Prince William gave an interview to the Outrage + Optimism podcast this week, and the podcast dropped today. He did the interview to promote the Earthshot Prize, his big new thing which is “the most prestigious” environmental scheme ever, because he’s involved, that’s what makes it prestigious. I have no idea what the Outrage + Optimism podcast normally covers, but I assume that William saw the word “outrage” and that’s why he was drawn to it. Some quotes from William’s interview:
Why he thinks environmentalism will win out: “The vast majority of people want to do the right thing. I think we’ve got to give people the opportunity to see the way forwards. The science is out there and is irrefutable. We have the data. So let’s stop talking about it and let’s actually provide the action. I think that’s what’s going to be really needed over these next ten years.”
What makes him incandescent with rage: He gets “outraged by the inaction” on climate change, adding: “That’s probably a bit of a cliche but that is what I get most troubled about. Especially as I’m in a position of responsibility if you like, or leadership. I feel I can do a lot more if given that ability. So therefore, I don’t understand why those who have the levers, don’t. I think that’s what really upsets me and keeps me awake at night.”
He was always enraged: He also revealed that while growing up, he did “feel that tackling things negatively was the way to go forwards…but actually it doesn’t work.”
Positivity works better though: “The message when I went to China and talked to the Chinese government about trying to tackle the illegal wildlife trade was very much a case of, how about you guys being the global leaders in conservation? You can take on that mantle and you can really drive it forwards. And it’s a much easier conversation to have with someone and it’s not about getting out of a hard conversation – I’m very happy to have hard conversations – but an easy conversation where they can see what you’re getting at, they understand the consequences. At the end of the day, the vast majority of people, if they are presented with the science and the facts, they want to do the right thing. No one wants to do the wrong thing. And I think you have got to give people the opportunity to see the potential and the way forwards.”
This is shady, right? With his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his father, the Prince of Wales, both being long-term advocates for the environment, William said: “I think my family has naturally had an opportunity here to support and to be a part of the environmental debate for a long time because it’s been at the forefront of a lot of conversations and a lot of issues for many, many years and people have talked about it for a long, long time. But we need the action now and that’s what these next ten years is about.”
Wow, this interview really isn’t doing what he wanted it to? That part about William going to China and, like an old-school British Empire colonialist, telling the Chinese government what to do and how they should do this or that. And all it took was one meeting and now everything is fixed in China, right? And all of the credit goes to William! All I can think about is how wrathful and rageful he is every day of his life and how eager he is to have “hard conversations” where he tries to scream and stomp his feet and threaten and bully people. He had to learn – recently, it sounds like – that he can’t deal with every situation with threats and rage. And the entire thing about his father and grandfather and their DECADES of environmental work… wow, William is such an a–hole. He truly parachuted into the “cause” of environmentalism five minutes ago and now he’s more of an expert than his father and grandfather, AND he thinks he’s going to do much more for the environment. He’s such a pill.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
He gets angry a lot, doesn’t he.
Considering the amount Charles has done for the environment for years and years, this is outright insulting for William to talk a bit and then act like he’s solved the climate crisis all on his own.
He’s a leader!! lmao
No. He’s held back, you see. But *if* he could, he surely would solve everything.
That’s our FFK William. He’s such a statesman.
The only thing that keeps him up at night is worrying people would find out about Rose and any other affair. And Meghan’s birthplan. That also concerns him.
Lacey’s contention in the book that William knew what warming pan baby meant is hilarious. I just started reading the book.
Exactly. Charles actually takes action with existing technology. He isn’t waiting for some magic new technology that governments are suddenly going to want to employ. No prize is going to change anything; government change is what is needed.
Charles at least implements environmentally progressive changes to his own properties. William doesn’t even do that.
I really think William sees the environment in terms of his own enjoyment which is why he doesn’t make any changes in his daily life or homes.
I think William is just waiting to inherit the duchy of Cornwall so he can pretend all the environmental changes are his own work.
@equality…. THIS. William is going to take credit for what Charles has implemented because that’s what he does best, is take credit for the work of others.
It does feel like that’s his plan. Smarm his way in and claim all the innovation in the Duchy for the last 40 years was actually his work.
LOL… you know! Also, make this make sense:
“ Especially as I’m in a position of responsibility if you like, or leadership. I feel I can do a lot more if given that ability.”
What? You just said you’re a leader, so clearly you have the ability… sooooo
Also… “ I’m very happy to have hard conversations”! Barfable!
Also… Kaiser always picks the best pics of this dude 😂
Yes, Belli, he really does get angry a lot. And he has had that exact temperament since his early childhood. William is a spoiled, incurious, angry little person who will stop at nothing to have his basest whims satisfied (Rose, et al) while at the same time preaching to others about doing without for the sake of the environment.
