Duties, Roles and Royal Training of the Princes

[Elspeth]

Bumping this thread since it seems to be a current topic at the moment.

[christinacg]

Its a good topic. My feeling is that as long as the Queen is still alive, their limited roles in public events and chairty is ok. Her Majesty has four children to help represent her and I think that the princes should be devoted to their military careers. I think as they get older they should take on more duties, and especially when Charles becomes king, they'll be more responsible for doing things on behalf of their father.

[Luv2Cruise]

William has done everything expected of him and more. He has an undergraduate degree. How many of his uncles, aunts can say the same? He then enrolled and excelled in a prestigous military academy, and has now begun his tour of all branches of the military, as he should as future commander of these forces. He is then expected to take a diplomatic assignment, again I assume as preparation for his future role.

He has performed well in all of his endeavors thus far, done exactly what is expected and probably has been mapped out for him. I have every expectation that he will continue to do so when it comes time to assume his ceremonial duties.

He seems to be a very fine young man, and I have great hopes for and expectations of his future.

[Kat]

hmm, well I have to agree with rebafan81 and Luv2Cruise. I think that whilst some people might like to see William and Harry doing more (and perhaps it's good for their work ethic (public image) to be showing more responsibility at their age), at the same time, all the important royal duties are already being very capably handled by the Queen, her husband and children, leaving very little if anything to be done by Prince William and Harry (who probably only have to do them because they're in immediate line to the throne after their father).

I can also see that if they hold back on Prince William's training and experience in doing royal duties (until Prince Charles' reign) and Prince Charles has a short reign, there would, in fact, be very little time for Prince William to get all the training and experience (related to those royal duties) needed to fulfill the future role of King.

I think, who ever's involved with planning these boys careers as royalty, have to conduct a balancing act because as much as they may want the boys to get as much experience as possible from early on, they would not want to take away too much responsibility from their father, for example, so as to avoid a situation where the boys are doing just as much or more than their father. That would look bad. It would look like the Queen plans to overlook Charles and give the crown directly to William when she steps down.

However, if, theoretically, something were to happen to Charles to prevent him from carrying out his royal duties (grave illness or, God forbid, death) before the Queen steps down, then and only then, I would expect to see a situation where William takes on more responsibilities than his father.

[kimebear]

Too true. Right now there are no shortages of Windsors to carry on the official functions. When Charles becomes king, William and his wife will take over Charles and Camilla's duties, Harry, his wife, Beatrice and Eugenie will take over the duties of Anne, Andrew, Edward and Sophie. This will enable Charles' siblings to take over the duties of the Kents and Gloucesters giving them a well deserved retirement. There is no immediate need for William and Harry to have full duty schedules now. To compare William to his grandmother at the same age is unfair as the circumstances were very different. Let them be young while they can.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Bingedrinking and invading clubs when being off duty is pretty normal for the military. What I'm surprised at is that someone in Harry's group thinks more of selling pictures to a tabloid than keeping the group safe by keeping the bingefests secret. This tells you a little bit about the esprit de corps of the military now (it seriously appears to be lacking) and the ease at which others can get off for the same behavior.

You have always had the one person within the team/unit prepared to abuse the friendship, to earn some money. It's a pity Harry has not yet learned how to recognise them.

William's displaying an heir of stupidity - Top Stories - News - Mirror.co.uk

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I agree but it's a disgrace. Harry went on a binge tour the same weekend several servicemen died on duty. I wonder why the british public only needs two seconds to find out that this is not appropriate behaviour (even for non-royals!) but first thing Harry can think of is accusing the media of mounting a campaign against him.

1000's of servicemen and women were also out clubbing/drinking, did we hear anything negative about them - no, of course not. Just because you are in the services doesn't mean you stay at home/in barracks when other members of the forces or your unit are in a war zone.
It's called getting on with your life!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

1000's of servicemen and women were also out clubbing/drinking, did we here anything negative about them - no, of course not. Just because you are in the services doesn't mean you stay at home/in barracks when other members of the forces or your unit are in a war zone.
It's called getting on with your life!

Is this the message a member of the Royal Family should send out? Get on with your life? I expect more discretion from a prince who happens to be in the army and a suitable behaviour when appearing in public, on duty or not.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by kimebear

This will enable Charles' siblings to take over the duties of the Kents and Gloucesters giving them a well deserved retirement.

I do wish the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester would live forever. It'll be like the end of an era when they and the Kents are gone. Their descendents will blend obscurely into the aristocracy. The Wessexes & Yorks will be the Neo "minor royals" I suppose. But I'm in no rush for the handover. I like the royal family as it now.

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

William's displaying an heir of stupidity - Top Stories - News - Mirror.co.uk

wow...this article both annoyed me and had some good points. the media can find every excuse in the book why they should be allowed to continue to encourage photographers to harass their subjects. the worst part was his "point" about the danger of the car chase. the author seems to think that because william and catherine were in a car with a trained driver that no one was in danger...what about other cars and pedestrians? he also says that "I presume those photographers who allegedly jumped red lights and broke speed limits will be dealt with by the traffic police"....is he stupid or just naive? yes i agree that perhaps william should have given some thought as to whether or not he and catherine should appear in public together at the same time that the inquest into his mother's death is going but come on...when the paps chase them in that manner it'll never be a good time to go in public together. the other good point was that whether or not william likes it, he's going to have to put some thought and planning into outtings like this...leave by the back door, don't use a vehicle that will draw attention...don't go out the door together or if you do, pose for a picture and then at least you can say that you gave the paps a chance and they can't complain that you never cooperate...use a vehicle with darkly tinted windows.

