William and Harry - I'm puzzled.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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!

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

,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

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!

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.

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.

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!)

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."

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?

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.

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?

POGS. I guess you're right!

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.

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.

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 guess all their roles will gradually change as the queen relinquishes more of her duties - at the moment she is still fit enough to do a lot and I would guess wishes to do so. They cannot all twiddle their thumbs whilst waiting for her to drop various duties; so why not find something useful to do?

Personally, I think that the royals as a whole are out and about enough, meeting and greeting etc.
So am quite happy for Princes William and Harry to be doing other things for the time being.

Why, if one voices any criticism of the windsors is it assumed one is a republican . I think they have a great PR team and no family has reinvented themselves more than the windsors . Harry was not as risk fighting along side fellows troops , he was guarded around the clock by Ghurkas , an escape flight on standby the whole time too. I have no problem with this, I do have a problem with being expected to believe what the palace wants us to believe . My biggest gripe with this family is they have no problem with living as they wish regardless of the cost to the country. Why do we have to pay 365 days a year to protect all their homes, Charles has Highgrove, an estate in Wales , herefordshire , and Camilla has kept her family home to escape to! We paid for the building to house a security team for her bolt hole. We pay for Wormwood security too, and Highgrove , then they have their royal residences , Clarence House and Birkhall, how many homes do one couple need ? I do not like or dislike the windsors, I don't know them , I am not proud of them , my pride is for my family. We need a head of state , the queen carries out these duties without all the publicity the Wales family crave . So not a republican , but no way proud of people who live such decadent lifestyles and expect us to purr with pride if they are filmed lifting a few boxes off a lorry