Here are some photos of Prince William doing an event in Birmingham, England yesterday. These pics are from his trip to the Saltley Academy to visit the Football for Peace project. Just know, I feel mean for saying this but… those Windsor genes have certainly kicked in with a vengeance, haven’t they? William’s best hope is that, like his father, his utter dorkiness grows into something more substantial-looking. Like, Charles always looked like a total dork in his 20s, 30s and 40s. But then, at a certain point, Charles became rather distinguished-looking. I think Charles is more handsome now than he ever was 30 years ago. William has also, rather unfortunately, inherited his father’s knack for looking like a total dweeb while doing anything athletic. The photos of William kicking the ball made me cringe!
Also on the agenda for William’s trip? Attending an anti-bullying workshop run by The Diana Award. He took part in a project highlighting diversity, where he and the kids were asked to write down what defines them. What did William write? “I AM A PRINCE.”
British TV singing coach Carrie Grant, who hosted the exercise at Bournville College in Birmingham, asked William and the kids to write out something that “defines you.”
“I was fascinated by what he might write and how daring he would be,” Grant tells PEOPLE. “I thought he might write, ‘My mother died,’ because that’s in the public arena and does make him different amongst his peers perhaps. And Harry’s been talking a little bit about that in the press. But I love the fact that in a way he did challenge us, because no one else in the room could say that. We all think, ‘Aren’t you lucky?’ But that comes with responsibility and a load of other things he’s had to process and journey through. There are challenges to that.”
You can read more about the day’s activities here at People Magazine. I’m going back and forth on the “I am a prince” statement of diversity. Just at face value, it’s a statement of fact and of course it makes William “different” from his peers, different from nearly everyone he meets and interacts with on a daily basis. So, it just seems like an obvious and non-controversial statement made in a particular context. But… I also think William really does see himself as a pitiable figure because he was born into royalty and WAH WAH TANTRUM I JUST WANT TO BE “NORMAL.” There is an aspect of William where I constantly have to ask myself: does William ever examine his own privilege? Or is he too busy trying to play-act “normal” because he’s a poor, sad princeling and everybody moves mountains to make his life easier?
HRH takes part in a @AntiBullyingPro activity which encourages young people to celebrate what makes them different! pic.twitter.com/kgxW8AkBVq
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 7, 2015
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Normal Bill is a prince. Katie Bucket is a princess.
Put like that, it sounds more dress up than noblesse oblige. So I put it like that. And anyway. So what?
I, Sixer, AM LEGEND.
Haha u r.
Yes you are😄
Yes, you are. 🙂
Legend is better than princess, right? You can’t get dress-up for legend.
You can’t get dress-up for legend.
HA! You’re killing me. Legend you are!
Truth to the power, Sixer.
Not a myth, our legendary Sixer.
Very legend, always!
Legend is an old car, Sixer.
(I had to do something! She was going to get ideas!)
There’s always one. Bloody naysayers. 😛
You are!!! We can all say, “We lived in the time of Sixer.” (nod to “Troy”)
Any fule no, right, Liberty?!
🙂 right!!!!
😀
Lol sixer!
So you’re the boogeyman, ruthlessly killing off the members of the next step in human evolution?
…Anyone else read the book? ‘Cause you really don’t want to actually be legend. It’s like, the literal worst.
Funny joke though.
Gah. Not only is there always one. There’s always two! Bloody joke killers. 😛
Read the book. I’ve read ALL books worth reading, wot wiv bein’ a leg-end an’ all. There’s a pun on bell-end in there but that one might be a Britisher step too far and no-one will get it? Just count yourself lucky I didn’t riff on Owl Creek Bridge. Ner!
You talk like his life is really great and he should be happy with his privilege but i wouldn’t trade places with him for the world. Not even with Harry. Or Eugenie and Beatrice who just seem to do nothing but go on holiday with tax payer’s money. You would never be able to marry just a normal guy who works in a store or a mechanic. You life is always scrutinised. There are so many BORING functions that you have to go to.
Just no, and William has it the worst. People wonder why he isn’t more ‘fun’ like Harry … well look at the responsibility he has. Not a big fan of Kate middleton but he was lucky to find somebody he genuinely seems to love to take it on with him.
But his life IS great and he SHOULD be happy with his privilege. Jus’ sayin’.
I disagree, jus’ sayin!
But that’s just your opinion – and you really can’t have an opinion on whether a complete stranger’s life is good or not. We don’t know anything about what his life is really like. Yes, he should be aware of his immense privilege, but it’s pretty crappy never ever having privacy or free will.
We all have opinions on what we *think* his life is like. I think Lou’s right and I also think that Sixer (tongue in cheek though it was) is also right.
On an actual serious note, bluhare, I’m quite prepared to believe the silly manchild is not happy and fulfilled. But that’s just a problem of his own making. He has more opportunity to be happy and fulfilled than just about anyone in Britain. If he wants to wallow in his own turpitude, that’s up to him. I won’t be offering pity. You know?
I’m with Sixer. He has more opportunity than 99.9 percent of the people on the planet. If his ambition is to be a secretive private citizen, take all the royal perks and money, and continue to bash the family firm while refusing to work for it? Well, that’s the one ambition he doesn’t get to see fulfilled. If he wants out, don’t let the door hit you.
@ Fluff
He does have privacy and free will. As you’ve said, ‘we don’t know anything about what his life is really like.’ . We don’t know much of what he does outside of what little work he does. That’s proof right there that he has privacy.
As for free will? Who makes up his schedule? Himself. Sure from time to time he shows up on BP’s balcony to wave at the crowds and maybe put a wreath on a memorial marker, but even these things, he doesn’t always do though other members of his family does. Doesn’t sound like such a burden to me considering all that he gets in return.
@ANNE_000, I’m no William apologist but I do think it is extremely disingenuous, to claim in a discussion such as this one, that he does have privacy and free will. We all know who he is. Most people in the world know who he is. He will be gawked at and photographed and reported on any time he steps outside in public for the rest of his life whether he abdicates or not.
I’m not defending his work ethic at all – that’s a completely different conversation, but we should all be able to call a spade a spade: even his detractors should be able to admit that he grapples with a level of scrutiny that none of us could ever dream of. He does not have any privacy. We all do. I don’t know who any of you are behind your keyboards, and vice versa, and he will never have that.
I’m with sixer whose trenchant grip on reality is indeed legendary, even if I did read ‘turpitude’ as turpentine, makes no difference, the legendary sixer is right.
Also with notsugar – although I would let the door hit him on the way out – because it’s that time of the month an my hormones are playing me up.
Charlotte15, they fly under the radar most of the time. The multiple vacations, hidden by flying out of Scotland, is a simple example.
We have no idea where they are or what they are doing most of the time. They use every means at their disposal, including taxpayer funded security, to live lives of secrecy. They have far more privacy and freedom in their personal lives than the rest of us ever will.
Frisbee! How the devil are you, my old mucker?
@ Charlotte15
Actually, he and the rest of the main BRF have the privilege of having power over the media in such a way that when told not to print certain things about what they do in their private lives, it is obeyed. Celebrities and politicians don’t usually have this influence. Yet the BRF does. There is no 1st Amendment/Freedom of The Press/Bill of Rights in the UK (correct me if I’m wrong on this). Overall, the UK press seems to oblige when told to do so by certain power groups.
If we knew everything about what the royals do, then they’d have behaved better. Ask Andrew. See the examples listed here by other posters of what William has done and which was scrubbed from (banned by) the UK media and the internet. Ask Philip and his mistresses. Ask what exactly went on with Margaret in Mustique. Iirc, W&K declined attending a sporting event for disabled people in order to go on a secret skiing vacation but was found out after the Middletons allegedly used their then-favorite pap to publicize it.
Again, as Fluff pointed out, we don’t know what William’s life is really like. Why? Because not everything is put out by the UK media.
@ notasugarhere +1 Well explained.
Sixer, thank you for asking! Pretty much the same ‘cept work is crap (Don’t EVER be a Care Manager for the Elderly – especially if you have feelings and actually give a flying f**k – yes I know it seems incredible they’d let me loose but there you go…) and have had no time to post due to internally running around like a headless chicken whilst exuding an aura of imperturbable calm. Lets put it like this, occasionally I go to the bog and weep.
If he had ever had some prior knowledge of what being a regular person is like (like his mother?), I guess I could see why he might perceive his life as bad. But since this is the existence he has known his whole life, I have trouble thinking that he could know what he’s actually missing. I think he may actually be okay with his life (he sure seems thrilled when he gets to meet Beyonce), but simply gets annoyed when he doesn’t get his way.
I agree with Charlotte15. He does have the ability to go off the grid when he chooses, but he can’t just nip down the the corner for a packet of cigs, can he? Someone would whip out their phone and post it on Twitter.
