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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the public don't need to see photos of the royal children

50 replies

mrsgreggspastry · 02/05/2023 11:34

AIBU to feel uncomfortable seeing them since hearing Prince Harry's experience from the child's point of view? It seems too intrusive and not fair on the children.

OP posts:
VariationsonaTheme · 02/05/2023 11:41

They seem to have learned some lessons though, and offer carefully chosen photos to the press and on social media, in exchange for the press not following the children everywhere they go. They seem to have a good balance.

Choconut · 02/05/2023 11:42

There's not going to be much that's normal about their lives, some for the good and some that will be negative. It's no different from celebrities or influencers having their children in the media - although I've seen a lot more of Katie Price's children then any of the royals. It's far from ideal IMO, but they have many opportunities that others don't. There are a lot of kids in very different circumstances from the royals that have a much more difficult childhoods.

Rowthe · 02/05/2023 11:43

If they dpmt put out the photos- the kids will be hounded for them and followed instead

Mrsjayy · 02/05/2023 11:44

An official Birthday picture is hardly intrusive.

Nordicrain · 02/05/2023 11:44

They have to justify their keep though don't they. This is how they do it, by offering the public little snippets of their lives, and that of their children.

Mrsjayy · 02/05/2023 11:45

I'm assuming you are talking about Charlotte's photo that was out today ?

Hbh17 · 02/05/2023 11:46

The photos released are carefully controlled. It's very different from how things were in the 80s, even though every member of the public now has a camera in their pocket.

SoupDragon · 02/05/2023 11:46

The official photos are "payment" for being left mostly alone when in private.

35965a · 02/05/2023 11:46

The RF know there is interest in them all, they need us to be interested to continue with their cushy lives. The press are much better in the UK now and leave the kids alone when they’re not at events; the RF release pics to keep royal fans and the press happy and off their backs and keep their profile up, for them it’s a win win.

DietCokeUser · 02/05/2023 11:46

VariationsonaTheme · 02/05/2023 11:41

They seem to have learned some lessons though, and offer carefully chosen photos to the press and on social media, in exchange for the press not following the children everywhere they go. They seem to have a good balance.

I agree that this is what they are trying to do. Every time I see a picture, however, I'm reminded of the fact that this is something their parents feel they have to do in the hope of avoiding worse intrusion. I'd rather that the children lived completely privately. That would also give them more of a chance of living privately as adults if they choose.

Eggseggseverywhere · 02/05/2023 11:46

The most memorable royal pics ime are Diana and her boys back In The Day. Allowing us snippets lets us see they are normal people.. Gave me respect for them tbh.

Fourecks · 02/05/2023 11:48

It does seem much better than it did when Harry and William were children. As a PP said, they have to earn their keep, and this seems like a good compromise where people get to see photos but the kids aren't hounded. Like having the press take photos on the first day of school, then leaving them alone after that.

Original poster
mrsgreggspastry · 02/05/2023 11:48

If they dpmt put out the photos- the kids will be hounded for them and followed instead

That's exactly the problem isn't it. The kids didn't ask for this. I'd rather they have privacy, perhaps they can choose for themselves later on how much publicity they want.

I'm assuming you are talking about Charlotte's photo that was out today ?
Not specifically, but that's what made me think of it. Lovely picture, but then I thought about watching Harry's documentary about how that felt as a kid, and I felt as if it was very intrusive.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 02/05/2023 11:53

The paps used to follow the princes to school imagine somebody following your primary aged child to school !

I remember some",Royal official " photographer of a tabloid going on TV talking about he caught the first day at school shots being all proud about having stood outside the school waiting to take a pic of a 4 year old.

MarpleFan · 02/05/2023 11:54

It is very different now though. The press used to hound Diana and the kids every day on their way to school, and that doesn't happen at all now - I work just around the corner from their old school in London, and aside from the children's first day at school, there were never any press outside desperately trying to get pictures - clearly a deal has been struck following what W & H went through as children.

