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AIBU?

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Original poster

To find the media’s portrayal of Kate, Wills and the kids a bit grating

141 replies

1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 08:34

Does anyone find it irritating how the media will take any tiny thing and spin it to fit the narrative of how they want the Wales family to be?

I mean here, William barely glances at Kate and it’s not even clear that he’s looking at her anyway. Yet the media are determined that it’s a “look of love”:

“Prince William glances at Kate with look of love at Westminster Abbey”

https://mol.im/a/12055185

They also seem determined for the three children to fit into certain moulds too - George is the serious one, Charlotte is the confident one and Louis is the cheeky one.

My siblings and I had this when I was growing up and I really struggled with it. The more you’re told that you’re the shy one and your brother’s the confident one (for example) the more it becomes ingrained. And we were just an ordinary family, not in the spotlight - for the Waleses it’s magnified a billion times over!

Prince William glances at Kate with look of love at Westminster Abbey

It was a look of love and admiration captured in the blink of an eye. As Prince William entered Westminster Abbey, he glanced over at his wife as if to say he was the luckiest man in the world.

https://mol.im/a/12055185

OP posts:
WallabyWay · 07/05/2023 12:18

A look of love with your legs spread yum yum

Aren't his legs one in front of the other? His cloak is billowing to the side but his legs look together to me.

WeWereInParis · 07/05/2023 12:25

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😂😂 How can anyone possibly know this! This is as ridiculous as people who say that Harry and Meghan will be divorced soon and he'll be prevented from seeing his children.

Your username suggests you might be a bit more nuanced than this absurd comment.

3dogsandarabbit · 07/05/2023 12:25

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Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 12:25

Iwantmyoldnameback · 07/05/2023 12:14

Actually Louis is old enough to cover his mouth when he yawns.

Sure - if it's something adults around him have prioritised, and if they feel its worth sweating the small stuff on a day when controlling other impulses is more important.

I'd very pleased with him not yelling, running, crying, climbing about, at that age. I wouldn't try to turn him into a little old gentleman for the day.

RealLife101 · 07/05/2023 12:27

Tabloids tabloiding!

Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 12:28

WallabyWay · 07/05/2023 12:18

A look of love with your legs spread yum yum

Aren't his legs one in front of the other? His cloak is billowing to the side but his legs look together to me.

That or he has only one leg, and the RF and their minions in the press are trying to distract us with solemn George, capable Charlotte, fidgety Louis and of course the Look Of Lurve ...

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 12:28

Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 12:13

Stimming would be a normal way for a child of Louis's age to ward off boredom and keep focus. It's not - necessarily - about neurodivergence at his age, especially at these long formal events. Can be, but often wouldn't be.

You don't diagnose kids based on their behaviour in unusual environments. We don't know these children.

Ah but the boring bit would've been the long abbey service, not the sudden change of environment and overwhelm of the balcony. A NT child would be highly unlikely to stim with boredom at that bit, but it may well bring out tics/stims in a ND child.

Obviously can't diagnose...just an observation of what it looks like. In the context of this thread, if I'm right then it'll be really interesting to see at what point the press stop presenting it as cheeky Louis steals the show and start to ignore it.

Nothingisblackandwhite · 07/05/2023 12:30

WeWereInParis · 07/05/2023 12:25

😂😂 How can anyone possibly know this! This is as ridiculous as people who say that Harry and Meghan will be divorced soon and he'll be prevented from seeing his children.

Your username suggests you might be a bit more nuanced than this absurd comment.

Show quote history

Well it comes with the territory,it’s their body language really . I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am .

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 12:32

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I have no idea why you would've reported my posts. Why is it horrible to suggest that a child might be ND? Is there something wrong with being ND then? I'm just making an observation.

Daftnotstupid · 07/05/2023 12:32

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 12:28

Ah but the boring bit would've been the long abbey service, not the sudden change of environment and overwhelm of the balcony. A NT child would be highly unlikely to stim with boredom at that bit, but it may well bring out tics/stims in a ND child.

Obviously can't diagnose...just an observation of what it looks like. In the context of this thread, if I'm right then it'll be really interesting to see at what point the press stop presenting it as cheeky Louis steals the show and start to ignore it.

Show quote history

I have a child the same age as Louis and by the time of the balcony they were entering witching hour. We don't know what time Louis woke (most 4 and 5 year olds are partial to 6am) so by the time he'd got to the balcony, being chivvied and told to behave and don't get your outfit messy, he may well have been hangry too...

Take any 4/5 year old to a wedding and see how they fare by 3pm

CordyLines · 07/05/2023 12:33

This is what the RF has become, since they have no purpose other than commentary on their appearance and their kids.

Nature abhors a vacuum and it will be filled.