I think he probably is unfulfilled (as probably a lot of people tend to be in their 30s when you go through that existential crisis of realizing how short life really is), but I also think he’s in a position to find fulfillment in a way someone slogging day after day at a shift job might not. He does face more scrutiny than anyone else, but I also think that since this is the only life he’s ever known so I’m not even sure if he would appreciate privacy the same way someone like Jennifer Lawrence might. I think he wants privacy in terms of people not knowing when he’s up to something weird (like when he’s on one of those rafting trips with an ex-girlfriend without his wife) or when he lands a helicopter on the Middleton lawn, but I’m not really certain he’d care that he couldn’t go to the store to buy cigarettes. I do think he’d have an ambivalence towards the paparazzi because of what happened to his mother, though. But I think he also could crave the adulation that comes with fame, which is why I assume most famous people are willing to stay famous (I”m not saying he has a choice in that respect, but most famous people seem to be willing to forgo their privacy for the adulation. And if William were to suddenly get a chance to not be famous for a day, and see what it’s like, I wonder if he’d really like it all that much, considering that being treated better than everyone else just because of who he is id something he’s gotten way too used to.
But he did marry a “normal” woman who worked in a shop, for a few months (the job was for a few months that is, not the married part).
A ‘normal’ girl who could afford to go to the same university as William, who speaks with a posher accent than him, and whose parents are millionaires are not who i was talking about when i meant ‘normal’ 😉
I would argue that she is the very definition of ordinary because there is certainly nothing extraordinary about her or her work ethic.
As for her parents being millionaires I doubt there is that kind of money selling party stuff, Uncle Gary however may be still bankrolling the lot of them.
Edit to add: A job in a chippy is still a job, something she knows nothing about. And why is it expected that she should not get a job? Why should a grown woman not be expected to be employed and support herself. Maybe she could learn something from “chavs” about not being a limpet and standing on her own two feet financially.
Her work ethic is irrelevant. It’s perfect that William met her in university. She didn’t have to worry about getting a job.
But Kate Middleton is not some chav from a council estate working in the chippie! She’s from money and her parents mix with high flying people. Saying she’s ‘normal’ in this context is ludicrous
@ Lou. Her family have only started mixing with high flying people since the wedding and they are not from money. They r self made and didn’t start making their money till the kids were older. A trust fund from Mike’s parents paid for their 3 Children’s privileged education.
Lou, to be fair unis in the UK are all more or less the same price since tuition fees are capped by the government. It’s not like America where some universities can be vastly more expensive than others.
Heck, universities in Britain were entirely free up till 1998. And up to 2004, tuition fees were capped at £1,000 per year.
Scotland has slightly different rules. I looked it up just now and (I think – I went to uni in England so might be wrong) someone going to university in Scotland at the time Kate did would have paid between £2,000 – £3,000 for their entire undergrad degree. The Middletons probably spend less than that in one shopping trip.
Of course the fact she flew over the world trying to meet him before they started at St Andrews casts a very different light on things.
But she did go to schools where the elite go, and she did go to a university where the elite go. And her parents certainly live a better lifestyle than the majority of British. So I think her roots are definitely normal, but she certainly lived a privileged lifestyle.
You would be surprised the amount of money involved selling party stuff. There are many millionaires in that business.
I find it funny now that some are calling him nerdy and dorky. Remember William used to be the cute one. If you forget watch Princess Diaries II with Anne Hathaway, and that was just 2004. In fairness to William most people look like a dork doing something athletic in a suit, maybe not David Beckam but the rest of us do. That picture of him waving his hand though is nerd priceless.
I find it sad that he wrote that being a Prince defines him. I don’t think that is what Diana wished for him, and it is probably true. Yes he may have the over privileged life but he isn’t as bad as some born into wealth. A lot of children of celebrities just seem so lost. I know everyone is on Harry kick now, because he has been an amazing spokesman lately, but does anyone remember Harry’s Las Vegas fun or his Nazi costume. If he was in William’s position he would have been lambasted. I think there is something about the fact that you will most likely be King one day that makes it hard to let loose, and I feel sorry for him.
The Telegraph article firmly dispute how much money they are rumored to have. There isn’t that much money in online party supplies, nor was the inheritance enough to fund their lives at this level.
You mean like they’ve forgotten William’s stairwell s e x tape, his reckless driving, his drunk driving caught on video, him admitting he’s always been more of a partier than Harry? William has always been protected by the press, Harry hasn’t.
Did you miss the 3,000 people who submitted complaints on behalf of Harry because of the Vegas photos? The military meme supporting him?
William picked out the costume, Harry was the idiot little brother who wore it. William wore a “native African” costume to the same party. The press described it as a “lion” costume, the shopkeeper admitted William had been in earlier looking for a “native African” costume.
@ Lou
Considering that Uncle Gary told the press that he’s supplied money to fund two or three of James’ businesses, I doubt that the Middletons are all that rich themselves or else why wouldn’t James get the money from his parents instead of his uncle? There’s been other stories about how Uncle Gary funded some of the luxuries enjoyed by the Middletons. It doesn’t sound to me as if the Ms are as wealthy as some perceive. If it weren’t for Uncle Gary’s money, then I wonder if Kate would have been able to keep up in William’s social circle?
Though it seems to me as if Carole doesn’t want to be publicly associated with Gary too much, what her family ‘achieved’ was, imo, mostly thanks to his money.
As Betti pointed out, the M offsprings’ education was funded by a trust fund set up, iirc, decades ago, by a wealthy ancestor.
Haha, my comment down below says basically the same thing.
What responsibility? We ALL have jobs. We’ve all had to spend time with time with boring people -btw, what a horrible way to talk about charity, workers, the disadvantaged, and world leaders capable of effecting real change. Only William prevents himself from doing meaningful work. He chooses celebrities and sports. In the picture, he’s kicking a football! Oh, what a terrible day at work.
I just can’t abide all the whining. If William can only be defended by whining, he should stay in the nursery with the other children. Leaders don’t whine.
You’re thinking of Will and Kate when you call out people for vacationing with tax payer money. Beatrice and Eugenie are the ones who can’t win.
!
Yes! Well said Natalie!!
Yes, Natalie! And if he thinks it’s sooo horrible…he could denounce his throne in a second! Although I am sure he would lose Kate over that 🙂
^^^Yeah, this and what Sixer says. We all have jobs. We all have problems. I’m not going to do the scale of sorrow, where you try to qualify and rank suffering. But damn it, some things really are relative. You can have real problems and feel distress. But step one is to have empathy for other people, what their problems may be, and common sense should tell you not to complain about your crap to the less fortunate in particular. Pretty much everyone in the world is less fortunate than William. It would be like complaining about work stress to someone who’s unemployed. It’s a legitimate gripe. But it’s not a good color… and Bill nev-vah stops complaining. It’s always something. Meanwhile he’s living the luxurious lifestyle it provides and half-assing the work aspects. All work in general. Not only does he avoid royal work and eschew expectations there. He’s also never fully committed to being a pilot and his internships and private studies on farming/business management have been sketchy as well. Or take Kate and her alleged anxiety about public speaking. Tough sh*t. That doesn’t get you a pass in school. You’re definitely not going to get one at work either. They’re both lucky that their jobs as Prince and Princess require no skills or experience. It’s all just handed to them. No one is stopping The DoLittles from making the best of this and being their best selves. They accomplished nothing in their twenties when they had the freedom to do it. They still have that freedom! They’re autonomous, yet insanely coddled. William literally said he doesn’t have to do things while others are working. As if there’s a limited amount of charity work to be done in the world and the other royals have maxed it out. So instead he and Kate have made a game out of avoidance, still have not stepped up to the plate, all the while taking the most glamorous and trivial path. So idle that they’re not going anywhere and all they do is bitch about having been dragged, kicking and screaming to it. It’s also why they won’t leave. They love the royal lifestyle, privileges and the money. William clearly has plans to increase their privacy and handcuff the media. But it’s not like they have anything else to fall back on anyway. William’s part-time co-pilot salary couldn’t pay the K.P. rent. It’s best to just make the best of this “misfortune” that poor wretch William must deal with. You know, get over it. Blah, blah. blah, carry on. You know how it goes. I’m sure he’s heard it.
Btw, Harry and Prince Charles created their own paths. Charles revolutionized the PoWales position (one that William is woefully unprepared for as is), when he too could’ve been sitting on his rear assuming that it would decades before he became king. Also, watch any documentary from the early to mid-2000s and you’ll see that the worry with Harry was that he’d wind up like Andrew. Maybe even worse, because even though SOME things were exaggerated, lies, or people overreacted, Harry was legitimately acting out AND dealing with Diana’s death. He’s always been made to feel second best and superfluous. Right out of the gate, there’s that story about Charles’ less than thrilled reaction to Harry being a boy, WITH Spencer red-hair to boot, (IDK how true that is. But you’ll hear it repeatedly. I’m sure Harry’s heard it. Just like how his birth was truly the end for Charles and Di). And oh yes, that bit about Charles not even being his father. Fun stuff! But it just goes on and on, “Harry’s too brass and sensitive and not self-possessed like William”, “Harry’s not as attractive as William”… His lack of book smarts was a concern as well. There have been many obstacles for Harry. But since leaving school and having his two-year “gap year” (he actually started his charity work then), he’s been the Harry that we know right now. It’s not at all true that Harry simply doesn’t have responsibilities. He just has a different set without the luxury that William’s gifted and the buffer from the press and his family. He’s Diana’s son too. He feels a responsibility to his family, his station, and his country, of course. But the rest has been his own doing. He was not obligated. Harry has created Harry. Because the alternative, where you’re a lazy, rudderless, bitter, non-entity, with highly questionable scruples, isn’t a good one.
