Over the weekend, The Daily Mail published this update on Prince William’s career situation. After a second gap year, months of “studying” and then months more of “training,” then on top of that an extended two-month paternity leave, William is finally at work as an air ambulance pilot. Full-time. Maybe. The DM’s article wasn’t full of info beyond a few cursory PR angles to make it seem like William is just a bloke like everyone else. There’s no canteen so he’ll have to pack a lunch. He won’t be able to contact Kate when he’s on duty. He “doesn’t want any special treatment.”
So William showed up for his first day of real civilian work today and guess what happened? He brought photographers and journalists and he spent the first several hours of his first day of work posing for photos and talking about his family to the press. Sure. Here’s a clip from his interview:
Some assorted quotes:
Bringing Charlotte home: “It has been fantastic and she has been a little joy of heaven. But at the same time it is more responsibility, looking after two little ones, especially when George is around. He’s a little monkey. But it is fantastic having a lovely little family and I am so thrilled. And Catherine has been doing an amazing job as a mother and I’m very proud of her.”
Whether they’ll have a third child: “We’ve only just had the second one. You never know what is going to happen in the future.”
What this job gives him: “For me it is also really important to be grounded. I feel doing a job like this really helps with grounding the core of what I am trying to become… just trying to be a good guy, trying to do what you can, trying be a decent individual, thoughtful. Qualities in people that you would want to be associated with. There’s nothing to say I couldn’t do it for the rest of my life. I might be able to, and still balance the two. But obviously at some point there is probably going to be a lot more pressure and responsibility from the other side of my life. At the moment I’m juggling the two of them, and a young family. I’m enjoying it, and I like the challenge, but yes, inevitably down the line, things will probably become a little bit more difficult for me to do that. But while I’m still relatively young, I can manage the two jobs as best I can.”
The idea of becoming a full-time royal: “The term, ‘full-time royal role’ is bandied around quite a lot, and no-one actually really knows what that means, but I think I can still manage to do my commitments and my responsibilities as well as I can. The Queen is still very active and is still showing incredible leadership. My father is doing many, many engagements, as are the rest of the family, and so there’s a lot being done by the Royal family around the country. I hope to still be a part of that, and do as much as I can, but equally do something which I think is incredibly important and [will] prove me in good stead for the future.”
No one actually knows what full-time royal means? Um, we do know what it means. It means not going dark for months on end. It means not ignoring the meager patronages you do have. It means working to spread awareness about important causes and subjects. It means raising money to support those causes. It means proving you understand that the taxpayers support your existence and they want to make sure they’re making a good investment.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
Much like they don’t understand what ‘work’ means. Apathy they seem to have down.
He seems aware of the work shy criticism aimed at him, which surprises me. I would have thought his yes men, and Carole, just constantly told him what a special snowflake he is. He’s dreaming if he thinks he can convince anyone that his current contributions ate adequate. They are not. When he decides to quit the EAAA and take another gap year it won’t be pretty.
Especially when the EAAA is left with an over-sized helicopter that takes a co-pilot it can’t afford to pay for…
I wondered why a co-pilot was required…
I also wondered at his Freudian slip – a pilot who wants to be “grounded”.
The grounded comment didn’t go unnoticed by myself either.
Xiufetish
A copilot is often not required for simple reasons. It’s an extra body taking up more space, more weight, and more resources to move. You want smaller helis to land in tighter spots. Like accidents in traffic or around forest regions. Yes, you can land further away, but that creates more time to transport.
And the pilots and paramedics trained for these crews are efficient. To have a copilot is redundant and wasteful.
Lastly, Why William isn’t a pilot in his own and must be a copilot is telling.
@ FLORC
I wondered about William being a co-pilot, too. He had been in the air force and has been trained as a pilot there. All commercial airlines / air transport companies try to get their hands on former air force pilots because they are very good and it doesn’t take much re-training to get them to fly civil aircraft.
perhaps William isn’t good and just had his time in the air force handed to him as a special treatment?
William always seemed a bit daft to me. He doesn’t really seem to understand nor appreciate how much he could do in his position. To me he seems neither interested nor skilled.
Pondering
William got perks when with RAF. To get in he even got a loop hole, Vacations with little notice, slack on shifts, nearly losing his license, and no consequences for poor behavior/conduct.
And agree. I’ve said this a million times. If William really wanted to help more than use this as an excuse to avoid his duties he would back a S&R charity like EAAA. He could fundraise by going on heli trips. He could still fly and raise money. And he could easily still work that as a job too.
Why he hasn’t imo is because he can’t care enough to serve them when they serve him.
What are the white patches on his thighs for?
I thought they were just high-vis patches at first.
But I googled air ambulance uniforms and they’re actually clear, and some of the people seem to have some kind of scientific-looking paperwork (maps? weather patterns?) in them. For example, these 2 guys seem to have different stuff in their clear-pockets: http://www.ambulancetoday.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/yorkshire-uniform-610×259.png
(I literally put my nose on the screen and I still can’t quite figure out what the paperwork is.)
Anyway, I’m guessing it might be a way to store notes/paperwork so you can glance at it while sitting down in a windy cockpit.
Not sure, but they could be reflective patches.
bluhare, speaking of reflective. I am in the midst of a patch of reflection myself. I am reflecting on the appearance of Mrs Middleton and Pippa as starring characters in the “series of books about the Royal Baby” being sold in the Buckingham Palace gift shops. Pippa has to throw a party in the books! (Wow if only the family had a party goods company, then this would be a great kick for the business — why, oh, hold on!) The story from the DM, with illustrations:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3158553/Carole-Pippa-given-starring-roles-series-royal-baby-books-sale-Buckingham-Palace-gift-shop.html
I saw that too, Liberty. Interesting as it was, what, two days after the article about how Pippa and James are the pushy wanna-be royal sibling article!
bluhare, you and I think alike.
For some reason, that pleases me greatly, Liberty. 😉
…me too, bluhare! 🙂
Thanks ladies, and Lucrezia I think you may be right – it does look like the clear patches are for the pilots to glance at some information in their pockets when they are seated in the helicopter.
They were on Charles’s flight suit too, back in the day. From wikipedia, I know not the best source.
The suit is often green or desert tan in color, with multiple pockets for specific pieces of gear (such as a clear plastic pocket on the thigh intended to house a map of the aircraft’s planned flight path) but color, style, and cut vary greatly from country to country.
@NOTA
Thanks, that sounds most plausible. I wonder if it is a nod to tradition too, since presumably flight paths can be computerised and shown onscreen nowadays.
Oops!
Childish and entitled. Seems he never got past being 5 years old.
Agree and this PR stunt is just pathetic.
Honey, you don’t know it either.
Seriously. I think the role of a full-time royal has been defined extremely well by his grandparents, his parents, his aunts and uncles … all he needs to do is follow their lead.
seriously, liz and phil can help him with that if he is at all confused
If you don’t understand it, you don’t have to do it!!
(favorite method of the work shy)
And his brother, who is spending the summer at his charities in Africa, not showing up for 20 minutes to events and the. Hanging at Wi bled on, making fun of the people who can’t get home.
Until William got married, I never paid attention to the younger royals. Diana was my exact age, and that is the yardstick I measured William and Kate with. I was happy to cut them some slack the first few years – new marriages are stressful enough. But enough -get your lazy butts to work!
And everyone talks about how cute George is, and he is, but I think he’s also a holy terror, much like his great grandfather Philip. His oatmeal parents are no match for him.
At the very least you think he might take an interst in the Duchy of Cornwall if only for self preservation.
Yeah, he wants to just have all the minor royals do the leg work and he’ll just do the major events. This, of course, goes against his father’s plan of cutting off most of the minor royals when he takes the throne — if that every happens.
At this point, I’m convinced Charles is going to die before the Queen. She’ll outlive all of them!
As an American, I love the Royals! I understand the aggravation that citizens of the Commonwealth feel about funding these folks much the same way we Americans feel about funding the folks in Washington DC. To those of us not directly involved, the Royal Family is either the longest running soap opera (nearly 1000 years!) or a delightful version of Theater of the Absurd. Instead of thinking tax dollars are going to waste on them, think of it as massively funding the arts. I’m sure the members of the Commonwealth find our US politicians equally absurd.
Obama’s desk job = the arts?
This “interview” (pr move) comes across as something he has committed to memory and rehearsed over and over again to get it right.
Jason wrote a nice script for him to memorize.
Yup. Jason earns his money.
But I think William calling his co-workers “boys and girls” was probably William’s words.
