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

I'm talking about British tabloids

I don’t read them. Never will after The Sun treated my friend so disgustingly over 40 years ago. Vile vile rag.

Pull the other one

When William gets called out for being lazy, workshy and directionless we suddenly get a plethora of ridiculous articles about Meghan’s ‘expensive ‘ jam

I only know what I see here. And a bit of what DH tells me; he’s far more invested in the dynamics than I am. And my mother, a republican & a huge Sussex fan and dislikes the Waleses.

I’m a republican and not remotely interested in H&M - they’re an utterly irrelevant sideshow. I truly don’t get the hate on here - someone has just started a thread slagging M off for saying her husband is handsome 😳. I just don’t get it! Why are so many people so obsessed with them?!

I think for me the dynamics are interesting. It’s a real life Eastenders bust up
but with the RF at its core and if I’m not feeling great (a frequent occurrence 😢) then it helps distract me for a bit.

I’ve not seen that thread so will look later 😜

I used to be a republican, both parents and grandparents also, though didn’t stop my either set going to BP garden parties! I’m become more of a constitutional monarchist the older I’ve got. Just hope I never become a flag waving monarchist in my dotage!

I’m a republican and not remotely interested in H&M - they’re an utterly irrelevant sideshow

Yes, they're a circus but as a republican, I welcome their antics.

Without necessarily meaning to they've shone a spotlight on stuff the royals would rather keep in the shadows and in doing so given more people cause to ask what the whole institution is for.

Exactly. Maintenance engineer in a factory. Machines are running fine, all ok, product being made, engineer just pottering along at some little job. Machine breaks down, no product being made, time's money boys, POW, sweat.

Edit to say I guess that there is a lot of time needed for meetings and briefings. There have to be times when clothes are discussed, even if they aren't long meetings. Not all clothes are off-the-peg. Angela Kelly and the late Queen had time together to discuss fabrics and styles and fittings. The public doesn't see those meetings. The men will have to talk to tailors and have fittings every now and again, even if their clothes take less time in the planning than those of the women.

Welcoming their antics is one thing and I agree that they do (unintentionally) draw attention to the RF. What doesn’t make sense is the “I’m a republican but I think the Sussexes are wonderful” line. I don’t think anyone who thinks this is truly after a republic. They are after King Harry and Queen Meghan. I appreciate that you @CathyorClaire are not one of these 😆

Of course the opposite has resulted as well. People think Thank God that arse Harry is out of the show and thank God for William. There is however nothing new in any of these criticisms of the RF. It has gone on for years and years. The only difference is that we didn't have SM.

💯

I remember QEII being rather quick off the mark when she visited the victims of the Manchester terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert. She visited the Children's Hospital on 25th May after the attack on the 22nd. It certainly can be done.

Yes. But if he really was willing to follow the European model he would have been maintaining a proper career out proper work requirements until he ascended the throne.

European royals don’t sit about bleating that they are prioritising their dc like it’s something virtuous that the rest of the working population don’t do. They get proper careers in moral industries until they are crowned or the monarch is very much unable to function.

he and Kate want all the prestige privilege and luxury without the duty and sacrifice.

True, there is that. But the picking over of everything they do and breathlessly running to start a thread so everyone can indulge in some more hate of these irrelevant people is insane. And meanwhile Charles gets away with being a raging fucking hypocrite. I’m baffled by it all 😄

But Anne was already in Liverpool. Like I said, I don’t think any member of the RF would have necessarily gone to visit if one hadn’t been there already. Traumatic as it was, nobody was actually killed this time. I don’t think members of the RF pop up every time something happens 🤷‍♀️

I think it would make them seem more relevant if they did make an appearance, and a timely appearance, when tragedy strikes in the country. It was said that one of QEII's biggest regrets was not going sooner to visit the local people after the Aberfan disaster.

he and Kate want all the prestige privilege and luxury without the duty and sacrifice
I agree with this. In that respect as I've said before I think William and Harry are exactly the same. The only difference is that William will actually get all the money however little he does whereas Harry won't, and he wants it and is resentful about not getting it. I'd be happy with a European style Monarchy.

As President of the FA he should have been doing things like this, not just turning up to watch the footy.

William is President of the FA!

Ah but his is a leadership role which means being there for important men's matches and not anything hard when he is on holiday

I think you just don't understand leadership

QE2 was Head of State. KC3 is the current Head of State. I am sure he wants to go to Liverpool but will listen to his advisors as to timing. It is best for police resources to be focused on the investigation and not pulled for security.

I do not understand the denigration of Princess Anne. Using this tragedy as a William bashing exercise and implying that Princess Anne's presence was insufficient, says a whole lot about the character, or lack thereof, of certain posters.

Princess Anne thanks medical staff who treated those injured in Liverpool victory parade

I think the kids red line is not doing him any favours, combined with their 'just like you' PR strategy because if they were : just like us' they would not both be able to take months off during the kids holidays as well as only working 3 days a week and insisting on doing all the school drop offs and pick ups. He hasn't been where he's expected to be quite a lot because it's the school holidays. They don't both need to be there at all times, and have nannies and all 3 kids in school, when George will be in boarding school soon.

I don't think they even usually work 3 days a week, I think that's a big week.

I tink what you mean to say is that they don’t usually make public appearances three days in a week. Unless you are suggesting you know what they are doing when they are not in public…

Nah that's wasn't what I meant.

They put even internal meetings on the court circular in an attempt to pad out their limited activity