The thing about the royal summer holidays is that it’s very easy for the Windsors to be slow out of the gate to respond or react when there’s a legitimate issue. It’s happened time and time again in the sleepy summer months, where a problem is magnified by the Windsors’ summer-reticence to actually DO something. So it is with Prince William’s World Cup fiasco, where he was too lazy, stupid and sexist to travel to Australia to support the Lionesses in the Women’s World Cup final. William has been Football Association President for well over a decade, and his job entails more than “watching football from home.” Anyway, it’s been a full week of watching William get dragged and I’m not ready for the party to be over. Please enjoy this excerpt from the Guardian’s “No one really cares about William missing the World Cup final. This was about Harry – again” by columnist Zoe Williams. The subheadline: “Ignore Piers Morgan. Most people aren’t angry about the royal no-show – they just want to take our future king down a peg or two.” A PEG OR TWO.
The question I was not expecting was “Where was Prince William at the World Cup final?”, still less to hear it endlessly examined, by news anchors, bigmouths, football pundits and politicians. Who was the angriest, between Jon Sopel, who tweeted: “Happy to accept might be impossible for the PM, given other commitments. But Prince William? Why?” and Piers Morgan, who went in on: “With respect, YRH [Your Royal Highness], you should have got on a plane.”
…This is what happens when you get into a popularity contest with your brother. Having made the decision to neither complain nor explain, as per his family’s motto, there has been little William could do in the face of Harry’s Californian openness, except exist as a counterpoint, the not-open brother, who hasn’t been to therapy, who probably doesn’t meditate, who doesn’t have problematic feelings, still less tell anyone about them, and hope that public opinion would swing his way. And it has, broadly: he is now the most popular member of the royal family after the departed Queen, though if all the respondents knew they were allowed to stick with the deceased, surely Henry VIII would have got more of a look-in?
Kate of Wales (or whatever), meanwhile, is fourth most popular, after Princess Anne, while Meghan and Harry languish at 11th and 12th respectively. William’s victory as preferred sibling has been pretty resounding, but he has been in this game long enough to know that triumph in it is just the opening of a new nightmare, one in which the populace can rescind their approval at any time, on a whim, and they test this power with fresh objections all the time, just to prove they still have it. There are so many reasons that William might be selected as the face of the oppressive patriarchy, but football isn’t really one of them.
Now that he is on the back foot, he will be ominously aware that the next thing he doesn’t attend has the potential to drag him down further, and the third will turn into a pattern of behaviour, The Prince Who Doesn’t Turn Up to Things. What an easy slide that is to The Prince Who Doesn’t Share the Nation’s Joy or Pain. He will be showing his face to judge cheesecake competitions, while wondering neurotically whether Harry has got the jump on him by going to Crufts.
It is an absolutely poisoned chalice, royalty, and the answer has been obvious for decades: all of you, put yourselves out of your misery and abdicate. Since none of them will do that, the second best idea is to be more Anne. Very private princess – I have no idea what she does and doesn’t attend, only that it’s always headscarf weather.
I thought it was funny, although her premise is sort of incomplete. While I do not doubt that William’s fanatical obsession with Harry is a huge part of this, the larger problem is… William is lazy. That’s a stand-alone issue, although one could argue that the only way to get William to do anything at all is by telling him that Harry already did it. Harry spoke at the United Nations – William wants to do it too! Harry is embraced by Americans – William wants the same! Harry is a global statesman with a portfolio of charities, foundations and the Invictus Games. William wants to be just like that, only without putting in any effort or time. So he’s just running around, telling people he’s a global statesman, all while he refuses to leave his mistress’s love shack (or whatever). But I also agree that people are using the World Cup fiasco as a chance to take William down “a peg or two.” They all know. It’s another open secret.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, screencap courtesy of the Diana Awards.
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- 09-03-2020 Commonwealth Day Celebrations Prince Harry and Meghan The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Westminster Abbey 2020 Mirror News Photo Phil Harris,Image: 563901013, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: PA ROTA / Avalon
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- (left to right) The Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and garden designer Pip Morrison, during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of the Dukes’ mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. .,Image: 619024585, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge (right) and the Duke of Sussex during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday.,Image: 619146815, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dominic Lipinski / Avalon
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- The Duke of Cambridge (right) and the Duke of Sussex during the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.,Image: 619146819, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- 09-03-2020 Commonwealth Day Celebrations Westminster Abbey 2020
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- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talks to Prince Harry before a reception in the Waterloo Chamber, before her Sovereign Monarchs Jubilee lunch at Windsor Castle.
So it’s Harry’s fault William is getting dragged, because his existence outside the royal control makes it impossible for Wiiliam to be lazy? That’s my takeaway here: Harry isn’t the shield anymore and now people see William’s flaws.
Totally accurate, imo. And exactly why Peg is mad Harry left.
this is my takeaway too. William is now in the spotlight in a way he weirdly has not been before (saying weirdly bc one would think the heir would always be in the spotlight, but he has always hid behind Harry.) Now that Harry is gone, there is nowhere for William to hide.
Also, the part about how now people are paying attention to what he does or doesn’t attend and hes close to becoming “the Prince Who Doesnt Show Up to Things” is pretty dead on.
I thought her overall point was convoluted, but the observations were spot on. The Prince Who Doesn’t Turn Up is perfect, I feel like it could be worked into a Turnip Toffs reference as well, and the line about Anne always being somewhere with headscarf weather made me laugh. I hope William does become an official cheesecake judge.
I was saying the same thing yesterday. Harry’s no longer there for him to hide behind. When the press and Palace speak about him being there to support William what they really meant was that Harry was supposed to be a shield for William.
Let Waity become the new shield since she is clearly no longer the mattress, and because of course she “wants to do more”.