Who calls your first responder co-workers “boys and girls?”
Would one call firemen “boys and girls?” Or policemen? Or paramedics?
I think he might have been wanting to sound chummy, but it rubs me the wrong way.
Like a politician who’s memorized his talking points. Say them over and over again, and maybe someone will believe you mean it.
If those were talking points they should fire Jason. We all know what a royal working full-time looks like. I’d say the best spin on that gaff is to have him do an internship with the Queen.
Particularly when an on camera appearance is planned in advance, it’s so obvious that he’s been coached and has rehearsed what he’s going to say but tries (too hard) to seem spontaneous and casual. When asked for an off the cuff comment or answer to a question in other circumstances, he comes across as unprepared, uncomfortable and stumbles a lot.
William apparently doesn’t see royal work as important. Harry was able to go to war…this air ambulance is the best that Wills could put together. Harry came back and did fantastic work with his Wounded Warriors project, etc. – so why did they send him away to be with Jecca’s rhino’s? To make Willie look good?
Yes — I think al the good about Harry is becoming a thorn in the side of the people trying to package this goof as a future king and worthy monetary suck-hole.
At least this shows they are aware of the criticism, I’ve never seen then acknowledge it before this.
Imagine raising two children with only two nannies, a housekeeper, personal assistants, private secretaries, press officers, huge wealth, two houses, protection officers… hell!
I know! I don’t know how the poor dears do it. And having to deal with the peasants complaining about them living off their taxes at the same time. How dreadful!
and flying an elicopter for hobby! Jeez I need to take a vacation for him.
What meaningless word salad.
Key words said repeatedly. Doesn’t mean he understands what they mean.
And once again says he isn’t truly committed to royal duties and doesn’t plan to be.
This interview is giving me de ja vu. I swear he said the same thing to Katie Couric in his jubilee interview when he was asked about his future role.
He still doesn’t know what he wants. He is anchored by events rather than any forethought or planning on his part.
You’d think a 33yr old would be able to describe his life in definitive terms instead of this waffle.
A+ comment!! Especially love “word salad”. I call it verbal diarrhea, but you are more polite.
Word salad is a perfect description. My first thought was they shouldn’t bother with these interviews because he will not say anything.
But LAK I have a different take on Wm not knowing what he wants. I think he knows exactly what he wants and that is to do as little royal ‘work’ as he can get away with. But he can’t come out and say that so he dances around it by trying to convince everyone that he will be a better king having had this air ambulance job.
MinnFinn, how about both. He doesn’t know what he wants, BUT he also doesn’t want to do royal duties or work in general.
He is ‘working’ because it’s expected of him, but if it were up to him, he’d not work at all. It probably would be a life of self indulgent leisure.
He comes across as someone who hasn’t given any thought to what he would do if he wasn’t obliged to do the things he has to do whether that is royal duties or regular job.
I also realised why this interview is giving me de ja vu, he gives this interview, with same answers, every few years.
The first one, given when he was a teen, was interpreted as William being thoughtful because he was a teen, and through that prism makes a lot of thoughtful sense.
A few years later, same interview answers, and people are still giving him a pass because he is still young.
Several repeat interviews, and a decade + later, same answers and we can see that it’s not thoughtfulness at all. He is stuck at that moment when he was a clueless teen.
Watching the interview, he actually laughed in surprise at being called out on what he wants to become.
LAK: + 1000
Well said. It’s just more groundwork to avoid his duties.
He’s a 33 year old man that has his family pull strings to get him jobs. And is fine with his father supporting his wife, himself, and children.
Would anyone else be treated as kindly as he is if not a prince and son of his mother?
LAK, I agree with everything you’ve written. To me, he’s like a little kid taking manipulative advantage of the fact that his mother lost her life at a young age. Poor Willy! Give him whatever he wants, forever! or he’ll hold his breath. Give little motherless Willy the extra cake, the extra house, the extra time off….
Meanwhile, Harry, though younger, goes about his work as an adult man. He jumps in, pithes in, cares, goes the extra mile, is proactive. He gets the “giving back” part of his luxurious royal ride. But he also seems to enjoy it. His moody spoiled useless brother can’t even passably fake it. Just obnoxious at this point.
I could be wrong but isn’t Harry doing a pretty good job at being a full time royal? And isn’t wills going to be king in 30-50 years he should come to terms with that. I mean I would probably not be excited about it either but I can think of worse things to have happen to you.
Oh and pet peeve I hate when men say they are proud of women for being good mothers I don’t know why it reads endlessly condescending to me. He lost me there so the rest of the interview just annoyed me more then it probably would have normally.
He could be king tomorrow, nobody knows. His grandmother is 89. His father is 66. No one knows when or if he will become king, so he needs to prepare and work royal engagements now. His pathetic showings in Asia and on-camera with Obama prove he knows nothing about how to act or function at those diplomatic levels. He isn’t going to learn that playing helicopter pilot.
+1000!
Sorry, but the Oval Office visit is Obama’s policy. He always keep the Oval Office chit chat casual in front of the press. He doesn’t like gaffs.
Nota, this this this, all day.
Megan
I’m having trouble understanding how you stating Obama liking the PR/photo op chit chat (which is true). And Nota’s statement of how William lacks in those skills of on the spot casual conversation/polite banter are contradicting.
I say contradicting because you began with “sorry”.
Very sincere question. You’re both stating truths that imo aren’t contradicting.
Compare and contrast William in the Oval office with the Obama/David Attenborough chat. It really does pain me to think that Billy represents ME abroad.
Compare anyone to David Attenborough and they would have a hard time measuring up. He was quite singular.
Megan: Still is!
I had the honour of meeting him in London, when I was all of 21. He was well into middle age at the time, but what a charmer! When we shook hands, I told him what a pleasure it was to see him. He replied, “The pleasure is all mine, if I may say so!” and hit me with a megawatt smile that made me want to swoon. Such an intelligent, eloquent, warm and funny man, not to mention devastatingly handsome, even now, at the grand old age of 80-something. I could listen to him for hours.
What struck me at the time of meeting him was that he was just so interested and engaged in everything and everyone around him, and it seemed to be a completely genuine quality, not at all forced. He would have made a great statesman had that been his chosen route, such is his way with people.
William could learn a LOT from him.
Some highlights of the meeting between David Attenborough and the President, for those who may have missed it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-_xBlKe1iU
Has…..has he asked his granny? Cause I’m pretty sure she knows what it means…….
LOL. Harry seems to know what it means, as do Anne and Sophie from what I’ve seen.
Uh, people do know. There are a few in your immediate family you could ask if you’re unsure. Good god. And you wife SHOULD be doing a good job because it’s the only one she has and she’s not even doing it alone!
LOL. This comment hits the spot!
We know what being a full-time royal means. We have excellent examples of what it truly means. William is pathetic. Jason is off his rocker if he thinks this interview will snow people into believing William is anything but work-shy.
But we knew, like clockwork, that this would appear today.
That’s true. They are nothing if not predictable in their PR.
here we go bash william praise charles time again! uggh God forbid when Charles is King lets see how amaing he will be. In this time of 24 news i think its much harder for william than it was for charles. If this happened in the 70s i could only imagine the daily stories we would be hearing!
Charles founded the Princes Trust when he was 28. It is one of the largest charities in the UK. He has made The Duchy a big money earner. Even in a 24 hour news cycle, Charles and his accomplishments – at a younger age than William – still look better that his waffling eldest son.
Erm No – Charles has been a ‘full time working royal’ since his late twenties (when he left the armed forces) and his been supporting his mother for most of his working life. Me thinks they are treating Willy and Kate as special snowflakes as a) they need that marriage to work and b) TQ overindulges Willy and lets him do what he wants.
PS I recently saw a documentary on Prince Albert Victor (Prince Eddy), Queen Victoria’s eldest grandson/TQ’s great Uncle (and the heir who died before he could become King) and Charles is his double. This was the Prince that was ‘alleged’ to have been Jack the Ripper.
Meh. There is a pecking order. It’s The Queen and the DoE, followed by The PoW and The DoC, THEN William and Kate. The focus should be in that order, and if HM wanted William and Kate to step it up, we would see more of them. Sure, the could take up some of the slack for The Queen and Prince Philip – but who’s to say they want slack taken up for them? neither seem to want to slow down.
There is plenty of time for them to perform more engagements, especially in the coming years when Prince Charles ascends the throne (he has already taken on many of HM duties). IMO, let them raise their kiddies and do their thing.
