I have to do some math and create a timeline. The SussexRoyal Instagram posted a well-written message about how they will be focusing time and energy over days and weeks to educate and inform the public about coronavirus and help out any way they can. The Sussexes posted that around 11 am EST. By 2 pm EST (and yes, I know none of these people live in an EST zone), the KensingtonRoyal IG posted the video above with Prince William talking about the National Emergencies Trust. William helped launch the NET last November after a couple of years full of national disasters in the UK, including the Grenfell Tower fire and some big floods. This video seems to indicate that NET reserves will be called on to aid in the coronavirus crisis, and William would like people to donate.
Whenever and wherever adversity strikes, the people of the UK have a unique ability to pull together. The way that local communities support those affected shows the very best of our values and human nature.
The public’s desire to help in the wake of tragedy needs to be managed and channelled in the best possible way – which is why the establishment of the National Emergencies Trust was so important. The NET has launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities support individuals suffering hardship as a result of the #coronavirus outbreak.
Visit @national_emergencies_trust_ or the link in our bio to find out more.
While this is needed and necessary, I also feel like the timing (and video quality) indicates that this IG video was thrown together pretty quickly, almost like they wanted to get William on-camera especially because the Sussexes were promising to devote a lot of energy to helping the community during the pandemic. I fully expect a leaked (Willileaked) story in the Sun in a day about how “courtiers” were strongly peeved that Meghan and Harry stole William’s charitable thunder. You know it’s coming.
I also think someone should make a mash-up of the IG video with this one.
Prince William joked about the deadly coronavirus outbreak during a royal visit to Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse in Ireland on Tuesday https://t.co/chcqqO0OdK pic.twitter.com/ygyELE1ous
— TIME (@TIME) March 4, 2020
Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.
So, KP should have put out something about coronavirus much sooner than this, even if it was just a generic statement. The fact that they did not release something until H&M made that post is very telling, IMO. They are playing catch up with the Sussexes even now.
Yep, i expect the Cambridges to be out and out ‘visiting’ with William making jokes and Kate beaming proudly at her husband for how amazing he is at helping the plebs by promoting their brand sorry virus.
Also I think BP were making SM posts about the virus before this came out.
Yep, totally agree, I thought it was a bit odd that the royal family didn’t deliver anything sooner.
But lord the pettiness of this family and especially Big Normal Cheater Will.
Not only are they playing catch up, but I’m sure they are pissed that the Sussexes keep doing things that make them “the Cambridge’s“ have to do work.
The UK response has been slower than the US, which is remarkable. Had either couple put out a statement before Johnson was acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, it would have been seen as political.
They are also using funds raised by Meghan’s cookbook for their own initiatives. Use some of that money, why don’t you. You didn’t do a thing in that direction except to tell the press to shit all over the project when it was complete, after all. You hypocrites. Then you take the money for your own use? Ugh.
Wow, why couldn’t Meghan take the proceeds from that project with her and out of the RF and Lamebridges’ jurisdiction? Harry has the Sentebale and Invictus Games projects completely separated from the RF!
I think any privelaged rich person donating is a good thing. However, this is keen william we’re talking about. I’ll have to wait and see if he does or does not follows through like with the greenfell incident.
Hahahaha good one…follow through? Oh wait, you weren’t joking?
@lizzieb in this instance I want him to because the impact of this virus on us commoners is bigger and deadlier than the royal family and their petty drama. If he does follow through though, you know the world is near it’s end bc this man is the embodiment of lazy and privilege.
I’d say setting up a trust for emergencies and then appealing for donations when an emergency strikes counts as doing something.
I think it’d say more, as a FFK, HE made a big PERSONAL donation to this fund.
Pppffbbtt!! WHAT AM I SAYING?! The Scrounging Windsors would never willing put in personal funds for anything!
@mac – William did NOT set this charity up, the Red Cross (in collaboration with other charities) did in 2017. William is just the royal face of the charity and virus appeal.
@Jess. Agree, really hoping he steps up to the plate
They could auction off a hundred of Kate’s coatdresses and some of her jewelry and donate the proceeds to the fund.
