I tweeted something about this last night because I was genuinely confused: weren’t we supposed to see more of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during COP26? They came back from their vacation, they dutifully took the peasant train to Glasgow, and then what? William and Kate did two events on Monday – the Scouts thing and the evening reception at the conference – and then William did an Earthshot event on Tuesday. And that was it.
Omid Scobie reported last week – and I would imagine the whole Royal Rota got the memo – that the Cambridges were due to attend five events overall on Monday and Tuesday. I guess I understand why Kate didn’t attend William’s Earthshot reception on Tuesday – he probably didn’t want her there, and he wanted all of the Earthshot press for himself. But still, that’s only three events, not five. After the Earthshot event on Tuesday, William indicated that he was leaving Glasgow:
Feeling optimistic as I head home from #COP26 having met our @EarthshotPrize Winners & Finalists and discussed their solutions to repair our planet. Especially proud to see Vinisha speaking in front of the world, demanding change so that her generation can have a better future. W pic.twitter.com/bMeOj9pzLV
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) November 2, 2021
So, again, that was that. They took the struggle train into Glasgow, played with kids on Monday, played a game of Jazz Hands & Grumpyface at the Monday night reception, and then did Kate leave Scotland? And William stayed one more day.
I also believe that Prince Charles knows and encourages the Cambridges’ limitations. Charles didn’t want William to attend a bunch of serious, world-leader events. But holy hell, William and Kate are both turning 40 years old next year and this is all? Playing with kids and jazz hands?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid and Instar.
Cause they have likely been embargoed and will be released over the next few weeks when they jet back off to continue their sunny vacation – they don’t look tanned enough for me!
Remember they were supposed to be doing 5.
I wonder where they went on holiday?
It appears that they went to Mustique?
Do you guys remember how there was that article awhile ago that said that the Cambridges would no longer holiday outside of Britain because they’re preparing for their roles as P/POW or something like that? And we thought that was really weird and couldn’t figure it out? But then there was the recent article about the counselors of state and how they need 2 of them to work together to sign things and make decisions if the Queen can’t. I wonder if the “they can’t leave the UK” article was a hint that the Queen is ailing and they were hinting that Will needs to keep himself in the UK at all times now until she dies so he can attend to his counselor duties if needed. It didn’t make sense that he couldn’t vacation outside of the UK because he’s going to be POW bc we know that the POW can and does leave the country often. But when it’s worded as specifically “preparing” for POW duties, that narrows down the timeline to between now and when the Queen dies, and that’s the time period where he might most be needed as a counselor of state.
Like, was someone—such as Charles or even the courtiers—trying to tell him that he needed to quit going far away on holiday for awhile so that they wouldn’t have to risk using Andrew as a counselor? But then, Will decided he didn’t care, and was going to go to Mustique anyways, even though the Queen being in hospital is the exact sort of time when it would be most important for him to *not* travel so far away? He decided he doesn’t care how badly it looks for the RF if they have to use Andrew officially because he’s so lazy and entitled that if there’s anyone else who can do the job, no matter how horrific they are, he’s going to have them do it. Or maybe he really did vacation separately and stay in the UK in case he was needed for counselor of state stuff? He didn’t look nearly as tan as Kate did.
Sorry my above comment about Mustique was a mistake. I cancelled it and it still went through….
My cancelled comments always went through too, PrincessK, even though they were erased. You need to erase your comment from the text box and replace it with something/anything. An exclamation point, a period, a nvmd, a happy face, etc. As long as there is some form of text in there, it will print instead of your comment.
It was posted on Twitter that they were on a Spanish island Majorca, then deleted shortly after by a few fan accounts. Not sure how reliable it is but they do look like they got some ☀️ sunshine, but even that has not helped her look healthy.
These two hold my interest about as much as watching paint dry.. they look like the people I avoided at social and charity events throughout my marriage, bless their hearts.
What exactly does it mean when an event is embargoed? That the press and attendees can attend but the public can’t?
It means that the press (who were likely there) and attendees can’t report on it/talk about it until a certain date/time has passed i.e. its a secret until the Keens don’t want it to be a secret anymore.
When dealing with press releases most will have an embargo date/ time of when the story can be released. If gives the reporter time to prepare in advance.
Lol. Digital Unicorn they meant 5 in total, not 5 each.
That’s what I thought – though it would be shocking to count one event as two, simply because they were both there.
