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?

It’s a chilling thought, isn’t it? But if we’re meant to believe Catherine is the future of the monarchy and a steely power behind the throne (as the press loves to say now), she can’t have it both ways. She can't be a powerful leader when it suits her brand and a 'powerless wife' when she’s seen shielding Andrew. If she truly couldn’t refuse to sit in that car, then the monarchy is just a hollow stage play. If she could have refused and didn't, then we have to ask why the least, she was okay with it.

Or I could start a thread asking why your elected officials aren't also holding up the morals of your country.

I read Lownie's bio of Mountbatten. I got the impression that your secret services found the info that they got from observing the activity in Ireland to be useful.

I dont think the Monarchy want women who are married to the Future King to be powerful leaders, no matter what the press say. They want exactly what Catherine has made herself into. Shes not threatening to William. She doesnt make a fuss. She makes twee videos about walking round forests, she popped out some heirs, she doesnt make a fuss when they are thrust in the path of weird strangers or when shes told to sit in the back of a car so her husband can parade his pervy uncle about for all to see. It must take some steel and a sense of self preservation to do that. Or she just thinks the prize of being Queen is a price worth paying. Or she actually thinks all that's OK.

I mean, I think we'd all like to know that. Mainly why they spend so much time kowtowing to the Royals.

Or I could start a thread asking why your elected officials aren't also holding up the morals of your country

That's a bit rich given what your leader is doing to your country 😮😮😮

It's a bizarre contradiction. The media currently paints her as the saviour and the one who finally pushed for Andrew’s eviction from Royal Lodge this month. But if she is that powerful, it makes her earlier decision to appear laughing, driving with him even more damning. Do they think we won't notice that her top girl image is only ever used to clean up the men’s messes? If she’s the future of the institution, she should be leading with moral conviction, not just walking through forests for twee videos while being ordered to sit in a car, laughing and partying with predators. Plus you can't be a champion for children and a PR shield for Andrew and Sarah at the same time

I think thats a lot of press bollocks. Their other ' forever home', presumably where the go when their children are at home for long periods, is on the Sandringham Estate, where hes moving to. The press dont know anything, apart from whats briefed or leaked to them by Palace PR. The rest is made up bollocks, going on what Princess Dianas ex Lady in Waiting thinks happened.

Or she knows the hounds will be let loose on her if she leaves William and doesn’t toe the party line.

She won’t get custody of her DCs, if she divorces, will she? The monarch has custody. Pretty strong argument of why she’s toeing the party line maybe.

Also just look at what the press did to her MIL when she divorced the heir. Nah if was Kate I’d do what she is. Self preservation first for myself and the DCs.

Well absolutely! And she has a gaudy reminder of that on finger every day. Not only Diana, look at the odious Sarah Ferguson- public toe sucking, embarrassing the family, out in the cold, public support of Andrew 'here, come the Christmas dinner and have the corgis in my will!'. Her profligacy, debts, friendship with Epstein, taking the daughters to visit him would have been known all that time.

She won’t be the first or last who’s put up and shut up about not liking the in-laws. I’m not saying it’s right btw, but yes in her situation, I’d probably do the same. Better to be in the situation, with hopefully a bit of control, rather than out of it with none.

Yes but if she was genuinely revolted by what is going on -and she has surely known for years longer than the rest of us - why not actually do something ?

By that I mean at least do proper worthwhile charity work
Kate just does performative PR and very little of that too.

I agree. If she cared for the victims why appear this way with Andrew, party with Richard Branson and not doing any charity or statement? Catherine isn't doing any job to show she cared, only that she want to maintain the status quo, aka her own status quo to ensure she will be queen one day. Is it worth in the expense of the victims? And I repeat why all the media PR saying if she is the future of monarchy if she doesn't care for the people and doesn't have any single power, another ego trip?

Shes spent her entire adult life pandering to William, being at his service even when he left her to chase other women. And that was throughout her 20's so she has spent her entire adult life making herself into a suitable Royal wife. She doesnt demonstrate any interest in charity work. Now, she toes the line, gets to be overpraised for minimal effort and doesn't have to do a thing except live in several mansions and wait for some Royal sycophant to say she probably told William to do something about Andrew with no evidence whatsoever. Shes protected while she stays compliant. That same PR will tear her to pieces if she rocks the boat.

