William and Harry - I'm puzzled.

For the final time. I wholeheartedly support the monarchy. I am NOT Royal bashing but I won't be the only one thinking that as the Queen grows ever older those in waiting will be called upon to do more official duties.

The logistics of William having a almost full time flying career whilst living on the Sandringham estate remain to be seen.

And I'm sure Harry will be a wonderful fundraiser.

I feel really sorry for them- after some people thinking he shouldn't have a job with the Air Ambulance you then get niggles that Wales is OK but Norfolk isn't! Since he is Duke of Cambridge helicopters flying out of Cambridge seems an excellent choice. Had he been Prince of Wales then perhaps there would have been some sense in trying to work there.

Maybe Wales don't need Air Ambulance pilots Anniebach and it is hardly handy to attend official palace engagements.
I think it is an excellent job for a future king- he gets to meet a wide cross section of the public because he will be picking up anyone needing it. At least he has a good understanding of modern life - unlike Charles who couldn't even manage a queue for a ski lift, never mind a supermarket queue!
If Charles said that he was rebuilding a house for one of his sons do we even know if he asked the son?( I don't actually think he needs all these homes, especially when he is against people having second homes, you should practice what you preach or keep quiet! )
I can't see why William and Harry are accountable for which estates their father owns or why they should be obliged to live on them. They have their own personal fortunes and those in their 30s don't generally go and live with, or next door, to their parents.
It appears that everyone their age gets free choices but not them!
Apparently William should live in central London with a young family, doing Royal duties and nothing else for 20 yrs or so - before he even gets to the throne- or he should live somewhere very inconvenient for the official engagements that he does perform and Harry should stay in the army because it is a 'proper job'- regardless of the fact that he is coming up to a crossroads- faced by all people in the forces + the forces are cutting back.

POGS. I guess you're right!

Well they can't win can they!

I see two young men who have trained hard to achieve job satisfaction. I see two young men who have obviously earnt the respect of their fellow comrades. I see two young men who will/have fought alongside our troops and I see two young men who show empathy and have a natural way with people and are wonderful ambassadors for our country.

I don't see the need for need to dislike them. I don't understand why people think they should tell them what job they should have, where they should live or how they should live their life.

I guess it's a republican thing is it?

FGS, how can they help what their uncle does or has been promoted to!! None of us can help our relations, good, bad or indifferent. It's how they conduct their lives that is important, and for me they're doing a pretty good job. Prince Harry does a fantastic job for Help for Heroes, and to see how he clearly cares deeply for disadvantaged children is a joy to watch; As ambassadors for GB they can't be faulted. They're a great asset to this country and I for one feel immensely proud of them.

To those of you who dont approve of the monarchy.
Since we have it, and it doesnt look like it is going away anytime soon, what do you think William and Harry should do, jobs wise?

I think you are right Celtic Rose. I think what F. Scott Fitzgerald said about the rich has never been bettered:

"Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft, where we are hard, cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand."

henetha I really don't think rich people care. They do have choices. And if they have an identity concern, they would go for a visit to their Chelsea psychiatrists. (Watch this space when I win the lottery!)

Annie Eleothan I find myself agreeing with you.

Greyduster The uncle has just been appointed vice admiral. So he has enjoyed best of all worlds. A hard life indeed.

As a fervent monarchist, I think William and Harry have difficult roles in life and they are doing the best they can. We should be proud of them, I think, for being out in the world trying to fulfil their roles, which can't be easy. On the one hand, being Royal, with all the restrictions and problems that brings, and on the other hand being modern young men wanting to have a proper reason to get up in the mornings and do something useful in the world.
Good luck to both of them.

If the royal family are a waste of money which I don't think the are, surely it's a good thing that these two are doing something useful with their lives?! Or at least attempting to. No one can help accidents of birth, but if you're born into a privileged family which a lot of people are, other than the royal's, surely it's a good thing to put that privilege to the best use possible, which I think these two are doing. No one has to stay in the armed forces all their working life, my OH was in the Fleet Air Arm for twelve years, and left to go into civilian life, no one thought it even remotely strange, so why on earth should it be for Prince Harry?!! The same for Prince William. Let's face it whatever these two do, for a lot of people they can't do right for doing wrong!