@amybee yep. They thought harry should be the shield; but Charles and ,looks like, William didn’t want to pay him! Didn’t look out for him.
Did the press know that Charles wasn’t paying him? I don’t think they did. It’s not fair to harass harry if he hasn’t got any support. Take Hugh grant. Hugh grant has made a fortune being an Englishman. You can say the press goes along with that. Harry didn’t get any of that. Couldn’t even stay in the army cause of bring a royal.
BINGO ✔ I’m finally starting to understand the William need Harry concept 😏 that the British Media love to preach.
I commented yesterday that I think the real reason that the Royals need Harry to support William is because of William’s jealousy, inadequacies insecurities and competitiveness. It is only Harry’s “presence and work ethic … (that) would spur William into actually performing his duties adequately as a Royal and patron of charities and organizations.”. Yes, Harry being a shield for William is part of it but I think it is more William’s outright laziness without Harry. Both William and Kate are lazy as heck unless there is competition. Just look at how the then Cambridges kicked into gear only when Meghan arrived upon the scene. The Royals know this about william. Does anyone remember the footage of Diana with her then young boys and William was having a fit and didn’t want to go somewhere so he was trying to hide? Diana said something like “okay then, we’ll leave and Harry will have all the fun.” At that, William shrieked NO nd ran out to join them. Diana knew her sons well.
It’s also possible William is like that because Diana used “Harry can have it” , “Harry can do it” to get him to do things he didn’t want to do. She might have started it.
Just picture it. William seeing those pictures of Harry and Nacho having a blast while doing good deeds. He can’t take it. Also Invictus is coming soon and I predict so many meltdowns from Peg and the RR. Keep winning Harry.
Lol… this person is more popular than Harry? 😂
I also don’t think this fiasco is due to his continue obsession with his brother , it’s because of his sheer laziness.
I think the survey showing William as the most popular with Kate as the 4th really gets to how skewed and unreliable it is. The tabloids really went after Harry so it’s possible that he is much less popular with their chosen demographic, but that group LOVES Kate. Clearly this paid poll was both to placate the incandescent idiot that he’s “winning” over Harry but also to convince themselves that it’s William that is the star and Kate can be let go.
I lol’d at the way she called her “Kate of Wales” (or whatever) 😂
ETA: These polls are total BS, imo, but if Will is first, Anne is second, and Kate is fourth, do we know who is supposedly third?
I think they want us to believe Chuck is third. If ever there was proof that these people bought a poll, that’s it.
k was just going to comment on the “he is now the most popular member of the royal family” – says who? Any poll I’ve scene has Harry streets ahead of William (unless it’s a KP poll of who is the sexiest bald man etc).
So I know the tabloids generally praise William the heir but do people in the UK really like him that much? I know people say it’s mostly apathy that the public feel but I’m just curious. The idea of people walking around with even somewhat positive thoughts about William is wild to me but obv I’m biased.
@Jais, IF you could see some of the comments (and there are hundreds of them) you would know that William really isn’t the favourite Royal, and neither is keen, camzilla or the burger king. The most popular Royal is Anne, because they see her as a worker! Now take into account that Anne has made no secret of the fact that she is still fond of Harry and you can see how they screw with the actual poll results to print what they want! A pole in the Express that I took part in had Harry at 39 %, more popular than William or Kate, but, when it was printed it showed that figure assigned to William. It’s crap, they print what they want people to believe, not what is actually true.
You said it @mary pester, they print what they want 🙄.
💯 💯 💯
@MaryPester. that’s wild they mess with the polls like that!
Yep he has been taken down a peg or two lol. I’m not sure how Harry being open and having feelings has anything to do with Lazy Peg. Are they suggesting that Peg needs therapy and to meditate? Peg does need therapy but that won’t happen. Peg is lazy and takes credit for others works and good deeds. Peg has always been quietly quitting in fact I think he invented it lol.
If they’d told William Harry would go instead he’d be straight on a plane. Jealous since he was a little boy.
Ironically, if Wills had gone and given even 1/3 of what Latizia did, the pics would have come closer to competing with Harry than anything else he’s ever done.
But William just doesn’t have the brains to get that. Bet he’ll be crying when the images of Harry hugging athletes start streaming invictus athletes in a few weeks
He already made a huge fool of himself during the England Final against Italy where he left in a huff and didn’t even congratute the italian president nor handed out the trophies.
And they tried to blame that on George.
This was such an easy win for him! All he had to do was show up. No long speeches, no controversy, just really good PR.
Now the question really is if he is more stupid or more lazy.
You know, I wonder if the bad press from that Italy final was part of why he stayed home? Like, he’s lazy and disinclined to travel, but was also like, “what if they lose?”
I suspect if Willyboy had gone, we’d have gotten some other scandal after the Lionesses lost. Imagine if he went all that way for a loss; the tantrum he might have thrown could have been worse for him than not going.
I hope every article about Invictus includes some shade for William.
@rapunzel, you may be on something, that euro final was a absolute mess,and his behavior is conveniently forgotten,as England as a nation did the most with sexual assault, violence, racism against its own losing team,italians,drunk rioting in the streets….
Some Italian supporters even had pro meghan messages and mottos seen on cameras.
But i think it’s his own displeasure for an euro fail repeat…with girls (who he despises as human beings and soccer players) which was his reason to not go,more than being more wise about being unable to not throw a tantrum in public without consequences .
He would have found sooner better excuses and organised a more elaborate damage control tactic
Yes! William can’t bear for Harry to have anything or to be anything better than him. He has been treated as more important by most of those around him for all of his life. It must be galling for him to see Harry grow up to be more personable, more handsome and hugely more successful in his achievements.