Haha – counting with the Cambridges. Kate visits scouts = 1. Wills visits the scouts = 1. Kate does reception = 1. Wills does reception = 1. Wills does Earthshot thingy = 1.
1+1+1+1+1=5. Ta dah!! Home time.
I bet you’re right, which is just…..sad.
@The Hench: You’re probably right and that’s exactly what they meant when they said 5 engagements. As @Becks1 says, that is sad. Just sad.
LOL
Does CopyKeening count as one?
So “engagements” are counted the same way as a sandwich reward card? What do they get after 10 engagements?
@Tangerinetree. lol
A free side item for Will?
So they can make it look like they’re doing more? Yes.
If there’s one thing that the Cambridges have mastered, it’s milking one engagement for all it’s worth. If you make four announcements saying you’re thinking about beginning to look into the option of possibly thinking about starting a thing, the tabloids can spin it to give the impression they’ve been doing something. That’s why we get announcements about announcements about being keen.
According to at least one media headline they were suppose to be in Glasgow the whole week. All this talk about working hard etc is starting to make sense now. They think a week is two days and weekends are five days.
Well Glagow was flooded as the Clyde broke its banks at the weekend
He did 3 and she did 2. 3+2=5.
He looks like he is in actual physical pain every time she opens her mouth.
Yes. But also, in the IG pic with the girl, he looks so uncomfortable and very much like Mr. Burns. The bald head, the nose, the bad posture, the complete discomfort with having to touch another human being and look like he’s congratulating them.
In the photo of Kate and William outdoors my eye was instantly drawn to whatever is happening in the, uh, pelvic region of his exceedingly too snug trousers. What is going on there? No really, what? All I know is it’s a tailoring car crash and though I’m horrified, I can’t stop looking in an attempt to figure it out. They both need to put their super tight pants away…they can donate them any nearby American Girl Doll closet for the “Chastity Considers the Viability of the British Monarchy” collection.
@Amy Too- Everyone says Mr Burns, but I think he’s more like the love child of Gru from Despicable Me and Sloth from the Goonies.
He seems to be a natural at looking down at intelligent women, doesn’t he?
That first picture reminds me of when Ivanka Trump embarrassed herself at the G20 by trying to keep up with the likes of Theresa May by waving her hands around. She and Kate were out of their depth.
Yep! Both are lightweights, though I’ll give a slight edge to Ivanka for making her money the old fashion way through grifting.
Daily Fail’s headline about Kate today:
“Dressing to show off your waist? Kate proves it’s a cinch! How the Duchess uses well-placed pleats, pockets and buttons to nip in her svelte figure”
She’s nothing but a living Barbie in the press.
Can anyone think of even one photo, taken within the past ten years, in which William looks proud of Kate? There must have been a time that he wasn’t this resentful, but she speaks so little, and I can’t remember him ever looking proud or looking at her lovingly.
Come on – – – there are many. See Town and Country Mag 2018
“Having such a good laugh at the Global Mental Health Summit in October 2018.”
https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/prince-william-duke-of-cambridge-and-catherine-duchess-of-news-photo-1047943384-1539084430.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.307xh;0,0.0196xh&resize=480:*
Looking at kate while getting out of a car is not evidence that he’s proud of her. He’s just not grumbling at her, which he’s been doing for the last few years. This was in 2018 when he was still playing along.
@Fluglybear I don’t even know if this is supposed to be sarcasm, because I sure don’t see pride or love on his face there. And as Nic said, they were only getting out of a car. I meant has Will ever looked proud when Kate is actually DOING something.
It’s funny cause they keep telling everyone and their mother that they are ready for the throne and how dedicated and hard working they are and then it’s like. A reception? An event with children? You went to a conference for nothing?
I mean after the queens health scare it was reported that william wasn’t able to take on more of her duties because (and i quote) “he already does so much”.
…
What exactly does he do?
Nothing, just like his wife. I’m not British so it’s so strange to me that their lazy attitude toward their “duty” isn’t questioned by their media
It’s like they are perfectly fine with claiming that they will step up and prepare for their roles when the time is right , but when it’s actually time to do the job, they panic. Now it’s, I am soooo busy that this thing I’ve been telling people I am prepared for is actually going to have to take a back seat. I think William is, in reality, afraid to do the job. The queen’s hospitalization, however brief, was the perfect time to show up and let his actions match his PR for once and then he just…..disappears.
@JT – I think you may be onto something here.
