William and Kate now Prince and Princess of Wales

[Viviennemary]

Charles has just created William Prince of Wales from today. So one question answered. Good decision.

When was he cruel and what did he do?

Look up Dimbleby's authorised biography, bellac11 ...

Just paraphrase it for us.

So you've made a comment on a forum about someone and in response to someone asking for clarification you're recommending that I buy a book, read through it and then somewhere within it may be an answer

If he's been so cruel and there is evidence of it just say what it is

"The book reveals that the Prince felt pressured by the Duke of Edinburgh to marry the former Lady Diana Spencer and that he was never in love with her.

The Duke gave him an ultimatum to propose or end the relationship so she would not be compromised.

The Prince's lonely upbringing, with the Queen a distant mother and the Duke an overbearing father, are chronicled in the book. The heir to the throne was mercilessly bullied at Gordonstoun, his public school."

You just saved me typing it, ImJustMadAboutSaffron, but there's really no need for anyone to "buy a book". It's not a new one and excerpts are all over the internet if anyone wants to look

Strange how defensive people get if they've not done their research though - or perhaps some simply don't want to know

Defensive? I asked you a question about something you said. I have no investment in this person

Im not seeing cruelty there however.

I think those of us on this side of the border will rise up and claim Michael Sheen as the true Prince of Wales and reinstate the drag strip on the Severn Bridge (as it always has been to us locals).

twitter.com/caryseleri/status/1568318763480633344?s=46&t=1vhMlMdx5U55daz8ZdpNCw

(Haven’t seen any other speeches today. Didn’t need to after this.)

Didn’t Jimmy Saville used to write Charles’ speeches? <shudder>

But you still didn’t explain how he was being cruel to his mother

For many QE2’s death is a reminder of the losses we’ve all suffered especially during the last few years.

And if your only evidence is some authorised autobiography written many moons ago, people can and do change. Also, even if you’ve had a dysfunctional upbringing, unless your heart was made of stone, despite everything, there is always a sense of grief. You could be grieving for what could have been, grieving for loss of a loved one etc.

I’m not a royalist, but I do think we need stability. This country has been through enough the past decade or so and goodness knows how much in the past few years. It shouldn’t be a race to the bottom, especially when someone just lost their last surviving parent. It’s just callous and heartless. Enough already.

@PronounMadness Really? Do you have proof or are you just trying to stir the pot? Also, I’m pretty sure many mentioned on this thread how Charles was quite well-read and loved writing poetry etc. so it can’t be that difficult to write a speech

Yes lovely. Beautifully speech. I think we will have a very good king. Idk who said they think the speech was a waste of time as king is a guaranteed post.

i disagree. The royals may be handed the throne through the generations. But they have to earn their place and popularity in order to keep it. This is not a dictatorship scenario. And thanks for the history lesson. Peace and love.

Yes, the Monarch decides when to bestow the title but it can only go to the heir to the throne, Prince William

My dh cried at the speech so that's saying something. I've always like Charles but I know I was always the minority. Family members have also met Camilla and they said she was very genuine and lovely.

I thought it was a lovely speech and hit just the right tone. I doubt very much someone else wrote it. It was very personal and heartfelt. I have a feeling he is going to be a very good King. I say this as someone who has never been a great fan in the past. I think it will be the making of him.

I also think that’s the most I’ve heard him speak. Was a lovely speech, really impressively made at all given it is made under the worst possible circumstances. I feel good about Charles as a King and Camilla as Queen Consort, W&K becoming Waleses. Charles hit al the right notes- darling wife, darling mother, William and Kate, Harry and Meghan. Angels quote at the end was very emotional. I think part of his job is acknowledging the national mood and he seemed to pitch just right for that while bringing in his own contribution to the role. Not an easy balance and not while you are struggling with your own bereavement. And with a brand new Prime Minister after the last Prime Minister has been so bad he had to resign, sad family tensions continuing between his two kids and probably tensions between himself and Harry to worry about too.

I am looking forward to seeing Charles’ reign unfold and I hope his environmentalist work, rural Britain work, young people’s development work, and Camilla’s domestic abuse work all are continued by the rest of the family because god knows we need no let up whatsoever on those issues at such a critical time for this country on so many competing fronts. I wish them all well for the future in the RF. I am also thinking of everyone feeling really bereft at this loss of the Queen, for whatever reason and whether they personally knew her well or not. I am glad that we have the ritual of the funeral coming up, funerals are there for the support of those left behind, not for the dead.

Covered pretty extensively in a documentary. You can watch it (Netflix) or read about it.

amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/06/prince-charles-repeatedly-sought-jimmy-savile-advice-documentary-claims

I agree. It would have been very noticeable if he didn't mention Harry and a sentence was put in that read as innocuously as possible.

My thoughts exactly. I think we really saw something of the man, where in all these years we hadn't before. Not a long speech but so much love, respect and meaning in it. Saw him do his walk about too and there was a rightness to it when he and Camilla walked into BP. I'm so sad about HMTQ but can't help feeling slightly hopeful now he's spoken.

@CurrentHun I agree that Charles is offering an air of stability in a time of fluctuating British 'leadership' (four prime ministers in six years, ffs). We know this man, warts and all. He's saying he's in it for the long haul (unlike our political 'leaders') and he's asking us to trust him.

He's definitely giving off an air of decisiveness in immediately establishing the positions and titles of his line of succession, and reiterating the supporting role of his queen consort. The 'Wales' title is part of this attempt to project stability, firmness and - of course - heredity.

Interesting times.

I think you're right, @SpinCityBlues.
He was the voice of unity and conciliation.

These speeches are written by others. Most politicians speeches are too. . Charles certainly would have input though.

He's a very well read person. He's also had about 55 years of speech making.
I suspect he writes his own words.

I don't think someone writes them for him but I imagine there is someone who helps him at least tweak his words into the final finished item.

In the documentary, it said he had been working on his speech up until the last minute to make sure it was just right. I'm sure someone proof reads it to make sure there are no gaffs .

Charles really was emanating a clever combination of honest emotion, real authority and - importantly - 'soft power' in that speech.

Take the line about Harry and Meghan - that was soft power, indicating that he respected their wishes and priorities. (There may be a sting in the tail of that one, mind you. Time will tell.)

He also showed he respected his 'darling wife' and his elder son and DiL. I don't mean 'clever' in a pejorative way, but it was clever stuff.

I agree, and it was a statement about the family moving forward. Himself and Camilla, Catherine and William.
He loves Harry and Meghan, but they're not part of this.