As an outsider looking in on the Brexit issue, it seems like the unintended side effect of Brexit is that there’s a lot of “make-work” involved. British inclusion in the European Union meant that Great Britain had an automatic (and beneficial) trade partnership with every EU country, and now all of those trade agreements have to be negotiated individually, and guess what? All of the new, case-by-case, individual trade agreements are probably going to look a lot like the EU trade agreements. That’s make-work, to me. In any case, the British government is probably going to look to be a friendly, conciliatory, soft-power, diplomatic face on the upcoming trade negotiations. So suddenly, it’s looking like the royal family might have more work to do. The Queen is 90 years old and my guess is that she’s not eager to get trotted out to Croatia and Poland. The Prince of Wales has a mega-full schedule already, although I’m sure he’ll get trotted out. But what of the younger royals? What of those work-shy younger royals?
The Duchess of Cambridge will become a “potent force” in Britain’s bridge-building with EU countries as Brexit looms, a former ambassador has said, as the Duchess prepares to visit the Netherlands this week. The Netherlands is one of Britain’s biggest trading partners, with £68 billion of goods crossing the North Sea every year, but has not received a visit from a senior member of the Royal family for three years. The Duchess’s first solo foreign trip will take her to The Hague on Tuesday, where she will meet King Willem-Alexander at his official residence, Villa Eikenhorst. Her day of soft diplomacy will continue with a visit to the capital’s Mauritshuis art gallery to promote an exhibition of Dutch paintings owned by the Queen, as well as a mental health conference and a brief stop at a community project in Rotterdam.
It is likely to be the first in a regular roster of royal visits to European countries by members of the Royal family as the Government deploys them to help “beef up” bilateral relations with individual EU member states. The Netherlands is Britain’s third-biggest export market, after the US and Germany, accounting for seven per cent of all exported goods, or £27.7 billion. The UK imports £41 billion of goods from the Netherlands every year, making it the third-biggest importer after Germany and China.
One recently-retired British ambassador, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The need for embassies to build bilateral relations has come back into play as a result of the Brexit vote. During our EU membership partners have been cultivated in Brussels by ministers, not in capital cities. But that is changing and we need to start beefing up our bilateral relationships with EU countries. Those links need to become stronger and the Royal family is a very potent force in that exercise. It would not surprise me if we see more trips to Europe by members of the Royal family because there are 27 countries and we will want to let them know that we haven’t left the scene.”
Royal visits are undertaken at the request of the Foreign Office, following invitations from host countries for the Queen or other members of the Royal family to pay a visit. Strengthening trade links with countries such as India, China and countries in the Middle East is one of the stated goals of royal tours. Until now, there has been little need for visits to European countries because of Britain’s membership of the European single market. Commonwealth realms and member states receive far more visits, with European trips largely restricted to war commemoration events or other specific anniversaries. That may now change, however, as Britain contemplates the process of negotiating trade deals with every EU member state.
Former ambassador Oliver Miles, who served in the diplomatic service for 36 years, said: “It’s obvious that the Duchess is going to play this part in the future and this is a good way to start because relations with the Netherlands are good, partly because of the friendship between the two royal families.”
Before the Brexit vote, there was some reporting around the idea that William was anti-Brexit, just as there was some reporting that the Queen was pro-Brexit. I wonder if either of them realized that a pro-Brexit vote would increase their workloads? As for this idea that Kate is suddenly going to become a soft-power diplomatic force… she’s had more than five years in the job and it’s pretty clear that she has no interest in being good at that part of the job, you know? If the job is “send her somewhere and have her wear expensive clothes,” then sure, she’ll do that. But anything beyond and… yeah, I don’t have a lot of faith that Kate is the asset they’re hoping for.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAA *breathes in*
Sure. Sure thing, #PoorJason.
Yeap I came to write exactly the same :p but you’ve beat me to the punch! I’ve just realized that Trudeau has a very greco/roman profile, ha!
My eyes rolled so hard it gave me a headache.
This.
Sorry, just read the headline, can’t go any further, FFS.
PS Justin is cute.
When he starts to talk, his eyes go all dark and you wonder if there are any working parts inside his skull.
That is honestly the best laugh I have had all day. God bless poor Jason.
But but but… She… DOESN’T.EVEN.SPEAK.