For the two millionth time, they all set their own schedules. Confirmed by the Palace and other royals multiple times. Charles is not holding them back. Read Philip’s 90th birthday interview. He wants to slow down, he said so himself.
The majority of full-time working royals 1) work circles around W&K and 2) are much further down the line of succession. His place in the line of succession means he and his wife should be working more than anyone except HM, PP, Charles, and Camilla. More than Harry, Anne, Andrew, Edward, Sophie, The Gloucesters, The Kents, and Alexandra. And seeing the ages of the four senior royals, they should be working more than those four too.
Notasugarhere – I never said that the various offices didn’t set their own schedules. I only said that if The Queen were to tell William and Kate to increase their schedules, or to take up more engagements on her behalf, they would do so. I’m not disputing William and Kate are the least active members of the rotal family. I’m merely saying their time will come. They should certainly increase their engagements, but do I think they should be carrying out a full diary like the others – meh, they will eventually, especially after the passing of HM or The DoE.
I watched Prince Philip 90th birthday interview. He said he wanted to slow down, but that’s on him if he hasn’t. As it is, Prince Edward will be created the DoE when the time comes and he has taken up a bunch of prince Philip’s responsibilities.
I think W&K have been strongly encouraged to work more by other royals and they have refused to do so. Hence all the public games of announcing the EAAA thing right after the KP mansion cost and Anmer were announced. I think he rooked HM and Charles into thinking he was agreeing to step up, then pulled EAAA on them behind their backs. My guess is he promised the opposite of what is happening now, 1/3 at EAAA and 2/3 at royal work.
Edward has his own responsibilities. Charles has his own. Anne has her own. Sophie has hers. They cannot all take on Philip’s work in addition to their own, and there is ALWAYS more that needs to be done. If they cannot think of more things that need to be done, I suggest they go talk to the people on the breadlines and solicit suggestions.
Philip has a commitment to duty. To making sure the work gets done. He stated he wants to slow down. W&K are refusing to work full-time. Philip isn’t going to let all of that work go undone because these two refuse to step up. He’ll work until he drops because his lazy grandson is playing Budgie pilot.
That’s your opinion Nota. I don’t agree with it. I think they as in William and Kate are doing exactly as they should be. I thought he came across really well in the interview. Obviously caring and aware. Being so consumed with dislike for them doesn’t really let you see them objectively.
I’m not consumed with dislike and I absolutely think they should be doing more. I do not think they are “doing exactly as they should be”.
Ya know, Firebomber, I really hate wading through less than kind comments on other posters. It’s a bummer, annoying, time wasting and unproductive, IMO. How about sticking to the topic at hand.
@hmmm, ITA. It’s tiresome reading it and even trying to respond to it. IMO, it’s just little more than trolling since the people who like to criticize other commenters rather focus on the subject celebrity rarely bother to respond to or acknowledge any comments made back to them.
I’m only stating my opinion. Not trying to start anything. I don’t see where I’ve been unkind to anyone. Isn’t it ok to disagree and have a positive dialogue?
Firebomber, one could argue that liking them could also blind one to seeing them accurately. That is my opinion.
Describing another commenter as “being so consumed with dislike for them” is your opinion, and an opinion is not necessarily accurate. It also sounds like a bit of an attack on Nota, and that is my opinion. The comments about the royals are some of the most articulate and researched and ‘evidence for opinion provided” comments you’ll find, and so if some commenters (myself included) appear to have an opinion that is unlike your opinion, even ten minutes of reading will establish why they feel or state something. “Consumed” is hardly accurate. People read, discuss – probably with as much interest as you have taken in whatever puts your feelings on the other side of the hedge, or should I say, whatever makes you consumed with fandom for the royals or W+K?
I generally assume at this point that certain commenters here are trolls or are the sort who are hired to “manage” or beat back certain comments for their employers, to improve spin. That too is my opinion only, though I do have a reason for stating this in a general sense.
I think it was the “consumed with dislike for them doesn’t really let you see them objectively” comment, Firebomber. Someone could argue that you’re so overwhelmed with love because of the way William treated your niece/nephew (sorry; can’t remember) that you can’t be objective as well.
Either way, it doesn’t add to the dialogue. I disagree with nas all the time, but I try really hard to not make it personal and really try to stay on topic.
Firebomber
We all have opinions. Not all should be stated here.
“Being so consumed with dislike”. There. You are making an assumption on another poster rather than the topic or facts at hand.
We do keep open minds here with facts. When wrong we do admit. We don’t assume to know and state as fact the opinions of others or motivations. They can speak for themselves and don’t need us.
What you said might be your opinion, but was not positive. I disagree with your opinions at times, but do not assume to know how you come to those opinions.
It’snot hate or dislike. It’s our opinions formed from facts.
Claiming dislike is on par with Nota claiming you can’t see any other side of the topic because you’re a sycophant. And she did not do that.
I’m consumed with dislike for William. Can’t stand Kate either. Just thought I’d out myself – it’s like a time out from the ongoing consumption. I deserve a time out. Being consumed is quite tiring.
I apologize if it came across as though I was insinuating nota was consumed. Sorry that wasn’t my intention but after reading my comment I can see where it would be taken as such. However two wrongs don’t make a right and the comments made towards me lack class and are attack worthy. I don’t idolize the monarchy and can see why some feel as they do but I really believe differing opinions are important. I grew up in a democracy.
That depends on who is doing the consuming, doesn’t it? 😀
I think differing opinions are important as well, and I hope you stay around, Firebomber.
Firebomber
Hope you stay as well. Different opinions are welcome always. And no one should return that poor behavior.
Just keep it about the topic at hand and not analyzing other posters.
Though on both sides there will always be those who won’t back up opinion with facts, but state them like a “nu-uh” claiming it’s false, but showing no couner support.
There were posters that did that would only detract from the conversation.
This isn’t true at all. If it were, Charles should have been on a 60+ year vacation since the monarch is the only role that has a job description and tasks.
Heck, many POWs were on permanent vacations as they waited, most famously George 4 and Edward 7 who partied for 60+ yrs as they waited.
Unfortunately for William, in the modern age, as set out by his father and grandmother, we expect them to work as they wait. HM helped her father and Charles is helping his mother.
Unfortunately for William, in the modern age, as set out by his great, great grandfather, the royals are now beholden to public goodwill purchased via good works and charity.
His royal relations have said repeatedly that each has to make their role their own because there is no manual.
William is a follower, not a doer. His charities are inherited, his life is dictated by events or others, he has not set out to develop his role according to how it should involve and so he doesn’t know what ‘royal work’ means.
Perhaps Harry needs to have a word.
I think Harry is disgusted by the whole situation. He seems very close to his brother still, but man! Compare the frostiness between he and Kate to their relationship just a few years ago! They used to seem to have fun together – now, they barely look at each other.
Something happened there, and I want to know! Ooh, maybe I’m consumed!!
@ Jib, I blame the Daily Mail on that one. They ran a story a few years back about how close Kate and Harry were. Nothing inappropriate was suggested, exactly, but inferences could be drawn. Ever since then there has been very little public interaction. I’m sure they’re fine with each other in private.
One of the Celebitchy grande dames mentioned the recent frosty air between Kate and Harry on another thread a few days ago. I can’t remember if it was FLORC, LAK or bluhare, or someone else. ??? Anyway, it was an interesting and astute observation.
The royals depend on public support. It would be a pr disaster if W kept at this pace until in his forties especially considering Harry organizing something as popular as the Invictus Games and lower ranking royals doing more. Actually the longest W could probably delay is until P Philip passes away.
Let’s just say you’re the administrator of a hospital about to open and one of the royal family is going to come to the opening and unveil a plaque to that effect. You’re having it printed up with the name of the royal. Who would you like to see on it? The future King and Queen of England or a Duke somebody or another who’s 28th in line?
That’s what this means, and while rescuing people is admirable, that’s not what he was born to do. And if there is anyone who was born to to anything, it’s William.
From Prince Phililp’s 90th birthday interview.
At 90, Prince Philip said he was “winding down” his involvement with charities.
“I reckon I’ve done my bit so I want to enjoy myself a bit now, with less responsibility, less frantic rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say. On top of that your memory’s going, I can’t remember names and things,” he admitted.
“It’s better to get out before you reach the sell-by date.”
Right, that sounds like a fellow who doesn’t want his lazy grandson and his lazy wife to work more royal engagements.
