As the birth of Duchess Kate and Prince William’s second child is upon us – any moment now! – it’s worth checking in with Prince Charles, isn’t it? Charles believes that when he becomes king, his children and grandchildren should be the focus, the main core of the royal family, and he plans on cutting out his brothers and their children especially, sending them off to royal Siberia or wherever. There are a few problems with that though. One, William and Kate especially seem completely incapable of keeping up a public schedule. Two, even with their cynicism and laziness, the younger royals are WAY more popular than Charles.
There’s another problem, of course: William and Kate don’t want Charles involved in their childrens’ lives at all. The imminent birth of the fourth-in-line to the throne is merely drawing a spotlight to the already-dysfunctional relationship between William and Charles and Charles’ lack of relationship with his grandchildren. Over the weekend, The Express reported that Will and Kate have decided not to go directly to Casa Middleton in Bucklebury following the birth, so as to not hurt Charles’ feelings. The new plan is for Will, Kate, George and the baby to stay in London for a few days following the birth, so Charles and the Queen and other assorted royals can see the baby. Then the Cambridges will head to Anmer Hall. Sources also say that Charles is “upset” that he “almost never” sees George.
However, there’s another item buried in a newish Daily Beast story that I found interesting – The Daily Beast’s story is mostly about how Charles is still pretty unpopular and no one is actually looking forward to him becoming monarch (you can read the full piece here). But here’s the interesting Will & Kate-related stuff:
The next few weeks are likely to be particularly trying ones for Prince Charles. As the nation rejoices in the birth of a new royal baby—fourth in line to the throne regardless of gender—Prince Charles, never keen on sharing the limelight, has a less appealing summer ahead.
William and Kate have never taken George to stay with Charles and Camilla, and sources say that Charles is planning to spend most of the next few weeks of royal baby madness in his Scottish home of Birkhall.
This will at least supply a face-saving cover story, a handy excuse to explain why William and Kate aren’t involving Charles in their children’s lives, when scarcely a week over the summer will pass without the Middleton parents—Carole and Mike—being invited to the Cambridge’s country pile, Anmer Hall, or having an invitation to their own house accepted by the new parents.
Ha, do you think Charles is really just going to fly off to Scotland this week without even putting in an appearance to meet his latest grandchild? If that happened, it would look SO bad. Especially since you know Carole Middleton is going to be all over the place, posing outside the hospital, making sure people see her hold the new baby, etc. I tend to think Charles will wait until Kate gives birth, meet the baby briefly and then fly off to Scotland.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
I think Charles as King will be the end of the British monarchy. Given how much meddling in political affairs and the civil service he’s done as PoW – to the extent that a court has ruled his missives cannot be released without seriously damaging his supposedly ‘non-political’ role – people won’t stand for it.
I know there are people on this site who are Charles apologists, but he remains deeply unpopular… and for good reason.
Agreed, Kath. Well said.
I think a fairer statement would be that there are people here who don’t dislike him as much as you do, Kath. I wouldn’t call myself an apologist, but he does have a good point (maybe two).
I think there are many who like him in the UK, and for whom he is “deeply” popular. He has achieved more than any other Prince of Wales in terms of the Prince’s Trust, furthering environmental causes, and the preservation of Britain’s architectural and agricultural history.
He is human, not all good and not all bad, but certainly not an epic disaster. If the monarchy ends after HM or Charles, it is because it is time for it to end, not out of animosity for an individual.
People in the countryside in Britain absolutely LOVE Charles. I’m the standout republican in my rural and largely monarchist area and where I live, people like HM, Charles, Anne, and to some extent Harry. But they can’t stand William. And that’s the monarchists I’m talking about.
Even so, I still think most people don’t give a toss one way or the other. Despite endless media blitzing, conversations about royals are few and far between. I’m always struck by how much interest Americans show in the royals and how little interest comparatively Brits do.
Well put
Speaking as an American who loves the royals the same way I love tv dramas, that picture of Charles & Harry has erased all doubt for me that they share DNA.
For this American royal watching is not as good as Game of Thrones but better than, say, Dancing With the Stars.
Imo +1 and thanks for the laugh.
Sixer, I’m always struck by the depth of deference and affection monarchists have for their royals and that in the UK there is widespread acceptance of class snobbery which trickles down from the monarchy as an institution.
Honestly, MinnFinn?
I think Americans have a view of Brits that doesn’t really match reality. I see at least as much, if not more, deference expressed by Americans to their national symbols and myths – the flag, the office of President rather than the political function, the faux-royal role of First Lady, the military, etc – as goes on in Britain with the royals. Most nations congregate to some extent around these national symbols and figureheads. Most nations have their privileged elites and that status is as heritable in the US as it is in the UK.
Personally, I’d be more than happy to see the back of the royals but, since it costs something like 0.0004% of the national budget and makes little practical difference to our democracy, I can think of hundreds of more pressing issues for the nation. And so can most people in the UK – the BRF is that low on the radar, other than gossip.