After all his earthshot shenanigans, this climate conference is theoretically right up William’s strasse and he’s barely done anything. Unless, of course, it’s not that William is afraid of doing anything, it’s that everyone else is afraid of him doing something??
@The Hench William should have been all over this conference with Earthshot, if he actually believed in it that is. He should taken this project with all of the winners and schmoozed his ass off. This was the perfect opportunity to put the prize in the faces of the actual movers and shakers of the world, because climate change can only be solved if governments get involved. But it’s like…he was hiding the whole time.
I think he’s afraid to step up because he knows he can’t and I also think that nobody believes that he can truly do the job. COP26 was daddy letting Little Willy tag along to look important basically. He’s all good and dandy when he’s making pronouncements through Dan Wootton and the rats, but he is incapable of being the leader that he presents himself as. He doesn’t actually live up to his own hype, which is interesting when you think about it. He isn’t the family man he claims to be, he isn’t the leader he thinks he is, Earthshot wasn’t the powerhouse that he sold it as either. William isn’t the man he really wants to be. But you know who is? Harry. Which is why he needed to “share the burden of being king” with the true leader, the war vet, the protective family man, the founder of Invictus. I think William is having an identity crisis as of late.
@the Hench: i think its a bit of both. I think courtiers (and charles and the queen) find william too incompetent for the job. Same goes for kate. I also think he’s stubborn and has his own idea as to what kingship must look like, and i don’t think it involves a whole lot of actual work.
@JT yes, completely agree. What it reminds me of if those strange press stories when Harry left about how “William needs Harry “and we were all debating how strange that wording was.
I think what we are seeing now makes sense of it. William just is not capable of doing the job and they needed Harry to do the heavy lifting for him by playing what theoretically was the wingman position but actually was the top role.
ETA @Chloe – yes, I’m sure that the rest of the royal family is very aware of William’s incompetence but, if that is the case, then why the hell didn’t they agree to the half in, half out deal that Harry originally proposed? Perhaps William insisted that he would step up, for the umpteenth time and they foolishly believed him.
How sad is it to know that you are not everything you wish you were? That everything you claim to be is a lie? His entire life is facade. How do you reconcile that fact when it’s time to be the thing you’ve been proclaiming your self as? It will be interesting to watch William’s moves as he gets closer to the job. POW is around the corner, even if it takes at least 5-7 years or so, but he’s already being expected to step up more and he’s clearly not ready. I think he’s actually terrified of the “promotion” so to speak. I think he will start to unravel, if he’s not already starting to.
@The Hench they didn’t agree to the half in half out, because they were sure H&M would fail. They were sure Harry would come crawling back (preferably alone) on his hands and knees begging them to take him back. They thought Harry would learn a lesson of his own insignificans, come back and forever accept his his role as PWT’s whipping boy. Them thriving was never going to happen.
@the hench: i think the reason as to why they didn’t agree to harry’s half in half out has multiple answers:
1) the royal family and specifically courtiers wanted to teach him and meghan a lesson. So they tried to do that by playing hard. They never thought harry would actually leave and do well for himself
2) there is a weird dynamic within the royal family but what it boils down to is that people probably felt like harry and meghan “didn’t know their place”. I often joke that the royals are talking about harry as if he’s a runaway slave but that is essentially what it is. They wanted him to carry the institution on his back in to future generations yet its wasn’t his place to be more popular or to modernize the monarchy. So again, not allowing half in half out was a form of punishment.
3) people that think “out of the box” and have a personality and a mind of their own are often treated as outcasts in the RF.
4) the fourth reason is much more sinister and i don’t think i’ll say it on this platform.
JT, I think that for a long time William thought he could just coast on being a better man than Charles was. William had a front row seat to everything that happened with Charles and Diana and Charles and Camilla and it affected him in an outsized way. There was a time when the public’s hatred of Charles and Camilla matched William’s. I think that’s why he leaned so hard into the “perfect family man” role. Nice wife, nice kids, lots of time spent with the kids and the family, good looking happy family photos, etc. because the whole personal/family aspect of Charles is what he’s most affected by and focused. It’s the thing he most resents in Charles, it’s the thing he holds the biggest grudge about, it’s the main “Charles” quality that he feels he needs to be better than. And he thought the public felt the same. And for awhile—during Will’s formative years, when he should have been studying and starting his working life off strong—they did. So that’s what he focused on. He didn’t focus on work, he focused on being a good family man.