*deep breath*
HA!
Get lost Willy you UTTER hypocrite.
I sigh in entitlement. He is exactly what he is portrayed to be. No self awareness, entitled, wrathful and always shifting the blame. His father and grandfather put in the work at least. On the other hand he’s never done any significant work. Poor lamb. His handlers need to go back to the drawing board.
I actually went on The Fail to post a response (under a pseudonym, of course!) to lay out his and his family’s hypocrisy with private jets, personal helicopters (so handy for those shopping and hair appointments for Keen Katie, FFQ), the gas guzzlers they all drive everywhere, as well as jetting off to multiple homes, vacations…. asked if he, his family, and all their Aristo friends are giving that up. Yeah…didn’t think so. Giant Hypocrite needs to take SEVERAL seats (made of sustainable bamboo, of course!).
I find it hard to take him seriously as an environmental advocate because he he had more than two children
@SK2, lowering the rate of reproduction is only something poor people of colour need to do, because as you know, we’re the ones who can’t stop fucking uncontrollably and having a dozen children that the welfare state has to take care of, unlike white people, who are totally 100% responsible in every way and therefore DESERVE to have as many children as they like. /sarcasm.
@ Florence, THIS ☝️ times 1,000!!! He is such a hypocrite!! Do as I say, and not as I do!! If the environment was THAT important, scale down on your numerous homes!! My god, you don’t need 35,000square feet of living space with all of your properties!! You could also go electric, sell off your GD helicopters!! Of course, he is positioning himself to take all of the credit for everyone else, but refuses to do the work. I can only hope that for the sake of Brits and everyone across the globe, that this monarchy stops with Charles! PWT can’t even keep his pecker in his pants, yet alone run the country!
Environmentalism is a perfect cause for him to pontificate about since no one expects short term individual results. He can pop in and express his outrage and concern about what we need to do then pat himself on the back while real foot soldiers like Greta Thunberg take the criticism and do the heavy lifting.
He can pop in by private plane, helicopter, or a gas guzzling luxury vehicle. Then he can head back to one of his environmentally wasteful mansions.
If only he was given the ability to fly commercial, he’d be all over it. Why oh why won’t anyone give him the ability?
@ Aurora
What on earth was he on about?? The whole thing was just: “I, I, I, I, ME, ME, ME, ME, MY, MY, MY, MY…….”
I understood nothing, except that whatever it is, used to enrage him and now, for this, that and the other reasons, he is now a very important leader and he will make sure his leadership this, and his leadership that. 🤷♀️🧐
Oh, the irony of one of the most famously work-shy royals getting outraged about inaction. The jokes write themselves.
I know, I laughed at that too. the inaction enrages him!!! but wait, people expect HIM to act?? no no, he’s outraged at OTHERS inaction!!
Apparently action enrages him too.
Interesting he is not denying the rage but say oh I just worry about the future.
Hahahahahahaha!
I realize traditions are entrenched, but he makes me wonder if the monarchy will be officially removed in his lifetime. Or at least further and further reduced- and hopefully the country will take a bunch of the royals’ “private” money and properties.
What a waste of humanity, power and money he is.
I REALLY hope so. This is not what i would like my taxes spent on.
I’m still naively shocked at just how completely useless and verbally inept he sounds. Now I understand even more why Meghan enraged him so much. Everytime she opened her mouth to say *anything*, it must have felt to him that she was pointing at him and screaming “The Emperor has no clothes!!”
Incandescent outrage you mean. Haha
He takes helicopters everywhere! He and his privileged class are the problem. The solutions lie in not killing the planet for profit and personal comfort but they won’t stop.
His awards show with an environmental theme is bad for the environment. There is no path to implementation whatsoever.
William is also way too chickenshit to deal with environmental issues in the UK. Stop going to other countries and telling them what to do. Fix your own backyard.
“William is also way too chickenshit to deal with environmental issues in the UK. Stop going to other countries and telling them what to do. Fix your own backyard.”
100%! William will never stand up to the Tories and his buddy Boris Johnson.
@dalloway, I’m not very familiar with the environmental policies of U.K. politicians or parties. Do the Tories/Johnson not back progressive environmental policies?
If not, would this be an example of a royal speaking out about political topics, which is CLEARLY forbidden and will be pontificated and torn apart by British tabloid media!?
In the 2019 election, they had the weakest policies of any party and are unlikely to meet any of their short-term targets in their 25 year plan.
@Noodle this is indeed an example of a royal speaking about politics. The conservatives of a lot (if not all) countries are the ones who take the least effort towards stopping the environmental changes. It’s critic of the sitting government, but nobody lashes an eye, because it’s not H&M speaking.
