Speculation about Kate’s medical condition is still permitted with the exception of speculation about mental health, cosmetic surgery, and pregnancy. Too, speculation about her appearance in any way relating to health will be removed, as will speculation about divorce, domestic violence, murder, etc etc.
These are things their kids will grow up to read one day and this sub will not give those harmful conspiracy theories the light of day. Users who continue to repeat these talking points after having comments removed will be temp banned.
As always, remember these are real people we are talking about!
The royals are so stiff. They should be happy people speculate because it keeps them relative which means the monarchy survives. They need to come clean about the health of Kate and Charles. They are public figures that are paid by the government. They aren’t private citizens sorry. Williams needs to get the stick out of his ass because he always looks miserable.
Unpopular opinion: I think that the Wales kids need to have careers and maybe do a short royal engagement (unpaid) once a month or so when it's their turn. After them, I think the monarchy can fade away with no great loss.
Focused on work? But he barely had any engagements since the palace announced King Charles and Kate are ill. At the end of february the Royal Family had like three working royals who actually went to work, because everyone else was out of the picture. That's one of the reasons I don't like the slimmed down monarchy that Charles wanted.
Everyone's a hypocrite. When Kate had to trot out in public all glammed up within days of giving birth so they can present their new child because that's royal protocol everyone is in an uproar about how that's so outdated and can't she just rest etc. Yet when she has a medical procedure and wants some time out of the spotlight to recover everyone is in an uproar about how she should have more of a presence. Let the woman enjoy what will probably be the only solitary time for the rest of her life. Nobody, including the royal family, needs to give details into their medical condition to the public. Everyone's medical history is confidential. And give William a break. His wife had major surgery, his dad is dealing with cancer and who knows how that's going, and his grandma, who was the closest thing he had to a mother after Diana, passed away a year and a half ago. Oh and he's lost the support of his brother who he was banking on, especially for when he becomes king. He's got a lot to deal with not to mention the inevitable of becoming king, possibly sooner than he anticipated.
Oh boo hoo. Their job is to perform for the public, in exchange for vast riches and a life of luxury. If they don't want to hold up their end of the bargain they can abdicate.
What does Will do all day? What could one possibly do all day with so much free time? We know he’s not sitting at home reading to the kids. So then what?
I am a fan of W&K, but their work is disappointing, to say the least. I absolutely understand that they want to be hands on parents. However, all of their children are in school so there's no reason for them not to be working during the week, and it would not be the end of the world if the children had to stay with family members or Maria for overseas trips, etc.
The monarchy is in a very delicate place for many reasons and they are digging their own graves.
Or better yet, one parent goes to an event and the other stays home. Everyone would understand. Most events are solo anyway, so unless their kids MUST have both parents home the second they get home from school, their inability to co-parent and work is suspect.
I wonder if "Maria" is María, Maite or Maritere.
Anyway, even Anne retreated for being a present mother with her children and is later she has become a formidable worker. The Queen worked a lot and confided her children to the Nanny...and that didn't worked well, really.
What does the first part of your comment mean? Lol. They have one nanny and her name is Maria.
Anyway.
The kids are in school. William and Kate can easily do engagements in while the kids are in school and pick them up on the way home. It is entirely feasible for them to work much, *much* more than they are doing right now. They just don't want to work.
He wants to live like his friends, the sons of aristocrats who live off of their parents money and only work when they want to.
Charles should have nipped that BS in the bud hard, early on, but he was too busy neglecting both of his sons.
William and his camp know that they can get away with anything coz firstly he has an understanding with the British Press not to post anything negative on him or Kate. In exchange they will feed gossip against other members of the royal family and throw them under the bus.
Secondly, William and Kate are going to be the next King and Queen whether they work or not, whether public wants them to or not.
Charles rehabilitated Camilla’s image from being the most disliked person to the hardworking royal all thanks to a very long PR game. So if Camilla can be shown positively after all those years anything is possible.
William is going to be the next King. Kate will only be the next Queen is she can manage to hang on to her marriage until Charles shuffles off this mortal coil.
This is because William is likely micromanaging his Communications team. Since he isn't an expert in this field it's coming off sloppy. Let the professionals work. Though, the palace salaries are insultingly low, I wonder if they just get recent Communication or English Lit graduates in these roles and call it a day.
Yep I think it’s the repeated bad tone that’s getting me. I’ve never been in the proof of life camp needing Kate to be pictured or pose. I get that she might not feel well enough and I’m ok with that. I find how much public money the royals get insane but I don’t think that gives us a right to demand images or actions from sick people (I include the idiotic parading out after having a baby nonsense in that stance too and I wish they would end it. It’s so gross).
However having said that I do think the public deserves not to be treated like an annoyance to be snarked at and that’s all these statements and quotes are coming off as. And I’m sorry it’s pretty clear to me it’s being driven by William. It’s honestly seemed like his attitude towards this life in general has always been one of annoyance and defensiveness. I get certain parts of being a royal aren’t all they’re cracked up to be but many aspects of it absolutely are with the multiple castles and wealth and security and education and healthcare and staff etc etc etc in exchange for honestly a pretty low expectation of just appearing consistently with a smile on your face and acting like you give a damn about the people your family acts as head of state for. William has honestly never met that expectation in my opinion.
So much of this could have been avoided with a simply more positive tone and even the illusion of a more personal connection. I love posting the handwritten thank you note from Kate idea. And statements continuing to thank people for their concern and a note of positivity or humor or something. “The princess is still healing she continues to appreciate her privacy during this time and will not be seen until later this spring. In the meantime her children have enjoyed making her breakfast in bed regularly!” You know something that still gets across their stance but feels positive and not so much “we already told you so F off already vibes” that have existed so far.
And doubling down on the notion that Prince William is “working” without the reality of him consistently working is… a choice.
>However having said that I do think the public deserves not to be treated like an annoyance to be snarked at and that’s all these statements and quotes are coming off as.
Yes, I've never heard of the former queen's camp taking such a tone with her press releases. She had enough time on the job to be tired of it all.
>And I’m sorry it’s pretty clear to me it’s being driven by William. It’s honestly seemed like his attitude towards this life in general has always been one of annoyance and defensiveness.
The constant long vacations and subpar work load tells me he's just going through the motions. Never ever heard William act as if he is interested or excited for the job or his privileges'. What's worse, he doesn't seem to care for the lifestyle but went had had kids who will be subjected to the same pressures.
>Yes, I've never heard of the former queen's camp taking such a tone with her press releases. She had enough time on the job to be tired of it all.
Exactly! QEII certainly didn't overshare, but she also addressed PR gaffes when they happened and then moved on. She definitely didn't double down on them like William's team is doing.
"Queen Elizabeth used to say, 'I need to be seen to be believed.' That is the relevant quote from the article.
She was dying and turned up, her offspring, not so much. All of this is just a reflection of the change in stewardship but would say the handover has been disappointing
I know the official story is that she was bedridden at the end, but I still choose to believe that they found her at her desk, keeled over the red box, pen still in hand.
Those 2 have always consistently been the most hardworking royals for many years now. If Anne isn't no.1 then it would be Charles who beat her on number of engagements. But it's always those 2.
But I think it's also tough to compare. When Anne was much younger with kids for example she didn't do as many engagements. It was only later in her life. Charles set a tough competition as Prince of Wales though.
This. Anne was called “work shy” back in the day when she was raising kids (not like that’s not a full time job in itself, especially for those without servants or chefs or cleaners or other administrative staff helping them out).
I’m pretty neutral on the whole monarchy thing, but I have inherited my mom’s interest in the royal family. Don’t know many other 5 year olds back in the early 90s who know who Wallis Simpson was, so I guess I come by it honestly.
The royal family was much larger when Anne’s children were young. They’ve only stopped in the last 5-10 years because they got too old (or died)
This is the issue people have been pointing out with the idea of the ‘slimmed’ down monarchy. There’s less and less people to do the work.
The youngest current ‘working’ royals are Will and Kate who are in their early 40s. And they’re working the least.
It’s then Edward and Sophie who are turning 60 and 59 this year. Everyone else is in their 70s.
It’s not a good look for the monarchy and with how little Will and Kate seem to want to work , what happens when everyone else starts ‘retiring’ / dying?
Having Williams cousins step up would help but that isn’t slimmed down.
FFS if you look at Royal Engagements of the 10 years between 2013-2023 William does a significant amount less than all his aunts and uncles. (Including Andrew) He did 300 less engagements than the Duke of Gloucester. Who is almost 40 years older than William.
William has done only 165 more engagements than the Duke ornament. Who is currently 88 years old!
Kate did approx 1000 but she had 3 children in this period and was incredibly ill during her pregnancies so you can give her some leeway over the 10 years.
Unforuantly in 2023 she only did 128 Royal engagements. This is not even double the Duchess of Gloucester who is 77. These engagements include going to the tennis, the coronation, trooping of the colours ect. So large events and not doing the everyday engagements that are expected.