Harry also has freedom. He can do and say what he wants. He can’t be summoned by his father to go to Balmoral for a ‘Summit’. He can’t be controlled. Harry is as free as his cousins and like them he can’t lose his titles or his place in the line of succession. He will be a public figure for many years, at least until the next generation take centre stage.
Has anyone confirmed that William is actually vacationing in the U.K.? Is it possible he was too far away to fly to Australia after the ruckus started?
No we haven’t confirmed. That was a theory some of us discussed – he was elsewhere and would have had to fly back to the UK and then to Australia (bc he couldn’t be seen getting off a plane from Kenya at the WC, you know?)
The video from charlotte kind of quieted that theory for me but someone mentioned it could have been recorded a month ago so at this point….who knows?
This always confuses me so much. Most of us here are fairly sure that W&K are at least unofficially separated. But whenever it comes to their vacations, we also kind of try to figure out where “they” are and sort of assume they’re together. Which obviously makes no sense if they’re separated.
This year was a little easier because we know that Kate was in Norfolk for the “rave” (lol), and William could have been elsewhere. But he had quick access to Charlotte to make that hostage video, so maybe they do “vacation” separately but last week happened to be his week with the kids? Who knows. We’ll never figure these two out.
I’ve also noticed that sometimes they both return from a break tanned, but I guess it’s possible that they go to someplace like Mustique and stay in separate “villas” or whatever. I’m just surprised that none of the kids have accidentally spilled the beans, if this is the case.
ETA: William said in a tweet that the whole family would be cheering the Lionesses on from Amner, right? Or did he say it in the video? Because if he said it later in a tweet, it might be because he didn’t want to flat-out lie in front of Charlotte?
@Lorelei, I wonder if they take family vacations together and stay separately (different rooms, a large suite, whatever) for the kids, and then the rest of the break they spend separately. For all William’s flaws, I do think he “loves” his kids* and they do seem comfortable around him. So even with the separate lives I think he’s around a great deal. So all that to say that its possible that when they are spending chunks of time in Anmer on holidays (and not out of the country), W&K are both there and William stays at Sandringham or Wood Farm etc while Kate stays at Anmer with the kids, or vice versa.
Its weird bc there was such scrambling to explain where William was when Kate was at that rave (lol) that I don’t think he was in Norfolk.
*loves the way a dysfunctional Windsor loves their kids, meaning that his loving them won’t stop him from using them as shields, not the way Harry loves his kids, you know?
William will fly long distances if it means stopping Harry from doing something. He did this in the summer of 2018 when Harry had been scheduled to appear at a WW1 commemoration event in France that summer. William was on vacation, I believe in Mustique, and while Harry had been previously scheduled to do the event it was announced shortly before it that William would do it instead. So, he is perfectly capable of cutting a vacation short and flying long distances if it means “besting” Harry.
I agree that this WC mess is cause he’s lazy, sexist and didn’t bother to even plan to turn up for the final. I also think it’s part of a larger issue of W seeming to not really care about duties in England/CW and preferring to chase global success recognition (in competition with H of course). Maybe he feels because he’ll never really “lose” England/CW, he doesn’t think he needs to put much of any in effort in supporting endeavors there but it’s really bad look. Skipping the WC to support the lionesses but going to NY to speak to the UN and Singapore for Earthshot should raise some questions. Is Singapore in the CW? Is no one going to ask how he could go there before Charles, but not Australia?
Also, I think it’s really obvious to all of the press that W is chasing H around the globe in hopes of building a fraction of his success and prioritizes that over supporting England. So, yeah I also think this is about taking him down a peg, especially when they’re covering up his failing marriage.
Singapore is a commonwealth country.
That explains why they were so mad about the warm welcoming Harry got there. They hate that the world, especially the CW still love him.
Lesotho and Botswana are Commonwealth countries too and Sentabale is making a difference to children affected by the Aids virus in those countries. Harry has made productive links in his partnership with Prince Seeoiso. William has achieved nothing remotely comparable.
I think that’s it, @s808. William WANTS to be a global statesman, or be SEEN as a global statesman; meanwhile, he’s got the POW job & future king job in the bag (although the latter can change at any time), so he’s not feeling the need to put in the effort. Particularly when the tabs keep telling him how loved he is by his subjects (barf).
William likes the press to tell us over and over again how “statesmanlike” he is. The only problem is that we can all see with our own eyes that the exact opposite is true. Maybe he’s starting to realize this? That his “subjects” actually do have brains, and while he inherited all of his other titles, he might have to — gasp! — earn ones like statesman?
It doesn’t help that his little brother is out there constantly showing the entire world that he’s the superior, more accomplished brother, lol.
From what I understand, and I cold be wrong, places like Singapore and Lesotho don’t have the British monarch as their head of state, they just belong to the commonwealth. Lesotho has its own monarch that wasn’t Elizabeth and isn’t Charles, while Australia has Charles as its monarch. Why Anne, etc were able to go there before Charles is still a mystery I don’t understand
This is always my problem with Guardian articles about the royals, they always take these slick shots at Harry and Meghan too in them when they could just focus on Charles, Camilla, or the Wales’. While I’m sure that Harry’s successes keep William up at night, I don’t think that this particular response really has anything to do with Harry anymore than anything else does. It has everything to do with William firmly seeing his support and presence as a bonus and not a requirement. And I think he’s being rightfully dragged by people because it was a bone-headed response. Yes he does look bad in comparison to his brother, but he also looked bad in comparison to his father right now and a host of other people. It’s not just because people are like you aren’t your brother it’s because it’s apparent he’s inconsiderate and lazy. He owns that no one needed to compare him to anyone else.
Exactly, such lazy writing. Oh yeah blame the brother who has nothing to do with Peg’s royal duties or FA role.