He loves to lecture developing countries on environmentalism and overpopulation, teaching them about the science because obviously they didn’t know until he told them. You see, no one had told China before about the science behind conservation until he did and he did it in a positive way. I love his personal advice too which has worked well for the royals all these years. You do it so you can look good, so you can be the leader in this domain.
Air Quality would be a great issue for him to tackle. Even the wealthy are breathing in the same air. But no, that wouldn’t involve safari trips so he can lecture everyone on wildlife.
Interesting that William, with all his available privilege, opportunity, and access to wealth, somehow views himself as held back:
“I’m in a position of responsibility if you like, or leadership. I feel I can do a lot more if given that ability. So therefore, I don’t understand why those who have the levers, don’t [use them]”
If only he could do SOMETHING. He totally would, he just can’t, cuz he’s only the future future king.
I’m really sorry but this was such a stupid line from William. If he, a future King with access to money and lawmakers can’t do anything then what hope to the rest of us peasants have?
BECAUSE NO ONE HAS “GIVEN THAT ABILITY” TO HIM! This is the sentence that leaps out to me…..tone deaf much…who is gonna give it to you? Eh? It’s time to take action, not wait around for ability to take action be given you…
WHAT A POSER!! (SPEAKING OF POSES, WHAT’S WITH THE cle3nched legs, hand over hand, where he looks like a little boy in his daddy’s suit….I’m grossed out
That sounds too much like work. William has been given everything his whole life. It’s all he knows.
But it is the perfect excuse for his inaction. “I can’t do more even if I wanted to because I haven’t been given the ability”. Performative outrage with an inbuilt excuse for his own personal inaction.
That pose had me wondering too. WTH?
WORD.
why IS he sitting like that???!!!
He looks like he has to wee, and is holding it in by pressing his legs soooooo hard together. Kate has never sat with her legs pressed so closely! 😂😂😂
What is he doing, advocating for Charles to be set aside so he, William, can show everyone how it should be done?
Who has these levers? Politicians that’s who. But we won’t talk about how political William is from his ivory tower.
That quote was so weird and telling. It’s mild on the surface, but I think it’s a clear indication that William *still* holds a lot of bitterness and resentment about being the heir. He’s thrown his weight around so much over the years, and yet he *still* feels this way.
@ Jay, 🤣🤣🤣🤣
William is so shallow. He “plays at” doing things, no sincerity. No substance to him. And his pontificating is so pretentious.
“Especially as I’m in a position of responsibility if you like, or leadership. I feel I can do a lot more if given that ability. So therefore, I don’t understand why those who have the levers, don’t.”
William can start by giving up his private helicopter which he uses as a taxi service.
@MIDNIGHT@THEOASIS
“William can start by giving up his private helicopter which he uses as a taxi service.”
But he would never. This is the same man who told Africans to stop having so many children while his wife was pregnant with their third. The same guy who took a helicopter to go buy shoes. He and his wife continue to use helicopters like Uber.
I wonder when the media will start calling out Normal Bill for hypocrisy and “preaching from an ivory tower”. I’ll wait.
The helicopters, multiple homes, three children, his wife’s constant consumption of fashion… he had many avenues to choose from if he was really serious.
I don’t know which is worse – if he didn’t realise his own lifestyle could have been more sustainable, or if he knew and didn’t care. He has and had multiple levers. No more children and banning Kate from buying too much, stopping his private heli trips, he has the chance to make a dent in his own emissions.
And he could do it in a way that is very preachy and patronizing, which William loves to do, so I don’t know why he doesn’t.
“Normally I would be in Anmer for dinner this evening, but we are cutting down on helicopter usage so I’m clustering all my London events over two days rather than go back and forth. If I can work my schedule to cut down on my commuting time, then surely so can all you peons!”
“we have decided to only use the royal helicopter for urgent trips for which there is no other reasonable way to get to a destination on time. We intend to utilize trains much more frequently as a result. Trains are a wonderful way to see the English countryside and we encourage all Britons to take a train trip every week for funsies bc we don’t realize that everyone else has real jobs.”
“The royal fleet of cars is being transitioned to electric or hybrid vehicles, if we can do it, so can you!”
William’s personal consumption exceeds that of entire countries so he will never be taken seriously until he walks the walk. Charles understood that he had to at least try to use less. Billy can’t even be bothered to try.
Stopping his multiple trips to tropical vacation destinations. Stopping his multiple trips to foreign skiing vacations, because you know they’re hiding those too. There’s no way they’ve only been on one ski trip in four years. They’ve just gotten much, much better at hiding their trips.
Another way he could exhibit some real leadership, and walk the walk, is by downsize his home. Anmer Hall has 15 rooms, and who knows how tall the ceilings are. All of that is a nightmare to keep heated. Smaller homes are easier to heat, consume less resources, and are just generally less wasteful all around. Donate the large residences to the public, move to like a nice little house in the suburb or something. He can even get a white picket fence.