I don’t know about you, but I got to pick my job, and millions of people do not criticize me for my job performance every day. If I quit my job, it wouldn’t cause a crisis in my family and country.
Also, William looks hot playing polo. He needs new suits.
How is the sausage made @Ughhhhhh? If you live a lifestyle that is only afforded to you by your position as a royal then you must fulfill your duties as a royal. Period. You cannot have it both ways. Besides, if you didn’t do your job you would be fired from that job. And there are plenty of people who just have jobs, not careers, and not anything that they’re especially passionate about. (Plus, note my comment on how William has never exactly committed himself to his career as a pilot either.) The world didn’t end when his Uncle Eddy abdicated. I can’t imagine some crisis if William left in this day and age. As far as criticism goes, somehow all the other royals in Europe including his grandmother manage to just get on with it.
@ Ughhhhhh
So who picked the EAAA co-pilot job for William then? Who makes William’s work schedule for him? It’s all man-child’s Willie’s own choices.
Why don’t millions of people criticize the Queen, Anne, and Harry for doing their jobs? Is it because they’ve proven that they’re committed and serious workers and don’t whine about having to show up?
Why can’t William fit into their classification in order to stop getting criticized for his lack of work ethics and his constant bitching about how horrible he has it?
I doubt William is as intrinsic and as interwoven into the public’s mindset and stability as he thinks he is. If he can truly walk away from all the perks of being a prince and live on his own personal millions in some other country, then I doubt there’s going to be unrest in the country. I doubt the public are going to hold rallies demanding he stay captive in his princely position.
@ Amber
I agree that it’s ridiculous that some are saying that William lacks free will and ability to choose what he does in life at the same time Charles’ and Harry’s lives prove that theory wrong. Thank you for pointing that out.
@Anne – It’s just like when people argue that Will and Kate don’t need to work more because they’re not the heirs, ignoring that other royals no where near the throne work full time schedules. It makes no sense that Charles as POW and heir has the freedom to define his role. Then Harry is Will’s spare and does what he wants. But Will in the middle is some prisoner and victim of the system. And we’ve seen with our own eyes that it’s just not true.
Ughhhh
There would be no crisis. By appearances and actions it seems William could walk away with his family, Harry could take the role of the heir to the heir and it would be seamless. William has declined too many of his future POW roles that have been sent to Harry and other cousins. Any transition is already in the works. Just not taken by William.
You also appear to be saying William reads these gossip blogs and worries of the comments. That’s his PR. They do that. What William does is make sure only the best articles get printed. When they are not there’s documented proof he has used threats, legal action, and sending the equivalent of “thugs” to persuade journalist from writing negative stories. Not even counting how the spare is disgraced to redirect attention.
And if he did worry about the things said that’s easily fixed. Do his job. Stop ducking out. Stop acting like it’s a burden and not a gift. I think he lacks perspective and humility.
What responsibility? He isn’t overseeing a duchy, meeting dignitaries and going on hundreds of engagements p.a. He SHOULD be happy about his privellege. His perks are endless, all funded by the taxpayer and Charles. If he doesn’t want the (future) role, he should renounce his claim to the throne. There are over 4000 people in line and Harry can make a good Monarch.
Harry wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. There’s a reason why he was all ‘woohoo’ when a reporter talked about how he was now even lower down the line when Kate was pregnant with Charlotte. It’s easy for you to just say ‘run away’. It has been bred into him from the beginning that he has to do this, it’s his duty, his path in life. I think the amount of respect he has for the Queen alone would make him never denounce.
Will obviously respects the Queen deeply enough to miss a memorial for the Queen Mum and her sis Marge to go on holiday with the Middletons. That’s deep respect…
@lou. Normal bill respect his grandmother u must b joking. If he respected her he would take his duties FAR more seriously than he does. His attitude is V V disrespectful to her.
William respects the Queen and what she does so much but somehow still can’t define what it is to be a full-time royal
It’s not really responsibility, just this is his life. Now I know some people think it is great. Just as being incredibly wealthy and having people follow you around would be great. Just because it isn’t as bad as not having any money doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with some negatives. Some of us see both sides to being royal, and I don’t really understand people’s vitriol on this. To me he is the definition of milk toast. His real job as a royal is to procreate and keep the monarchy going and tourism. I think he has done that. Plus watch some of the incredibly wealthy celebrity kids and you see that none of the royals are that bad. Now I suppose if I was British I might be a bit upset that they get paid, but again I was recently in Britain and you should have seen the people line up to take pictures of a lego statute of Kate and William, and the amount of souvenir William and Kate things being sold. I think they do help to bring people and money to Britain. Granted it’s not really hard work what he has done, but still.
$600 million a year in costs and the future head of the company whines about his life? Fire him or the firm, your pick.
It has been proven, time and again, that the royals do NOT bring in tourism revenue and there is no Kate effect. Official UK tourism figures and economic figures show it.
The majority of the royal work W&K deign to do is things like movie premieres, attending sporting events, and having fun yachting. Not exactly setting the world on fire.
They have NO problem taking all the royal perks they can, but refuse to do the work. Most of us would be fired for that, and William can be fired as well. He does have the freedom to leave, and since he has shown so little respect for this institution for most of his life, everyone would likely be better off if he left.
@ noway
If William thinks his job is just to exist and make babies, then that may be why he’s so wrongly arrogant and obstinate when people expect more from him.
But his job is not that and the BRF does not continue to exist based upon such factors. Other British Crown Princes and Kings have abdicated or died before becoming King or while King and yet it has gone on, because there’s always been other people that have inherited that position.
What he doesn’t understand is that the modern-day BRF exists totally dependent on the good will of the public. He thinks he gives back just by existing and having babies and being the face on some souvenirs? Then this is why he will never truly respect his position nor the positions of his father and grandmother. Maybe this is why he belittled the public and press’ notion of there existing such a thing as ‘full-time royal duties’ and then said he expects his grandparents to keep on working to fulfill any such notions.
Lou: I very much doubt he’ll do any forthright denouncing, other than the passive aggressive stuff he is already doing, that is. However, I consider the possibility of his renouncing at some point as really quite high.
Lou, sorry to appear to be piling in and disagreeing with you but really, I think denouncement is more than a bit likely. William reeks of Edward VIII to me and has done for years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_abdication_crisis
He has certain characteristics that seem horribly familiar; selfishness, self pity and the conviction that he knows better than anyone else. Those characteristics fueled Edwards abdication and I would not be remotely surprised to see it happen all over again.
Yes, my heart goes out to him! I am in tears and pain for the burden that he has on his tiny, little Prince shoulders.
Of course, realistically, given his character and looks, William would have little chances to make a happy marriage happen in the real world where you have to put some muscle into cooperating and interacting with people. In the real world, people can call you for your BS anytime.
That is a great privilege when you are rich and famous – more people are suddenly attracted to you, no matter how ugly and idiot you are.
We are all born with challenges and advantages. Some are more difficult than others, but it’s our responsibility in life to try to use our advantages to overcome the challenges and live a life that’s fulfilling and meaningful. Yes, the scrutiny would be difficult. It would be annoying to have your life mapped out for you in many ways without your having a say. But think of the life William could have if he would – he could help so many people in a truly meaningful way, he could travel anywhere he wanted to go and have a private viewing of the world’s very best art or exotic places or music or whatever he chose. How many of us can make a real difference in the world with so little effort? But he chooses to sulk rather than appreciate how much he has in the palm of his hands if he would just use it. “I am a Prince” could mean so much more than he lets it mean.
+1
That’s the frustrating thing to a peasant like me: all the possibilities in the world and he chooses to whine and complain.
Indeed, GNAT.
And the crux of the matter is that this one’s privilege gives him every possible opportunity to overcome the challenges. He could choose to do *anything* with his life and his privilege would make it happen. Just one caveat: anything that qualifies as a social good.
The world is Billy’s oyster. And he is too petty, selfish and spoiled to see it.
Every one of us plays the hand we are dealt, in one way or another. At least he has the means and the help to free up his mind(?) and his time to make the most of his position in life.
+1
Someone above wrote about Harry’s emergence as an involved, together man. I would venture to say that while he speaks of his loss of his mother, he chooses to wear his burdens more lightly: hard work for his causes, but no flagrant pity party as we see with angry Normal Bill.
GNAT
Well said.