Interesting fact: seven of the ten most democratic nations in the world are constitutional monarchies, including the top two. The UK is 16th. The US is 19th.
MinnFinn
Well said – and it would take years for me to repay you for all the lol moments you give us on cb.
🙂
Has anyone here read Enchanted Glass Britain and Its Monarchy by Nairn? I found a copy at the used bookstore the other day and added it to my To Read pile.
We aren’t stuck with our politicians for life. Now whether we vote in our own best interests is another question altogether. I would just find it grating to be referred to as the subjects of such quasi-useless people. Politically there’s not much difference perhaps but otherwise it seems so antiquated and silly. I prefer a system where someone may over import the meaning of a few stars and stripes to one where a man can’t leave his made up title to his own child because she was born a girl.
That’s actually encouraging to hear that people can’t stand William. I don’t blame them!
I’m American, and have always been curious about the BRF. It’s sort of like watching a soap opera, you get addicted. LOL
IMO: since Game of Thrones is based on the war of the roses, isn’t it better for us to live in an era of boring royals than the era of horrendous lives because of the quarrels of the royal cousins?!
Imo: you’re not understanding what I’m saying. Firstly, the BRF have no political function other than ceremonial. We don’t have the prospect here of an election for actual government likely to be contested by hereditary political dynasties, like Bush v Clinton, for example. But mostly, Britons do not identify as subjects. They identify as citizens of a representative democracy, exactly as Americans do. Britons are not deferential. There’s no forelock-tugging going on here. It’s not still Downton Abbey for heavens sakes. In fact, I see a lot less respect for state institutions in Britain than I do your side of the Pond. Many people respect HM as a public figure who has a long track record of public service. Many see her as the symbol of a thousand-year history of the nation. But NOBODY thinks she was born in some way “better”.
Vava – where I live, in the countryside, people like Charles because of all the work and advocacy he has done on rural issues, not because he is a prince. People here dislike Westminster politicians because they’re seen as urbanites who don’t understand countryside issues (and I must say, after living here, I think they have a point).
Sixer, I think your perspective may be slightly skewed because you visit sites like this where American Royal watchers congregate. Most Americans don’t give a rip about the royals. They might turn up in crowds to catch a glimpse of them but they’re just celebrities for most Americans. Only a small percentage of us Americans actually read about them on a regular basis.
Ms Turtle – you are very likely right and I find that encouraging! I’m also aware that it’s a soap opera/celebrity thing for those in the US who are interested. I just take exception to the annoying “oh, all those Brits who like their royals must be forelock-tugging deferentials happy with serf status” remarks I see. Because, in Britain, just like in America, most people aren’t interested in the royals and those who are, follow it like a celebrity fandom in the same way as interested Americans do, You know?
Sixer,
I would love to hear your opinion on the House of Lords. From a Scandinavian perspective (where the arisocracy is small and unimportant) I find the House of Lords both odd and fascinating. How much power do they have? And are the members all unelected by the public?
I saw you said that t’other day, ArtHistorian, but it was too late to reply. I’ve been looking for you since!
Ok um…
Firstly, HoL only has a tiny number of hereditary members now. 95% are appointed life peers. Many appointed for political reasons but also a good number for particular expertise. Examples of the latter: Robert Winston (in vitro pioneer doctor, to scrutinise health legislation); disabled athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson (disabilities legislation); Doreen Lawrence (mother of murdered son whose case exposed police institutional racism, for equalities legislation).
Main functions: brake on the executive (can return bills it deems too extreme); legislation scrutiny (specialists looking to see if laws are workable, will have unintended consequences, etc). Actually, they do a reasonable job of this.
Do I think a second house should be elected? I used to – particularly because the Commons is first past the post and a proportional representation second house would balance the democracy. But, in my older and more pragmatic years, I can see that appointees can probably do a better job of scrutiny (the main function of the house) than tribal career politicians could. So I am torn.
If they could find a better system of appointing – ie nominations not by political parties but from the main faiths, the legal profession, the medical profession, the charity sector, business, general citizens; all the areas we’d need to ensure good, workable laws – then I would be happy with that.
I don’t think Charles being king will end the monarchy in the UK, but I think it will cause Commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia to remove the British monarch as symbolic head of state because while most people have gotten used to the Queen being on the money since she has been on it since before most were born, they aren’t going to want Charles’s mug on it.
Republican movements have already sparked up a few times, but they mostly die down because the Queen is a nice old lady and it would be a bother to change things at this point. However, when Charles takes over and things like currency need to be overhauled, that will be the best time to change things in a totally different direction.
I think the end of the Commonwealth will be likely due to the death of HM as a natural break. Not Charles being king but merely the passing of a long-time monarch so now’s the time to breakaway.
Seconding that.
Well said and to Blu upstream.