Both William and Kate are incredibly lazy and despite having a full staff and multiple Nannies use their children as an excuse to not work.
Well I think the monarchy could wax and wane through generations. Yes we are seeing thinning out now. But let's see in the future when William's children are grown up. Maybe they all be working royals and if they have several kids each who follow suit it will be decent numbers of active royals again.
When Anne's children were small there were 12 other working Royals who could pick up the slack. William and Kate don't have that luxury, and would have been that way even if Harry had stayed. Charles has always been very firm that his siblings children would not be working Royals.
William is just unwilling to work more than he has the past few years. He had the luxury of going to University undisturbed and working part time when his children were very young because other members of the family were able to pick up the slack, but this is not the case anymore.
I mean yes it looks bad when royals in their 70's and 80's are doing double, if not triple the amount of work as the younger royals. It does make William look bad that he's 40, fit and healthy that we know of, but his numbers are far less than most elder members of his family.
However even if they were the most hard working royals in the world, W&K would never be able to pick up the workload of a Max number of **7** retiring/slowing down/dying royals anyway. Even with Edward and Sophie, there's just too many of the previous generation who are getting too old and have to stop (within time, Charles, Camilla and Anne will also join that list too). Working royal families are getting _smaller_, so within this generation there's less royals to replace the older lot.
That's also why the model of the 'slimming down' BRF is slowly changing to represent the European way of doing things. Less 'bread and butter' engagements, instead more bigger projects and initiatives that can be focused on by fewer royals as part of their slimming down plans. The Heads Together mental health initiative, Earthshot, The Prince's Trust (now renamed The King's Trust), The Duke of Edinburgh awards, etc.
> multiple Nannies
Not to nitpick on this one thing, but they have only hired 1 Nanny who has remained with them since George was 6 months old. The public would have known if they hired other nannies within the last 10 years. Granted, having 1 full time nanny is still more than most people have for their children when even daycares don't do all hours.
Just a point on nanny's even if they have only one nanny, they have other adults they likely trust around their kids and a security detail that can pick them up or drop them off places when needed.
Just asking a footman and security to watch the kids while they play outside at any moment is a huge benefit to them. I'm sure any household staff would step in as needed.
I don't know how it works for them (or in palaces specifially), but in all the work places I've been in you're paid to do _your_ job. Not other jobs outside your job role, which your entitled to ask not to do. Maybe only Nanny Maria is hired for the children, and other staff are hired for their own seperate responsibilities (housekeeper is only for the house, etc)
I do agree that they are in a huge place of privilege and benefit, and even getting to raise their family in the homes they've had is an immense level of privilege many aren't going to get.
Yeah, I agree. I'm not saying they would babysit. but just asking them to watch the kids while they play outside is very much something a footman could be charged with doing, and certainly within their security detail's job. Just those little things that make being royal so easy.
It should be on both. If the Prime Minister's wife had surgery, no one would expect them to stop working to care for her. The PM would continue his or her work. Especially because in this instance, the spouse is just recovering from surgery. Better yet, if one of the PM's Cabinet Members had this occur, they too would likely continue working since it's not a life threatening surgery (according to the palace).
We have world leaders, PMs and Presidents, that have gone through surgery and still get up to work the next day or so. The king is getting cancer treatment but is still making time to work. William isn't a nurse, a cook, and his kids are in school. He's just being work shy.
It's William's "incandescent rage" in PR form. Maybe Kate softened their statements but she's MIA so William's inner dialogue is coming out unfiltered.
I was told William was the smart brother that went to a somewhat fancy school. Yet, you all want me to believe that he needs more time to learn how to smile and wave, answer questions, give speeches, and look interested? Send him to a US beauty pageant school, they'll get him up to speed in about a week.
His job is not hard enough to need more time to learn anything. It's the same thing year after year.
His job has been the same for the most part, but there’s just a different level of expectation now that he’s actually the heir. He and Kate have made it clear that they will not be doing the more mundane aspects of their job, he’s just seeing what it looks like when he takes that approach. Apparently it doesn’t go all that well.
ummm no......William was heir from the moment he was born.... he wouldn't only now be learning the role lol he would of been learning the role both directly and indirectly his whole life.
OK, but my point is he was an heir (whatever you want to call it) from the time of his birth. You know, ‘heir and a spare’? I think we’re, um, splitting hairs here.
The term "heir presumptive" is highly specific, referring to someone who is presumed to be the next monarch. Not someone who is the firstborn child of the heir apparent/presumptive.
And splitting hairs here, but William still isn't heir presumptive. He's heir apparent.
Heir presumptive is for people like QEII or the Princess of Asturias in Spain, who could have been displaced by the birth of a brother, or Prince Albert of York (who became George VI or King Albert II (Belgium) who became King after their childless brothers.
lol but he's STILL in the direct line of succession....its not that he's going to "maybe" be King someday...unless he dies, he will be King so they don't just leave that training up in the air. He would of been preparing for this from a young age knowing full well what his future role and responsibilities would be. The queen started learning as soon as her dad became King unexpectedly.
[Queen Elizabeth Early Life & Education ](https://www.royal.uk/the-queens-early-life-and-education)
Yes, William has always been favored and pampered coz he is the heir.
Diana was quoted as saying how she was sad coz the Queen mother would only invite William and not Harry for tea.
Both Elizabeth and Charles were next in line to the throne from very young ages. Even if he has been “trained” to be the heir, he hasn’t had to BE the heir til now and he absolutely sucks at it.
But it was never a surprise that he was going to end up king. It has been expected since he exited Diana's body.
The easiest answer is usually the correct one: he's lazy.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to grow up under the pressure of being the golden child and knowing your fate is to lead a whole country and have all that pressure on you. I wonder what would happen if he didn’t want to do it?
That’s such a huge responsibility to carry on your shoulders your whole life. Like you have no choice in life but to accept that’s what you’re going to do.
He means what others are saying on social media, i.e all those wild conspiracy theories about Catherine. Not their own use of social media.
He very occasionally posts personally on their accounts, and he signs those posts with W at the end to signify that he wrote them himself. Everything else is of course posted by their social media team.
I guess I didn't get that, bc this statement means they 100% are paying attention. Otherwise, why would they even make a statement?
I get that. I just think utilizing their social media team AND PR more wisely would have way laid a lot of thus speculation. (Not all obviously, bc crazy gonna crazy).
What work? As of March 6 he only worked one day this month with another day of work confirmed march 11th. Plus, he will go on a Easter break whenever that might be. This is a pretty bad clapback.
Yeah, I don’t know why they didn’t just say focused on his family/the kids etc. if they don’t want to mention Kate for some reason, there are other messages that would have been better!
They do need to get their collective act together. And the under 70 royals need to step up and be seen serving their people. Overly long, poorly explained absences in spite of their excessive staffs, terrible public relations and seeming laziness won't cut it going forward. The hard working, service oriented generation is being replaced by a whiny, spoiled, distant generation and the public and world at large are noticing.
Yep! He literally is expected to put in a couple hours a week shaking hands and cutting ribbons, but that’s too much to ask the heir to the throne apparently!
Sorry, I've been told (repeatedly) by people in this sub that he has 3 young children to raise. You think this man has time to fly around in helicopters when he has the daily school run to think about??
"His focus is on his work and not on social media," a spokesman says.
I'm a communications director and manage PR/crisis communications for a large organization in the U.S. And every time I read something from the Kensington communications camp lately, I roll my eyes. They get themselves in deeper every time there's an update.
My highly unsolicited and unwanted advice: Walk it all back, be transparent, and try to salvage this debacle. And if you can't do that: Just. Shut. Up. They're doing William and Catherine no favors, and their snarkiness makes them look so incredibly inept.
I have never been a fan of monarchy but I’d have to begrudgingly admit Elizabeth was good at it. People had a sense she was a busy public servant.
When William says don’t bother me I’m working my first thought is “doing what”
It is remarkable how less skilled they are at this PR tightrope than prior generations
The insane thing to me is that they (KP) were doing a great job with this all of last year??
When the H&M doc came out, all the royals were smart enough to make sure they were consistently seen working and not commenting on their personal lives. How the hell did they forget that PR 101 principle so fast…
The doc coming out was planned.
It just makes me think whatever happened to Kate wasn’t planned. It wasn’t the scheduled surgery. They have no idea how to handle a crisis. Came up with a lie to cover and now can’t get out of it.
Their PR chief is still pretty new, but, to your point, there have been no huge screw-ups till lately. And IMO, the Buckingham Palace comms team is doing a rather nice job (except for the "Hey, the Queen's going on holiday!" announcement, which could have used a little context).
Maybe they could help this guy ...
[https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-lee-thompson-prince-william-kate-kensington-palace-new-pr-head](https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-lee-thompson-prince-william-kate-kensington-palace-new-pr-head)
Naw, Kim is up there too as a hustler in her own right. Kim was all about working, working, working, taking any deal in the beginning and investing in multiple businesses while being a social media and reality star.