A lot of the writing about royals in the Guardian comes across as patronizing, like we’ll write about these people and their silly little squabbles as a break from our articles the “Real” problems in the world. As if the racism, misogyny and emotional and financial abuse the Sussexes experienced is lesser.
As I keep saying the Guardian is 4th estate- it’s there to give pretence that there is a left wing anti monarchy press in the uk but at every opportunity they will uplift the status quo & the establishments.
Whilst I do think that some in the press were delighted to get a dig in at William as i suspect he’s not actually well liked, this was a genuine misstep & his excuses for missing the game was lame. He deserves genuine criticism for that & it has nothing to do with Harry. The reporter is meant to be a feminist who has just written an article about how the lionesses had broken barriers in women’s sport so it just shows her assignment was to defend William that she didn’t seem to reference why it was bad of William to miss the final & his lame video with Charlotte.
It annoys me no end that uk journalists pretend that the palace didn’t initiate a press smear on Meghan well before Oprah & that they don’t respond to the book or docuseries. They are journalists in a small industry & sure they know what protection by the palace looks like & that wasn’t the case with Meghan. Even if they don’t believe palace sources were briefing the press there’s literal court evidence of William’s aide helping the mails case when Meghan sued & the palace had official statement before Oprah accusing Meghan of bullying. Yet somehow these reporters never reference these when they claim that the palace never responds/ never complains or explains about Harry and Meghan.
It’s also funny to see the guardian reference polls done by tabloids as if they are reliable. How come these publications can never interrogate why H&m docuseries was a uk rating smash, Spare is biggest uk bestseller of the year, archetypes was number one in uk for consecutive weeks if Harry and Meghan are so unpopular & irrelevant?
Haven’t you heard the latest excuse by the press @ABritGuest? Its all hate watching and buying, by golly! The Sussexes are deeply unpopular because we the press said so! And we have the polls to prove it! These people. *eyeroll*
@MsIam: So, the BM are suggesting that people watching the Sussexes’ programs on tv or online or on podcasts is “hate watching”? And spending money(!) for God’s sake on Sussex-related items, like Meghan’s shoes, purses or clothes is due to “hate”? Or showing support for their charities by donating money is to show “hate”? Wow. With such powers of deduction, it’s no wonder they still feel the need to rely on a monarchy to rule them.
While I appreciate the writer pointing out William’s obvious jealousy and competition with his brother, it still seems so royalist. Get that people love Anne and I’m sure she would be a much better head of state. But what about the novel idea that no one from any one particular family should be given that amount of money and castles to begin with.
Edit- was writing my comment before yours showed up @abritguest but wow 🎯💯 co-sign your comment.
This suggestion of “hate-watching” or “hate-buying” reminds me so much of the MAGAs. Their boycott of private jets (😂😂) and their “boycott” of Starbucks when they all went in one weekend and gave the name ‘Trump’ when they ordered their drinks. Some boycott. Morons.
They will really twist themselves into pretzels to come up with any reason except the obvious, which is that the Sussexes are popular among a lot of people the world over.
The writer also presents this as the first time William hasn’t shown up for something, which is patently false. More often than not, as BAFTA president, he doesn’t show for the awards. He rolled up late to the coronation. And so on.
It was especially egregious when the pre-award BAFTA receptions were taking place in the same building as HIS OWN HOUSE.
All he had to do was throw on a tux (sorry, tell a valet to put a tux on him and just stand there), walk to wherever the reception was in KP, shake some hands and mingle a little, then peace out and go right back upstairs to his own bedroom. He couldn’t even manage THAT. That’s how little he cares.
Now, the next time the BAFTAs roll around, his excuse can be, “But he’s all the way out in Windsor at Adelaide and he MUST do the school run!” — even though everyone knows he’s absolutely never at Adelaide and that the RPO’s do the school runs most of the time, and in fact they try to claim he’s at KP a lot of the time for “work.” It’s all so stupid, this maze of lies they create.
Kate is less popular than Princess Anne? Ha. Now I’m thinking this poll was commissioned to tell the peasants that Burger King is popular on his own and does not need fourth-level ranking Kate by his side. Cue the Anne and Wills World Tour.
They did not say who or how many were polled.
Maybe the poll was Willam, George, Charlotte, Louise and kate?
Except they are claiming Harry and Meghan were 11th and 12th on the list.
Lol what is “Kate of Wales (or whatever)” supposed to mean?!
That was a dig if ever I saw one.
Maybe she should be Kate of Adelaide? Kate of the Many Colored Buttons? Kate, the Gopher Wiglet Collector?
@Ginny, I laughed so hard at that. @Seaflower, it was such a great, subtle yet hilarious dig. A Guardian writer basically telling the world that Kate is unimportant enough to make sure to get her title correct.
I bet that REALLY set off the people who still get angry every. single. time. she’s referred to as Kate and not Catherine.
Hey British “journalists”, since your POW is more popular than Harry and Meghan according to some insular polls commissioned by God knows who, maybe you should stop writing about or mentioning them in every royal article?
This screams the palace called the guardian to write and distraction/excuse article and it failed. This is the reason why the press and family are angry. They know Harry was the power behind that throne minus the Queen and they can’t force him to do the work that lazy ass William doesn’t want to do and use his star power to cover for William. The man is a loser.
All the scapegoats are gone or on ice.
1. Philip
2. Andrew
3. Harry
4. The Kent’s
Who else is left. The tindails have insulated themselves. Sophie details’ can’t keep killing people. No one else with any clout wants harrys old job. Camilla is trying but no one wants to pay her family.
I think people would not nearly have cared as much if he was known for being hard working and had been a strong, vocal supporter of the Lionesses on many occasions in the past.
This is just a very obvious example of him being lazy/disinterested and since it also involves things like sexism and football, it became a perfect storm.