Who can blame Prince Charles leaving London- he as well as HM may not know the correct due date and is has been publicly disrespected by his son and ‘waity; he hardly see his grandson PG (the same maybe true for 0prince Harry), what’s the use waiting around baby 2 – (no Royal approval). Let’s hope fake PR due date, (ending trips to meet greet events) and waity look of near labour with PG at the farm; which surprising she is better to drive to BP). Will not result in harm to any of the dozen people waiting outside the hospital, with changing temps and a fake due date PR stunt..
Charles seems to have a better relationship with Harry than Willy – 2 peas in a pod those 2 and is probably why they don’t really get along.
Am not looking forward to the over the top press coverage of this and the subsequent press that her family will get from it – its not about the Middleton clan but the young parents.
From the beginning of German (Hanove) Kings, fathers/kings didn’t get along with their first born. So it’s not really surprising.
I agree, it seems like Charles and Harry get along well (atleast from pictures). I feel like the strained relationship with William is more on William being a petulant dork than anything else, but that’s just IMO.
Prince Charles has always been close and a good father to both his sons…until waity carol and the middletons climbing (they don’t get that “they won the Wait game (o step back”). The strong middletons “family” to P Will);are. Sure contradiction – when carol waity encourage and isolate PW/ George from their royal family.
Let’s hope HM BP POW give us King Henry. – Prince Charles later appoint King Henry in later years), or the Yorks, Wessex or PR Anne Line move up. Obce again interesting (history ahead)….
Those photos! Look at the photos with Harry and Charles versus the one of C&C and W&K… The latter has palpable tension. Holy hell.
Harry was the one who openly stated how happy he was to not attend Camilla’s son or daughter (I don’t remember whose wedding it was) wedding. Harry has never pretended to like Camilla except on public occasions. I can’t imagine Harry has a very good relationship with Charles as Harry seems to be genuinely and much closely attached to the memory of Diana.
It is possible to love a parent even if said parent has made bad life-choices. Divorce doesn’t necessarly mean that children should choose between loving one parent and not the other.
It sounds like Charles just waits for George to be brought to him. If he wants to see him, why not call and say I’m coming to see George this afternoon? Charles is such a jealous brat.
+1
You forgot petulant and spoilt!
I have a theory that Charles doesn’t actually want William and Kate to be more publicly active, as it diminishes his role. As a man who was jealous of his own wife’s popularity, I have no problem thinking he probably harbours resentment towards his son and daughter-in-law.
Harry probably isn’t seen as a direct ‘threat’ in terms of popularity, as he’s not directly in line for succession, but Charles has GOT to be aware of how many people want the crown to skip him altogether when QE II dies.
If that’s true, then he’s really shooting himself in the foot with the whole streamlined monarchy thing. That being said, I’m not one who thinks William should leapfrog over Charles. I think William will be an awful king unless he bucks up. Charles, no matter your opinion of him, at least cares.
Agree, bluhare,
Charles’ problem is that the BRF are supposed to be apolitical, while Charles is anything but apolitical. He has very definite ideas as to how things should be done within the government, and expresses those opinions. Whether his opinions are popular is another matter, but no one can say the man hasn’t given much thought to the welfare of his country – which is more than I can say for his son. I think Diana realized early on that her first born possessed a character flaw – an indolence, or petulance that would keep him from fulfilling a role which imparts a great deal of responsibility, but very little power. I think Charles will make a good king – a popular one, perhaps not, but he’ll take his reign seriously, and try to do his best.
Charles will make a good king, I believe. William? Omg.
Whether or not he called, there’s always the possibility that William will or has told him “No” and explained it away with excuses. And if he gets told “No,” there’s no way that Charles can just show up at their doorsteps and expect to be let in and see the baby, because the humiliation of a rejection at the doorstep would be made public and international news.
I think it’s up to William to arrange the personal meetings with Charles for the purposes of putting the photos out to the media and not just at Royal events. But I think William doesn’t want to do this, because he doesn’t want Charles to use these photo ops for personal gain towards a grandfatherly image. I think William and Charles aren’t close and William has set boundaries with his father when it comes to George.
Do I think it’s okay? I think if William is doing what I think he’s doing, then he needs to stop taking Charles’ money for Kate’s spending (which Charles’ labels as ‘business expenses’). I think that if William is not going to give as much as he’s taking, especially since he has his own millions, then William needs to stop using his dad’s money at the same time as he’s holding Charles at arm’s length.
I’m thinking that William is not happy with how Charles has used him in the past for PR purposes (per the recent documentary), so that may be his reasoning in the case of holding back photo op meetings between George and Charles. I also know that there were photos of G & C in the DM recently. I don’t know if those pics were released by Charles or William, but it was probably the former.
Perhaps that’s WHY Charles foots the bill, so he can call the shots?
I don’t want to give up my pet theory just yet 🙂
honestly, if I wouldn’t be all that close to my father if he married a woman he cheated on my mother with., no matter what my public face would be. I don’t expect he particularly likes watching Camilla be grandmother with his own mother dead. I’m on a similar situation with a father very much like Charles and I’m not that interested either. if both our schedules meet, we meet, otherwise I’m not interested in trying to force him into my family life.
