One Young World’s Kate Robertson apologizes for calling the Sussexes ‘really low’

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This woman ^^ is Kate Robertson, the co-founder of One Young World. If One Young World sounds familiar to you, that’s because the Duchess of Sussex did some events and appearances for the organization, whose mission statement includes “identifying, promoting and connecting the world’s most impactful young leaders to create a better world, with more responsible, more effective leadership.” One Young World went hand-in-hand with Meghan and Harry’s roles at Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors, and at an OYW event in 2019, Meghan and Kate Robertson had an awkward interaction where Meghan tried to hug Kate in greeting on-stage, and Kate was trying to drop down in a curtsy. Well, Kate had some thoughts about the Sussexes’ interview, and the whole thing became kind of… terrible.

The founder of a youth organisation backed by the Duchess of Sussex sided with the Queen today and said Meghan Markle should sort out her grievances with the Royal Family ‘in person’ and ‘privately’. Kate Robertson tweeted at 8.18am: ‘Not having any of it. The Queen is the world’s most stunning example of duty and service. The Sussexes have grievances but should sort out in person privately. Hurting the Queen in public is really low.’

Royal author Omid Scobie, who wrote the Sussexes biography Finding Freedom, then quoted the post in a tweet at 9.12am, which saw it gain a greater audience. Mr Scobie wrote: ‘It seems that not everybody will be watching on Sunday, including the founder of One Young World, a youth-focused global forum that the Duchess of Sussex has been involved with for years.’

But by 11.11am, Ms Robertson’s initial tweet had disappeared, and she wrote an apology, saying: ‘I am so sorry. I sent a tweet this morning that was unduly critical of people I admire, care about and have worked with for a long time. People have called me out on it and they were right to do so – we should all choose to contribute to a culture of kindness. Everyone has the right to tell their story – that’s what our work is about. This was a good lesson: commenting on people’s personal lives is wrong. I’m truly sorry.’

Mr Scobie, the royal editor of Harper’s Bazaar, has been accused of organising a ‘nasty’ pile-on on the charity founder – and he has also since deleted his tweet.

[From The Daily Mail]

I’ll choose my words carefully here – I saw some of the “pile on” and some of the comments were pretty nasty. There are so many ways to defend your faves and to defend two people who have been through the ringer with the press and with their own families. But I doubt Meghan and Harry would even want their fans to get quite that aggressive with someone who was once a colleague and work acquaintance. I mean, Kate Robertson clearly had a knee-jerk terrible opinion befitting a boot-licking royalist Karen but IDK, her apology seems more like a panicky, thrown-together word salad after she was harangued on social media. Besides, tons of charities and organizations still want to stay “on the good side” of the monarchy’s clown show. That’s how they are able to fundraise and royal connections give them a higher profile. There will be many British and international charities and NGOs who choose the royal connection over loyalty to the Sussexes. Prepare yourselves and pace yourselves.

One Young World

One Young World

One Young World

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50 Responses to “One Young World’s Kate Robertson apologizes for calling the Sussexes ‘really low’”

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  1. Tiffany says:

    Well, Kate wanted attention and she got it.

    • Merricat says:

      Lol

    • Myra says:

      I mean, she put negativity out into the world and it bounced back in her face. She’ll choose her words carefully next time for someone in her position.

    • molly says:

      Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

    • VS says:

      I have cancelled her and I will make sure any OneYoungWorld event I come across and which she is part of, this point & her racism will come across. This woman has worked with Meghan before Harry and has met Meghan after H; this is what she did? she could have kept the pretense and stay quiet like some Karen but she decided to go public….Her WW apology didn’t move me.

      This type of women remind me of Amy Cooper; she is the worst type; at least with a racist you know what to expect; you never know when someone, with a hidden snake-like personality, will bite you

      • Sheffaneese Knight says:

        Exactly. Why did she have to comment publicly, even if that was what she thought when Meghan have only shown her and her organization kindness? where was her public comments through all the Meghan bashing? If this is how she treat people she cares about I don’t want to see how she treats others she don’t. She does to Meghan and Harry the same thing she is accusing them of doing to the Queen.

  2. MaryContrary says:

    This is the thing about social media-you need to take an f-ing pause before you pop off, especially if you have any kind of actual platform. I have now taken said pause, and say f-u, lady.

    • Liz version 700 says:

      Amen! F her and the horse she rode in on. For someone representing the type of charity she does, this was especially egregious. To late for the apology btw, we see who you are now. A charity leader liking a Piers Morgan bullying post and saying what she said? Not cool.

  3. sara says:

    “The Queen is the world’s most stunning example of duty and service.”

    British people are very weird. SHE LITERALLY JUST SITS AROUND HER PALACES WITH HER BILLIONS OF
    DOLLARS. What am I missing? Has the queen gone and adopted a bunch of orphans and I missed it? Do y’all have Stockholm syndrome just cause she’s so damn old and you don’t know life without her? Please explain.

