Some commenters ask why I even pay attention to what the Daily Mail says about the Windsors and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This story is a good reason why: because the palaces are in open communication with the Mail’s editors, columnists and reporters, and both sides yank each other’s leashes constantly. The Mail does not have a parasitic relationship with the Windsors – they have an evil symbiosis, working in concert with one another. So, during Prince Harry’s four-day visit to the UK, Mail columnist Amanda Platell wrote several violent hissy fits about his trip and how Prince William is plotting to destroy Harry when the time comes. Then everything shifted, and suddenly no one could deny that William and Kate are lazy idiots who were pitifully trying to “compete” with Harry. Platell’s volte-face was astonishing, and she wrote that Harry’s visit should be a wake-up call for the sulky “Prince and Princess of Boring.” Just a few days later and at least one call from Kensington Palace, and Platell changed her tune once again in this piece: “I’m so disgusted with myself for the cruel thing I said about Kate… I’m choking on my words now I know the truth. Kate, I’m just so sorry.”
On Saturday, in the wake of Prince Harry’s whirlwind ‘pseudo-royal tour’ and the reconciliation with his father, King Charles, I warned of the dangers to the monarchy of the return of his prodigal son. I lamented that the Prince and Princess of Boring, William and Kate, had decided to hide away from the public eye at such a critical time, even questioning the wisdom of Kate’s two dull visits to textile factories as Harry was adorably high-fiving disabled children at the Diana Awards, set up in honour of his mum.
Well, I’m now not just eating my words – but choking on them, after reading details of the Princess of Wales’s hectic itinerary for President Trump and First Lady Melania’s historic second State visit to Britain. President Trump has said himself that he and Melania are ‘thrilled’ the Princess will be ‘front and centre’ during their visit. A Trump source added: ‘The inclusion of Princess Kate in so many events during the state visit is an honour.’
I now regret that I overlooked what a valuable asset Kate is to the Royal family and for that, I owe her an apology. Given her high-profile role in the diplomatic proceedings, I am now astonished that mum-of-three Kate, who let’s not forget is still recovering from cancer, even managed to squeeze in those two textile factory visits, alongside the extensive preparations required for Trump’s visit.
I can only imagine how many hours are required to plan her outfits for the coming days – for she will certainly perfect the respectful, dazzling, dignified looks fit for a Presidential visit. How many trips did her hairdresser have to make to finesse a hair-do upon which to perch a priceless Windsor tiara?
When I wrote on Saturday, I was forgetting that when Kate puts on the glamour and the glitz, her presence is incomparable. She is still the shining jewel in the Royal crown, one of the most photographed women in the world with the enigmatic magic of Princess Diana.
It is satisfying to see that media coverage of the Trump tour has already eclipsed Prince Harry’s visit, which I can now see for what it was: a desperate bid from the disgraced Prince to ingratiate himself back not just into his father’s good books, but also to remind us all of his inalienable Royal status as fifth-in-line to the throne. A status which has made him and his wife millions through their Netflix documentary and Harry’s own memoir Spare.
I wonder if we’re supposed to read some of this with an eyeroll, because Platell couldn’t be more obvious with her regurgitated palace talking points, specifically the Waity PR: that everyone should be on their knees with gratitude that Kate does some jazz hands during state visits, that she’s the second coming of Diana, that she’s the jewel in the crown, for goodness sake! It’s purposefully over-the-top, right? Right?? Anyway, I’m sure she got a call from the palace. They must have panicked because what happens if they lose the support of one of the most deranged royalists at the Mail? It’s funny to think that Platell is the Deranger equivalent of Walter Cronkite. Anyway, the second half of this is just rage and insults at Prince Harry, so it’s back to regularly scheduled programming after several days of people calling out William in particular.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Catherine – Princess of Wales makes a visit to Sudbury Silk Mills, Sudbury, England, UK on Thursday 11 September, 2025.,Image: 1036087902, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng/Avalon
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- Catherine – Princess of Wales makes a visit to Sudbury Silk Mills, Sudbury, England, UK on Thursday 11 September, 2025.,Image: 1036087906, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng/Avalon
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- Catherine – Princess of Wales poses for a photo with staff at Sudbury Silk Mills, Sudbury, England, UK on Thursday 11 September, 2025 before greeting members of the public.,Image: 1036108474, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales smiles during a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, south east England on September 11, 2025. Marina Mill was established in 1967, and is based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, where a small team produces fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method.,Image: 1036151687, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales gestures during a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, south east England on September 11, 2025. Marina Mill was established in 1967, and is based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, where