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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? 😆

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 20:30:30

MartavTaurus

RosiesMawagain

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.

Tours @DAR are by definition something official, unless of course you refer to package tours.
Harry and Meghan may have a ducal title, but that does not render their trip to Australia an an “official” tour any more than a holiday to Majorca by eg the Duke of Plaza Toro or, indeed by George and Amal Clooney.
They opted out of the working royal team, that does not entitle them to selectively opt back.
They are not there in any official capacity.
It’s as easy as that.

I think in a way, RosiesMawagain, that that is the very conundrum the OP is highlighting. Several posters have grasped the paradox, referring to the tour as a "quasi royal" or a "pseudo royal" tour.

On the surface it looks very much like a royal tour, but it very much can't be, due to its commercial aspect.

True royalty doesn't care about status, it doesn't need to promote itself because noblesse oblige. Harry and Meghan desperately want to emulate this concept, but there's far too much back story and baggage that all the shaking of hands and waving in the world won't bring them anywhere close. Yet they continue to mimic it for their own ends. And that's what makes them appear so trivial to most people.

I do wonder if this is something Harry chose to do?

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 20:29:05

As for your last comment, you sound quite stiff upper lip yourself, those days have moved on thank goodness.

Oh, I see what you mean by your post, Granatlast.
It is because I stand by what I posted:

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

Yes, I thought it was terrible to subject those two boys to that. Those weeping, wailing people who were there, trying to clutch at those two poor boys as if they were public property and their terrible grief was theirs?
That does not make me stiff upper lip, in fact it shows I have more compassion and empathy than any of those there, trying to touch those poor boys and subjecting them to their crocodile tears. It must have been horrific for them.

No wonder Harry fled from it all.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 20:22:09

Granatlast007

That was the story Allira, if the Royal Family had been kinder to Diana, I'd have believed it a little more. It was a turning point in the way they had to behave, the Queen even toned down her posh accent after that.

As for your last comment, you sound quite stiff upper lip yourself, those days have moved on thank goodness.

Thanks for understanding my reason for sympathy towards Harry, says it all, what a lot of bitterness there is being held in the population towards anyone who doesn't kow tow.

Do you not think that Diana, Princess of Wales, was posh too?
😁

The Royal Family tried very hard with Diana, evidenced by letters and other documents.

As for your last comment, you sound quite stiff upper lip yourself, those days have moved on thank goodness.

😂😂😂
Oh, how funny.
I am terribly, terribly posh though! 😂

Goodness knows what your reading and viewing matter is, but it is really extremely biased.
FYI I did like Diana but I could see her flaws. She had an unhappy childhood, poor girl, which left her with real problems. I felt sorry for them both because I can look at the situation objectively and it was not a match made in Heaven.

Some of your pots are verging on the ridiculous, btw.

NanKate Wed 15-Apr-26 20:09:09

Martav what a good explanation 👍

MartavTaurus Wed 15-Apr-26 19:53:38

RosiesMawagain

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.

Tours @DAR are by definition something official, unless of course you refer to package tours.
Harry and Meghan may have a ducal title, but that does not render their trip to Australia an an “official” tour any more than a holiday to Majorca by eg the Duke of Plaza Toro or, indeed by George and Amal Clooney.
They opted out of the working royal team, that does not entitle them to selectively opt back.
They are not there in any official capacity.
It’s as easy as that.

I think in a way, RosiesMawagain, that that is the very conundrum the OP is highlighting. Several posters have grasped the paradox, referring to the tour as a "quasi royal" or a "pseudo royal" tour.

On the surface it looks very much like a royal tour, but it very much can't be, due to its commercial aspect.

True royalty doesn't care about status, it doesn't need to promote itself because noblesse oblige. Harry and Meghan desperately want to emulate this concept, but there's far too much back story and baggage that all the shaking of hands and waving in the world won't bring them anywhere close. Yet they continue to mimic it for their own ends. And that's what makes them appear so trivial to most people.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 19:46:21

You'd like to think that, if someone has experienced poor mental health and emotional fragility, they might have some empathy and recognition for how others ought to be treated. But apparently not.

No, unfortunately it can mean they are introspective and can only think of themselves and their feelings, not of others.

Allira Wed 15-Apr-26 19:43:49

Silvershadow

Perhaps people would treat him with kindness, care and compassion if he and his wife treated others similarly. But they don’t.

Well said.

Other people have feelings too, royal or not. They must feel very hurt.

Cardamom Wed 15-Apr-26 19:12:56

👏👏👏 Silvershadow

He's shown zero kindness, care and some consideration to the people that he thrust into the public domain without checking with them first. Nor did he to his family when he revealed highly personal details that had no business being revealed to anyone. And as to whether he treated Sophie Chandauka with kindness, care and some consideration, it might be best to ask her.

You'd like to think that, if someone has experienced poor mental health and emotional fragility, they might have some empathy and recognition for how others ought to be treated. But apparently not.

silverlining48 Wed 15-Apr-26 18:56:52

I don’t follow what he and his wife say or do, what they wear or where they go. I am talking in general terms about mental ill health whether prince or pauper.

Silvershadow Wed 15-Apr-26 18:48:16

Perhaps people would treat him with kindness, care and compassion if he and his wife treated others similarly. But they don’t.

silverlining48 Wed 15-Apr-26 18:44:34

The RF have/ had similar problems as some of the families I used to work with from estates , but council , not royal.

