For the past two weeks, I’ve been wondering why the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have completely misjudged their roles in this brave new coronavirus world. The people don’t want Will and Kate to put first responders in danger by prancing around emergency call centers for an obvious photo-op. If they’re going to do a photo-op, think smaller, more intimate domestic scenes which encourage people to stay home to flatten the curve. It took long enough, but here we are. Kate must have used her blurriest iPhone to film her three children clapping for “all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you.”
To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you.#ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS pic.twitter.com/XnaUPJyDoX
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 26, 2020
I’ve watched this a few times and I love it for so many reasons. One, I can’t believe how sh-tty the quality is! It leaves one with the impression that, GASP, Kate and William might be without office staff presently and Kate – so salt-of-the-earth – really did film it with some outdated phone. Also: Kate picked out Charlotte’s ensemble because it looks exactly like something Kate would wear for one of her “casual” public events: a striped top and jeans! Also: finally a Louis sighting! He looks so different and his hair has gotten darker. He looks more “Middleton” right?
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail would like everyone to know that the Cambridges are back on top of the Instagram War! As of Thursday, the Cambridges have 11.4 million followers to the Sussexes’ 11.3 million followers. Super-casual, organic interest in the Cambridges’ activities, or did Will and Kate bulk-buy some bots as a post-Sussexit celebration this week? In this economy?!?!
Update: You can see additional photos of people Clapping For Carers around Britain last night here.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN and Avalon Red.
Nice.
Stay safe my UK friends and thank you NHS.
Lol cambridges are thirsty for pr beacuse they are using their kids for saving the image and monarchy. This is very interesting after they have trolled in twitter by abolish monarchy trends, backlash to prince charles and prince william. They shot this soon to save their face beacuse now all prince william hashtags has this video instead of his joke. None of the kids looks their parents or Windsor. They are all Middleton.
Charlotte is all Windsor. She’s got their toothy grin and the Queen’s squint.
Yep – specifically Sarah Chatto, it’s uncanny.
Charlotte looks like queen in some photo and in some she looks like carole middleton.
She really is Sarah Chatto, her brothers are both Middletons
Charlotte looks like Carole, she has the same eyes. I never saw a bit of resemblance to the Queen.I don’t see any resemblance to Sarah Chatto who is more of a Snowdon in looks than a Windsor. she did not take after the Windsor side and neither did her brother. CHarlotte looks a lot like her mother. I hope none of the children look like the Queen.
Tessa, HM was actually quite lovely in her youth, she was actually much prettier than Chutney. Look at pictures of Lady Sarah Chatto as a kid, very striking resemblance!!
the video is definitely cute, the kids are really cute, but yeah, the quality is off.
I bet they waited a few weeks after that NYT story to keep buying bots, lol. They also have 50k comments on the video and from a quick look at their most recent posts, that’s the most comments in a while (I didn’t go through their whole IG acct, sorry people) by a long shot.
The children are adorbs, natch. But this is obvious PR stunt since everyone has been trashing them for their nonsense, especially Willie and his joke.
It was a nationwide campaign, and loads of folks did it at 4pm yesterday and posted videos. Royal-wise, the Wessexes did it too.
My favorite part is how little Louis looks at both of his older siblings as he does it. Is he the one who lets out the little laugh at the end. When he was a baby he looked so much like George, now he’s going his own way.
I also like how the kids aren’t dressed liked little poindexters.
I just don’t like how the children are used for PR. It’s like they are child actors now.
Yup. What makes the general “show kids for PR” situation even more appalling is the total flip in Will and Kate’s prior attitude towards having their kids in the spotlight.
Me, too.
Oh come on!
The whole country is in lockdown and NHS staff are working in appalling conditions, without adequate protection and for a shitty salary.
We don’t have much to cheer about in the UK right now, and quite frankly this clap for the NHS thing was a lovely uniting gesture.
I’m not a Royalist but I saw this and smiled. I didn’t think ‘PR’.
Right now no-one gives a shit about PR.
William and Kate did a photo op last which was contrary to the social distancing that the UK had ordered and it exposed the first responders to the virus, having been near Charles not long before and it took the responders away from their work. So Kate and William are clearly still interested in PR during a pandemic.
William had no choice, he has been told that the children are his only hope to win popularity, so he has gone back on his original position to keep the kids out of the spotlight.
They really are cute kids. The little guy looking up to see if his clapping is ok… so adorable. Also they are growing so fast! Lanky and all
Legs! I hope they get to live a normal life someday.
They look darling! Little Louis looks so much like Kate now.
There’s an amazing resemblance between Louis and his Uncle James Middleton. If you compare photos of them (Louis now and James at about the same age Louis is now) they are like twins.
Aww, all 3 kids are just adorable and we’re all grateful to the people in front line and support roles.