@Kath
Yes, I think it’s a possibility that Charles probably thinks that his money can help buy some cooperation from W&K, but if that’s the case, then W&K should give something back in return. If they’re refusing to do so, then they need to stop taking the money, because it would seem like they (or William more so than Kate) are like immature, spoiled, petulant children who will only take and not be grateful for what they get. If they’re not giving back as much as they’re taking, then they need to live completely on their own money instead of expecting dad to foot the bill.
I think I’m with you on this one. It appears to be a mucked up mess.
goodpuff, would you accept the gift/loan of the house where your father met this other woman? Would you be so reluctant to live up to your responsibilities that you’d raise your children in that house? Maybe you would if you didn’t have that much of an issue with it.
Given William’s romantic history, I wouldn’t bet on him having as many issues with cheating as you might think.
Good point Nota.
People often talk as though William takes moral issues with his father. That’s by assumption only. His actions though are in direct contradiction. He’s very much his father’s son.
The pictures and video from Charles and Camilla’s wedding day belie William having a problem with the marriage, IMO. He seemed happy to be there, he and Camilla’s son were the witnesses, there was no sign of tension. His issues with Charles don’t involve Charles’ marriage.
Diana had mental health issues. Charles, from what it looks, grew up feeling like an emotionally rejected child–despite being catered to because of his future role and that of his mother. Instead of perhaps punishing Charles for his supposed failures as a husband and lover to an emotionally damaged wife or even punishing him for not being a storybook dad or some sort of longed for and fantasized dad, William needs to “judge” the man as a man and as a man inside of unique set of circumstances–human frailty and all. But then that would take maturity and perhaps even forgiveness on William’s part. How long is he going to punish Charles? Frankly, I’m glad Chatles found love and acceptance with Camillia.
Many fathers and frankly quite a few moms cannot be there when their daughters or daughter in laws give birth. It’s called life. Welcome to it.
And as far as a preference for William being Kiing versus Charles, how is that being judged? On William’s noted curiousity and enthusiasm for work and service? His startling intelligent and perception? His ease with facts and world leaders? His keen insights and biting wit!? His devotion? Or perhaps it’s his mature approach to events? Do tell . . .
@Dena, well said regarding William judging his father as a man.
Thanks Olenna.
I have relatives who think they should be invited to see their grandkids, but then their kids think “Why won’t mom and dad pick up the phone and ask to see them?” So it’s a stalemate because each thinks the other side should be more proactive when it comes to seeing the grandkids. I have no idea if that’s the case for the royals, though.
Yes, it hard for me to understand because everyone in my family agrees that it is good for the children to have a close, extended family, the theory being that the more love, the better. So everyone tries to facilitate that. I don’t get these people. But it sounds from what I’ve read that Charles is sort of waiting to be invited, unless Anne is right and Will and Kate are making excuses. It’s sad for George.
My thought is that Charles is not sure of his place in William’s life and perhaps even his reception. Who wants to hang around on pins and needles, being anxious, because you aren’t sure how you are going to be received? That’s both uncomfortable and embarrassing. I don’t know that that is the case between Charles and his heir but if I were Charles I’d probably hang back too. Hunches shoulders. It’s best to look indifferent than being publically / privately embarrassed in that way.
Dana
Then one doesn’t make the situation worse by calling the tabloids. Will he not have to face worse situations as king? Too many excuses made for grown men.
IMO, I agree. Usually when a relationship sours there aren’t any innocents. Missteps and ugly words can usually be attributed to both parties. Motives are twisted and motivations suspect. Not saying that Charles is innocent in all of his actions. But what I am saying is that the general public and those people close to William need to stop holding his hand and providing him with excuses and places to hide. He is no longer a boy. Withholding is simply a vengeful power-play. Address the issues. Man-up.
Did Charles call the tabloids or did his people call the tabloids? Messages could have gotten mixed in the exchange. I don’t know. But William will never have a life of his own living in a reactionary state of wounded man-child.
Dana
Charles is famous for using the tabs to deal with interpersonal squabbles. Completely agree with your William assessment.
Gnat
Well said!
It’s well documented that Charles is rather insecure and has problems with sharing the limelight.
What bothers me is that everything William has, titles, position, homes, expenses, lifestyle come from his father and grandmother. And yet he treats them with contempt. I know he inherited some money from his mother and he is known to be a little on the cheap side. But it is nothing compared to what he will someday inherit. And yes, I know Charles has not always been the most attentive father and used the boys for PR purposes. Not to mention how he treated their mother. Not good and they rightfully resented it. I have a feeling though, that left to his own devices, William would float from job to job, depending on his family to bail him out. My opinion: he taking this whole resentment thing a bit too far. And cutting George and the new little one off from his family is very short sighted.
I’ve read that Charles is the money guy for Kate’s clothes and whatnot and lists the funding as business expenses. I’m thinking he gives money to William too. Since Diana left over $15 million – $17 million to William, I don’t know why he doesn’t use his own money instead of his father’s, especially for Kate’s spending.