Not long ago, William thought coronavirus was a big joke.
The nature of the post does feel like playing catch-up. People were even saying once the Sussexes posted that KP would be scrambling to get something out and sure enough!
It totally is a catch up. The Sussexes made their post first thing in the morning their time. It looks like the KP post would have been late afternoon UK time, after they saw the Sussexes post. Before that, the only thing the U.K. Royals said about the virus were dumb jokes. The William video is still circulating.
I wonder how much he’ll contribute.
Heh, I’m sure he thinks this video is sufficient contribution on his part.
Precisely. I could live without a millionaire asking the plebs for money before he ponies up a tidy sum
Especially since is him trying to embiggen himself courtesy of Covid-19 and the chaos it’s caused. He’s so selfless, donchaknow.
Exactly. The stock market crashes have badly damaged the worth of my husband’s and my retirement accounts and greatly endangered our future financial security.
Our immediate financial security takes a strain as his sister remains unemployed and unable to find work in the current situation. There are other extended family members hovering on the edge. Unexpectedly having to take on expenses for another adult is challenging. We have other serious worries and burdens that I’m sure most other people not of multi millionaire status share.
And while we started out on a shoestring and a prayer, at least in our 50’s at this current moment only, we finally had attained some measure of financial comfort and security at least while my husband is still working. And we got to this place after my husband essentially sacrificed his health and now suffers the health problems typical to a stressed out middle aged workforce.
The situation is incredibly more dire for our friends and family who have jobs more vulnerable to the strains Covid is putting on the economy.
So, I am glad this privileged dolt is not my burden. It would be one thing if we got the sense that he truly cares and wants to help people like his brother and sister-in-law do. Heck, I even get the sense Charles and Camilla try to do some good in the world. I don’t like them very much but I respect that they’ve done some solid work that helps people and they don’t do so begrudgingly.
But William showed his contempt for the people and his vast ignorance borne of privilege in his stupid remarks about coronavirus and people’s fears. Of course HE has nothing to fear. It has not escaped our family’s notice that the celebrities have been able to get tests that we the peons have no access to. The same will happen with ventilators and medicines, I would imagine.
I hope he puts HIS money where his mouth is. Auction off a helicopter or one of Kate’s earrings and make a big donation to show us how the working royals do it.
The BRF is making recorded messages and two stories down on this site we have celebrities donating food. That says a great deal.
It would be nice if the royals donated some of their billions or at least eased the financial burden of caring for them so more money could go to those in need but I doubt it will happen.
It’s the same old typical PR
The mashup video combo already exist, and has been posted and reposted by many of the Sussex Squad on twitter.
The Squad is all about the receipts!
@truthSF can you please provide a link to the mashup video? I haven’t been able to find it. Thanks in advance!
I’m annoyed that all the royal reporters are saying William is the first RF member to speak on the Virus. I’m sure they all had a briefing on this video and they were demanded to write that. He just wants praise.
ITA, the fact that all of them are saying it points to the fact that they were required to do so. Very transparent.
Have the Queen and Charles not said anything before now? I find that kind of ridiculous if they haven’t. Obviously H&M went first, but where they’ve changed their role, it’s a gray area on them mentioning them in terms of the UK. Like obviously they deserve credit for raising awareness, but if they’re not acting on behalf of the UK officially, it doesn’t seem completely ridiculous not to mention it, though we know it has little to do with context and more about them trying to erase the Sussex’s.
But seriously, IS William the first of the current, active BRF to speak on this? Because I’d love to know what all the others are doing if lazy Will is coming out before they are.
They are really trying to make him look decisive and in command here but it won’t work. First off, he made that ill-timed & tin eared joke about the coronavirus. Secondly, as people scramble for sh*t and come up short and public health systems become overwhelmed, the bitterness associated with Brexit and scarcity measures will always dance in the background in the face of his and his family’s opulent lifestyle and access to resources. Third, his kids will tucked away in Norfolk and, just given how they live, they are already socially distant from the unwashed masses. People are going to see that as somewhat hypocritical—despite “staying in London”. Finally, he just doesn’t have the common touch. So, his trying to make the coronavirus into his QEII’s wartime moment just won’t cut it. Hmmm. Maybe they can dub him the Coronavirus King. 🤷🏽♀️
Anyway . . . my advise to him & his team: go on back to Norfolk. Throw out a tweet or an lil gram every now & then that says hope you all are staying safe yet connected to your friends, neighbors & loved ones. That way, they are still taking advantage of a bad situation but are looking just a bit more credible.