[BeatrixFan]

I agree with the article in it's entirety. He makes a first class point and I especially loved the; "[Kate and her sister] have been labelled the Wisteria Sisters - decorative, fragrant and famously good climbers". Fabulous.

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Is this the message a member of the Royal Family should send out? Get on with your life? I expect more discretion from a prince who happens to be in the army and a suitable behaviour when appearing in public, on duty or not.

Do you think that past princes were more discreet than William or do you think the press was less inclined to run the more scandalous stories when it came to royals?

I remember reading about Prince Philip and his friends partying very hardy in the 50s in clubs when he was married and considerably older than William or Harry and there were some rumours of an affair but the British papers refused to print any of it.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Is this the message a member of the Royal Family should send out? Get on with your life?

Most definitely, what do you seriously want him to do, sit on his own in the barracks whilst wearing his horse hair shirt?

If these young men are not entitled to some privacy, then what are we becoming? Should we allow the photographers on the training exercises, after all, they might see some real action hero stuff. Should we allow them into every single aspect of William and Catherines lives? Or should we expect the media to show some decency and allow them to actually have a life? If the country was to become a republic, can we hope the media would compensate them for the 'stolen' years.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Do you think that past princes were more discreet than William or do you think the press was less inclined to run the more scandalous stories when it came to royals?

I remember reading about Prince Philip and his friends partying very hardy in the 50s in clubs when he was married and considerably older than William or Harry and there were some rumours of an affair but the British papers refused to print any of it.

You have a point here ysbel. I think the latter - the press was less inclined because the public was not ready for those stories. A totally different climate within society. Times have changed and the princes (incl Charles) have to respond to that because there is no turning back. Today's society obviously not only tolerates but asks for these stories and there is the choice to either make a fool out of yourself or show some decent behaviour. If you don't want your picture to be taken when you are drunk and stumble out of a club, with or without girlfried, you better stay at home. That's what I don't like about Kate: Wills is a complete package that you either take or leave. You can't have the nice parts and reject the not so nice ones and it's pathetic to complain about the paparazzi. If she can't take it she should leave him as this is just the beginning.

[bbb]

lol i found that label funny too
this behavior in my mind is hubristic and destructive (it killed JFKJR)
"hubris denotes overconfident pride and arrogance; it is often associated with a lack of knowledge, interest in, and exploration of history, combined with a lack of humility."
Hubris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
i see nothing wrong in young people partying (i did more than my share) but especially this week it seems unthinking and stupid to be photographed sloshed coming out of a club and then complaining when it seems they dared and egged on the paps showing up and coming out the front door when they knew they would be snapping at their heels (literally)

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Most definitely, what do you seriously want him to do, sit on his own in the barracks whilst wearing his horse hair shirt?

Does going out always mean to lose it? Does going to a pub always mean to grab some girls and binge till to stumble to the floor? Why always go to the extreme? Looking at their behaviour, both princes are begging the press to take their picture and of course they do and say thank you. If the princes want their perception in the media to change they have to change their habits first, not the other way around.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by ysbel

I remember reading about Prince Philip and his friends partying very hardy in the 50s in clubs when he was married and considerably older than William or Harry and there were some rumours of an affair but the British papers refused to print any of it.

Charles was probably just as bad for his day, but the media had a little more respect. Most of the London clubs were very protective of their members.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Does going out always mean to lose it? Does going to a pub always mean to grab some girls and binge till to stumble to the floor? Why always go to the extreme? Looking at their behaviour, both princes are begging the press to take their picture and of course they do and say thank you. If the princes want their perception in the media to change they have to change their habits first, not the other way around.

How many times do you think either of them have been out for a drink and had no problem at all.

They are not begging to have their picture taken. Diana wasn't drunk but she was hounded to her death by the same sort of people who are now hounding William, Harry, Catherine and Chelsy. Diana wasn't drunk when she had to fight her way through a media scrum before she became engaged. The media are out of control and it is time they were regulated by other people.

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

I agree with the article in it's entirety. He makes a first class point and I especially loved the; "[Kate and her sister] have been labelled the Wisteria Sisters - decorative, fragrant and famously good climbers". Fabulous.

do you think the middleton girls are social climbers? i guess i kind of do think they are but aren't most people? the term "social climbers" always denotes something negative but i think most people, not all but most, would marry up if they had the chance.

[BeatrixFan]

I dont really care whether they're social climbers or not actually, I just think the name is fabulous. I'm one of those people who gets goose pimply when they about the Mitford Sisters - I just love the name. So whether it fits or not, I think the Wisteria Sisters is a very glam thing indeed. Faaaabulous.