Plus, all that maintenance and upkeep, of the grounds, the lawns, etc., also consumes a lot of resources. Repurpose some of that acreage into something productive, like a garden, or a farm, or solar energy farm maybe. Get a more environmentally friendly vehicle, or better yet, do away with those all together–not having to live on a large property means not having to drive from one end to other. Maybe the whole of them could hit up Pippa for some tips on which cycle they should buy for getting around?
I kid, but only a little. I love how it’s one set of rules for him, but another set of rules for all of us small people.
15 ‘rooms’ plus 10 bedrooms, plus all the staff accommodations.
It is like saying Apartment 1A is only ’20 rooms’ when it is 20 huge rooms plus all the family bedrooms, plus 10 bedrooms just for staff, plus all the family space and what, five kitchens?
@A you say you are kidding but its a very reasonable suggestion and would be a good example to set. an energy efficient home is something that everyone should aim for and that doesn’t mean just turning off a light when you leave the room. Do any royal houses have solar panels installed? I can see it being an issue with the historic homes, but then let energy companies use the insane amount of land the royals have for solar energy fields or windmills, and the rent goes to the government. Make the rent very cheap as an incentive for those companies. Or heck for the first 5 years let them use the land for free as a REAL incentive. That is something the royals could do that would have very little impact on them, but would send a strong message.
I swear. these people. they could do SO MUCH MORE.
@becks Charles retrofitted Clarence House with solar panels. I think they’re well integrated so as not to disrupt the historic look of the House. I visited a few years ago and the tour guide mentioned it but I don’t remember all the details.
@Courtney – thanks! that’s interesting to know. So they could do it with more of the royal residences.
I think Willem-Alexander (of the whoops trip to Greece) tried to put solar panels on Huis ten Bosch palace. He was denied. Beatrix tried to install some on the greenhouse there in 2011 and was also denied.
@Becks1, oh yeah, there is a lot they could do. I understand if the work required to make these historic properties up to date in terms of modern day environmental standards is hard. But let’s also be honest here–what do they need all of those 15+10 rooms for? What does it accomplish?
I’m not trying to knock on big, beautiful, stately homes, but that is something that has always bugged me. Why are they so fucking big? Again, heating the whole place is a fucking nightmare. They don’t seem comfortable. The upkeep is ridiculous. I get that the rich do it because that’s what the rich do, but still. Imagine not having proper heating or modern conveniences, or the freedom to vacuum your dog hair off of your couches without fear of appearing too nouveau-riche in the process. There’s just no way showing off all your wealth is worth all these detriments to your comfort, lmao.
“Outraged by inaction” … from a man who had to be bribed by papa and grandmummy to move to London “full-time” to work and still does the bare minimum, being outworked annually by every single senior royal except his wife.
William is extremely lucky that the Fail hasn’t decided to highlight his hypocrisy with screaming headlines and pics of his and Kate’s private helicopter rides and entourages of gas-guzzling vehicles. And I love how he has renamed his temper tantrums and bullying comments as hard conversations.
It’s quite obvious KP have chose environmentalism for William because it’s a growing concern and because he gets to use it as an excuse to go to all these conferences and countries under the guise of saving the environment. Next time he gets caught in Switzerland? Oh he was doing something with the environment! Preparing for Davos! Gets caught in Africa? He was helping with conservation work you guys! Plus he gets to meet world leaders and “talk” about this which makes him look all statesman like.
Environmentalism is perfect for William as a cause because he can say a lot and doesn’t have to really do anything. He can just kind of spout off about “needing changes” and “everyone has to sacrifice” or whatever without having to actually do anything.
And when some/actual changes happen (thanks to the people who actively put their feet on the ground to make it happen), he can come in and say “wow you guys! yay! look how involved I, someone who cares about the environment and talks about, was! I deserve the credit!”
Exactly!! It’s perfect. He gets to take the credit and be praised without doing a damn thing .
He’s already been doing this for years. When he was criticized for missing his daughter’s first easter to attend Jecca’s wedding in Kenya? Aides quickly arranged a 20 minute meeting in Kenya so his whole trip was paid and secured by taxpayers.
Is he looking in the mirror when he’s feeling the outrage? The hypocrisy of these people astounds me.
Soo…he’s mad at himself?
How political of him.
It outrages me that William wants to act like his ONE conversation with the Chinese president saved the world. The change in Chinese law was the result of a Chinese president who cared and talks with other government leaders, including the US and the UK. It was an initiative that took years to implement.