I’m still in awe of how this grown man. And any grown person with more than most need excuses made for their unwilling behavior.
Sixer
The only caveat is it must be for social good. That’s like a gold mine! How can his refusal to do this be defended?
I agree, Lou. While they are massively privileged it is not an enviable life. No chance to disappear, part of a controversial and becoming irrelevant monarchy, those events clearly get super boring no matter how valuable they are (and how infrequently these 2 manage to go to them). Would I like some of the perks? Yes. But would I like the scrutiny and obligations? Nah. I’d rather just go to work and at least William doesn’t have that option realistically, even though he seems to kinda try (not hard, vacations etc…). He seems caught between worlds.
Perhaps he should try a gratitude journal… I respect the belief of those who say they would never want his “job”; however, he does have the dreamiest gig on earth. How sad to not live in appreciation of his great privilege. How impertinent he is in his statements about the bore of meeting people, which is so demeaning to them, and certainly not in any respect like the “People’s Princess”.
The thing is, he seems to like quite a few parts of it.
Not the public parts, of course.
Lou – For the sake of discussion – They can marry whoever they want. The question is will they want to? Want to give up the title if required? And how will they ever meet a mechanic anyway?
As for scrutiny – everyone’s life today is up for scrutiny. Ours on a much smaller scale -perhaps just the 6 degrees on FB or whetever social media. Theirs is a larger scale. But unike us, they can also afford POORJason to spread positive gossip about them too!
About the boring functions – that’s a part of the job and William only ever picks up the most glamarous ones – take the 007 premier for example. Compared to the perks of the job a few ribbon cuttings here and there should be a piece of cake.
Contrast his academic achievements (he wanted to drop off) to that of Victoria of Sweden. William gets so much leniency even today as a projected empathy for his mother. He could do wonders with his position and money (including the millions Diana gav him). He didn’t have to buy a starter home – the Queen gifted him one. Kate’s family gave her a london flat.
None of them have ever seen any real hardship (yes he lost a parent but look at his clueness when talking to orphans or homeless etc)
His name maybe WILLiam but he has no will to work as he has amply demosntrated and his constant use of Diana’s death as a pity party really makes me sick.
There are a lot of “normal” people who have plenty of responsibility and have to attend many boring functions…as well as have the mortgage and medical bills, etc to worry about.
William has the freedom to define his role, without worry of losing his job, going without, not being able to afford health insurance, and so on.
He seems to think “being normal” means living the life of a perpetual teenager.
If public scrutiny and attendance at boring functions are the burden he has to pay for his enormous privilege, then cry me a river. Seriously.
I won’t even compare him to people living ordinary lives because it’s absurd. But compare him to his own grandmother, for heavens sake. This is a woman who, like him, has been in the public eye all her life. Do we see her publicly dragging her feet over yet another royal duty to perform?
I don’t rêvere royalty, but I can see that the Queen has led a long public life and managed to soldier on without whining. She has lived through a royal abdication that tore her family a part, complete with a life changing status of her own at a tender age, bore through a savage war complete with bombs dropping down in the city all around her, witnessed the slow deterioration in health of her own father due to those stressors, assumed a public role of constant duty at the age of 25, bore 4 children, and had to watch as her reputation as a mother and public servant was dragged through the mud by her son and daughter-in-law.
Yet she keeps on keeping on.
I do not feel sorry for Prince Wills. Get on it, buddy.
He can choose to walk away at any time and remove his children from this terrible, horrible, 1 percenters existence lived off of other people’s labor. He chooses to stay, take all the perks, and whine about the job. Time to grow up, William. Embrace your role fully or walk away.
What responsibilities as a prince? He told the world that he shrugs off any such notion and that if any such things exist, his elderly grandparents should keep working on the so-called ‘responsibilities.’
anne_000 — precisely.
#whateverfulltimeroyalmeans
#poorjason
I just want to ask what is so hard about being a prince/crown prince/king?
You show up for some things, put a wreath here, knight some people, read what’s in the red box, hold an audience with the prime minister, do state dinners, make an Xmas speech, mix in plenty of vacation time in your international tours, shake people’s hands, pretend to listen, mumble some words, and then go home to one of your multiple estates and be thoroughly catered to by mansions full of servants and spend loads of free time at the tracks or roaming around your gazillion-acre estate or having catered dinners with your friends or use your wealth to go on over-indulgent vacations and spending sprees, etc.
I’m sorry, but where is the difficulty in this? Omg. Why are the sugars thinking that this is a horrible way to earn a living?
He will never have to make a mortgage payment. He will never pay rent. He will never be evicted. He will never have to decide between groceries and the rent for his children. He will never have to worry about stretching his paycheck out to the next paycheck. He will never worry about his kids getting into good colleges. He will never worry about not being able to afford college for his kids. He will never worry about losing his insurance. He will never worry about his kids not having insurance when they get older. When he goes to “work,” it is all arranged for him. A car picks him up at his door. A car drops him right there. He is given gifts and applause, praise for 45 minutes of work.
Yes, he has some boring responsibilities placed amid a life of ease and luxury we cannot even imagine. Boo fricking hoo. He is an entitled twit.
“I am a Prince.”
You are a schmuck, William.
Wrong. Prince William will never know what it is to not have money, a job, the best health care, education from the best schools, living in castles and palaces and having the finest things, and having a family who loves him. Reality check, we all have price tags for the lives we live, we all have downsides to our lives. William’s is obviously far better than most will ever have, regardless of what ‘responsibilities’ he has. Responsibilities that, if he was really taking seriously, he would actually do, versus hiding out on military bases knowing he will never be sent into real war, or studies showing that he is the least hardworking royal and by work, I mean what he actually gets paid to do, which is show up at charities and talk to people. For someone who has such a legacy on his shoulders he doesn’t take it very seriously, and he can absolutely marry who he wants, he just has to abdicate as some of his ancestors have. And yes, he was even lucky enough to find someone who loves him to marry. What more privilege does he need?!
‘L’etat, c’est moi’
Discuss.
On peut discuter…
… but I’d end up swearing!
….moi aussi
We can always put on a 1789 revival…even create a twitter account and FB page.
We could call it: William, The Sun Prince….a 1789 revival.
Kate’s version: Let Them Eat Tesco Value Ready Meals.
Normal Bill appears to define himself by what he ‘is’ rather than what he ‘does’. Therefore nothing he ‘does’ matters because he will always be a ‘prince’. Wakes up and plays xbox all day. Still a ‘prince’! Takes a 10,000 pound helicopter ride to kick a ball. Gets applauded. still a ‘prince’.
Willi Bucket’s problem is that he is a republican. He deeply understands that kicking a football will change nothing. He will return to his million dollar home that he has for no reason. after spending a day doing (to him) nothing. The press will print pictures they aren’t proud of and write captions even they don’t believe in.
He didn’t earn it. And he doesn’t have to do anything to keep it. Nothing, nowhere, no one, prince. Yeah, I think he lives in despair.
I don’t think he’s a republican. He loves the perks but reluctant to take on the responsibilities.
“L’enfant, c’est moi.”
To be fair, he’s kinda fcuked. I would never ever ever trade places with him. Yeah yeah I know, he coukd give it all uo and go live in a forest somewhere. But of course he’s not gonna do that. He was expected and trained to be a king from the secon he was born.
And why Katy wanted to marry into this circus, I will never undestand. Money is supposed to give you freedom, there’s no freedom when there are so many strings attached.
Exactly, some of us might be poor but at least we have the freedom to make something of ourselves and live life on OUR terms, not those enforced upon us before conception!
All this whining about privilege – Kate Middleton is privileged. She could have done anything she wanted with her life. William had heavy limitations on him from the get go. He can’t even go out and get drunk with his mates. Harry just about got away with it because he’s the spare and because this ‘cheeky chappie’ image seems to appease the masses. I can assure you that if William went wild in Vegas the public would not be so forgiving. And that’s just the light stuff, when he is King his life will be so dull.
Balderdash.
William’s misdeeds aren’t reported on, but they are known. He is worse than Harry. His misdeeds are hushed up BECAUSE he is the Crown prince.
Since his teens, crappy stuff he has done from speeding to xrated behaviour in a club to getting so drunk home was sent home to joyriding helicopters to blacking up for a ‘natives’ party and many,many more have been hushed up or removed from the media BECAUSE of his privilege. A level of Privilege Harry doesn’t have despite being his sibling.
All that before you get to his approach to work ie avoid it, abuse of tax payer funds and abuse of press freedom.
All because he is the Crown prince.
LOL Yeah, i’m gonna need some receipts on that one. I pay close enough attention to all that Royal stuff, and while i’m sure there were some teenage misdemeanors ‘hushed up’ i have never heard about any of the above.
And the reason Harry’s Vegas stuff wasn’t hushed up was because he was photographed. As if there isn’t other scandalous stuff ‘hushed up’/ They are not gonna let the tabloids go wild on Harry unless the horse has left the stables. He’s still the Queen’s grandson.
jeez
You want receipts? Google each and every single thing i’ve posted.