The problem is that the public got over Charles’ personal life and started to accept Charles and Camilla, and they also stated to pivot towards respecting Charles’ work—because the longer you do the work, the longer you show that you are a steady, constant, working presence, the more people start to accept and respect that. That becomes your legacy, instead of your personal life screw ups. But William is still stuck on trying to beat “personal life Charles.” He never thought the work would be important. He thought he just needed to be more personally palatable than Charles was. And he’s not even good at that! But because he thinks that’s what’s most important in the “how can I be better than dad” campaign, he spends all of his PR pull on building himself up as the most liked, most special, most good person and father and husband. So many embiggening stories that aren’t about his work, they’re just about William being a wonderful William and how William is basically the best, most dutiful, most responsible, brother/husband/father/ grandson/son of Diana. This hasn’t been working that well though, he screwed things up with his wife and marriage, he’s not the best dad, he drove his brother out of the country, he openly hates his sister in law. He’s becoming as messy as his dad was in his personal life. Oops.
So now he’s pivoting, finally, towards work. It seems he’s finally caught on to the fact that the public no longer hates Charles with a passion for his messy personal life, they now begrudgingly respect him for being a hard worker with a consistent platform (environmentalism). But it took William awhile to read the room because William is most concerned with how William feels, and William still felt like 15 year old William with that same level of hatred and fury towards his father, because William never dealt with his feelings properly like Harry did. But now, about ten years late, he’s figured out that people like how hardworking his dad is, they associate the POW role with the Prince’s Trust, Dumfires House, environmentalism, hard, daily work. So now, to beat his dad, William wants to be known as the hard working, oh so busy, statesman and environmentalist with things like Earthshot. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that William chose environmentalism. He wants to beat his dad at that. He’s too lazy to ever match Charles’ working numbers, but maybe he can “win” at the environment. He doesn’t have to be a great Prince, or King, or person, he just has to be slightly better than Charles, which he thought would be an easy metric to meet, but he’s finding it hard. And I think that must be giving him quite the identity crisis. Hes actually having trouble trying to be better than his dad, something he always thought he just innately was.
@JT — “How sad is it to know that you are not everything you wish you were? That everything you claim to be is a lie.”
And there you’ve hit the nail on the head. If you don’t “like” yourself and know you’re not hitting the mark or accomplishing all you can do, if you’re aware deep down inside you’re as useless as a wooden frying pan, you project your anger at yourself onto everyone around you. That’s why he’s so jaw-grindingly, hand-clenchingly angry at everyone around him, esp. his useless wife. Being a pompous, tempermental ass is way easier than actually working hard and trying to get along with people. He derives his skewed sense of power from intimidating and belittling those around him who he subconsciously perceives as smarter and more successful than he is.
@Avea it would be great if someone compiled all of the headlines about the Cambridges “work” plans since they got married, and made a timeline out of them. It would show so clearly how they keep saying over and over again that they’re ready, they’re learning, they’re keen, they’re the ones who will save the monarchy, Kate has finally come into her own, this year will be the year they “step up” and hit the ground running.
Lots of people know this already, but to have the proof laid out in black and white like Buzzfeed did with the comparisons of the Kate & Meghan stories might go a long way toward showing what infantile liars they are. Every year is the year they’re finally going to work and people need to see how it’s repeated but never actually happens.
Could Charles want all attention and emphasis on himself as next great leader?
Your point is taken by some of us lol.
Or maybe Willnot and Cannot had a massive fight and Willnot decided to leave go be with his girlfriend.
We already know these two don’t Iike each other, let alone live in the same house.
Willnot’s adultery is a point of contentions now that a story has been printed about it. It was fine when it was baseless gossip.
Tiffany – Where does William live? Don’t say Norfolk because he apparently regularly does the school run in London.
The European tabloids have only ever photographed kate doing the school run once in a while. Outside of the stories of William hanging out with the yummy mummies at the gym, he’s never been photographed. Can’t be doing it too often if he has managed to evade them but not kate.
It makes me wonder if Will & Kate are just not embraced by this crowd: the serious adults will tolerate one set of useless, self-important British royals (Charles & Camilla) but the rest of the riffraff got iced out. I doubt anyone they encountered there actually admires them or thinks they’re committed to anything but affairs and vacations
I think you’re right. The Cambridges just cannot be on the level of world leaders. They were intimidated by high-level discussions of the most influential leaders of the world. They’d rather throw mud and have drinks and keep the discussion on trivial matters only. Disappointingly lightweight.