“Climate Change Inaction, I Would Be Such a Good President of China, and Other Reasons I Cheat on My Wife: A Memoir“ by William Windsor
I read this 6 times & cannot stop LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lol at him fixing everything wrong with Chinese environmental policy on his trip there. I bet the man doesn’t even know what a pangolin is (the world’s most trafficked animal, wanted because their scales are ground up and used for folk cures in traditional Chinese medicine)
Royal posture says a lot about how they view their dynastic roles because they are always protecting the crown jewels.
So that’s why he’s angry all of the time? Because the amount of inaction in his personal and professional life and that of his family is astounding.
Which, I mean, he could just choose to work, you know…. has that occurred to him?
All of william’s environmentalism is stoked in racism – advising China on what they need to do in the wildlife trade, telling Africans that they shouldn’t have so many children, etc.
This is how he gets away with tackling a “political” issue like climate change; he isn’t admitting the real issue, that the largest corporations and wealthiest individuals in the world are almost wholly responsible for the mess we’re in, instead he points at Asian and African countries as the *real* problem (wink wink, nudge nudge). Even the board for his INCREDIBLY PRESTIGIOUS prize is comprised of billionaires and celebrities whose own carbon footprints would be laughable if they weren’t so tragic.
They’re hoping they can buy their way out of their problems by throwing prize money at people but not changing their own behavior. Classic spoiled rich thinking.
Hang on a second- is a future king lobbying a foreign government to CHANGE their environment policies? Where is the outrage? Thought royals are meant to be apolitical& shouldn’t be advocating for change? Oh my bad he’s a melanin free zone so it’s ok- carry on.
Starting to get the sense that one real issue William may have with Meghan is wants to be seen as the sole modernising, ‘woke’ voice etc of this royal generation as the future king. Remember when William & Kate got married & then when Heads Together was launched, the hype was very much that William, Kate & Harry were modernising the Firm. Doesn’t make sense he could be upset about Vogue for being too ‘political’ because of it hailing diversity and representation whilst then calling for more diversity at the BAFTAs himself months later.
I think he’s right that people are more aware and want to make changes. Apparently most waste& damage is from the West though with predictably more harm& risk to poorer countries (which is why climate change is being denied same time as some are lobbying for harsher immigration policies) so Wills should be using his powers of persuasion with Western governments too.
Also not mentioned is the role that colonialism and neo-colonialism has played in the destruction of the planet.
You clearly see the hypocrisy of the press, when it comes to W&K on the environment. Healines would be everywhere pointing out H&M’s hypocrisy, and that old chestnut of the private jet, would have been whipped out again, for the baying public to savour on it. I give up! H&M, can never win, every good thing they do, is turned into a controversy. That is why, some of us still defend and support them..
Is he concerned about his own inaction? Williams father walks the walk. He was ridiculed for years , yet here this one comes and wants us to believe he’s so concerned.
+1
Wow. He legit threw Charles under the bus with that comment basically saying his family had all that time to take action instead of just having “conversations.” This guy is gross.
I thought this comment was more of a justification for the monarchy – it can span generational change and be “above” the political fray. At least that’s an answer I remember given by somebody in Charles’ camp years ago. It only works if there’s actually consistent action, though, and there are plenty of organizations that would be better suited to tackle change than the British monarchy imo!
Prince William centres himself in the conversation when there has been mass school strikes lead by students. There are plenty of people doing things to prevent climate change and he doesn’t acknowledge that at all. Admittedly I haven’t seen the whole interview but he comes across as real egocentric in these quotes.
He also has no call to action or anything that a regular person can do. Compared to like say Jane Fonda who talks about Fire Drill Friday and other things that people can do together to stop climate change. (I realise they have literally nothing in common aside from like being white & wealthy but still.) His interview isn’t informative. He comes across as racist & lost in his own privilege. Does he still go on safari while lecturing the Chinese Government on illegal wildlife trade?
Anyhow I guess the planet is saved cuz Prince William is here to be Mother Earth’s saviour.
I agree.
Remember Jane Fonda was one of the Forces for Change on Meghan’s Vogue cover that made William incandescent with rage.
I forgot she was on the cover!
People like Meghan & Jane Fonda leave me hopeful & fired up when I hear them talk. They acknowledge the work of others. I probably wouldn’t completely agree with their politics (I’m anti-capitalism) but I don’t need to cuz we agree about climate change.
I don’t think change will come from William however I’m sure he’ll claim credit if he can.
I continue to be amazed at how AWFUL the KP comms staff are at PR and managing image. With story after story running in the press about William and his infamous temper, who thought a podcast with “outrage” in the name would be good optics?
I know, right? Do they not see it? History books are going to dub him William the Outraged.
William activity damages the environment. For Anmer hall they seized farmland to extend the property for a new tennis court as the other was torn down with diesel equipment.
He refused to carry on Charles’s environmental work with the Prince’s trust. He jets off any and everywhere. Never travels by train except a handful of times for PR.