    • MsIam says:

      She wants one of those MBE awards or whatever they are called. Can’t piss off the royals and expect to get one of those.

      • Sid says:

        I can see that angle (see Mr. Enninful) but it seems odd here since no one asked her to say anything from what I see. It would be one thing if a reporter approached her for comment, but it seems she just decided to tweet on her own. It’s all a shame as I believe Meghan was working with this org before she even met Harry.

    • RoyalBlue says:

      Sara her adoring subjects are Brainwashed!

    • FancyHat says:

      Exactly. She fixed some trucks in WWII and that is pretty much the sum of her duty to the UK. So impressive

    • ShazBot says:

      THANK YOU. I would love to hear from some Brits about this.

      Define: duty and service

      Yes, they don’t get to have a normal life, and their career paths are pre-chosen for them (“career”), but they also get eye-watering privilege and unquestioning deference for that. They do minimal work – and I’m sure the Monarch does the most actual work, reading the daily papers and listening to the PM, greeting dignitaries, etc., but let’s be real. They set their own schedules and the only stress they feel is when they think people might be getting smart to their centuries old grift.

      They don’t serve anyone or anything.

    • Jules says:

      That’s what I keep hearing and it sounds ridiculous. How hard is it to be waited on 24/7 and make a few public appearances and have tea with the prime minister? If it were difficult she wouldn’t be doing it in her nineties.

      • Amy Too says:

        That’s a great point, Jules. If it is such a physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, etc hard, self-sacrificing job, and she personally is the one doing all that hard work, she wouldn’t be able to do it at the age of 95. And she also probably wouldn’t have been able to do it as a 21 year old naive and under educated girl who hadn’t been prepared in any way. And it probably wouldn’t be a great idea to have the next monarch come in as a 75 year old, either.

        In these cases, hard work, duty and service=work, duty and service towards perpetuating the monarchy. It doesn’t actually mean duty towards the people or charities or the country in any way. She has dedicated her life to making sure that the monarchy continues in perpetuity by agreeing to sit her butt on the throne for 70+ years and be the “gentle” face of white supremacy and hereditary wealth.

  4. Jules says:

    Well those are some awkward photos.

    • Isabella says:

      I find the whole curtsey thing demeaning and weird. But I’m American. I wonder if the next generation will skip it.

  5. Sofia says:

    I mean I totally understand charities not wanting to piss the royals off and frankly I don’t blame them but you need to think before you tweet. Especially if your account is public and/or you’re well known in some circles.

    • pottymouth pup says:

      and this is, exactly, why she should have cleared any public comment she made on the issue with the board of directors. Her statement was not necessary, was completely unrelated to Meghan’s work for the charity, and added nothing to the discourse. Roberston’s position should be on the line here as she’s now put the charity in a bad position that impacts their financial bottom line in the form of decreased donations/loss of supporters (and lord knows the firm will not do anything to make up for that loss)

      • PPO says:

        spot on. actually she could have said…nothing. she should have sat there and “ate” her food.

      • Amy Too says:

        And how stupid to put those donations on the line when we know that Meghan is one of the only royals who actually raises money for her charities. I donate to basically any charity that she shows up at or that speaks well of the work she’s doing with them, and I know I’m not alone based on the GlobalSussexBabyShower and other fundraising that goes on on social media from her supporters. The BRF does NOT do that for their charities. But you seriously want to side with white supremacy and kicking the black woman when she’s down and pregnant because you think the perks of white supremacy will be better for you and your charity than actual money and exposure? Wow.

  6. Watson says:

    Ugh this woman is an idiot. Think before you tweet, people! *face palm*.

  7. Bex says:

    Meghan got a lot of “violating protocol” shit for hugging that woman instead of allowing her to curtsy to her.

    I don’t recall her ever defending Meghan, yet she found her twitter fingers to defend The Queen, who Meghan hasn’t criticized.

    Solidarity really is for white women.

    • swirlmamad says:

      This, this, and MORE THIS.

    • VS says:

      “I don’t recall her ever defending Meghan, yet she found her twitter fingers to defend The Queen, who Meghan hasn’t criticized.

      Solidarity really is for white women.”

      @Bex — I owe you a glass of wine, if you like wine. Exactly, this woman has NEVER said one word to defend Meghan, yet she was willing to defend a queen who has not been criticized!

      Perhaps because I am WOC but those types turn me off immediately ; I see them as hypocrites and snakes.

      I wonder how Meghan felt about what that woman wrote? can you imagine? Meghan didn’t want her to curtsy as she considers her a “friend or at least someone she knows from before H”…this is her payback!