I don’t know whether it’s Charles’ way to connect with his son and daughter-in-law or if it’s some type of bribe to keep William complacent, but I think in the end, Charles may seriously start to wonder if he should continue with funding those two.
They just used Charles’ money to buy pastries for people waiting outside the hospital. They have no problem using Charles and his money to better their own PR.
why not? if his family isn’t one he likes why it cut them off. it’s not william’s job to do Charles PR or to play happy family with him when they don’t seem close. Charles can make the effort if he wants.
I think all of them need to suck it up and put on a big happy family front for the public. Honestly; do we really want a bloody soap opera for heads of state? I don’t.
goodpuff, it is not called the Family Firm for nothing. William’s behavior is endangering the monarchy, the Family Firm that keeps the 10-bedroom roof over his head. Why assume that Charles isn’t making the effort?
As someone explained on here before, Charles has a schedule that is set 6 months in advance. W&K have far more flexibility in their schedules, but if they refuse the few openings Charles has in his schedule, what is Charles supposed to do? If he asks them to visit on the weekend, or he asks to visit on a weekend, and they say no? Should he stop doing his royal work (and his mother’s and his father’s since he’s taking on stuff from both of them)? The royal “work” that keeps W&K in the style to which they’ve become accustomed?
Time is approaching when the CEO (Queen) will become the CEO Emeritus. Charles is taking on a lot of the work of the CEO. Now his successor, the one who should be taking on the role of Second-in-Command, is refusing the role. If he wants to keep benefiting from the riches of the family business, William needs to get over himself and step up. And that includes playing happy families with the family that pays all of his bills.
Well put. I keep hearing that William wants to be “normal” and wonder if there’s any point to royals that live a “normal” life. Charles is busy doing the family business. Maybe WillNot can take a few days off from his laying about and bring his child to see his father.
I wish I could shout the words “grow the f@ck up” right into William’s ear. He is in his 30s.
Seems like William’s resentment toward his family and his role as future future king is growing stronger by the minute. For George’s sake William should allow Charles to spend more time getting to know his grandson. Not just because he’s the grandfather but the child supposedly will be the next king of England. That’s no ordinary job. Despite Charles’s flaws he’s a good working royal with understanding of his role which William is rejecting IMO.
Does William plan on showing George the ‘Royal ropes’ as he grows up or is he going to let George think that he’s just a normal boy, 100% like all the other little boys in England, keep him hidden away behind the gates, limited press access and mainly let George grow up at the Middleton’s home? If it’s the latter then George needs to spend as much time with Charles while he can. Charles and QEII aren’t getting any younger.
Great points. If William does intend on taking the throne and making sure George does as well he’s doing a terrible job. George being hidden and not getting that public interaction while playing “normal” is only going to hurt him in the long run. He’s old enough now some mild exposure couldn’t hurt.
And William needs to figure things out. Do your job or walk away. He’s been indulged and coddled too long.
Charles’ chickens have come home to roost, so to speak. He wasn’t the most attentive of fathers- seems he preferred chasing after Camilla or anything else to being involved with his sons. And now he expects his children and grands to gather around like he’s some doting Poppa? Please. He had a crappy relationship with his own father for sure. But the men I’ve known who have had the same made sure they didn’t repeat the same mistakes. Shame he didn’t, or so it appears.
exactly….
And we older people remember that Charles didn’t even marry until he was older than William is now. He spent 15 or so years as a playboy before finally picking 19-year-old Diana.
It was the big story of him for years – “will the most eligible bachelor ever settle down?”
I’m not so sure Charles picked Diana?
More like Diana was well suited and his grandmother played Cupid along with Lady Fermoy.
I read a quote recently of Charles and Diana v Hasnat Khan and Diana:
Diana, as an aristocrat, was suited for Princess of Wales but not desired (by Charles) then Diana was desired by Khan but not suited as his wife.
Charles married at 33, the age William is turning in two months. The literary reference for the day, 33 years is the time when a Hobbit comes of age in Tolkien (based on the age of Christ at his death?).
Whether or not Charles picked Diana, he married her.
Yes, William will be 33 this year, and has been married four years already.
Well said and as usual Charles dials up his PR guru when things don’t go his way. Passive aggressive.
“Prince Charles, never keen on sharing the limelight, has a less appealing summer ahead.”
Jealous of a baby?! Gee… I can’t figure out why William prefers the Middletons…
It makes sense. Jealous of his former wife is equally pathetic to being jealous of a baby.
When it looked like W&K would marry in 2006/7, Charles bought a country house for them. He was having it fixed up complete with artist studio. Another of the many breakups happened and talk of marriage disappeared.
That house was an hour from Highgrove where Charles spends much of his down time. Instead they now have Anmer Hall, which is 8 hours from Highgrove and 2 hours from Berkshire. It appears Charles tried to have his son and future family closer years ago and that offer was refused.