Right, since the Wales made it their whole thing that they only turn up for big, important projects, not the dinky daily stuff (although Kate has been doing more of that), there’s no cushion. If they were consistently doing anything really, they would have so much more goodwill built up. Instead, Kate does a yearly Early Years push for a few weeks at the beginning of the year, they do Ascot and Tripping of the color parties, and a few Earthshit things, and I guess maybe that Christmas thing they’ve done. Other than that, the only consistency is vacations and excuses. Omg I see my typos but I’m leaving them in 😂
@Flowerlake and @Lucy, don’t you understand, it’s quality over quantity! That’s “The Cambridge Way!” ™️
/s
LOL at it always being “head scarf weather” for Princess Anne!
Of course they drag Harry into it, even though he’s not even a working Royal any more so really shouldn’t be polled at all. And take thinly veiled pot-shots at meditating and doing therapy (both of which might do William and Kate a world of good).
William will learn that the days when he could do nothing but exist and procreate while still remaining fairly popular are gone, or will be soon. The public won’t give “Diana’s Boy” a pass forever. He needs to show up. It’s ribbon cutting time!
He should be thanking his lucky stars that he coasted on being “Diana’s boy” for *40 YEARS.* This man is in his 40’s and is only now really being seriously questioned or criticized.
He must be so angry that Dan Wootton isn’t there to spit out an angry tirade defending him, lol.
Oh for the love of God. One of the most refreshing things about Wills getting it (quite rightly) in the neck this week has been the absence of the words Harry or Meghan in any of the stories. This. Is. Nothing. To. Do. With. Them.
As we can see by the tortured mess Zoe Williams has to make this piece to work them in. What even was her point here? She should have just gone to abdication on the basis that William is not even managing the barest and enjoyable basics of his job and quite clearly doesn’t give a sh!t either.
Sometimes I think these writers are told they have to include H&M for the clicks, because she does have to twist to include them here. But I think its kind of funny bc I think she’s using H&M to get more digs in at William. Harry has “california openness,” William doesnt talk about his feelings. One of those things is not healthy.
They *must* be told that they need to incorporate the Sussexes somehow for the clicks, right? Because if not, it’s beyond insane how they’re shoehorned into stories that they have literally nothing to do with — especially in a paper like the Guardian, which likes to view itself as a reputable publication, above the rest of the tabloid trash. (Whether or not they actually *are* is another conversation— but at least currently, they get to enjoy their reputation as at least slightly “better” than the British tabloids.)
But ITA with @Rapunzel that in this case, it works. It isn’t as much criticizing the Sussexes as it is using them to criticize Will. I’m okay with that, lol.
See now I’m okay with H&M being mentioned here. Because I think this is in part a warning to Peg: your brother and his wife can’t save you now. I think is a reminder and low-key threat- Harry isn’t going to serve as cover any more.
Whenever there’s a poll about the UK royals know that a) they never disclose the sample size that was polled meaning it was very small and b) they polled the royalist demographic only not gen pop (general population). Amongst royalists many of whom are boomers/silent generation, Katie is popular bc she’s a stepford Barbie wearing colonial costumes. That’s it, they love that she “knows her place” , had children and is thin and wears dresses and hats. I have a feeling for this poll they switched Kate and Billy’s place (Kate always polls higher than Billy and him polling second is def a first) in order to give him an ego boost.
William. Is arrogant and lazy
hypocritical and racist,
Weird article , made no sense at all really .
Guardian is usually better than that.
Isn’t a former Daily Fail person the editor there now? If so, expect the bullsh!t to run deeper.
My experience with the Guardian is decidedly mixed. But I still prefer their unpredictability to the rest of the BM. This article has a passive aggressive tone that’s pretty typical Guardian.
The Guardian should be, and it used to be but in recent years it’s been turning into a click and clout chasing tabloid with regular OpEd pieces attacking the Sussexes. Some days it seems to feature more US & Australian content than British. Marina Hyde (ex girlfriend & colleague of Piers Morgan btw) is a good columnist, but she has written some vile pieces about Harry and Meghan so I have her blocked on Twitter.
I remember guardian’s commenters very critical about their journalists being snarky about Eton and public school system,when a lot of them were oxbridge alumni,from elite liberal upper class and part of the establishment and sharing similar values.
William and kate and even camilla clearly have powerful protection and support there,contrary to the Charles,the dead Queen and the sussexes,similarly to the tabloïds .
They stay silent on most of the wails and camilla misdeeds and have a mostly positive and report on them.
Attacking Charles and lilibet serves their agenda to look more pro republican than they really are.
They use Harry struggle against gutter press as it make them look better,but Meghan covering has become a negative bias mess with thinly veiled xenophobia and racism.
All Sussexes works are diminished ,mocked, defamed,…you can feel the greedy jealousy from some guardian columnists and staff about their success in getting financial security and opportunities and wins in california.meghan icon status and role and influence in the quiet luxury current trend is big subject everywhere in the fashion magazines but cautiously avoided there.
The guardian looks with contempt to the likes of dailymail,but appears more and more as a high Brow version of them,with its own controversial foundation money coming from slavery instead of fascism.
Dan wootton crimes being a scoop by bylines ,when they stay mum like all the bigger press while they had greater means ,and allegedly no links to Murdoch or dailyfail to reveal it IS telling
@Dot
There you have it ……
It has nothing to do with Harry…
I think it was arrogance, apathy and laziness that led William to not attend the WWC. He believes the polls that say he’s very popular in the UK so he thought that no one would be upset if he didn’t go because the public loves him so much. He’s not a fan of football especially women’s’ football and he was on vacation so he couldn’t go.
Okay, this line? “There are so many reasons that William might be selected as the face of the oppressive patriarchy,” – ouch. This writer does not seem to like William.