  8. MsIam says:

    Hurting the queen in public is “really low” but Meghan is fair game? And no one has said one word of disrespect, that i have heard about the queen. Bish please, so sick of these so called “advocates”. Advocating for their next paycheck.

    • Lanie says:

      Right? No one has called her an “old trick” or anything remotely disrespectful. They said “Service is universal,” and that The Firm is promoting falsehoods about them, you know, the truth.

  9. FancyHat says:

    GMB went all in in blaming Omid and Meghan for the choices Kate made here. She worked with Meghan so for her to take public shot at Meghan was low class. That the focus is on Omid and people being mean online misses the point. Kate’s comments just ensured the Sussex Squad will never fundraise for her charity.

    • bobdegroot says:

      I just watched that interview and it was shocking. What GMB is saying doesn’t even make sense. It’s not journalism, it’s just totally attacking H&M. This is honestly crazy! I don’t understand how people can say these things with a straight face: poor H&M! Does no one in GB see how awful the royal family is? It’s so obvious, but some reason not to the media there.

      • (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

        I saw that, too. Omid did a good job, but man, the hatchets were out full swing!

      • Golly Gee says:

        And they weren’t even listening to Omid’s replies to their questions. You could see by their faces that they were already queuing up and intent on asking their next question, rather than hearing or addressing what he was saying.

    • Merricat says:

      It’s a shame that she lacked the professional ability to separate her personal feelings from her job. Now the organization will suffer. Way to go, Kate Robertson.

  10. L4frimaire says:

    She should have followed her own advice and worked out her grievances privately. It’s none of her business. Also, she’s assuming that the Sussexes have never addressed these issues privately, which they have. But also, this is based on a few clips. I still think it will be a wider ranging interview than the clips suggest, but the royals will be the prime focus. However, this post is right in that a lot of organizations will back the royals, which is their right. It’s obvious the Sussexes are pivoting on who they work with as well.

  11. Gail Hirst says:

    You’re probably right @FancyHat. I’ll take my cue from Megs, though. If she continues to support the charity, so will I. If she simply keeps quiet and doesn’t work with this charity ever again, so will I. If she continues to work with the charity and simply does not engage with this woman, then so will I.
    Meghan has been consistent showing us who she is: kind, empathetic, genuine, thoughtful, smart, etc. If Meghan forgives her for being a jerk in that specific moment, so will I. Nobody’s perfect. This is how we learn, we make mistakes, it’s pointed out to us, and we do better. I’m willing to offer grace if she’s learnt and Meghan turns the other cheek. If she does, so will I. If she doesn’t, neither will I. That’s my plan. I will toss it out the window if this Kate woman doubles down on hate. In that case, so will I.

  12. FancyHat says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Meghan was the bigger person and worked with One World again but when Sussex Squad does their own charity drives to support M&H, One World will never be included

    • Liz version 700 says:

      She burned some big charitable bridges here.

      • Lilly (with the double-L) says:

        She really did and all she had to do was not say anything. When Archewell had links for International Women’s Day on the same day they were being attacked, I immediately followed a link and donated. As I do with many charities they highlight. This sounds like One Young World is really for the white young ones – she’s really showing who she is inclusive of and poor leadership. I mean I know they could probably produce receipts of who they assist, but I know if the words don’t match the action of helpers, I would find help anywhere else and have.

  13. GrnieWnie says:

    I’ll never understand how a brief reply with a mild correction is construed as “hurting the queen in public” but dumping all over Meghan with hysteric lies while she’s pregnant for months on end is considered…idk, a casual introduction? What is that, if a brief reply is an example of going so low to hurt people in public?

  14. Vanessa says:

    I don’t feel sorry for this woman I’m sick and tired of everyone telling Meghan that she should do this she should Ignore the press . When a whole country decided that Meghan didn’t belong and it was in their right to harass undermine bully slander her with dog whistle racism . Told her over and over if she didn’t like it go back to American now that Harry and Meghan have done exactly that it’s problem . All those English host are literally unhinged now that the whole Meghan is the real bully has blown up in the palace face now Uk hosts pushing the Meghan disrespect the queen line when Harry spoken loving about his grandparents two weeks ago . No matter what Meghan and Harry do at this point will be horribly and disrespect the queen according to the British tabloids and public the British media continues to think that Megan and Harry need them . When in reality it’s the other way here I don’t know how many times and how many ways can the Sussex’s tell the British media that’s it over and there never ever getting back together. That for here on out it’s about the globe impact and their done with them .

  15. Amy Bee says:

    Apparently Kate Robertson is also a Tory. I think the reaction from fans was appropriate. She used Meghan for publicity for OYW and then trashed her for doing the Oprah interview. Her organisation teaches young people about using their voice and talks about issues such as human rights and racism but because she’s a royalist she effectively contradicted her own organisation’s principles. She also retweeted someone who agreed with Piers Morgan. She got what she deserved.

