Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
sheworemellowyellow · 07/05/2023 14:35

Sunscummailfail · 07/05/2023 10:49

The standard of journalism is abysmal these days. The Daily Mail called Michael Palin’s rise to fame as “catastrophic” when they meant “meteoric.” Idiots.

😂

The DM is pro-establishment, conservative and Conservative. William and family are just figureheads for their values.

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 14:41

JanuaryPinks · 07/05/2023 14:23

It’s a snapshot of a few seconds so impossible to tell anything from it. Fwiw to me it doesn’t look like he’s doing anything g involuntary at all - it looks like he’s messing around like most 5 year olds would.

If you have a child with ASD then presumably you’re aware that the diagnostic process has a bit more to it than watching a few split second video clips.

Show quote history

Of course I'm aware of that and I haven't even mentioned any particular type of neurodivergence other than my own child's ASD. I'm not trying to make an armchair diagnosis at all, I just see a possibility there. You do tend to become super tuned into certain things when you're parent to an ND child. Interesting to learn that Kate's brother has ADHD, I didn't know that.

Username0987 · 07/05/2023 14:47

I thought there were rumours that Edward's son was ND?

PrinceHaz · 07/05/2023 14:56

Things are always more interesting if they’re turned intto a narrative.
If I do, for example, a simple description of a photo I’ve put on Facebook, I get fewer likes than if I make the description more story like.

Conflictedcommunication · 07/05/2023 15:09

I saw that OP and thought it was a bit of a reach. Makes me wonder if there's trouble.

HumanBurrito · 07/05/2023 15:49

I think it's verging on abusive to bring kids up in such a restrictive life where every step is scrutinised and their entire life mapped out for them.

TheSnowyOwl · 07/05/2023 16:06

As a parent of two children with ND (ADHD and ASD), and a child without, I don’t see anything in Louis other than what I would expect to see in any five year old being bored for a prolonged period of time.

LadyEloise1 · 07/05/2023 16:08

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 07/05/2023 11:40

Yabu for reading the feckin daily mail.

Don't hold back there @FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb 😂

AllIeveknewonlyou · 07/05/2023 16:14

TheSnowyOwl · 07/05/2023 16:06

As a parent of two children with ND (ADHD and ASD), and a child without, I don’t see anything in Louis other than what I would expect to see in any five year old being bored for a prolonged period of time.

He's a cute kid. He hasn't taken in yet the restrictions being part of the RF might impose upon his life, he just reacts to the commotion.

I really hope he's shielded a bit during teenage years as he would need to start establishing his own independence.

I do like William and Catherine without being a 'fan', they seem content, stable people.

JanuaryPinks · 07/05/2023 16:48

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 14:41

Of course I'm aware of that and I haven't even mentioned any particular type of neurodivergence other than my own child's ASD. I'm not trying to make an armchair diagnosis at all, I just see a possibility there. You do tend to become super tuned into certain things when you're parent to an ND child. Interesting to learn that Kate's brother has ADHD, I didn't know that.

Show quote history

Yeah, definitely not making an armchair diagnosis….

you’ve literally suggested he might be neurodiverse on the basis of your “observations” and described his behaviour as stimming.

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 16:53

JanuaryPinks · 07/05/2023 16:48

Yeah, definitely not making an armchair diagnosis….

you’ve literally suggested he might be neurodiverse on the basis of your “observations” and described his behaviour as stimming.

Show quote history

You do know that neurotypical people stim too? Observing that somebody might be stimming does not equate to trying to diagnose them with anything in particular

Daftnotstupid · 07/05/2023 16:55

Username0987 · 07/05/2023 14:47

I thought there were rumours that Edward's son was ND?

And so what if he is? He's clearly well loved and has good parents (if Lady Louise is to be the example we use)

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 16:56

And, there are many different types of neurodiversity. Autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, OCD, tourettes, epilepsy...

What have I tried to diagnose Louis with exactly?

LakieLady · 07/05/2023 17:02

cocoloco117 · 07/05/2023 09:16

Stop reading the daily mail. Why are you giving this utter bullshit headspace?

Yes, you never get much of this crap in the Guardian.

If people stopped reading it, or buying the papers that print it, the papers might not be so obsessed with all the royal nonsense.