Thanks for that, NOTA. Just. WOW. Could it be any clearer how indifferent William is to the needs and concerns of his own family? His own grandfather who is clearly failing in health? Way to go, you hero of the skies. You look so sharp in your rescue uniform with the helicopters behind you. Action man. Yeah, that’s the story.
The Fail just had a story about how the Queen has stopped breeding new corgis because she doesn’t want to die before her dogs. The Queen still is going to work but she is aware of her own mortality. That tells me William will step into Charles’ role sooner rather than later. Time to step up William’s game. (Not to mention he should squeeze the Queen like an orange for all of the skills he can learn from her before she is gone. I would love to have tea with her and talk to her.)
I’m so appalled at William’s arrogance and just complete selfishness about his Grandparents, and yes, evn Prince Charles. Why should the oldsters do for you, Wills?
With the previous generation we had, “Whatever love means.” With this generation, it’s, Whatever work means.
This is shameless and he’s an idiot for thinking he won’t be called on it. And does anyone think he won’t quit when George starts at Wetherby? Then he’ll probably take a gap year to figure out what he wants to do.
Natalie: Just saw your comment. Bingo!
Ha, Ladyof the Loch. Great minds?
It seems like William has always been content to try on various roles, like a child with a dressing-up box, as and when it occurs to him, and so far everyone has indulged his every whim. First Army, then Air Force, then gun-toting Wildlife Conservation spokesman, now civilian action hero by day and Mr. Normal Bloke by night, raiding the fridge to make his own *gasp* packed lunches. (As if.)
He seems to lack persistence in anything. I predict this EAAA jaunt is just another one of his short-lived fads, capricious as he is. The art of self-discipline seems to have escaped him, which doesn’t bode well for a future King. He is proving to be a lightweight in many respects. An overgrown Royal brat.
Well said, Natalie. Kudos. You nailed it.
You have just given me a serious ear worm. Remember that song ‘I Wanna Know What Love Is (I Want You to Show Me)”? I have it running in my head now (only substituting “work” for “love”).
GAH!
lol that’s what I immediately thought of.
Wm is defending his lack of royal work by calling out the so-called full-time royals because none of them actually do 40 hours per week of royal duties (except for perhaps TQ). This is a new angle for him and it seems desperate and risky. Besides, Britons already know the FT royals who did say 300 appearances last year still didn’t work anything close to 2000 hours (40hrs X 50 weeks) amiright?
This is a really good point. Just because he payed lip service to his grandmother and father, it doesn’t cover up that at 33 and after taking a year to think about it, he still doesn’t understand how to be a full time royal and has distanced himself supposedly in an effort to be a good and grounded person. What does that indicate about his family and their work or for that matter Diana and her legacy?
And I know that last week’s christening with Nanny Maria in that get up and Kate in another McQueen and the subsequent Testino pictures definitely made me think, “grounded.”
Charles and Anne do around 500 engagements per year each. And you can’t just count the actual hours of appearance at the engagement as the hours of work, as there are also meetings, prep work, etc. (And most Britons who have salaried work get 6 weeks of vacation per year, they work 46 weeks, not 50).
I live in the UK and am very happy with the work that Charles, Anne, DoE, TQ, Harry, Camilla and Sophie do. I would happily lose the Yorks tomorrow. W&K are just beyond lazy and I agree that if this is his strategy, it’s a terrible one.
I would argue the Princess Royal indeed works a full time schedule. In 2014, she did over 500 events. That’s 2 appearances a day on average, plus there is travel, preparations, and other time that goes into doing those appearances and being on the board of a few charities and being involved in her military regiments.
Their work shyness bugs me, but I do kind of understand some of their hesistancy. But I just glossed over all of that was said about the work stuff and went straight for the way he talked about his children. I loved what he said about Charlotte and George, and possibly having more. I seem to remember thinking William and Kate both seemed awkward with children, not warm at all. Their attitude regarding kids in the beginning seemed more like duty over desire…now it seems like they’re really enjoying being parents. It’s softened them and I like that.
A free lease on a 50 bedroom mansion in central London. A free lease on a 10 bedroom mansion in the country. Millions, literally, given to him and the wife to fix things up including $100,000 to steal a farmer’s land and build a new tennis court. Two dozen office staff. Two housekeepers. Two nannies. None of which comes out of his pocket. Multiple PR staff to cover his lazy a$$.
Funny he cannot understand the idea of full-time royal work. He understands the concept of full-time royal perks easily enough.
Yes, he does. Cannot believe he doesn’t hear himself and think…man, I sound like an entitled git.
Nota: Er, it’s not a 50 bedroom mansion, I don’t think. But I take your point.
Whoops, fingers got away from me! 57 Room mansion. Has at least nine staff bedrooms, not sure how many family bedrooms.
Did anyone else pick up on this detail buried in the DM article – William will only be working TWO-THIRDS of the air ambulance shift, ostensibly to have time for royal duties. I seriously doubt he will be doing public engagements once a week. He’ll use that time to go hunting or play polo or just faff off. That is definitely special treatment!
As always, the devil is in the details…..so a maximum of 2.66 days instead of 4 days all the while being praised for doing a FULL TIME job.
……just like the RAF. Rinse and repeat.
I’m American and I do not get any of the criticism the Royal Family gets. I read every single article Celebitchy posts about them to try and understand. Like, how is the guy work shy if he’s working a regular job as opposed to sort of standing around and being royal at ribbon cuttings? Like why do people constantly shame Kate’s looks and legs and shorter hems and makeup when she always looks amazing and put together to me? It’s gotta be a culture thing because I can’t wrap my head around it.
Today is the first day of his “regular job”. He left his last job in Sep 2013. That was 22 months ago. His training schedule was delayed and pushed back with no explanations given. His royal commitments have been few and sub par. He’s taken many holidays, threatened the press several times, and spent millions of pounds on his homes, staff and travel. That’s why he gets so much criticism. He’s not good value for money, by any standard.
They just seem to be very expensive Barbie dolls, so if they’re living like semi-useless socialites, they’ve been created that way. I mean, they don’t have to do anything. Everyone just gives them money. The solution seems to be to fire the Royal family.
Sassback there are some of us in the UK who would love to fire the Royal Family, unfortunately we are in the minority beset by those who are pretty apathetic about them and those who are fanatical fans. It’s an uphill struggle but you never know if W & K annoy enough people for long enough we might pull it off…eventually. From my point of view William and his pathetic attitudes are the best thing that has happened in a long time….
I’m European and I can’t get it either, but maybe I’m missing something.
Criticism for Kate is largely due to the fact that she does very little to pull her weight in terms of royal obligations. She does the bare minimum and is put to shame by other royals who really do know the meaning of work responsibilities and a work ethic — e.g. Princess Anne, the late Diana, Sophie, Harry, etc. On this site, people go easy on her compared to other sites and because the bar is set so low for her, she receives praise for merely showing up at an event and doing precious little.
Maybe people talk about her appearance, clothes, etc., because she does nothing meaningful for them to talk about. She lacks charisma, enthusiasm and passion for her role as a senior royal and her clothes seem more interesting to people I guess. Her transformation from a healthy, attractive, athletic young woman to a manufactured, diet-obsessed, self-absorbed royal is rather disturbing to some and since this is a gossip site, people discuss things like her hair extensions, spray tan, veneers, all the things that make her seem “fake” and contrived.
“No-one actually really knows what that means.” – Echoes of his father years ago when asked if he was in love with Diana. Deliberately obfuscating and vague.
Actually, William, many people DO know what being a full-time Royal means. Ask your grandmother, grandfather and aunt for starters. I’m quite sure they’ll have no trouble with the definition.
For someone who purportedly loathes being in the media spotlight, why the press junket? Does he honestly believe any of this makes him look better when it just illustrates how far away from reality he is?
His grandmother is almost 90 years old, fgs.
Good Point..clan cousin!!!
I hope that phrase will come back to haunt him just like it did to his father..He will have more to overcome and may not prove worthy to the challenge..I have not seen anything in his character apart from ,as quoted above,’Entitled Brat’…to see him convince the population in a time of crises that he worth their time and money…
What was that: Ceud Mille Failte! 😊
And to think of the high hopes the people of Britain placed upon him, the endless comparisons to his mother, the many mutterings of how much better off the country would be if the Crown were to skip a generation and land on his golden head…
From Wunderkind to Willy the Woolly in less than a decade. Nice going, William.
😀
I love those expressions!! we’re it not for the fact that I find sheep cute I could be persuaded to call him that !!..I don’t want to insult the hard working sheep of this land…
There is infact a character called Wally whose Woolly from my beloved Herdwicks in The Lake District…!!!!!
