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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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?

OP posts:
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5
lollipoprainbow · 24/03/2022 07:40

@Alcoh I meant when they used to Hmm

EdithWeston · 24/03/2022 07:40

@Roussette

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

It's happening. This is what was said by Jamaica PM to W&K who were stood in front of him. Rather awkward

That's really no further forward than the words of their PM in 2012.

If they mean it, they need to get on with it. There's been 10 years with no apparent progress

donquixotedelamancha · 24/03/2022 07:41

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.

My job involves being verbally and physically abused on a regular basis and working long hours. If they don't want the millions to make small talk, I'll do it.

Namechange466 · 24/03/2022 07:43

@Nat6999

There is a war going on & they are globe trotting, the country is in a financial crisis & think of the environmental issues of all the air travel they are taking. It is in extremely poor taste at this time, we are paying for them to be brought out like trained monkeys in each country they visit when there are people here who are worried sick about food & energy prices & people in Ukraine who are suffering & dying. It would have been better for them to have visited the relief centres in Europe if they have to travel at all.
they are also the head of state of those countries as much as the UK - and the world has always had wars - Ukraine is of no more significance to Belize or Jamaica than any other way so why should their head of state not visit them as a result

this visit is NOT about the UK and it doesn’t matter what the people of the UK thing - it is about the commonwealth which you clearly have very little understanding of

I’m mortified by how ignorant, closed minded and downright racist some of these comments can be - it’s like some people didn’t learn history

moonbedazzled · 24/03/2022 07:43

@lollipoprainbow

Imagine the stick Harry and Meghan would have got from the press and public for doing this.
Harry hasn't got time for tours. He's doing rodeo shows in Texas.
Icecreamlover63 · 24/03/2022 07:43

I love the royal family and the history of the royals is so interesting. However Kates dresses are extortionate some of them
cost as much as it would
To heat a family home for a year!!!

I understand she has to promote British designers but surely these designers must produce cheaper outfits. It’s so insensitive to families struggling right now 😢

Alcoh · 24/03/2022 07:44

But Harry and Meghan only got stick on their Royal Tour to South Africa because it all became about how hard done by Meghan was. That’s why they got stick.

Roussette · 24/03/2022 07:47

That's really no further forward than the words of their PM in 2012

If they mean it, they need to get on with it. There's been 10 years with no apparent progress

I imagine they are being diplomatic and are going to wait until after you know what.

BadgerB · 24/03/2022 07:49

@Dreamstate

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 ....

£1.24 each? How much would an elected President cost? What with repeated elections and all? And no tourist attractions, with Weddings etc etc. And, yes people would come to see the palaces , but not in the same numbers. I've been to Versailles - not the same vibe
Roussette · 24/03/2022 07:49

Harry hasn't got time for tours. He's doing rodeo shows in Texas

One rodeo. Did you also comment on when W&K (who we pay for) also went to a Rodeo? Or is it just Harry?

donquixotedelamancha · 24/03/2022 07:50

So if we got rid of the RF would that make BJ our president?

No. It would be Stephen Fry.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 24/03/2022 07:52

There have been wars going on worldwide consistently for hundreds of years so that is a moot point imo. The Ukraine Russia conflict is just another one which for whatever reason (#whitepeople #europe) seems to be more important.

What is clear to me is that the Royals are a waste of tax payer money, are an anachronistic institution that has long outlived its use and that they are tone deaf when it comes to domestic issues.

donquixotedelamancha · 24/03/2022 07:55

if this is all you have to get angry about then yes how small minded.

I think who is the head of state and whether our taxes pay for luxuries for unelected, valueless celebs is a perfectly valid topic for OP to have an opinion about.

TheKeatingFive · 24/03/2022 07:55

£1.24 each? How much would an elected President cost? What with repeated elections and all?

Ireland spend much less on their president

I've been to Versailles - not the same vibe

Funny that, plenty of people disagree as visitor numbers are much higher than any U.K. royal residences. I'm not sure what the attraction of them being there is, it's not like you see them. Much better to be able to open the residences up properly.

hdjdjehhdhdvsv · 24/03/2022 07:59

If anyone has watched Victoria about Queen Victoria, there is an episode about the rich Royal people are having a banquet while people are starving and then the people who are starving start ramming the gates of the Palace and trying to storm it. And they're all like "why would they do that?"

almost everything the government or the Royal family do now, reminds me of that episode.

lightnesspixie · 24/03/2022 08:05

Yes and also feels very awkward with the reception they have received from the locals .. so in all it does feel a bit toe curling

moonbedazzled · 24/03/2022 08:16

@Roussette

Harry hasn't got time for tours. He's doing rodeo shows in Texas

One rodeo. Did you also comment on when W&K (who we pay for) also went to a Rodeo? Or is it just Harry?

Ooo, I think I hit a sore point there. 😂
Was William at the rodeo when Harry was juggling balls outside the window? 😛
StupidUsernameUnavailable · 24/03/2022 08:17

Urgh. Can people stop with the "shock" at the photo. It was a football pitch!!! It wasn't a bunch of people shoved in a cage to keep them away from the rich pretty people!

FuckeryOmbudsman · 24/03/2022 08:20

@StupidUsernameUnavailable

Urgh. Can people stop with the "shock" at the photo. It was a football pitch!!! It wasn't a bunch of people shoved in a cage to keep them away from the rich pretty people!
Yes, the lack of understanding that utterly normal football facilities look different in other countries is borderline xenophobia (might perhaps just be ignorance, but that should have been dispelled by now)
Roussette · 24/03/2022 08:22

moonbedazzled
Nah Grin
But William has obviously caught ball juggling fever from Harry, he was doing it recently too!

TheKeatingFive · 24/03/2022 08:25

Urgh. Can people stop with the "shock" at the photo. It was a football pitch!!! It wasn't a bunch of people shoved in a cage to keep them away from the rich pretty people!

Optics of things are important, particularly given the wider context of their visit.

The photo gave a terrible impression because it had some unfortunate visual cues. It should never have been released by the team.

derxa · 24/03/2022 08:27

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Conflicts_in_2022
Just a reminder that wars are going on around the world with the same devastating consequences for the people in those regions.

ReachersDaughter · 24/03/2022 08:31

I think it’s absolutely tone deaf to tour at the present time … and I’m generally in support of us having a RF.

KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa · 24/03/2022 08:35

I think times have moved on, these people serve no purpose. The whole thing is just so outdated, bowing to someone because they were born or married into a family, it's 2022 why are we still funding these people? I saw the pictures of them scuba diving, I guess that's "work" too 🤣?

It also makes me laugh how they harp on about the environment, many people haven't been abroad on holiday for the past 2 years (me included), yet here they are jetting about on planes telling us plebs to save the environment. Yeah OK 😆👍.

cakeorwine · 24/03/2022 08:39

Hey, they bring clicks to the Daily Mail website so people can click on the pretty pictures of Kate's clothes, Kate scuba diving and Kate going down a slide.

Like I said, pretty baubles to distract people but the Monarchy is an outdated institution.