See my teeth? Give me a favorable trade deal or I’ll bite you!
You think they would have hired her a coach to teach her not to pull faces straight out of a detoxing rehab clinic.
OMG, Light purple her clenched joker smile is the stuff of nightmares. It gives me the chills in the worst way..shudder..
Actually, the Queen just might like being “trotted” out to Croatia, thank you very much. We have some of the best resorts and the British monarch have been coming here for decades. It might be beneficial for her health. But thankfully, even if she came, no one here would care. Charles and Camilla were here a few months ago and it barely got mentioned. Our last kind died in the 11th century, we don’t care about aristocracy.
Hello from Serbia! It’s always so nice to find a neighbor here 🙂
Hiiii!!! There’s actually quite a lot of us here,which is pretty cool.
Good for you. A grown up, 21st century attitude.
That actually pretty funny and after last night’s sad debate (smoke and mirrors) I needed a laugh.
Katie may show her goodies to divert attention away from the real issues.
Hashtag: bringingwomenintoeightenmentNOT
“In any case, the British government is probably going to look to be a friendly, conciliatory, soft-power, diplomatic face on the upcoming trade negotiations.”
You may have missed the Conservative Party conference, Kaiser! The aim is, apparently, to go for what we’re calling a Hard Brexit. To avoid boring y’all with endless details about four freedoms, single markets, border control (apparently we’re building a wall in Calais and handing the rest over the Irish Garda), the Norway option and all the rest of it, Hard Brexit can be summed up thus: FLUCK YOU, CONTINENTALS, WE ARE BRITLAND.
I fear diplomacy and soft power will play little part over the next couple of years.
I’ve been laughing at this Katie Bucket nonsense all weekend – just another in the strange fever dreams of the ministers in charge of Brexit – it’s all, oh don’t worry about that: we’ll just deploy *insert any surreal piece of bullcrap here*.
This is one of the reasons I voted as a semi-reluctant remainer. There are circumstances in which I could imagine Brexit not being a bad thing, but not with these fantasists in charge. Imagine sincerely believing Katie Bucket is an asset! Think Trump in charge of Brexit and you’ll be about there. Even if you voted to Leave, you’ll surely be disturbed by the sabre-rattling and magical thinking going on in government.
LAK! Come and tell me someone spiked my drink, it’s all a hallucination, and repeat your opinion that it will never happen!
@ Sixer “I voted as a semi-reluctant remainer.,” That surprised me a little as I thought you were a definite remainer. As a reluctant outer, we are obviously closer together on this than I thought. 🙂
But I’m not sure our politicians are quite as bad as Trump (damning by faint praise I know).
I think our politicians-in-charge are easily as bad as Trump – worse even, because they are actually *in charge*. There is a word for a political philosophy that combines economic populist rhetoric with overt xenophobia and nationalism, and it is not a nice word.*
I don’t think I ever said I was enthusiastic about remain? I think the EU has wonderful founding principles and ideals but has, over time, become too full of democratic deficits, too technocratic, and too concerned with corporate-friendly, people-unfriendly trade deals such as TTIP. Also, I think the euro is a disaster that may yet cause the EU to rupture over internal contradictions.
However, on the other side, I’m all for immigration and freedom of movement, I don’t think our national sovereignty had been particularly compromised, we were already opted out of the euro and Schengen anyway, and the thought of putting clear fantasist Little Englanders in charge of a risky and generational change to the country directly following an economic crisis was – and is – anathema to me.
So I voted in, despite scepticism towards the EU as is.
*On the upside, I think I have rediscovered whatever shred of patriotism lurks within my withered but internationalist soul, and I see it as my patriotic duty to subvert and resist these xenophobes-in-charge wherever I can. They won’t be making lists of foreigners in my name, I can tell you that.
Rant over. Apologies!
Sixer: i’m taking this Katie bucket as ambassador as someone’s idea of a joke. Using the Netherlands as a sort of tester to reinforce that notion as long as you don’t look at what she doing there which is meet and Greet the King, go look at at some pictures from the royal collection, have her *picture taken with plebs and come home.
*the picture taking is billed as her heading up a discussion group, but we know she only stays for pictures at these things.
