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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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Billionneeded · 23/03/2022 22:19

fuel prices have DOUBLED & Kate has swanned about in nearly £10k worth of clothing already (jewels aside). That’s not even mentioning rising food costs & the genuine stresses real people are facing to our food on the table.

So, perhaps it's nice to see something else on the news and be able to admire (or not) the clothes, jewellery and pretty hair instead of only wringing our hands over fuel prices which aren't going away any time soon.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 22:19

@IcedPurple

The money spent on the trip could have been donated to the Ukrainian campaign for one thing.

Contrary to what some here seem to think, wars and humanitarian disasters didn't just start 4 weeks ago.

Aside from the fact that the costs of this tour will have been borne by several different states, thus making any 'donation' rather complicated, why is 'the Ukrainian campaign' (whatever it is) so exceptionally deserving? We didn't expect the world to grind to a halt during the very long and destructive wars in the Congo and other parts of Africa, did we?

I’m sure you understand what the ‘Ukrainian campaign’ is. Absolutely true war didn’t start 4 weeks ago but this is the closest we have been to active fire for a very long time. It feels closer to home for most.
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MiniCooperLover · 23/03/2022 22:19

This was planned a year, maybe 2, ago. They wouldn't have known Putin was going bonkers, Covid was STILL going to be here. This is planned to help his transition to king in waiting. I can't bring myself to care too much.

Sweetchocolatecandy · 23/03/2022 22:20

@Blossomtoes

This tour has been planned for months. Imagine the criticism if they’d cancelled. Increasingly the royal family can do no right, whatever they do is criticised.
I disagree. If they had cancelled and instead travelled to a neighbouring country of Ukraine to help with the humanitarian effort for example, I think people would have respected them a lot more.
cakeorwine · 23/03/2022 22:21

@Billionneeded

fuel prices have DOUBLED & Kate has swanned about in nearly £10k worth of clothing already (jewels aside). That’s not even mentioning rising food costs & the genuine stresses real people are facing to our food on the table.

So, perhaps it's nice to see something else on the news and be able to admire (or not) the clothes, jewellery and pretty hair instead of only wringing our hands over fuel prices which aren't going away any time soon.

Look a shiny bauble!!

Smile at the bauble.....

Like opium for the masses. A distraction.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 22:22

@Billionneeded

fuel prices have DOUBLED & Kate has swanned about in nearly £10k worth of clothing already (jewels aside). That’s not even mentioning rising food costs & the genuine stresses real people are facing to our food on the table.

So, perhaps it's nice to see something else on the news and be able to admire (or not) the clothes, jewellery and pretty hair instead of only wringing our hands over fuel prices which aren't going away any time soon.

Yup, but couldn’t she have chosen slightly cheaper brands for this? She would look gorgeous in anything, it didn’t need to be a £2k suit.
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SmellyOldOwls · 23/03/2022 22:22

'Why don’t they just get rid of the queen then? For example Jamaica, I believe prime ministers there have been saying for years that they want to, and polling suggests so do the majority of Jamaicans. I don’t really get why they haven’t done it. The UK isn’t going to say no, there’s not going to be a war for independence. If you have political and public desire for it, why not?'

No idea. Maybe they're worried it'll end up being a massive pain in the arse, like Brexit.

Thoosa · 23/03/2022 22:22

So, perhaps it's nice to see something else on the news and be able to admire (or not) the clothes, jewellery and pretty hair instead of only wringing our hands over fuel prices which aren't going away any time soon.

Sheesh. We are adults. If they’re doing soft diplomacy, then that’s what they’re doing, effective or not. Report on that, fine. But we really don’t need to be shown the rich lady’s expensive frocks and baubles as something nice to look at on the news.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 22:22

God yes!

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Blossomtoes · 23/03/2022 22:24

Maybe some people would @Sweetchocolatecandy. Lots of others wouldn’t. And there’d have been wholesale whinging about putting themselves in danger and valuable resources being wasted on protecting them. Anyone else remember the stick Diana got for the land mine walk?

IcedPurple · 23/03/2022 22:24

I’m sure you understand what the ‘Ukrainian campaign’ is.

Well no, not really.

There are many charities assisting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, just as there are in other conflict zones around the world, but no 'Ukrainian campaign'.

Absolutely true war didn’t start 4 weeks ago but this is the closest we have been to active fire for a very long time. It feels closer to home for most.

I presume you're suggesting the tour should have been cancelled? Unilaterally by the UK?

And by 'most', I'm assuming you're referring exclusively to British people, not those in the host nations? Given that most have roots in Africa, maybe the many wars in that continent felt 'closer to home' for them than a war in Eastern Europe? Why should Caribbean countries be especially concerned about the 'Ukrainian campaign'?