Agree. They really are the “Dumb and Dumber” of the BRF, they’ve proven that again and again.
I think Charles is genuinely smarter. William struggled at school and Kate was smarter than William.
I wonder if they did more events and they will be released gradually over the next few weeks to give the impression of more work, and thats why we heard there were embargoed events?
Also I thought Kate and Will both attended a reception for Earthshot nominees -not the one that William went to last night but a different one, bc on Monday there was a post about finally getting to meet the nominees etc, it looked like a brief reception before the diplomatic reception. But maybe I was misinterpreting the posts etc and I don’t feel like going to look now, lol.
Anyway – three publicized events and a few embargoed events (MAYBE, that’s me giving the benefit of the doubt) is ridiculous at this point. These two are so embarrassing.
I am seeing a reference to them attending more than one reception on Monday. Who knows really. It’s always a grift with them when it comes to engagement numbers. Jason was there so they probably had a meeting with him and counted that.
Kate was spotted flying back to Gatwick on Monday evening. Someone on Twitter posted that their daughter saw her on a commercial flight.
I wonder if she was alone and left the kids with the Midds in Mustique and now she’s heading back?
Interesting. You would have thought that if Kate and William were on the plane then that would be the report. Not just that it was Kate. So where is William and why isn’t he flying back home with his wife? The Instagram post in the story also backed up that William is on his own as he talks about “I” not “we”.
I think the kids are back in school, so they all probably came home from wherever over the weekend.
I don’t think they are capable of doing anything more. They are both limited in their capabilities. Photos without accompanying video that is not heavily edited. There was no reason for Camila and Kate to be there. It was basically a take your child to work day with William following his father around. Charles gave speeches and met world leaders. He was out front and visible. He established himself as the heir apparent and the chosen representative for the queen.
The monarchy is in big trouble. If the only thing William and Kate are capable of doing is attending cocktail events and engaging in small talk as well as playing games with children then they are lightweights. A 95 year old can’t rest because these two are not capable of stepping up. They drove out actual working royals then it’s time they are forced to step up. A sycophantic press can’t shield them anymore. If the UK economy worsens, they will be the first ones to be blamed.
Right. To be blunt, they’re too stupid. Both are liabilities.
Yup, the Lamebridges only attended to add the event to their Court Circular. They didn’t have any impact though and only emphasized what useless, unimpactful sloths they are. What a waste of money these people are.
It seems to me like Charles dictated he take the Lead role here not William because he’s been waiting his whole life to be the one mingling with world leaders. I don’t think William can undermine his father nor would he. You statement about take your child to work day is on point.
So basically they showed up at the event, sat at the kids table, and were sent to bed so the grownups could talk freely.
I mean, when you put it that way….sounds about right.
Oh, that’s spot on!
Maybe they count the appearances the 2 of them make (like the reception) as 2. Then the total would be 5
Sometimes i don’t they can sink lower but they always manage to dig deeper
That’s what I was going to say, lol. I bet it’s something like embargoed events that will be released later, but it would be hilarious if they counted the scouts thing as 2 and the reception as 2 because they were both there. Event for Kate+event for William+event for Kate+event for William+event for William=5.
Or are they counting their “arrival” as an event? They like to do that.
I’d be surprised if they didn’t count a private meeting with Jason Knauf as an event, so that plus counting their “arrival” as one would make up the numbers.
My same thought. They are counting as five events because they each attended two of them and then William did one on his own. Pathetic.
Lol, I think you are right.
I predict when or if KKKate is Queen, botox/ hairdresser appointments will be counted as ” meetings with leaders of the cosmetic/ beauty industry”
Oh she looks ludicrous in that header photo. I hate that my tax pounds go to fund her face pulling and stupid comments.
He needs a better PoW for his future. I dislike both of them but if we can’t have a republic, we equally cannot have a literal idiot in the position of princess. She is a liability.
Like he’s going to make a great Prince of Wales? He is going to be just as lazy and stupid as PoW as she is. Why would he change, when he gets everything he wants being a superior douche? I really don’t see another title creating a change in him at all. If anything he will only act more arrogant.
Which is why I truly believe the PoW title should be witheld from him. Let him be known as Cornwall and earn the title of Prince of Wales. He has done NOTHING to deserve it.