He knocked his tooth out at a wedding.
He is heavy in privilege when he believes he can control press freedom’s – and he gets away with it as well!
I think Will was well into his 20s when his handsy nightclub photos were making the rounds. I’m sure all of that is still on the Web.
LAK — I stand with you yet again. Those items you’ve reported, I’ve seen the receipts before. They happened, they were hushed up. Meanwhile the idea seemed to be protect the Crown Prince by trying to make people look at the foibles of younger Harry. A game still going on, though now they’re trying the fake public appearance rally.
William’s bad acts have been reported on. The media has run pictures of William, Harry and Kate when they’ve been drunk, or as the DM calls it “worse for wear.” I would also refer to William’s drunken pictures in a club as “handsy” as opposed to x-rated.
The speeding incident consisted of him being on a private estate with a 20 mph speed limit and he overttook another car going an estimated 30-40 mph, the other car happened to be driven by the owner of the property who set the 20 mph speed limit in the the first place.
Harry is likable and has a good heart but his screw ups have been more spectacular than William’s from the Nazi uniform, to taking a swing at a photographer, making culturally insensitive remarks and of course the naked poker incident.
AAA: the xrated tape of William in a club stairwell was shopped around the media and eventually a deal was done with one of the downmarket tabloids. It was pulled before it could be a headline, but enough people had heard about it, and the tabloid had some still from it. Entire thing scrubbed from the internet.
William peeing in a field in full view of the paps. And by full view I mean we can actually tell whether or not he is circumcised.
Getting into a car and driving away whilst so drunk he is actually swaying – video may still be on the internet.
Getting so drunk at Harry’s Sandhurst passing out ball he was asked to bed and CH had to smooth the entire incident over.
The RAF helicopter joyrides. Twice that we know about. Once to Kate’s garden to show off, the other time to go to a stag do.
How about skipping out on his training to go skiing after everyone on the course had been told there would be no holidays or special treatment for the duration of the course.
Harry’s Nazi uniform shop keeper specifically said William picked that out for Harry and for himself was after a native costume. Since they didn’t have a native costume, he settled for black legs, bare chest and a lion’s head. (i’m not excusing Harry here Btw)
His 30th birthday where he was so drunk he was stumbling everywhere at the restaurant booked.
Can we forget the drink slurped from girls’ bellies (this was done with Guy Pelly) as a teen?
How about he was so drunk at Melisa Percy’s wedding that he broke a tooth?
And that speeding on a private estate, where he wasn’t courteous enough to check that the estate owner was OK and instead drove off and left his RPOs to smooth raffled feathers.
The point isn’t to say that Harry is a saint, but William’s misdeeds have definitely been hushed up or downplayed whilst Harry’s have been made front page news so that the public is always glad that whatever the misdeeds of the heir, the spare is SO MUCH WORSE.
Which in the case of William and Harry may or may not be true.
However, why disbelieve the man himself when asked directly has said that he *is* much worse than his own brother?!
Lou, being poor means you do not have the freedom to make something of yourself on your terms. That is a privilege for those with excellent support systems.
It’s a disservice to the poor and the struggles of poverty to make such a claim. Not to say that a poor person person can’t make their way out of poverty, but getting to set your own terms is based in privilege not poverty.
@ Natalie +100
@natalie – oh yeah? Guess the likes of Oprah etc were just flukes then.
Obviously if you have support it is easier, but you can still make something of yourself if you are poor.
Lou
All LAK stated is known. And much hushed up.
How about to add whenSixer was (I assume) packing up the sixlets to stand on their roof while their area was flooded. S&R was dispatched, but William was mia for the immediate rush showing up later with harry to sandbag.
Everyone with a cell phone caught William drinking at a bar while his whole crew was called in for the emergency. Photos were up, but later scrubbed off.
Lou. Simple truth William gets away with a lot because of his position. And he does very little besides being born 1st for that privilege. Being raised as he was it’s not like he was punished. He’s the golden child.
@lou
Geez. The only ‘freedom’ in poverty is freedom of thought. Poverty and oppression are pretty well synonymous. Clearly, you know nothing about poverty and the poor. Comparing that situation to a prince’s is so ludicrous and condescending.
Lou
Regarding Oprah. She’s the exception. Which is why she’s so iconic. What she overcame and during the time she overcaming it. It’s inspiring. That’s not to say what she did was possible for anyone and everyone. It’s just incredibly rare because it’s so difficult.
Natalie is saying clearly it’s not impossible. And it is belittling the struggles of those with poverty to compare it. They are just not the same in struggle sense.
Pippa had a sports scholarship to Malborough House. This educational trust fund was pushed to make kate bucket seem like she came from better stock than she did. If there was a trust it would have no doubt only been sufficent to help pay for private education. Not outright. Myth making at best.
I think that all royals have had misdeeds hushed up but I don’t buy that William is the wildest of them all but somehow special powers have been used to cover up his outrageous acts. Why would William get this protection but not Charles, Diana, Philip or Harry?
He’s first in line to the throne. As long as there’s a monarchy in the UK, that will be the thing that defines him ahead of anything else. He’s spot-on.
Yup, i think it’s very honest of him. the Queen says duty comes before even her children.
I’m sure it’s a heavy burden to carry
I would have been more impressed if he were able to locate some personal strengths that lend credence to his position – something that those with whom he was succoring could seek to find within themselves. Normal Bill is always contradicting himself – he loves being a Prince – he hated the idea of being called a duke.
@ wolfie +1
Exactly.
The Brits have never seriously challenged the notion of monarchy and to ask Bill to be “normal” when the society made sure he grows up without the survival skills of a “normal” person is ironic.
Say what you want about French and Russians but they abolished monarchy. None of that dilly-dallying, “our history, our symbol” crap.
“The Brits have never seriously challenged the notion of monarchy”, Before making blanket statements about British history, that you clearly know very little about, read some of it first, this might help.
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/stuart-england/the-causes-of-the-english-civil-war/
We had a Republic in England in the early 17th century, King Charles I lost his head over it. The Monarchy was revived in the middle of the 18th Century with the ascent of Charles II.
After this the nature of Monarchy changed, we have a constitutional monarchy whereby power is invested in Parliament. The French and Russians had an absolute monarchy with the power invested in the King, hence the resulting revolutions. There is a huge difference between their systems of government and ours.
I think you’ll also find we are entitled to our symbols and sense of history. None of it is crap to a large majority of 60 million people.
Just a minor correction. The English monarchy was restored in 1660, i.e. the 17th century.
Yup, that was a typo! Probably because I was somewhat riled and in a rush when I typed that out…
Typos happen. Though it is easy to get confused.
If you haven’t read it, I’ll recommend Antonia Fraser’s biography of Charles II. It is a huge brick of a book, full of all sorts of interesting facts – and it is based on a plethora of first-hand source material.
He should have written “I’m a bland, vapid person with no work ethic”. That would have been a better answer.
I understand that he probably meant it in the way what distinguishes him from everyone else. And he’s right, not many people can write that. But still, it sounds misplaced somehow.
Oops, I thought you said “bald” and I went off on how he can’t help being bald. 😁
Nothing could be further from my intentions! 😀
I know, I’m sorry! ❤️
Ask Harry this question and the answer would have been so different. He would have answered with class and dignity.
Actually, Harry has talked about how hard it is to be in his position, and that finding a partner who can take his baggage on isn’t easy.
Yet he still manages to show joy. I wish William could.
By the way, I think you’re doing a yeoman’s job climbing the Cliffs of Despair here!
Exactly, bluhare — “Yet he still manages to show joy.”
Yup! Harry is way more self aware. He’s done so much more to further causes then William.
It seems as though Harry is better able to honor his mother’s life’s work – he sees himself as a real person – being a prince is secondary, or a platform to care for others in a very touching way. William seems to love his anger, which is getting very boring. I appreciate his efforts in Africa – but it would be nice to see him enjoying people like his mother did. He uses her like an umbrella to avoid real life.
Harry has spoken of his three-part existence. Private, royal, military, and the difficulties of balancing the three. He seems to have a better understanding of how ridiculous royal lives are.
How about “I am a coddled, lazy, unambitious, free-loading, useless, entitled 33 year old slacker prince?” There, fixed it for you, William. Harry’s answer would have been much more thoughtful and humble. William is an ass extraordinaire.
Here here. Considering Wills does everything in his power to NOT work out what being a Prince means for his life, it’s ironic that he defines himself as one.
A “prince” in the vernacular would mean he excels in some human virtue. The way William uses the term is descriptive of entitlement – and reeks of his very selfish continual complaints. I wish he would GROW UP!
” I am someone who is in desperate need of a little teeth bleaching. “
He has normal teeth. Not every country has given in to the crazy glow in the dark Hollywood smile
He’s got horsey, beaver teeth lol
His wife gave in big time for Hollywood false teeth.
lol Wolfie, you crack me up!! 🙂
Lou
This name is very anti WK. Best not to feed it.