I strongly suspect the picture taking with the plebs was thrown in to excuse the real reason for her visit which is to look at the royal collection pictures. That exhibit is supposed to be amazing.
She has to meet the King because then we can all pretend it’s an official visit like William’s wedding in Kenya.
As for Brexit: i’m softening my stance that they won’t let us leave because i’ve been speaking to lots of lawyers about this and the thinking is that we are keeping all EU laws already incorporated into UK laws as at Brexit date ie 2-3yrs AFTER invoking Art 50.
In public, as you see lots of posturing and meaningless speeches because that’s what politicians do, but the reality will be Brexit lite.
LAK – I think the Katie Bucket thing originated with a pro-Brexit columnist – at the Telegraph? Someone like Simon Heffer, who has just compared May to Enoch Powell with the comparison as a compliment, FFS – but don’t quote me on it.
I’ve been following David Allen Green and Jolyon Maugham on the legal stuff. All very interesting but I do think all concerned have elements of wishful thinking. I think all will hinge on how much pressure business – in particular the City – is able to exert on government. If this lot goes with the rhetoric, well. I’ll leave it unsaid.
I think, rather than posturing speeches, they are punting positions they know a whipped-up population won’t object to, just to see if business will fall into line. You’ll note that they’ve rowed back on the lists of foreigners for businesses, for example, but not on that for schools. Business doesn’t care about school lists: only its own lists.
I’m busy organising a boycott of the school list at my school, which may put me in an awkward position as I’m a governor. We’ll see at the next meeting!
Sixer: speaking of business, Mishcon de Reya is pushing through the courts a case to stop Brexit entirely on behalf of it’s big business clients/super rich clients. That is the real reason the govt is delaying art 50. The sliding dates (October 16, then January 17 and now I think it’s March 17) being put about by the govt are due to the speed of the case as it works it’s way through the system. The govt won’t do anything until that case has been concluded which will likely include appeals.
LAK – yep. And there’s also the crowdfunded thing via Bindmans to clarify the advisory nature of the referendum (ie is the result advising the PM, in which case no parliamentary vote, or advising parliament, in which case a vote required).
Y’know, politics has gone crazy everywhere in the world at the moment. I don’t think anyone – especially and including the usual commentators – can predict what will happen.
My punt – as ill-conceived as anyone else’s! – is that Brexit will happen but will be toned down economically because the City/business lobby is powerful enough to make it so, but that the social/authoritarian stuff coming out of May et al and igniting the worst impulses in the population will be MUCH MUCH harder to get rid of.
The hard Brexit talk is aimed at the anti immigration leave voters to bring them onto her side, the reality is that, am with LAK on this one, it will be more of a Brexit lite with the international/big business lobby winning some concessions from the gov.
Almost everyone I know thinks the EU will implode in the next 5-10 years and that this court case will drag on for some time, meaning that it could be a couple of years before the gov is in a position to invoke article 50. Even if they don’t win, they will tie the case up in the courts to stall the gov. A few of my more politically astute friends think that when it is invoked, it will be the bullet that triggers the implosion – the cracks are widening every day. But who knows what will happen.
EU won’t implode as it is too beneficial for many many businesses. Even in countries who are suffering from the EU rulings like Greece or Spain there are businesses who profit in these countries from the EU.
That is why I think the EU might go on for quite a while. Politics will cave in to business.
As for TTIP and likewise: the EU gov has put up a lot more resistance than many national governments. Over here in Germany the gov tried to push through TTIP and Ceta.
The EU isn’t lacking democracy nor is it overly bureaucratic but it is a big institution and usually those move slowly. In the case of TTIP and Ceta that was actually advantageous because the phlegmatic EU gov just couldn’t be pushed to accept TTIP or Ceta. 🙂
As for Britain and brexit: The EU will simply dictate the rules to Britain and either Britain sucks it up or they can’t participate / trade / do deals and whatever. And what is Britain supposed to do about it? There simply isn’t much they can do.
Norway and Switzerland aren’t in the EU either but they have lots of contracts with the EU. In the case of Norway they are paying nearly as much into the EU as they would if they were a proper memeber.
Norway has signed the Schengen contracts and they are a member of the European Economic Area (another economic contract) which enables them to participate in the European Single Market. And for that they pay but they have no say. That money btw. goes to new EU members to boost their economy.