And he works hard at attracting tourists to visit!!!
As others have said eloquently above he has become the best example the the republicans ever had…and Charlie ,well he may prove better than expected ..at least his heart is in the right place …
I meant woolly as in woolly-brained/indecisive. But in deference to your love of sheep, clan cousin, and not wishing to offend our ovine friends…Willy the Wally it is, then. Not Willy the Woolly. 😁
I love sheep, too! (Except for rams in rutting season. THEY are psychopaths!)
I wish he’d just abdicate. He obviously has no interest in really being a leader, much less King.
Yes, really, he ought to cut ties and be done with it when the Queen passes. Remove himself from the line of succession and hand the torch over to Harry, who would be a most excellent and popular King.
Perhaps he could become a professional polo player if he isn’t too old by that time, and drag himself off to Argentina or somewhere, with Kate and Mummy Middleton? PG Tips could stay on with his uncle and learn the princely ropes from him, and little Charlotte could spend her time divided equally between the UK and the pampas, until she gets a sense of who she is and what she wants. Would save Britain a fortune!
😁
Joking of course, but wouldn’t this be a win-win?!
Brilliant idea, with you all the way, if he hates his position this much of course he should stand aside and let Harry get on with it. I’ve been getting Edward VIII vibes off him for a while and I’m not alone.
Ironically Edward V111 turned out to be a better monarch than some..but then he had learnt his political skill in the brothels of Paris!!!…ho ho!!!!
He surprised others as his mother who had no faith in him..a touch like Phillip and Charlie boy..so William is indulged….
The irony being that Edward 7 really wanted to work, but was repeatedly and actively blocked and discouraged him from doing so by his mother, Victoria.
@ What was that – are we talking about the same Edward VIII I was thinking about the abdication crisis and how he ended rather than performed during his reign? I didn’t know about Edward VIII love for Paris brothels only about his fondness for other men’s wives and his Nazi sympathies (one of the reasons the late Queen Mother loathed him apparently, she saw him as a complete traitor). Edward VII was known as a lover of French prostitutes and even had a special chair made at his favourite establishment. I don’t think either men were popular with their mother’s (which could explain a lot!)
sorry Lak I went too many on the III’s ..almost got into Henry VIII territory !!
..yes that is what I understood that she had no faith in him and he eat and indulged to fill up his frustration to do something,whilst William would be more than happy I believe to never be called upon at all..
Yes Frisbeejada I went overboard on the I’s …I should just have put 7 instead!!!!
@ What was that – those Roman Numerals confuse the life out of me as well!
Thanks Frisbeejada …though I do believe that Paris was the start of 8ths experience and he took Albert,(George) there as well…I may be wrong but after other affairs he then moved on to other men’s wives…
Interesting also their problems with their Mothers …and instead Charles has it with his father and Anne is Phillips favourite ..
I get very muddled when I use the roman numerals, so I decided at some point to stop using them.
Wise move, LAK. They were drilled into us at school, and I’m fine with anything up to XX, but am struck by a fearful paralysis when faced with MXCVIii or anything beyond my comfort zone.
His grandmother is nearing age 90, and his father is approaching 70 (rounded to the next decade). Hate to break it to him, but anything could drastically change at any time with their health. They are both elderly.
Yet all I get from him is, they are still carrying a lot of appearances, so it’s OK for him to do as he pleases.
I like how he’s insisting on calling her Catherine to set an example but it just doesn’t take 🙂
Well Willy when Chuck takes the throne those ‘lesser’ royal’s will be cut from the payroll meaning your and ur lazy wife will have to step up and do more. These ‘lesser’ royal are better people than you and your wife as they know what duty is – something you and Waity fall to understand. Guess your too busy with your little job and she’s too busy shopping with money that ain’t hers.
As a UK citizen I don’t want to see you and your stepford wife anywhere near the throne. Grow a pair and while your doing that tell ur wife’s freebie family to do one and go back into the background where they belong. We don’t want to see them promoting themselves in the press, trying to make out that they are on a par with Royalty.
Meanwhile in Namibia, Africa, Harry is riding copters with a professional team to find black rhinos to de-horn in order to save their lives from poachers, who kill 1000s of them every year.
There’s no canteen there either. No tupperware lunches and no microwaves. He sleeps in tents and tries to avoid dangerous night creatures. He has to live through high-heat days, and freezing nights.
Then he’s off to Botswana to continue on with his wildlife conservation work.
Before Namibia, he was involved in conservation work for elephants in Tanzania, where they have a game reserve known as the “elephant killing fields.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3157615/Harry-tusk-warrior-War-veteran-Prince-line-fighting-ivory-poachers-helicopter-team-Namibian-national-park.html
……………..
Poor William. All the idiot plebs and media keep mentioning this “full-time Royal role” concept but of course, in their ignorance, they don’t know that it doesn’t really exist. It’s just their fanciful idea of what a Royal should do. It might as well be from Imagination Land. Take it from an expert like William. There is no such thing. You plebs and the media need to stop looking like uneducated dorks for even mentioning such a thing.
But I thought William was the conservationist. I mean…he says stuff on occasion about saving the animals and ivory.
William’s idea of conservation is to destroy all the historical and globally cultural works of art that were presented to the BRF/UK government. Didn’t he major in art history? I dunno….
Anne that’s not true!
anne_000, I think he and Kate majored in drinking and partying and living off of their parents while being passed through their classes to get their degrees.
He ended up with a degree in Geography but started in Art History. Some quotes about William’s plan to destroy all the ivory in the Royal Collection.
‘Days after the duke gave his backing to a campaign against elephant poaching, the leading primatologist Jane Goodall told the Independent on Sunday (IoS) Prince William had told her he would “like to see all the ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed”. The royal collection contains about 1,200 artefacts dating back hundreds of years.’
‘A spokesperson for the collection said it “is held in trust by the Sovereign for her successors and the nation – it is not owned by a private individual.”‘
‘Prince William’s plan to destroy the Royal Family’s priceless ivory collection was condemned by academics and art and antiques experts yesterday as ‘infuriating’ and ‘bonkers beyond belief’. Even a Buckingham Palace source said the idea of wiping out a treasury of historic art held in trust for the nation was ‘incomprehensible’.’
Nota
That’s some nice supporting your opinion there 😉
Hard to argue against
Nota, you’re on a roll today!!
@ notasugarhere
Thanks for the quote! Good job! 🙂
This photo came to mind with Williams’s lunch box. Does anyone else remember this photo of the family and Diana, and a royal picnic basket? http://www.royal-fans.com/princess-diana-prince-charles-marriage-secrets-reveals-dickie-arbieter-queen-ex-press-secretary/prince-charles-princess-diana-prince-william-prince-harry/
Ah, here’s the real dilemma. How to pack WillNot’s pretentious lunch in such a way that it looks ordinary? Or is Pippa whipping up smoothies for him, too? Carole going to wrap his cheese toast in that article about the Middletons getting titles?
Wolfie: That photo was the last family Wales christmas card before the separation was announced.
It always makes me laugh because it looks like a composite of several photoshoots where Diana and Charles were photographed separately.
Their distance and forced smiles…eek.
Taken in isolation, this photo presents a lovely tableau, but when you line up all the christmas cards and see the growing tension and distance with each successive year, this photo shows how forced their public togetherness was.
And the more they couldn’t stand to be together, the more elaborate the christmas card tableau. The early christmas cards are natural, simple, bodies leaning into each other, natural genuine smiles.
You can track their growing marital distance via their christmas cards.
http://www.royal-fans.com/history-royals-christmas-cards-princess-diana-year-2014/
Yup.
Looks like a Ralph Lauren ad.
Alright William. No one has clearly explained to you or have you had the ability to grasp what working full time is. Just look to your family. Then look at your own schedule. It’s more than polo and galas. More than hand shaking and small talk.
Meanwhile your grandmother, grandfather are reducing their work loads. Charles has stepped up to ease the burden. And Harry and your cousins have in turn eased his burden also.
You have done nothing. And have taken nearly a full year longer to complete training than others.
And no special treatment? You mean for that job that was created for you? Where money had to be donated to pay you a salary? Where a new helicopter had to be offered for your position that never previously existed? And you won’t even be working full time or on a regular schedule like everyone else does? So, where is the part where you refuse the special treatment to keep things fair and normal?
And now that he has the job when will the charities he’ll donate to be announced?
These training wheels need to come off.