What exactly has he ever done for the environment besides complain about how no one cares but him?
“The message when I went to China and talked to the Chinese government about trying to tackle the illegal wildlife trade was very much a case of, how about you guys being the global leaders in conservation? You can take on that mantle and you can really drive it forwards.”
Why not the UK?
That was the trip where he toured and posed at an elephant ‘sanctuary’ which turned out to be filled with abuse. A complete sham. He was warned about it publicly in the newspapers, asked not to go, and went anyway.
I get the feeling that William is only doing this to bolster his image as a global leader and future king and not because he’s truly passionate about the issue. Same goes for his work in mental health. His position constrains him from doing anything really meaningful and to get real change he can’t be seen to be above it all. He has to become an activist. It gives me a clearer view as to why Harry and Meghan would want to leave the Royal Family.
Charles has been making real change with local agriculture, Duchy farming, sustainable farming for forty years. William isn’t constrained in making change – he knows change requires WORK and William is allergic to that.
Charles has also been soundly ridiculed by the conservative tabloids for decades because of his environmental concerns and actions, starting well before the Diana situation ever came into the picture.
William would likely get the same treatment if he ever went crazy and decided to try truly working on the environmental issues he likes to pontificate on. His image in the press is likely just as big and as selfish a reason for him to avoid doing it as not liking to work.
William would never go all in and make real change, because he’s a Tory puppet already.
I don’t have a lot of time today, so I’ll try to be quick:
1) “So therefore, I don’t understand why those who have the levers, don’t.”
Hey bud, why don’t you ask your fucking Tory staffers and friends who have the real power this question? You’re being kept up at night about this situation? Well, you have the gd benefit of having BoJo on speed dial, don’t you? Get one of your Brexiteer private secretaries to call him, and ask him why him and his band of fucking cronies are so gleeful at the prospect of stripping back environmental regulations in the UK? Why was this one of the key points on which they based their Brexit campaign, amongst the other pack of lies? INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
2) “The message when I went to China and talked to the Chinese government about trying to tackle the illegal wildlife trade was very much a case of, how about you guys being the global leaders in conservation?”
I don’t want to come down on China’s side here, so bear with me for a little bit, but this is exactly the sort of thing that pisses me off about William’s environmental advocacy. These preaching tours he goes on, wherein he goes around smugly lecturing people, usually people who aren’t white, about how they’re not doing enough for the environment, and then being surprised when there might be some pushback to that.
To give some context as to why China might not really like being lectured to by posh white royals who like to prune rosebushes–Britain was basically China’s fucking drug dealer for a century, if not more. Hawking opium was hugely profitable for Britain, and the money they made from this, and the subsequent influence they gained in China from essentially acting like the 18th century version of the Sackler family, made them eyewatering amounts of wealth, wealth that continues to generate more wealth and impacts Britain’s quality of life today.
For China though, this whole situation, while it never became full blown colonialism (except in Hong Kong), shaped their relations with the west, all the way up until now. For them, the slow-moving loss of power, and the reduction of their govt into drug addicts, is seen as a particularly humiliating part of their history. Politicians in China (and I use the term loosely here) tap into and exploit this aspect of their history and the emotions it stirs in people to bolster nationalism and their own rhetoric against the west.
This context is crucial. It’s so easy to paint countries like China as being unconcerned about climate change and conservation, but that’s often not true. Their people care quite deeply. It’s just that they don’t appreciate the finger wagging that often comes from western powers in conveying these messages.
For someone like William, who lives in like 8 different, poorly heated palaces, who is heir to enormous amounts of wealth, whose own wealth and the wealth of his family likely comes from the aforementioned opium dealing I talked about, who comes from a country that consumes FAR more resources than needed, and generates far more waste than it should, to go over to China and inform them that THEY aren’t doing enough on the matter of climate change and conservation?
YEAH, GEE, I wonder why this conversation might not have been easy, and why they might have been reticent or unwilling to have it with you in the first place. It just speaks to the sort of echo chamber that William chooses to be in. He doesn’t need knowledge or context, he doesn’t even need to read the briefings, he knows everything and he can tell others what to do. Simple as.
3) “He also revealed that while growing up, he did “feel that tackling things negatively was the way to go forwards…but actually it doesn’t work.” ”
I don’t know if it’s just me, but we’ve been seeing a lot more of William around these days. Particularly in the run up to the release of Robert Lacey’s book, and after. He’s really pushing the environmentalism angle hard too? It all feels very calculated and co-ordinated, frankly, as if it’s an attempt to push back against the negative stories about him in the press. This comment seems specifically geared towards addressing the thornier allegations about his temper in Robert Lacey’s book. It’s not a bad effort, but it’s coming from William, so it’s like whatever.
