Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The royal family

William on the global stage

141 replies

PrettyFlyforaMaiTai · 07/12/2024 19:36

The government have asked Prince William to attend the ceremony to mark the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He is mixing with world leaders such as Trump, Macron, Zelensky and Meloni, as well as Elon Musk and First Lady Dr Jill Biden. He will also be having a private meeting with Trump to discuss Anglo-American relations.

Is this a sign of things to come for William? Is this preparing him for his future role as King?

news.sky.com/story/prince-william-and-donald-trump-meet-at-notre-dame-cathedral-ceremony-13269085

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 08/12/2024 13:04

You do realise that a Royal Engagement averages about an hour? Some of them are 20 minutes!

Parker231 · 08/12/2024 13:05

derxa · 08/12/2024 12:37

Those of you who are anti monarchy. You see the royal family’s work as meaningless. Why do you want them to do more work.

William is doing a brilliant job as far as I can see.

The Royal Family receive an astronomical amount of money so of course they are accountable to the public scrutiny. I dread to think how much they spend on clothing. For many of the RF it seems very much a part time position.

What do you think William has done so brilliantly?

luckylavender · 08/12/2024 13:05

cavea · 08/12/2024 08:55

Not just millionaires though, there is still plenty of the population still working from home without any real need to do so. There are plenty of careers where one could modify their day to day to be available in the circumstance William and Catherine found themselves in.

Why would you need to do so? It's progress. It suits people. I can't bear this constant criticism of wfh.

derxa · 08/12/2024 13:09

Parker231 · 08/12/2024 13:05

The Royal Family receive an astronomical amount of money so of course they are accountable to the public scrutiny. I dread to think how much they spend on clothing. For many of the RF it seems very much a part time position.

What do you think William has done so brilliantly?

What do you want them to do aside from stepping down.

Parker231 · 08/12/2024 13:12

derxa · 08/12/2024 13:09

What do you want them to do aside from stepping down.

I think Princess Anne works hard, doesn’t court publicity, works with some unglamorous causes and has my respect. The others don’t add much imo.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 08/12/2024 13:14

@EmmaMaria

‘the French cut the heads off their relatives’

Marie Antoinette was Austrian, no relation to the Hanoverians who were on the British Throne in 1793. Louis XVI was French ( obviously) , the last ‘relation’ of the French/ British monarchy would be Anne, whose grandmother was a French Princess . On her death in 1714, the throne was inherited by George I, whose claim came from the daughter of James I, so no relation at all to Henrietta Maria.

Too much anger , not enough knowledge.

Havalona · 08/12/2024 13:21

It's a given that the HOS or a subbie will attend such events. That's part of their job.

On another note, why the heck was Trump there? Is he actually the President yet? I thought he only took office at the inauguration in January, and Biden is President until then.

Of course I know nothing about such things, so could be wrong. On the other hand maybe Biden didn't want to go.

tinydynamine · 08/12/2024 13:23

They could send me instead...pretty sure I too could project "soft power" on behalf of HM Government.

PrettyFlyforaMaiTai · 08/12/2024 13:26

Havalona · 08/12/2024 13:21

It's a given that the HOS or a subbie will attend such events. That's part of their job.

On another note, why the heck was Trump there? Is he actually the President yet? I thought he only took office at the inauguration in January, and Biden is President until then.

Of course I know nothing about such things, so could be wrong. On the other hand maybe Biden didn't want to go.

Biden sent his wife. I think the French government invited Trump as a courtesy. It’s always a good idea to cozy up to the next US president, even if you don’t necessarily find him palatable.

OP posts:
Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 13:26

Jill Biden went and was representing her husband, the President. I imagine there is a lot of work taking place before the Inauguration of Trump

CurlewKate · 08/12/2024 13:31

@derxa "Those of you who are anti monarchy. You see the royal family’s work as meaningless. Why do you want them to do more work"
If people want a figurehead and think it's important then that's fine. I like the frocks and the jewels and the horses too.
But for pity's sake stop talking about them being "hard working". And stop talking about them being "down to earth" and "relatable".

derxa · 08/12/2024 13:35

CurlewKate · 08/12/2024 13:31

@derxa "Those of you who are anti monarchy. You see the royal family’s work as meaningless. Why do you want them to do more work"
If people want a figurehead and think it's important then that's fine. I like the frocks and the jewels and the horses too.
But for pity's sake stop talking about them being "hard working". And stop talking about them being "down to earth" and "relatable".

I never use those descriptions with regard to the royal family.

Fairyhousedays654 · 08/12/2024 14:15

uptheculdesac · 08/12/2024 12:55

@luckylavender

That's unfair in the circumstances
Oh please. You think the rest of the world gets a free pass when their spouse is unwell. They have a host of staff. Do not start up on how he deserves to be able to take time off. The monarchy are barely hanging on with their fingernails. This level of entitlement is enough to make them lost their grip altogether

I think this is a good point in all seriousnesss.

Not trying to score cheap points against the RF, because a cancer diagnosis whoever you are, is devastating. Particularly when you have young dc.