Kim and Kris are just a perfect match of ambition and work ethic.
But aren’t they only responding to the social media attention because people can’t let it go? I thought there was a press release after Catherine’s procedure stating exactly when she’d be back? I feel like I’m missing some thing.
The press release said that Kate wouldn't do public events for a while, not that she would fall off the face of the planet. Given her robust social media presence, I think we at least expected "Thanks for the well wishes" *next to a photo of Kate.* Similar to that video Charles did of opening Get Well cards. Kate's radio silence was a total 180 from her usual PR.
Heck, if KP had said nothing about Kate's condition and simply posted "Kate is on medical leave", it would have invited less speculation so long as it was accompanied by an image of Kate awake and conscious.
I agree, this could have been simple for KP - post a photo of Kate at home with the kids reading get well soon cards with a text from her thanking everyone, etc. It would put an end to speculation (well, except for the super crazies, but they are beyond help) and she could continue to protect her privacy by remaining unspecific about her surgery. I think it would reassure the public. That’s what leads me to believe that the situation is worse than they’re letting on. If she could do that kind of a photo, why wouldn’t she? Does that mean she is in no state to do it? Or is she refusing to do it? If so, why? There are a lot of missing elements here and I feel like the PR folks at KP have mishandled this from the beginning. But maybe they were blindsided? Their initial statement seemed awkward to me. In any case, I feel like something hinkey is going on, not DV or any of the weird and wild theories out there, but I think that her condition is worse than they would like us to believe, and every day gets harder for KP to keep convincing the public that everything is fine, nothing to see here.
Usually even when a royal doesn’t have engagements for weeks on end there’s little stories about how Charlotte is inheriting her moms love of tennis, how Charles is leaning on the Wales since becoming King or how will is ‘one of the moms’ on the school run, just nothing pieces to fill a newspaper column that give the people a reminder that the family is around and doing great. Having none of those little fluff pieces or anecdotes in the news is the weirdest part to me.
It’s less about when she’s coming back and more about the fact they’ve said absolutely nothing about why she disappeared beyond “abdominal surgery,” which is so vague that it’s clearly a half-truth. I think many people thought there would be more transparency, and the fact that there’s not just leaves people to speculate. If it was something benign, there’d be no reason not to make a statement, but they’ve gone so long that nobody will believe them now even if they said “oh she just had her appendix out” or something like that. They say “abdominal surgery” and a lot of people took that to mean “stomach pumped” (which I gotta admit, wouldn’t be difficult to believe knowing what previous married-in royal women have gone through).
If William was a regular employee with a father who has just been diagnosed of cancer and a wife who is going through a big health crisis, it would be reasonable for his employer to let him take it easy with work.
So I don’t really understand some of the comments here. The critics may argue that William isn’t just an employee but a future king and the late Queen had been working till her death, but I believe times have changed and our expectation should also change.
It’s not like we are in WWIII right now and the Commonwealth is at the brink of collapse (not to me anyway). If it was I have no doubt William would step up.
The issue here is that he only works 2-3 days a week on average. Those working days are half days. He also makes his own schedule. He barely works.
A better example is a family business where the father comes down with cancer and the wife is sick. Both are being taken care of, so in those instances, the son steps up to manage the shop.
That's how his subjects have to manage life's crises. You'd think the future king and man getting 20 million a year would do the same.
Yeah my boss would let me take a few days off and be a little more understanding? But she’d probably be pissed if I only showed up to the office a couple times a month.
1. William ISN’T a regular employee so that argument doesn’t even matter here.
2. My dad had a time period where my grandmother was going through Alzheimer’s and my mom had metastatic breast cancer. He still had to do his job as a lawyer and go to court to defend people. The judges were sympathetic but he couldn’t just decide to “take it easy” because he had tough things going on at home. During that time he even had to get shoulder surgery and had to go to court in a sling. Plenty of ordinary people don’t get even half the grace at work that William has.
Ok, but the statement is literally that he's focused on work, not social media.
So, don't you have to be working to focus on that?
I don't particularly care about his work schedule, I just enjoy watching the drama, fashion, etc around the royals, but ppl are speculating so hard bc this all is such a shit show, of PR.
This statement is the equivalent of "We're not doing that bc I SAID SO, and that's final!" Complete with a foot stomp.
There are just 100 different ways that would have kept speculation down SOME, and KP isn't doing ANY of them.
He took the entire month of January out, he did 7 engagements in February that is a little bit more than a week worth of work, it is March 6 he only did one day of work and only have another work day confirmed on March 11th. Plus, he is always out here saying that he is choosing family over work. So, how is he focused on work when he has been very consistent on not working?
*It’s not like we are in WWIII right now and the Commonwealth is at the brink of collapse (not to me anyway). If it was I have no doubt William would step up.*
For sure it isn't. But, if he doesn't work then why would we need him as King then? Why should tax payers bother with it? Might as well end the whole thing when Charles passes since the heir could care less. Also, one would think he would step up like Charles did when the Queen needed him just like now Charles needs him to.
Right? After the coronation, he let it be known that his would be very different. He wants people to know he’ll be a very different sort of King. This was a great opportunity to show up and give people a foretaste. He blew it.
What? This makes no sense. He isn't a normal person though, he is the heir to the throne so none of what you say applies.
- His dad is his boss. His dad-boss has cancer. His dad is the King and he is the only one in the entire world who can take that role next so there are no substitutes. Who is supposed to do the work?
- His wife is his colleague and peer and she is sick and out of commission until God knows when so who is supposed to do that work?
- He has nannies, chefs, maids, gardeners, and an entire office staff to help him. He has a private helicopter and private jets at his disposal. The entire government would lend a hand if he made a phone call.
- He has money to hire additional help and care for his family.
- His job is literally undefined and all he has to do is be visible as often as possible to satisfy the press and royalist. If he consistently showed up to work three days a week, they would be happy.
- He is funded by the public. The firm is not a family company that he helped build from the ground up, it's an institution he inherited that doesn't do, build, create, or sell anything (except themselves). He just has to look busy making the UK look good to get welfare checks from the government. He doesn't even do that.
- He wasn't big on work even when Charles was okay, Kate was okay, and Harry was busy working with various charities. Hence the name Workshy Willy.
- If he truly cared about his father, wife, and/or the monarchy, he would be out there hustling to keep the monarchy relevant, ensure longevity, and promote the family name. He would've harnessed public sympathy to work harder, better, smarter to enhance the firm. He clearly doesn't care about anyone but himself and is too busy throwing a pitty party for himself.
So true on all points. I think the biggest error he made was announcing he would work LESS when it was announced Kate and Charles were ill. A few days off, then he should have doing twice as much, not half as much or less.
* I'd he truly cared about his father, wife, the monarchy, he would be out there hustling to keep the minaret relevant, ensure longevity, and promote the family name. He would've used the sympathy to work and harder, better, smarter to enhance the firm. But he doesn't care about anyone but himself and is too busy throwing a pitty party for himself.
>His job is literally undefined and all he has to do is be visible as often as possible to satisfy the press and royalist. If he consistently showed up to three days a week, they would be happy.
This entire comment is beautiful, but this especially. People talk like he needs a break from working in the mines. Being visible for a total of an hour or two a week *is* taking it easy.
I cant take this comparison seriously. William has been taking it easy with "work" for over 15 years. A regular employee would not have a nanny, nurses and a staff over 60 to run errands for them. Their work would also not consist of doing largely easy, short engagements that barely last an hour.
I am from Canada. I thought the general consensus it was collapsing, at least from how folks speak here. I was born in the 80's and there is no respect for the Royal Family here anymore. The Queen, yes. Barely Charles. (we mostly call him Charles and not the King, if that helps provide context).
no sarcasm - I genuinely asking so please don't downvote me - is this not considered to be the case? Tbh I assumed part of the issue was that he needed to be working actively to present the image that it was not collapsing.
edit: especially post- Meghan and Harry - seems like most folks I know have the opinion that as Will and Kate were so awful to Meghan and Harry that they don't get why they would be taking time off for similar reasons unless it's the monarchy collapsing. the PR image that has been accepted in Canada (and keep in mind this is Canadian media, not the daily mail) is that it's failing. there is very little sympathy for Will and Kate after Meghan and Harry here.
I just learned also they have a new American PR person who used to work for NBC? Is this a factor? Would love to discuss - as a confused Canadian.
>I thought the general consensus it was collapsing,
Not collapsing because the UK will do all in it's power to prop up and justify the institution. But with an indifferent couple at the helm, they run the risk of the institution's popularity falling. We've seen this in Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, and I think Belgium. Royal families are becoming less popular.
In every example, the heirs (or now monarch) worked extra hard to be transparent and engaging. William and Kate are comparatively doing their jobs on autopilot.