He’s equally idiotic and even more of a liability, because he’s the blood prince. No woman with actual brain function, who’d do a good job, would marry him.
Maybe William didn’t get enough attention at his reception.
Or maybe someone realized that the Cambridges generate no interest on the global stage.
Or maybe they decided to run off to their respective holidays in case Granny shuffles off this mortal coil and they’ll have to “work” much harder for the rest of their lives! (Lol, say this last bit in a plummy, horrified British voice.)
They are the UK’s Ivanka & Jared, total lightweight, out of their league on the world stage.. At least they may have some self awareness to stay away from events where they might be expected to act like intelligent adults & hold a serious conversation
Because they’re lightweights.
I choked on my coffee when you wrote “jazz hands”. Lol! Thanks for the laugh
They were there for the photo-ops and they got them. Be pictured taking train – check. Be pictured engaging the local community – check. Be pictured engaging with world leaders – check. Be pictured in a suit at a podium – check. Work is done. Why make any attempt at meaningful contributions when you’re only goal is good optics.
For real. It’s like, stop obsessing over your damn Instagram account money shots a la Sussex style and learn how to do your actual jobs! They’re like two 20 somethings worrying about their selfies 24/7. Their priorities are completely screwed up!
I guess my question would be – what are their actual jobs? I know they have patronages, but it doesn’t seem that the expectations there are high. And they’ve taken on some personal projects, like Earthshot and the Keen Foundation for Keenness, but does anyone expect them to do more there than they have? Is there a specific job within the monarchical structure that the FFK is supposed to do? Or are these “jobs” just a way to keep them from getting bored and make the public think they’re not a waste of money until they ascend the throne.
Eurydice, generally you’re not even supposed to have 40 year old dukes of Cambridge but the Queen is so damn old. The POW isn’t supposed to be 70+, he’s supposed to be William’s age. The prince of wales’ first kid, the Duke of Cambridge, is supposed to be school aged and basically just concerned with surviving to adulthood and getting an education. But the system is so backed up with the BRF, that we have middle aged people playing the role of children. What *are* you supposed to do with them? They traditionally wouldn’t be doing working royal stuff, because they’d be children. But you can’t have 40 years old who do nothing, so you have to give them some duties. But then the Duke of C can always say “this isn’t an actual position. I shouldn’t even be working until I’m POW.” I think that’s what there was so much confusion and back and forth and leeway with william and whether or not he should be a full time working royal or not. They just don’t know what to do with him, but it looks bad if he does nothing. But if he’s working full time and has his own palace and press office, along with other grandkids like Harry and Meghan having their own offices, then you have all these palaces and press offices competing for attention and working against each other. The POW is going to be jealous because historically the POW was THE hot kid on the block that everyone wanted to hang out with and listen to. But now that’s Will and Kate for the British press (and Harry and Meghan for the rest of the world), and the POW is sort of stuck in the middle as a nobody: not in charge, but not the youngest coolest one that everyone thinks is fashionable. And it’s because the Queen has lived for so long and won’t retire.
@Amy Too – that also happened with Victoria, didn’t it? Her son Bertie didn’t become king until he was 60 and for his whole life before that he was pretty much a playboy. And his son, George V, was in the navy for a while until he became second-in-line and then sat around until he became king at age 45. I’m not a student of British royalty, but it seems like the idea of heirs having a “job” and being productive is a relatively new thing.
Mic drop! You just nailed it, Amy Too. Imagine if the Queen had died, naturally, in her 70s (still a good long life and reign by Royal standards.) Charles would now be an aging King, more popular than he is now because of the natural deference the position grants, and because he’d likely have continued working hard as sovereign. Wills would have been POW in his late teens or 20s, still good-looking and maybe (?) able to attract a more suitable partner by virtue of the title and the POW platform (or maybe that’s too much of a long shot? I’m dreaming here!) Anyway, being POW/Duke of Cornwall would have forced him to work through his grief and manage the Duchy, which he’d probably have learned to do at least adequately had he started in his teens, and which maybe could have given him a sense of purpose as it seems to have done for Charles. Fast-forward to 2021 … King Charles is in his 70s approaching the end of his theoretical lifespan, so POW Wills feels the need learn some King stuff instead of languishing as an emotionally stunted 15 year old who still fundamentally conceives of the role as a generation removed from himself.
Instead, we’re going to have Edward VII all over again, just this time he’ll be the grandson and not the son of the long-lived sovereign matriarch. Good old George V/VII will be left to pick up the pieces. Good luck.