Harry, despite family wealth beyond our imagination clearly has mental health issues and I think anyone, royal or otherwise, with such problems should be treated with a bit more kindness, care and some consideration.

A few days ago we were unexpectedly able to help police with a young man who was missing but subsequently took his life. We didn’t know him but it has affected us.

RosiesMawagain Wed 15-Apr-26 18:41:57

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.

Tours @DAR are by definition something official, unless of course you refer to package tours.
Harry and Meghan may have a ducal title, but that does not render their trip to Australia an an “official” tour any more than a holiday to Majorca by eg the Duke of Plaza Toro or, indeed by George and Amal Clooney.
They opted out of the working royal team, that does not entitle them to selectively opt back.
They are not there in any official capacity.
It’s as easy as that.

Anniebach Wed 15-Apr-26 18:09:09

Smileless you compare the Queens shock and grief with anyone! A grandmother, mother, mother in law?

Smileless2012 Wed 15-Apr-26 18:04:10

Apologies Annie I mis read your post, yes she would have been shocked just as everyone was.

Smileless2012 Wed 15-Apr-26 18:02:58

I don't know why Annie but many clearly did and why wouldn't she have been shocked at her death? I can't think of anyone who wasn't.

Rosie51 Wed 15-Apr-26 18:02:54

Cross posts Anniebach, I'm such a slow typist!

Rosie51 Wed 15-Apr-26 18:02:15

Cardamom he also revealed that William had been circumcised, a very private matter that can only have been revealed from either spite or for titillation. That wasn't anything to do with him and wasn't his to reveal. I'm sure he would object to anyone revealing such an intimate medical detail about either Archie or Lilibet.

Anniebach Wed 15-Apr-26 17:56:16

Agree Cardamom and did the world need to know William had been circumcised when a baby ?

Anniebach Wed 15-Apr-26 17:49:03

Smileless why would people want the Queen in London? was she not shocked over the death? She was in her 70’s , I am shocked that anyone thinks unkindly of her during that time

Smileless2012 Wed 15-Apr-26 17:45:05

His hypocrisy is astounding isn't it Cardamom.

Cardamom Wed 15-Apr-26 17:41:19

One thing that I struggle to get my head around is this: Harry has said that he was driven to thoughts of self harm and depression, brought about by the intrusion of the press into his private life. He said that his family, friends and even ex girlfriends were unwillingly thrust into the limelight, simply because of their connections to him. He's spent many weeks,months and years, not to mention £££s, fighting for the right to privacy. BUT THEN

1. He writes a book revealing sufficient details of where, when, and who he lost his virginity to that, so that, within hours, she was easily identified. She was appalled and embarrassed that he did that; she'd led a hitherto quiet, anonymous life that he'd now ruined.

2 He revealed sufficient details of his House Mother at boarding school; again revealing so many disparaging, cruel and unpleasant details about her that, she too was identified.

3. Worst of all, he revealed so much information and detail about his time in the armed forces; how serving personnel in active military combat spoke and referred to the enemy, that his ex comrades felt that he'd put a target on their backs. They felt that he'd betrayed the code of conduct that bonds military personnel on active duty.

He demands for himself the one thing that he's unable give to others: respect for privacy. Hypocrite.

Smileless2012 Wed 15-Apr-26 17:21:21

I didn't need the Queen back in London Annie but there was without a doubt a large number of people who did, and that's why I said that she failed to see what 'her people' needed.

I don't know why some continue to perpetuate the myth that William and Harry were forced to walk behind their mother's coffin!!! Harry has said it was a "collective family decision" and as William has never said they were forced I'm afraid I can't believe Harry if he says otherwise.

Rosie51 Wed 15-Apr-26 17:13:47

missdeke He doesn't give any indication of regretting any words or actions though does he? Do you think he was wrong to bash his family in TV interviews and in his book, or do you find that acceptable? Of course it's sad that he's estranged from his birth family, but he was the one who left and then decided to trash them for monetary gain. He was a favourite with lots of the public, there are many videos showing his lovely natural interaction with children. We can only judge on what we see and hear. Many of us praised him for his involvement in Invictus and his warmth towards the athletes. That always gets forgotten and only the criticisms are remembered.

vegansrock perhaps you'd care to list the cash paid speeches the royals have given when on a tour. Harry is being handsomely rewarded for giving a speech and Meghan is having an expensively paid for ticketed event on her final morning. Not all the tickets had sold last time I saw a report. From what I've read Harry and Meghan are being wined and dined too.

Oreo Wed 15-Apr-26 17:09:42

Cardamom

^I'm sure the others are up for bringing back capital punishment^

Definitely.

🤔😄
Yes, bring back flogging…there’s quite a few backs aching for the lash IMO 🤣

Oreo Wed 15-Apr-26 17:07:43

Granatlast007

Anniebach

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

It was a moment of national tragedy, many of you hated Diana because, I suspect, people liked her and she was emotional and not afraid to enter the modern world, and even shock horror embrace HIV patients.
Again I cannot imagine how you people can be so harsh. What would Jesus say eh? I'm sure you're Christians!

Are we? 🤭
Anniebach you’re right, nobody needed the Queen to be in London, she was better in Scotland with the boys.
Giving in to so called public demands ( more like media demands) was a mistake.
As was forcing the boys to walk behind the coffin with the eyes of the world on them.They could easily have been driven to the funeral had they wanted to attend.