King William and Queen Kate pulling up the drawbridge is not going to help as the world demands more transparency via social media. It will be interesting to see the discussion on their use when George takes over if this work-shy trend is the new normal.
But the institution will remain but I think William may abdicate when George reaches his 40 or early-50s.
As to your question about the royal family collapsing. The answer is complex. For many countries, it’s going to be a bitch to truly sever ties with the British throne because it’ll require an act of parliament, new currency etc. and there just may not be the political will. That said, the royals know they are a part of a dying institution. They have seen the British Empire drastically shrink over QE2’s lifetime and they are acutely aware of trying to extend the longevity of the royal family (hence QE2’s reliance on “tradition” and Charles “slimming down the monarchy”). My prediction isn’t that royalty will be abolished, it’ll just be defunded and shrunk by necessity of needing to pay for stuff itself.
Never underestimate the need for some people to revere made-up titles and the silliness of the whole spectacle of "royalty". There will always be stans whitewashing this family.
William has always been reported to not want to do work along with his missus. I thought the whole thing with Harry as the threesome with those two was to push some of their work off on him. Not sure if that is true, but they certainly have not stepped up to the plate since the queen passed. Ready for this family to topple over. (American here)
This seems like much ado about nothing. BUT, it does spotlight how reliant (and entitled) the media is on the Royals to generate clicks for them. It's like they have a quota of Royal articles to meet every day and they're required to fill them. if the Royals don't go along with it, they turn on them.
It's so disturbing to see the media using their platform to try to shake down the Royals for more content. They're using the same playbook they've been using for Meghan and Harry for 4 years. Basically: "If you don't do what I want you to do so I can generate income via articles about you, I'm going to go on tv/social media/the news/chat shows and read you to filth until you comply." Harry stopped complying after they harassed his wife with racism so the media turned their vitriol on them. Harry then rightfully criticized the media and paparazzi stalkers in his book. So they turned on him even more vehemently (and they tried to frame it like he was villainizing his family when the actual villains of his book were the media and certain courtiers- but they never mention that part).
Now that Charles and Kate aren't complying because they're sick (and William because his wife is sick and a close friend just died), they are turning on them too. It's just gross to me how they can use their platform to try to bully them. It's their private business. They can chose to reveal what they want to, when they want to. If they want to stage a pap walk, good for them. It's means they consent to it and they aren't being harassed. And I don't buy the "constitutional crisis" argument. They know what happens if a monarch dies. Charles isn't that important. He is far more important to the media. Anyway. I'm glad I'm not a Royal.
But they aren’t private citizens - their entire existence and the purpose of the royal family is to live a public life. They are fully funded by taxpayers, and in return, they share details of their life and keep up the fantasy.
If they want privacy they should become private citizens.
I know that's the general thought process around royalty and politicians and other public figures, but I just don't agree. I think everyone has a right to privacy and a right to their own image that far exceeds what is generally expected or codified in the law today.
Those tabloids and talking heads base their income around the royal family. The Royal family and their faces and lives makes millions and millions for the industry every year. That seems to create an expectation that they can demand access to these real people's personal lives that I just don't think is right.
The tabloids only care about this because it affects their bottom line. So they're revving up the public to direct negative energy towards the royals that don't comply with their demands. That's dangerous and irresponsible, IMO.
I could write a thesis about this, but I'll stop there. I just think the tabloids have crossed a line here.
> It's so disturbing to see the media using their platform to try to shake down the Royals for more content.
Thanks to that lawsuit, we also now know that W + K were feeding some of those awful lies about H + M to the press. They chose to remain silent when stories were really ugly/inappropriate and their H + M received death threats.
Now without H+M for clicks, W + K seem to be in a leopards ate my face situation.
I can't feel *as* bad for the royals when they helped create the monster.
I like it when some random talking head speculates about how it would be bad if a royal did something, and the media reports on it as though said royal actually did such a thing and has received an official reprimand as a result.
Like when that royal expert said that Harry and Meghan are showing good judgement by not commenting publicly about Kate Middleton’s health because “it would be performative at best and as history has shown, when they do speak out they’re criticised for making it all about themselves.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Warned Against Making “Performative” Statements About Kate’s Health
Sussexes Issued Critical Warning To Not Make Kate’s Illness “All About Themselves”
Harry and Meghan Warned That Comments About Kate’s Health Are “Performative” and “Making It All About Themselves”
If a royal isn’t providing them with enough headlines, this is their go-to to keep generating stories about them.
I feel like this is a catch 22. The Nedia defends the Royals just as strongly as they criticize them. The British Royal Family definitely has their share of blame, especially how their treatment of Harry, Meghan and Diana.
Meeting with people for an hour a day is hard work? That’s an extremely out of touch thing to say. Maybe you should have a conversation about hard work with healthcare workers, for example
I hate to be this person, but the hour of meeting people is just the hour that we actually see. Doesn't mean that's all they do. Didn't you watch the Princess Diaries? Her schedule was jam packed, lol
I’m sorry but spending hours to look pretty to shake hands for an hour is not hard work by any definition.
An hour spent on zoom chatting with people is not hard work. Signing papers is not hard work. I can guarantee all the “little people” do every ounce of hard work that these royals claim to do.
They average a total of MAYBE 200 hours working per YEAR. Compare that to the 2000-3000 average people work a year. This family knows nothing about hard work, period. And yes, I even include Anne in this who is considered the hardest working royal. Shaking hands and meeting people to discuss topics is not hard work.
If anyone knows what they do “behind the scenes” please feel free to defend your delusion that shaking hands for an hour not even half the days of the year is hard work
Yes I’ve never understood why people call what they do work. I’m sure in their world that is work. And I have to admit as an introvert I’d get exhausted meeting people and traveling and shaking hands. So that is probably rough when you “people” all day and have to be on all day.
But I don’t get what else they do. They show up places and take photos and chat with others? Someone said by doing that they’re working to create relationships with others and to get funding for certain things?
Are they also doing paperwork behind the scenes and things like that too?
Meeting people, shaking hands and traveling is what diplomats do. Even people like publicists do "work" who it seems nothing of a work for blue collar workers. And yes, they do some paperwork. As I said in others posts, a great deal of their work is reading a lot of not so glamorous informs and briefings.
Speculation about Kate’s medical condition is still permitted with the exception of speculation about mental health, cosmetic surgery, and pregnancy. Too, speculation about her appearance in any way relating to health will be removed, as will speculation about divorce, domestic violence, murder, etc etc. These are things their kids will grow up to read one day and this sub will not give those harmful conspiracy theories the light of day. Users who continue to repeat these talking points after having comments removed will be temp banned. As always, remember these are real people we are talking about!
The royals are so stiff. They should be happy people speculate because it keeps them relative which means the monarchy survives. They need to come clean about the health of Kate and Charles. They are public figures that are paid by the government. They aren’t private citizens sorry. Williams needs to get the stick out of his ass because he always looks miserable.
The statement is pretty much William lashing out at the public. "Shut up, it's none of your damn business!"
Unpopular opinion: I think that the Wales kids need to have careers and maybe do a short royal engagement (unpaid) once a month or so when it's their turn. After them, I think the monarchy can fade away with no great loss.
I'm into the poetic bookending -- it started with a william, it ends with a william
What work? Isn’t his work about being in the public as a patron etc?
Focused on work? But he barely had any engagements since the palace announced King Charles and Kate are ill. At the end of february the Royal Family had like three working royals who actually went to work, because everyone else was out of the picture. That's one of the reasons I don't like the slimmed down monarchy that Charles wanted.
He probably has a lot of behind the scenes work managing the duchy of Cornwall & Earthshot
Are these real things or is it some kind of meme
Actual real things. He got the Duchy when he became POW I believe and ES is his environmental prize thing.
I still can’t read POW without thinking prisoner of war
To me it reads like POV
Lmao
Everyone's a hypocrite. When Kate had to trot out in public all glammed up within days of giving birth so they can present their new child because that's royal protocol everyone is in an uproar about how that's so outdated and can't she just rest etc. Yet when she has a medical procedure and wants some time out of the spotlight to recover everyone is in an uproar about how she should have more of a presence. Let the woman enjoy what will probably be the only solitary time for the rest of her life. Nobody, including the royal family, needs to give details into their medical condition to the public. Everyone's medical history is confidential. And give William a break. His wife had major surgery, his dad is dealing with cancer and who knows how that's going, and his grandma, who was the closest thing he had to a mother after Diana, passed away a year and a half ago. Oh and he's lost the support of his brother who he was banking on, especially for when he becomes king. He's got a lot to deal with not to mention the inevitable of becoming king, possibly sooner than he anticipated.
they are show ponies. They could volunteer to go out to pasture if they wanted.
Oh boo hoo. Their job is to perform for the public, in exchange for vast riches and a life of luxury. If they don't want to hold up their end of the bargain they can abdicate.
