William and Harry - I'm puzzled.

If you read the entry requirements he had enough qualifications -and you do not have to enter as a graduate. They also look for other qualities - as shown by all the examples on this thread who have been promoted through the services from humble beginnings.

I would hate it and don't want a member of staff and certainly don't want security staff. There is a lack of understanding if it is assumed that everyone wants a member of staff hanging about rather than being free to sort it yourself.

Well of course you would hate it, Leticia, and so would I, but that's because we're members of the general public. William and Harry probably don't hate it because they've been brought up as royals and it's the way of life they're used to.

Yes, they might occasionally wonder what it would be like to be an ordinary citizen, but I'm sure they don't waste their time agonising about it. They've had to accept their lot, and as far as I'm concerned they're both doing a fine job, considering the quite restrictive hand they've been dealt.

'toddled'?

janeowen, I haven't spoken of posh, not a word I use , no idea what it really means. I think children of the armed forces going to boarding school is a good thing, gives the child stability. We live in a garrison town , I felt sorry for the children from the married quarters - in infant and junior school- who just passed through, my elder daughter when aged eight was devastated when a little girl she was so very friendly with had to move on to Germany.

I met army officers who were old money , some became close friends, one colonel and two Majors with their wives were guests at our wedding . No idea if old money is posh, just a term we use here , old money and new money, it amuses me, if I had to choose which group I like most then old money, love their houses too, large, cold yet cosy homes because generations of the same family have lived there . I recall one woman who happened to have a title telling me she considered the windsors - rather new money , I had trouble stifling a giggle but she was serious .

So I couldn't give a fig what the windsors spend their own money on, I do when they spend ours. I think it wrong Harry toddled into Sandhurst with an A in art and D in Geog when others slog through university to get there

I dislike privilege, no matter who receives privileges

Well I wouldn't! I would hate it and don't want a member of staff and certainly don't want security staff. There is a lack of understanding if it is assumed that everyone wants a member of staff hanging about rather than being free to sort it yourself.

Lack of understanding?

Are you implying we're all thick, Leticia

FYI I'd love to be able to send a member of staff to do my supermarket shopping.

Part of it comes from lack of understanding as in 'send a member of staff' as if this compensates for loss of freedom and not being able to do things on the spur of the moment.

I feel really sorry for them too. I would hate their lives, and am astonished that people who profess not to like them read so much about them!

As for the private school aspect of the Forces - that only came about because perfectly ordinary families couldn't keep hauling their children around with them every 18 months as they moved from base to base, country to country. So children like DBH and BiL of perfectly normal lower middle class parents were given bursaries by the forces so that they could stay in boarding schools. And then like many generations before them, they too wanted to join up, so both went into the RAF. BiL is now married to a very working class lovely lady who was actually his boss.

So although to Anniebach it may seem that all have posh backgrounds, they most certainly do not. There was one family in Lincolnshire with five children, permanently broke, father a mechanic, but all at the boarding school where my son went because the forces paid for it. Now all late teens and 20s, they are all beautifully spoken, with a mother who speaks broad Glaswegian and swears like the trooper that she is.

I most definitely wouldn't want to live my life having to think if I am fit to be seen and not be free to do a simple off the cuff thing like pop to the shop. I couldn't send a member of staff- I didn't know what I wanted! (I was getting inspiration for something).

I certainly don't envy the Duke of Cambridge – or anyone actually – but I cannot think of him as an underdog. Btw If you had sent one of your staff to the supermarket, you wouldn't have been photographed either.

I can also pass my opinion on the Internet- which I do under my own name on Twitter- and it doesn't make the National news! Why anyone thinks he is in an enviable position beats me!

You give me an answer to my question and I might be willing not to champion him as the underdog. While he is in the impossible position of being criticised whatever he does I will continue to see him that way.

He is on here absent! Not one person has given one thing that he could do that everyone would agree with. Rosequarz is quite right in her last post.
I wouldn't be a member of the royal family for any money!
I popped to the supermarket this afternoon - no make up because I had been to my exercise class- my hair is a real mess because it is getting cut this week (and long overdue)- and it didn't matter! No one was photographing me, discussing that I was really letting myself go, expressing disapproval at what I bought, wondering why on earth I wore that coat with jeans etc etc etc. Not something that I would want to give up.

Anniebach If Jed Bush were to become president it would be through the ballot box not birth. That would be just like George W. then?

Leticia Do you really think that the Duke of Cambridge is an underdog?

Give one thing that William could do with his life that everyone would think a good thing and wouldn't upset anyone
Well, if he was going round cutting ribbons, shaking hands with officials and visiting schools and hospitals and keeping his mouth firmly shut that would be all wrong with some people too, Leticia. They would not think he was value for the few pence per annum per taxpayer spent on him!
A lose-lose situation as you might say.

Actually, I prefer Vegemite.
CelticRose how could you

Agree with nigglynellie.

Goodness, that's a tough one!! I can't think of anything, so he'll have to stay as he is!!

A challenge for anyone who wants to take it up.

Give one thing that William could do with his life that everyone would think a good thing and wouldn't upset anyone.

(Bearing in mind that this has to be everyone and anyone and above criticism)

I don't think it exists but would be pleased to be shown to be wrong.

As has been said, that course was tailored made for the Prince, what it cost or what others paid is a private matter. I for one could care less. I'm sure it's been good for business as are the Duchesses dresses on occasion, which has to be a good thing and a contribution to their 'keep'!!! If they can help the country and the wider world in whatever way they can, what on earth is wrong with that?! P.W has apparently spoken to the Chinese premier about the terrible slaughter of endangered species, whether it'll do any good or not is debatable, but only someone in his position has sufficient wellie to approach this delicate subject, and I certainly wish him well. Here's for hoping that things may improve before it's too late.

I Googled it and it was only Jan- March and said fees were met privately. Not sure how anyone can actually know how much he paid. Cambridge universtity actually state they hope it attracts more business as it publicises they run tailor made courses.

I would expect that Cambridge University PR made sure everyone knew. You are very naive if you don't realise that universities are businesses. He isn't just A N Other privileged person - he is the future King- and universities want overseas students with overseas money! Of course they wanted to attract other future students.
I fail to see how anyone could know it was reduced fees as it was a one off course- or that other students were 'upset' because different courses have different fees. No one was in his course with him- except for the odd session.

I totally agree with you Leticia. I can't see that anyone had to know about P.W's course at all! It's clearly a private matter, but of course the media pick it up from 'somewhere' and the public lap it up, often searching for something negative to say. The agricultural course has been especially tailored for P.W, and is not part of the general run of studies offered by Cambridge, and I expect the fees have been reduced (if they have) to encourage others onto this individual one off course. I too, find it hard to believe that having a job you enjoy is somehow a bad thing and thought of as jolly, I would think royal duties are anything but! I worked for years in social care for the elderly. I loved my job, but it certainly wasn't a jolly!! Surely you can combine what you enjoy doing with your job of work without courting disapproval! It might just be that P.W feels the need to help others as and where he can? It's just a thought!!

My auto spell is going berserk today! Were not we're.

I don't even know why I am arguing, merlotgran- it isn't something that bothers me -except I always fight for the underdog and the only fact is that there is absolutely nothing they can do which will be right- nothing.