Duchess of Cambridge

[gynn]

Lovely to see that the Duchess of Cambridge has announced the four charities that she will become patron of.

Eight months after her wedding, the Duchess has avoided public engagements so she can spend time deciding which charities to support.......

Hold on. Eight months? Four charities?

If you asked me to name four charities I'd support, I'd probably ask you for an hour or two to think about it. Might even ask you for a day or so to decide. If I said give me eight months, you'd think I was taking the mickey.

But there are enough mugs in this country to get all glassy eyed and tell us its important for her royal highness to give proper consideration to all the different calls on her time.

In reality, such displays of complete lethargy only play into the hands of anti monarchists and republicans.

[garinda]

Perhaps she was just hiding in the shadows...of her sister's arse.

[ToffeeGuy]

"The Duchess has avoided public engagements"

She visited Canada with William last year then and the Military Awards just before Christmas.

I'd suggest you look up the Court Circular of the British Monarchy website which itemises all royal engagements and shows regular events which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended in the past year.

I, for one, am grateful to have a wonderful asset to the royal family. They have learnt their lesson from the past mistakes where royal wives have overshadowed their husbands. Plus this is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year and she should be the centre of attention, the rest of the royal family know this and will take a back seat.

William and Kate will have a long marriage and long reign as King and Queen and until their time comes they shouldn't be the centre of attention. That wouldn't be constitutionallly right and proper.

[flashy]

I'm not into the Royal Family but well said ToffeeGuy

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

"The Duchess has avoided public engagements"

She visited Canada with William last year then and the Military Awards just before Christmas.

I'd suggest you look up the Court Circular of the British Monarchy website which itemises all royal engagements and shows regular events which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended in the past year.

I, for one, am grateful to have a wonderful asset to the royal family. They have learnt their lesson from the past mistakes where royal wives have overshadowed their husbands. Plus this is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year and she should be the centre of attention, the rest of the royal family know this and will take a back seat.

William and Kate will have a long marriage and long reign as King and Queen and until their time comes they shouldn't be the centre of attention. That wouldn't be constitutionallly right and proper.

Full marks from me too

[garinda]

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

"The Duchess has avoided public engagements"

She visited Canada with William last year then and the Military Awards just before Christmas.

I'd suggest you look up the Court Circular of the British Monarchy website which itemises all royal engagements and shows regular events which the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended in the past year.

I, for one, am grateful to have a wonderful asset to the royal family. They have learnt their lesson from the past mistakes where royal wives have overshadowed their husbands. Plus this is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year and she should be the centre of attention, the rest of the royal family know this and will take a back seat.

William and Kate will have a long marriage and long reign as King and Queen and until their time comes they shouldn't be the centre of attention. That wouldn't be constitutionallly right and proper.

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

attitudes from the 19th century

Makes sense now.

[gynn]

Well said, Garinda!

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by garinda

Makes sense now.

I thought they might just be busy trying to get an heir, as it were.

That is their main job isn't it, to keep the dynasty alive?

They are working for us all

[cashman]

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

William and Kate will have a long marriage and long reign as King and Queen

Oh yeh mean like his dad? yeh should apply to be n agony aunt wi such insight.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

Oh yeh mean like his dad? yeh should apply to be n agony aunt wi such insight.

Ya but his Dad hasn't been King yet and his grandad never has, he's just been a bloody embarrassment at times

[Greeny]

I think Kate is a good thing for the Royal family but sad that she is often refered to Diana.Her and Prince William seem to be the ideal couple and should be left to enjoy their lives together. I also think William should be our next King but doubt that Charles would agree.

[gynn]

I started this thread, not because I'm anti monarchy, but because I feel that, along with the incredible privilege enjoyed by members of the Royal Family, there comes an incredible responsibility.

I actually think that a system of government based on the monarchy is a good thing, because it places the head of state above the day to day bickering that engulfs politicians. And this was shown to perfection by the Queens visit to Ireland last year, which did more to bring the ordinary people of Ireland closer to the UK than any politician could ever achieve.

But for the monarchy to work, its members have to be above reproach.

The Duchess of Cambridge has got off to a good start by clearly winning the hearts of most people in the country, and she will no doubt build on that. Taking so long to select her chosen charities wasn't a good move, and perhaps shows she was badly advised.

But the one thing that really gets my goat is the obsequious, snivelling fawning displayed by some people (and the BBCs Nicholas Witchell is the worst culprit) who seem to think that royalty are better than 'us peasants'

That is the 19th century way of thinking referred to by garinda, and it should have no place in 21st century Britain.

They are not better than us. They just happen to have been cast into a certain role by accident of birth.