If Charles was such a terrible father as some are claiming, how does that explain the good relationship Charles and Harry have? How does that explain Harry acting better on royal engagements and achieving more charity-wise than William? Harry has been thrown under the bus, far more often, for both Charles and William, but it is William who keeps acting out and frankly being a brat.
BTW, look at the picture of Charles and Harry. How can anyone think these two aren’t related?
Harry has turned 30 yet seems to have escaped the Windsor fugness that seems to descend on the royals sometime in their late 20s.
William, on the other hand, looks like Dorian Gray in reverse.
It’s easier to place all the blame on Charles than to call William out for being a spoiled, petulant grown man, who has decided to punish not only his father, but his entire family for his lot in life. It’s funny that Charles doesn’t hold back Harry, who is more popular than William. He supports Harry. Is proud of Harry. Is affectionate with Harry. But…he’s uncomfortable sharing the spotlight with the lazy Lamebridges. Whatever.
William doesn’t want the BRF around his precious wife and kid, so I don’t see why it’s necessary for the world to stop revolving while Kate delivers another kid. This is the relationship he wants, not Charles.
Charles is uncomfortable around the Lamebridges because that relationship is very clearly difficult – he (Charles) isn’t able to engage with them as Willy keeps him at arms length. Says a lot when shortly after the engagement Harry was reported to have said that he was looking forward to getting to know Kate. Willy kept her at arms length from the family for various reasons – such as he wasn’t that serious about her and only married her to p!ss his father off or he’s just not that close to them and is punishing them all for the past.
William is older and remembers mother more I suspect. the marriage with Camilla didn’t help and they are too alike to get along. Harry is different and not a threat to the throne.
William is less than 2 years older than Harry, and Harry was 13 two weeks after Diana died. If he doesn’t have vivid memories of his mother I’d be shocked.
It may be less about William’s relationship with Charles, and more about his relationship with his mother. Diana was a master manipulator. Maybe William resents the way BOTH his parents played the press with him as a pawn. He can take it out on his father in all kinds of passive aggressive ways. He cannot take it out on his mother and that will be an unresolved issue for him forever.
I agree, bluhare, it is unlikely Harry doesn’t remember their mother just as well. William uses his mother’s memory as an excuse to run away and get what he wants. Harry uses her memory as the inspiration for his charity work. Different characters.
12 1/2 (or even 13) and 15 are very different ages in terms of maturation. Especially with boys, 12 is still a childish age, at 15 years old William would have had a greater understanding of the depths of Diana’s pain, and the romantic entanglements of his parents. 15 year olds understand crushes, they understand unrequited love, they understand romantic rejection. Studies show memory is tied to emotion, and being in the throws of teenage agnst when he lost Diana may have affected the way William relates to and understand his whole family. The marriage to Camilla likely added insult to injury.
Why raise your children in the house where the affair took place? If that affair is the ongoing source of all of William’s pain and trouble, he wouldn’t raise his children at Anmer. Period. As said above, it isn’t likely the cheating is ultimately the problem for William. He resents being used as PR pawn by both parents, and he has always resented being in the public eye.
One of his worst experiences, IMO, would be the fallout from his mother’s television interview. That was her, not Charles. William may have thought he hated his mother because of it. He may have vicariously experienced her pain, but he wouldn’t have forgiven her for causing HIM so much pain and humiliation. The fury of an emotional teenage boy betrayed and hurt by his mother. It may all be tied to his own guilt, for how he treated his mother in the months leading to her death, and not nearly as much to do with Charles.
He is almost 33. He needs to stop acting 15, take the inheritance, and walk away. Or stop whining and starting living up to his responsibilities.
@nosugar… Where did the information that Anmer was the site of Charles and Camilla’s affair come from? I only ever read that William had happy memories of playing there as a child because it had been the country home of the four Van Cutsem boys and their parents.
Diana was so young when she died. She never really got a chance to make her own happiness and her own way in the world. It would have been a different royal family, and a different UK had she lived. Hard to imagine William keeping George away from Grandma Di, with her special way with children. Then again, George might not have existed had William not been motivated to find and engrained himself in a close-knit stable family with a strong mother figure.
Thinker, the OP was talking about memories of his mother and I don’t see a ton of difference between 13 and 15 in that department. I wasn’t talking about emotional maturity and roles each may have played with their parents.
William living at Anmer doesn’t mean he doesn’t harbor ill will about his father’s affair. He has happy memories there , his friends and cousins live nearby and at any rate the renovations would alter any bad memories although I doubt there are any. Living at Anmer being equated to not being bothered by the Charles/Camilla affair is quite a stretch.
If William had to avoid any royal property where Charles and Cam carried on he might have to live outside of the UK.
He has happy memories there as a child, and it was during the time of the Van Cutsem’s tenure that C&C met there. Does William see that as a betrayal by the Van Cutsem’s? I wonder.
If he demanded a different property, they would have found him one. Him accepting yet another free home doesn’t mean he is or isn’t bothered by the history in the house, but either is a possibility. What happened there, happened there, no matter what amount of reno is done.
