Gransnet forums

News & politics

When is a royal tour, not a royal tour?

(310 Posts)
MartavTaurus Tue 14-Apr-26 17:39:06

Silly me! It's when you visit a children's hospital and wave at the crowds. As well as visiting a homeless refuge and a War Memorial. Not forgetting attending an Invictus event and the last post ceremony on Anzac Day.
Plus the inevitable money making events which are now allowed.
Harry and Meghan's visit to Australia, (in very high shoes and expensive outfits).
Forgive my confusion. Am I missing the point? 😆

Basgetti Wed 15-Apr-26 13:11:09

Smileless2012

Diana didn't meet James Hewitt until 2 years after Harry was born.

Don’t let facts get in the way …… 😁

vegansrock Wed 15-Apr-26 13:23:37

Not much restrained discussion here- plenty of bitchy comments.

Nanny27 Wed 15-Apr-26 13:37:27

Why do they call it a 'tour'?
When i go away for a few days it's called a holiday

Cardamom Wed 15-Apr-26 13:38:00

A bitchfest is when complete strangers make nasty, personal comments about people they do not and are highly unlikely to ever know.

I've never met, and it's unlikely that I ever will meet Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Katie Price or Katie Hopkins, plus a whole host of other famous people who's actions and behaviours are questionable and who are generally considered to be strangers to the truth. As long as they keep displaying those behaviours in the public domain, and it's widely reported in international press, I will continue to express my opinion on it. Perhaps it's worth considering that nasty behaviours attract nasty comments. If you behave decently, honestly and tell the truth, I think you'll find that people respond positively to that. Harry and Megan still haven't learnt this.

Ktsmum Wed 15-Apr-26 13:47:08

Just said exactly the same to Dh, why is this being given airtime on national news ? 🤷‍♀️

RosiesMawagain Wed 15-Apr-26 13:53:55

OK
There are fashions in language usage, in idioms and vocabulary. I suspect social media of a not inconsiderable role in their spread.
There are also myriad synonyms for "performative" so its no skin off my nose if I choose not to use the term however popular it may have become.
Performative describes actions, speech, or behavior done for show to impress others or bolster an image, often implying insincerity. It refers to actions that create a social reality (e.g., "I promise") rather than just describing one. Common usage includes "performative activism," "performative allyship," or theatrical behaviour, typically used in a disapproving way
I wonder what the next "word of the year" will be?

DaisyAnneReturns Wed 15-Apr-26 14:12:45

The first time the word "performative" was used it was part of my post:"

"By listing these activities in a slightly dismissive way, the question reframes them as trivial or performative but in reality, they’re central to what these tours are meant to achieve: visibility for causes, soft diplomacy, and public engagement."

It that wasn't what the OP intended it shouldn't be impossible for them to explain what the did intend.

DaisyAnneReturns Wed 15-Apr-26 14:13:50

It If

Cardamom Wed 15-Apr-26 14:16:33

Pedantry: Pedantry is the excessive, often annoying, attention to minor details, formal rules, or displaying academic learning, typically used in a disapproving way. It is characterized by trivial, hairsplitting, or "well, actually" corrections that focus on rigid accuracy over understanding or common sense

missdeke Wed 15-Apr-26 14:18:57

I find all the Harry and Meghan bashing quite sad. He made his choice now why don't we just leave them alone and let them get on with it.

Rosie51 Wed 15-Apr-26 14:31:52

missdeke

I find all the Harry and Meghan bashing quite sad. He made his choice now why don't we just leave them alone and let them get on with it.

Do you think Harry really wants to be 'left alone to get on with it'? If you deliberately put yourself in the public eye then surely the public are entitled to comment and judge your actions and words. Criticism is not 'bashing'. Did you object to the very public and worldwide 'bashing' that Harry gave to his family in interviews and his book? He certainly wasn't going to leave them alone.

Angelafeet Wed 15-Apr-26 14:33:16

A royal tour is not a royal tour when you are not a royal. Simple

Cardamom Wed 15-Apr-26 14:44:32

This is what South Park brilliantly called The Worldwide Privacy Tour!

Babamaman Wed 15-Apr-26 14:45:59

Totally agree! Media black out! They are such hypocrites! And where are their children? They never take them anywhere!

DaisyAnneReturns Wed 15-Apr-26 15:30:03

Cardamom

Pedantry: Pedantry is the excessive, often annoying, attention to minor details, formal rules, or displaying academic learning, typically used in a disapproving way. It is ^characterized by trivial, hairsplitting, or "well, actually" corrections that focus on rigid accuracy over understanding or common sense^

Why do you feel the need to explain the meaning of "pedantry" Cardomon. Other than being attached to your own thoughts it seem appropro of nothing.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 15:45:13

DaisyAnneReturns

Allira

I must remember to use both those words in my daily vocabulary.

Performative has only appeared recently on Gransnet, however, and was remarked upon at the time.
It used to be known as showing off!

So now, the way anyone's normally writes, using everyday vocabulary, is "showing off". Surely calling someone names because they don’t adapt, whether it’s vocabulary, accent, or anything else, is simply poor behaviour, not a valid expectation.

You misunderstood.

The word "performative" used to be known as plain and simple "showing off". Just that. That is what I meant. But I'm sure you know that meaning.
It is a fairly new word and has been popularised fairly recently by its widespread use on the internet.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 15:51:06

DaisyAnneReturns

The first time the word "performative" was used it was part of my post:"

"By listing these activities in a slightly dismissive way, the question reframes them as trivial or performative but in reality, they’re central to what these tours are meant to achieve: visibility for causes, soft diplomacy, and public engagement."