He’s donating his salary to a charity. Who cares which one! I read he’s to work a regular shift like everyone else. where have you read otherwise? They were acquiring that helicopter whether William worked there or not. it wasn’t specifically for him. I think your info is incorrect Florc.
That helicopter was ordered four years ago. Long before William said he wanted to work there. Not only that his leave while Kate had the baby was unpaid!
It is a special larger helicopter designed to accommodate him and the specially trained co-pilot. It will need a bigger area to land. And since no charity has been named yet, we aren’t even sure he’s donating the salary. Why not donate it back to the service that is letting him live out his Joe the Helo Pilot fantasy?
One of today’s DM articles, among others, state that he will be working 2/3 of the rota.
Firebomber
Anyone can claim a donation to charity, but it does matter which one. And why no announcement? Lots of things can be claimed, but without grounding facts there never has to be follow through. To name would commit.
And Another has stated his shifts situation. Time will support the truth. His RAF S&R shifts were extremely unbalanced.
Also, his employers are a charity. Why not donate back to them?
And the helicopter… The 1 he will be co-piloting never had a copilot spot. It’s a skeleton crew to keep a weight limit and to land in tight areas. With William he is bringing another body as his RPO/trained paramedic. That’s a lot more weight and room taken up. Landings will be more difficult. Increased fuel use.
And this helicopter was not 4 years coming to EAAA. Maybe you’re thinking the Heli leased for private WK use?
And yes William’s unpaid leave. If he took paid leave for a job he had not yet started how would that be fair or normal? But even so. What bills does he have? Everything is covered and they will never want for anything. Should there be praise and kudos given because he did not take paid leave for a job he had not yet worked a single day on? Or had not even completed full training for?
I think you’re wrong Florc. that helicopter was ordered four years ago. They don’t have stock just waiting for someone to buy. It needed to be built after the commitment to purchase. Maybe his wage is going back to the very charity he’s working for. Since we don’t know why criticize him? I agree with you he shouldn’t be paid while on leave if he hadn’t not yet started to work.
Firebomber
Alright. Please produce a link or where I can find the link that states the EAAA always had plans for this helicopter and got funding for with no intention of William. My browser is crashing so maybe a fellow poster can find an old link where the heli was requested with intent for William?
And I will eat my tin foil wiglet with yorkshire pudding..
With the wage though. It was donated to the charity to then pay William. William after taxes was said to have the intent of donating the remainder to a charity or charities or his choosing. Indeed why not back to EAAA who have stated they need 7.5million. Although, with limited comments since i’m not sure a donation is planned.
IMO they could be doing what others have. You get money. You put it in high yielding accounts. When you turn a profit you then give those funds away in your name. And it gets counted as your tax deduct write off.
IMO until he names a charity there’s no donation.
The request for the new helicopter was 4 years old. The charity only received approval and a grant once William chose them. Coincidence? I think not. EAAA wasn’t searching for a new pilot. They didn’t need one. They needed a new helo that could carry a child and their parent. They still don’t have that helo because the 2nd seat is going to be occupied by William’s security.
In order to pay for William’s salary, EAAA had to solicit funds. Somoene donated his salary (probably the Queen or Charles). EAAA won’t even get that money back because William has chosen to redistribute his salary to another of his charity. He’ll get the tax break and the good press for his kindness and EAAA will get saddled with a workshy prince, who’s taking a position from someone more qualified and…the best schedule with the weekends off from someone who has more seniority than him.
TOM
Thank You. I will partially eat my wiglet.
And if that was the intended purpose of the larger heli it certainly came at a price.
Regarding the position/time off. He had a role created for him. With his time off that role will still exist. Now, when on vacation someone else will still need to occupy that seat. Interesting to see if they will need a copilot there or will give the role to a parent.
Firebomber
You were correct. They applied 4 years ago. And when William showed interesting and intent they got their Heli. Now, a piece i’m interested in is how long others were waiting or are still waiting for theirs.
Was the EAAA waiting past a point others were granted? Or are others that applied sooner still waiting?
Noooooooo, FLORC!! Not the wiglet . . . it’s tinfoil! Your poor teeth!
He’s always been so glib. He’s just as glib here. Everything is so perfect. He’s just like you and me. Ugh. That spin NEVER changes. At this point, I can’t stand him. He’s a gilded loser, still trying to justify his laziness and indifference to others. Wastrel. Liar. Hedonist. Probably cheater. Not noble. Such a special cornflake.
That’s the bit that gets me, this business of pretending to be ‘the same as everybody else’ No he’s not he’s a Royal, born to lead a wildly different lifestyle. If he doesn’t like it (and everything about him screams that he hates the job and loves the perks) as I said above ( as did Ladyoftheloch) he should just go, stand aside, basically he needs to f*ck off.
“My father is doing many, many engagements, as are the rest of the family, and so there’s a lot being done by the Royal family around the country.”
Translation: “The other idiots do enough, why should i waste my time with this boring stuff?”
“…and do as much as I can (but not want, you idiots), but equally do something (holidays, hunting, partying, playing co-pilot) which I think is incredibly important (to me).”
Your “birth duty” isn´t important enough? Your charities aren´t important enough to work for them full time?
Charles has work ethic, but he is a little bit delusional if he thinks slimming down the monarchy is a good idea judging by the work ethis of his oldest son who may or may not follow him. Charles thinks he can shoulder the most when he becomes king and his sons+wives will do the rest and his siblings will carry on their own charities till they die. That may work in his head, but has he ever talked to William? Never ever will Willy survive without an army of minor royals doing the day work.
What will he do when the Queen, Philip, Charles, the Kents and Glouchesters are gone? Does he know they are all of old age and could die tomorrow? People age and die, they don´t live forever so Willy can live in his bubble. When the Queen´s cousins and Charles siblings die their kids won´t take over royal duties. This will leave big holes in the court circular. Who will take their places? We are talking about over 2000 official engagements per year. William now makes 80-100 in a good year. His wife makes the half when she isn´t pregnant.
Olive: Charles may have to reassess his whole pared down monarchy vision with that lazy pair!.
Charles AND the minor royals are going to face an uphill public battle of acceptance if he re-considers the slimmed down monarchy idea.
Right now, there has been a big PR push to minimise the lesser royals and to talk up the future slimmed monarchy which has worked positively for the institution.
Now imagine the opposite, after a few decades of being told Beatrice Etal are wasters, to be told that the same Beatrice is now a royal representative, carrying out royal duties.
He’ll have to hire Mark Bolland again to do for them what he did for Camilla.
True, LAK, heads will spin. I just don’t see William and Kate being willing to pick up the slack after the Queen and DoE pass on, so who will fill the vacuum?
I think the criticism of William and Kate’s schedule is ridiculous as well as the calls for William to be more like Harry as if Harry has a grueling schedule of engagements and public appearances. Indeed, Harry is currently enjoying a three month safari vacation in southern Africa per Daily Mail which interviewed a few government officials about what they think about Harry’s conservation efforts which they deemed a publicity stunt and adventure holiday-
“Harry is not the first prominent person to visit Namibia and get involved with its conservation projects. We receive a lot of prominent people,’ he remarked at the weekend. ‘We appreciate this, but we don’t want it to turn into a public relations exercise.’ Shifeta, whose spokesman claimed the ministry wasn’t even aware of Harry’s arrival two weeks ago, also defended Namibia’s tolerance of so-called ‘trophy hunting’, the legal hunting of rare and endangered species. In May, it was reported that Texan Corey Knowlton had shot a black rhino in Namibia after paying $350,000 (£225,000) for a licence at auction.Although the practice has been attacked by The Tusk Trust, of which Harry is an active supporter, the minister claimed it generates millions each year for conservancies. ‘People need to understand that the hunting of these animals is totally legal,’ he added. ‘This is completely within the framework of our laws.’
Meanwhile, some corners of the Press have expressed cynicism about Harry’s trip. One columnist at The Namibian newspaper remarked: ‘Let us be honest: His Royal Highness is here for an adventure holiday. He or his visit will not save one single rhino. Sad but true.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3158739/Don-t-use-trip-Africa-self-promotion-Prince-Harry-warned-against-turning-royal-visit-publicity-stunt-Namibian-officials-says-SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE.html#ixzz3fn8TZKQ6
Queen B
It’s not W vs. H. It’s William 2nd in line and still extremely resisting his role. Yet still living like he’s earning his keep. And When Harry does something it’s buried. And Invictus Games? That was ambitious and Harry had help, but he pulled it off without WK. Yet their names get tacked onto it like they helped.