Now onto their not so adorable parents – nice backpedalling Cain & Unable. We see you for what you two are, PR stunts and all
This wasn’t their own idea though. It was a national synchronized campaign. This self-absorbed couple are unable to have a thought that focuses on others. Their characters simply don’t have the empathy software.
except it was their idea to participate in the national campaign with this PR video.
Vkes
They latched on to a movement to support those on the frontline for their own self promotion. That was the motivation for this. If they wanted to do anything meaningful there’s so much more they could do from home. Will we see it? No.
The video was cute, but they are going to have to do more than this if they are going to help people with the virus, as they claimed they would do. So far they have been silent on any actual help. Even sophie did more.
People struggling with mental health need help now, not in a month or two when these two finally decide to do something.
I find all the clapping videos awkward, but what else can they do…I think the royals are living in a sort of fear because they need to be seen as earning their keep, but can’t be out in public. It’ll be a difficult balance especially as more of the public struggles.
Those kids were beyond cute though. I”m another one that’s going to watch that video more than once today. Little Louis is so adorable, actually they all are.
I think they’re living in fear for that reason AND the possibility that multiple members might be infected. Now we hear that BoJo tested positive. That’s at least two high profile people (him and Charles) that QE has been in contact with in recent weeks. Then there’s all the palace staff, some of whom have certainly contracted COVID-19. Donning a light tinfoil tiara for this, but between the recent news and the palace’s cagey comments on the Queen’s “good health”, I think she might have the virus.
Louis is the cutest thing. So freaking cute. I could watch this video of him all day. Charlotte and George are adorable. I will take a brief moment from my Cambridge-bashing to admire these cuties. But I don’t think it will replace the Wills joking about coronavirus video. That clip ain’t going away.
This clapping across Britain was a nice gesture.
The video seems odd to me but I’m not familiar with the hashtag and concept. Just seems very thristy though
this is being done across western europe , starting out in italy as a way for those in confinement to say thank you to the front line workers putting their lives at risk to help us.
Nothing thirsty or PR about this.
Not everything is about the cambridge vs sussex thing
Don’t think it was thirsty at all. It was also nice that Ed and family also joined in as did PC and Cam.
Our neighbourhood (North Vancouver, BC, Canada) started Monday (I have a very loud voice so whooped and hollered, then a neighbour came out and now the whole neighbourhood joins in) and last night the police blew their sirens and the fire fighters too. We live across from Lions Gate Hospital. It was heartwarming. I think showing the kids clapping means they have some understanding (the kids) even though their parents lack nuance
In my city people are clapping (and singing and playing instruments…) at 6 pm every evening to thank everyone doing their jobs in these crazy times and it really IS a nice gesture. It started 2 weeks ago when everything went into lockdown..
Also, the video made me smile, especially cute little Louis looking up at his bigger siblings for guidance.
What’s clear is the Cambridges are definitely bandwagon-jumpers, and have no ideas, innovation, imagination, or motivation of their own.
whats clear is that here in the UK it was yesterday that we did this so they’re not ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ they’re joining in with the ret of the nation
It’s not a bandwagon!!!
This is the only way we have to do something together to show support.
And this way of showing support was the Cambridges’ idea, was it? If the answer is “yes” then I apologize. But if it wasn’t their idea, then I stand by what I said.
Sweet little Louis looking at his brother and sister to make sure he was doing it right!
Louis, wanting to if it’s time to stop now, is delighting me.
Charlotte looks exactly like William when she grins.
I love the little giggle one of the children gives, Charlotte I think?
This is super cute and the bad quality is hilarious. These are shitty times and I don’t feel like overanalyzing a cute video of three adorable children clapping. It’s definitely the best solution for thanking everyone, nobody needs to see another awkward message from Will right now. Well done.
I’m with you Emmy! Cute kids clapping, no snark from me.
A Louis sighting! It was cute but it doesn’t make me forget Will joking about the virus earlier.
Apparently someone reads the comments! They got dragged pretty hard for the most recent photo op. People were saying, “why not just make a video – it’s so much safer for all involved. And, voila!
The body language in that pic on the couch… Catherine is squished into the corner. William looks constipated, as usual.
I can’t imagine what Rose Who? ever saw in Prince Pouty.
Unable is pretty much telling us she can’t stand to be near her husband in those shots. She made her bed and chased after him for 10 years knowing full well what kind of ‘man’ he was.
Ditto on that, but it wasn’t just her, it was her mum as well, she might as well have chased him herself, so desperate for attention!
I mean they didn’t make this video because of the comments. This was a nationwide thing, to clap for NHS. Many, many people made videos for it. It may seem awkward to Americans but it’s not just the royals who are doing this.
I’ve noticed that too over a period of time. Uncanny, isn’t it? Someone definitely takes not of the ideas being floated in CB about W&K’s keen shenanigans
@Digital Unicorn – I really feel sorry for Unable as there is nothing worse than being in an unhappy marriage that you cannot get out of.