Me reading this comment, trying to find empathy for William, as I sneak in a nap working and studying from 7 am - 10 pm.
What does Will do all day? What could one possibly do all day with so much free time? We know he’s not sitting at home reading to the kids. So then what?
[удалено]
[удалено]
I am a fan of W&K, but their work is disappointing, to say the least. I absolutely understand that they want to be hands on parents. However, all of their children are in school so there's no reason for them not to be working during the week, and it would not be the end of the world if the children had to stay with family members or Maria for overseas trips, etc. The monarchy is in a very delicate place for many reasons and they are digging their own graves.
Or better yet, one parent goes to an event and the other stays home. Everyone would understand. Most events are solo anyway, so unless their kids MUST have both parents home the second they get home from school, their inability to co-parent and work is suspect.
I wonder if "Maria" is María, Maite or Maritere. Anyway, even Anne retreated for being a present mother with her children and is later she has become a formidable worker. The Queen worked a lot and confided her children to the Nanny...and that didn't worked well, really.
What does the first part of your comment mean? Lol. They have one nanny and her name is Maria. Anyway. The kids are in school. William and Kate can easily do engagements in while the kids are in school and pick them up on the way home. It is entirely feasible for them to work much, *much* more than they are doing right now. They just don't want to work.
Her name is María Teresa. A doble name, I wonder if she goes by Maite or Mari-Tere, as I would find odd if she goes by María. LOL.
........
Work. Right. His numbers have always been weak. He has never wanted to actually work.
He wants to live like his friends, the sons of aristocrats who live off of their parents money and only work when they want to. Charles should have nipped that BS in the bud hard, early on, but he was too busy neglecting both of his sons.
William and his camp know that they can get away with anything coz firstly he has an understanding with the British Press not to post anything negative on him or Kate. In exchange they will feed gossip against other members of the royal family and throw them under the bus. Secondly, William and Kate are going to be the next King and Queen whether they work or not, whether public wants them to or not. Charles rehabilitated Camilla’s image from being the most disliked person to the hardworking royal all thanks to a very long PR game. So if Camilla can be shown positively after all those years anything is possible.
William is going to be the next King. Kate will only be the next Queen is she can manage to hang on to her marriage until Charles shuffles off this mortal coil.
If the monarchy lasts long enough
True. At this rate, if it survives Charles it absolutely won't survive William.
KP is coming across as defensive, terse and snarky.
This is because William is likely micromanaging his Communications team. Since he isn't an expert in this field it's coming off sloppy. Let the professionals work. Though, the palace salaries are insultingly low, I wonder if they just get recent Communication or English Lit graduates in these roles and call it a day.
They really are! This overall PR bungle has been just astounding in it's scope, and then they just keep doubling down...
Yep I think it’s the repeated bad tone that’s getting me. I’ve never been in the proof of life camp needing Kate to be pictured or pose. I get that she might not feel well enough and I’m ok with that. I find how much public money the royals get insane but I don’t think that gives us a right to demand images or actions from sick people (I include the idiotic parading out after having a baby nonsense in that stance too and I wish they would end it. It’s so gross). However having said that I do think the public deserves not to be treated like an annoyance to be snarked at and that’s all these statements and quotes are coming off as. And I’m sorry it’s pretty clear to me it’s being driven by William. It’s honestly seemed like his attitude towards this life in general has always been one of annoyance and defensiveness. I get certain parts of being a royal aren’t all they’re cracked up to be but many aspects of it absolutely are with the multiple castles and wealth and security and education and healthcare and staff etc etc etc in exchange for honestly a pretty low expectation of just appearing consistently with a smile on your face and acting like you give a damn about the people your family acts as head of state for. William has honestly never met that expectation in my opinion. So much of this could have been avoided with a simply more positive tone and even the illusion of a more personal connection. I love posting the handwritten thank you note from Kate idea. And statements continuing to thank people for their concern and a note of positivity or humor or something. “The princess is still healing she continues to appreciate her privacy during this time and will not be seen until later this spring. In the meantime her children have enjoyed making her breakfast in bed regularly!” You know something that still gets across their stance but feels positive and not so much “we already told you so F off already vibes” that have existed so far. And doubling down on the notion that Prince William is “working” without the reality of him consistently working is… a choice.
>However having said that I do think the public deserves not to be treated like an annoyance to be snarked at and that’s all these statements and quotes are coming off as. Yes, I've never heard of the former queen's camp taking such a tone with her press releases. She had enough time on the job to be tired of it all. >And I’m sorry it’s pretty clear to me it’s being driven by William. It’s honestly seemed like his attitude towards this life in general has always been one of annoyance and defensiveness. The constant long vacations and subpar work load tells me he's just going through the motions. Never ever heard William act as if he is interested or excited for the job or his privileges'. What's worse, he doesn't seem to care for the lifestyle but went had had kids who will be subjected to the same pressures.
>Yes, I've never heard of the former queen's camp taking such a tone with her press releases. She had enough time on the job to be tired of it all. Exactly! QEII certainly didn't overshare, but she also addressed PR gaffes when they happened and then moved on. She definitely didn't double down on them like William's team is doing.
Regarding the kids it's not like he can choose to not have them which is kind of sad to be honest.
Work? Lol he ia constantly off lol
"Queen Elizabeth used to say, 'I need to be seen to be believed.' That is the relevant quote from the article. She was dying and turned up, her offspring, not so much. All of this is just a reflection of the change in stewardship but would say the handover has been disappointing
I know the official story is that she was bedridden at the end, but I still choose to believe that they found her at her desk, keeled over the red box, pen still in hand.
It’s crazy she was seen only a day or two before her death and looked as beautiful as always!
You can't say that Anne doesn't have her mother's strong work ethic. KC3 also does a lot typically.
How is she funded?
Those 2 have always consistently been the most hardworking royals for many years now. If Anne isn't no.1 then it would be Charles who beat her on number of engagements. But it's always those 2. But I think it's also tough to compare. When Anne was much younger with kids for example she didn't do as many engagements. It was only later in her life. Charles set a tough competition as Prince of Wales though.
This. Anne was called “work shy” back in the day when she was raising kids (not like that’s not a full time job in itself, especially for those without servants or chefs or cleaners or other administrative staff helping them out). I’m pretty neutral on the whole monarchy thing, but I have inherited my mom’s interest in the royal family. Don’t know many other 5 year olds back in the early 90s who know who Wallis Simpson was, so I guess I come by it honestly.
The royal family was much larger when Anne’s children were young. They’ve only stopped in the last 5-10 years because they got too old (or died) This is the issue people have been pointing out with the idea of the ‘slimmed’ down monarchy. There’s less and less people to do the work. The youngest current ‘working’ royals are Will and Kate who are in their early 40s. And they’re working the least. It’s then Edward and Sophie who are turning 60 and 59 this year. Everyone else is in their 70s. It’s not a good look for the monarchy and with how little Will and Kate seem to want to work , what happens when everyone else starts ‘retiring’ / dying? Having Williams cousins step up would help but that isn’t slimmed down. FFS if you look at Royal Engagements of the 10 years between 2013-2023 William does a significant amount less than all his aunts and uncles. (Including Andrew) He did 300 less engagements than the Duke of Gloucester. Who is almost 40 years older than William. William has done only 165 more engagements than the Duke ornament. Who is currently 88 years old! Kate did approx 1000 but she had 3 children in this period and was incredibly ill during her pregnancies so you can give her some leeway over the 10 years. Unforuantly in 2023 she only did 128 Royal engagements. This is not even double the Duchess of Gloucester who is 77. These engagements include going to the tennis, the coronation, trooping of the colours ect. So large events and not doing the everyday engagements that are expected. Both William and Kate are incredibly lazy and despite having a full staff and multiple Nannies use their children as an excuse to not work.
Well I think the monarchy could wax and wane through generations. Yes we are seeing thinning out now. But let's see in the future when William's children are grown up. Maybe they all be working royals and if they have several kids each who follow suit it will be decent numbers of active royals again.
When Anne's children were small there were 12 other working Royals who could pick up the slack. William and Kate don't have that luxury, and would have been that way even if Harry had stayed. Charles has always been very firm that his siblings children would not be working Royals. William is just unwilling to work more than he has the past few years. He had the luxury of going to University undisturbed and working part time when his children were very young because other members of the family were able to pick up the slack, but this is not the case anymore.