  16. Catherine says:

    Look at the pile on directed at Harry and Meghan because of this woman’s tweet. The tabloids have been waiting for an organization that Meghan was associated with to “turn on her”. What is totally appalling to me about this is not even that directed the comment at Harry and Meghan but that the head of a charity designed to “give a voice” to and empowering people would have such an opinion. And would use Twitter in this way. It is wholly inappropriate for a person in her position. OYW is global. They have no connections to the royal family. The tabloids ridiculed the organization before the realize the reach it had. They owe nothing to the royal family and even if they did this was still inappropriate. The their hurting the Queen is a tabloid narrative. The Queen has been looking perfectly well ( cracking jokes on zoom calls ) even while Prince Philip is in hospital. It was just wrong. If people want to be concerned for her that’s fine but what she experienced yesterday was not even a smidge of what Meghan has endured. Yet the British tabloids and talk shows are all outraged for her. There has not been an ounce of this sympathy for Meghan. I don’t condone attacks, pile ons etc etc. I am just saying that this is not as straightforward as just looking at what happened to her. The larger context matters. I think it’s important to point that the majority of the tweets IMO were asking legitimate questions and raising legitimate criticisms about how a person who run the charity that she runs could put out tweets like that. Does she have have a right to her opinion yes. But she is also subject to scrutiny of her opinion.

  17. MerryGirl says:

    Because of her nonsense tweet, she caused a tabloid ‘pile-on’ of hatred on Harry & Meghan (particularly Meghan) then when Meghan’s supporters rightfully let her have it, she cowardly apologized and took down the page. Sorry, not sorry for her.

  18. BnLurkN4eva says:

    Sorry, she got what she deserved. I am someone who tries not to attack those I don’t like, which is why I avoid going certain post here. This woman should have had the discipline to not post whatever asinine thoughts she had about the situation. This is one of those times you call a friend and vent if you really must say it out loud. In her position it’s simply unacceptable to post what she did and again, it was deserved. The BM acting like the attacks were coming directly from H/M is yet another way they attack the Sussexes and blame them for everything. This was the Sussex squad doing their thing and you listen to any of their podcast and they state it clearly that H/M needs to mind their business because the Squad don’t answer to them. This allows the squad to operate without filter and get the job done. The Democratic party needs a Democratic squad, people who will get into the mud when necessary so the leaders don’t have to. (LOL.

  19. Monica says:

    Piers Morgan on this dust-up: “Disgusting. This is what happens when you criticise Meghan Markle – a vicious howling bullying mob descends to abuse & shame you into submission…”

    Pretty rich, old boy, from someone who is a “vicious howling bullying mob” unto himself. Somewhere on Twitter is an exhaustive list of nasty articles he’s written about Meghan. The length of it is astonishing.

    • Feeshalori says:

      They who live in glass houses should not throw stones. That’s a perfectly apt statement that describes him and his abusive coterie, such a hypocrite!

  20. Truthiness says:

    If One World’s mission is to create better leadership for the future, she needs to step down in favor of someone who can demonstrate proper leadership. If this was really a comment for KP/BP to note, and then she *wink wink* apologizes, she still should go.

  21. Hoodwinked says:

    “The Queen is the world’s most stunning example of duty and service.”

    A-hahahahaha. Read And What Do You Do? for lots of examples of how the UK royals are super selfless.

  22. LRob says:

    I disagreed with the GMB chastisement of Omid for retweeting Kate Robertson’s original tweet. She put it out there to be read, didn’t she? OYW has global supporters, donors & alumni. I didn’t see where she asked all of them to ignore her message. Personally I don’t attack people on social media but I do respond with directness. She failed a longtime supporter who just a year ago she showcased at OYW. It is up to Meghan how she receives that and the resulting apology. As someone else said, I will follow Meghan’s lead on that.

    Re the Queen. She is an historic figure, a symbol for millions of people. Not for me but I respect her fortitude and the affection with which she is held by loyal subjects. I have no problem criticizing her or her family or aides when I think they are wrong and that has been a lot in regard to the Sussexes. I also recognize that the Sussexes will gain some new champions with their exit and lose some they cherish. That’s business. As long as they remain focused on their mission and family IMO., they will continue thrive.

  23. Elizabeth says:

    The fact that a leader of a charity would think the queen is a sterling example or the MOST sterling example of duty and service is bonkers, first of all. She’s a super rich privileged idiot who vacations about half the year. Nope! Not buying that BS. Second, I love how WOMEN constantly ignore the giant Andrew sex trafficking rape elephant in the room when it comes to how the queen protects him from any repercussions. WOMEN who should know the damage caused to other women by rape and sex trafficking. The queen is not some saint. She’s abusing her totally unearned power to protect a rapist.