(ETA: Eurydice, you beat me to it! Yes it is history repeating itself, except that George V was considered a reasonably effective and respectable king.)
And yes, the idea that the RF need to “work” is relatively new, started by George V in reaction to the wave of anti-monarchical sentiment rolling over Europe around the time of WWI. The Hanoverian kings (Victoria’s uncles) could still start wars and colonize and expand empire and such, and at home their world was small enough that they could hang out and be rich without much pushback from the people. Victoria inherited that power and privilege, but after Albert died she turned over most of her political powers to her counselors who in time became the modern PM and parliament. Edward VII was (more or less) the first monarch who had no defined role upon his coronation. George V was savvy enough to define one for himself and his descendants, however archaic it might seem now.
And remember that Edward VIII, son of George V, was pushed off the throne for being a Nazi-sympathizing lightweight. (When not too many generations before, that sort of land-grabbing bloodlust was probably revered in a monarch.) If it weren’t for George VI being a sensible chap, and for the nationalist identity that WWII bequeathed to Britain, the monarchy would never have survived past the 1930s. It’s kind of astonishing that it’s managed to hang on since then, but IMO it’s only because QEII, being the daughter of George VI, is the living manifestation of Little England’s greatest hour.
@Lionel it’s so interesting to think about what things might look like today in that alternative timeline.
I feel like William (and kate) is going to be in for a rude awakening very shortly. It’s easier to learn things and start a robust, consistent working life when you’re 20-something. If he had been POW then, like Lionel said, and like he should’ve been if the Queen weren’t insisting on living forever and not backing down, he (and Kate) would have had something to do that would have kept him busy and engaged during his professionally formative years, rather than his “I’m just an overgrown teenage bloke who likes beer and football and girls, and you can’t make me work because 1) I don’t want to and 2) I don’t really have to” thing that he’s been allowed to do into middle age because he (and Kate) occupies a title that traditionally didn’t come with any working expectations. He doesn’t even pay his own bills right now as DofC, daddy pays for everything and he gets whatever he asks for because he’s basically playing the role of a child. So being thrust into POW role when he’s 40-45 is going to be hard enough for him (and Kate). But because Charles won’t even start his reign until he’s 75 or so, and because men generally have shorter lifespans than women, he’s not going to have a super long reign. Meaning William is going to jump from his “in the wind, no real concrete duties, there’s still a whole generation in between me and the crown” position to King in a relatively short amount of time, spending a relatively short period of time in the preparatory POW position, and at an age where if he doesn’t already have a work ethic, he’s not going to suddenly gain one.
They should have figured this out a long time ago. 2 decades ago, when the Queen realized she was 75 years old and still in great health and intending to live as long as her mother, they should have decided on a more rigorous, standardized, professional role for William (and Kate). Treating him—into his 40s!—as a literal child who’s just killing time enjoying the perks of being a royal kid until his first adult job starts, was a big mistake. They allowed him to live like an adult man with his own multiple homes, his own wife and children, his own office and aides, his own PR department, his own parties and mistresses and travels and vacations, his own sense of hierarchy and authority over his other relatives, but they didn’t make him get an adult man job—even if it was just royal work, but like serious, actual, every day, 300+ events a year royal work. He literally started working “full time” 5 years ago and that’s just because Meghan came into the family. They let him have all the adult privileges with none of the adult responsibilities and because of that they’ve created a monster who is now too indulged and entitled to actually take training or advice from his dad and grandmother about the very important jobs he’s going to be coming into soon.
@Amy Two and Lionel – this is such an interesting thread, thank you both. I wonder if, at the end of the day, William won’t be praying for the dissolution of the monarchy.
His father died just short of 100. Charles may reign for 25 years.
That’s the Cambridges in a nutshell, and has been for a very long time: they approach their royal “work” in terms of photo ops and PR spin (so that can avoid actually work).
Now now, don’t forget, Kate also ran around shoving insects in people’s faces and laughing hysterically about it, like a real grownup.
😂
Anybody else think she was giving Big Will a message by wanting to shove larvae in his face?
I think she is deliberately trying to get on his nerves.
I think she’s trying to get him to respond to her goofy, immature personality the way he liked it when they first met. She hasn’t matured beyond that, while he is more than tired of her and her playacting.