It’s interesting that Kate has the chiclet veneers and Normal Bill hasn’t even used whitening strips, though, isn’t it? Quite a contrast. Same for her adding extensions she doesn’t need, but Bill is doing the combover. I am not saying there is anything wrong with a man going bald. I would, however, like to see him neaten up that bit of fluff he has left.
He’d probably look younger if he just shaved it all off – right now he looks like a worn down 45.
Really a concrete thinker, isn’t he.
There’s a lot of great and insightful discussion and analysis throughout the comments on this post today, but I think you hit a key aspect of William. He’s a dullard. His thinking is superficial and simplistic every time he opens his mouth, and if he has any level of intelligence, he’s certainly never challenged himself to deepen and cultivate it. I’ve never heard him say anything interesting, witty or that provides a unique insight. He may speak publicly more frequently than Kate, but they’re similar in that they really have nothing of substance to say.
I wonder if Kate is afraid of public speaking because she is worried about using her new “posh” accent. It would have to sound strange to those who know her from University or Buckleberry. Perhaps some of William’s posh friends even laugh.
Charles is far more better-looking, relaxed now more than ever. The 1970s weren’t nice on him.
Seriously? That was his answer? He could have elaborated to something like: I am a prince and with that comes with some responsibilities such as bringing awareness to charity, sports, education etc.
Well I am a WOMAN. We have the power to raise and influence the next generation and we rule the world even though men think they do.
So true, Maya. We are WOMAN!
Ha! I wonder if “I am a Prince” is the what he says to himself whilst looking in the mirror of a morning?
He has no personality and not much character. Just look at whom he married.
Therefore he has to make up for his deficits and that is “I am a prince!”.
I bet he does that when with his friends, too.
“Give me your handrolled cigarette because I am a Prince!”
“We go to that club because I am a Prince!”
It’s a title valued highly for certain. By those who went to school with both brothers they said neither was anything special. Average enough and William being sort of a bragging entitled guy. Which has been the theme from nannies to staff to others. Like his Christmas staff that left the party rather than watch his chosen film twilight he skipped out on over 007.
And that photo of Kate writing KING on his chest with lipstick.
Those who went to school with William are those who like him because he is a crown prince. No need for him to point out his title.
There are reports that he is a bore at dinner and that he expects everybody to laugh about his silly jokes.
I found the photo. Disgusting and utterly stupid. How can anybody be pleased by such idiotics?
He could have said something a bit less self pitying. He could have said ‘I’m a normal person in an extrordinary position’ or ‘I’m a prince who wants to make a difference’. He could have expanded on his reply a bit more to make it sound less ‘urgh’.
He getting more like how I imagine little Lord Flonteroy would look as an adult. Same attitude.
Yes, he could have expressed a little more awareness. Saying something like “my grandmother is the Queen” would suit the situation. She’s the monarch and ceremonial head of state. Being a prince doesn’t mean a thing without her and the reputation she’s built. All expectations, public and private, come from what people expect from the Queen’s grandson.
He could have written “I am a rescue pilot.” It is an honourable job. Except that William doesn’t ever seem to take his jobs seriously. Didn’t he nearly lose his wings before because he didn’t do enough flying hours?
Apparently being a rescue pilot is really unimportant for William if he refers to himself being prince althoug he is officially not even a working royal.
Why wouldn’t he have said something like “I work for the people of England”. But no. He has to go all royal and thump his chest. What a tosser.
+1
Unlike his father though, Will was a good looking kid growing up. He seemed to favor his mother more then. Until he hit 30, and its not just losing his hair that’s affecting his looks. The Windsor features are becoming more prominent and it is accentuated by the receding hairline.
He was very good looking when he was younger, but yeah, the Windsor genes are having their revenge.
I wouldn’t want all the scrutiny and expectations that come with being a royal, but he doesn’t seem to have any interest in making the best of it and working on the good parts.
He’s had 33 years and he chooses to distinguish himself by what he was born into and didn’t earn. Why not I am a pilot? I am a husband and a dad. I am a philanthropist.
I think it’s a two-fold answer. On one hand, he loves the privileges and celebrity/fan worship of being a prince. On the other hand, he uses it as bait to get what he wants from both his families (BRF and Middletons).
I agree. And it’s loathsome how self-serving and manipulative he is. He clearly thinks he’s clever for having organized his life in such a cynical and self-absorbed way.
William makes such a big show of rejecting his role and insisting he’s in charge but ultimately being a prince is all he has because he won’t really commit to anything and he doesn’t have to commit to and actually accomplish anything to be a prince.
His oh-so-burdensome priviledges offer him opportunities which should make up for the negative parts. He only has to go to places and talk nicely to people now and then. That is basically all his job requires him to do.
If he considers that a burden I would like to suggest:
a) William should go see a psychiatrist
b) William should try to make it on his own for a year: as an anonymous average person and with no money from the family but merely that pittance of unemployment benefits which everybody else gets.
c) William should be put on standby for a while and let Harry be temporary crown prince. Let’s see if competition might challenge William.
I bet that Carole and Kate do encourage William’s self pity – it makes it easier to rule him.
“William should try to make it on his own for a year: as an anonymous average person and with no money from the family but merely that pittance of unemployment benefits which everybody else gets.”
– that’s an unfair demand. He was raised by society as a Prince, cuddled and cajoled, without any survival skills of most “normal” people. No one ever challenged that notion – neither his family nor the British people.
That’s not actually true because when he is given chances to be ‘normal’ and learn life skills he doesn’t step up to the plate eg that often trumpeted job he held in Wales where it turned out he nearly lost his wings all the while telling the world that the reason he couldn’t take up more royal duties was due to his all consuming job in Wales!!!!
What is this? The 1500s? When royals wouldn’t have been taught how to find the right place to dig a water well and an outhouse, farm their own food, care for their farm animals, weave and sew their own clothes, etc.?
He has millions of pounds of his own money. If he doesn’t have modern ‘normal survival skills’ (go to a grocery store and slide his credit card in the slot, put a check in the mail to pay for his utilities, get a cup of water from the tap, etc.), then he can use some of his wealth to hire a housekeeper and a personal assistant. Or Carole could teach him how to do such things, once she’s scrapped off the walls after exploding from learning that her son-in-law is no longer the future king.
If the Duke of Windsor can survive 40 years not being king anymore, then so can William from not being a lower position than a king. It’s probably easier now with even more modern day conveniences.
Oh my. That’s quite a statement.
He was in the military; surely he learned something there. And they taught him to make paella at Eton. He’ll be fine.
@ Tessd
Nowadays nobody is spared. Nobody can say “I didn’t learn anything so I shouldn’t be expected to work.” Just as the jobless agencies.
Yesterday I asked why it is that he is constantly tone deaf.
Today we have the answer.
It makes his ‘normal bill’ schtick so patronising and Petit Trianon-esque.
You dare say that, LAK? The horrors!*clutches pearls*
I prefer this dry honesty to the Normal Bill schtick.
Same. His response is genuine. What’s bad is it’s always in direcct conflict with his PR image.
Jeez. The man can’t even spell “putz” right.
Hahaha!
lol
😀
LOL
Ha!
I just can’t with his woe is me “I’m a Prince” issue. He’s a man, who has been coddled since he was born. Who has been allowed to slack off in school, at work, while others scramble to make him look accomplished and earnest. He’s far from all of that. He’s a brat and I refuse to feel sorry for him that he doesn’t have the balls to give up a title and position that makes him so miserable because he might actually have to “work” to maintain his rather carefree (of monetary concerns) lifestyle with a wife he chose. If William isn’t happy, then HE needs to find out what will make HIM happy. Lord knows no one is forcing him to be a working royal.
All I can see is “I need Crest Whitening Strips.”
The article states that the workshop asked him what ‘DEFINES’ him, but the KP tweet states he was asked what makes him ‘DIFFERENT.’ The KP’s wording tries to make his answer seem less obnoxious.
Imo, I think the anti-bullying workshop was trying to get respondents to come up with either a behavioral characteristic which they’ve worked on and will continue to pursue that makes them feel worthwhile and valuable as a human being or a characteristic which gives bullies an excuse to pick on them.
I think William’s response is one in which he thinks he should be valued and deferred to by other people and also what he has said constricts and damns him as a person for which he had no choice in being.
But as for someone who was born with more advantages and opportunities than most of the world, I don’t think his being born a prince should be an attribute on which he should settle as something that defines him as a person. He could do so much with his life by developing behavioral characteristics that he voluntarily chooses to do and which has nothing to do with what station he was born into.
After all, is this what he advises charity recipients to do? Let what circumstances they were born into define them as people for the rest of their lives? Or does he ever encourage them to strive for something of their own choosing and have that define them and give them value and self-esteem?