And nearly everything Harry does is torn down. He can’t outshine William. Remember that W hunting with Jecca photo? Shortly after a photo of Harry posing with a kill was released. It was nearly a decade old. Any way to take the heat off of William and make sure the spare is seen as the worse of the heir/spare.
And numbers to promises to follow through to end results. Harry is a far harder worker.
And you want to talk numbers about tax funds spent on W/H that will not get paid back and value was not met? William still has the most in his name and the tally goes up all the time.
Queen B: I disagree with you for the most part, in that I don’t believe Harry is using this trip as a 3-month personal jolly, however you do make a good point.and raise a good question.
One of the principal aims of the Tusk Trust is to examine the well-worn routes of illegal poachers and to prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law. Additionally, I would like to see the Tusk Trust – and Harry – advocate for an outright BAN on all trophy hunting in Namibia and South Africa, but so far this hasn’t happened. Too much to ask for when there’s so much profit to be made? I would hate to find out that this charity (and Harry by extension) publicly deplores poaching, yet privately turns a blind eye to the practice of canned hunting of these beautiful endangered species by rich, white, overprivileged millionaires. It (the hypocrisy) would stink far worse than any rhino scat.
Exactly, Ladyoftheloch. In fact, whiny was supposed to spend part of his gap year in Kenya, on Jecca’s parents land., fighting for rhinos and elephants….but miraculously that is forgotten. I’m proud of Harry for taking up the baton from what his brother started but (as with all things that he becomes involved with) doesn’t have the interest to finish! I certainly do not see it as a PR opportunity and I do not believe that Harry does also. Shame on the DM for printing that inflammatory story (I won’t give them the dignity of calling it an article)
Debbie: Whiny, lol!
I’m with you on being proud of Harry for taking up the baton, but would really love to see him run with that baton all the way to the finish line, and bring international pressure to bear on those still profiting from this disgusting excuse for “sport.” They need to be called out and publicly vilified. Named and shamed.
I went to the DM and read the article.
Then I read some of the comments.
Other people have the same thought as I do.
Of course the people who are making money off of hunting are poo poo’ing conservation efforts, especially by someone who has global media presence.
But here’s the rub, Harry has been known to participate in Big Game hunting in the past. Hopefully now he has learned his lesson and will never participate in the vile practice again, however he and the charity he has aligned himself with need to become far more vocal in their opposition to trophy hunting to remain credible, otherwise all their other conservation efforts ring hollow.
I went to the Tusk Trust site but couldn’t find a Mission statement regarding their stance on Big Game hunting for profit. Anyone else have more info?
@ LadyoftheLoch
I hope Harry takes a stance against big game hunting too, unless it’s a necessary, controlled cull.
The Tusk Trust’s royal patron is William, according to its site. So I don’t know if Harry has the power to make it take a stance he wants.
If he hasn’t already, maybe Harry should start his own wildlife conservation foundation. Or maybe he’s worried that it would make William think he’s competing against him?
anne: I very much hope that he and William (as patron) speak out vociferously and loudly against the bagging of Big Game.
I’m not going to hold my breath though, because it seems as if those two are ready and willing to shoot anything that moves the moment they are out of range of the press.
So why campaign ardently against poaching whilst doing nothing to protect endangered species from the barrels of high-paying guns?
The stench of hypocrisy is overpowering!
I grew up surrounded by hunting for “sport” and detest all of it. Hunting for food while starving is quite another thing, imo, but that hardly applies in this case.
Until Harry showed up in Namibia to assist with the black rhinos, I, for one, did not know the government was selling licenses to kill the black rhino. Maybe his “safari vacation” did have a purpose to it; to bring world attention to the fact that the Namibian government is making money off the killing of black rhinos. Looks like the problem is not only with poachers.
And yes, he needs to never shoot another big game animal to maintain any credibility on the subject.
Julie: My hope is that Harry will do the right thing and publicly condemn this evil practice in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, wherever it’s still happening legally, and never again shoot a big game animal unless with a camera.
LadyoftheLoch: I really hope he does too. I remember when Diana went on a crusade against land mines, it really bothered some people that she was becoming involved in politics. I really do hope Harry pulls some chains and ruffles some feathers to make these governments uncomfortable with profiting from the extinction of these beautiful animals. That would truly be a fitting legacy for Diana.
Uncanny that you should say that, because the subject of Diana and her fight against landmines came up on another thread today (Harry’s Invictus Games). I so agree with you and would so love for him to have inherited the same passion Diana had for what she believed in. That would indeed be a spectacular legacy.
Oh everyone…lighten up. I’d like to see some of you do better living in his shoes.
Ann, I guess you missed the part about not attacking other posters. People don’t need to be told to ‘lighten up’.
Yes Vava, that’s why 🙂 exist.
Lighten up???
People all across the UK are seriously struggling while this Royal nincompoop wastes millions of taxpayers’ money on whims and frippery, makes jokes at the public’s expense, and does nothing to repay the costs of keeping him and his idle wife in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed. Oh sure, we all need to lighten up. *eyeroll*
(Who needs a Bachelor’s in Geography when a Master’s in Better Living is free and there for the taking, eh?)
LadyoftheLoch
Yes, I agree with you.
I suggested earlier in time it’s not too late for William to return to his studies and earn MBA, then revisit the property mgmt and take significant burden off taxpayers.
He appears to want some kind of involvement with British emergency services. I understand.
William couldn’t save his mother, but he’ll sure try to save others even if it’s only seasonal work.
Citresse: That’s an interesting slant, and one i hadn’t considered Perhaps he does have a deep psychological need to “save” in which case his search and rescue efforts would be eminently understandable, but, carrying that thought forward, if the urge to save is such an underlying driving force, there is so much – and so many – to save all around him. The homeless, the terminally ill. The disabled. Abused and abandoned children. Those struggling against poverty and terrible prejudice. The list is endless, and he and Kate could do so much to address so many inequities. But they don’t seem willing to lift a finger.
Also, didn’t he take some bespoke land management course at Cambridge? What became of that? I daresay he could continue his studies with an MBA or something equally laudable, but lacks the concentration or inclination to work hard and studiously. He’d rather be a Jack the Lad than a future King. (Imo).
If he’d let me I’d be happy to try. I think I could make the celebitches, proud.
You would, Bluhare. 🙂
I’d come for a see and cheer, bluhare.
Thank you, Vava and wolfie! I will have a committee of celebitches who will need to approve my projects and goals. Plus I will also have a committee of dissidents chaired by Sixer and Frisbeejada, who will make sure that my ego doesn’t take over and start demanding things like thrones and obeisance from everyone.
And I will look absolutely fabulous while doing it all!
You will, bluhare!
Just please leave your wiglet at home. Promise?
I can promise that my reign will be a wiglet-free zone!
I’m thinking I like the idea of a throne, though. And not a porcelain one either.
Bluhare…………LOL at the porcelain throne comment. hahahahha. At this point in time that is all William and Kate deserve.
I want to see all your frippery!
A throne, carved from the mighty fallen oak where Robin Hood first wooed Maid Marian. Carved with gryphons, lions, and blue hares dancing over sweet meadows. Gilded with mini-coronets and dainty gold whorls, with a blue velvet seat bedecked with tiny seed pearls and peridots.
Don’t forget the matching footstool where Chris Hemsworth, dressed as Thor, will recline as your watchful guard.
Oh my, LadyoftheLoch. I *really* like the way you think. Would it be OK if I substituted my current man candy of the month for Chris Hemsworth, though? I do like him; it’s true, but Poldark just started over here and I am seriously in lust with Aidan Turner. The thought of him reclining anywhere near me . . . well, I am atwitter.
By the way as you are making me think of lochs, one of the best memories of my childhood is a holiday we took by Gairloch. Beautiful.
And wolfie? One has regalia, not frippery!
Oh bluhare, I’m quite sure that can be arranged. How about a triptych of man candy guards so as to appear more formidable and Boudicca-esque?
May I suggest the current Poldark, the old Poldark, Robin Ellis (as he was THEN) flanking you on either side, with Thor lying at your feet tentatively stroking an ocelot?
The man candy guards would be fully moveable and interchangeable as you see fit, naturally, bluhare.
It *is* your throne room after all!
– – – – – –
PS: Both the Gairloch (Wester Ross) and the Gareloch (Dunbartonshre/Argyll) are lovely. I’m glad you got to visit and have happy memories.
If you could manage to bring the Strathmore Rose or Teck Crescent tiaras back into general use, at all those charity fund raising dinners, I’d appreciate it.
