William and Kate’s rail trip

lemongrove

I disagree.That’s what the royal train is for, to whizz them around the country, visiting factories/ hospitals and the like.
In fact I admire them for doing this when they could actually hide away claiming Covid means they can’t do any visits.
They are doing what the Queen used to do when younger.
I’m really a republican at heart but think if we have a royal family then they should be around meeting and greeting the public and not sat around in palaces at our expense.
So good on them.

Such a well balanced post lemongrove
I'm really a Republican at heart this reflects my perspective also.

It does amaze me how people think the amount of money spent on the royals would be less if we had a president.
It might be spent in different ways, but it would all amount to the same thing.
One thing's for certain, it wouldn't get divided up between the tax payers!

I do think that Katherine visiting the elderly gentlemen (who is caring for his wife with dementia) who she has befriended over zoom this year will have helped him and the surrounding community greatly.

Saying that it’s a green light is ridiculous as arguments go. If an individual is going to take a day trip breaking guidelines they will do so regardless.

Ooh, not so sure about that either MayBee70!

Northumberland voted strongly in favour of leaving the European Union in the EU Referendum

Unlike Scotland.

In fact Berwick voted 55.3% to leave the EU!

If Prince Andrew were to have been heir apparent his life would have been mapped out for him and he would not have had the freedom to do as he pleased

I can't agree that this is a good way of treating the person we want to be the Head of State. Limiting a person, whether they are "nice" or not, to a particular way of life, just because their parent was monarch. I almost feel sorry for them now.

What if Edward hadn't abdicated? He could have stayed on. That would have been interesting.

* administered to them in N.I.

I haven’t read any of Nicola Sturgeons comments so obviously don’t know what she said but Berwick isn’t in Scotland. However if Scotland does become independent I’m pretty sure the people of Berwick will want to change the border. It’s one of my favourite places in the world but it’s quite run down what with various big employers (eg Pringles) closing down.

GG13 if the work was essential I would agree with you, but it wasn't. It could have waited until the NE came out of Tier 3. As it is it's a green light for anyone who wants to say F* it I'm going for a day out!

That's within the area GG13. I knew someone would pick on that which is why I highlighted the bit about NOT travellng outside the area

Not so sure about that trisher as the Health Secretary in Belfast was saying that workers up from the R.O.I. would receive their Covid immunisations soon just as the rest of the U.K.

I think it’s lovely to have cheery news and it’s a great piece of PR. Good for them and for us. Nice to see something on the news that isn’t all doom and gloom and moaning relatives.

Sorry my post was replying to Alegrias2

Nicola Sturgeon never misses an opportunity to stir the pot of division does she? She is First Minister for Scotland. Fair enough. But Scotland isn’t her own fiefdom - much as she’d like it to be! Bet (Covid apart) she hated the feel good factor those very popular royals brought up when they arrived in person to say a heartfelt thank you.

Let’s remember they used to live a ‘normalish’ - is that even a word? Probably not - in Anglesey when they first married and he was a helicopter pilot for the services there. I’m sure they really do being out and about with others especially those who have been on the front lines for Covid.

Well done them I say!
?

We were lucky that the Queens uncle abdicated it would have been a totally different scenario.

If Prince Andrew were to have been heir apparent his life would have been mapped out for him and he would not have had the freedom to do as he pleased, therefore he would not have been allowed to get into the situations he allegedly has.

Easybee
Quote. 'Royal train doesn't look that luxurious ' Really?
Give me the royal train over the Paddington Penzance night sleeper any day/night.

Egalitarian nations who don't have monarchs - Iceland, Finland, Estonia...... there are examples on both sides Terribull so I don't agree with your premise.

I'm not vilifying their birth status GG13 or complaining about how their ancestors behaved, you misunderstand me. I'm just saying that the only reason we pay any attention to them at all is that they had ancestors who managed to fight their way to the top of the tree in society. In the UK we've done OK with the present Queen, but in the future, we have to take what we are given.