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 12:38

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I've reported this post in turn. Saying that suggesting a child might be exhibiting ND behaviours is "horrible" is actually quite ableist.

Original poster
1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 12:39

mydogisthebest · 07/05/2023 11:57

The Mail act like Kate is such a saint. So perfect looking, wonderful figure and so moneysaving because she wears an outfit twice!

I should hope she would wear an outfit more than once considering how much they cost.

I don't know whether her and William are madly in love and don't much care. I also doubt that anyone at The Mail know.

Yes. She does come across as a lovely person from what I’ve seen of her in public, but I think it’s how the coverage borders on fawning that I just find a bit much (and a little strange!)

OP posts:
Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 12:40

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 12:28

Ah but the boring bit would've been the long abbey service, not the sudden change of environment and overwhelm of the balcony. A NT child would be highly unlikely to stim with boredom at that bit, but it may well bring out tics/stims in a ND child.

Obviously can't diagnose...just an observation of what it looks like. In the context of this thread, if I'm right then it'll be really interesting to see at what point the press stop presenting it as cheeky Louis steals the show and start to ignore it.

Show quote history

I am at a disadvantage here because I didn't watch! But all the "Louis steals the show" bits in the press and the clips I have seen from the Abbey suggest such behaviours as yawning, slumping, pointing, waving, patting, and quiet chattering or singing. I presume the press would have been all over anything more dramatic.

Nothing strange there from a five year old. And yes, you'd see fidgeting / stimming in exciting environments in an NT child of this age too. Balcony isn't just a party either - still standing about waiting with a job to do.

Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 12:40

CordyLines · 07/05/2023 12:33

This is what the RF has become, since they have no purpose other than commentary on their appearance and their kids.

Nature abhors a vacuum and it will be filled.

Fair point

Original poster
1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 12:41

I’m sure I read that Louis was taken out of the service after the initial bit and then returned for the end - was that the case? It would have been a very long day for any five year old.

OP posts:
Darthwazette · 07/05/2023 12:43

Bimbon I have reported your posts. What a horrible thing to say about a 5 year old child. Looks like normal behaviour to me, 5 year olds do have involuntary movements and do fidget.Whatis it with Mumsnet and thinking that every child has autism.

I think it’s horrible to say that suggesting a child may be neurodiverse is “horrible”. We’re clearly in no place to try and diagnose Louis or any other random child but there is no need to be ableist.

YetiTeri · 07/05/2023 12:43

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Oh come on. He does not, he looks exactly like a small child absolutely bored.

Original poster
1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 12:45

I also don’t know on what basis they’re saying George is serious or solemn. He just seems like a normal well-behaved kid to me - at his age of course he’s not going to be larking about on an official occasion like the coronation, but I’m sure he has loads of fun in private with his friends.

OP posts:
WeWereInParis · 07/05/2023 12:48

1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 12:41

I’m sure I read that Louis was taken out of the service after the initial bit and then returned for the end - was that the case? It would have been a very long day for any five year old.

Yes, he missed the last part of the ceremony, presumably for a snack/small lunch and a wee - it was 11-1, my 4 year old would have been hungry by the end if something was over lunchtime like that.

WithLaughter · 07/05/2023 12:50

Charlotte is nothing like Diana, thank goodness.

She seems firmly reminds me of Elizabeth II and Carol. She'll do great and the Waleses are lucky with all their children. They seem like great parents too.

Wishawisha · 07/05/2023 12:52

Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 12:13

Stimming would be a normal way for a child of Louis's age to ward off boredom and keep focus. It's not - necessarily - about neurodivergence at his age, especially at these long formal events. Can be, but often wouldn't be.

You don't diagnose kids based on their behaviour in unusual environments. We don't know these children.

I find the comments implying he is autistic etc really odd, he seems to fidget less than my DC and most DC I know. He just turned 5! I honestly don’t know how he does it.

Look at the picture of Charles at his mother’s coronation, only slightly younger. He looks bored senseless and isn’t hiding it very well at all - perfectly normal for a young child.

HecticHedgehog · 07/05/2023 12:53

There was a post the other day about Harry snubbing Megan's kiss, when i watched it, it didn't even look like he went in for a kiss to me

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 07/05/2023 13:00

I feel sorry for Louis......he's already being put into the same mould that Harry was when realistically he's just a kid being a 5 year old. The kids shouldn't be in the spotlight at all until they're old enough to choose. 😕

Curtaintwitcher72 · 07/05/2023 13:01

1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 12:39

Yes. She does come across as a lovely person from what I’ve seen of her in public, but I think it’s how the coverage borders on fawning that I just find a bit much (and a little strange!)

Show quote history

Of course it's fawning - the DM wants to keep the Royals on side and maintain their access to the Royal Rota because Kate and William and their kids sell papers and get clicks. It's a business tactic.