,yes Highgrove is in Gloucestershire but Charles also owns an estate in Herefordshire , when he applied for planning to rebuild the country house some in Ross on Wye said it was for one of the sons. When Charles bought the estate in Wales he claimed - when applying for planning - he wanted a place to stay in in Wales, he was given permission, the estate is guarded 365 days of the year by police and army , just Charles forgets to stay there and it is used for family and friends who feel like a fishing break . Charles still stays in Powys Castle or with Tiggys parents

Wales does have sir ambulances too

Perhaps the palace is hinting at Prince Harry doing charity work, to see what the public reaction is, before anything is decided for sure.

I agree Greyduster - anyone would think that being born royal was an enviable thing! I feel very sorry for them. My freedom is worth far more than the perks. At least I can go shopping in a moment without anyone pointing me out and I don't have the whole country debating how I should spend my retirement!

Especially when I discover that Harry is merely having to consider his next step, something anyone who entered the army at his age is having to do, and yet merlotgran has already decided he is going to be a playboy prince who 'faffs about' with a little charity work- doing nothing except lending his profile!
William's choice seems ideal, he is using his expensive training in a very worthwhile job and works on a rota system , which appears to me to be the best system if you need to be available for royal duties. Also good for the children. A friend's daughter has 2 small children in central London and life is very difficult for her! (Luckily she escapes back to the country next year).
Gransnet is a funny place- when it has me sticking up for the royals!

I am with Leticia. Speaking for myself, I am an unashamed Wills and Harry fan! No one can help the circumstances they were born into, and as I see it, if Harry had the choice, he would be happy to make a career of the Army if they would let him be the front line regimental officer he wants to be but it's not an option for him because of his position. The Duke of Kent was in the same position. He loved the Army and wanted to make a career out of it but he wasn't allowed to carry out all his duties as a regimental officer so he left rather than stay on and be a useless appendage. I am sure there are Gransnetters on here who have husbands who have been regimental officers who will understand this. He is passionate about his charity work for injured servicemen, for his charities in Africa, and others no doubt, so if that is to be his contribution, good luck to him. If William feels he is making a hands-on contribution by flying a helicopter for the ambulance service, then good on him, even if he has to help his old gran out from time to time. There will always be people who will knock them whatever they choose to do.

My thoughts precisely Leticia and thatbags!
They've got a tough enough life being constantly in the public eye and criticised incessantly without having judgement made somewhat prematurely.

I have just seen on Breakfast TV that nothing is decided about Harry- he is just at the crossroads of what to do next- which might even include staying in the army. Conclusions seem to have been jumped to before decisions are made! I would hate to be in his position when it is quite clear that he doesn't get a free choice.

It is fair enough to be judgemental when he has been doing it for a year and we can see what it involves for him- but not at this stage.

Well argued, leticia. I think celebrity-bashing is just a new sport for some people. I hate the term "proper job". It smacks of dismissiveness of anything the person using it regards as not a proper job. Very judgmental.

I am not particularly Royalist- just think they are 'damned if they do and damned if they don't' - and a bit miffed that charity work is not deemed a proper, full time job- or that it is a proper, full time job for everyone except Harry! Or that Air Ambulance pilot is dismissed because he should be spending the next 20 yrs on royal engagements when he isn't even next in line. Also a bit puzzled as to why he is criticised for living in Norfolk when he is flying out of Cambridge and Norwich with easy access to London.

Hear! Hear! Leticia -well said!

I just think you should leave them alone. By accident of birth they have ended up where most of us would absolutely hate to be and yet you think that William should be forced to live in London with a young family, doing royal duties for decades before he needs to, and Harry should be stuck in the army because he chose it at 18yrs.
If William wants to escape to Norfolk, a much better place for a young family, using his training and expertise to do a worthwhile jobs then good luck to him! He can prepare while he works- it will be a very different monarchy.
Likewise Harry has given the army 10 yrs- wants to leave at the age most of his contemporiries are leaving and is using his skills for worthwhile causes. I expect that charities are keen to recruit ex forces people with the right skills of being able to organise, motivate etc. He may be high profile, he would be high profile whatever he did, but I image that is all to the advantage of the charity. The problem appears to lie in the fact that you don't think that working for a charity is a 'proper' job- rather that he is is going to drop in once in a while and not do any 'real' work.
I am not really bothered- I just think it is unfair to be so critical when they are being useful instead of just 'preparing'.

You're making too much of this, Leticia.

William can hardly say he wants to work 'as near to full time as possible' for the Air Ambulance Service and still carry out Royal duties to support the Queen and Prince Charles. Like it or not that is the job he's been prepared for and we are paying for it.

I am not comparing Harry's high profile charity work with anyone else working for charity. You're doing that....not me.