Even the digs about Harry’s “california openness” seem to me to be more digs at William – he hasn’t gone to therapy, doesn’t have problematic feelings, doesn’t talk about those feelings – it makes him sound like a robot, like someone who is cold and remote and unfeeling. and then she tells them they should all abdicate!!
Yeah it makes him sound like a pod. Except for the no “problematic feelings” part, being a violent rage monster is definitely problematic.
@Becks1
Exactly. I read this as her ripping W up one side & down the other. She’s pushing all of his buttons and to do that, she has to compare him to H. This will get under his skin and fester. The dig about K is just gold, The Princess of Whatever is just perfect and will send K crying to her Mommy!
I think “problematic feelings” is sarcastic.
Oh it definitely was but I think it was sarcasm aimed at William – like he’s been dismissing Harry and his pesky problematic feelings, damn Harry for having feelings! People who have feelings are so problematic!
@Becks, ITA. Even if she’s trying to soften or disguise it a bit by using sarcasm, she clearly hates William (and Kate; I’m still laughing at “Kate of Wales (or whatever)”
Can this Daily Dragging of William please become a franchise – like Fast & Furious?
Fnny thing about the monarchy being a “poisoned chalice” – the writer mentions Harry but doesn’t reach the obvious conclusion, that Harry has, in effect, abdicated. He’s managed to free himself from the poison.
I don’t understand why the Guardian is such a part of the BM Harry Meghan gaslighting
Its staff is part of the institutions or aligned with it.
They are hidden royalists,and seem to prefer starmer views,which are tory-lite to corbyn’s,which are more left wing.
Jeremy corbyn is one of the very rare british politiciens to have positive and nice words about Meghan ,with the women Mps who denounced her media treatment.
Tories helped brf and tabloids in their harassment, and defamation.
A lot of influential guardian employees do the same with Pseudo neutral approach as they are all of the same social classes and circles,being labour in name only
The Guardian opinion article is too slick for its own good.
The best analysis of the implication of William’s failure to attend the World Cup Final is by the Founder and CEO of Broadstairs Consulting Leah Brown. She claims the no show calls into question the role of the monarchy in modern Britain.
Precious William is facing snowballing backlash similar to what his grandma faced when Diana died and the queen refused to acknowledge her death. Tony Blair told her how bad it was, and although it went against her grain, she did what was needed to turn things around. Will the POW understand how quickly and permanently sentiment can change? Can Precious William bring himself to do what he must to make it right? Speaking of precious, Kate of Wales, lol all day.
I have to admit I read the article yesterday and “didn’t get it.” Yes she was dragging William but, not very well. IMHO this was a clickbait piece where very little (if any) research had been done to seriously put the knife into William. The Guardian is supposed to an anti-monachy paper but, she doesn’t mention the number of times William has shirked his responsibilities to suit his own agenda. We on here know that William is already the “Prince who doesn’t turn up for things” and I would have thought a Guardian journalist would have made a point of reminding readers of the number of times William has gone AWOL.
There was absolutely no need to include Harry in the argument; this was William’s mess. As she had decided to bring Harry into the topic it might have been pertinent of her to remind reader how Harry had repeatedly told the world how the family do actually “Complain and Explain” on a daily basis. Instead she supported the idea that William says very little to the press when time and time again it’s been shown that the opposite is true. The final insult was to include the dubious poll results as a way of making her dubious point. She knows full well that a lot of these polls are manipulated to obtain the “correct” answers!
The reporter may have thought she was being “edgy” but, in reality this article is just a tabloid gossip piece dressed up as a “highbrow” journalism.
I’d like some of what Zoe is smoking. Even apart from all the modern stuff…Henry VIII? Popular? Half the world has seen the Six musical which drags him (completely justifiably).
Yeah, it’s weird.
Though Henry VIII was more popular with his subjects than people often think, though with some very notable exceptions, he is now mostly popular as a character in movies. He is not someone people still admire, like Elizabeth I.
Even amongst historians, he is not that popular. His far less famous father, Henry VII, is generally higher rated as a king, as well as several (though definitely not all) English monarchs.
England has had some very capable kings, but that was mostly in medieval times. Sad to say, after Elizabeth I, there were few very outstanding English/British monarchs.
I think its more about Henry VIII being well known than genuinely liked, the author just pulled a monarch from 5 centuries ago out of the air and went with one that people would recognize.
I’m surprised this story is getting so much traction. This is very typical behavior of Pegs. @Kaiser has been pointing it out for years. He’s been the President of BAFTA for thirteen years, how many times has he actually shown up for the awards? Mind you, they are held in London.
What about this game has so many people talking? I’m glad they are but don’t understand why the line was drawn here.
I think part of it is because this is something that so many people would love to attend but can’t for various reasons – financial, time constraints, getting the tickets, etc. And William could have attended but refused.
Then consider this is only ever 4 years, its been DECADES since an English team has made it to the final, men or women’s. AND this is the national team, so there is a sense of national pride at play here that there probably isn’t for the BAFTAs etc (even though it is the British Academy of Film etc) and it just ends up looking really bad that he couldnt be bothered to get off his ass and go.
Football is really, really important here. Men’s football is of course where the real money is, but the women are catching up. 14m people in the U.K. watched the 2023 final (in 2019, 16.9m viewers watched in the US, a much bigger country). William is the president of the FA, which is a really important organisation. Given that Spain sent its Queen, it is both embarrassing for the country and a very bad look for William himself not to have gone. I’m delighted as it really shows the uselessness of the monarchy and I hope he continues to have similar episodes of tone-deaf laziness.
@Steph – It’s the national game and it’s a World Cup Final! It was a huge mistake. Even people who don’t normally watch football tuned in to watch the final. The audience numbers peaked at almost 15 million people those are huge numbers. It should have been unthinkable that William wouldn’t attend. Seriously, (and I don’t mean to sound rude) but, your post is probably what William’s advisers said to him.