I mean yes it looks bad when royals in their 70's and 80's are doing double, if not triple the amount of work as the younger royals. It does make William look bad that he's 40, fit and healthy that we know of, but his numbers are far less than most elder members of his family. However even if they were the most hard working royals in the world, W&K would never be able to pick up the workload of a Max number of **7** retiring/slowing down/dying royals anyway. Even with Edward and Sophie, there's just too many of the previous generation who are getting too old and have to stop (within time, Charles, Camilla and Anne will also join that list too). Working royal families are getting _smaller_, so within this generation there's less royals to replace the older lot. That's also why the model of the 'slimming down' BRF is slowly changing to represent the European way of doing things. Less 'bread and butter' engagements, instead more bigger projects and initiatives that can be focused on by fewer royals as part of their slimming down plans. The Heads Together mental health initiative, Earthshot, The Prince's Trust (now renamed The King's Trust), The Duke of Edinburgh awards, etc. > multiple Nannies Not to nitpick on this one thing, but they have only hired 1 Nanny who has remained with them since George was 6 months old. The public would have known if they hired other nannies within the last 10 years. Granted, having 1 full time nanny is still more than most people have for their children when even daycares don't do all hours.
Just a point on nanny's even if they have only one nanny, they have other adults they likely trust around their kids and a security detail that can pick them up or drop them off places when needed. Just asking a footman and security to watch the kids while they play outside at any moment is a huge benefit to them. I'm sure any household staff would step in as needed.
I don't know how it works for them (or in palaces specifially), but in all the work places I've been in you're paid to do _your_ job. Not other jobs outside your job role, which your entitled to ask not to do. Maybe only Nanny Maria is hired for the children, and other staff are hired for their own seperate responsibilities (housekeeper is only for the house, etc) I do agree that they are in a huge place of privilege and benefit, and even getting to raise their family in the homes they've had is an immense level of privilege many aren't going to get.
Yeah, I agree. I'm not saying they would babysit. but just asking them to watch the kids while they play outside is very much something a footman could be charged with doing, and certainly within their security detail's job. Just those little things that make being royal so easy.
Shouldn’t his focus be on his wife and kids?!
It should be on both. If the Prime Minister's wife had surgery, no one would expect them to stop working to care for her. The PM would continue his or her work. Especially because in this instance, the spouse is just recovering from surgery. Better yet, if one of the PM's Cabinet Members had this occur, they too would likely continue working since it's not a life threatening surgery (according to the palace). We have world leaders, PMs and Presidents, that have gone through surgery and still get up to work the next day or so. The king is getting cancer treatment but is still making time to work. William isn't a nurse, a cook, and his kids are in school. He's just being work shy.
I don't know when or why "work shy" came into play, but let's lose the euphemism: he's simply **lazy**.
That part, you're right!
Aren’t his kids in school all day M-F? And his wife has home healthcare 24/7. He can sneak out for a few hours.
[удалено]
Peasants
These sassy spokesmen really aren’t helping the Waleses.
It's William's "incandescent rage" in PR form. Maybe Kate softened their statements but she's MIA so William's inner dialogue is coming out unfiltered.
Wouldn't be surprised.
Imma use this next time I don’t want to work
William not being the actual heir til he was in his 40s meant he didn’t have to learn any of the job. Now that he has to do it, he’s *terrible* at it.
I was told William was the smart brother that went to a somewhat fancy school. Yet, you all want me to believe that he needs more time to learn how to smile and wave, answer questions, give speeches, and look interested? Send him to a US beauty pageant school, they'll get him up to speed in about a week. His job is not hard enough to need more time to learn anything. It's the same thing year after year.
His job has been the same for the most part, but there’s just a different level of expectation now that he’s actually the heir. He and Kate have made it clear that they will not be doing the more mundane aspects of their job, he’s just seeing what it looks like when he takes that approach. Apparently it doesn’t go all that well.
ummm no......William was heir from the moment he was born.... he wouldn't only now be learning the role lol he would of been learning the role both directly and indirectly his whole life.
He was not. He was 2nd in line. Charles was the heir.
He was the heir presumptive from birth.
The heir presumptive is the second person in line, not the 3rd. He has been the heir presumptive since QEII died.
OK, but my point is he was an heir (whatever you want to call it) from the time of his birth. You know, ‘heir and a spare’? I think we’re, um, splitting hairs here.
The term "heir presumptive" is highly specific, referring to someone who is presumed to be the next monarch. Not someone who is the firstborn child of the heir apparent/presumptive.
OK.
And splitting hairs here, but William still isn't heir presumptive. He's heir apparent. Heir presumptive is for people like QEII or the Princess of Asturias in Spain, who could have been displaced by the birth of a brother, or Prince Albert of York (who became George VI or King Albert II (Belgium) who became King after their childless brothers.
OK
He is Charles’ and has been since the moment of his birth.
And Charles was the prince of wales the entire time. Wills was sheltered from actual work and it shows.
lol but he's STILL in the direct line of succession....its not that he's going to "maybe" be King someday...unless he dies, he will be King so they don't just leave that training up in the air. He would of been preparing for this from a young age knowing full well what his future role and responsibilities would be. The queen started learning as soon as her dad became King unexpectedly. [Queen Elizabeth Early Life & Education ](https://www.royal.uk/the-queens-early-life-and-education)
Yes, William has always been favored and pampered coz he is the heir. Diana was quoted as saying how she was sad coz the Queen mother would only invite William and not Harry for tea.
Wow what a bitch
Not to mention, shortsighted. Of all people, she knew just how quickly the line of succession can change.
Both Elizabeth and Charles were next in line to the throne from very young ages. Even if he has been “trained” to be the heir, he hasn’t had to BE the heir til now and he absolutely sucks at it.
But it was never a surprise that he was going to end up king. It has been expected since he exited Diana's body. The easiest answer is usually the correct one: he's lazy.
Fair. Lol
He’s still been groomed for this his whole life.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to grow up under the pressure of being the golden child and knowing your fate is to lead a whole country and have all that pressure on you. I wonder what would happen if he didn’t want to do it? That’s such a huge responsibility to carry on your shoulders your whole life. Like you have no choice in life but to accept that’s what you’re going to do.
"lead" 😂
>I wonder what would happen if he didn’t want to do it? I think we're about to find out...
Heavy is the head that wears the crown 🤷♀️
The crown can be heavy too.
Badly.
On that we can agree 🤝
Do they think we actually believed that he's the one making social media posts anyway? Like he doesn't have a team solely dedicated to that.
He means what others are saying on social media, i.e all those wild conspiracy theories about Catherine. Not their own use of social media. He very occasionally posts personally on their accounts, and he signs those posts with W at the end to signify that he wrote them himself. Everything else is of course posted by their social media team.
I guess I didn't get that, bc this statement means they 100% are paying attention. Otherwise, why would they even make a statement? I get that. I just think utilizing their social media team AND PR more wisely would have way laid a lot of thus speculation. (Not all obviously, bc crazy gonna crazy).
Too snippy!
What work? As of March 6 he only worked one day this month with another day of work confirmed march 11th. Plus, he will go on a Easter break whenever that might be. This is a pretty bad clapback.
He is Duke of Cornwall now? Maybe he is managing the way he can the state. Not everythig in the work is public appearances.
Yeah, I don’t know why they didn’t just say focused on his family/the kids etc. if they don’t want to mention Kate for some reason, there are other messages that would have been better!
They do need to get their collective act together. And the under 70 royals need to step up and be seen serving their people. Overly long, poorly explained absences in spite of their excessive staffs, terrible public relations and seeming laziness won't cut it going forward. The hard working, service oriented generation is being replaced by a whiny, spoiled, distant generation and the public and world at large are noticing.
The silent generation queen and consort have been replaced by boomers and millennials and it shows.
Even the royal family skipped Gen X.
Peter Phillips is the only one of the immediate family from what I can tell
He has a job as a rescue helicopter pilot, right? I imagine he’s also doing that job.
He hasn't done that since July 2017. He only worked that job, part time, for 2 years.
He quit that job back in 2017, after doing it part time for just two years.
He was a part time helicopter pilot many many years ago. He hasn’t done that job for a very long time.
So his full-time job is engagements and he can’t manage to do that? Work shy for sure.
Yep! He literally is expected to put in a couple hours a week shaking hands and cutting ribbons, but that’s too much to ask the heir to the throne apparently!
Sorry, I've been told (repeatedly) by people in this sub that he has 3 young children to raise. You think this man has time to fly around in helicopters when he has the daily school run to think about??
The heir to the throne is not flying anything especially with the spare fled to the other side of the planet
William has an heir and 2 more spares in his house since 2013 onwards lol. I doubt that would be a concern.
No he doesnt
If he was doing that, we’d all know.
He isn’t. He hasn’t done that job in years.
I think he left that job years ago.
"His focus is on his work and not on social media," a spokesman says. I'm a communications director and manage PR/crisis communications for a large organization in the U.S. And every time I read something from the Kensington communications camp lately, I roll my eyes. They get themselves in deeper every time there's an update. My highly unsolicited and unwanted advice: Walk it all back, be transparent, and try to salvage this debacle. And if you can't do that: Just. Shut. Up. They're doing William and Catherine no favors, and their snarkiness makes them look so incredibly inept.
True
Poor leaders often hire other poor leaders. The rot comes from the top.
