Optics Check: Waleses public support for Andrew: William and Catherine’s driving and embracing Andrew is a massive error?

[Foxypuppy]

Are the Waleses and the Andrew Unity Drive A bridge too far? Seriously, why were William and Catherine protecting Andrew?

I’ve always been a supporter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, but I am finding it harder and harder to defend their recent excuses and petty behavior regarding 'family unity'.

Specifically, I’m looking at the optics of William personally driving Prince Andrew to church at Balmora Daily Mail report here

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12449837/Prince-William-drives-disgraced-uncle-Prince-Andrew-church-Balmoral.html

This wasn't just a family carpool; it was a deliberate, televised statement of support. William was in the driver's seat, Andrew in the passenger seat, and Catherine in the back.

At the same time, we have royal commentators like Jennie Bond stating that William and Catherine would 'rather have Andrew as a neighbour than Meghan and Harry. Independent article here

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/william-kate-meghan-harry-frogmore-b2295732.html.

I understand that family dynamics are complicated and that they feel betrayed by the Sussexes' interviews. However:

1. Harry and Meghan are a family feud involving books and Netflix deals, though they couldnt protect Meghan against racism, not even make an statement
2. Prince Andrew is a man associated with Jeffrey Epstein, impliyed in e-mails to ne object in the death of a girl, hes a well known liar and with multi-million dollar settlement alongside much other bizarre stuff.

How can William and Catherine justify being part of the face of Andrew’s rehabilitation even after he was impliyed while being so publicly cold toward William’s own brother? Does anyone else feel like their moral compass is slightly off here? Surely a sister-in-law isn't worse than the Andrew crimes? Why he royal family and media even tried to protect him and only acted this year?

But in the case of being told to drive a sexual predator, your morals really should take over and make you say no. This isn’t about who wears whats or other silly protocol, it’s about a sickening individual who is a sexual predator. He could just say no.

Blimey! I stand corrected.

Well.... they always carry on like they want to, until they get caught out!

And hang on, it was no time ago, maybe last year, the two of them led the royal party into a memorial service, followed by the rest of the royals behind them, even Anne, Edward etc.
It's all so weird when they just knew what he was like

Ye, you do. Your tone of saying’ gotta pic of that?’ because you didn’t know it happened did seem to suggest I was just making it up.

I'd do more than say no - I'd hand over everything I knew about him and would publicly disown him. Wouldn't you? And yet none of them have done that, on either side of the pond, in all the years they've known about him.

Yes, I did think you were making it up, and I apologise. The only footage/ pics I had seen were of Fergie behind K.

100% this - can people imagine if that was your own uncle and these photos were being shown all over the press, I'd have nothing to do with him no matter what my family said. It's disgusting.

Omg I didn't remember any of it. We should investigate Catherine contagrs and all the uncle Gary shady business also. And her parents, Mike and Carole Middleton business that was rumoured to had left people in debt? So many shady things

You are totally right. It's quite weird that some users want to dismiss and gasslight us, by denying things (pictures, events) easily searchable on google or trying to divert the discussion to ' if William was smiling or not'. Its very suspicious... who would want to defend anyone associated with pedophiles like Epstein and Richard Branson and other traffickers and abusers, instead of investigate and recognize that its wrong, amoral at least...? Specially coming from a family known to be liars.

Yes, but it’s very possible that Andrew’s behavior felt normal to William, in the same way it may have felt normal to Beatrice and Eugenie. I’m not defending it, just pointing out that this kind of degeneracy, become normalized when someone grows up surrounded by it, especially in insulated, elite circles. Also they have diplomatic immunity, they believe they are above everything and nothing will happen.

What feels stranger is Catherine accepting the rebranding of Andrew, since she wasn’t born into that world and could have easily refused. Then again, Sarah Ferguson also wasn’t born into those circles, they attract their own. Considering the connections people point out between Catherine and figures like Branson, and the trafficking controversy involving her family like her own uncle, it raises the very fair question of whether she is enabling this and shares the same mindset.

Blimey, are you OK?

Don't know who is Bliney, but i'm ok. Thank you for asking, but let's go back to the topic subject...

I don’t know who ‘Bliney’ is either😉
Please do carry on, I’m intrigued to see where you are going next 👍🏻😊

I'm confused as to why her having dealings with Branson is sinister? Obv this was ages ago.

Dealing with a billionaire isn't sinister on its own, but dealing with this particular group, Branson, Gates, Andrew, and Epstein, is a pattern but that’s hard to ignore. The files released this year show Branson wasn't just an acquaintance; they were sharing advice on PR and image management after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. The 'harem' email from 2013 is out there for everyone to read now. When you add in the fact that Catherine’s own family has deep ties to this set (including her time on Branson's private island), it makes the relatable middle-class brand look like a total myth and then all look suspicious no? .These people aren't just wealthy; they are part of a closed circle that seemingly overlooked Epstein and Andrew rimes for years and who knows what Branson is involved

The Clintons have agreed to testify. Why not wait to see who else is implicated?

This thread has been very interesting. All the rich Americans an American politicians and American celebrities in those Epstein files are ignored while the Middletons are being targeted.

American power is declining in the world yet we are still able to pass the buck

I'm not targeting the Middletons. I'm not interested in them in this scenario. I'm targeting Andrew plus all those at the Palace who covered for him for so long.

Maybe that will come out on the US investigation.

Mumsnet is a British site with most posters being British. I want everyone involved in this to face justice, but it’s hardly surprising that most British posters are interested in British people.

edited as posted too soon by mistake. This is also the Royal Family board, so we’re going to talk here about the Royal family mostly!

Yes, but I think the whole Epstein situation is multinational. I'm not a political expert but to me it seems his real focus was trafficking in information and he used trafficked people to facilitate that.

This thread has been very interesting. All the rich Americans an American politicians and American celebrities in those Epstein files are ignored while the Middletons are being targeted.

Entirely possible to ponder on why rich Americans are getting a pass while at the same time musing on why and how the Middletons' business ducking and diving goes unremarked.

Me too.

You’re right that it’s a multinational scandal, but the reason we are discussing it here is because of the specific, local connections to the people who want to represent us. I’m particularly interested in the long-standing ties between the Middletons, Andrew and Richard Branson, as well as William, Charles and others. We should be allowed to question why Catherine, who has built her entire brand on child welfare was so comfortable being part of that shady social set, as well as her family connections. Whether it's holidaying on Necker Island, having PT business with Richard, her uncle alleged criminal business and kept importantly: enabling Andrew’s public rebrand by sharing a car with him, want to be his close neighbor, these are active choices that the public has a right to discuss and investigate imo

If you want to discuss the American side of the files, perhaps start a thread in the News or Politics
? Tag me as I would love to discuss it too. Here, the focus is on whether our working royals are actually upholding the moral standards that protect the people.

What feels stranger is Catherine accepting the rebranding of Andrew, since she wasn’t born into that world and could have easily refused.
I dont think she, or any of the 'married ins' have any power at all. Catherine toes the party line and does as shes told. Nothing good will come of her doing otherwise. The Aristos know what happens when you marry a Royal, thats why none of them wanted to marry William or Harry.