I do think William has to be careful of public perception though and not continually remind the public of how different the RF’s world is compared to that of an ordinary Brit.

A member of my family has had to have preventative treatment for cancer and had a bowel operation with colostomy bag. Their spouse has only had one day off supply teaching in special schools throughout this entire period, as they had no choice in order to pay the mortgage and support their dc.

And the operation to reverse the colostomy bag six months later was postponed several times. And they have really struggled on one wage as my relation is freelance, and they have struggled with the logistics of it all, as they don’t have servants, nannies, chefs or chauffeurs. They don’t even have a garden or a car!

So to us mere mortals it’s quite surprising that. William had had to take quite so much time off, especially when he has staff to cover all of their domestic duties. Unless there is something they are not telling us of course, in which case I have even more sympathy for them. But taking this at face value, I really think he is in a very privileged position indeed and should be doing more to earn it.

So in answer to your question Derxa I think the monarchy needs to take a long, hard, ruthless look at their strategy over the next five years, the work they will be focusing on, and their personal circumstances in terms of houses and estates, especially KC who has access to ludicrous numbers of residences!

Imho, they need to slim down their material assets drastically and really start working for the people without so much privilege themselves, or else they will end up losing public support.

There are so many people in the UK to whom we owe a huge debt, such as NHS surgeons, firefighters and bin men, long distance lorry drivers, for example, who all worked non-stop throughout the pandemic, sometimes in very difficult circumstances, and they all live in fairly normal houses without staff, save for the odd cleaning lady maybe, so it is achievable. And if you have servants, and several lovely homes, that should all enable you to do a better job than ordinary folk, not worse!

stripeyshutters · 08/12/2024 14:29

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 13:26

Jill Biden went and was representing her husband, the President. I imagine there is a lot of work taking place before the Inauguration of Trump

Joe Biden isn't up to public engagements now.

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 14:37

stripeyshutters · 08/12/2024 14:29

Joe Biden isn't up to public engagements now.

Given he's just had three full on days in Angola, that isn't actually true.

However, his wife representing him in Paris is fine.

CoffeeCantata · 08/12/2024 15:02

Havalona · 08/12/2024 13:21

It's a given that the HOS or a subbie will attend such events. That's part of their job.

On another note, why the heck was Trump there? Is he actually the President yet? I thought he only took office at the inauguration in January, and Biden is President until then.

Of course I know nothing about such things, so could be wrong. On the other hand maybe Biden didn't want to go.

That's a good point - you're right.

Mind you - I'm not sure Biden would be up to it. I think his health is deteriorating very fast.

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 15:14

I don't understand, he's just been 2 days in Angola which is a lot further than going to Paris.

But he probably didn't then want to go to Notre Dame, which is understandable and his wife attended in his place.
His days as President are now numbered and he will be looking forward to a break no doubt.

Harassedevictee · 08/12/2024 15:17

Trump is president Elect, and in a few weeks time will be president. Showing him common courtesy by inviting him is diplomacy in action. You don’t want to snub him now then find he holds a grudge. It’s why William welcoming him was important.

Fairyhousedays654 · 08/12/2024 15:21

I was wondering why Elon Musk was there tbh?

Rhaidimiddim · 08/12/2024 15:40

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 12:21

William has people he appointed to run the Duchy. Besides which Charles has the Lancaster Duchy and manages it, at 76 years old with a cancer diagnosis alongside his wife 77, and both undertaking far more engagements. William's work record is woeful, I have seen he's done a few more engagements this last week or so, let's hope that continues into 2025

I reiterate - you and I don't know what he gets up to when he's not being seen working. I doubt any of the big landowner aristos just hand responsibility over and foget about it.

He's involved with Earthshot, Centre Point. The Diana Awards to name just three. No doubt you'll say "he's got people to do that for him" too. But you don't know and neither do I.

cavea · 08/12/2024 15:42

Fairyhousedays654 · 08/12/2024 15:21

I was wondering why Elon Musk was there tbh?

I was wondering that too, but possibly he contributed a few million to the cost of the restoration, Salma Hayaks husband contributed 200 million apparently.

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 16:09

Rhaidimiddim · 08/12/2024 15:40

I reiterate - you and I don't know what he gets up to when he's not being seen working. I doubt any of the big landowner aristos just hand responsibility over and foget about it.

He's involved with Earthshot, Centre Point. The Diana Awards to name just three. No doubt you'll say "he's got people to do that for him" too. But you don't know and neither do I.

You don't know, I don't know. You assume he is working his socks off, I assume quite differently given the number of staff he has. But that's OK, it's just different opinions isn't it....

Rhaidimiddim · 08/12/2024 16:28

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 16:09

You don't know, I don't know. You assume he is working his socks off, I assume quite differently given the number of staff he has. But that's OK, it's just different opinions isn't it....

Yup. What we all do know, though, for certain is that you can head a foundation like Archewell on just 2 hours a week.

Extiainoiapeial · 08/12/2024 16:29

Strange. I thought the thread was about William.

Swipe left for the next trending thread