I disagree – she can get out of that marriage but she won’t as there is no way she is willingly going to give up the titles, status, deference and wealth that comes with him. She will never leave him.
Yeah I agree with Digital Unicorn. Kate could absolutely leave if she truly wanted to, but life without the royal perks is not what she wants. I think it’s the status more than the money that really appeals to her.
The kids really are so cute. Hopefully the rest of the family will do better now.
The kids are cute – Louis is a mini Michael Middleton.
Given the desperate embiggining of Cain and Unable, something is going down behind the scenes.
I though prince george is carbon copy of micheal Middleton. Anyway they all looks so cute.
Louis is a carbon copy of Kate
The picture quality is terrible.
I first thought the kids faces were photoshopped.
I wonder the same beacuse how very keen photographer like Kate cant good quality video . Every cheap android and iOS phoe have better quality. Its very interesting like according to her fans Kate is super professional and she has eye for good thing and everything she pull off is amazing but cant take a video by change the setting for HD for better video quality.
I clicked on the link to the rest of England clapping–it’s a series of photos rather than videos. One of the photos is of the three kids, copyright by the D&D of Cambridge. The photo is nice & sharp & clear. I think there must have been some sort of technical difficulty uploading the photo to IG that perhaps Kate (or some lackey) didn’t know how to figure out.
This was absolutely adorable to watch. I think this is what the Cambridges should stick to. Cute little videos and giving information out through the kids.
This.
Or showing some activity you can do with the kids while being at home.
Reading videos and still supporting the NHS
The Cambridges are still buying followers.
Good to know where their priorities lie.
Yes they are buying bots and this kids video have 5 million likes to suppress Sussex likes and archie vs cambridges kids like.
And as usual it’s the only “talent” that Kate has: her kids.
What she does with her degree and talent?? What major achievement she has done other than having kids and marriage William?? Dont say charity , she only started doing charity after the engagement to william. When you are normal it’s ok to do whatever you wish. But you guys comparing with Sussex and her work then Kate comes in shortsighted. Other than having kids she does nothing, if she does something her charity wont get busted.
@Aria “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”
blase2 all mother is “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. but in her case its the nanny who raises those kids not kate. Keen kate is a good mother when her nephew (Archie) gets abused from press, she sits there and watches. Awesome mother who put her brother and sister in law under the bus for thirsty pr.
Nanny Maria then.
They didn’t do anything in the last week or two that would create instagram interest, so they totally bought followers…we see you two.
You think Cain & Unable would take the money spent buying bots and donate it to a COVID-19 Virus Relief Charity.
Does anyone really care who wins a Instagram war except Instagram?
Cambridges and their fans obvious care about instagram followers. That’s why they are so desperate for these cheap stunts.
Louis is the cutest. His clapping was adorable.
Cute obvious pr.
The Cambridges are buying followers, they’re shameless LMAO
The kids are cute.
The video quality is terrible. I would have thought they had a iPhone 11.
louis is a chameleon. i swear, every time new pics/sightings of him are released, he looks different! maybe it’s all the changing hair colors? he was dark-haired, then blond, then brown, now dark-haired lol
Maybe the Cambridges and the rest of the royals should about donating to the COVD-19 Virus Relief Charity!
That would require them giving up some of their luxury and that ain’t ever gonna happen.
Well I expected this, the littlest one is all Kate. Instead of this how about put some money into the NHS?
Isn’t Louis just an adorable little bug? The video was cute but I expected better quality for an obvious PR stunt. More of this support for our frontline workers isn’t a bad thing but it’s still Cambridge PR.
Very sweet. Charlotte is the best of any Royal.
Somebody got triggered by that bot report that they requested another fluff piece about them “wining” in a nonexistent race!!!
So the applause thing was at 8PM in the evening and it was dark. So this was a video shot specially for PR?
Yep clapping was at nighttime. They shot this video the following day.
I am not English so maybe I don’t get it but I find this ridiculous.
People are dying. Hospitals are overwhelmed.
Only money and tremendous amounts of work can help. Money to buy equipments, ventimators, meds and work to manufacture them.
The times of photo ops and cutsy smiles are done. No more. These people handle large amounts of money. They have huge properties. That is what is needed.
Totally agree with you there. Many families have been temporairly laid off — so this their way of showing a little appreciation. But for a family with status, multi-milliondollar to billiondollar+ endless bank account, they can contribute a whole lot more, no excuses.
Say it louder for the privileged ones in the back!
Forget the kids. Look at Kate and Will on the sofa. No closeness (they can be close during this pandemic), both with grimaced faces, his leg crossed away from her body, both with hands tensely clasped. Wow! If that doesn’t say “I’m so over you”, I don’t know what would.
You know, this is the type of thing they like to do and this is their role. This is what royal reporters should focus on. The ones in the UK, instead of mining all their contacts in LA, and stalking the Sussexes. Cambridge’s are the future of the monarchy. UK taxpayers rejoice in this sliver of sunshine! 😬