a small team produces fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method.,Image: 1036151706, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales creates a screen print during a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, south east England on September 11, 2025. Marina Mill was established in 1967, and is based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, where a small team produces fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method.,Image: 1036151868, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales laughs as she creates a screen print during a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, south east England on September 11, 2025. Marina Mill was established in 1967, and is based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, where a small team produces fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method.,Image: 1036151952, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales smiles during a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, south east England on September 11, 2025. Marina Mill was established in 1967, and is based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, where a small team produces fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method.,Image: 1036152057, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales looks at designs during a visit to Marina Mill in Cuxton, south east England on September 11, 2025. Marina Mill was established in 1967, and is based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, where a small team produces fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method.,Image: 1036152118, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/Avalon
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- Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Sudbury Silk Mills in Sudbury, Suffolk, a family-run weaving mill that has been at the forefront of jacquard weaving and an integral part of the British textile industry for over 300 years Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Sudbury, United Kingdom When: 11 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images
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- Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Sudbury Silk Mills in Sudbury, Suffolk, a family-run weaving mill that has been at the forefront of jacquard weaving and an integral part of the British textile industry for over 300 years Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Sudbury, United Kingdom When: 11 Sep 2025 Credit: Cover Images
And pigs can fly
Oh dear did someone get their hand slapped and had to apologize to the shining jewel in the rusting crown? My god just tell the truth and stop the lying they can’t throw you in a dungeon. If you have any dignity left ( and I don’t believe she ever did) than stop the nonsense!
Her editor obviously got a call from the palace and told Amanda she had to write this. So she did because she doesn’t want to lose her job but it’s purposefully laced with sarcasm and doesn’t ring true at all.
How many hours go into planning her outfits… This is ironic, isn’t it? Dusting off one of her gazillions of dresscoats, slapping her little-girl-wig on her head and Kate is done! Don’t tell me she is preparing any sort of content for her engagement with Melania. Both are only keen on finding the next camera…
“Little girl wig” is right. I see that sad thing (and, let’s be honest, her makeup) and just think 🎵I’ve written a letter to Daddy…🎵
The bbc is in a pretzel trying to explain Kate’s fashion diplomacy. Lol all they came up with is british designer and nice brooch. And they call her Kate, hahaha
This bit in particular:
“I can only imagine how many hours are required to plan her outfits for the coming days …. how many trips did her hairdresser have to make to finesse a hair-do upon which to perch a priceless Windsor tiara?“
It is absolutely DRIPPING with sarcasm.
Obviously Platell has been called to heel, and she’s not happy about it.
Especially since Kate only has use of two tiaras tops for these events. How much work does a hairdresser need to do?
@Elizabeth
And it doesn’t matter how long the hairdo takes, because Kate does not need to be present.
BOOM! Mic drop, @Smart&Messy. How true!
Amanda platell has always been anti Kate. Early on she was ordered to write nice things. So she wrote an article where she said Williams people had had a word with her, then deliberately reiterated her criticisms of Kate, whilst giving sugary false praise and falsely apologising for getting her “so wrong”. This is just more of the same. I don’t think I’m allowed to post links (the comment gets removed if I do). But Google Amanda Platell Kate Middleton I’m sorry for getting you so wrong. That was 2011. Amanda’s opinion of Kate has never changed. She’s forced to write complementary articles so she does it with a dose of snark.
Oh wow, thx for the rec. That article was something else. All the way back in 2011, Platell says, “Well, now it looks like the joke was on me. Yes, I think I may have misjudged Kate Elizabeth Middleton. Whether clad in her High Street LK Bennett boots or her Jimmy Choos, Kate has not put a foot wrong since her engagement to William was announced.”
Is this the origin story of “Kate never putting a foot wrong”? Bc if so, it seemed to start in sarcasm but then, after Meghan came, got said in absolute seriousness. That’s wild. There so much old gossip history I don’t know. She said strait out that KP got in touch with her about not being fair to Kate. Which is interesting bc William got annoyed with Harry for defending Meghan at the beginning of their relationship with that statement to the press. And yet, William was okay with doing things bts to help Kate back then.
Never put a foot wrong??? Jeez, how about all those naked butt shots?
