Poor Jason (the Cambridges’ press secretary) must have been royally chewed out over that Daily Mail piece about Prince William “refusing” to take over more royal work. The Mail’s piece was stunning because it feels like Prince Charles’ camp is trying to publicly call out William for being lazy and for wanting to play-act this “middle class life” that he fetishizes so much. So William actually got off his royal arse and he’s done back-to-back events over the course of three days. I’m including photos of William and Harry visiting the DIY SOS Veterans Build Project in Manchester today (the hard-hat photos), plus photos of William yesterday at RAF Coningsby, doing something to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The event today was for William and Harry to do some work on veterans’ housing, which is a great project. It strikes me that this is more of a Harry thing, since he’s so involved with veterans. I kind of wonder if Harry was already scheduled to do this event and William invited himself? I also think it’s interesting that we’re getting a flurry of activity from the Cambridges just as soon as Harry comes back to Britain.
Meanwhile, during William’s trip to the Hammersmith Academy a few days ago, William ended up making some news for all the right reasons. You have to understand, Princess Diana was basically the only British royal to ever talk about LGBT issues, and even then, it was almost always in the context of HIV/AIDS. So when William actually said words about homophobia, it’s noteworthy.
Prince William has spoken out against homophobia in what is believed to be a first for the royal, while taking part in an anti-bullying session with schoolchildren. Discussing LGBT bullying and cyber-bullying with pupils at the Hammersmith Academy, the second-in-line to the throne talked about the best ways to deal with a homophobic bully.
Agreeing with one student who said he would speak up, the Duke of Cambridge said: “As the young man said, I would try to confront.”
Discussing the idea of a support network, William named his wife, brother, father, grandmother and grandfather as the people he would turn to if he was bullied. As an afterthought he added in his trusty pet, Lupo the dog.
He also heard from young people who had suffered bullying, including one 17-year-old who said that an online troll urged him to kill himself when he came out, according to the Daily Mail. According to Pink News, a Kensington Palace spokesperson commented, saying: “He hopes it will help de-stigmatise bullying issues in schools. He particularly likes the idea of a peer-led support network to prevent any child or young person suffering in silence.”
If this is the new and improved William, willing to do more events and raise awareness for important causes, God bless. I hope it’s true. But I suspect this is just a flurry of hastily scheduled activity just before a three-week vacation in Mustique.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Harry in a hard hat. Yes please. I have a wall I need you to construct. In my bedroom.
It was reported somewhere that EAAA is getting a new million pound crew quarters with a kitchen and beds. Who’s paying for it? Who knows! But I think we can all guess why its being done.
My guess is William is not playing helicopters at the moment. Either because he’s waiting for the new building to be done or because he’s quit and the new building is the payoff for EAAA to keep quiet and let him lie his way out things unchallenged.
Oooooo! This is GOOD gossip! I’m so curious if Will got bored of playing helicopters a few hours a week.
I think it’s the later. He quit. They get to keep the helicopter and the new barracks to continue to foster the image of Normal BIll and his middle class job.
I assume it is being funded by 1.7 million pound grant EAAA received from a fund that was set-up for blue light services using fines from the LIBOR scandal.
The grant is also funding the purchase of second helicopter like the one William will be co-piloting.
The Invictus Games also received a 1 million pound grant from an armed services fund set up with LIBOR fines.
http://www.eaaa.org.uk/2015/03/18/eaaa-to-get-new-helicopter-thanks-to-grant-announced-in-budget/
I think he structures his shifts for time off. He’s working 2/3 time so no idea what that means in terms of days on vs off, but I don’t think the quarters has anything to do with it. William interviewed quite recently talking about only 2 years at it though.
Lazy, Petulant will is called out/caught at his fake ‘regular’ job (can fool some of the people some of the time, etc. ….) to avoid royal duties and responsibilities.
That was my exact thought, @Shambles!
Moi aussi, Shambles–exactly!
LMAO!
Harry can construct my bedroom wall when he’s finished at your house!
All hard hats will now have names scrawled on them, by royal decree.
“Brought to you by Sharpie: The Official Ink of the Royals.”
I would like Harry’s better if it said, ‘I’m with Lazy’.
You win the internet today!
With an arrow!
Yes, an arrow would be great.
Will and Kate have perfected a pattern over the last four years. They have short bursts of work to head off bad press or as a lead up to vacation. If Will has turned over a new leaf and works consistently, people will back off.