Catherine carried out only 68 engagements ranking her 10th among working royals. For comparison, King Charles (while undergoing cancer treatment) managed 535 engagements, and Princess Anne did 478. She doesn't care for anyone beyond herself and just want the perks of being a royal, the palaces and vacations, The many houses

She and William are well suited in this regard, so she has his back.

I didn't vote for him. I also point out to people who did that they got what they deserved.

I don't care if an elected goes to church, is divorced, etc. I'm only interested in their political track record.

I also don't expect First Ladies to do anything other than be supportive and decorative and to appear well at public events. That's why I can't understand why Catherine gets so much flack. By my standards she's doing a great job.

Well for a start William isn't our Executive President and Catherine isn't our First Lady. Neither of those positions exist in the UK.

And no they wouldn't exist if we got rid of the monarchy because our political system doesn't allow for it.

Our president would be more like Ireland's.

I'm also confused about the partying with Branson bit. When did she do it? Where did she do it? Who else was there? I haven't seen that in the US. Was it real or AI? The mayor of NYC is speaking out about AI photos of him with Epstein. It seems like a great way to cause trouble - just post AI photos of person X with Epstein.

How bloody sad. A woman of intelligence and in one of the most privileged positions in the world, just has to look pretty and be at her husband's side smiling and nodding along. How depressing.

She could actually make a huge difference in our country. She has so so much opportunity. But no, just look good and smile. That's all that's required.

Look at Diana, like her or loathe her, she opened people's eyes to AIDS, homelessness, she connected with vulnerable people, the likes of which we haven't seen before. But now we are back to oooh what a lovely outfit and swishy hair.

She certainly isn't a 'First Lady' like in the US.

I actually read "Spare". Diana died when Harry was 12, and he talks about how few memories he has of her. George is 12. I suspect he has a lot more memories of his mother. Ditto Charlotte. I've said before that the RF might have been better off if HMTLQ and Diana spent more time with their kids.

If Catherine raises three kids who decent humans, then she has done more than most consorts.

I mean, Im not sure Michelle Obama or Eleanor Rooseveldt 'stood around looking pretty!'
The President is also not the head of the Church of England so it doesn't matter if they go to church. Its the press and the Palace who put out the additional fluff about how hard the Wales' work " behind the scenes" to deflect from the minimal effort they put in. If Catherines job is to stand around and look pretty then stop trying to pretend she is doing anything else. Say 'Sorry the Wales are going to go on a lot of holidays and sports events and get you to pay for it. They may turn up to some glam events and some balcony stuff but they are Royals so tough titty.' But instead they do the former and pay PR person after PR person to pretend otherwise.

It’s a low bar. So she is there to support and look decorative and raise children that are decent humans. Sorry but no. She is not the equivalent of a First Lady in the US who can do just those things if she chooses to. You can’t compare the British RF to the American presidents partner, it’s totally different so of course she gets questioned when she doesn’t do much. All three kids are now of school age anyway and she’ll hardly be washing, cooking and cleaning all day. Then we are constantly told that William also doesn’t do as much because he wants to be an involved father. Who believes this shit?

I accept that having cancer has meant Kate can do less, but Kate didn’t do much before she got cancer and neither did William compared to others. All this behind the scenes stuff is an excuse. Again, who actually believes it?

God knows who believes it. Certainly not me!

I just think it is such a unique opportunity for Kate to get her teeth into something and really work hard at it.
Please don't say Early Years.

Being a decent human is the bare minimum for any sane parent; it's not a job description for a senior royal. We aren't paying for her to be a stay-at-home mum; we are paying for a public servant. When last year show the King doing so many engagements while undergoing cancer treatment, and Catherine doing just 68, the parentin defense to look like PR spin fto find an excuse for lack of interest in the actual work.

Also it forgets the fact that Diana did work hard she just didn't have the institutional support.
Princess Anne apoarebly raised two decent children while consistently being the hardest-working royal for decades. To suggest Catherine can only raise good children by opting out of 90% of her duties is a bit of a slap in the face to every other royal woman and every other working mother who manages to do both

To suggest Catherine can only raise good children by opting out of 90% of her duties is a bit of a slap in the face to every other royal woman and every other working mother who manages to do both
This. You dont need to be a sahm to raise good, decent kids. Even SAHM's have to do the cooking, cleaning, food shopping, arrange activities etc. Its a poor excuse. TLQ apparently spent a lot of time with Andrew and Edward. Andrew is clearly Andrew and Edward cant string 2 sentences together to demonstrate empathy. And what about Charles? Or Philip?