I agree. Platel followed orders but was not happy about it and complied in a way that made Keen look like a fool. Perhaps KP will learn not to try to push the person with the ink too far. I thought it was a work of art.
That is one very dull crown indeed.
Remember when ABC killed an Epstein expose with the threat of cutting off access to Will and Kate? That’s still the play here. “Look, the king is going to die and if you want access to the new king and queen, you need to eat crow and say that Kate is the bestest best of whatever forever!”
This definitely reads like shade. I mean, Kate is the “shining jewel” because Amanda “can only imagine how many hours are required to plan her outfits for the coming days … How many trips did her hairdresser have to make to finesse a hair-do upon which to perch a priceless Windsor tiara?”
Still nothing about how Kate’s work is “impactful” or anything but “dull?”
This gives “I’m choking on my words” new meaning. So the Fail got an incandescent call from KP, Amanda pretended to apologize (with or without her editors’ OK) and, oh, here, have KP’s latest talking points about Harry.
Totally agree.
This is too over the top…she is being sarcastic and throwing shade….
I agree that this is 100% sarcasm, written so over the top that the “journalist” intended everyone to know it was sarcasm! Actually, it is pretty funny, as well!
Yeap, this is so full of shade. When I first read the headline (I did not read the piece till now) I thought Platell was taking the mickey out of Kate. I am still not sure if this piece by Platell is meant to be taken serious.
“How many trips did her hairdresser have to make to finesse a hair-do upon which to perch a priceless Windsor tiara?” Irony? Sarcasm?
“She is still the shining jewel in the Royal crown, one of the most photographed women in the world with the enigmatic magic of Princess Diana.” Again Irony? Again Sarcasm?
This sounds sarcastic. She’s being sarcastic, right? PLEASE TELL ME IT’S SARCASM. Because otherwise, my God, this beyond excessive fawning is embarrassing for the writer and for Kate herself. Hell, I’m embarrassed just reading it.
100% its sarcasm. Kate is doing three things at the state visit, which is pretty on par with what she usually does at these events. Its Trump and his minions, so no one is going to expect her to be intelligent or make small talk. She doesn’t have to prepare jackshit lmao.
She clearly got a call from W&K’s team and this is the result.
I wonder if the call came from Carole, maybe via one of her mates high up on the Mail. As there’s no “apology” for William.
Interesting point about William.
Amanda Platell, what it’s like to sell your soul? As a writer, your words are your credibility, your skill, your value, and you just proved to have none of those things. I’ve seen some sick stuff come out of the salty press but this is a new low.
I read this as her taking the piss. It was Amanda who first coined the soubriquet “waitykatie” and as a professional working woman knows lazy when she sees it.
You guys, mood boards of Meghan looks take tiiiiime. Gawd.
Yeah I think Amanda is giving Kate the business here. And of course she had to get in her obligatory dig at Harry. However, I think the response to Thump’s visit will be quite a bit different than what Harry was given.
That article is hysterical! She clearly got a call to walk back what she said and is using sarcasm and passive-aggressiveness to fight back. How hard it must be to choose outfits! Sit with her hairdresser! Poor sausage, it’s amazing that she found time to visit a textile factory amidst all that WORK.
Similar to the hysterical explanations about how Kate couldn’t possibly attend ASCOT because it was a hot day, she ‘d have needed to sit for hours getting her hair done (!), carriage was rickety going over pot holes, heatwave on ( already mentioned?), she’s in recovery from cancer you unfeeling brutes and is naturally delicate because she’s a true lady not some kind of farm hand!!
Exactly! When reporters actually want to retract or correct something they got wrong, they don’t repeat the error. Not only does Platell reiterate all of the original descriptions of the “the Prince and Princess of Boring” etc in the new article but she doesn’t really refute them, either. She notably doesn’t say that she changed her mind about the Wales, that they aren’t boring at all, but instead that she believes they are still useful for impressing a cretin like Trump. If that’s not the most shady compliment I have ever heard I don’t know what is!
Again – if Platell actually thought what she said previously was too harsh or ill-advised, the article could have been retracted or heavily edited ( as the infamous “Catherine the Great” Tatler article was). Instead, this new article is written in a way that is meant to draw MORE clicks to the original criticism, even as it purports to be an apology. A masterclass in malicious compliance!
This is 100% snark. Either she or her editor (or both) got a phone call from the palace so she agreed to regurgitate the palace talking points but this is pure shade.
