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Prince William

(250 Posts)
Bea65 Tue 27-Feb-24 10:58:52

BBC reports that Prince William has pulled out of attending Greek funeral for personal reasons… any ideas?

merlotgran Wed 28-Feb-24 09:56:34

GrannyGravy13

It was not a public engagement.

As much as I dislike the alleged incidents which Prince Andrew has been accused of, I see no reason why he shouldn’t go to a private memorial service for a family member.

Neither do I, GG13 but the Royals need to tread carefully at the moment. There is huge sympathy and concern for King Charles as he continues his cancer treatment but allowing Andrew to wriggle back into prominence will give Republicans a field day.

My adult grandchildren all think there’s no need to abolish the Monarchy- it will just fizzle out.

They could be right.

Joseann Wed 28-Feb-24 09:58:34

Perhaps ? the attendance of Andrew did not sit right with William possibly being overruled by KC, meant he could not be there?
I think ! quite the opposite, that Charles and William have a newly-found very protective bond towards each other and their immediate family. No overruling. Duty doesn't have to take first place.

Camilla is actually doing rather well all round.

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 10:00:59

Andrew has wriggled back into prominence by attending a private memorial service, gosh he was even allowed to be father of the bride twice

eazybee Wed 28-Feb-24 10:06:11

And he attended his mother's funeral, don't forget that.
Good heavens.

merlotgran Wed 28-Feb-24 10:07:22

eazybee

And he attended his mother's funeral, don't forget that.
Good heavens.

It’s not what he did, it’s the way that he did it.

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 10:08:10

Did what merlot ?

Bea65 Wed 28-Feb-24 10:13:32

Andrew led the procession of Royals into the memorial service and looked very pleased with himself…grinning and just seeing him smiling in this way, perturbed me…

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 10:15:56

Could he have smiled because the press called his name ?

In the Church he did not sit in the front row

Jaberwok Wed 28-Feb-24 10:17:14

William seemed ok with Andrew appearing in public attending church at Christmas, so why would he mind Andrew attending a private memorial service for a relation, which is nothing to do with affairs of state or the public at large. Are we really saying that Prince Andrew is not allowed to attend a private family church service? Is he not allowed to walk on the public pavement? The fact of the press being there is hardly his fault, and I doubt very much that it was welcome. Will we allow him a christian burial time come? or will he be thrown unceremoniously into a makeshift miscellaneous pit? Even the Duke of Windsor was allowed into the family vault, as was his wife without public outcry!

merlotgran Wed 28-Feb-24 10:22:08

Will we allow him a christian burial time come? or will he be thrown unceremoniously into a makeshift miscellaneous pit? Even the Duke of Windsor was allowed into the family vault, as was his wife without public outcry

Eh?

I’m not looking that far forward! 😂

Jaberwok Wed 28-Feb-24 10:22:08

Oh I see, he smiled!! So when someone greets him and shakes his hand, he's supposed to scowl at said person? I had no idea!

Jaberwok Wed 28-Feb-24 10:23:31

Perhaps you should! Who knows how long the grim reaper has allocated!!

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 10:29:58

Idiot critic on a News channel knows William stayed from the service because Andrew was attending !

Callistemon21 Wed 28-Feb-24 10:30:09

The line between State and Private is a fine one for working Royals, perhaps a dichotomy for William as PoW or Godson

Definitely a private occasion, a memorial service for a loved member of the family who also happened to be an ex-King of another country.

Grannynannywanny Wed 28-Feb-24 11:17:09

I wonder if they have no say on the presence of media photographers even at a private ceremony. Photos of Andrew sitting in the front row with Camilla and Princess Anne was bound to cause controversy. .

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 11:26:25

Why controversy? he sat in the same row as his sister , I really don’t understand why this criticism of someone who attends a
private memorial service

Nannan2 Wed 28-Feb-24 11:28:24

Vegansrock- im sure they will have staff for that.😆

Lexisgranny Wed 28-Feb-24 11:32:48

I don’t see a problem with Andrew attending, it has been reported that, as a near(ish) relative, he was invited by the bereaved family and it was a private occasion. In fairness there are several photographs of foreign royals smiling, but it appeared that they were greeting each other, frankly much as many do when they haven’t seen each other for a while.

Maybe if our Royal family had arrived in small family groups, rather than in one long one headed by Andrew, his elevation to the most senior royal there would not have been so gratifying to him, and he would not arrived beaming.

He did in fact sit in the same row as the Queen, who sat next to Princess Anne and her husband, then the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, then Prince Andrew , followed by Marina Ogilvy who was presumably helping Princess Alexandra who was in a wheelchair. So working royals did take precedence during the ceremony.

The arrival arrangements really did seem to be a step too far. I really don’t think the same mistake will be made again.

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 11:41:55

Mother of Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra was
Princess Marina of Greece

Sparklefizz Wed 28-Feb-24 11:49:23

Poor William. Maybe he had just eaten a dodgy curry and that was why he couldn't attend. grin

Re Andrew being photographed smiling, the Press will only choose the photo that suits their narrative.

Blackcat3 Wed 28-Feb-24 11:51:36

MYOB!

LovesBach Wed 28-Feb-24 11:55:20

Andrew did not appear to be 'leading' the Royal Family - he was simply walking along with a small group. What a lot of silly fuss - King Constantine was his relative, and he has attended a memorial service along with other family members.

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 11:56:54

Andrew was walking with his brother in law Tim Lawrence

merlotgran Wed 28-Feb-24 12:07:35

The thing that caught my attention is that he’s starting to walk like John Wayne! 😂

Anniebach Wed 28-Feb-24 12:31:29

It’s been said he does lot of horse riding, saddle sore ?