If he saw Camilla as the root of all evil, I don’t think he’d live in that house. I don’t think that’s a stretch of the imagination given some of his other actions through the years. IF they demanded the other KP property because they were disturbed by Diana’s memory, it stands to reason that IF they were disturbed by memories at Anmer they’d demand a different place. There are plenty of others to choose from.
Peter and Zara (and their families) live at Gatcombe Park, a few miles from Highgrove. That puts them 8 hours away from Anmer.
Wasn’t referring to Peter and Zara. William has lots of friends, friends of Charles and his cousin Laura all within 30 minutes from Anmer.
I’m guessing William is closer to the Queen, hence the offer of Amner to William from the Queen.
And I would bet the Queen sees more of Prince George than Charles.
And yet it is Harry who has been quoted as being the one she turns to, the one she spends time with and seeks opinions from.
Seriously? The Queen phones Harry for his opinions? Not trying to argue; I’d just never heard that.
Not that she rings him up, but that she seeks his opinion and trusts him. Came out of the 30th birthday PR blitz.
I think that both Charles and William don’t like to share the spotlight with anybody else, but I think it’s more so with William. When Harry did his Senetabale garden exhibit (or I think that was the charity), the other Royals, including grandparents and dad, showed up, but not William. When William and Harry did an interview with each other, William started a pissing match with Harry. I dunno, but I get the feeling that William thinks he needs to show Harry who’s boss and isn’t happy that Harry is more popular.
As for why Charles and Harry seem to get along better than C&W, I think Charles’ appreciates Harry’s efforts and his popularity because of them. I think Charles knows it’s good PR for him to be seen with Harry and Harry is OK with the photo ops. But I think William isn’t OK with Charles sharing the spotlight with him, because Charles might get some benefit with the photo ops.
The irony of how well Charles and Harry get along when you consider the reaction from Charles when Harry was born.
I can see Charles being the “can’t you make that baby stop crying” type of grandfather. The type who believes you can have breakables around a 1 year old and just tell them not to touch it. I can’t see him being able to handle George as a rambunctious toddler. He probably expects him to be seen and not heard and sit there with his hands in his lap. If that’s the case I can understand why they don’t try too hard to accomodate Charles.
Have you seen photos and video of him interacting with Camilla’s grandkids? Charles does just fine with little kids.
I am not buying into the whole issue of Charles not seeing George.
If there is one thing that this family can accomplish…. is not being photograph when they don’t want to. Simply because there is not hundred of pictures of Charles, with the grandson. Does not mean that he has not been around.
Plus… George is rarely photograph. With the exception of that tour that William and Kate did with George. I can not think of him really being randomly saw in public.
George photographed with nanny… (pirvacy cries from William)
That was truly candid. Or the BRF need new RPO’s.
And Charles has been noted as playing with George a few times. Baptism, Christmas time and a few other, but those are ott without going into the archives of my mind (and saved links). This tale Charles hates young children and babies is just a story at this point. Much like how various past smear campaigns are remembered more than the truth. Just silly.
Three new sets of photos of PGTips out and about in the last two weeks (two with KM one with nanny). All published outside the UK. Not a peep from William.
If Charles planned on going to Scotland, he’s going to Scotland. The BRF is big on habit. That’s all this is.
@ Hazel
Precisely! When they have a plan, they rather tend to stick to it. Protocol, they call it I think. That’s why the Queen made that huge mistake when Princess Di died. They stuck to protocol and it didn’t go down well.
But honestly, I wouldn’t mind going up to Scotland with Charles. First the election and soon the royal baby…not sure I can take it!
Where’s the baby , already?
I’m starting to think Kate is actually due in May and this due date of mid to late April is a big PR stunt.
Which would explain the royals leaving London in droves now, to be back in May. But frankly little baby Princess Wales is all I want to talk about. The only thing that makes me sad about the monarchy ending with Charles is no more princesses. in theory I object to the archaic notion of little girls raised to be proper ladies, but it’s more interesting than little girls raised to star in amateur pr*0n to secure a reality show for their soulless family.
She’s late? Perhaps it’s a boy!
So Carole will apparently be posing with the new baby, making sure there are pics? Like there are soooooooo many pics of her and Prince George! Oh, wait…..
There are. As well as numerous stories that are BRF pr friendly acknowledging Carole spends the most time in raising george and tending to him.
where are they, there is not one picture out there of carole and george only stories that she took him out somewhere
you just keep making things up annoying
Odd how the British papers online are publishing old stories from last week re- George at the petting zoo. Or perhaps I am mistaken and Kate brought George to another petting zoo?
There were three sets of photos published outside the UK in the last couple of weeks. Two of them were sets of photos at petting zoos or farms, but they were two different places and times. One set he’s in a snowsuit and hat like it is the dead of winter, the other set (a week later?) he is hatless and in a cardigan or button-up wool jacket.
I agree that there aren’t any photos of Carole and George around, other than the christening, plz, but you must have seen all the articles about how involved Carole is with William, Kate, and George. That isn’t in dispute.