What if Prince Andrew had been her first born, how would that have played out? We've seen the vitriol that's been directed his way, but if he had been the Heir Apparent we would have had to accept him as King. We don't get a choice.

the press is commenting less and less on her clothes

I saw that she was being congratulated on her thriftiness, it showed two different coats being worn at other events.

I get so fed up reading all these negative jibes at the Royal Family.

Yes, they are incredibly wealthy, privileged, living a totally different way of life to the vast majority of the country. But so do many others, often inherited wealth, not always a result of hard work.

‘‘‘Twas ever thus”- just get over it, they’ll always be rich and poor the world over.

I am not an expert on Covid law, but I do know that it is permissible to travel from one area to another for work.

Our employees do so 5/6 days a week.

GrannyGravy13

Second item on your list trisher for work as meet and greet is their job seems the train journey is legitimate.

That's within the area GG13. I knew someone would pick on that which is why I highlighted the bit about NOT travellng outside the area.
Why does anyone think it is OK for these two over privileged people to break the restrictions when one Domnic Cummngs was so castigated for breaking lockdown?
It's the same situation one rule for the privileged one for the rest.

I think they're trying as hard as possible to continue the Queens work of encouraging people and communities generally and specifically. William and Kate have been using modern technology to keep in contact with various charities and worthy causes. Their rail trip was a way of working. They kept to all social distancing and sanitising rules when off the train and I'm sure the train will be as clean as humanly possible.
The children at the school in Berwick must have had such a lovely surprise being visited by a Prince and 'soon to be I hope) Princess who had also arranged for 3 reindeer to be there too.
Re nicola sturgeon's frosty comments - one of her own MPs travelled on a public rail service in full knowledge that she actually had coronavirus.

The family has been slimmed down to 8 working royals

Oh what a miserable bunch of Grinches!
I think it is commonly accepted that a Royal visit is a huge boost to morale and given that our lives seem to be 99.9% Zoom, to get a face to face thank you says so much more.
I am also really envious of them having all that time on the train , no worry about seats, tickets, whether or not the shop runs out of coffee plus beautiful scenery! Undisturbed peace and quiet, time to catch up on reading or perhaps they took the opportunity to write their Christmas cards!

to a

I was never a royalist, but have come round to the idea that nations who have symbolic royal families tend to be the more egalitarian nations, Netherlands, Scandinavia for example. Ones that are deemed to be as an ideal a society we can expect in a non ideal world. I think as long as the Royal family stay slimmed down, we all know who they need to offload, then the upside of having them outweighs the downsides. I think using their ancestors as a stick to beat them with is a spurious argument, Kings had at one time, absolute power and no doubt abused it, but the present Royal family can't be held responsible for wrongs committed centuries ago. There are so many countries around the world in the vice like grip of despotic presidents who abuse their powers and can't be got rid of, and set up their own dynasties, on balance I think I'd prefer to Royal family any day.

Second item on your list trisher for work as meet and greet is their job seems the train journey is legitimate.

MayBee70

Northumberland is in tier 3 but the infection rate is only high in certain areas eg Ashington I believe. It’s pretty low in Berwick.

It may be pretty low in Berwick but that doesn't mean they are allowed to do as they like they are Tier 3.
These are the travel restrictions for the rest of us. There is no provision for little trips for Royals or anyone else.

You can continue to travel within your area for reasons such as:

travelling to venues that are open
for work
for education
to access voluntary, charitable or youth services
because of caring responsibilities
for moving home
to visit your support bubble
to receive medical treatment
You should avoid travelling outside your area and reduce the number of journeys you make wherever possible.

I'm sure there are a lot of families in the NE who would love to have a nice day out on a train journey with 4 star service. They would even do a meet and greet if asked.

Good post Lemon. I would imagine the young pair would rather have stayed cosily and safely at home with their children but have set out to do their duty and thank the NHS in person and bring some cheer and support to others.