To think the palace should issue a statement condemning Clarkson's comments?

[Reindeersnooker]

I'm all for their dignified silence on everything else. I don't trust Harry or Megan. But Jeremy Clarkson's comments are horrific and were made in Britain against a woman who has become a member of their family.

NOT issuing a statement sends out such a hurtful message and indicates that anything can be said about her, for all they care. Even the MPs have managed to put something on paper.

It's clear that Harry will be beyond hurt if they do nothing and this time he'd have a point, IMO. Each comment like this published in the press erodes the boundaries for online trolls. If I was Meghan, I wouldn't feel I could return to the UK as it's clear the normal rules don't apply to her. What will her children think of Britain when they grow up and become aware of these articles? Won't they be likely to wonder how the palace responded? While it makes no sense to try and placate Harry generally, letting this play out without one word of censure to the press seems needlessly provocative.

It wouldn't be difficult to issue a statement saying something to the effect of "We stand against bullying and hate speech..." Two lines to indicate they see it and it's not ok.

Or not?

They aren’t working Royals.

What protection can a statement provide? It won’t suddenly co jute up a free security unit. Just because they want something it doesn’t mean they should get it.

Hillary mantel wrote a pretty horrible piece about Kate a few years ago

I thought that was about the role society expects royal women to play.

What protection can a statement provide?

Yeah your misunderstanding me, it's about PR. The RF should say something for their benefit.

Catherine is allowed free time, which she chose to attend a vigil.

William responded to a member of the press asking him in his face if he was racist. Imagine the uproar if he’d just ignored her! Besides that wasn’t some dickhead writing a column, it was his own brother making that claim.

Did they say anything about Andrew? Do they say anything about him being called a paedophile? Despite what he is (alleged) to have done actually NOT being paedophilia?

This is what people don’t realise, he didn’t need mummy’s permission to get cameras into his house and he doesn’t have to take the advice of his press secretary either. It was his choice. And it finished him.

Who doesn't know this? I only raised the point because i was making the point the Royals do speak out.

If they issue a response then people will expect a response every time something negative is written and will start bringing up old articles that deserve an apology.
People on the other extreme will say it's inappropriate for the King to meddle in free speech. Remember when his opinion on Rwanda and immigration became public? These people will be furious because the Sussexes will never apologize for their attacks on the UK and the RF.

I like your idea about a general statement about hate speech to cover every article ever published and will be published. I don't know if there's a clever way of coming up with the equivalent of a short statement like "recollections may vary" but realistically I think what will happen is JC won't be invited to the same public events as the royals as many have bashed Camilla for being at the same event even though she didn't host it, it was before his disgusting column and there were 200 guests attending.

No he did an interview. Then they stripped him of all sorts. They never blasted Virginia Guffrey though for her claims.

If they were going to do it, they should have done it by now. Doing it now would be fake and only as a result of public pressure not any real disgust. People need to realise that they really don’t give a fuck about any of us. It’s time the Royals were got rid of and the press properly held to account.

Nor should they.

The Sun editor is a woman as well. Unbelievable!

These are bad comparisons tbh.

William responded to a direct question which affected him directly, after H accused his family of being racist. He didn’t make a statement.

The statement came from the Queen, which again, was in response to something directed at her, from a family member.
She wasn’t responding to a random writing in a rag. No comparison

The Sarah Everard vigil wasn’t a response to anything, more akin to MM visiting Grenfell.
(Nothing wrong with either imho)

They never blasted Virginia Guffrey though for her claims.

They could have in court I guess

That man is guilty as sin and was never gonna go anywhere near a court.

Id love it if Charles have him up to the Americans. I know he probably physically can’t but I bet you he’d love to!

Yes well perhaps they should have responded then too for reasons another poster has pointed out @LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet.

And tbh it just doesn't fly with me 'they didn't do it for Camilla or Kate'. Neither were subject to the level of vitriol that has been written by Clarkson this week. If they had been I'd expect the palace to respond then too.

That man is guilty as sin and was never gonna go anywhere near a court.

there is that!

Didn’t stop her getting numerous dogs in there about Catherine’s appearance though

No, but there were clear signs that he had the full backing of his mother, Such as being seen in the car going to church or wherever it was, soon after. Not to mention the monies being paid out. We, the public were left in no doubt that he had the full protection/ might of the palace behind him.

*digs

What has Kate paying respects to a young woman violently murdered by a cop got to do with all this?

The vigil that she could have put her hood up and wore a face mask like others did?...oh no, then we would have all missed the PR stunt as she quietly paid her respects.

Ohtheweatheroutsideistoocold · Today 16:27
I think it would be an excellent occasion to send a message about how they abhore violence against women, and anything that normalises violence against women
They don't even need to make it about Meghan if they don't want to, just address the violence part
Would be perfectly fitting given Camillas work with domestic violence charities, and a non political response
The fact they haven't is disappointing

Ohtheweather - you have encapsulated what I most fear about the contemporary world: that failure to constantly virtue-signal means that people assume you hold prejudiced or unpleasant views. George Orwell was absolutely right!

I feel really worried when I hear of people being put into a situation where they have to come out and make a big show of expressing an opinion which should, in any civilised society, be taken for granted. It's much more healthy for society if we assume, as a default, that people have humane and civilised views - rather than the opposite. Remember the National Trust insisting that all their volunteers wore rainbow lanyards? I wouldn't occur to me to be homophobic but I would object to being told to do this.

This is why the expression 'virtue-signalling' has come about - because it's so insulting to us all - the assumption that unless you loudly declare your beliefs, they must be something to be ashamed of.

And on the actual AIBU question - no, of course the Royals should keep out of this - it's nothing to do with them and not for them to comment on. They don't comment when they themselves get insulted, and dignified silence is the wisest option. And H & M should stop the war against the UK and the RF. She's out of contact with nearly all her own relatives, and now, with her help, her husband will have lost his family too.

And H & M should stop the war against the UK and the RF. She's out of contact with nearly all her own relatives, and now, with her help, her husband will have lost his family too.

Why blame her?

As I said, the direct comparison would be MM visiting Grenfell, or Uvalde

Its irrelevant in terms of responding/putting out a statement to a newspaper article

waging war is fucking nonsense. I'm not offended by what H&M have done, Andrew is an embarrassment though.