Prince William current events 15: January 15 - March 17 2007

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by kpusa1981

I mean he is English. .

Isn't the Royal family considered to be "British" - I mean, while all other British citizens have the right to feel however they like, the RF must try to be the RF of all Britons, right? Otherwise that's water on the mill of all speratists, who want to abolish the monarchy and end the United Kingdom.

[chrissy57]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

Isn't the Royal family considered to be "British" - I mean, while all other British citizens have the right to feel however they like, the RF must try to be the RF of all Britons, right? Otherwise that's water on the mill of all speratists, who want to abolish the monarchy and end the United Kingdom.

That is part of the problem here - William was supporting the English team when the Welsh team, of which he is Vice-Patron was playing elsewhere.

The RF never hide their preference for the English sports teams, except Anne and her long time support of the Scottish teams.

In 2005 there were complaints in Australia that the Queen of Australia supported England in the Ashes and this is an ongoing problem.

It is just more noticeable in something like the Six Nations Rugby where the home countries play each other and the various royals clearly show a preference for England. This also happens in football (soccer to our US friends).

It is not possible to be British in these sports, most of the time, because there is no specific British team, except when the British Lions tour (the combined Rugby team from the home nations). When they compete in the World Cup later this year they will compete as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (made up of players from both the Republic and Northern Ireland by the way - so not British but Irish).

[Avalon]

WILLIAM TO SERVE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Senior Royal courtiers are considering sending Prince William on a tour of Northern Ireland.
The second in line to the throne is expected to spend up to two months in the province on attachment from his regiment.
The plan is to give the 24-year-old the experience of a military tour before he does stints in the Royal Navy and the RAF.
Last night a royal source said: "A period there would be symbolic as the people are enjoying a more peaceful existence.
"William cannot serve on the frontline in Iraq or Afghanistan because of his position as future King - so this is an option."

[HRH Kimetha]

Quote: Originally Posted by Avalon
WILLIAM TO SERVE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Avalon, Is this after his training in Dorset? What bases are there in Northern Ireland? What kind of stuff does the British military do up there? Is Northern Ireland peaceful right now, or is there still some problems that the military is needed?

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

.... Otherwise that's water on the mill of all speratists, who want to abolish the monarchy and end the United Kingdom.

That would be so sad as a large population of European-Americans come from that part of world. < ed by Warren >

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by HRH Kimetha

Avalon, Is this after his training in Dorset? What bases are there in Northern Ireland? What kind of stuff does the British military do up there? Is Northern Ireland peaceful right now, or is there still some problems that the military is needed?

I would think this will be after he completes his training.

Their role at the moment is to support the Police in the defeat of terrorism and the maintenance of Public Order. There are still a number of bases, but the main two are Ballykelly and Belfast.

[Luv2Cruise]

So Skydragon, what do you think the total time for William's commitment to all branches of the military will be -- three years? How does it work, once he's done with this training in Dorsett, then he goes to Northern Ireland or wherever, fulfills that term, then goes to either the RAF and then the Navy or vice versa and spend a year in each of those branches as well? It's like a Rolling Stones tour or something.

[kpusa1981]

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Skydragon, in relation to what Luv2Cruise asked how do you think the attachments to the Royal Navy and RAF will work?

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Luv2Cruise

So Skydragon, what do you think the total time for William's commitment to all branches of the military will be -- three years? How does it work, once he's done with this training in Dorsett, then he goes to Northern Ireland or wherever, fulfills that term, then goes to either the RAF and then the Navy or vice versa and spend a year in each of those branches as well? It's like a Rolling Stones tour or something.

I think for the first year it has been decided that he will complete his training and then do a tour of NI. I believe he signed up for 3 years with the Army, but I should imagine that they will be happy to allow his secondment to the other arms of the services. Unsubstantiated rumour has it that he will do 6 months at Brittania Royal Naval college and then 6 months at Cranwell, the RAF training college.

Much more exciting than a Rolling Stones tour!

[karla64]

more photos..

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can click any photo enlarge..

[Luv2Cruise]

Thanks Skydragon and all who answered my question!

I've been meaning to ask also since it's been raised here, can you nice people set this yank straight about being called English vs. British and tell me the correct term to use? I feel like such a dummy. Thanks again!

[kpusa1981]

Skydragon, anyone think that once William has compeleted his troop leader training that be deployed anywhere aside from Northern Ireland?
I do not think he would actually be deployed to Iraq or Afganstan since he is second in line but possibly Germany, Kosovo, or do an attachment to an US do some kind of training with American contemaries.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Luv2Cruise

I've been meaning to ask also since it's been raised here, can you nice people set this yank straight about being called English vs. British and tell me the correct term to use? I feel like such a dummy. Thanks again!

First you are not a dummy!! It is a hard to explain and means different rules for different people.

Officially to be English, you have to have been born and had your birth registered in England. To be Scottish, born and registered in Scotland, Welsh - Wales, NI - NI. Many people will for instance claim to be Scots because their Gt Granny was a Scot, but that is not really accurate. They are all, however British.

To some you can only be English if both your parents and grandparents were English, with the same rules applying to them. People who hold British passports are classed as British, that can include Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Pakistanis, Indians, etc. Even when they have children they are classed as British, not English.

Many will have a different idea of what they consider English. I expect that by the end of all the different ideas, it will be as clear as mud!

I just found this in a long winded article, if nothing else it should give you a laugh.
Now call me a pedant here, but the only people who can have any claim to be racially British are those peoples who inhabited the islands before the Romans came (because I think they named the islands "Britain" and the then inhabitants "British". Or was it the Greeks?). Anyway roughly speaking this means that only the Welsh and the Cornish can be "British" (the Irish being, well, Irish and separate - even to the Romans - and the Scots-Gaelic being, well, Irish as well basically) because they are all that is left of the peoples the Romans came across. Generally at sword point.
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?EnglishOrBritish

[kpusa1981]

Skydragon, could you tell me what some of the units that the men running with William belong to in the pic I posted on the 21?

[Luv2Cruise]

Skydragon, thank you so much, you're the best --and that means better than Google!!!

[kpusa1981]

Just so eevryones these are not new pics.
IS_13425826 What are the Regiments are the soldiers in front of William in?
IS_13425835 What regiment is the soldier directlty in front Willim in?
IS_13425836 What unit or regiment is the soldier in who is wearing the olive drab shirt?

[Skydragon]

kpusa1981, I'm sorry but without a much clearer picture of the badges they could be from any regiment that happens to be there on an inter-service course. The colour of their Tshirts is no help as Blue/Burgundy/Khaki/Bottle Green are used across most of the regiments. Perhaps someone else can help you out.

[Lizy]

Originally Posted by Luv2Cruise

I've been meaning to ask also since it's been raised here, can you nice people set this yank straight about being called English vs. British and tell me the correct term to use? I feel like such a dummy. Thanks again!

I know that this question has already been answered very well but I just wanted to add that a lot of Brits who are not English do not like 'english' being used as a substitute for 'british'. If something relates to the whole of the UK then 'british' should be used. I think at a recent awards ceremony, for example, an american thanked the 'english' fans for their votes, excluding the fact that as it was a UK ceremony, people from all corners & countries of the UK voted.

[HRH Kimetha]

Haven't seen much happen, in respect to media reports, about William. Does anyone if he has reported to Dorset? If may like the fact that he isn't in the news lately.

[starget1]

Originally Posted by Izzysamos

Prince William is starting to look at lot like Prince Edward to me nowdays. Does anyone else see that? It's not a BAD thing, it's just something I'm noticing more and more in pictures of him.

Yes, indeed. I notice that too. He is his uncle, after all.