It that wasn't what the OP intended it shouldn't be impossible for them to explain what the did intend.

"By listing these activities in a slightly dismissive way, the question reframes them as trivial or performative but in reality, they’re central to what these tours are meant to achieve: visibility for causes, soft diplomacy, and public engagement."

But, as pointed out, they are not working Royals.

So soft diplomacy, public engagement, are totally irrelevant. What this visit is meant to achieve is anybody's guess. Raising money for the charities they support? A money making exercise? Trying to prove their popularity? Self-publicity? Creating a rival "Court"?

To quote from the OP - "Forgive my confusion. Am I missing the point?"

Thisismyname1953 Wed 15-Apr-26 15:52:50

@granatlast007. I don’t know what the queen was supposed to do about Diana’s funeral . She was wrong to stay in Scotland so came back. She would have been wrong to do a low key funeral , so provided a big one . She certainly would have been even more wrong if the two boys were kept hidden in their grief s,so they were paraded behind the coffin . The queen really couldn’t do right for doing wrong.
I was on holiday in Greece when it all happened and I’m so glad I was . I didn’t like Diana and didn’t think that she was a saint .

Cardamom Wed 15-Apr-26 15:58:10

Why do you feel the need to explain the meaning of "pedantry" Cardomon. Other than being attached to your own thoughts it seem appropro of nothing.

It was for you DaisyAnneReturns. And, as you're the only one who's responded to it, you obviously recognised that.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 15:59:16

Thisismyname1953

@granatlast007. I don’t know what the queen was supposed to do about Diana’s funeral . She was wrong to stay in Scotland so came back. She would have been wrong to do a low key funeral , so provided a big one . She certainly would have been even more wrong if the two boys were kept hidden in their grief s,so they were paraded behind the coffin . The queen really couldn’t do right for doing wrong.
I was on holiday in Greece when it all happened and I’m so glad I was . I didn’t like Diana and didn’t think that she was a saint .

I'm not sure why HM Queen Elizabeth did to incur so much wrath from granatlast007 either.

In matters of State she performed her duties in an exemplary fashion. In decisions regarding matters of family she deferred to Philip on many occasions.

I have no idea how she was supposed to have interefered in Princess Anne's marriages - I can't imagine anyone telling Anne what to do!

ruthiek Wed 15-Apr-26 16:02:54

Totally agree with you Fancy that. We have lived with H&M complaining about the awful press and how they want a private life and yet there they are doing a pseudo royal tour , and as for the media don’t start me , Fawning all over the pair of them . Just wish we never had to see/hear about them

Granatlast007 Wed 15-Apr-26 16:04:42

Thisismyname1953

@granatlast007. I don’t know what the queen was supposed to do about Diana’s funeral . She was wrong to stay in Scotland so came back. She would have been wrong to do a low key funeral , so provided a big one . She certainly would have been even more wrong if the two boys were kept hidden in their grief s,so they were paraded behind the coffin . The queen really couldn’t do right for doing wrong.
I was on holiday in Greece when it all happened and I’m so glad I was . I didn’t like Diana and didn’t think that she was a saint .

I do agree that the Queen was in a difficult place when Diana died but I remember how the Royals tried to snuff it all out, she wasn't even going to be given a proper state funeral until they saw the 000s outside of Buckingham Palace and I think there was an amount of public concern and turning against the Royals and the Queen was forced into making a rather late stiff upper lipped statement. I think Blair had to get involved in getting them to see how much support Diana had.

Diana was a lamb to the slaughter of the Royals and it's amazing how Charles ongoing affair is/was smoothed over and quietly ignored. What do those on GN say in the relationships thread when a woman posts about her husband's affair. The odd harsh response will be to get on with it but most support the woman and urge her to leave.

Actually what really gets me is the harshness towards someone losing their mother in such sad circumstances. My mother died when I was 20, my father had already died and I came home and found her dead. I thought I 'got on with it' until I later had a breakdown, had quite a lot of therapy and still can't remember all the details of that day or of her funeral. I feel for Harry, the broken family, the way the children all got ordered about and their lives interfered with, thank goodness William has chosen a wife who can love and had children who are allowed very different lives.

The meanness that is thrown at Harry makes me really sad and angry, do you have no souls? No empathy? No kindness? Awful, just awful.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 16:10:08

Do you know WHY the Queen stayed in balmoral?
Obviously not.

She stayed there with her two grandsons who had just lost their mother, trying to protect them from the vultures in the Press and yes, from the general public who all wanted a pie e of those two boys, forcing them to go walkabout and shake hands when they had just lost their beloved mother in such a shocking way.

The weeping public. 😡
No empathy. No kindness. Yes, awful, just awful.
The public just wanted a piece of them.

Smileless2012 Wed 15-Apr-26 16:21:31

Apparently it was the then Prince Charles who saw a need for a state funeral for Diana. He at least seemed to be able to 'read the room' which the late Queen surprisingly failed to do. The funeral was heavily based on the plans for the Queen Mother's funeral as Diana's untimely death was of course totally unexpected.

The Union Flag was only flown at half mast because there was a public outcry when it wasn't; people were demanding to know why it wasn't.

William and Harry were not paraded behind their mother's coffin. They were asked if they wanted to walk behind and both said they would.

The late Queen's reign and her service to her country was incredible but she did fail to see the impact of Diana's death on 'her people'.

Anniebach Wed 15-Apr-26 16:22:05

The press attacked the late Queen when Diana died, headlines
‘Your country needs you’, what for ? Who here needed the Queen because her ex daughter in law had died ? The two children were brought from the freedom of Balmoral to face the world press