Their lives are public, sadly, whether they like it or not, due to the family they were born into. I suppose this is a gentle way of getting them used to what will, likely, be their future.

Mrsjayy · 02/05/2023 11:55

mrsgreggspastry · 02/05/2023 11:48

If they dpmt put out the photos- the kids will be hounded for them and followed instead

That's exactly the problem isn't it. The kids didn't ask for this. I'd rather they have privacy, perhaps they can choose for themselves later on how much publicity they want.

I'm assuming you are talking about Charlotte's photo that was out today ?
Not specifically, but that's what made me think of it. Lovely picture, but then I thought about watching Harry's documentary about how that felt as a kid, and I felt as if it was very intrusive.

At least Charlotte's parents and their press office controls content now. I'm not the biggest Harry fan but he is definitely right about him and William being photographed as children. I'm sure the RF have struck up some deal now about press intrusion and the children.

3BSHKATS · 02/05/2023 11:58

I always wonder what they tell the royal children, how do they explain why the public is interested in them

Maireas · 02/05/2023 11:58

Currently, there are regulations preventing the children being papped at school or on the school run. Official birthday photos are controlled, and the child's picture is taken when they are relaxed, usually by the mother.
It was Harry's choice to share images of his child in the bath in the Netflix doc. I think that's a bit too intimate, but I'm not the parent.

RandomGeocache · 02/05/2023 12:00

The photographs of William and Kate's children are completely different from the photos of William and Harry in the 80s. Official photos released for birthdays or other occasions like first day at school. Often taken by their own mother.

Harry and William were often papped by press photographers at theme parks, running to meet their mum on the Royal yacht, skiing, holidays with either parent in the Med. Diana had a troop of photographers following her on every gym trip, dinner out, shopping trip.

That culture appears to have very much changed and either William and Kate's kids aren't being papped, or the papers are refusing to print the pictures, thus reducing the demand for them. When was the last time you saw an unofficial picture of Kate having lunch with her sister or her kids playing in the park?

Agree they have the balance right.

Cooknook · 02/05/2023 12:01

I think there is a difference between releasing photos and the paparazzi and other outlets taking photos covertly and printing them. I'm sure William and Kate understand the 'game' and find this the balance that actually affords them more privacy. If there were no photos the illusive exclusive shot would be worth a lot to photographers (sadly) and it takes that value away.

CurlewKate · 02/05/2023 12:04

But the RF want us to see them to take our minds off all the other stuff. They are simply cogs in the machine.

Original poster
mrsgreggspastry · 02/05/2023 13:45

I'm sure William and Kate understand the 'game' and find this the balance that actually affords them more privacy. If there were no photos the illusive exclusive shot would be worth a lot to photographers (sadly) and it takes that value away.

That's a good point. I still feel bad for the kids though having to be on display in this way.

OP posts:
WolfFoxHare · 02/05/2023 14:21

Kate apparently enjoys photography. I suspect she takes a lot of photos of the kids, like many parents do, so the children won't feel it's weird or intrusive if she snaps them on their birthdays. Whether or not they're happy with the photos of them as children in the public eye, once they grow up, it's better than a load of paps shouting for them to wave or smile outside school every day, or on playdates etc.

Darthwazette · 02/05/2023 14:26

Having a photo taken by your mum or on a fun, private photo shoot is nothing like being lined up in front of the paps like Harry mentioned.

There’s also the fact that PR is a big deal for the royal family. The children are used for positive press when they need to be, it’s not particularly subtle. They need this tiny, well managed amount of exposure to play the game the way they want to.

Dulra · 02/05/2023 14:35

There were pictures yesterday in the DM of princess Charlotte they were all taken at official events but caught her sticking her tongue out and having a tantrum as a young child. It was obvious what the message was they were trying to get across, "stroppy rude princess". I thought it was a horrible article and they should not have been let print it but there is the issue the royal family have. They're kids they won't always behave at different events and will get photographed (not papped) and it is cruel putting kids in this situation, no child should have their pictures used in that way until they are old enough to consent to it.