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William and Harry - I'm puzzled.

(298 Posts)
merlotgran Fri 27-Feb-15 15:54:22

I usually support the Royal Family but I don't 'get' William and Harry's decision making (or their advisers') when it comes to their future roles.

William seems desperate to put off being a full time Royal even though the Queen is understandably cutting back on her engagements and Prince Charles is no spring chicken himself. OK, he's in Japan at the moment but becoming a full time Air Ambulance pilot will reduce his Royal duties even more and sounds like a bit of a jolly to me.

Harry, on the other hand, has a 'proper job' in the Army but he's going to give it up later this year to concentrate on his charity work and pursue his interests in conservation and wildlife hmm

Leticia Tue 03-Mar-15 21:59:31

I think it is time that I left this repetitive thread.
I shall keep an eye on it- just to see if anyone answers my question- they haven't as yet.

merlotgran Tue 03-Mar-15 22:01:11

A 'normal' Air Ambulance pilot won't be having time off to undertake an official overseas visit on behalf of his grandmother. I also doubt he'd be holidaying in Mustique.

There are various shades of normal. I think Prince William has found his kind of 'normal' with the Middletons and it's not necessary to try to find a parallel with the rest of us.

POGS Tue 03-Mar-15 22:21:19

merlot

Has he started already. I thought he began later this year?

merlotgran Tue 03-Mar-15 22:29:08

April, I think, POGS but I could be wrong.

Ana Tue 03-Mar-15 22:32:20

Leticia, you must know your question can't possibly be answered satisfactorily, and I'm with merlot about the various shades of 'normal'.

nigglynellie Wed 04-Mar-15 07:24:33

I think this is turning into a silly conversation. Prince William's life can never be like ordinary people simply because of who he is, so whatever he does has to be tailored round his official duties, which in turn.is always going to give rise to criticism. Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't!

Eloethan Wed 04-Mar-15 15:09:47

The conversation got silly some time ago when Prince William was described as an "underdog".

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 18:43:09

An underdog on this thread!!
How can you criticise someone when absolutely no one can come up with a decision that he can take that won't upset someone?!
I can take any decision I wish- no one outside my circle of people who know me can criticise it.
That gives me something that money can't buy. Money can't buy the really important things in life

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 18:47:01

Most people in his position have at least chosen it- and if they don't like it they can- unless they have done something notorious- opt out.

absent Wed 04-Mar-15 19:04:20

There's really only one person in Prince William's position at a time. He can opt out if he really wants to. His mother's uncle did – quite late in the day.

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 19:56:24

His mother's uncle never opted out of anything other than the throne- his life was ruined. He coundn't be a normal person. He got all the worst of it without even the perks!

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 20:00:08

I will amend that- he did opt out but he was still famous and constrained in what he could do. He was never a 'normal' person.

merlotgran Wed 04-Mar-15 20:10:08

Helping yourself to other men's wives whenever you felt like it could be seen as a perk of the job don't you think? grin

Anniebach Wed 04-Mar-15 20:12:31

Life could have been easier for Edward if it hadn't been for his vindictive sister in law and a vitriolic press . I wouldn't want William to walk away, we would be landed with Harry as future king, the Peter Pan of the windsors.

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 20:15:47

Since he would upset lots of people as he did, and would always be recognised and up for criticism I think he would be mad! Much better to stay and get the best as well as the worst.

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 20:16:59

His SIL was vindictive because it put her husband in the throne- not something either wanted.

Anniebach Wed 04-Mar-15 20:24:30

Can't agree Leticia. George didn't but how his wife did . It has been said by some she wanted to marry Edward, she was chosen to marry him , he didn't want to marry her, she settled for number 2 but not before turning him down several times . If you have read Edwards auto biog you will have read the snippet where he referred to her . Quite sad really, all those arranged marriages

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 20:30:45

Very sad to have arranged marriages. One thing that William managed to avoid.Not that it pleased everyone.

merlotgran Wed 04-Mar-15 20:55:49

I doubt William would have had an arranged marriage even if Kate Middleton hadn't been on the scene. All the old meddlers like Mountbatten are long gone so who would have done the arranging?

absent Wed 04-Mar-15 21:04:19

merlot The last old meddlers were surely the Queen Mother and Ruth, Lady Fermoy and look at the disastrous mess that created.

merlotgran Wed 04-Mar-15 21:05:13

Yes. They were a class act.

Ana Wed 04-Mar-15 21:08:20

Prince Harry 'the Peter Pan of the Windsors'?

He's only 30, for goodness sake!

Leticia Wed 04-Mar-15 21:42:18

I think a 30yr old being described as 'a Peter Pan' is sillier than any of my statements!!

Anniebach Wed 04-Mar-15 22:13:15

I don't, classing William as an under dog was the daftest

I said Peter Pan because he isn't willing to grow up , a teenage prankster is amusing, not so a man in his late twenties , not in public

absent Wed 04-Mar-15 22:17:51

Oh for goodness sake.