The hell with fund raising dinners, nas. I’ll just give you the Teck crescent one so you can wear it gardening. I like the Strathmore rose so I’m keeping it. Royal prerogative and all that. 🙂
And I’m raising a toast to movable man candy, LadyoftheLoch!
I’ll drink to that.
*Clink!* 🍸
Kaiser wrote: “It means not going dark for months on end. It means not ignoring the meager patronages you do have. It means working to spread awareness about important causes and subjects. It means raising money to support those causes. It means proving you understand that the taxpayers support your existence and they want to make sure they’re making a good investment. ”
Very true!
The article in the Daily Mail said he would only be working 2/3 of a shift. So a normal shift is six days on, three days off. 2/3 of a shift is 4 days, so then he takes 5 days off? That sounds about right. He does know what a working royal is. A four day week, and a five day weekend.
So true but the pay and perks are not reduced like ‘ordinary’ part time workers ….
>No one actually knows what full-time royal means? Um, we do know what it means. It means not going dark for months on end. It means not ignoring the meager patronages you do have. It means working to spread awareness about important causes and subjects.
I couldn’t disagree more, We should support Will. If nobody knows what royals are supposed to do, then maybe we don’t need royals at all? Something people have been saying for years?
Grandma Elizabeth is a nice lady (sort of) but what is she actually doing that couldn’t be done by somebody else?
And this is why William is a gift to the republic movement. If he doesn’t know what a full time royal does, and he’s grown up in it, then why should we have them?
LAK
I can’t believe that sound bite was allowed.
He’s a gift to that movement.
And hopefully a gift that just keeps on giving!
Well this is a new twist and I can get behind it. Support William to demolish the monarchy!!!! YES. They turn over the jewels and all the property currently owned by the Crown.
What is the saying, ‘That word does not mean what you think it means.’
That will always apply when Bill reads from a script.
I think it’s reeks of desperation for William to hold a press conference just because he went back to work. Really? Does he have to show the world like it was some kind of huge achievement? Why didn’t he also put up balloons and streamers and hand out noise-makers too? Where’s the cake? It’s a ‘Look at me! I got my ass up and I’m at work. Good for me!’ kind of publicity stunt. Want a pat on the back that much?
He wants to come off as some kind of normal and professional person with a normal job, but real professionals just go to work without fanfare. They don’t waste half their working day getting their photos taken and giving interviews.
I don’t know if this media event was Jason or William’s idea. Whoever it was, it seemed ridiculous.
Anne
I think this was a PR moment and not desperation on part of William. And as far as desperation. I wonder if Jason is feeling the pressure of his role yet? Recycling old photos of work and trying to spin new photos of not working as work. All while common sense fuels criticism.
@ FLORC
I think it’s desperation because why make his going back to a ‘normal’ job such a media event? Why try so hard to make sure the public knows? Why not just send out a news blurb instead and just go quietly to work?
Is it to fight back against the ‘laziness’ label? ‘See? I do work. I’m not lazy. I didn’t forget I had a job.’
But I think he kind of un-did his ‘I’m a keen worker’ publicity message when he pretended that he didn’t know that Royals do have full-time work in their own right and that it’s why he hasn’t been working at it in earnest. He kind of made himself look like a dishonest jerk with his pretending not to know at the same time making it look like it’s something that the public and media stupidly and ignorantly came up with.
It’s weird that he’s trying to make it sound like unless he has another job, like this co-pilot one, then there’s no other full-time work he can have or can do.
I think it would have made him look better if he had just gone back to work quietly except for a short news blurb sent out by Jason. This media event makes it look like he’s one of those “Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man” promoting a work-horse image for himself.
Yes, I couldn’t understand all the hullabaloo either. If you’re Mr. Normal Bloke, William, just get on with it as a normal bloke would do.
Before you eat the tinfoil Florc, I am sure that granny bought the helicopter. I just can’t find the evidence, but we’ve discussed this previously. I know that I have seen this is the DM – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2754881/Queen-s-pilot-double-William-pay.html
Like he said he s a good guy and wants to do something that benefits others.Hes a nice guy! His mom would be proud. I would if he were my son.
@ Firebomber
Because doing work for charity doesn’t benefit others?
If he were my son, I’d be counseling him. He does not come across as a “nice guy”, sorry. ‘Petulant’, ‘spoiled brat’, ‘obnoxious’ is what comes to mind when I think of William.
Firebomber
He could do more good if he supported a charity like this instead of having a job with them. He would be more beneficial. If he liked helping others I would think he would do more for his charities.
Or he’s just doing good for others on his terms.
If wished I have a laundry list of examples where he should have been helping, but didn’t bother.
Florc he can’t live up to everyone’s expectations but he’s trying don’t you think? He can’t please everyone. There’s bound to be some cynicism from some but for the most part he seems like a decent guy compared to the rest of the royals. I have to go to work every day. I don’t live a extravagant lifestyle but I still support what the royals represent. They are human and are flawed but mostly good comparatively. I can see I don’t support the majority on here but that’s ok.
To me, compared to the rest of the royals (other than Andrew), he doesn’t seem like a decent caring person dedicated to helping others.
FLORC, a mixed bag off the top of my head.
Has only visited Centrepoint what 3 times in 6 years?
Wasn’t there something around the flooding in Wales? We’re told he couldn’t visit affected communities because he was working. Then he was caught not working but getting drunk in a pub.
Caught on video referring to a big charity donor as “a bore”
Went through that period of time last year and earlier this year where he’d only have his few charity engagements publicized after they’d taken place. They show up in the Court Circular later but not in the Royal Diary. Refusing to allow a press presence to record and promote the charities. Because of his hatred of the press.
Photographed hunting in Spain with Jecca days before a conservation event (He chose to go hunting with her instead of going on vacation with his son).
In the three week Australia/New Zealand tour they did 1/3 of the engagements that Charles and Camilla did in a week in Canada around the same time. Took 2-3 vacation days during that time, including taking over an entire luxury resort.
Told in advance about the damage being done to elephants at an Asian “sanctuary,” was publicly asked not to attend, but visited anyway.
Returned from his weeks in Mustique a few days before the dinner and BAFTA Awards but didn’t attend either. He’s president of BAFTA and a former schoolmate was up for Best Actor.
He was so moved by the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz he went on vacation to Mustique for weeks. Once people started grumbling he was nowhere to be found at any commemoration events, a statement was released telling us how much he cared.
Firebomber: I see where you’re coming from, and to all intents and purposes William looks like he is trying on the surface, at least as he appears in the media, thanks to his crack PR team. On closer examination though there is a pattern of behaviour which is absurd and crazy-making because of its repetition, like one of those clicking See and Say toys where the sheep says Baaaa, and the cow says Mooooo, to the point where you want to throw it out of the nearest window.
William’s See and Say seems to be stuck these days, hence the frustration. The sheep is saying Moooo and the cow is saying Baaa, and the British people are scratching their heads and saying, well, Neigh!
William is fickle and changes his mind constantly. He makes promises, then reneges on his promises. He makes career choices, at great expense in terms of training and equipment, then just as suddenly dips under the radar and changes his mind again. He says he wants a normal life, but then surrounds himself with a pack of nannies and housekeepers while making unreasonable and elitist demands, again at great cost to the taxpayer. He makes an heroic stand for wildlife conservation in conjunction with his charity, the Tusk Trust, then we read that he’s off on another hunting trip, in Spain, killing boars, or up on the moors of Balmoral or Sandringham, blasting captive pheasant and grouse out of the sky. Now, with the advent of another career change, he confesses that he really has no idea of what being a full-time working Royal actually means, while his grandparents, 89 and 94 respectively, carry on shouldering the burden of hundreds of official engagements a year, plus administering the patronage of hundreds of charities, and he gets to play dress-up in another new uniform.
His nickname really ought to be Will o’ the Wisp, such is his grasp of reality.
When I see his picture now, what pops into my head is “Duke of Mustique.”
WOW. This is days later, and you will probably never see this comment on your essay, but, WOW, LadyoftheLoch.
I don’t know what happened, my fingers just flew! And the See and Say analogy was a bit odd, but thank you wolfie. I lurked for a while on this site without saying very much, but I always loved your comments (and your name!)
I don’t know what happened, my fingers just flew! And the See and Say analogy was a bit odd, but thank you wolfie. I always loved your comments while I was a short-term lurker on this site (and your name!).
Maybe William shouldve studied a bachelor of Public Relations instead?!