Selfies with Charlotte

[TheRealGossipGirl]

This morning, I came across a video on TikTok from Sandringham this weekend where Princess Charlotte was asked for a selfie by a woman in the crowd, and she agreed. Then, another woman asked for one, and Charlotte did the same.

I find it so strange that a 9-year-old girl is being asked for selfies by fully grown adults. I get that she’s royal, and for some people, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see her in person, but still, it feels a bit odd, right? What do you think?

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It’s very interesting to see everyone’s thoughts, so thank you for the replies.

It also brings to mind a few Christmases ago when someone in the crowd gave Charlotte an inflatable flamingo and then asked her for a hug.

I would agree with some of the comments, such as the idea that she may have been briefed beforehand by security and her parents on how to behave in public, etc. not to decline gifts or selfies, but how is a 9-year-old supposed to 'politely decline' without the narrative being that she’s 'rude' or has been taught 'no manners' by her parents?

"Presumably granny wants to be there". Is precisely what I said

I know the children are born into wealth but I really don't see them as the most privileged children in the county. I'd say that is true for the children of other very wealthy families who don't have the weight of public expectation and criticism on everything they do, say, wear or on every look they give.

Catherine used to get a lot of flack for the slightly dated way she dresses them but I think in the age of social media we are seeing why. If you only see photos of them in their formal clothes it might be harder to recognise them when they are off duty which gives a small measure of privacy. Plus you would hope that no one asks any of them for selfies when they are not on formal walkabouts.

I personally wouldn't want to stand in the cold watching someone walk to and from church but it's an established part of the Royal year. If you look back you can see Catherine and William gradually easing the children into what to expect, at first they constantly held a hand, or gave hugs. They know their children and I'm sure they have full and frank discussions about what to expect and they are comfortable with. I don't see either parent forcing the kids to do something they don't want to.

All families have expectations, I would hate to be royal but then I haven't been brought up to it. The children have and they seem to take it all in their stride. It's weird but then being part of the monarchy is weird. I expect lots of changes going forward as the children grow up because I think already you can see that William is not going to make his children do things just for the sake of tradition (and he'll get flack for it because the public are nothing if not inconsistent. )

Sorry. Must have misread. I’m still not sure what you brought disabled granny in to it like it’s a negative thing for her to want to be there though 🤷‍♀️

I have mixed feelings about the Royals, but at the end of the day, they are totally dependant on the continued interest of the public which explains an awful lot of the PR decisions, drip-feed about health, showcasing of the children etc.

This absolutely. If they really have to do this pap walk, it could be managed so much better. The children shouldn't be going forward because the crowd are shrieking for them, I doubt each one of the Wales children enjoy and want to do it.

And as for someone saying they know what's expected of them, and they have been briefed so know what to do... how sad is that. None of them can refuse to do it... the press would be all over it, so yes, they have to do it, whether they like it or not. And I think George looks really uncomfortable at times.

@Extiainoiapeial I agree - George does look uncomfortable at times, and not as relaxed as the other two. It must be hard knowing this is your destiny- like it or not.

I know he can make changes and choose to abdicate - but right now he is being brought up to be a future King and that is a lot for a young boy.

It’s like taking selfies with the last surviving members of an endangered species.

It is so odd. I think the RF could model better behaviour, tbh. Stranger waving a toy at you? Hold mummy's hand and let her deal with it. Don't go walking towards them on your own.

Why not show by your actions that this behaviour is not appropriate towards ANY child?

(I mean, if we are taking the RF to somehow be moral or appropriate role models. 'Duty' doesn't mean let your kids become selfie targets. What is that teaching our girls - and Charlotte? Smile and be compliant?)

Good try

(Adding - obviously, expecting the RF to model better behaviour is a lol in itself, but hey ho!)

I felt so sorry for them. Even Xmas day it’s turned into some sort of spectator sport with the kids as the main attraction. I’d be tempted if I was them to start driving back from the church and ignoring all the gawpers. But of course they’d get slated if they did so.

I so agree. Surely posing for selfies and taking all these gifts shoved at you with people yelling out your name, is really not good for the kids, and I am sure parents on here would be shielding their children from this sort of thing. Which means to me... it is just for media, pap shots, PR and promotion of the royal family. I hope at least one of those children manage to have a voice in years to come.

@kindlyensure i agree too. We can enjoy a walkabout without seeing the children being expected to perform for adults. It’s not appropriate

It’s not right that a 9 year old girl 1) should be asked these questions by an adult 2) felt obliged to take the selfie.

She should be accompanied by an adult at all times when interacting with the crowds and the adult should be stepping in to stop such requests. Any gifts the adult should take too.

I do appreciate that the children are being taught how to interact with the public, the Xmas crowd is a safe environment to do so and clearly Charlotte is very capable but it’s crossing the line with selfies.

I mean fuck knows what some deranged adult could have asked her or showed her on their phone

The other negative aspect of this is that it must engender a kind of pity/ contempt in the children for / further ‘other’ the general public’ over the years (unless you’re able to persuade the royal children that these kinds of people are an exception!).

It also makes me think of Elizabeth Hurley referring to the general public as ‘civilians’ to distinguish them from her set.

I find it weird that people wait around on Christmas day (or any day) to catch a glimpse of people they don't know walking past them. Then to give complete strangers gifts is also weird. So it comes as no surprise to me that these people would ask for selfies, which is also weird.

I think the public are getting too much access to the royal children. I think their parents should be sticking with them or making sure the protection officers are staying close and preventing nonsense like taking selfies.
I have no issue with people wanting to spend their Christmas morning waiting for the royals but giving the children gifts is just moronic. These children want for nothing. Donate something to the local hospital or food banks if you have the spare cash.

Well they don't have to do it. They made a big show of wanting to modernise the RF so this was an opportunity to also modernise some of the traditions too. They could introduce no phones or cameras allowed at these walks and only official pictures they release are allowed or those taken by the media that they authorise. There is lots they could do to chnage things but they don't.

Yes. And I don't know why. Surely, modernising the Monarchy is all about making changes... so agree with just official pictures, not a load of people who have camped out overnight shouting for children, giving them unwanted gifts and taking selfies of a 9 year old.

I hope this comes back to bite them on the arse. It should do. Might make them think a bit.

Yes, I think this too. As if the 'public' they engage with are all slightly deranged uber-fans. It makes you wonder what the kids are being told. 'Smile and wave for the great unwashed dear, for they know not what they do...' kind of thing.

It is so odd. I think the RF could model better behaviour, tbh. Stranger waving a toy at you? Hold mummy's hand and let her deal with it. Don't go walking towards them on your own
Why not show by your actions that this behaviour is not appropriate towards ANY child?

Completely agree, @kindlyensure, except that I doubt those who'll stand for hours in the chill to see them all and shriek at the children are likely to appreciate what's appropriate and what isn't

Edited to add that, while I agree not all "watchers" are deranged uber-fans, I'd bet good money that some of the Christmas Day crowd would qualify

The people that go to Sandringham to see the royals are an odd bunch, to put it mildly. I don’t suppose appropriate behaviour is high on their list. But it’s nuts that such close access to a bunch of absolute loons is allowed.

Yes. I saw some bloke interviewed, he'd been there since 9pm the night before so he could be at the front, with... in his words 'a massive bouquet of flowers because I love them all'.. and he honestly sounded a bit deranged.
I wouldn't want him near my young children (when they were young), I wouldn't even want him looking at them.