Okay , I'm just going to say it... where is Kate Middleton?

[Tuesdayalready]

(or for the MN purists, Catherine) The most high profile and popular member of royal family has not been seen since Christmas. I do think it's quite strange and so many rumours from the foreign press. And before anyone starts jumping down my throat about her having hysterectomy / crohns / ad infimum / I've had both a hysterotomy and half my intestine removed and was back in work within a 8 weeks.

The thing is all families have their shit, don't they and it is how you respond to it. I know from sad experience.

Me neither @AliceOlive ! 🤣

Did you also find gamergate “extremely healthy”? Because the bullying involved all comes from the same type of mind engaging in the drowning out of other voices.

I'll add a few, @CantDealwithChristmas

Parliament made Edward III dismiss his mistress from the court due to claims of corruption
Broadhsheets and ballads in 1688 claimed none too subtly that the queen's baby had been fathered by numerous men, none of whom was the king
George IV when prince of Wales was regulary lamponned for his size, gluttony, extravaagance and women
After Albert died and Vic refused to come to London notices were posted on Buck P proclaiming it to be empty and for rent.

People have always taken the piss out of the monarchy because they can. It doesn't get you slung in prison like it does in some countries.

Such a great post and so much interesting detail! I have a book on the history of satire and how integral it is to society. You’ve motivated me to start reading it 😊

Correction - it doesn't get you slung in prison now. Elizabeth I was noticeably touchy about criticism, especially when it came to her getting married and the succession.

No I did not.

However, using social media to expose suppressed truths is another matter entirely. Totally different.

However, using social media to expose suppressed truths is another matter entirely. Totally different

What suppressed truths would those be?

‘they are probably having to acknowledge to themselves that a few unpleasant rumours are in fact true.’

so the lizard thing was true?! Flipping knew it!!! 😤

Glad ‘they’ve’ acknowledged it - but if it is based on the sheer volume of nonsense making them out themselves, their legal reps should have prob explained, that’s not really indicative of it being true and therefore they didn’t really have to fess up

It’s not one iota different. It’s allowing loud hateful ignorant voices to steer the conversation while the others back away out of fear.

so the lizard thing was true?! Flipping knew it!!!

Surprised me that Haz didn't say anything about that, becos sales would have gone through the roof. Perhaps he's saving it for a shattering climactic revelation in the final vol of his memoirs.

Without social media the antivax movement would have died a death and we wouldn't have a resurgence of formally eliminated diseases.

My favourite historical instance of public pisstaking of the rich and famous comes from ancient Athens.

Pericles, came to power about 461BC, was kind of like the Barack Obama of his day, universally admired (almost). Unbelievably powerful, led Athens in the war against the Persians, got the Acropolis built, famous orator yada yada.

He had his detractors though. There were mutterings about his private life and his treatment of working class Athenians. Aristophanes put on a comedy at Athens' regular theatrical festival (think of it as the SNL of ancient Greece). All the Athenians high and low were there on opening night, Pericles himself was obvs in the front row.

the play opens with a scene in the Kerameikos cemetary in which "Pericles" is shown with his meat n 2 veg out, doing something very graphic with a young man up against a gravestone.

Everyone in the theatre falls about laughing, probably even Pericles had to crack a smile

My point being - humans having been taking the mickey out of their social betters since we first swung down from the trees. This supposed 'age of deference' never, ever, ever existed.

I too am wondering when exactly this age of deference existed.

Without even going back in history, some of the less than deferential behaviour I recall in my own lifetime includes, but is not limited to

• the newspapers publishing the hacked intimate conversations of the future king and queen,
• photos of the then 3rd in line naked in Las Vegas,
• photos of the queen's favourite son with his arm around a very young woman,
• photos of the Duchess of York engaged in intimate activites with a man who was not her husband,
• childhood pictures of the queen doing a Nazi salute, with the headline 'Their Royal Heilnesses'

and lots more besides.

When exactly was this golden age of deference?

As for social media, I will bet that the vast majority of the more lurid "speculation" surrounding Kate comes from a certain 'squad' of obsessive nutters. No point joining them in the cesspit.

I have my criticisms of Kensington Palace's media strategy. For example, I think William's failure to attend the Lionesses' match in Australia was poorly handled. But they are absolutely right in this instance. They are setting a precedent for how such matters will be handled in the future, and not pandering to 'concerns' in social media. Sometimes it's best just to rise above the clamour.

With respect, I wholly disagree.

I’m thinking a Godzilla / Jurassic park / lion in winter / wolf hall / the favourite mash up. I would happily have my tax payer cash money fund that 👍

I love it when these threads veer off into historical detail!

The people citing the history of satire are on the wrong track

I see you are focussing on centuries ago - the monarchy could then choose to ignore the satire as they were ‘above it all’ and relatively secure

That is no longer the case - which no doubt explains the uneasy deals with the tabloids

Oh and those of you ( small in number I know ) pearl clutching over twitter - you do know that your precious ‘royals’ are all over twitter ? Remember the embarrassing incident after William was being roasted for not supporting women’s football - and all the cut and paste tweets were revealed?

👏

Me too!

The Lion In Winter. Now THERE was a film, Hepburn and O'Toole, talk about sparks. The family that put the fun in dysfunctional.

Charles I tried that line of argument in his trial - considering himself ‘above it’ didn’t save him

I've cited several things from my own lifetime. I'm sure others could easily add to the list.

And why are you being so rude and patronising? I see no 'pearl clutching' and I for one can say none of the royals are at all 'precious' to me. Do you want a discussion or do you just want to gratuitously insult people?

I LOVE that film - and they are amazing to watch. I think a young Dalton makes an appearance too?

Their royal family squabbles so fun to watch too! 😉😂