ETA: the comment I was responding to disappeared it seems.
That’s what I was going to ask. Isn’t this what he always does before a vacation?
What do you do on vacation for 3 weeks? We were in Disney World for a week last week and all I wanted to do was come back to my house. I can’t sit someplace for an extended period of time.
Which is why i’m not getting my hopes up on this.
IF they both start working more consistently or even 2 events a week(?) the good PR will flow in! I’m not going to judge until we see what happens. I just know history supports these flurry of events come before vacations and then long periods of nothing.
A little too late Willy Boy. We all know what you are about. Why don’t you just run off into the sunset with Carol(e) your Yummy Mummy and the rest of her greedy, grasping, materialistic family.
In a perfect gossip world, Will would leave Kate for Carole and she would become queen.
Nothing to see here folks – just a hard working Prince who has to get his numbers up before a 3 week freebie vacation to Mustique and no more public duties for the rest of the year.
Sadly this is an indication of what’s to come with these 3. Harry goes about doing his thing and when he gets praise big brother decides to jump on the bandwagon or throw him under the bus.
I just hope that when Willy does pass the throne over it goes straight to Harry. If he passes it onto his son and Harry becomes regent it will create a dynamic that will ruin the Monarchy as Willy will interfere and Harry being the loyal brother he is will let him walk all over him. Harry as regent for George is the only way Willy will continue with the life he has at the moment – all the royal perks (and the money) with none of the work. That is Willy’s end game plan.
Who says that Harry would even want it if Wills doesnt? I don’t see Harry wanting that lifestyle or pressure of future King.
Harry comes off as very duty bound. I doubt he’d turn away if it fell to him. I think he respects the role, but wouldn’t really want the change that comes with it. From all accounts over all of time it sounds extremely restricting.
Still, i’d think William would have major issue in his future role if he can’t even handle what little he has now. While Harry may not chose it, but he would respect it and thrive.
I think you are right, Kaiser. As was LAK on the other thread. I think Normal Bill is the tag-along. Good for the Fail, if they’ve forced that much out of him at least.
Perhaps that’s the #poorjason tactic? Let the Fail do the heavy lifting?!
Yep. BBC News just treated him as the tag along, giving Harry most of the coverage and letting his easy charisma shine through.
Que!!!@ Normal Bill in Oxford Shirt and Cashmere Pull….lol he went to work or photo op?
Harry is my muse. When I struggle with blush application I think of his face – especially after a polo match. Voila!
He’s a beautiful blushing cherub, inn’e?
OK, Normal Bill keep that up for the next 52 weeks and we’ll talk.
Haha I was going to say he is damned if he doesn’t, damned if he does. But some people pointed earlier that this is a manipulated act they pull when they get bad press so lets wait and see.
William wouldn’t be criticized if he actually did work to give back for all that he gets instead of doing a press conference saying that he doesn’t know why people think there’s such a thing as full-time royal duties but if there is, then grandma and grandpa can do it.
Nobody is criticizing Harry for being at the same visit.
If next year, William does start working regularly like the other Royals do, then people would start thinking better of him. It’s up to him how he’s perceived. People are going to judge his actions more so than what he and #PoorJason says people should believe. Remember how William told the public that his co-pilot joyride ‘job’ makes him a ‘good guy’ and ‘hero’ and their PR team keeps saying that Kate is “keen” to get back to work? Do they really think that people are stupid enough to believe empty words more than what’s actually shown?
Re: British royals speaking about homophobia – didn’t Harry talk about it before? I thought there was a story about how he defended a soldier who was being bullied for being gay.
The solider talked about it, not Harry.
My expectations of William are low, but I do hope this is the start of an area of focus and not a one-off. Working to end LGBT bullying would be a great opportunity for him to make a difference and distinguish his public service from other members of the BRF.
The Soldier involved talked about it two years ago.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337882/Harry-saved-gay-hate-attack-Prince-extraordinary-showdown-troops-threatened-gunner.html
Just another example of William blatantly coat tailing Harry. William has no personality of his own, so he just borrow’s Harry’s when it’s needed to make him look good.
It is entirely possible that William actually spoke from the heart on this issue and did not borrow Harry’s personality as you suggest.
@ Tammy and it’s also entirely possible that William spoke from a PR prompt sheet and not from the heart as you suggest. William’s public image is suffering, Harry’s is not. William will go on holiday after working 2 1/2 days a week in an invented role whilst Harry stays at home and get’s stuck into his charity work. William needs favourable press, Harry doesn’t.
