William & Kate’s New Approach

[Thunderbird7]

I was listening to a podcast recently which outlined the differences between William and Kate’s approach vs the traditional approach to being working members of the royal family.

William and Kate are trying to do bigger, more involved projects like Shaping Us and Earthshot. While I think they are both great projects William and Kate are VERY involved, maybe too involved. Obviously the traditional royal approach is getting out there and maybe making less of a personal impact but being seen by as many people as possible, being generalists, and patronising change makers rather than making change themselves.

I have to admit I kind of prefer the old style of monarchy more. I think the point of monarchy is to be seen, not in a superficial way, but in a way that enables subjects to be & do their best.

Plus William and Kate are more involved in their kids’ lives than traditionally royals are which I don’t begrudge them for, I think it’s great, but it does mean they have less time & the two things are compounding each other to make them less visible?

What are your thoughts on the 2 styles? What do you prefer?

I’ll also add a poll, why not.

(I am generally interested in the question so please don’t make jibes about anyone being workshy or bring up Harry, Meghan and Andrew… there are other threads!)

I think it's good they're spending more time with their children as hopefully that will lead to more stable adults, and I generally support the bigger initiatives. But I also think they're not seen enough, given their role. I'd like to see them stepping up engagements this year.

ETA: I also agree with PPs who say that a more sports-focussed initiative might have been a better option for Catherine, even if the early years is her passion. She is SO GOOD at the sporting engagements.

@GrouchyKiwi yes its good they spend time with their children.
but they get to live in splendour and for that they are supposed to do a job.

Lots and lots of people work hard and achieve things whilst also being great parents. Saying that it's ok that W&K do almost nothing because they have children is so reductive and insulting.

I agree. You'll note I said that I don't think they're seen enough and should step up engagements.

Actually this is a good point

If K&W are seen as good parents for working the bare minimum despite having the best childcare and their kids being in school....

Does it mean that parents who work are bad parents? That their children won't grow up balanced? Like @thefallen says it is quite offensive.

I am not articulating this well... OP I think this point is pertinent as to how royals should go about their "work". At a time where most people are seeing their living standards fall and most people have to work and pay for their childcare, what K&W are doing barely registers as work or worthy of praise. It just highlights their unearned privilege while people wonder what the point is of the ribbon cutting and the glitzy campaigns.

Most parents think their dc are very important. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could be financed to work only when they wanted to so that get could 'raise the kids' 🙄

Sure prioritise your kids. But not on our dime thanks very much

I like having a monarchy but I do agree with this post, honestly as much as I like W&K they really do as little as they can get away with, the kids excuse is wearing thin now. The problem with not meeting and greeting and not cutting ribbons just makes them more more elitist and distant than ever. If I recall it was King Edward V11 the late Queen’s grandfather who realised for monarchy to survive they could not be distant from the people, riding along in a carriage waving occasionally was just not enough, yes W&K do more than this but it does feel that they want to revert back to a very distant style and do as little as possible, I think it will be to their detriment in the long term, soon even us royalists won’t give a shit.

they really do as little as they can get away with, the kids excuse is wearing thin now

A very pro Royal Family poster on here said she didn't expect them to do any more until Louis went to Boarding School at age 13/14. That's another ten years of doing very little!

They should be the equivalent of one of them working flat out doing royal duties, and that isn't happening.

Also if reports are true William had no interest in taking over the Princes Trust, something that actually transformed normal peoples lives, hence it became the King’s Trust, this really surprised and disappointed me and it did lower my opinion of him, I wonder what will happen to it when Charles dies?

Charles has spoken many a time in the past that he hoped his sons would take it over. Obviously Harry won't, but I'm surprised at William. He's not exactly stretched with what he does. What a disappointment.

Prince's Trust had a hugely profound effect on a very good friend of mine. A gobsmacking rags to riches story, all because of the Trust in the beginning.

I do think K should be more involved in sports activities as she likes sports so much. She could fund free sports for early years children, lots of children would never have the opportunity to learn how to play tennis etc..

Yes, it could still be her Early Years initiative but with more of a sports bent. She's an all round type of sports player... I remember girls like this at my School decades ago!

It would have been the perfect fit for Harry, I think he could have really run with it. I wonder why William didn’t want to take it on? I find it baffling and very disappointing, I suspect though it’s all about William creating his own style of monarchy rather than taking on his father’s legacy so more ego than anything else. I hope when he does become King he realises the value of the Trust and passes it to George.

Press reporting that Katharine has been admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery and is likely to stay there for 14 days. That sounds serious. I hope she is OK

14 days hospital stay is a very long time for most surgeries.

My impression is that private hospitals keep people in for longer, could be nothing more than that, although she has obviously had something major.

one of the issues I think the early years project has encountered is that there were such facilities like sure start and so on that addressed some of the issues the work has identified, until they lost funding. As others have said, it’s too political therefore in staying away from that it is unfocused and woolly.

I agree with this.
I think your question is wrong OP. The Royals traditionally did their own big project and lots of visits. Look at Charles with Prince's Trust plus lots of visits.