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The royal family
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Charity Engagement Yesterday

285 replies

AshTreesEverywhere · 27/01/2023 12:49

The Royal Family attend public engagements that are jollies such as Film Premiers and Wold Cup Finals. But yesterday William and Kate visited a Food Bank. So what did this work involve?

William and Kate travelled 10-15 minutes to the Windsor Foodshare, a food bank. They played around with a shopping cart and cracked “jokes” about who was being more useful (neither). They met with some of the food bank workers and barely spent an hour on this photo-op.

That is one of their average 150 engagements a year.

OP posts:
Atthecareash · 30/01/2023 10:12

Although I guess you could say that the home page photo celebrating its inanely laughing, expensively dressed founders pretty much does tell us what its goals are.

That made me laugh!

IcedPurple · 30/01/2023 10:12

vera99 · 30/01/2023 10:06

whataboutery at it's finest !

the technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counteraccusation or raising a different issue.
"all too often, well-intentioned debate descends into whataboutery"

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Sorry, who was it who first mentioned the Harkles' amazing achievements in food donation, complete with photo and gushing cut and paste from Twitter?

It wasn't you by any chance, was it?

vera99 · 30/01/2023 10:17

IcedPurple · 30/01/2023 10:10

His wife was pregnant when freedom was found? Are you sure?

And when you say you're not their 'paid PR' are you saying you do all this for free?

Anyway, I'm not sure what relevance Harry's recycled sob story has here. "Archewell" has been around for nearly 3 years and nobody really knows what it's about, including, it would seem, you. Look at any other 'celebrity' foundation and you can get a pretty clear idea of what it does and what its goals are. Not so with 'Archewell'. Although I guess you could say that the home page photo celebrating its inanely laughing, expensively dressed founders pretty much does tell us what its goals are.

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I know , for free it's ridiculous I would be very cheap as well but I did nick their book off the internet so there is that. Maybe I should reach out to them ? Anyway in Clav style (where is she now ?) I'm going out so I'll leave you to build your scaffolds in peace.

MrsFinkelstein · 30/01/2023 10:17

vera99 · 30/01/2023 10:06

whataboutery at it's finest !

the technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counteraccusation or raising a different issue.
"all too often, well-intentioned debate descends into whataboutery"

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You brought them up!

vera99 · 30/01/2023 10:19

MrsFinkelstein · 30/01/2023 10:17

You brought them up!

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Damn - I concede graciously .... 😁

Lizziet64 · 30/01/2023 10:19

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LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 10:36

FictionalCharacter · 29/01/2023 20:09

Exactly this.

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Or maybe they could just do what they felt was right. I think that it was very shortsighted of them not to think about how it would look to turn up, seemingly empty handed.

LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 10:42

Coxspurplepippin · 30/01/2023 07:58

'The Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation has released its 2020-22 “Impact Report”. In their first year of operation they raised $13million and distributed $3million in grants across areas including vaccine equity, relief centres, refugee resettlement, and building better online world.'

What happened to the other $10,000,000?

Photos of Harry and Meghan handing out a few food parcels or giving rucksacks to homeless people is doing what? Publicising how great they are Hmm - there's always photographers there to 'capture the moment'. They're making sure everyone knows of their altruistic endeavours, aren't they?

More useful than turning up empty handed at a food bank for a photo opportunity, I suppose.

Blossomtoes · 30/01/2023 10:43

LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 10:36

Or maybe they could just do what they felt was right. I think that it was very shortsighted of them not to think about how it would look to turn up, seemingly empty handed.

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Even though people like you would have criticised them if they’d done that? I can hear the jeers of Lady Bountiful already. Whatever they do they’re criticised by some people.

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 10:49

The point is that they need to look like they care about the cause, rather than just seeking an easy photo opp.

LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 10:52

LadyKenya · 27/01/2023 14:02

I for one would welcome them actively sharing their wealth with others, which they never seem to do. A regular donation from their ample stocks would be fantastic.

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@Blossomtoes Hmm

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 10:59

Wasn't there a Royal who said to the media they had made a donation to a charity and it ended up being £25?

Samcro · 30/01/2023 11:04

"Hmm - there's always photographers there to 'capture the moment'. They're making sure everyone knows of their altruistic endeavours, aren't they?"
just like the middletons.

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 11:08

They went to the Foodbank with a videographer and a couple of photographers.

Grimchmas · 30/01/2023 11:24

Thankfully for the answers as to why Phillip was Prince vs Camilla been Queen (consort).

It makes no sense to me but many rules of the monarchy don't! I was going to blame it on good old fashioned sexism that a ruling Queen couldn't have her husband be named a King, but if it were sexism surely it would be that a King's partner would only be a Princess(?).

FictionalCharacter · 30/01/2023 11:30

LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 10:36

Or maybe they could just do what they felt was right. I think that it was very shortsighted of them not to think about how it would look to turn up, seemingly empty handed.

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Whatever they turned up with would have been wrong. Not enough, a joke when you look at how wealthy they are, what were they thinking taking unsuitable stuff like that etc. None of us know what they donate to anything, and I don’t blame them or any other wealthy people for keeping their donations secret.
They were there on an engagement that had a purpose. It’s not usual for members of the RF to bring gifts or donations. It’s not the right time.

Roussette · 30/01/2023 11:33

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 11:08

They went to the Foodbank with a videographer and a couple of photographers.

K&W?

Nooo. A videographer, 8 photographers and RR's were there. Plus of course security.

Roussette · 30/01/2023 11:39

They were there on an engagement that had a purpose

But what was that purpose? They stayed less than an hour. Was the purpose a photo op? Was the purpose to highlight the massive inequality between them and the necessity of foodbanks because so many live below the poverty line?

LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 11:45

I also do not know what exactly the purpose of their visit was.

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 11:48

The purpose was to get an easy photo opp for William and Kate.

Coxspurplepippin · 30/01/2023 13:16

The purpose, for those at the back, was obviously to highlight the work done by Windsor Foodshare. Which they did.

Honestly, they get slated if they don't do visits, slated if they do. Detractors, just admit, it doesn't matter what they do, you'll find fault regardless.

DewinDwl · 30/01/2023 13:18

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Well the 3rd point sounds quire general and waffly but the first two sound obvious, laudable and probably close to their heart?

Anyone who's on twitter or Mumsnet will understand how nasty things get online. Also if you have been following politics in the last 10 years or so you will know that there are sinister characters out there doing very well out of spreading disinformation. That's without getting into the details of M&H taking on the tabloid press.

It sounds quite current, ambitious and relevant to me.

OutForBreakfast · 30/01/2023 13:18

@Coxspurplepippin How did they do this? All they did was show that foodbanks exist and that they pack up food. Do people really not know this happens?

LadyKenya · 30/01/2023 13:22

They could have just put a video about the food bank on their media platform, along with a helpful link encouraging people to donate. It is not difficult.

Roussette · 30/01/2023 13:23

Coxspurplepippin · 30/01/2023 13:16

The purpose, for those at the back, was obviously to highlight the work done by Windsor Foodshare. Which they did.

Honestly, they get slated if they don't do visits, slated if they do. Detractors, just admit, it doesn't matter what they do, you'll find fault regardless.

No. Loads of times I've praised Charles on here for the Princes Trust. (I know someone who massively benefited from it and who went from barely any exam passes and working part time in M&S at age 18, to help from Princes Trust which gave her a massive leg up and she ended up on the board of Arcadia. I've told the story more than once on MN)

Plus... the fridges he donated. A good thing. I've said that. He should do more stuff like that. K&W I'm waiting for more on what they do.