But you don’t know either way, do you?
Williams’ past actions, recent stories that he has refused to work and take up the strain from other members of the RF including the Queen and his Father both of whom undertake three times the engagements he does; his lack of effective support for any charity, all leads me to believe that he is a selfish individual with little regard for anyone other than his own interests. That makes me doubt he speaks from the heart on any subject. That said you are right, I don’t know either way, but then neither do you.
That’s why I originally wrote it is entirely possible and didn’t say definitively…
He refused to help out with the Prince’s Trust, which is Prince Charles private foundation. Harry also refused to take it over as well but William got all the hate yesterday.
I swear the Prince William posts on celebitchy receive more comments about his laziness than posts about the violent abusers that receive a free pass in Hollywood.
Tammy: glad you are an optimist, but sadly this is WK’s pattern.
A holiday to Mustique has been touted for November, albight for the Middleton females, what’s the betting that Will tags along or is found to be holidaying elsewhere?
Also, WK tend to do a flurry of events in the Sept-Nov quarter to pull up their numbers in time for the end of year published total annual tally per royal. They always have the lowest numbers, even then and despite their PR that tells us how hard they work.
I think the credit belongs to the organization, not to William. If there is an organization in the Western world that works against bullying and they did NOT include a section on LGBT? That would deserve a great deal of ire but is sadly all too common. Right wing religious groups often protest anti-bullying campaigns if they include LGBT issues. William showed up for his annual #playtheDianacard, he didn’t organize the training or select the topic himself.
The Prince’s Trust isn’t really Charles’s private foundation. It was created to be the foundation for the Prince of Wales. William will be the Prince of Wales one day, so it makes sense that he would take over running it. Is William also going to refuse to run all the good things Charles has created for the Duchy of Cornwall too, because he doesn’t want to do anything in the name of the Duke of Cornwall (which he will be one day)?
Spot on
+1000
Will showed up with Prince Harry for Harry’s dedication to duty, hardwork with service members (so he (petulant) would get the credit and featured in photos, overshadow Prince Harry work (;
Happy to see Prince Harry (staff) is wise (of lazy Will avoiding duties), Prince Harry is pap side by side/as lead, and some occasion seem to be more informed during the event – Harry was not in the background, for will to pretend it was his cause.
No harm as Petulant do break Royal Protocol whenever he and cannot make appearance together – allowing her to walk in front of the royal …).
Yes, Harry defended a fellow infantryman from an attack. It happened in 2008 but wasn’t in the news until 2013.
William isn’t DIY. It’s DFD, dough from daddy.
In pics at bottom,Harry looks like he is engaging with the people. William is looking at the camera. Sometimes photos can reveal so much.
Trick he learned from his wife, Katie Bucket. She does it as well.
Or the photographer was shouting his name and he looked over. That happens, too.
It’s called photo assumption…
He showed up in chinos and a cashmere sweater to paint a house. That isn’t photo assumption. He dressed in a way that made it clear subconsciously that he wasn’t planning on participating fully.
But aren’t chinos and cashmere the new normal? 😉
Actually, he is wearing jeans. But, regardless, making assumptions about William’s subconscious clothing choices to criticize him seems like a stretch.
@nota. This is what I was coming to say! Look at how they are both dressed and you can clearly see who will be working.
There are at least three videos on YouTube of them at this construction visit.
Harry was carrying a slab of pavement and then kneeling down to set it into the ground with a hammer in one of the backyards. He was dressed to get involved and get his hands dirty, so to speak. He looked like he fit in with the construction workers there. I think he must have thought out this event more than William did.
Whereas William came dressed like a preppy. They handed him a very long pole with a paint roller on it, so he never got near any paint. God forbid. It looked like he thought he would be sitting down to be served tea and crumpets or at most walk around saying “How nice” with his hands behind his back. He looked like he was dressed to look good for a photo-op.
I can understand why they have their names on their helmets. It’s probably to make them stand out among the crowd so if there was some security issue, their RPOs would know which white helmet wearer to go to.
The helmets are no issue to me either. Basic touches most charitable foundations do for any names bringing attention to them when cameras are present.
It’s always better to look at video to get context. Sadly photos don’t always tell the truth.
