It feels a bit tone deaf and irrelevant. There's more importantl stuff going on closer to home where they could be raising awareness etc but this feels a bit random

FrancescaContini · 23/03/2022 21:29

Agree that it’s tasteless.

EmperorsNewClothesBS · 23/03/2022 21:30

Yes it feels ill timed…

Boxowine · 23/03/2022 21:30

All the more reason to show face to the far away places of the Commonwealth. To show them that they are not out of sight or out of mind. Personally, I think it’s time for all of these countries to switch to having their own heads of state, but that is also THEIR CHOICE. No one is making them stay anymore but the truth is that there are advantages to belonging.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 23/03/2022 21:32

It also felt a bit odd seeing it in the news alongside discussions about human rights in Qatar for the world cup. Jamaica have an appalling history of LGBT rights, but Kate and William are there on a charm offensive whilst everyone talks about how bad Qatar are for bot accepting gay people (I know there is more to it than just that, but it was specifically mentioned in the news with no mention of it in regards to Jamaica).

AgathaMystery · 23/03/2022 21:33

I think they had to get out on the stump and campaign for the family Firm.

Let’s face it, the Queen is on her last legs, Charles has the charisma of a flannel & by the time William gets on the throne there won’t be an empire to rule over.

I hope.

They are desperately scrabbling around for islands to rule. I don’t think rocking up to wave at folk once a decade cuts it any more.

GlitterSquid · 23/03/2022 21:34

I don't know, your point seems very 'whataboutery' to me. There'll ALWAYS be 'the next big thing' happening at home, abroad, financially, economically, socially.

The Royals are obviously on a charm offensive to the commonwealth nations who are pushing to leave, which is time sensitive in itself.

I don't think Kate has dressed that flamboyantly to be fair, yes, she's had a couple of nice frocks but nothing too princessy. Very in keeping with the trip.

They're just doing their jobs, as everyone else has had to carry on doing. Wether you agree with the nature of their 'job' is a different matter though......

ScrollingLeaves · 23/03/2022 21:35

I am sure it was arranged a long time ago and it would have caused offence to suddenly cancel it, even for those who are demonstrating against them.

As for the clothes it is respectful to the country to dress as well as possible for them.

What does seem odd is that the whole trip seems ill advised from the outset given their reception. Why were they fixed up with this tour at all?

Gunpowder · 23/03/2022 21:35

Absolutely agree. The whole thing is an ill timed PR shit show that no amount of cringy dancing can save.

Also, those photos of them on one side of the wire fence and the Jamaican people of the other! Not a great look. Clearly lots of people don’t want them there. It’s embarrassing.

Ffsmakeitstop · 23/03/2022 21:36

They look like Lord and Lady Bountiful bestowing their presence on the lower orders. Completely outdated practise.

Sofasogood1 · 23/03/2022 21:38

I'm glad they're finally demonstrating to people like you op how fucking ridiculous it all is. Us republicans have always thought it but glad it's finally cutting through!

Horcruxe · 23/03/2022 21:40

Unfortunately I think the tour has been a bit of PR disaster.

The photos with the wire fence were really ill advised.

dudsville · 23/03/2022 21:40

I think any media hype around celebrities going on holiday is weird. I think it's weird that these two celebrities in particular try to make their holidays look like work (it's definitely work for their hosts) or generosity (no it's work for the hosts).

user1471443411 · 23/03/2022 21:41

I agree completely but I'm not a royalist - not anti-royal either though, just kind of neutral. It just seems totally inappropriate at this time, you have to wonder where they're getting advice from. They obviously have to continue with their duties but surely these would be better put to use touring the UK, visiting projects in deprived areas and such.

Katya213 · 23/03/2022 21:42

@Ffsmakeitstop

They look like Lord and Lady Bountiful bestowing their presence on the lower orders. Completely outdated practise.
Who are the “lower orders?”
RoseAndRose · 23/03/2022 21:43

It was arranged months if not years ago, as they are representing HM for a Jubilee visit, so it was always going to be between Feb and June 2022.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 21:43

@GlitterSquid

I don't know, your point seems very 'whataboutery' to me. There'll ALWAYS be 'the next big thing' happening at home, abroad, financially, economically, socially.

The Royals are obviously on a charm offensive to the commonwealth nations who are pushing to leave, which is time sensitive in itself.

I don't think Kate has dressed that flamboyantly to be fair, yes, she's had a couple of nice frocks but nothing too princessy. Very in keeping with the trip.

They're just doing their jobs, as everyone else has had to carry on doing. Wether you agree with the nature of their 'job' is a different matter though......

We obviously have different budgets but I would consider approx £2k for a day dress to be flamboyant. She dresses beautifully but the stream of YSL suits & Roksander (bespoke) dresses makes for an extremely expensive week.
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TargusEasting · 23/03/2022 21:45

It is odd. But then so is walking round the supermarket and hearing people moan about products and choice or generally just shafting each other here with anti-social behaviour.

carefullycourageous · 23/03/2022 21:47

It looks really outdated to me, like something from the past. The royals just do not seem to fit with the world. I personally am tired of seeing them wandering around doing fuck all other than patronising everyone.

Ponoka7 · 23/03/2022 21:47

"in a time of war"

If you don't discount Africa, which the Ukraine crisis has shown that many do, then there are constant conflicts and many of those happen in commonwealth countries.

It isn't good enough to just ignore the protests going on. It's quite creepy that the royals can't comment on them as well.

SmellyOldOwls · 23/03/2022 21:47

At least we are left in no doubt about whether the commonwealth countries still want to be ruled by the royals. Unsurprisingly, it seems they do not.

VikingVolva · 23/03/2022 21:50

Those that want to leave only have to say so, and the handover date will be set.

Jamaica has been saying that its departure is imminent for a decade, but has not yet actually started the process. If they really want to go, then they need to turn words into actions

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 21:50

@Ponoka7

"in a time of war"

If you don't discount Africa, which the Ukraine crisis has shown that many do, then there are constant conflicts and many of those happen in commonwealth countries.

It isn't good enough to just ignore the protests going on. It's quite creepy that the royals can't comment on them as well.

Fair point. I have Ukrainian heritage so I hold this particular crisis closer to heart but I completely appreciate this.
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phoenixrosehere · 23/03/2022 21:51

It’s odd and I don’t think it’s going to help the Royal Family’s image, actually think it’s going to be the opposite. Will say I find the DM hilarious and sad in its headline about Kate stunning the crowd because she wore yellow while other publications are talking about the protests going on.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 21:55

@VikingVolva

Those that want to leave only have to say so, and the handover date will be set.

Jamaica has been saying that its departure is imminent for a decade, but has not yet actually started the process. If they really want to go, then they need to turn words into actions

I am sure this is a very expensive & quite as simple as you say
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