3dogsandarabbit · 07/05/2023 18:27

Bimbom - You're not trying to diagnose him with anything yet you say on here that his fidgeting looks like involuntary movement and that it will become more apparent in the coming years. What will become more apparent?

Fatat40 · 07/05/2023 18:44

Oftenaddled · 07/05/2023 11:06

I think people (not just the press) are ridiculous about those children.

George is serious, anxious etc - he's not a performing seal. Why should he strut and smile to make people think he'll make a good and happy king. To assuage collective guilt at pushing the role on him?

Charlotte is confident, Louis is cheeky - developmentally normal. They're well tutored, not precocious, kids. Has nobody here seen children change as they grow up? I have known dozens of these "types", and they're not cast for life.

Hope they grow up well and happy. I do enjoy seeing them, as it happens. But we don't know them now, never mind what they'll become.

The sad thing is no one can see the parallels with W&H.

When Louis is still being cheeky / naughty at school will the headlines be about him being thick and on drugs etc like with Harry. Suddenly the media can turn, we all know that. This years cute & cheeky is next years delinquent

ily0xx · 07/05/2023 18:51

Kate was abused for ten years by that paper before she married Will, now it’s the opposite. But yes that article was ridiculous.

ALongHardWinter · 07/05/2023 18:59

Totally agree.

polkadotdalmation · 07/05/2023 19:21

Stop projecting your own issues and stop reading twattery in newspapers. Job done.

I'm sure kate and William love each other, but they are a normal(ish) married couple in most ways. The kids are cute like all kids.

That's it. They all did look pretty gorgeous at the coronation, but they would wouldn't they

SugarAndSpike · 07/05/2023 19:30

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.

Yes I realised he wasn't thrusting his crotch forwards, spreading his legs, when I thought a bit harder about that picture. On first glance though... 😂

Bimbom · 07/05/2023 19:37

3dogsandarabbit · 07/05/2023 18:27

Bimbom - You're not trying to diagnose him with anything yet you say on here that his fidgeting looks like involuntary movement and that it will become more apparent in the coming years. What will become more apparent?

That if I'm right and it is involuntary movement, that in itself would become more apparent in the coming years. Because when he's say, 9, people would be less likely to say he's being a tired/excited little boy and more likely to think maybe that isn't typical for his age.

Now I'm not trying to diagnose him with anything in particular because obviously I can't. My original point was how the media portray him right now which may turn out to not be appropriate.

DojaPhat · 07/05/2023 19:45

ily0xx · 07/05/2023 18:51

Kate was abused for ten years by that paper before she married Will, now it’s the opposite. But yes that article was ridiculous.

"Abused"?? Really? Writing that a woman should probably get a proper job or that she must be getting bored waiting to be proposed to does not count as 'abuse'. That said, in her position I would have stayed firmly put too! It's not everyone in life who gets a decent shot at becoming the future queen! I'd have been spending my days practising how to walk in heels and a tiara without looking flustered.

ily0xx · 07/05/2023 21:28

DojaPhat · 07/05/2023 19:45

"Abused"?? Really? Writing that a woman should probably get a proper job or that she must be getting bored waiting to be proposed to does not count as 'abuse'. That said, in her position I would have stayed firmly put too! It's not everyone in life who gets a decent shot at becoming the future queen! I'd have been spending my days practising how to walk in heels and a tiara without looking flustered.

Show quote history

Lmao you’re one of the weirdo nutjob commenters on that site. Why should she? To please you? She worked for her family business, that’s not a crime. And yeah they met at university, most people wait until late twenties to get married.

I can’t believe you’re admitting to being one of those sad commenters that used to spread bile like that. I used to cringe so much as those jealous fishwives ripping her to shreads for no reason except she was a young pretty girl dating a Prince.

Original poster
1jan2021 · 07/05/2023 21:53

Oh yes, I forgot about the “body language” articles - they are equally as silly!

OP posts:
Ilikeadrink14 · 17/06/2023 20:51

I am sick of the faces Louis pulls and the way everyone fawns over him. If my kids had behaved like he does, they would have been called brats. It’s as if he can do no wrong and is a little Angel. No chance! Look at the set of his mouth sometimes. He really annoys me! Sorry to all out there who think as much of him as Kate does, but I find him really irritating!