The advantages for Norway are that they can export their goods into the EU (oil, gas, fish, sea fruits).
As Norway participates in the Dublin agreements they pay for that as well.
Alltogether the whole thing has turned out to be advantageous but expensive for Norway because they can export.
Britain hasn’t much to export. They had had charcoal, steel, ship building, textiles and heavy industry. All of which are in decline and not particularly competetive. Britain still has its financial industry but how are they going to cope with Brexit?
There is lots of money flowing into Britain because certain foreigners consider it safer to store their money in Britain than in their native countries. The housing market feels the effects of that foreign money particularly strongly (prices rising sharply).
But how are those foreigners going to react when Britain is no longer a member of the EU?
I am actually a bit sad about Brexit I just hope Britain will make it. I do slightly wonder if May might not do a Brexit at all. Perhaps she declares in 2 years that … unfortunately and all that …. Brexit just wasn’t good for Britain? Just wait.
Love reading your comments on the RF Sixer.
How? By showing up in another expensive new foreign designer dress, as she did today? How is that promoting UK trade? If the design, esp the waist, wasn’t so bad I’d expect to see this style on 79-year-old Princess Alexandra.
If they were talking about Maxima or Letizia, it might be a possibility. Those are interesting, engaging career women who draw people to them. KM has none of their charisma.
Waity Katie’s style is trying to give her the air of an established esteemed senior royal. Her style tries to communicate what the personality can’t communicate. *lol*
No need to apologise Sixer.
Every single LOL in the world. Is this #PoorJason PR or did this journalist write this of his/her own volition? Kate is what she is, lazy, a bit of a dum dum. She is not a potent force
Hahahahaha. What have u been smoking #poorjason. I guess the thinking is that if she flashes the Royal buscuit enough it might build some bridges. Hahahahaha.
Genius, send good ol’ “can you test the smell by smelling it” in to help negotiate goodwill and complicated trade relations. What could go wrong?
Haven’t even had my coffee yet. Thankfully! Because I just laughed so hard I snorted. Puhleeze!
Potent force at waiting (for the bridge to be built), flashing the ring and bits at the bridge, and crotch clutching at the bridge.
“send her somewhere and have her wear expensive clothes,”
I think that’s exactly what they mean by her being a potent force lol. All she has to do is pose and smile and not cause any controversy and it will be considered a win – I doubt anyone is actually expecting her to be anything more either. As she gets a lot of press, they can then easily spin it as her being a great GB ambassador and influence.
But she is always causing controversy via flashing and showing off her legs. I think they should send Charlotte and her nanny instead!:)
How can she promote UK trade when she keeps spending huge amounts of money on non-UK designers?
what is going to to smile like a manic and flash them?? Won’t this gig require public speaking? She avoids this I feel like it.
Did anyone see the DM article that Kate’s assistant/stylist is now dressing Will. Kate wanted Will to have a make over.
So we know who the blame for the too tight pants now
Will looks more like being in disguise than being stylish.
Before he dressed like a slightly stuffy oldfashioned sloane college kid.
Now he looks like a wannabe-dandy.
Just like with his wife’s clothes it is the case that clothes and person don’t match. Clothes tell a different story than the person who wears them. It doesn’t fit and that is why Waity and husband often look more like they are in disguise.
Britain is even more f**ked than I feared. Anyone fancy giving me a passport to their country? Literally, anyone. I don’t want to be anywhere near this right wing mess anymore.
Well I live in an european country that not even the Syrians wanted to stay soo…I invite you to come but trust me Britan is not that bad. Hold on, things will get better
You say that because you don’t live here in UK as a foreigner…….
FIrst reaction: I LOL’d so hard and not just because of the thumbnail pic, though that’s funny too. Out of context, her reactions do seem exaggerated.
THough that pic of her staring at Trudeau is just so – oddly checking him out or what? Idk It’s hilarious. Kaiser, you’ve got some great pic selection chops on ya.
Kate Middleton is going to be a Potent Force of what exactly? A foreign tour for diplomatic purposes requires a lot more than walking about and visiting places, I imagine. This one doesn’t even talk properly. only the most mundane sentences after a lot of coaxing which get a few tabloids excited mostly because of her relation to the Royal family. Otherwise there is nothing remarkable about her.