Given how his wife changed herself from a sociable, athletic girl who worked hard academically (yes i know she’s not necessarily gifted in that dept) into a vain, lazy, vacuous, shoppaholic woman who clearly has no self esteem, given the veneers and wiglet, then he is the last person to be ‘advising’ anyone on how to achieve their dreams. He stood by and allowed her to do it and continues to enable that behaviour.
He needs to go take a long hard look at himself in the mirror to see what kind of ‘man’ he has become. The picture is not pretty. At some point in ur live your face reflects your inner personality – when i look at him, all i see is a spoilt little boy who has never really matured (emotionally or intellectually).
“After all, is this what he advises charity recipients to do? Let what circumstances they were born into define them as people for the rest of their lives? Or does he ever encourage them to strive for something of their own choosing and have that define them and give them value and self-esteem?”
I doubt he put much thought into the issue. I suspect that he was asked the question and couldn’t think of anything else to write. He doesn’t strike me as a person reflects much on anything – hence his endless non-commital platitudes and unfunny jokes at events.
I think the more William reveals his real personality the more it is clear why he married Kate Middleton. No Aristo-born girl or the dozens of girls he chased as er the media would have married him because they would absolutely have to be submissive to him, coddle him, have no life/friends/personality of their own…which grown up, no matter how privileged, would like that? Add to that complete cluenessness of William and his utter disregard of his position (Except when to cash his perks) and his family. He is by no means charming either -judging by his appearances – hardly a catch! Compare that to other European crown princes who have all married women of substance. Even the prince of monaco..atleast his wife was an Olympic level achiever.
I think the ‘not many women want this job’ line has just been a convenient excuse for William. Kate just won by the advantage of waiting. A true WAG queen.
The line (not many women want this job) works for Harry as it seems polite he is just in early 30s.. what else can he say. Hopefully he won’t marry a WAG or a wastrel.
He was also a well known cheater at Uni – he had a gf when he started hooking up with Kate. And from what i can recall of reports at the time he often had a wing man approach girls he liked asking if they would be up ‘for it’. Kate was on the outside of his circle and they knew each other as ‘friends of friends’ it was at the fashion show where she got his ‘interest’ and she never let go.
Missed opportunity at the very least. At its worst — he is truly clue free and at the end of the day being a prince is all he has. Harry would’ve written a short list, Kate might have even given it a go. It’s so unfortunate (awful?) on so many levels…
Hi Bill. It’s the Christmas season. Give yourself a lasting present! Issue a statement!
“I am no longer a prince.”
Pack up everything into the family Land Rover (we’ll send you the payment plan) and please leave everything in the mansions and palace apartment. Leave the keys in the heli. Good luck! You’re free and happy now. You’re normal! You and Kitty can probably grab some holiday part time work right now, something near the Middleton mansion perhaps, that you can bike to, as you weigh your new free options. You were skipping the Queen’s Chirstmas Day anyway, so you have time. Maybe you can be a Party Director! Learn the ropes You are Normal Bill now! Enjoy! It’s easy! You’ll love it.
PS: Thanks for not wrecking Harry with your morose, sullen being. Perhaps your laziness actually inspired him; one of you had to step up. He’ll likely be a great king and history will thank you for it. Well done!
Can we make sure the Middletons pay back the $1+ million in taxpayer-funded security upgrades to their new property before Bill and Kate MiddleClass move in to the on-site staff apartments?
but of course! I am sure they will be eager to do so, being normal hardworking sorts themselves who have certainly been sending in 100 pounds a month to Charles for their Duchy Loan for the property gift itself.
I can’t help but think that the cash the Midds suddenly found to buy Buckleberry outright came not from Normal ‘Tight with cash’ Bill but Chuck and/or Uncle G. From the brief glimpse into their finances with the mortgage application they were in debt (i think – they’d remortgaged the other house to pay toward the wedding) then suddenly it was bought cash down. Someone gave them the money and am not sure Uncle G’s pockets are that deep, considering he is still funding them.
And as for the ‘security upgrades’ please – for that cost there was clearly more work done on the property than needed and the Midds as usual got freebies. They are talented at getting things for nothing – i’ll give them that.
Betti
Yes they had a double mortgage I believe. Then suddenly they withdrew that and paid cash for their home. That would mean to pay off the last and pay full for the next.
And those upgrades were amazing.
😀
And carry your own luggage out to the car, William.
Not sure why everyone is calling him ungrateful. He did not complain in this instance, he only gave what I thought was a very succint answer. What defines him and sets him apart is that he is a prince. What answer were you expecting from him? That what defines him is that he is a helicopter pilot, a father, a husband? The role that he has been groomed for his entire life is to be a prince and perhaps one day to be king. Whether he is a good prince or not is a different matter but he gave a perfectly good answer to this question.
+1
+2 MrsBump. What other aspect of his life is so defining and overwhelming?
+3
Agree with MrsBump.
Because we are not isolating this 1 instance and forgetting the lifetime of statements and actions.
IMO this is minor, but an example of a true reflextion of how he views himself. He states the greatest role in his life to define him. Not a pilot. Not a philanthropist. Not a father. Not a husband. Not a servent to his commonwealth. Simply a Prince.
I’ve played this exercise before and it truly is what you value most. I chose a word that translates to “giver”. I give of myself to help others. Even if that means i’m over extended. And I knew that was my single word that defines me because it’s the quality I value greatest.
Rescuer, pilot, father, husband, family member or some sort would be something.
As prince though I think back to his own words of failing to understand his role as a royal or a prince. So, is he defining himself by a concept he admits he doesn’t understand and cannot define or a title he was born with?
honestly, what you choose to define yourself is purely subjective. You may choose one of your best qualities, as most people would do, others may choose to define themselves by their profession, e.g. doctor or teacher if that is a fundamental and overwhelming part of their life. That he choose to define himself by his “job”, seems perfectly valid, in fact given the enormous amount of privilege his role gives him, this is how he should see himself, as a prince, with all the good and bad that entails. I take your word for it that he said he doesn’t know everything about being a prince, but how does that negate that he is one and for life? Should only the best princes be allowed to define themselves as prince? How do we vote for the best prince? I believe that the monarchy is an outdated concept, but that is for the british taxpayer to decide, as long as they don’t go down in the streets asking for a revolution, i’ll assume that the majority are either happy with the status quo or more likely dont give a damn.
MrsBump
Outing an old institution isn’t as easy as it was when people were marching in the streets calling for revolutions. As a people we are distracted outside of these troubles. Our news comes in filters and we don’t always bother to seek the truth. Fluff and pictures will numb most to the truths.
That’s not to say there isn’t a true majority that would be happy or not see it as a loss if the BRF were handed their eviction notices. The public just has a short attention span and while they do not support something are often distracted from acting on it.
And my answer to your post was in line with the actual exercise William was involved with. How you are defined by yourself is you locking in on what you value greatest. We don’t self identify with our flaws. We do so with our pride. And how we want to come off to others.
Interesting. All new crop of pro-W&K posters, here and other forums, just in the last week.
I’m only here. What other forums?
Yes, I noticed that too. Jason is working hard.
nota — indeed. I imagine them in comfy sweaters, swilling tea from gold-tipped cups just steps from #poorjason’s desk, choosing their online names from a list. I have such an imagination, though. 😉
Yup. Loads of new names reciting the same song and dance. Asking posters for details and when given those details they ignore outright.
What other sites? The only one I know of is RoyalDish and for the most part, that group is definitely not sugary.
Candice
Some others that are wordpress. And others that are too extreme in the bias of pro or anti. Many of us here do repeat names. Sometimes I’m florc, but other places i’m Fat with Cats. I hesitate to list the other places as they can be very mean in content or posters.
Maybe just people who suddenly decided to comment. I wouldn’t say I’m “pro” these two but I’m not as anti as posters here. I read anti-WK messages without commenting 99% of the time, because I don’t have the spirit to handle the responses, but every once in a while I do comment… And I’m not new here. Or paid by Jason 🙂
duke edu
Maybe! They’ve just also been seen everywhere else. Like they actively searched out and launched into action when Jason has kicked the PR into high gear.
If you were around it’s nearly exactly like the Scientology threads when Holmes broke free. They sent out people to comment on how wrong we have their cult. Names never seen before and actively pushing the comments.
I was about to leave a comment about the thread being infiltrated by plants.
If he had written down “Duty,” I think that would have inspired sympathy.
I think it would have inspired guffaws.
Well, that’s true too. We’d probably be looking at how he doesn’t do his duty. Oops.
Maybe he should have said “I am a father” and that would have inspired something in the form of feeling? It’s not like that is any less true than his being a prince, if we’re going by the fact-based nature of what he said.
I saw his “I am a prince” card on Instagram last night and it struck me as profoundly lonely and sad looking.
….And a dumb one at that, as if we needed any more proof.
Ok, now define “prince”.
Good reply back!
It really doesn’t matter if he’s traditionally handsome. In case you missed the article, “he is a Prince.” He’s also a husband, father and apart from being royalty, very active in philanthropic pursuits.