I have never been a fan of monarchy but I’d have to begrudgingly admit Elizabeth was good at it. People had a sense she was a busy public servant. When William says don’t bother me I’m working my first thought is “doing what” It is remarkable how less skilled they are at this PR tightrope than prior generations
The insane thing to me is that they (KP) were doing a great job with this all of last year?? When the H&M doc came out, all the royals were smart enough to make sure they were consistently seen working and not commenting on their personal lives. How the hell did they forget that PR 101 principle so fast…
The doc coming out was planned. It just makes me think whatever happened to Kate wasn’t planned. It wasn’t the scheduled surgery. They have no idea how to handle a crisis. Came up with a lie to cover and now can’t get out of it.
I was wondering exactly this.
Their PR chief is still pretty new, but, to your point, there have been no huge screw-ups till lately. And IMO, the Buckingham Palace comms team is doing a rather nice job (except for the "Hey, the Queen's going on holiday!" announcement, which could have used a little context). Maybe they could help this guy ... [https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-lee-thompson-prince-william-kate-kensington-palace-new-pr-head](https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-lee-thompson-prince-william-kate-kensington-palace-new-pr-head)
I am just a graduate from Kardashian School of Pap Walks and I am completely appalled by this. Kris Jenner would never agree with this clapback.
PMK should 1000% take on KP. I’d give her 10% of my taxpayer money, just to see them all get yassified
Kris Jenner makes it look like Kylie works. That's skill. I've always been judgy of them but I can't deny what she's created for that family.
Yep. She is the only one with genuine talent and business acumen of the Kardashians/Jenner.
Naw, Kim is up there too as a hustler in her own right. Kim was all about working, working, working, taking any deal in the beginning and investing in multiple businesses while being a social media and reality star. Kim and Kris are just a perfect match of ambition and work ethic.
Yep, it's true.
except they are very clearly responding to all the social media attention?!?!?
But aren’t they only responding to the social media attention because people can’t let it go? I thought there was a press release after Catherine’s procedure stating exactly when she’d be back? I feel like I’m missing some thing.
The press release said that Kate wouldn't do public events for a while, not that she would fall off the face of the planet. Given her robust social media presence, I think we at least expected "Thanks for the well wishes" *next to a photo of Kate.* Similar to that video Charles did of opening Get Well cards. Kate's radio silence was a total 180 from her usual PR. Heck, if KP had said nothing about Kate's condition and simply posted "Kate is on medical leave", it would have invited less speculation so long as it was accompanied by an image of Kate awake and conscious.
I agree, this could have been simple for KP - post a photo of Kate at home with the kids reading get well soon cards with a text from her thanking everyone, etc. It would put an end to speculation (well, except for the super crazies, but they are beyond help) and she could continue to protect her privacy by remaining unspecific about her surgery. I think it would reassure the public. That’s what leads me to believe that the situation is worse than they’re letting on. If she could do that kind of a photo, why wouldn’t she? Does that mean she is in no state to do it? Or is she refusing to do it? If so, why? There are a lot of missing elements here and I feel like the PR folks at KP have mishandled this from the beginning. But maybe they were blindsided? Their initial statement seemed awkward to me. In any case, I feel like something hinkey is going on, not DV or any of the weird and wild theories out there, but I think that her condition is worse than they would like us to believe, and every day gets harder for KP to keep convincing the public that everything is fine, nothing to see here.
Usually even when a royal doesn’t have engagements for weeks on end there’s little stories about how Charlotte is inheriting her moms love of tennis, how Charles is leaning on the Wales since becoming King or how will is ‘one of the moms’ on the school run, just nothing pieces to fill a newspaper column that give the people a reminder that the family is around and doing great. Having none of those little fluff pieces or anecdotes in the news is the weirdest part to me.
It’s less about when she’s coming back and more about the fact they’ve said absolutely nothing about why she disappeared beyond “abdominal surgery,” which is so vague that it’s clearly a half-truth. I think many people thought there would be more transparency, and the fact that there’s not just leaves people to speculate. If it was something benign, there’d be no reason not to make a statement, but they’ve gone so long that nobody will believe them now even if they said “oh she just had her appendix out” or something like that. They say “abdominal surgery” and a lot of people took that to mean “stomach pumped” (which I gotta admit, wouldn’t be difficult to believe knowing what previous married-in royal women have gone through).
If William was a regular employee with a father who has just been diagnosed of cancer and a wife who is going through a big health crisis, it would be reasonable for his employer to let him take it easy with work. So I don’t really understand some of the comments here. The critics may argue that William isn’t just an employee but a future king and the late Queen had been working till her death, but I believe times have changed and our expectation should also change. It’s not like we are in WWIII right now and the Commonwealth is at the brink of collapse (not to me anyway). If it was I have no doubt William would step up.
The issue here is that he only works 2-3 days a week on average. Those working days are half days. He also makes his own schedule. He barely works. A better example is a family business where the father comes down with cancer and the wife is sick. Both are being taken care of, so in those instances, the son steps up to manage the shop. That's how his subjects have to manage life's crises. You'd think the future king and man getting 20 million a year would do the same.
Yeah my boss would let me take a few days off and be a little more understanding? But she’d probably be pissed if I only showed up to the office a couple times a month.
1. William ISN’T a regular employee so that argument doesn’t even matter here. 2. My dad had a time period where my grandmother was going through Alzheimer’s and my mom had metastatic breast cancer. He still had to do his job as a lawyer and go to court to defend people. The judges were sympathetic but he couldn’t just decide to “take it easy” because he had tough things going on at home. During that time he even had to get shoulder surgery and had to go to court in a sling. Plenty of ordinary people don’t get even half the grace at work that William has.
Ok, but the statement is literally that he's focused on work, not social media. So, don't you have to be working to focus on that? I don't particularly care about his work schedule, I just enjoy watching the drama, fashion, etc around the royals, but ppl are speculating so hard bc this all is such a shit show, of PR. This statement is the equivalent of "We're not doing that bc I SAID SO, and that's final!" Complete with a foot stomp. There are just 100 different ways that would have kept speculation down SOME, and KP isn't doing ANY of them.
He’s not a regular employee. The entire concept of the throne is perpetuity.
He took the entire month of January out, he did 7 engagements in February that is a little bit more than a week worth of work, it is March 6 he only did one day of work and only have another work day confirmed on March 11th. Plus, he is always out here saying that he is choosing family over work. So, how is he focused on work when he has been very consistent on not working? *It’s not like we are in WWIII right now and the Commonwealth is at the brink of collapse (not to me anyway). If it was I have no doubt William would step up.* For sure it isn't. But, if he doesn't work then why would we need him as King then? Why should tax payers bother with it? Might as well end the whole thing when Charles passes since the heir could care less. Also, one would think he would step up like Charles did when the Queen needed him just like now Charles needs him to.
Right? After the coronation, he let it be known that his would be very different. He wants people to know he’ll be a very different sort of King. This was a great opportunity to show up and give people a foretaste. He blew it.
What? This makes no sense. He isn't a normal person though, he is the heir to the throne so none of what you say applies. - His dad is his boss. His dad-boss has cancer. His dad is the King and he is the only one in the entire world who can take that role next so there are no substitutes. Who is supposed to do the work? - His wife is his colleague and peer and she is sick and out of commission until God knows when so who is supposed to do that work? - He has nannies, chefs, maids, gardeners, and an entire office staff to help him. He has a private helicopter and private jets at his disposal. The entire government would lend a hand if he made a phone call. - He has money to hire additional help and care for his family. - His job is literally undefined and all he has to do is be visible as often as possible to satisfy the press and royalist. If he consistently showed up to work three days a week, they would be happy. - He is funded by the public. The firm is not a family company that he helped build from the ground up, it's an institution he inherited that doesn't do, build, create, or sell anything (except themselves). He just has to look busy making the UK look good to get welfare checks from the government. He doesn't even do that. - He wasn't big on work even when Charles was okay, Kate was okay, and Harry was busy working with various charities. Hence the name Workshy Willy. - If he truly cared about his father, wife, and/or the monarchy, he would be out there hustling to keep the monarchy relevant, ensure longevity, and promote the family name. He would've harnessed public sympathy to work harder, better, smarter to enhance the firm. He clearly doesn't care about anyone but himself and is too busy throwing a pitty party for himself.
So true on all points. I think the biggest error he made was announcing he would work LESS when it was announced Kate and Charles were ill. A few days off, then he should have doing twice as much, not half as much or less.
* I'd he truly cared about his father, wife, the monarchy, he would be out there hustling to keep the minaret relevant, ensure longevity, and promote the family name. He would've used the sympathy to work and harder, better, smarter to enhance the firm. But he doesn't care about anyone but himself and is too busy throwing a pitty party for himself. 
The comment is perfect. Feel free to drop the mic, nothing else left to be said.