I mean, this? “I am now astonished that mum-of-three Kate, who let’s not forget is still recovering from cancer, even managed to squeeze in those two textile factory visits” had me howling. And this? “media coverage of the Trump tour has already eclipsed Prince Harry’s visit, which I can now see for what it was: a desperate bid….” she gives away the game very carefully in some of these lines – “i can now see for what it was” because someone at KP told her that.
This is actually hilarious. When I first saw the headline I thought “oh FFS” but reading it…its dripping in condescension and snark.
What’s interesting to me is that a call was made and it was about….Kate. Apologizing to Kate as opposed to William. So who made the call or did KP really only care that it was walked back for Kate?
Yes I think that’s interesting too. Is it because the Firm is depending a lot on Kate’s “glamour” to get them through William’s reign? Is it because they think the cancer makes her free from criticism? Or is it just because someone on Kate’s team (ahem Carole) called and William wasn’t part of the discussion?
But – what does Kate have to offer them in exchange for this? Sorry, but no one at either palace is going to cut out the DM. English is there and she heads the rota so she says who covers what. So access to W&K wasn’t on the table. Access to the kids? Eh, that’s not really worth anything anymore. Or did Platell just decide getting screamed at wasnt worth it?
Anna Pasternak has spoken at length about all the back and forth that happened bw KP’s lawyers and Tatler after that infamous article. So maybe Platell just shrugged and said sure, I’ll fix it, and then wrote this shady article that just about makes it worse. That said, I really wondered if the complaint was coming from Carole and not KP. Although would Carole scare Platell enough to apologize. But then at the same time this apology is more of an F-U than an apology so maybe it wasn’t KP that called. I really don’t know. But the lack of William in this is interesting. Did Kate refuse to wear a tiara unless Platell apologized, lol?
@Becks1 – what Kate can offer is what she’s doing with this state visit. Photos of a princess wearing glamorous outfits, jewels and tiaras. William’s the one who won’t offer anything. The BM is doing his bidding with trashing H&M, but they’re getting nothing in return – just royalty with a small r and bitchy comments about how he’ll be so much better when Charles dies. They want William to show some “Harry” and he can’t and won’t do it.
@Eurydice but they would get that – the tiaras, the glamorous outfits – without this apology. What are they going to do, ban the DM from covering the event? can you imagine the reaction? Maybe Platell had a press pass herself for some of these events and they threatened to yank it? If so, how very trumpian of them.
maybe they did just use her cancer again, IDK.
Yes, the other way to look at this is that Platell is specifically “taking back” her criticisms of Kate (even sarcastically lol) but NOT of William. Because remember, the original criticism of both Wales as dull and boring, especially when compared with Harry’s dynamic charm. Now, she’s clarifying that yes, Kate may be boring, but at least she’s ornamental! Nothing further to add about TOB though…
@Becks1 – IDK, I can imagine the smackdown coming from on high. From the tippy-top of DM management, slap, slap, slap, all the way down to Platell. And who knows, maybe it came from BP, not KP – maybe it’s the text version of the Charles/William/Kate tableau at the funeral, with Charles acknowledging Kate, but not William – maybe it’s about Charles’ displeasure and not Kate’s usefulness. These palace machinations are so weird to me.
By all means, let’s never forget the cancer. How angry must they have been at KP for Platell to actually use the words, “I apologize.” But it looks like Platell got her own back by the end – so sarcastic.
How brave and hardworking Kate is, squeezing in those two factory visits in between choosing evening gowns. What saintly patience and fortitude she shows in spending hours with her hairdresser on multi-colored wigs. Really, the UK is blessed to have her.
Kate did a video announcing she was cancer-free a year ago so this feels disingenuous. They can say she’s still recovering from having had cancer sure but not this.
She might say it, but her doctors might not. They might think it takes longer to see if the cancer recurs. It’s not so much the description of her health status that irks me – it’s that they use it inconsistently and conveniently. She can’t work because of it, but she has no problem skiing or sailing on yachts or frolicking in the woods. And then she shows up to two factory visits in one day and we’re supposed to give her a medal for service to her country.
That’s fair. And it is like clockwork, the using of it conveniently.
Oh just the headline is hilarious. I’m disgusted with myself. I’m so sorry Kate now that I know the truth. LOL
KP demands a groveling apology for Kate and presto!! Here it js. Harry asked for an apology to Meghan and it’s “sorry we can’t do that, protocol, you know”.
