Ever since the service of thanksgiving (memorial) for the late Prince Philip, there’s been a lot of hand-wringing about Prince Andrew and his relationship with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Long-time royal-watchers are probably thinking “what’s new?” but casual watchers were apparently stunned to see the disgraced, degenerate Andrew walking down Westminster Abbey with the Queen, especially since she fired him in February. The Daily Beast has a long story which is mostly a rehash of how… no one can do anything about Andrew while the Queen is alive, basically. As long as the old woman lives, she’s going to protect her rapist son. Andrew knows that. Charles knows that. William knows that. What was curious about this Daily Beast piece though was that they’re already thinking about how best to insulate Prince William from the Andrew mess, except that William quite clearly has his own messes.
The focus now is not just on when and how King Charles III and Queen Camilla will ascend to the throne (the queen will decide when she is of a mind to) but how the back-ups, William and Kate, will play as a generational change of face for the institution. That’s why the fallout from their Caribbean tour matters. William tried valiantly to recognize that the crown has no future role in the islands: “We support with pride your decisions about your future,” he said in the Bahamas. “Relationships evolve. Friendships endure.” But whether he really understood that it was the past, not the future, that was the elephant in the room is unclear.
…William might also address the issue of the carbon footprint of his royal tour. The Cambridges brought with them an entourage including two private secretaries, a team of flacks and high-maintenance levels of personal staffing—all riding aboard a luxuriously-appointed Airbus widebody jet from the Royal Air Force’s “VIP Voyager” fleet, normally used by that habitual freeloader the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, and his foreign secretary, Liz Truss.
Last year, William was scathing about the so-called “space tourism” rocket rides being sold by Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, saying, “They should be trying to repair the planet, not trying to find the next planet to live on.” That now seems like the same kind of hypocrisy practiced by his father, who similarly avoids flying commercial while preaching about the need to take urgent steps to save the planet. (The queen is more grounded. Speaking of climate summits, she reportedly said of world leaders, “It’s really irritating when they talk, but they don’t do.”)
In any case, what is the purpose of royal tours if they just consolidate the impression that the royals are living at this level of personal comfort and in a bubble of historical denial? The full burden of that question falls more on the Cambridges than anyone because they were supposed to be different, true inhabitants of this century.
Charles and William were the enforcers of Andrew’s excommunication (although sources told the Telegraph William’s role in this was “overplayed”). The assumption was that it would be permanent. There is no sign that he will be allowed to resume any of his old regular public duties. Charles and William must hope that the queen still agrees to that. But, once Charles is crowned, the problem becomes more urgent and personal to him—and to William. Should Andrew then be finally cast out as the Duke of Windsor was, following his abdication, and sent to a life of embittered exile?
“Ultimately, while the Queen remains on the throne, it will be for her to decide what future role Andrew has to play in family life,” the conclusion of the Telegraph’s post-memorial service article read. “But as far as the Firm is concerned, he’s finished.”
“The Cambridges brought with them an entourage including two private secretaries, a team of flacks and high-maintenance levels of personal staffing…” LMAO. They really brought their A-team, the whole Kensington Palace clownshow kit-and-caboodle and even then, that white supremacist brain trust couldn’t problem solve or adapt in real time during the tour. And yes, while the royal reporters covering the Flop Tour failed to mention this, Will and Kate used a private jet throughout as they limped along from country to country with a crack team of, like, twenty sycophants and morons. Anyway, with so many people eyeing the future of the monarchy, it seems like everyone has a huge blind spot about how William and Kate will operate as Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales? Because that sh-t is going to be a f–king mess too.
Photos courtesy of Instar, Backgrid.
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North America Rights Only – Caracol, Belize -20220321-
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge look out from the Caana at Caracol, an ancient Mayan archaeological site deep in the jungle in the Chiquibul Forest in Belize, during their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
-PICTURED: Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
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North America Rights Only – Kingston, Jamaica -20220324-Royal Visit to the Caribbean – Day 6
Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attend the inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean who have recently completed the Caribbean Military Academy’s Officer Training Program, in Kingston, Jamaica, on day six of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee.-PICTURED: Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
-PHOTO by: Jane Barlow/PA Images/INSTARimages.comDisclaimer:
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Belize, BELIZE – The Duke and Duchess will travel to Hopkins, a small village on the coast that is considered the cultural centre of the Garifuna community in Belize. Here, Their Royal Highnesses will spend time with Garifuna people and witness a demonstration of Garifuna culture. They will then meet a small group of marine conservation specialists to learn more about Belize’s unique marine environment.
Pictured: Prince William and wife Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
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Belize City, BELIZE – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge depart Philip S. W Goldson International Airport following a tour of Belize.
Pictured: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
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Kingston, JAMAICA – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Catherine are pictured while arriving in Jamaica.
Pictured: Kate Middleton
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North America Rights Only – Abaco, Bahamas -20220326-
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Daystar Evangelical Church Abaco in The Bahamas, to learn about the impact of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and to see how communities are still being rebuilt, on day eight of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. Abaco, a chain of islands and barrier cays in the northern Bahamas, was hit by winds of up to 185mph during Hurricane Dorian in 2019 leaving 75% of homes across the chain of islands damaged and resulting in tragic loss of life.
During a visit to Fish Fry in Abaco, a traditional Bahamian culinary/.
During a visit to the Memorial Wall to remember victims of the 2019 hurricane at the Memorial Garden in Abaco.
During a visit to Grand Bahama Children’s Home, which provides a home environment to vulnerable children who are not able to live with their families
-PICTURED: Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
-PHOTO by: INSTARimages.comDisclaimer:
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North America Rights Only – Grand Bahama, Bahamas -20220326-
The Duke of Cambridge observes the guard of honour during a departure ceremony at Lynden Pindling International Airport as they depart the Bahamas, at the end of their tour of the Caribbean taken on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
-PICTURED: Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
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North America Rights Only – London, UK -20220323-
Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge arrive for a dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica, at King’s House, in Kingston, Jamaica, on day five of the royal tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
-PICTURED: Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
-PHOTO by: Toby Meville/PA Images/INSTARimages.comDisclaimer:
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- Queen Elizabeth II during a reception in the Ballroom of Sandringham House, which is the Queen’s Norfolk residence, with representatives from local community groups to celebrate the start of the Platinum Jubilee. The Queen came to the throne 70 years ago this Sunday when, on February 6 1952, the ailing King George VI – who had lung cancer – died at Sandringham in the early hours.,Image: 659636049, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Joe Giddens / Avalon