I did not know about the opium connection, thanks for sharing that info.
Re: #3 – his comments about being negative were interesting, definitely makes me think he’s pushing back against Lacey’s book or there are a lot more stories out there about his temper and he doesn’t want to them come out.
So many good points here. Can’t let actual history get in the way of self aggrandizement. Some of my issues with this type of environmentalism is that it treats places like Africa as playgrounds to be preserved for Westerners. They don’t care about installing sewage systems and access to clean water as long as the savannah’s are pristine. They don’t take into consideration the centuries of environmental damage they’ve done to enrich their own countries and the damage they continue to do, even in their own communities. Look at how we get those lithium batteries to power electric cars and who breaks down all that e- waste we discard. It’s exploitation, child labor, strife and massive pollution. No way would he interfere with this if it ends up wrecking a trade deal with Xi or Bolsanaro. Anyway, he has a project to sink his choppers into and make him a statesman.
Heck, the reason the savannahs are often not pristine is because of the lack of infrastructure wrt waste disposal. And why is there such a lack of infrastructure in the first place? Because colonizing powers rarely cared very much about making the places they colonized inhabitable for the people who lived there. Their infrastructure projects were undertaken to more easily facilitate the extraction of resources, and nothing more.
I’m going to bring up Barbados here, because it’s a good example of this sort of thing. British colonialism, particularly the cultivation of sugar cane in vast plantation like set ups, had a devastating impact on the local environment. Barbados is still working to rehabilitate their soil in the aftermath of that, and it’s been two centuries. The huge expansion of sugar plantations and sugar production fueled the concurrent demand for slave labour, making the Atlantic slave trade, which the British also had a hand in, go into overdrive to keep up with demand. Because white British people sure as heck didn’t want to plant and harvest that sugar cane themselves, did they.
Honestly, if William went over to Barbados tomorrow, spoke earnestly with environmentalists and agricultural researchers about the impact that British colonialism had on the environmental degradation of the island, and centered a part of his activism on that–he’d actually gain a little bit of respect in my eyes!!! Imagine doing that sort of outreach, imagine speaking honestly about what you and your family represent to countries around the world, and making an honest effort to bridge those gaps–I’d bet Barbados would feel a lot less ambivalent towards the royals, and it’d be the easiest PR win for the Windsors since ??? ???? ????
And yet, it won’t happen. Why? Because, “the royals don’t do woke.” But we live in a world where those connections are a fact of our daily lives. Nothing is free from politics, and nothing is very far from controversy. All it comes down to is choice–what do we choose to focus on and what do we comfortably get used to ignoring? At some point though, that ignorance is something that hinders progress.
The irony of Mr Lazy ‘Royal’ being outraged by inaction when inaction was his middle name for 10 years….
For the last 20 years really. Dodging around different branches of the military, never working full-time for any of them, spending a decade partying with Kate instead of buckling down and working. Then not working for this decade after the wedding.
I get really, really steamed when I think of people like this lecturing the rest of us. You fly private whenever you want, however far you wish to do so. You own multiple homes, probably with the multiple sets of clothing and dishes and furniture. You redo your homes whenever you wish, throwing away however much you want to with zero regard for the environmental impact… just shut up. Shut up your blathering when you don’t walk the walk even a bit.
I see a lot of talking about action, but I don’t see a lot of action.
You know you’re the inferior brother, don’t you, Willie? That’s why you’re so happy your lil bro left town. It’s time for you to do big things, boy! We’ll be watching.
My takeaway from this chat is yada yada, now let’s talk about me. The way he’s sitting in that chair in that photo, hands tightly clasped, like he’s eagerly awaiting his punishment, I see bondage gear in his future.
Amy Bee, I don’t see “how his position constrains him from doing anything really meaningful . . .”. That’s HIS narrative. Prince Harry has done very meaningful things and he’s not the future future king of England. And Prince Harry doesn’t whine that people won’t give him the “ability” (William’s word) to do meaningful action. What the fuck? And to make it more British, Fuck off, Willie. Either do something or shut up about your inability to do something. We’ve had four years of Trump-speak to instantly know fraud-speak.
To truly be an advocate for environment, he has to become an activist and he can’t remain above the political fray. Meaningful action on the environment needs political will. If he really wants change, he’s got start talking to the politicians and be willing to take public criticism for doing so. Yes, Harry has done meaningful things and he has gone as close as could without seeming to criticise the government as a royal but it can’t be denied that being out of the royal fold has given him the freedom to talk about issues and say things that he was not allowed to do as a royal. I also think Harry threatening to leave the family gave him some leeway to pursue issues that are not typical Royal issues such as HIV/Aids, Mental Health and veteran issues.
