Prince William

[Olderkids]

I am pleased to let you know that Prince William is on good form, visiting my home town today, meeting our football team and pulling a pint in the local. He clearly prioritised his engagements this week and this was far too important to miss⚽️🤣

No I don’t want to start an argument! I hate all of that petty point scoring.

If you read your comments back, like the pp said, it’s genuinely difficult to tell whether you are being sarcastic or not.

I am also trying to make the general point that many ordinary people manage to work and raise their dc well and they don’t have hoardes of staff as both Prince Charles and William do; so it’s not necessary for either of them to neglect their dc. Rather the opposite as they have other people to take care of the supermarket shopping, the cooking, the cleaning and all of the household tasks that get in the way of focusing on dc.

You’re right 😁

People sometimes forget he was born in to this family, he didn’t apply for it. He probably couldn’t even think about leaving it even if he wanted to thanks to the huge pig’s ear his brother’s made of leaving.

Where did anyone say on here that they were asking for everyone to feel sorry for them? I think I must have missed it.

However, when W & K moved to Windsor, the journalists within the Royal Rota system eg those who get to be briefed directly by the palace, did made a point of reporting how their nanny lives in a separate building because Adelaide Cottage is small with only four bedrooms, in other words there was an attempt to make them look “relatable”.

I agree that they're probably doing work behind the scene but I think, one of their big mistake, is that they're not being transparent about what they do behind the scene.

They could share a photo or video once in a while, showing them working or in a meeting working on a project.

Unfortunately, that lack of transparency created the narrative that they're lazy and are just staying at home doing nothing

Given their resources, it does make you question why their PR is quite so poor. It makes you wonder what other monies are being misspent as it points to poor management. Or maybe it’s just that PR can only do so much?

Perhaps William learned from his mother's experience that the more you give people, the more they'll want.

I think it's the latter. I feel sorry for the person trying to pad out the court circular to make these two look busy - I noticed that they have taken to putting in internal "early years meeting" to boost Kate's numbers. These could be 5 mins check in calls.

Well I like the RF and wish them all well. I accept that there's lots of behind the scenes work behind every appearance and that they have staff to do the donkey work for them. However, they have to make sure they're well briefed as the slightest gaffe will hit the headlines. For Kate, it must take endless hours just planning her outfits with her stylist to ensure that she turns out immaculate every time, including jewellery and accessories, whether a day event, an evening do or a casual sporting occasion. It would be nice for a while but surely it does become a bit onerous too sometimes?

I do think they are both very determined to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible, and given history, I think that's a very good thing. We've got a future king and 2 'spares' in the making!! Nobody needs another Harry!!

However, I think with his father and his wife both out of commission, William should have stepped up his visibility, not practically disappeared. I think it's a mistake. He's going to be King fgs, and it could turn out to be sooner than anyone would have hoped for. I'm sorry, but it's not a good. William A.N. Other would have had to continue to go to work every day. The kids are in school anyway, plus they have a nanny and live-out staff. He could easily have arranged engagements around the school day. I'm a bit disappointed in him tbh.

*it's not a good look!!!

I think the bottom line for me is .. yes there will be work that goes on behind the scenes but without doubt they can be as involved or not involved as they want to be. Any of them could say..
look I don't want to know any detail, just give me 10 bullet points to drop in to the people I meet if I need to
OR
I want to get really involved with this one and want to be at your planning meetings for this visit because it really interests me

We really don't know do we. And without doubt if there are other pressures going on, they can go with the former repeatedly

I do think they are both very determined to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible, and given history, I think that's a very good thing. We've got a future king and 2 'spares' in the making!! Nobody needs another Harry!!

It’s not normal for both parents to be home pretty much all day every day, the vast majority of people with a family need 2 working parents, so I don’t think they are giving them a ‘normal’ upbringing in that sense, just an extremely privileged one, even more privileged than royal children before them. I’m all for the RF and I like William and Kate but they need to up their game sharpish, the looking after the kids shtick is really wearing thin.

However, I think with his father and his wife both out of commission, William should have stepped up his visibility, not practically disappeared. I think it's a mistake. He's going to be King fgs, and it could turn out to be sooner than anyone would have hoped for. I'm sorry, but it's not a good. William A.N. Other would have had to continue to go to work every day. The kids are in school anyway, plus they have a nanny and live-out staff. He could easily have arranged engagements around the school day. I'm a bit disappointed in him tbh.

Agree with this, I did expect him to step up to the plate more and show some leadership, the not attending the memorial service and only giving 45 minutes was baffling, I can only presume he must have had a panic attack or something equally upsetting though it looks as though we will never know.

Well glad he is doing really vital work, like pulling a pint (badly), to justify his existence and all those homes he has.

My husband (retired journo and really quite hard nosed TBH) met Princess Anne many times and was astonished by how well prepared/knowledgeable she was about what she was doing and also how she engaged with the people meeting her. He met most of the RF but was very struck by her particularly.

I think this is actually what people need from the RF, to feel that their work/cause means enough to them that they actually know about it in some depth. None of them are going to have to be Henry V/the Black Prince/Edward 1 and lead in battle, so I think to be significant, they need to do this now. The pretty dresses are an extra. I think Diana grasped that in the end, actually.

@BigWillyLittleTodger I too expected him to step up but now think he didn't as it would make the king appear not capable and people would speculate about the state of his health even more.

I mean, the kind of "work" they do, it would hardly matter if it didn't get done, would it? It's not like they're emptying bed pans or teaching literacy. It's all bullshit busywork to justify their squillions of taxpayer cash.

I like William and Kate but they need to up their game sharpish, the looking after the kids shtick is really wearing thin.

Gonna C&P my post from the 'Endgame' thread here (I'm among the seemingly vanishingly small number on here who have read it)

Also noteworthy is the Doolittle's joint determination to take the bulk of school holidays off. Scobie details at least fourteen weeks worth and it didn't include a couple of half terms. Contrast that with the 20 or 25 days holiday most working parents get to play with and that's without competing with colleagues for the prime dates.

He also reveals the Duchess doesn't intend to put her shoulder fully to the royal wheel for another ten to fifteen years 'until the kids are adults'.

If she waits the full 15 even Louis will be 20 with George at a positively ancient 25. Just how long can she string it out for?!

I get that. I think Anne is the exception to be honest

If she waits the full 15 even Louis will be 20 with George at a positively ancient 25. Just how long can she string it out for?!

I think she intends to move smoothly to "too old to work full time" from "too young" via "hands on parent"

Oh don't!

I know certain royalists who think they shouldn't have to do more than they're doing until Louis is 18 😮

You can just see it happening, though, can't you?

As a republican, it's very pleasing - once the elderly royals retire/pass away - I think the lack of presence or impact from these two will be much more obvious.

I know certain royalists who think they shouldn't have to do more than they're doing until Louis is 18

😮

Just to add I've seen rolling news headlines saying Camilla is stepping back for a bit.

I predict a SM meltdown 🤓

Ah come on.

We know who's left if Camilla takes a sabbatical also. He of the puffed up chest and dubious associations. Can you believe it (if Cam story is true).

Lovely inoffensive Edward and Sophie won't get a look in which is a shame to me anyway.

There seems to be something rotten in the State of Denmark for sure now lol.

More outlets reporting now:

Queen Camilla to take a break from royal duties – details | HELLO! (hellomagazine.com)

Apparently just a week and Willy et al will be stepping up.

We're safe from Faux-King Charmless. For now...

Oh Gosh , another day another bitchfest about the Royals.