And I’m a “potent force” seasoned bridge-burner… Sure, Jan.
I don’t now if any of you believe in parallel universes (and the fact that you can see what happens in them during certain stages of sleep) but I once dreamt that I morphed into this woman, and that becoming her meant that my life was ruined beyond repair. I cried and cried in the dream, and woke up utterly disoriented…
About a week or two later in my waking life, I transformed from the biggest royals fangirl Anglophile into the #1 anti-monarchist (quite literally overnight). I swear, it felt like a huge chunk of my sense of “self” died. I’m not exaggerating. As a Third Culture Kid, being an Anglophile almost took over more of my brain space and identity than my actual passport citizenship. When I began to think/reason like a proper British tax-payer (as I had just learned pro-monarchists kept these state symbols around for tourist money) and England lost its charm for me, I felt lost. LOL. True story.
Aww! You know, I’m a republican myself, but there really isn’t that much wrong with a constitutional monarchy combined with parliamentary democracy. Here in the UK, we just need to tone ours down a bit, as our continental friends with constitutional monarchies have.
The constitutional monarchy is also based on an aristocracy who establishes an acceptance of inequality which is dangerous.
Additionally the monarchy costs too much and nobody so far could tell me what kind of influence the Queen had over British politics. For if she had none she would be disposable.
I don’t mean to offend but I just wonder why a constitutional monarchy is still acceptable. Egalite Fraternite Liberte and all that.
That photo is hilarious. I don’t pay attention to royal comings and goings, but this girl has always been basic. Lord, compared to Diana? She’s so graceless.
I’m also highly skeptical that this waste of taxpayer money will have any influence on trade deals. Lol.
Given that she is almost certifiably an actual fucking moron – i can’t even summon up the laughter.
It would have worked with Diana if Brexit happened then, but not with Kate. Why couldn’t they send Harry? He is someone a lot of people respect. Also, If Kate does not care about her Royal duties and charitable works and not have the passion for it, but makes you think she will be good with this?
Geez, the woman can’t even deliver a decent speech and it seems, has no intention to work on such. For all those who didn’t like Diana, at least she recognised her weaknesses (giving speeches included) and worked on them. She was always a work in progress and tried to make a difference in the world.
Kate just coasts along with her maniacal grins and now hides behind her children.
Well that is why Kate is not popular for her work ethic and royal duties. It will come to bit her.
A Ha! I see from DM photos, Kate did give a speech today in London. Good to see she’s trying at least.
Trying to find video of it.
Maybe she will be good at getting bulk sales of nude pumps and wiglets.
I am sure if her PR team do their homework on European history of the particular country, throw in a few sentences of the language of the country it might be a great British outcome. However, not so sure they do, it seems that the PR team focus on her wardrobe and stylist.
Yeah, but then even if they did that kind of prep–and I don’t for a minute believe they do–Kate would have to read it, and I think she, like William, is too damn lazy to do her homework.
Even if she would read what her pr wrote for her … she would read it in such a way the words would lose their impact. If you don’t believe and don’t understand what you read then you won’t read it well.
That is Kate’s dilemma with speeches.
Ok it’s Caption Time: just what is Katie thinking as she gazes at Trudeau in that Photo??
Sorry I can’t write what I think she was thinking. LOL
Peasant, really standing next to me????? – it might be that
That’s a fab wiglet. How did he get it to look so spiffy?
POTENT FORCE. POTENT FORCE?
Jason you have to stop it now! #timeforrehab #jasonhaslostit
In Netherlands you can bye cannabis in coffeshop. So Waity can do or speak anything that she wants, no one will notice that she is doing rubbish.
Came on here to say wasn’t April 1st six months ago? Wtf? You guys have summed it up so brilliantly, can’t stop laughing, this is a wind up surely?!?!
Oh dear, Waity as a diplomat doesn’t bear thinking about. She can barely string a sentence together. Let’s hope she doesn’t flash everyone when she gets to Holland.
Um, OK. But wouldn’t this mean she actually has to work?
I very much doubt this, as it would mean she would actually have to work.
I didn’t read the story just wanted to comment on the photos. Kate looks like The Joker in the blue dress and giving the most forced smile with the kid. They crack me up everytime I see them.