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

[PodgePie]

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?

I know people on here don't seem to have much time for Meghan and Harry - but I disagree. They were the last chance for the royal family to be relevant in the 21st century.

Urgh not them. Sorry, think Kate and William are streets ahead of M&H in terms of diplomacy and grace. How relevant they are to the Commonwealth... did make uncomfortable viewing today it has to be said

I find the whole thing totally incongruous. It strikes the wrong note entirely at the moment. All the play acting at having an absolutely marvellous time is grating. . I know they’re doing their best but really, it’s time all this stuff stopped for good.

@Manekinek0

I don't know anyone, in real life, who cares or pays attention to any of this. Get rid of the lot of them.

This.

I shudder to think what reception they'll gett if they turn up in my country (haven't checked, don't give a shit). A few toecurling sycophants to pose with, while the rabble hurl abuse and dump shit outside.

It’s only a football pitch.

I admire the Queen’s steadfast devotion to her role and her ability to do that for her entire life. I’m sure it’s not easy at her age.

Beyond that though, I see no point to the Royals at all. They have had no political purpose for a very long time and in this day and age, the notion of being born into a position of perceived power and authority by sheer chance - rather than being elected or chosen based on skills and experience - seems totally at odds with the progressions society has made towards equality and opportunity. And that goes for any country which still has a monarchy system.

They (Kate & Wills) look very uncomfortable -like they know it’s out of step with the times. I think the monarchy will look very different when the Queen is gone.

Although I agree to a degree, Jamaicas economy was seriously damaged during Covid as it relies so heavily on tourism. If this tour allows the world to see that’s it’s back and open for business, that’s a good thing. Plus I REALLY liked that yellow dress.

@Blossomtoes that is what she’s doing though? How can it be degrading to say she’s parading around (William too, obviously) when that exactly what they’re doing and supposed to be doing?

They can't win. If they stayed in the UK, they'd be accused of only caring about England, and then this would turn into accusations of racism because England is predominantly a white country.

@Prescottdanni123 would they? I can’t think of the last time a royal went on a foreign tour and don’t recall any mention of racism because of that.

If they were actually able to read the room well enough to see that a lot of these commonwealth countries want out they wouldn’t be titting about over there. They’d arrange with the countries for some kind of referendum before turning up in thousand pound outfits, smiling benevolently and achieving the sum total of fuck all while pretending that it’s an actual job.

@Ffsmakeitstop

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

This sums up how I feel

*@DaphneduM

*I'm glad to see others have brought up the picture of the chain link fence - I saw it earlier and couldn't believe it. It's like something from the apartheid era of South Africa - absolutely dreadful.

Weirdly I think it's the beginning of the end too. I know people on here don't seem to have much time for Meghan and Harry - but I disagree. They were the last chance for the royal family to be relevant in the 21st century.*

I remember Harry being very warmly received by the Jamaican government/citizens

OP, I get that your sentiment is coming from a good place, but its hypocritical - this latest show piece is no more tasteless and unnecessary than all of the rest

Everytime they're "parading around in the sunshine in a stream of hugely expensive outfits" , they are doing it against a backdrop of poverty, inequality and suffering ... and our taxes and land are paying for it.

I don't know how far it absence these things are planned but presumably they take some organising for the host country. I'm not sure canceling because there's way elsewhere is really appropriate, it isn't like there was worldwide peace before Ukraine, its not like William or Kate can do anything to help. I think it's probably fairer to fulfil their commitments

@GreenLunchBox

The optics aren't great

Wow im literally speechless that this happened. Wtaf were they thinking.

@dudsville

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).

I think the trip was ill timed and don’t particularly care about the royals but I totally disagree that it’s all a great fun jolly. I seriously doubt making small talk with lots of people, shaking lots of hands and listening & giving dull speeches - all under threat of accidentally causing a diplomatic incident - is anyone’s idea of a good time.

Belize isn't an island.

Put it this way in 2019 it cost each ta layer £1.24 for the royal family ( they get something like £85m of taxpayers money)

There are quite a lot of people for whom having £1.24 would mean they could buy some more food or heat their house a bit longer.

So yeah I think its getting to the point where people are questioning is it worth it. If this was an opt in tax how many people looking at their budgets now and having to cut bsck would still opt in to pay for the Royal family ....

It's not just ill-timed IMO. The whole concept of white saviour tours in posh frocks clapping and tapping and enjoying 'experiences' set up by the locals and getting papped is painfully outdated and frankly rather pathetic. But so is the monarchy itself, IMO.

The footballer doing the same, but less zoomed in. Perhaps they should have ignored the kids who's come to see them or demanded that the fences around the football pitch be removed in their honour.

I don't think William and Kate had any choice regarding the nature of the tour.
However, I do wish she'd stop wearing such outrageously expensive clothes. Given how everyone has to tighten their belts, it is entirely inappropriate. There are plenty of labels that offer a choice of stylish dresses of the kind she seems to favour. There is no reason why she shouldn't wear dresses that are not unique.

Yes absolutely. It should have been cancelled and they should be in poland/Romania helping refugees and offering them rooms in their many palaces castles stately homes and outbuildings in the grounds, so misjudged it's unbelievable. Out of touch whoever is in charge of it and sure that's not the Queen although she is prob not thinking straight either. It is such bad taste when there is so much suffering so close to home. And as for you queenie nowt wrong with using a wheelchair as you always preach with your awards and garden party invites and charitable connections along with Harry's invictus games do practice what u preach and show the world there is nothing to be ashamed of. I feel sorry for will n Kate as pretty sure they don't think they should be there either but have to do as they are told.

These 'veiled' attacks on Kate and the RF are tedious as fuck and, in this case, also racist and paternalistic as fuck too.

Very odd that MN has had a slew of posters who don't understand the Commonwealth; completely forget about conflicts in Africa and always start anti-RF threads at the same time every night.

There's a lot wrong with the RF. But it's nothing to do with misunderstanding it as a cult of personality or paternalistically determining that 'the lower orders' (nice racism there OP) wouldn't want the Royal Tour.

I'm a staunch republican but these threads really make me worry for who would get elected into a presidential type figurehead role if we finally replaced the monarchy. The racism; the misogyny; the cultural and historic ignorance of the posters on these threads - it's almost enough to make me want to keep the RF - because some of these posters seem like they'd happily vote in a Russian oligarch or a male Kardashian because there's always a strong undercurrent of slating those uppity women.

I wonder if it was planned as a charm-offensive to minimise P. A_w issues, the Queen's declining health and reaching out to POC after claims of racism in the Royal family, but it's all fallen flat?
I feel admiration for, and rather sorry for the Queen but royalty's time has come and gone, and although there'll always be Royalist fans, I don't think the Monarchy can be sustained in its current form for much longer.

I think it’s just showing that old school royal tours aren’t going to be able to continue in their current form.

I actually feel a bit sorry for the Cambridges as it’s surely evident to them also and must feel quite awkward. They have to work out how they’re going to do this in the future.

I am interested though by the utter naivety over the cost and difficult of setting up a republic and the extraordinary racism of the ‘evil Chinese vs benevolent colonists’ nonsense of one PP.