Scandisaurus22 · 23/03/2022 22:25

Not in the UK, but love our Swedish princess Victoria turning up everywhere in HM clothing or just generally in jeans, shorts and hair in a messy bun, just like the people she meets. She is making a change, for real, and her children are brought up the same. The world needs real people.

Ionlydomassiveones · 23/03/2022 22:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

IcedPurple · 23/03/2022 22:28

@Scandisaurus22

Not in the UK, but love our Swedish princess Victoria turning up everywhere in HM clothing or just generally in jeans, shorts and hair in a messy bun, just like the people she meets. She is making a change, for real, and her children are brought up the same. The world needs real people.
Crown Princess Victoria definitely does not wear H&M 'everywhere'! She frequently wears designer clothing for big events.
GirlsTalk250 · 23/03/2022 22:30

Utterly cringing at the people saying the royal visit is irrelevant!

Our Queen is every bit as much the monarch of Belize and Jamaica and their Head of State, as she is of Britain. Obviously the Queen can no longer visit herself, so she has sent her representatives.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 22:33

@IcedPurple

I’m sure you understand what the ‘Ukrainian campaign’ is.

Well no, not really.

There are many charities assisting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, just as there are in other conflict zones around the world, but no 'Ukrainian campaign'.

Absolutely true war didn’t start 4 weeks ago but this is the closest we have been to active fire for a very long time. It feels closer to home for most.

I presume you're suggesting the tour should have been cancelled? Unilaterally by the UK?

And by 'most', I'm assuming you're referring exclusively to British people, not those in the host nations? Given that most have roots in Africa, maybe the many wars in that continent felt 'closer to home' for them than a war in Eastern Europe? Why should Caribbean countries be especially concerned about the 'Ukrainian campaign'?

And you don’t think that the many charities & foundations supporting Ukraine can be classed as a campaign? What does constitute a campaign then? Are you saying that most British people have roots in Africa? Yes. I am writing from the UK, on a UK hosted platform so when I say ‘most’ I refer to the UK readership. Not host nations. It didn’t look like the Jamaicans were terribly happy to host so I would imagine they’d have been delighted if Ukraine had diverted The Duke & Duchess from attending.

However, your post misses the point that rising fuel & food costs make this seem all the more extravagant

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montysma1 · 23/03/2022 22:34

What possible difference does it make to the residents, of a, country whether some rich woman dresses well? Could anything be less important?

Seema1234 · 23/03/2022 22:34

I find it embarassing and awkward to watch. W and K flying to Jamaica to swan about and be cooed over. The whole idea if it is outdated. The Queen is Head of State to a country where the slave trade took place and the UK benefitted. I wonder how much support there is in Jamaica for being a Republican .

OverByYer · 23/03/2022 22:35

I do like Kate and William but this tour just doesn’t sit right with me, seems so frivolous when we are all worried sick about the cost of living, war and Covid

Jamoffmytoast · 23/03/2022 22:35

I don’t think that her wardrobe is any more expensive than any thing else she has ever worn, she looked amazing when she visited the US years ago. Why should she dress down for Belize and Jamaica, do they only rate dowdy old gardening clothes? Can you imagine putting together a state visit at a community center and how the kids would feel if she wandered in wearing a ratty old shirt and jogging pants? It would be offensive, like they weren’t worth dressing up for.

Since she seems to wear a new expensive outfit every time she goes out, she must have plenty of clothes. Why not just wear them more than once Confused

Scandisaurus22 · 23/03/2022 22:35

@IcedPurple you are right, but she also more often wears HM or similar to big events. When she’s out working, meeting people in all countries, she often looks like she could be anyone. I think it’s a better way to do it.

Blossomtoes · 23/03/2022 22:38

Are you saying that most British people have roots in Africa?

No, she’s saying most Caribbean people have roots in Africa. How much difference do you realistically think the cost of this tour would make if the funding was diverted? It’s a drop in the ocean.

Rosebel · 23/03/2022 22:39

Postpone it until when? Things aren't going to be any better re the Ukraine, Covid and high prices for years.
I don't think they are particularly enjoying it and possibly didn't want to do it but it wasn't their choice, it's part of their job.
I wouldn't say their outfits are flamboyant, expensive yes. That's not a new thing though, certainly not unique to Catherine.

Scandisaurus22 · 23/03/2022 22:42

@IcedPurple there really is no comparison in the way they are expected to behave. If our royalty were to behave any different to us, they simply would not be popular by anyone. A couple of years ago I stopped by a very local gas station, and there was our King topping up his car. Saw later they had a sausage roll at the same petrol station.

Original poster
PodgePie · 23/03/2022 22:44

@Blossomtoes

Are you saying that most British people have roots in Africa?

No, she’s saying most Caribbean people have roots in Africa. How much difference do you realistically think the cost of this tour would make if the funding was diverted? It’s a drop in the ocean.

Thanks for clarifying. Probably nothing but from the general feedback it doesn’t seem like anyone would have given a shit if it had been cancelled!
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