What about that “job” that he has flying a rescue helicopter? Too bad that company “hired” him instead of someone else who could REALLY use the income. This guy just works when it seems to please him , or in between vacations. Honestly. He is such a waster and spoiled brat. Harry is quite the charmer and seems very genuine in his interests and activities. William – just a waste.
William is a part time co-pilot. And he clocks in for half of the normal part time hours. It’s been stated he can take time off for any reason, but mainly for his royal duties. Basically, he can show up when he wants and call out when he wants. At least here he’s doing something so he is technically within reason to not be flying right now.
He does a 4-day rotation so it’s possible these are simply his “off” days. Also, where did you read he only flies half the normal hours?
Megan
I’ll find the link to the DM article but it was also posted here with KP confirming this info in a secondary release just after William’s back to piloting interview.
That William would fly a part time shift 4 days on 8 days off. Then EAAA and KP clarified that William would only have to work 2.5 days of the 4. And can take any time off with little to no notice for his duties or meetings.
Let me go digging unless someone beats me to it.
Megan, I tend to be with FlORC on this one. The original shift was 4 on/4 off. I do not know how the 2/3 time shift works out. He could well do 4 on/l6-8 off or he could work less on, the same off, or some combo.
I believe the Guardian reported he would be doing 2/3 of the normal 6 days on/4 days off. Which would be 4 days on/4 days off. It stuck in my head because when I read it I wondered if other pilots have same set-up or if William was being given special treatment. I have not seen anything to suggest he has further reduced his schedule.
There are A LOT of articlesrepeated over and over again with the same link in my searches. Ugh. I need to start bookmarking this stuff. I can only say I clearly remember reading this as a buried lead in another article on this topic. Much like how the George photog ban happened. It was a full ban with a secondary release stating William will choose those he wants to be the only allowed to photograph George. It’s info not stated in the 1st, but comes out later as old news.
Also it came out with how William can get time off to not clash with his royal duties.
LAK/Nota/Sixer/Anyone might have the links.
I have no particular beef with William’s schedule, as long as it is a real schedule for other pilots. If he wants to work a “normal” job then he needs to be on the same old “normal” schedule as everyone else.
I searched his name and part time and came up with several referenced news articles. This one specifically mentions 4 on/4 off:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/07/13/Prince-William-starts-as-helicopter-rescue-pilot/1561436792198/
Urgh…..once again i’m not able to post links which is frustrating for my comment to you (Florc/Megan/christin), BUT!! The original articles confirming his return to piloting said he would work a regular shift of 4 days on/4 days off like the other regular pilots.
Around the time he started the actual job, where he gave that ridiculous conference that gave us #whateverworkmeans gem, all the articles that wrote about his schedule, and confirmed by KP, said he would actually work only 2/3 of the 4days on whilst maintaining 4 days off. The extra leeway in his working schedule was said to give him time off for royal duties.
@Anne_000 and I, in a CB post aftter his work start date, discussed the fact that no one seemed to have picked up on this changed detail even though it was widely reported albight in the last paragraph of every article that was lauding him for returning to work.
LAK
Thank You!
Megan
Same. Keep it fair. William though was going to get special treatment from the start. The whole job was made for him to begin with. And I can accept time off for his duties. Not the reduced part time outside of his time off for royal duties and accepting the same pay that he’s still not naming a charity for. I suspect it will be held and interest collected until it’s then donated to his foundation.
I knew I probably wouldn’t find the right article to convey what was referenced here, but the few I did read yesterday mentioned part-time and that he’d have time off for royal duties (that was from day one).
I should have clarified that in my comment with the link. The “4/4” was accompanied with part-time references in the articles, and I didn’t clarify that. It sounded like I was suggesting he was working full-time.
LOVE this Richard Palmer tweet: https://twitter.com/RoyalReporter/status/646591290264711168
“Hoping to combine trade union work with reporting on William and Harry turning derelict houses into homes for military vets today. Busy day.”
BURN!!!
uh how was that a burn?
I don’t get it either…
I’m trying to understand it… Maybe it’s just a jjab to William very suddenly adding himself to an event that has been on Harry’s schedule for a while and is a good cause. Like it’s a last minute tag a long and William is being called out for it. Like his PR is working overtime to correct William’s image and this is part of it?
IDK. That’s my best guess.
Sorry ladies my sense of humour. As you know trade unions represents the common people and we all know how normal/common Willy wants to be. combine the TU and a construction site visit and I saw a jibe at ‘normal bill trying to be down with the common folk’ but i think i probably read too much into it.