William is the first to speak out. The BRF has to follow the government’s lead. Their response was that the healthy should spread it amongst themselves to build herd immunity (meaning the majority of UK citizens being infected) and that deaths were inevitable. They were advocating business as usual. So, there was nothing for the Royals to say until they started changing their tune just this week. They only just decided to close schools and things like restaurants have no restrictions. While the Sussexes are still technically working members until 3/31, it makes sense that their response is being considered a private one. They’re following Canadian guidelines and Canada has taken the pandemic with the seriousness it deserves.
It’s a shame that William is being pushed out for massive PR. He is no role model.
Well, he was. He made a stupid and insensitive joke about it in Ireland.
The fact that every royal reporter is saying it means it was part of the brief. Which is revoltingly petty.
What I find funny Marie, is the PR line they’re running with that he is the first to speak. That’s a rarity for William’s communications team, because it’s actually the truth. Unfortunately for William, the first time he spoke on virus was caught on tape in Ireland where he made a joke about it! What an entitled ass he has become.
I think it tacky to laud William for being the first. Charles needs to clamp down on this sort of nonsense.
To be very, very shallow…rarely do we get a full frontal face shot of Billy. It’s an unfortunate angle.
Once a person has revealed their inner stench, my brain will always see them as ugly on the outside. Is he keeping physically distanced from his rose bushes and thus has more time on his hands to try and keep up with the Sussexes?
Well, the saying that you end up with the face you deserve in your 40’s is not wrong!
I’ll go to the shallow end with you GuestWho, as I was just thinking the same thing. For me, it’s something about the way he holds his mouth; That constant, clinch-jawed look. He always looks so dour.
He’s going to end up very jowl-y. he would benefit from a light beard. even with that, though, my guess is he’s always going to have the d-bag face. he must be grinding his teeth down to nothing!
He looks so very constipated – clearly not getting enough fibre in his diet. He always looks so miserable and angry.
He always looks constipated. Someone get him some Metamucil, stat!
For me it’s those flared nostrils. They make him look like he has an expression of contempt (or a snear) on his face. And since he’s looking back at us, it makes him look like he contemptuous of us (which…he probably is). But I feel like it triggers a gut reaction in us that WE’RE being viewed with contempt or disgust by him (which, again…probably true).
In a crisis, Willileaks is all about self-promotion–pushing the fact that he is the first RF to speak up. Perfect example of what Harry and Megs put up with behind the scenes. Wills looks like he’s just back from a funeral in that video–and his pallor is grim. Mr. “Coronavirus is a bit hyped up” is going to have to work harder to live that down.
Everything becomes a competition with the BRF. It makes it look like they put each individual houses interest above the nations. It’s just to make sure this one or that one has precedence.Who cares? The situation is going to escalate and quite quickly. Over here our state is shutting down, streets are empty, and it’s spreading fast. You can tell who takes this seriously and who is jumping on because they can no longer deny the reality.
William desperately needs something. The Queen has a crown, Charles has the Princes trust and sustainability, this fund is a way for William to be visual at crucial times whilst doing very little. It’s a perfect fit. Fewer videos might be an idea though, because he’s becoming less photogenic with every passing day
I literally don’t care. I dont care if this is competition or whatever BS. As long as people are donating to help people who are being absolutely ravaged by this situation. I dont care who said it first, if they mean it, it doesnt matter. People are out of work, sick, hungry, struggling – if this gets people to donate more power to them.
💯% agree with you about the timing. The fact that he was mocking covid-19 in Ireland a week ago hasn’t aged well either. What’s amazing to me is his calling for donations from a population that has faced a government imposed austerity for years. A full lockdown is expected. Brits dependent on hourly wages could be laid off and William, who can’t even get in a car but must helicopter everywhere, is asking average Brits to donate. These Royals have their own independent money. Now is the time to use it.
