The Princess of Wales..

[CurlewKate]

I just wanted to share some thoughts I've had since talking to some RL friends last night. I'm a Republican, and didn't actually post much on any of the threads on here. But I did read them, laugh at the ones I found funny and speculated a little IRL. I enjoy robust mental health, but I feel a little sad and down today about the news. And a little guilty. It occurs to me that it might be a real source of distress to some other people. Not the big media ghouls, of course, they have no shame and will just move on to the next thing without looking back, but for those of us who bought in to the whole farrago and maybe posted things we now wish we hadn't. So remember, the media often manipulates us, the establishment often lies to us and it's actually a good thing not to immediately take what we're told at face value. Don't beat yourself up and find someone to talk to if you feel really bad about it. Take care of yourselves.

It is this kind of mentality that is dangerous. She doesn't look .... or ..... or ......Fill in the blanks and you find sick ignorant individuals.

It really is heartening. And obviously not bots, but many many real live people. Americans so not “Royalists”.

AliceOlive · Today 09:35

@Mymilkshakebringsallthepapstomycar
The comments on Blake Lively’s IG are heartening. I was blown away by the support for Catherine. So many telling her that her “apology” is pathetic and they are shocked by her behavior.

I wonder if the apologies from Blake Lively, Owen Jones are genuine though? Are they really sorry or do they want to avoid more criticism?

It is very difficult to comment on these threads without being accused of exploiting the really serious illness of a mother of three dc, whom I wish well and a full and speedy recovery, so my only comment is going to be that, as a Republican, the same comment I have made many, many times on these threads, over at least six years, that I really think it is time to bring an end to monarchy and campaign for an elected Head of State.

I've said it before on here many times, and I will say it again, in addition to all the meritocratic arguments for a Republic which are important, being part of the monarchy puts untold psychological pressure on the leading members of the royal family, and although they have estates to which they can escape, such is the power and ferocity of the tabloid press that there is nothing they can do or say in 2024 without ridiculous levels of scrutiny. And sm allows everyone to express what was previously in their head in black and white, however wild or wacky. We are all guilty of subjecting a seriously ill woman and three children to this charade right now and I think it needs to stop.

@Mymilkshakebringsallthepapstomycar

Really well said.

It’s astonishing to me that anyone is comparing the BP strategy to KP’s strategy when the playing field isn’t level. Ultimately you can only do comms with your client’s permission – the palaces are the comms teams, the royals are the clients: Charles gave his to say he had cancer, but not which type; Kate did not give hers. KP’s hands were tied there.

There’s also the fact that of the four big players left in the slimmed-down monarchy, Kate is the star. Charles might be monarch but that’s the only element that makes his diagnosis a story. And ironically it’s his diagnosis that adds further pressure to Kate and made KP’s job harder than BP’s: if William inherits the throne sooner than anticipated, will he actually want to do so given his wife’s health?

I don’t think KP is faultless here but I don’t think the disaster is entirely of their making. I can see why people want to absolve themselves of guilt for participating in the online chatter, though. “It wasn’t me gossiping, the palace comms strategy made me.”

Kate was a royal girlfriend for nearly 10 years and so I think knew what she would be getting in to

Fuck, not this again. I'd happily have the death penalty for anyone who trots this lame justification out to excuse the way the PoW has been treated these last few months.

“It is realistic to expect people to accept that”

When a hugely powerful and public organisation starts acting weirdly, some people will notice it and some may even remark on their observations to others. That’s not a matter of “right or wrong” it’s just a simple fact of human behaviour which is millennia old.

I only saw Blake’s and it’s not an apology at all. Her fans are blasting her for it.

Are we not learning from mistakes here? Now people are saying she looks too well for chemo? More speculation. On another thread posters are accusing her of being a heavy smoker, so that is what has caused her cancer, that it was the Dukan diet, that’s she’s too thin etc etc.

I wish people would just give up now.

When I had chemo I felt quite perky on the first lot (especially when I steroids!) it’s cumulative so by the end I was tired. But there are many different types and we all respond differently.

I've seen it all now. Get rid of the monarchy because of the pressure it puts on them 🙄 and don't talk about them - yet here you are .

If she hadn't done the traditional Mother's Day photo the speculation would have been awful too. It was lose/lise.

she has said herself she's recovering well from the surgery & building up her strength (or however she put it). She say with her kids for a photo, she didn't scale Everest.

The released photos like Mother's Day, Christmas are never taken on that day, just near it.

she made some minor touch ups, she didn't do anything major like impose her face on someone else's body. So what if cardi sleeves or jumper patterns don't match up?

it was an 'entertainment' release, not a 'news' release.

the drama over it, became utterly pathetic.

Nothing wrong, at all, with releasing the photo. It's a crying shame people couldn't just accept it for the lovely mothers Day photo it was.

so my only comment is going to be that, as a Republican, the same comment I have made many, many times on these threads, over at least six years, that I really think it is time to bring an end to monarchy and campaign for an elected Head of State.

I think that proverbial ship is still a very, very long way away from being launched.

I bet if they look back at other Mother’s Day photos there have been tweaks.

@Clawedfoot73 - "we are all guilty"
Speak for yourself. I'm not. I never repeated the vile rumours and cruel accusations.

Well said @SuziQuinto

There's a concerted effort on here to equate those of us who didn't, and posted in defense of the onslaught of bile against W&C, with those that were either spewing the bile or taking swipes at KP in what seems like part of a coordinated effort to undermine the credibility of William and the wider monarchy.

Yes in fact this incident is a major set back for the republican cause. They will be more popular now than many thought possible after the death of HMQ.

☝absolutely.

I'd like to be associated with that, @SuziQuinto .Some of the stuff I've seen on here has been absolutely vile (and continues to be - querying if she's having chemo because her hair is too glossy? puke). There were some people doing sterling work to combat the tide of excrement being spouted by a lot of posters.

Yes, what is that? No one we see efforts to get threads and posts pulled. An attempt at sweeping away the evidence.

Bso do you accept catherines apology as genuine? And if so why? If you cant accept someone else's apology as being genuine?

Maybe “beheading etc” 😆

Let's not forget it was a massive influx of new posters and possibly some name changers who were gleefully spewing the worst of it with a few regulars supporting them.

Exactly, it was exactly as you describe.

What apology? Did she apologize for having cancer?