Harry for King! Ok, back to back events for Wills and they looked grueling “not.” The calendar has been marked, how many more engagements before vacay, any guesses?
While I often wish I were a Brit, the royal family EXHAUSTS me. I just can’t work up a flip to give about Kate’s hair or his lack of it. I don’t get the hate for their layabout ways when it’s always been pretty apparent that Harry is the civic minded one. Meh. Whatevs.
That Beard looks trimmed now doesn’t it? Is the Queen letting us keep the Bed Raggled Prince a little longer? Long live the Queen.
I wonder if William’s increased work the past 3 days and piggybacking on Harry’s events and causes that he’s genuinely interested in is in response to the kudos and great press Harry got for coming back after doing charity work in Africa and going straight into his royal duties/his own personal charitable endeavors. Meanwhile it’s crickets on William’s appearances, interests and work up until 3 days ago and he had the royal press about ready to turn on him. Could it be that the thing to get William going the most is the threat of Harry’s good press and image overtaking his own popularity with the people?
Nailed it.
Notice most if the events are William playing Robin to Harry’s Batman.
I don’t think William is lazy overall, but he is lazy when it comes to royal work because he does not like bread and butter royal work IMO. If bread and butter royal work doesn’t float William’s boat, such is life and I don’t have a problem with that per se, but I do have a problem with some of the propaganda that is put out there to rationalize William’s tastes and choices.
It’s September and the Lamebridges have a vacation to earn. Harry’s in town and receiving good press, so William hops on that train with him. That’s what’s going on with William.
” I kind of wonder if Harry was already scheduled to do this event and William invited himself?” -Yep, exactly.
” I also think it’s interesting that we’re getting a flurry of activity from the Cambridges just as soon as Harry comes back to Britain.” – of course. Can’t have the Spare making the Heir look like a lazy arse.
Also given that other family members have been out and about particularly Princess Anne, the Duchess of Gloucester (who is back at it after a long period of ill health) and Princess Alexandra (love her – shes so elegant and graceful).
Three weeks in Mustique? I thought it was one week.
Pretty soon the Cambridges will be the Mustique snowbirds.
Citresse, right?! Who gets a three week vacation, maybe if one only gets to take off one time per year. However, W and K seem to have multiple lengthy vacays per year. Unreal and sadly out of touch with what “normal middle class” really entails!
Well, there’s some work lined up in Mustique isn’t there? I mean William and Kate have diving certifications to maintain!
Here’s what might be of interest… Will William stay for 3 weeks? Or will he leave to vacation elsewhere like he has before?
Three weeks off? Didn’t William just start a new job?
I love how he is pretending to be normal as if a normal man would dare take that much time off for vacation right after starting new work.
He’s been at this job for a few months now. I’d hardly call it new. Still a 3 week vacation before 2 more vacations…
Fall is the busy season for royal work for the Brits and the other European royal houses. There will be a lull during the holiday season and early winter, most royals will do photo calls from the ski slopes, and then things will pick back up in the late winter/early spring.
I think Fall must be the only season that W&K come out to ‘work’ with any sense of urgency.
That ginger beard is everything 😍
IKR.
I love the Harry is in a hoodie and t-shirt and William’s in a collar and sweater. Do you think they often fight just because of how different they are (or at least seem to be?)
Maybe opposites attract. 😉
Wills cant hav harry back stealing all th royal headlines so hes got off his lazy arse for a few days – not long til hes off on his hols.
Snap out of it, William! Don’t spoil us now with your work-commited ways.
Harry looks like he works construction with his beard and hoodie. William doesn’t in his cashmere sweater and collared shirt.
To address the title of this article. William and Kate need to improve their work numbers before Mustique and the Christmas holidays. That’s all that’s happening here. They do the same every year.
I’m applying for a job at that air ambulance company. Yes, I’m in the States but I can Tele – commute and my current job is all over the phone and computer. Plus, I won’t take 3 week vacations multiple times per year…
Usually I don’t comment on William’s laziness because I don’t care about him or his family (no, not even the kids). But right now I’m side-eyeing him so badly cause Harry just came back to Britain and suddenly it’s oh, look at me I’m doing royal engagements just like my little brother?
Seriously, I’m disgusted. And he can’t even make it less obvious by completely attending engagements on his own instead of riding on Harry’s coattails? First the RWC, now this. Tsk.