The Wales’ have gotten away with countless no-shows and tardiness over the years but, they were never going to get away with believing a short video message would be enough to get out of attending a world cup final. This was compounded when the QUEEN of Spain was there with her daughter cheering on her nation. To a lot of people (myself included), William not only let the team down he let down the country.
The BAFTAs isn’t really a big thing in the UK. Just another awards show. Football is considered the national sport and a constant topic of conversation. Getting to a World Cup is a big deal. Most people feel that Will as president of the FA should have been there.
I didn’t really take into account what it means to be a world cup. America’s biggest sports only play against ourselves outside of the Olympics. And we go absolutely nuts with the Olympics. I should have realized the level of pride involved.
ITA with all of the replies here, and will add only that the fact that William is currently on a MONTHS-LONG vacation with absolutely no good reason not to have attended the game might have contributed to the backlash as well. Most people can’t just go fck off to…wherever for the entire summer.
And I think @Becks1’s first paragraph plays a large role, too. I posted yesterday that that’s exactly how I feel about Wimbledon— I would kill to be able to go, and not only does Kate get to go for free and get the best seats, but she counts it as “work” and she STILL blows it off. It’s like an extra slap in the face to us peasants who would love to be attending these sorts of events.
What I love most about this is that William has created a no-win situation for himself regarding the men’s World Cup— if he goes he’s a sexist for not showing up for the Lionesses. If he doesn’t go, he’s once again shirking his duty as FA president. Whatever he does he’ll be dragged. I love this for him.
this is what I love too. And if he goes and brings George but not Charlotte, just more sexism. Despite all the talk about it for this world cup, for the next one he really HAS created a damned if he goes, damned if he doesn’t situation. Just love it for him, lol.
The whole damn family should just suck it up and show up, but Pegs has boxed himself in, he’s created a precedent that will show him in a bad light whether he goes or not. This dragging will likely continue for a long time and he’ll now be under a microscope that no amount of fatuous excuses or embiggening will mitigate. I’m here for it!
William is popular huh? The dragging he got for ditching the WWC suggests otherwise. It should be a wake up call for him. He is one heartbeat away from the Crown. The public will tolerate only so much from him and he needs to do his job. If he doesn’t want it, abdicate. Charles and William better give open support and full throated support to Team GB at the Invictus Games.
Will he be stupid enough to snub the IG athletes? Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. He really didn’t think this through, did he?
Of course, he is just that stupid 😹 Didn’t they ignore IG the last time around?
Yep.
Yeah, they all snubbed the British Invictus team last time. Couldn’t even be bothered with a post on the ‘gram to cheer them on. We’ll see if they do better this time! (Not holding my breath.)
My guess is there will still be a royal embargo against all things Invictus. We know Willnot’s jealousy and hatred of Harry runs too deep to allow him to swallow his pride for once and congratulate the brave military personnel who suffered life-altering injuries protecting their country. At the very least Chuck (as sovereign head of the military) AND Cam should congratulate the British team to cover Willnot’s spiteful a$$, but I doubt that will happen. In fact I hope the BRF doesn’t acknowledge them and gets called out for it loudly because it will make them look even more petty and useless.
The RF outfit has replaced the non-profit that was responsible to prepare the British veterans for the Invictius Games.
I am baffled that they are involved since one has to deal with their passive aggressiveness…..
I hope that it does not adversely affect the participants.
I started avoiding anything by Zoe Williams after her very snarky and patronising article about Marie Kondo. The Guardian has some great columnists, and then they have some other ones. That’s the most polite way I can put it.
I lol that after saying Burger King is the most popular, the writer then said “if the respondents knew that they could stick with the deceased, surely Henry VIII would have got more of a look-in.” Well d*mn! Then the writer followed up with “Kate of Wales (or whatever)…” Too funny. These statements tell us that they all know that those polls are pure bs.
And kudos to the writer for addressing the “popularity contest with Harry” and calling W neurotic. This article was a pure gold, shade filled warning to the Royals, and esp W to get their act together and start going to the bread and butter engagements or else. That “down a peg or two” subline was also a comedic hit below the belt, no pun intended.
Henry VIII is known for getting rid of his wives. Is that a strike at Kate of Wales? Hmmm.
This is like saying the sky is blue.
W’s World Cup fiasco was absolutely about his obsession with Harry, just like “WilliamShot” is absolutely about his obsession with one-upping Harry and how the campaign of Kate’s Early Years and”Shaping Kate” are about her obsession with Meghan.
(To the general public) you people are only figuring that out now, WE BEEN KNEW
See that’s the part I didn’t get about the article. If this was about William’s obsession with Harry then surely he would have gone to the WWCF? This is the type of event where Harry shows his “star” quality and with the IGs taking place in a few weeks time this would have been an ideal opportunity to show Harry “how it’s done.” IMHO the article promised so much and delivered very little.
I don’t think it’s necessarily his obsession with Harry that is the root of the problem, but just William’s sense of entitlement and laziness that is to blame. He just does not feel that he needs to show up and do the work, and honestly, he has never had to! It was good enough to show promise when he was still very much a junior member of the firm, even at 40.
He’s been graded on a significant curve, getting points for being “not Charles” and “not marrying a Biracial American actress”. People are only just starting to notice that the heir is a total dud, even by the somewhat relaxed standards of the BRF.
And unluckiest for him, I expect TOB’s no show with the lionesses is going to be compared to what I hope is a masterclass in personality and leadership by Harry next week in his documentary for Invictus, as well as at the games themselves.