Anybody read about the hard lives of pioneer women who had to be multitasking and self sufficient? A striking example is Mary Walker’s 1840 diary, where she notes, “Got my housework done; baked six more loaves of bread; cooked a kettle of mush; put my clothes away; set my house in order—at 9 pm was delivered with another baby”. Can you imagine comparing this woman or indeed any women without wealth and staff with the pampered life of Kate?
😳 😳 😳
My own grandmother had a life like that–no indoor plumbing or electricity + seven kids. During the Depression. Plus a Victory Garden & the requisite chickens & cow for butter & egg money.
Keen has no magic and she’s no Diana. Keen with the wig draped over her shoulder and that silly expression
The witch got a rage-call from Bulliam Stalin and she caved. A volte face to save her job. Not just apologise but grovel! But most of all rip into Harry again! Those were the orders to Witchell!
A passive-agressive non-apology they got.
But Harry sure was flogged!
Again, it’s a cesspool 🤮
Rip up Harry to keep William happy and the detractors clicking.
Witchell should be inducted to the Order of the Brown Nose !
That photo of kate at the top of this post looks like she is reenacting Donald Sutherland in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
OMG@Nic919 that is such a good catch. I love the shock ending of that film! Is Kate a pod person who shrieks when humans are present?
I actually admire the snarkiness. I mean, she is pouring it on THICK.
“When I wrote on Saturday, I was forgetting that when Kate puts on the glamour and the glitz, her presence is incomparable.” LOLOLOL.
Her presence, not her work or contributions or impact, which are nonexistent.
It’s like when a child is told off for being rude and is told to apologise, and they do a very over the top sarcastic apology while huffing and sulking and rolling their eyes. That’s what we have here. It’s quite funny, and not at all what Carole / KP (whoever it was that leaned on Platell) would have wanted.
Wow. Hopefully sarcasm. But will a casual reader even notice something is off? Hopefully being so over the top will actually illustrate how disinterested and odd William and Kate are. Like holding up a negative.
Yeah she got a call from KP. Embarrassing. It’s interesting that she didn’t apologize to William though.
Love how she threw this little bit in the middle–maybe to hide it?–‘I can only imagine how many hours are required to plan her outfits for the coming days – for she will certainly perfect the respectful, dazzling, dignified looks fit for a Presidential visit. How many trips did her hairdresser have to make to finesse a hair-do upon which to perch a priceless Windsor tiara?’ Yikes!
This article still doesn’t change people’s perception of K around the world. She ain’t as popular as Diana. And she still doesn’t get as many clicks or SM engagements as M.
This is Platell’s version of Anna Pasternak’s Queen Catherine the Great Tatler article. Not as subtle, a trowel is being used here, not at all sardonic, just straight out sarcasm. A fairly fun read. Platell is being her usual witchy self.
Oh, please. A limp biscuit is their shining star. What liars they are. Just because you want it to be true, doesn’t make it true.
Platell couldn’t even get one of Harry’s events right. to refer to children as disabled children is minimizing their health issues, they are suffering from complex medical needs. Harry wasn’t ‘high fiving’ disabled children at the Diana Awards, he was spending time with these children at the Well Child Awards which recognizes their bravery. That misquoted event and her sarcasm should be enough for her to be fired.
Yes, that caught my eye too. Messed up.
Looks like somebody got (speaking figuratively, of course) a spanking for bashing the Princess of Wales, and was obliged to walk back her words as quickly and humbly as possible.
However, her mother-in-law apparently treats her like a maid. In all these little scenes, we have seen a lot about how the family treats each other. There’s no kindness, no love, no affection. It’s terrible. And the king’s wife? I don’t know … She seems very ordinary, disrespectful and as if she has a lot to whisper to the president’s wife. She reprimands the future queen like a maid. And the king likes that? I’m always speechless.
And no, I’m not happy that all of this is publicly visible. These people, the press and probably high ranking and highest ranking people have put Prince Harry and Meghan on the run. If the country no longer wants a monarchy, let it do so openly. It’s extremely depressing to watch the Windsors go through all their horrible problems publicly and basically not be human or want to be.
Humanity can’t stop where people do bad things. Because then we are no better than the man currently visiting Britain whose policies are all about revenge and retribution. That’s why I don’t like to join in all the gloating.
Someone who absolutely has to say publicly that he had a chat with William some time ago. Anyone who gets close to this man always ends up in the dark, and everyone thinks they’re the only one it doesn’t happen to. It’s all so pathetic.