William the Quiet Disruptor - Future of the Monarchy

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

I just read this Sky News article “My Week with Prince William: The Quiet Disruptor” and found it really interesting.

The article paints a picture of someone who’s trying to do things differently, more of a “quiet disruptor” than a traditional royal. He seems to want to modernise the monarchy, focusing less on ribbon-cutting and more on community projects and real social impact. It might not be flashy, but it feels more in touch with what people care about today. He wants to be seen as a trustworthy global leader who uses his influence for good in a time when there is a lot of distrust in leadership worldwide.

It talks about how, although some still label him “work-shy” because he schedules his engagements around his children, most of the people interviewed actually saw that as a positive. They praised him for putting his family first and being a present dad.

It acknowledges that not everyone will be happy with this new version of monarchy, and some people will criticise the change in ethos.

I suppose time will tell whether this new approach will change anything long term. Charles also said he wanted to modernise, so let’s see it sticks this time. But it’s an interesting read if you’re curious about how William’s trying to shape his role.

William the Quiet Disruptor

And we later learn that they do many things they never appear on the Court Circular at all. Two recent examples are William’s documentary series on Wildlife Rangers, and Kate’s trip to the Lake District with the Scouts. It is very clear it’s not a full record of their activities -nor anywhere near it.

And? Is there evidence that football has anything to do with the attack? Is he supposed to pop up at every football related incident? I don’t think it was necessary for any member of the RF to be there, but given that Anne was already there, she went to see first responders. Not members of the crowd or football fans

edited for sense

Are meetings not work now? Must let my boss know.........

Unless you are suggesting you know what they are doing when they are not in public…

Are you suggesting you do?

Please fill us ignorant in 🙂

I don’t think it was necessary for any member of the RF to be there, but given that Anne was already there, she went to see first responders

I think it would have been prudent under the circumstances (especially at minimal additional cost) for allegedly footie mad FA president heir to have dropped in.

Let's not forget he couldn't even be bothered with a less than taxing fanzone visit to the women's WC final.

No, because where do you draw the line? Does he rock up at every incident involving football? I can see why the Manchester Arena incident and the Southport stabbings warranted a visit, because terrorist ideology was involved which is not only a heinous crime against individuals, but also a direct attack on our state of which the royal
family is head. This was not the same and fortunately, no one died. I don’t think the fact that it was a football crowd was relevant. If it had been a crowd of rugby fans, would you have expected him to go?

Am I missing something? Are rugby fans not also citizens who might need solace after a major terror incident? What is it about rugby? Also are incidents of mass attempted murder not terroristic if they are perpetrated by white british men?

If it had been a crowd of rugby fans, would you have expected him to go?

I think he missed a positive PR moment yet again and demonstrated an ever more apparent inability to connect convincingly with the public.

You’re probably right. Mea culpa.

That was my point, that it would seem that it’s only because William is president of the FA that it is being deemed necessary that he visit. So if it had been a crowd of rugby supporters, would there not be the same clamouring as he is not president of the RFU 🤷‍♀️

So people determined to get the hump are missing the point here about how and why the RF make official visits in the capacity of heads of state. For disasters like Aberfan, Southport and Liverpool the government will request a specific timing and person for that visit. It is all part of the machine of government.

Unlike Harry, RF members can’t just fly about looking for photo ops to make themselves look good. They have a purpose, usually arrange with either the PM, the home office or the foreign office so they don’t accidentally do more harm than good.

Edit for typo

If it's true, being paid millions, all your staff paid for, keeping all the stolen "crown jewels" from other countries, artefacts, huge castles etc etc and only working 3 days a week, I don't understand why there's isn't any outrage.

I think people are getting a bit at cross purposes here. Of course W can do what he likes or what the firm deems necessary. Some people here are pointing out that one of the last remaining activities for royalty now that making war or speaking to g-d, or having sex with ritually significant maiden goddesses is not required is simply showing up on days of national mourning or celebration. He and K tend not to do much of that.

Its fine to accept their excuses (the kids, the cancer, the heir not king, etc…) but every time the people go through something significant without the RF sending a rep to console/celebrate another generation learns that the RF is irrelevant to their lives. That’s probably bad for the institution as it runs counter to the “we need to survive” ethos of the RF as a long running soap opera with horses, bling, and lots of special rights over taxes and legislation. The RF has long been exquisitely aware of the need to balance being available and unavailable as two methods of being necessary.

And the proof is in the pudding: Anne has great press and is extremely popular. W snd K less so (although still popular). Maybe W snd K will always be popular enough to make it all the way to being the next king snd queen (I assume so) but I still think that doing the bare minimum, failing to be seen to do the work, is making the RF as an institution less visible and less viable.

If there was practically no outrage when it was revealed that the Crown charges rent for things like RNLI slipways and hospital car parks…..

Maybe W snd K will always be popular enough to make it all the way to being the next king snd queen
It isn't some celebrity Big Brother show that they're on, it's not a popularity contest - "He who wins, gets the crown!". How bizarre.

Would you not consider Prof Sir John Curtice a reliable analyst? YouGov?

www.thenational.scot/news/21395148.john-curtice-charles-become-king-support-monarchy-new-low/

You keep harping on about this, and I keep pointing out that this is not a choice they have made, the Duchies are required by Act of Parliament to charge commercial rates of rent. And they are policed by Treasury to ensure they do. So it’s not something they have discretion over.

Why do you keep ignoring this fact? Is it simply inconvenient to the position you want to take (that they are money grabbing?). It’s clearly not because you lack reading comprehension.

@Serenster Because their ignorance makes it possible for them to pretend that William is the monster that Harry makes him out to be. Just like Harry, they conveniently do away with any fact that harms their narrative.

Here’s the mushy thinking:

William is work shy:

actually most of his engagement don’t go on the court circular, here’s a list of what he’s done recently.

Reply: well coal miners work harder (having never been a coal miner). He should be ashamed.

🤦🏼‍♀️

the Duchies are required by Act of Parliament to charge commercial rates of rent. And they are policed by Treasury to ensure they do. So it’s not something they have discretion over.

Anything stopping them using their discretion to pay those millions back into the public purse voluntarily?

Let's not pretend you wouldn't have criticised him for just showing up to pander for some positive PR had he turned up. 😜

We all know it's a complicated narrative tho...

They have complete discretion to pay it back voluntarily. As I think they pay some tax voluntarily.

I think I'd have been too stunned to do that 😛

Presumably if William had gone to Liverpool, the story in a couple of weeks' time would be that it should have been a more senior RF member like the Princess Royal ...

Not from me. And surely Anne is not more senior than William who is the heir? I have no problem with William not attending, even though he is patron of the FA. Anne was there, she went and that is good. I would prefer William concentrate on far more duties elsewhere, doubling up with Anne being there would be silly.