Not true Florc.
A new set of photos has come out from one of the farm visits, featuring PG Tips, Kate and Carole Middleton, and an RPO. Carole talking the ear off the RPO and him looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
I can see where Kate gets her hand gestures from; Carole looks ready to rip the RPO’s face off, too.
We are already read that Bill is not really around his family, so why doesn’t Kate just have her people set something up with POW people so he can see George.
I agree. I think children should be able to forge their own relationships with family and if Charles isn’t abusive or inappropriate (and I’ve never read anything saying he is) they should let George see him. My opinion anyway.
Kate would never go against William. Not in his battle against the BRF. It also benefits her to keep things just the way they are between George & Charles. If her family remains prominent in George’s life, there’s less likelihood she’ll be shut out if her marriage ends.
TO Mia. Upstream
spot on .
Waity carol the middletons staying glued to PG; but that is a losing strategy – offending HM POW Royal traditions is a huge error for the middletons – the BRF fund PW*W lavish lifestyle: multi reports show PW inheritance use on the middletons; assuming he will have the Duchy), and PG will be away at school (belongs to the BRF is divorce). And PG seem more attached to his loving nanny Maria (BP CH guide -Maria how to raise PG/kids).
Note how outgoing PG seem (like his uncle Harry);, on sites photos at Norfok.Farm ,PG is pap running to hugging a girl (compared to the hold PW*W carol and the middletons insist. Lots of fun to be had at PG and cousinsplaydates.
Are you referring to William?
Charles was meant to have been a great father. Remember he was there when both sons were born even although it was the early 80s. He was involved in their bathtimes etc. and in all the photo shoots seemed really close to them. There’s a well documented piece of film of Diana meeting the boys on a boat and rushing to greet them. Even although there is no doubt she adored her sons it does seem to have been done with the cameras in mind. What has never been shown on film though was Charles just behind her also ready to greet his sons. Remember, too, William and Harry were with Diana as young boys when she used to spend weekends with her lover, was it James Gilbey? Just before Diana’s death William told her and Charles to stay away from Eton on an open day because of the fuss they would cause. He also had a massive fight with Diana over Dodi just before she died. It is always easier though to place on a pedestal though the parent who is no longer there.
I frankly think Charles is the best of the royals. He is years ahead of his time. He had ideas on conservation etc about 30 years ago and everyone else has only caught up. His Prince of Wales Scheme is also great.
As everyone else says I think William wants all of the privileges but none of the work. He seems to be a spoilt brat and is getting away with it because everyone feels sorry because he lost his mother when young. He should be told so did lots of other people and they get on with life without the benefits he has. He should also be told that the only reason Britain still accepts a non-elected Head Of State is because of the royal mystique. If he is going to go Middleton and middle-class then go. In that circumstances I would want a head of state I could elect.
I didn’t know William and Diana fought about Dodi.
Personally, I think Charles is very much aware of William’s popularity and it annoys him as the next in line for the throne. With Charles exerting control over his family, wouldn’t he be the one to appoint duties to William and Catherine? Instead, William has been bouncing around from job to job looking for something to keep him occupied and under his father’s radar. Several years ago, it was reported that William was attending meetings with the Queen but that seems to have been shut down. I don’t think Charles is the least bit interested in seeing that William is trained into the job of monarch until he has the throne himself. As someone who is not a British subject, any time I have tried listening to Charles and his ramblings, he has come across as a bit daft. There was a program aired in the States with Charles showing old home movies from his youth and he made very little sense with his muttered, indistinct commentary and was oddly giggling at what he was watching.
William had better hope the Queen lives a very long life because once she has gone the ‘Grand Opinion of 1717′ kicks into play on Charles’ behalf. Simply put Charles as the monarch becomes the legal guardian of his grandchildren until they are 18 and he can legally call the shots on anything they do, taking precedence over the parents in that area. the Queen was actually the legal guardian of William and Harry until they reached 18 and is still the legal guardian of Sophie and Edwards children.
If Charles was as peevish, jealous and easily offended as some people think William and Kate would be living off their own funds as he would refuse to foot the bills. Charles could really put the knife in if he was as petty and vindictive as some think. Kate’s clothes would have to come out of her husband pocket (which he would balk at) less glamour, less positive publicity in fact she may begin to get criticism because of her down market look. Williams penny pinching and Kate’s necessary sartorial spending could put a strain on the marriage. Williams PR office would also have to come out of his own money, Charles’ deep pockets could out spin him any hour of the day. They would have to also pay household staff out of their own pockets. Charles has all the cards if he chooses to withhold them but he doesn’t which speaks to his true character.
I think all this talk of animosity between them is a crock spun by the press, they are a strange family and huggy sentiment is not part of their make up.
“There’s another problem, of course: William and Kate don’t want Charles involved in their childrens’ lives at all.”
::::
Interesting. I must have missed this little nugget in the press. When did William or Kate say this?
Looks like Camilla borrowed Kate’s boots. #Shade