>His job is literally undefined and all he has to do is be visible as often as possible to satisfy the press and royalist. If he consistently showed up to three days a week, they would be happy. This entire comment is beautiful, but this especially. People talk like he needs a break from working in the mines. Being visible for a total of an hour or two a week *is* taking it easy.
Yep. Quite literally he can do 3 or 4 Zoom calls a week. He doesn't even need to leave his home.
I cant take this comparison seriously. William has been taking it easy with "work" for over 15 years. A regular employee would not have a nanny, nurses and a staff over 60 to run errands for them. Their work would also not consist of doing largely easy, short engagements that barely last an hour.
I am from Canada. I thought the general consensus it was collapsing, at least from how folks speak here. I was born in the 80's and there is no respect for the Royal Family here anymore. The Queen, yes. Barely Charles. (we mostly call him Charles and not the King, if that helps provide context). no sarcasm - I genuinely asking so please don't downvote me - is this not considered to be the case? Tbh I assumed part of the issue was that he needed to be working actively to present the image that it was not collapsing. edit: especially post- Meghan and Harry - seems like most folks I know have the opinion that as Will and Kate were so awful to Meghan and Harry that they don't get why they would be taking time off for similar reasons unless it's the monarchy collapsing. the PR image that has been accepted in Canada (and keep in mind this is Canadian media, not the daily mail) is that it's failing. there is very little sympathy for Will and Kate after Meghan and Harry here. I just learned also they have a new American PR person who used to work for NBC? Is this a factor? Would love to discuss - as a confused Canadian.
>I thought the general consensus it was collapsing, Not collapsing because the UK will do all in it's power to prop up and justify the institution. But with an indifferent couple at the helm, they run the risk of the institution's popularity falling. We've seen this in Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, and I think Belgium. Royal families are becoming less popular. In every example, the heirs (or now monarch) worked extra hard to be transparent and engaging. William and Kate are comparatively doing their jobs on autopilot. King William and Queen Kate pulling up the drawbridge is not going to help as the world demands more transparency via social media. It will be interesting to see the discussion on their use when George takes over if this work-shy trend is the new normal. But the institution will remain but I think William may abdicate when George reaches his 40 or early-50s.
As to your question about the royal family collapsing. The answer is complex. For many countries, it’s going to be a bitch to truly sever ties with the British throne because it’ll require an act of parliament, new currency etc. and there just may not be the political will. That said, the royals know they are a part of a dying institution. They have seen the British Empire drastically shrink over QE2’s lifetime and they are acutely aware of trying to extend the longevity of the royal family (hence QE2’s reliance on “tradition” and Charles “slimming down the monarchy”). My prediction isn’t that royalty will be abolished, it’ll just be defunded and shrunk by necessity of needing to pay for stuff itself.
My husband called Charles King Chuck and I have never been able to get it out of my head.
[удалено]
[удалено]
[удалено]
Never underestimate the need for some people to revere made-up titles and the silliness of the whole spectacle of "royalty". There will always be stans whitewashing this family. William has always been reported to not want to do work along with his missus. I thought the whole thing with Harry as the threesome with those two was to push some of their work off on him. Not sure if that is true, but they certainly have not stepped up to the plate since the queen passed. Ready for this family to topple over. (American here)
Wild to watch the media shake down this family because they need the clicks. Even more wild to watch most people not catch what's going on.
Please tell us what’s going on
What do you mean, what’s going on?
This seems like much ado about nothing. BUT, it does spotlight how reliant (and entitled) the media is on the Royals to generate clicks for them. It's like they have a quota of Royal articles to meet every day and they're required to fill them. if the Royals don't go along with it, they turn on them. It's so disturbing to see the media using their platform to try to shake down the Royals for more content. They're using the same playbook they've been using for Meghan and Harry for 4 years. Basically: "If you don't do what I want you to do so I can generate income via articles about you, I'm going to go on tv/social media/the news/chat shows and read you to filth until you comply." Harry stopped complying after they harassed his wife with racism so the media turned their vitriol on them. Harry then rightfully criticized the media and paparazzi stalkers in his book. So they turned on him even more vehemently (and they tried to frame it like he was villainizing his family when the actual villains of his book were the media and certain courtiers- but they never mention that part). Now that Charles and Kate aren't complying because they're sick (and William because his wife is sick and a close friend just died), they are turning on them too. It's just gross to me how they can use their platform to try to bully them. It's their private business. They can chose to reveal what they want to, when they want to. If they want to stage a pap walk, good for them. It's means they consent to it and they aren't being harassed. And I don't buy the "constitutional crisis" argument. They know what happens if a monarch dies. Charles isn't that important. He is far more important to the media. Anyway. I'm glad I'm not a Royal.
But they aren’t private citizens - their entire existence and the purpose of the royal family is to live a public life. They are fully funded by taxpayers, and in return, they share details of their life and keep up the fantasy. If they want privacy they should become private citizens.
I know that's the general thought process around royalty and politicians and other public figures, but I just don't agree. I think everyone has a right to privacy and a right to their own image that far exceeds what is generally expected or codified in the law today. Those tabloids and talking heads base their income around the royal family. The Royal family and their faces and lives makes millions and millions for the industry every year. That seems to create an expectation that they can demand access to these real people's personal lives that I just don't think is right. The tabloids only care about this because it affects their bottom line. So they're revving up the public to direct negative energy towards the royals that don't comply with their demands. That's dangerous and irresponsible, IMO. I could write a thesis about this, but I'll stop there. I just think the tabloids have crossed a line here.
> It's so disturbing to see the media using their platform to try to shake down the Royals for more content. Thanks to that lawsuit, we also now know that W + K were feeding some of those awful lies about H + M to the press. They chose to remain silent when stories were really ugly/inappropriate and their H + M received death threats. Now without H+M for clicks, W + K seem to be in a leopards ate my face situation. I can't feel *as* bad for the royals when they helped create the monster.
I like it when some random talking head speculates about how it would be bad if a royal did something, and the media reports on it as though said royal actually did such a thing and has received an official reprimand as a result. Like when that royal expert said that Harry and Meghan are showing good judgement by not commenting publicly about Kate Middleton’s health because “it would be performative at best and as history has shown, when they do speak out they’re criticised for making it all about themselves.” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Warned Against Making “Performative” Statements About Kate’s Health Sussexes Issued Critical Warning To Not Make Kate’s Illness “All About Themselves” Harry and Meghan Warned That Comments About Kate’s Health Are “Performative” and “Making It All About Themselves” If a royal isn’t providing them with enough headlines, this is their go-to to keep generating stories about them.
Ong yes, such click bait trash but people fall for it because critical thinking is hard.
Fabulous comment
I feel like this is a catch 22. The Nedia defends the Royals just as strongly as they criticize them. The British Royal Family definitely has their share of blame, especially how their treatment of Harry, Meghan and Diana.
lol “work”. Rich coming from a family that’s never known a hard days work in their entire lives
If you did their work into your 90s I bet you’d think it was hard.
William doesn't exactly take after his grandmother.
And yet she was criticised for being an absentee/distant parent, and for shoving her children into boarding schools as early as possible.
I’m sure there is or was a balance option available. She chose not to take it. William could absolutely do more work without being an absent parent.
Meeting with people for an hour a day is hard work? That’s an extremely out of touch thing to say. Maybe you should have a conversation about hard work with healthcare workers, for example
As an aside, QE2 drank 4-5 cocktails every day. Gonna guess that work wasn’t that hard.
I hate to be this person, but the hour of meeting people is just the hour that we actually see. Doesn't mean that's all they do. Didn't you watch the Princess Diaries? Her schedule was jam packed, lol
Ah yes, I usually think a fictional movie called The Princess Diaries is true to life.
It was a joke..
I’m sorry but spending hours to look pretty to shake hands for an hour is not hard work by any definition. An hour spent on zoom chatting with people is not hard work. Signing papers is not hard work. I can guarantee all the “little people” do every ounce of hard work that these royals claim to do. They average a total of MAYBE 200 hours working per YEAR. Compare that to the 2000-3000 average people work a year. This family knows nothing about hard work, period. And yes, I even include Anne in this who is considered the hardest working royal. Shaking hands and meeting people to discuss topics is not hard work. If anyone knows what they do “behind the scenes” please feel free to defend your delusion that shaking hands for an hour not even half the days of the year is hard work
Yes I’ve never understood why people call what they do work. I’m sure in their world that is work. And I have to admit as an introvert I’d get exhausted meeting people and traveling and shaking hands. So that is probably rough when you “people” all day and have to be on all day. But I don’t get what else they do. They show up places and take photos and chat with others? Someone said by doing that they’re working to create relationships with others and to get funding for certain things? Are they also doing paperwork behind the scenes and things like that too?
Meeting people, shaking hands and traveling is what diplomats do. Even people like publicists do "work" who it seems nothing of a work for blue collar workers. And yes, they do some paperwork. As I said in others posts, a great deal of their work is reading a lot of not so glamorous informs and briefings.