Could this be the end of the Royal family?

[BeijingBikini]

I don't mean if they die of the virus...

But there's nothing like a lockdown to really highlight inequality. I saw an article yesterday about Kate + William "isolating" at Anmer Hall, having done a photoshoot where they pretend to be on the telephone and writing ("working").

I think if people are going to have to spend months at home, in small flats with kids, still going out to work or trying to WFH, queueing for supermarkets with empty shelves......that could definitely breed some discontent. Or if people catch it and have to be treated in makeshift hospitals, not getting an ambulance until they're struggling to breathe, while the RF can be whisked away to a private hospital for treatment. I've already seen a lot of comments along the lines of "why don't they offer up their many palaces to be used as hospitals, rather than doing newspaper articles".

Opinions?

@Mamamia456

Didnt answer the question as usual.

This should be an opportunity for the government to reduce their grants to help the economy when we come out of this.

A lot of people draw comfort from the continuation of established traditions in times of crisis

Yes, this is why I cried when McDonald's closed.

Wolfgirrl - Kate batch cooking meals - hahaha, I think William going back to his job would be a good idea if it's possible, I think it would be too costly and not practical for palaces to be used, there's lots of other empty buildings which would require less work and would be much better suited. Yes the Duchy could donate some food that would be a nice gesture. I think that the royals are better off being away from the front line as they would be more of a hindrance than a help, too much high level of security involved, but they could help more in the background, in a less publicised way.

Kate might be a terrible cook, so batch cooking could be out.
I don't know that members of the Royal Family publicise the amount of money that they give to charity.

Not much Eddie.

I don't know that members of the Royal Family publicise the amount of money that they give to charity.

Since they publicise most charitable things they do then I expect they would.

The Queen still has all these servants so one of them could show her how to record a message to the nation.

Yes a donation would be good, or something to raise money for food banks and other services or the intention to do so. For example they could auction some paintings or clothes from their wardrobes, considering the DM thinks wearing somerhing twice in a row is somehow evidence of frugality. There are hundreds of things they can do that doesnt mean they are using Buckingham Palace as a field hospital or putting themselves at risk. They will only do anything if they are forced to do so by criticism by the masses or if their position is threatened.

As for the frequently used adage that the RF bring tourism revenue into the country, I think that's been well and truly knocked on the head for the foreseeable future.

Just to add - Maybe they are helping but keeping it low key, didn't someone on here say that Fergie and Princess Béatrice were helping to deliver NHS supplies or was that on another thread. Can't keep up with all the royal bashing threads lately.

Will and Kate are perfectly placed to record videos on things to do with kids during lockdown and the public would love that and it would generate goodwill.
I disagree with this. Sophie did this. They have 3 nannies, a swimming pool, a tennis court and acres of land! What on earth could they say to someone stuck in London trying to get their kids to do their homework while sharing one computer and doing Joe Wicks in the front room because their garden is like a postage stamp?

Just to add - Maybe they are helping but keeping it low key

Doesn't fit in with the publicised phone call thing or the publicised clapping

Wolfgirrl - Kate batch cooking meals - hahaha, I think William going back to his job would be a good idea if it's possible, I think it would be too costly and not practical for palaces to be used, there's lots of other empty buildings which would require less work and would be much better suited. Yes the Duchy could donate some food that would be a nice gesture. I think that the royals are better off being away from the front line as they would be more of a hindrance than a help, too much high level of security involved, but they could help more in the background, in a less publicised way.

Why is Kate cooking so hilarious?

Why is Buckingham Palace unsuitable? What else would be more suitable?

Why should they stay away from the front line? They are head of state and are supposed to lead by example. With hardly anyone out of their houses, security should be a smaller problem now than ever.

Do you think the Duchy and helicopter idea will happen or will we just get another useless bit of PR in a couple of weeks? Another desk photo maybe?

he'd seen the helicopters William was flying and the role he was in was one of the most basic, unskilled levels of pilot there is

Yeah, air ambulance flying is a piece of piss. No skill needed there at all. Landing a helicopter on the side of a mountain is so simple, as is grounding it atop a city centre hospital on a tiny helipad buffeted by high winds.

@MintyMabel I think you missed the point there. Yes, piloting helicopter is a skilled task and not all of us could do it. But, as with all skills, there are degrees. ...the most basic, unskilled levels of pilot there is" implies there are more skilled pilots available.

If there is a damn good reason why he's not doing the job he was trained to do I think we should know but I can't see the palace telling us he's actually not very good at it after spending all that time telling us what a great service he's doing the nation by learning in the first place.

Presumably now, his skills in helicopter flying have become rusty?
I am quite sure that there are other jobs the pair of them could do. They are both graduates, they could do some routine admin work for a hospital.

@Mamamia456 no need for personal attacks and I never suggested they were doctors. I suggested they volunteer in the same that 750,000 of their subjects have by delivering big and packing medicines.

The most skilled roles in the RAF are fast jet pilots used to be single seat pilots and then again, were harrier pilots.

Not “most skilled”, the skills to fly a plane are entirely different from those of flying a fast jet. But yes, in terms of the arrogance of the pilots, your league table is absolutely correct, fast jet pilots to consider themselves to be far more important than anyone else in the RAF.

To suggest flying an air ambulance is low skilled is laughable.

• fly a helicopter

They are both graduates, they could do some routine admin work for a hospital

A woman who can't even sit at a desk on the phone properly?

But, as with all skills, there are degrees. ...the most basic, unskilled levels of pilot there is" implies there are more skilled pilots available

No, I didn’t misunderstand. The most basic, unskilled level of helicopter flying is taking tourists on a pleasure cruise over the city. It’s flying your friends and family to the coast for a weekend. It isn’t trying to find a place to land a helicopter near a dense woodland in a remote area, or landing on the A801 avoiding street furniture and powerlines.

Even as a firm Republican, I draw the line at saying flying a helicopter is unskilled. That's why it is such a shame - wills was actually doing a useful job for once, and quits after no time at all for nothing in particular.

Like I said before, the royals do a 'proper' job for a couple of years so when the public question their work ethic the royalists can say, 'oh but they did that job'.

Learning to fly a helicopter is not a chore. I should imagine lots of young men in the armed forces would have loved to get that chance. It’s a role that would be denied to the majority. William and Harry got to do what they wanted to do.Nothing to admire, as if they’d just want to sit around doing nothing,.Both William and Harry were like part timers, dipping in and out when it suited.

I think that the royals are better off being away from the front line as they would be more of a hindrance than a help, too much high level of security involved

Which kind of proves the point we shouldn’t have them. Why are we paying millions to people who are a hindrance in a crisis. I’d rather the money go on more nurses or police.

Audrey's view - Because that isn't their role, to just be brought out in a crisis to go and do jobs that they have no training in just to please à handful of people on mumsnet.

I don't really have any opinions on the opening post but I did wonder if the Duke of Cambridge would go back to flying an air ambulance helicopter and have since heard he wants to. That would be good as long as he's kept his flying hours up, and he could co pilot. He must be itching to do something at this time.