It really is one of the dumbest things Willnot has ever done. If anyone needed to be seen supporting a national team at the finals, it’s him. Harry has miles and miles of good press coming with Invictus Games, and he was too lazy to get on a plan for his own good. Letizia got all of the positive World Cup attention, karma has finally come for Wills.
The never complain, never explain strategy bites them in the arse yet again. When will they join this century and centralize their PR? They need pros in that area that can second guess how things will play out and it has to be centralized so that they know who is where and when. The siloed PR camps in the RF will be the death of these dimwits.
Except he did complain and explain, so every time he gets on a plane, some intrepid reporter can write a story about how women’s soccer wasn’t important enough for Wills to get on a plane, but [insert whatever KP invents for the sole glory of William here] this event IS, poor women’s sports can’t find a hero.
Yep. At least for the foreseeable future, this will be the gift that keeps on giving. Everything — EVERY single thing — that William does will be contrasted with his failure to attend the match. So: William thinks Earthsh*T is more important than the historic game? Or vacationing wherever? There really isn’t much that’s going to be objectively more important or culturally relevant and meaningful than attending that match. Even if William does something good — people will raise an eyebrow. Sure, he can come to the opening of a new grocery store/ wave to people from a balcony/ worm his way into being noticed by the foreign press outside the UN… but when it’s something really important like the historic, possibly once-in-a-lifetime Lionesses WC matches, William couldn’t be bothered. And very soon, we’ll see the sharp contrast between William’s diffident little video as he hides behind Charlotte, and charismatic Harry going full bore at the Invictus Games.
Agreed, Blithe. This one is the nail in his coffin:
“There really isn’t much that’s going to be objectively more important or culturally relevant and meaningful than attending that match.”
I am turning 50 next year, which sounds really old! I wasn’t alive the last time England made it to the finals. Wills just sloughed off the first time England was competing in the finals, because he is lazy. Full stop. Being Diana’s son is moot, with Harry spreading sunshine every single time he does anything.
@blithe I think the Lionesses will agree to be used to rehabilitate W’s tarnished image.
William is already The Prince Who Doesn’t Turn Up to Things. He’s been that for years.
William surrounds himself with yes men/women. His wife is a doormat. He has been fawned upon as the “future of the monarchy,” Diana’s gift to the world, the golden boy, etc. His opinion of himself has always been incredibly overinflated. The work ethic of his parents is no where to be seen in this useless man. Instead of listening to criticism, filtering it and then asking, okay, is this valid? Should I be making changes?, he rages, looks to blame someone else and continues his lazy ways. Great head of state and role model…
If Charles & William were smart (and had good PR representation advising them), they should have pawned PR ops like this to Harry & Meghan. Too bad they torched that bridge. If they had embraced the fact that Harry & Meghan are more likable, more relatable and more PR savvy than Charles/Kate/William, they would have saved themselves multiple PR bungles. Too bad their egos and pettiness prevail.
Why do I feel Camilla behind this ? Its not the flex the RR thinks it is. Almost like Peg threw a tantrum and threw Charles under the bus so Camilla threw Will under the bus by confirming that he is very jealous of Harry.
I do agree that William and Kate has really bad work ethic. Even with all the deflections they can’t hide they’re lazy .
I also think this always have been the sibling rivalry that naturally exists between both brothers. It’s always going to be who’s the alpha and there’s always competition between them. Usually competition should be just loving and innocent but this one seems to be taking it too far. I can see William being jealous that Harry can now live freely without anyone telling him what to do in CA. Harry being more popular in the USA(well obviously he’s more relatable to Americans because Harry lives here and embracing US life). And Harry has Meghan someone he really loves. Also Harry freely hanging out with friends like Nacho.
With all the palaces and wealth, it doesn’t make someone happy. And he sees Harry happy and that’s triggering him. Basically, his plan to banish HM didn’t work. They’re still happy and he’s not
William didn’t figure Harry could survive outside the royal bubble because he himself wouldn’t be able to. I bet that burns him as much as Harry’s happiness.
I think William’s new nickname should be Useless-As-A-Used-Tampon Will.
To keep with the tampon theme his father started.
The rugby world cup is coming in September. It’s gonna be interesting to see wether William attends or not. If he goes then I hope he’ll get bashed for showing up for a men sport event only. If he doesn’t go then he will be the prince who doesn’t turn up for things ahah. Well done loser.
I have $100 that says he will deploy his BFF Mike Tindall for all the rugby stuff.
It’s in France, so the only way he could look like slightly less of a massive hypocrite is if he takes the train. He’s the patron of Welsh rugby and Kate is the patron of English rugby so it will be interesting to see what they do (Anne is the patron of Scottish rugby and I fully expect her to turn up).
Harry is a genuine and an admired leader and Willnot seems to do the thing that I need to get over bugging me, comparing and competing with others. Especially as the other one rarely knows and doesn’t stop living their life to assuage the ego of the person in the imaginary contest. Nor should they.
Being an entitled racist will always bug me, though.
This blunder is all William and he can’t blame anyone or anything else for it, not even his obsession with Harry. There are some reports that his staff had a contingency plan for him to go to Australia but he just didn’t want to interrupt his vacation and is just incredibly lazy. He’s gotten so much praise for doing the bare minimum, saying some really cringe things, and not directly briefing against the Sussexes, just telling everyone in his circles to leak how much he hates them. All those people usually praising him look like chumps and he has shown his lack of credibility and commitment.
This is solely a Willy problem, not a Willy and Harry problem. Willy is lazy AF and he needs to just stand (or sit) with that truth without dragging his poor brother into it. Will could be a hard worker if he wanted to be–he just doesn’t want to, which is squarely on Will’s shoulders alone and NO ONE else’s. Part of being an adult (and you’re 41, William) is casting off all the excuses and saying, “Yes, this is who I am. I have chosen to be this way. Judge me accordingly.”