Kaiser, you are a genius at picking the right photos 😂😁🤭
As far as I can tell, the only reason for anybody from the RF to attend this summit was to act as “host.” The RF family can’t negotiate anything, they can’t be “political” – they could do something about their own carbon footprint, but nobody seems to take that too seriously. Charles took over the hosting duties from the Queen (whatever those were) and the rest was left to speeches and posturing by the world leaders who felt like attending. Will and Kate were never necessary – but having them there seemed like bringing out your kids to sing a song during an adult cocktail party – kind of uncomfortable for everybody.
I shouldn’t be surprised. I cannot believe a day of engagements was all Kate did. But I should believe it because this is what she’s (and William) been doing for the last 10 years.
Y’all got your numbers wrong! Taking the train was an event! We are still talking about it right? Taking another train back-another event. Sadly we are talking about fourty not five year olds.
Since we’re on the topic of Royals and the environment, what policies have been enacted in the UK to protect the environment and fight climate change as a result of Charles’s influence, and what practices has he adopted personally and on his estates to help lessen pollution and save the planet? His huge carbon footfprint is obviously one of his non-negotiables.
Cos they’re dumb and dumber.
Wills did 3, Kate did 2. 3+2+5. It’s like you aren’t even trying to understand.
::throws hands up and huffs as I stomp off incandescently with rage::
Your incandescence made me chuckle!
Their arrival and departure were part of the 5 events
The Cambridges are not fit for their future jobs. This event proved it. And Kate walking around a venue with a petri dish of LARVAE (that’s how the critters were ID’d) was disgusting.
William attends important event. Makes faces at wife. He will be king one day and a fine one at that.
Lightweight royals. They dont even have a 10% pull of the Sussexes although they’ve been there 10 years as a couple. These 2 cannot be speaking at a serious adult conference: they have absolutely no credibility, absolutely no specialty, a real joke. Kate has talent making art pieces with kids with scissors and glue, like xmas cards. Willam knows how to type with 2 fingers. I would be so embarassed. Their own team are embarrassed, I mean the whole machine is embarrassed, that’s why they have zero serious event going on. Nobody takes them seriously, not even themselves. #piecharttopceowithgrin
My favorite book is Of Mice and Men. I’ve come to the conclusion that Will is the Lenny of the BRF and Kate is the George* now that Harry’s gone (it was Harry’s position, previously). But Will thinks Kate is the Lenny and resents her for it. Nobody knows how to play George* to Will’s Lenny except Harry, who is gone. Hence, the Lenny is becoming obvious.
*George from Steinbeck’s novel, not to be confused with young Prince George, Will and Kate’s son.
Well, I guess I’d better read Of Mice and Men now. I genuinely thought I would never need to, but I really want to understand what you are connecting here. Oh, maybe Wikipedia or cliff notes? Ahhh, it’s like high school all I Ed again. Lol
Ooo Rapunzel, I like that analogy!
Lmao, “struggle train.” I’m laughing at that mental image of them taking the train, being frustrated with how long the journey is and having to spend an extended period together, as opposed to their usual private helicopter.
I’m beginning to wonder if they took the train ALL the way from London to Glasgow (think it’s called The Royal Scotsman).
How is it possible that Kate looks like the one that these outdoor “events” are actually planned around and William is just a tag along helper? I get that might happen once but EVERY TIME the helper??
Does anyone know what they’ve done with their you tube? Their roll-out was hilariously pedestrian.
This comment made me curious so I went and checked. They’ve got a grand total of 14 videos from launch. 13 if we discount their welcome videos. 8 of those videos are about Hold Still (conversations Kate had with the winners), 2 were about Earthshot, 1 was about their Scotland tour, 1 was about something William did and 1 was about COP26.
I expected to see more Camilla too.
Jazz hands and grumpy face! I love it. So does anyone know anything about the actual idea that won the earthshot prize or is the work that won the honor. The whole thing is so vague and elementary…
Hello! Not only is Wills giving side eye smirk he wants to punch her! Look at that fist! 🙀
Does the Church of England still consider sloth to be a deadly sin? If not, these two layabouts need to be thanking Henry VIII.
They were never even mentioned in the US.
American here. Why do people assume that when William and Kate become Prince and Princess of Wales and eventually King and Queen Consort that they will do anything more than the performative token events they do now? Is there some mechanism that will force them to do more than below minimum? Will any money from any duchy or crown be withheld from them if they don’t?
Because they’re ridiculous poseurs?