William is not constrained by his position, he chooses to sit back and lecture others. Do as I say, not as I do.
Charles, for all his faults, has a strong track record of environmental work with the Duchy. William has the ability to choose not to live in two massive homes. He has the ability to choose not to fly on multiple tropical vacations a year. He has the ability to choose not to use helicopters. He had the ability to choose not to let his wandering Willy affair result in a third child for himself and wife. But that would require William to mean what he says, which requires William to DO something, instead of just talking about others doing something.
This is rich, talk about lecturing from an ivory tower.
So let’s see some action and pull levers and turn over Andrew.
Amy Bee, thanks for the thoughtful response. I especially liked “he’s got to start talking to the politicians and be willing to take public criticism for doing so.” Exactly, which only proves that it’s not his dog in the fight.
It is noticable that his go to emotion is rage.
If the concept of competition did not help the other prize for environmental protection, why use Earthshot as a solution. Money cure most ills but…….Maybe if materialism is not as prevalent, or his prize is as large as the offerings of the stock market, he will have takers.
He is indulged by the Tories and newly minted, for their own purposes. Weak link ? Churchillian statesman?
The thing is he will always have the spotlight in the UK, it doesn’t mean that people are paying attention to any spotlight. They are just not interested in him. So he can rage on.
“I hate inaction. For example, the other day, a servant brought me a cup of tea and there was a SEED still IN the lemon wedge. Now, I try not to make eye contact with the domestics, but I thought this was a teachable moment. I looked at him then looked at the lemon wedge. He saw it. I saw that he saw it. He saw that I saw that he saw it. But he stood there dithering like a scared rabbit. Did he expect me to dig the seed out of the wedge myself? Did he expect me to have no lemon in my tea? Did he expect me squeeze the lemon wedge, and then get the seed in the tea and have to DRINK a cup of tea FULL of SEEDS? Dither, dither, dither. In the end I had to throw the cup and saucer against the wall. That spurred him into action, I’ll tell you.”
@ Coco-Wills, is that YOU?
Brava! Coco, brava!
Didn’t Princess Anne address this when she said the younger generation is trying to reinvent the wheel? Look to what has already been done and build on that? Paraphrasing but the gist of her idea is there. We all thought she was talking about H and M but could easily have been wandering Will.
I assumed she was talking about Will. Harry and Meghan, for as short a time as they were working together for the Royals, actually got stuff done, and Harry definitely got stuff done (Invictus and Sentebale). I don’t think Anne minds the innovation so much as she minds the fact that William and Kate’s obsession with “innovation” is really just a smokescreen for being lazy.
Omg no wonder that tory fixer got the hell out when the sussexs left! Imagine dealing with this spoiled petulant manchild who thinks he’s owed everything. The bit that got me the most was
“Especially as I’m in a position of responsibility if you like, or leadership. I feel I can do a lot more if given that ability. So therefore, I don’t understand why those who have the levers, don’t. I think that’s what really upsets me and keeps me awake at night.”
I wonder if he has bipolar disorder which his doctors dismissed as him being a spoiled brat! His inability to control his emotions could be influencing his behaviour!!
I see the tabs are perfectly fine with him lecturing on the environment despite him driving a range rover+has personal helicopter!
Not for the first time am I writing this response to a post about PW: He sure uses a lot of words to say very little:
1. People want to do something.
2. He likes action.
3. He has learned it’s good to be positive.
4. He asked China to do the right thing and be a leader.
5. His family has had the opportunity to be part of the debate, but action is needed.
Summary: Action is needed.
Critique: He has done nothing other than talk. If I were his father, I’d be incandescent with rage.
Here are some tips Ragey Wills, stop flying private planes and helicopters, trade out your land rovers for electric. Use the train. Tell your wife to curb her shopping habits given that the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. How many blue coats dresses does she need? How many red coats? Change starts at home.
Prince William needs to go back to school and study communications. He is terrible at it.
william looks like he has practiced his “concerned face” in the mirror.
This is neither here nor there but….
When my cat sits like that (last photo), we call that “sitting pretty paws”
It usually means he wants something he isn’t supposed to have. 🤷🏻♀️
I feel I can do a lot more if given that ability, TRUE.
I don’t understand why those who have the levers, don’t, ME NEITHER William, me neither.
I think that’s what really upsets me and keeps me awake at night, LIE.
What an obnoxious 🤡
It sounds like a take-off on Harry’s statement about not wanting to get up in the mornings because of issues. Harry got made fun of for the statement. Has William?
Please, someone has to have one of his rages on video. Once a video is leaked he will never be seen the same again.
Probably the Middletons do, but they won’t be released as long as he behaves.
I love how he has such strong opinions about political issues, but *conveniently* he can’t actually DO anything about them because it’s POLITICAL. But at least he can be outraged.