Ugh, the last thing anyone needs to see right now is his ugly mug. We’re all better off if he just goes away and self-quarantines.
The Sussexes are still senior working royals until 31 March& we all know the royals reporters will continue to report on their activities post 31 March& a lot of them have said as much, saying they are still part of the Queen’s family. They all reported yesterday on Princess Beatrice’s wedding reception being postponed even though that’s a completely private affair& she’s not a working royal.
So I don’t buy that Sussexes response is a private matter. Royal rota line of reporting on who was first to speak is deliberate. Which is fine. The Sussexes have said they won’t work with the rota anymore so I don’t blame those reporters for promoting those who do.
U.K. government advice changed on Monday evening moving to isolation model with briefing encouraging people to avoid pubs, clubs etc and to work from home where possible so timing of Sussexes& KP’s posts were both in line with UK government.
Interesting comment, @ABritGuest. You said, “The Sussexes have said they won’t work with the rota anymore so I don’t blame those reporters for promoting those who do.” IMO, RRs care nothing about ethical reporting and integrity, so this sounds like one of those situations where lying down with dogs, has one getting up with fleas.
Ugh. They should have had the queen make the first statement
This just feels like a big CYA after he was rightly flamed for making a joke of the virus while in Ireland. We see you, KP, and we’re not buying it.
If his wife donate those ugly designer coats then everyone in the uk will be rich and they dont have to ask world bank for money. Those kiki diamond, shoes and ugly headband combined cost a million dollar for their charity . But his wife wont donate her clothes or jewelry.
He’s been doing something to get his hair back, rogaine or something. Superficial comment, I know.
Well its nice if those treatments work for the people who want them. So I am heartened to see them working for him, if that’s the case. Hair loss can be very upsetting for men and women. It is something people are judged for yet have no control over. My late mother-in-law and my mom were quite traumatized by their hair thinning due to their medications.
But what’s made him ugly isn’t his baldness or his features. If he had genuine kindness and character, it would light up his face and imbue him with genuine charisma. I have seen people with even worse mixes of features positively glow with beauty because they are kind and giving and it just shows. The same could happen for Kate.
We radiate what we are. Unfortunately, I look like a potato. Actually, sitting here criticizing William and Kate and seeing the standards we mete out on them does force me to look at my own self, inside and out, and realize I am a bit of a potato of a human being and so do also have the face I deserve.
I could do much better, myself, and I will take some of this Corona virus imposed isolation to figure out how to be a better potato and move up from there. Just think, I could aspire to zucchini levels of greatness!
Guest with Cat you are NOT a potato. You are an intelligent, funny, rational and welcome commenter here on CB…I think you are an elegant English cucumber or perhaps a perfect stem of asparagus.
Thank you Jaded!
Not a fan of his work ethic. I think he made the joke before understanding the gravity of the situation. If he would just acknowledge his error, then people will not be distracted by it and focus on his message, assuming he has something worthwhile to say, rather than something in the style of 8 Questions.
The thing is, he of all people should be better informed. He’s the future head of state, so not understanding the gravity of the situation, with China, Italy and Iran having already blown up at that point is just bad diplomacy. He’s too old for that.
He’s nothing but a talking head, and an ugly one to boot. Why doesn’t he include a number of organizations that desperately need donations? Clothing, food, money, whatever. I volunteer at a homeless shelter and it has had to close everything down but one emergency room to sleep in and a small kitchen that provides 2 meals a day. Volunteers like me are on the front lines so instead I donated money. I’m a retiree on a fixed income but there will be so many more homeless and needy on the streets now that I had to do something. Why doesn’t he make a significant public contribution instead of just mouthing the usual insincere inanities.
It’s EDT time now, right?
It has been proven time after time that in terms of voluntary service, the Sussexes are the leaders of the British Royal family.
This is not a competition, it is about empathic and effective leadership.
This is nothing but a soundbite! Like “look at me” oh I put my name on a trust that was set up by red cross to join forces with other emergency help groups!!🤦♀️