A world full of underwear models would be…we’ll pretty close to what the media tries to show us and is perhaps why the world is in the sad state of affairs it’s in.
“very active in philanthropic pursuits”
ROTFL
I giggled to. If he was active I’d eat my tinfoil tiara.
Nobels just a few days away. Tiara spectacular on the way!
I’m looking forward to that bling parade! Please have it covered here! If only for the jewelry and gowns sake!
Wut?
Why weren’t his teeth & jaw fixed though? It looks like the bottom half of his face is caving in. Can’t royals have braces?
Team Harry – the more likeable Royal.
I feel like I’m missing something. As part of an anti-bullying workshop, he was asked to write down what defines him as a response to a session highlighting diversity. He wrote, “I am a prince.”
I’m confused about what being a prince has to do with supporting anti-bullying or promoting diversity. He’s a prince. And…?
Also, those photos of him attempting athleticism made me so uncomfortable. Manly, he is not, which is highlighted even more by the men standing near him in those pictures.
I did just a quik word search. Prince in other words can be described as elite and raised above.
Diversity for the purposes of those workshops and exercises is to break past the titles we are given (Jock, nerd, etc..) and find what we think of ourselves as. Sister, brother, friend, etc…
That we are all different, but all struggle with the same things. And shouldn’t be attacked because of the titles. We’re all different outside, but similar inside so why bully someone who struggles as you do? That to my understanding is the message.
Why he wrote prince seems incorrect unless he missed the purpose of the exercise.
@FLORC I think he must have missed the purpose of the exercise. If it was to move past the titles we’re given and share what defines the “real person” in order to help others see past the surface… PRINCE William really didn’t do that, did he? It would have been so much more meaningful if he had said something to the effect of, “I am a husband and father” or “I am someone who has lost their mother.” That, people could identify with.
I liked your response – thank you. 🙂
Kate wore Queen Mary’s Lovers Knot Tiara, aka the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara, to the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.
https://twitter.com/DustyReign/status/674342201103507456
https://www.facebook.com/Princcesscatherineofcambridge/posts/1719037908328065
Well, I’ll be d*mned. Thanks for the link! Katie’s movin’ on up, but Diana sure knew how to rock a tiara. The difference is remarkable. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3351607/Duchess-diamonds-pearls-Kate-chooses-Princess-Diana-s-favourite-Cambridge-Lover-s-Knot-tiara-glittering-white-tie-Diplomatic-Reception.html
Diana hated that tiara, it gave her a migraine. It is very heavy and the pearls clanking around made it worse. That’s why she borrowed the Spencer tiara so often.
#sartorialproblemsof royalty 😉
Ha, AH!
Sign me,
Very Proud of my First Palindromic Comment! 🙂
Well at least she wore her hair up and left the wiglet at home keeping the kids company. This is her first Diplomatic Reception -am sure he was boorish and i hope he didn’t start any ‘incidents’ lol
I wish Katie Bucket would spend some of her free time surfing youtube for better make up tutorials. I’d love to see how someone else doing her make up would turn out.
The photo of the lovely couple in their Bentley on the DM is priceless – they both look totally miserable.
The Cambridges attended the 2013 Diplomatic Reception. She appears to have worn the same dress two years ago along with the Queen’s Chandelier earrings but in 2013 she wore the Papyrus/Lotus Tiara that was original made for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
People over at the DM were saying it’s not Diana’s tiara, and when you look at it, it does seem much smaller. No??? I think it’s a different one.
Jib
I’m not sure about this case, but it’s common practice to use high quality replicas of jewelry collections rather than the item itself and risk a lost stone, damage or theft.
Also, I’m curious if in these cases of different shaped heads sizing for replicas isn’t taken into account for the sake of proportions.
ArtHistorian where are you!?
Ideally, a tiara ought to mounted on a frame fitted to the wearer. However, that isn’t always the case – so some fit better than others.
Mary of Denmark had that problem when she married into the Danish RF. The historic Ruby-Diamond Tiara, that had belonged to the late Queen Ingrid, didn’t fit her head properly. She couldn’t really wear it upright until she got the whole piece remounted a few years back.
However, I doubt that Kate is wearing a replica – royals always bring the real bling! You have to take account of the angle of photography, etc. It is a picture taken through a car window and only part of the base is visible. It is the Cambridge Lover’s Knots – Garrard confirmed it on their facebook. It is the firm that made the tiara in 1914.
I thought it looked smaller too. Like a row had been taken out, but then I realized it was Kate’s hair. She’s got a wiglet on and the tiara is buried in it.
AH
Thanks!
I know there’s atleast 1 proper way to wear a tiara. So that it sits on your hair at an angle that looks proportioned. In the photos it looks like Kate’s is sitting way too far back.
Thanks guys! Much appreciated!
The most common way to wear a tiara is upright, on top of the forehead. However, there have been other fashions. Fx in the Victorian age, tiaras were often worn far back on the head, propped up against a bun.
Queen Victoria in her Sapphire Circlet:
http://cdn.leibish.com/media/mediabank/Queen%20Victoria%E2%80%99s%20Sapphire%20Coronet.jpg
The 1920s saw new ways to wear a tiara as well as new types of tiaras.
Most popular was the bandeau style where the tiara was worn across the forehead. A new type of tiara was flat jewelled bands secured with velvet ties or a type of elastic. Sometimes, existing tiaras were modified to be worn this way – with various degrees of success.
Marie-José of Italy in her double bandeau tiara, which is perhaps the quintessential example of the bandeau tiara of the 1920s:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/130674826659840092/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/574631233684431593/
The Yusopov Sunburst Tiara:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660853136888/
The then CP Alexandrine of Denmark wearing the historic Ruby-Diamond Tiara as a bandeau:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660851611081/
The then Duchess of York wearing the Lotus Tiara as a bandeau:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660851610038/
The 1920s also saw a completely new type of tiara: the halo, which was inspired by Balinese head ornaments and worn across the head – like a halo.
The Westminster Halo:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660853871337/
Then there was the true fashion icons that marched to their own drum, like the Romanian Princess Bibescu, who casually wore her bandeau tiara on her shoulder!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660852241039/
AH
Thank You for all the lovely sparkles!
I’m just not a fan of tiaras behind the head or not on hair. Much like how I couldn’t stand the trend when people wore necklaces on their foreheads. Even when Diana did it. I cringe at those photos.
and I had to go back to that last link and check the shoulder again. It blended well enough I missed it!
I do appreciate Kate keeps hers on her hair. I just feel if it’s upright it should be more forward. If it’s a headband style it can sit back. But not too far back like on that bun in the 1st link!
Those pictures of Kate look a bit sad. She’s got a *walking on eggshells* look on her face.
And these pics totally highlight how much work she’s had done. Nose job (another one?), chin implant … It’s just so obvious now.
My exacts thought – she’s doing work on her face.
That’s how the world defines him. Totally accurate imao.
VVoy does he sound unintelligent.
OMG, saying “he challenged us” by writing “I’m a prince” is so laughable. It’s amazing to which lengths they’re willing to contort themselves just to make him (and Kate, too) sound interesting! It feels like he is just plain too boring and unintelligent to come up with something either deep or funny.
LMPAO…. Laughed My Pesent Ass Off
If William was the ‘prince’ he is, nobody would even look at him twice. So yes, I do that defines him.
I’m more interested in the Legendary Sixer.
She’s trenchant, ya know. 🙂
that was a typo – I meant to say if William WASN’T the prince he is……
Alas, the truth revealed. William shows his true colors in moments like this. Just like when on his son’s birth certificate he wrote as his profession “Prince of the UK” instead of “pilot”. Despite the “I’m just like the peasants” act he puts on for PR purposes, William is elitist. Harry is far more willing to hang out with regular folks when possible, unless William actually shows up to the charity functions he’s supposed to. This is the same guy who couldn’t think of one good thing about being a Prince when Matt Lauer asked him that. *eye roll* Talk about privilege. Please.
Diana had it. Kate doesn’t. Every picture comparing the two is a reminder of that fact.
He has tiny little hands.
Well, it’s not like he lied. His life is defined by being a Prince. That is why world-wide press pay so much attention to what he and his family do on every level. I place this in the same category as new royal, Princess Sofia of Sweden, saying she enjoys being a princess.
Yes wow she does. And she doesn’t speak out of the other side of her mouth and call it a burden. And i’m not certain William said he enjoys being a prince. Just that he is a prince. Too many other times he’s spoken of it like it’s a burden and life is so hard.
No, he certainly didn’t lie, but it’s about the only good thing one can say about that answer. It comes across as unimaginative, simplistic, boring, and arrogant.
Heck, he could’ve said “my family”, and it would’ve amounted to more or less then same thing, because he’s a prince because of who his parents and grandparents are, not because of anything he personally did. That would’ve been just as true, but would’ve sounded so much warmer, more relatable, and could have been taken to interpret not just his lineage, but also his mother, his kids, his wife…