I haven't a clue whether the announcement will make any difference to anyone's views, but I can't help feeling that it might have been advisable to keep this news out of the papers given the sensitivity of the issue, on the basis that it could look like the royal family was trying to exert influence on Scots.
Of course it is the current, and probably any future government's intention to keep the present head of state, so the outcome of the referendum won't make any difference to kate and her new offspring, but there has always been a fair bit of union jack waving attached to royal births marriages and deaths.
As I understand it the woman is suffering from morning sickness, and is being treated for this at her home at Kensington Palace. Had she been rushed off to hospital it might have been difficult to keep the reason out of the press, but surely it's not beyond the bounds of the British state to keep the news of Kate Middleton's vomiting from the public given their ability to stop us knowing about any number of other things!
But particularly in view of the fact that Buckingham Palace (or Balmoral House) has had to put out a statement saying that, despite newspaper reports to the contrary, the Queen is neutral in the debate (BBC report) I can't help feeling that William's statement was, at least, unwise.
Plenty of time on the 19th September for that announcement, whichever way the result turns out.
I think the *ahem* royals are behind the curve, WELL behind the curve, with this news Tris. Everyone over on Wings made this announcement LAST YEAR! LOL
ReplyDeleteStu has a piece about this *ahem* news today with this cartoon.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/willskate.jpg
LOL Yes, I saw Stu's cartoon after I put this up.
DeleteHilarious!
Tris
ReplyDeleteThis might just backfire as it will remind a lot of people who have nothing that they are paying what little they earn in tax for another baby who will be pampered until the day they die.
Not the child's fault in any way but a reminder of all that is wrong with britan The unionists are really getting this wrong, long May it continue, I also hope they send up the expenses cheats from London. Just keep reminding us what we need to leave behind, they just don't get it.
Bruce
I don't think it's a game changer, but, while the royals profess to be neutral, it's more the blunder of them announcing this just before the referendum that is the point.
DeleteIt makes them look as if they are tying to influence things, even if they are not.
I have no doubt that the Queen and her family don't want anything to change. They have a jolly nice life the way it is. I'd have expected them to have the savvy to keep this hidden. until after the result.
Wouldn't be at all surprised to find that some paper or other got tipped off and the Royal hand was forced. They do prefer to make a statement before the tabloids start churning the rumour mill.
ReplyDeleteThat may be the reason. They may need to look to the servants in Kensington palace. This isn't a huge deal, but it would have been appropriate for it not to be announced before the referendum.
DeleteYou'd have thought that the palace press people could have put this off so that it didn't look like William was trying to sway the vote. it puts him in a bad light.
They'll be looking for under lower lesser serving wenches to blame at the Palace now.
I really think that this may be yet another back fire, we are not overwhelmed by the Royals and strangely for that she always looks much more relaxed in oor Alex company than in her relative, David Cameron's.
ReplyDeleteBy the law of averages, I reckon you could say that it will backfire Helena.
DeleteIt's the kind of thing that might impress metroland, but I don;t think most people here give much of a damn.
As I say it simply seems to show that either the royals are trying to interfere, or were stupid enough not to realise that it would look that way.
Wills maybe isn't quite the sharpest knife in the drawer, but you'd have expected him to check with someone a bit more experienced.
Hi Tris, had problems with links and emailing this am. I've updated both youtube videos sent earlier this afternoon. Have a search for Saltire of Scotland and Sunrise Over Scotland on youtube. I'm sure you and your readers will enjoy! Kind Regards Alan & Nicky
ReplyDeleteOK Alan thanks.
DeleteI'll do a post on Wednesday.
Sorry Tris but I've just had another wee look at the top picture and to me it looks like our Kate is *ahem* missing her left leg! LOL
ReplyDeleteOh also, there appears to be another poll coming out tonight. I believe that it is for TNS which is another of those very NO friendly polling firms. However, the word on the street so to speak is that the results are *ahem* sensational. I think we can all expect this poll to show NO ahead still but with a very much reduced lead. :-)
50% Yes %0% No.
DeleteJust noticed in the sidebar that James has written a piece on Scot Goes Pop.
DeleteSo it's even... + or - whatever the margin of error is on this... possibly up to 10%?
But it's the trend that is important.
How's the pound now?
This sums it up.
ReplyDeleteBritain manifesto
LOL at the first one...
DeleteAs for the second, well I wonder what a comparable diagram for Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland would look like.
Much more peaceful I'm thinking.
National Collective just tweeted:
ReplyDeleteNational Collective @WeAreNational 5h
Last year we predicted what might happen prior to #IndyRef
1. #threatlevel
2. #RoyalBaby
3. #furtherpowers
Weirdly, all 3 have happened.
Great to see everyone with the accuracy of foresight is on the YES side. :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL. I don't think the nos would have wanted to see the future.
DeleteTo be fair to myself, I predicted some royal story... wedding of Henry or baby to Willie, and I thought some sort of terrorist thing would occur.
I'm still waiting.
The further powers didn't occur to me, basically because they can't make that happen, and I honestly don't think that it will, unless it is bad from Scotland and good for the place where the bulk of the MPs come from.
England.
The Daily Telegraph seems to think that its a goer...
ReplyDeleteAfter all, it's a Scottish royal baby according to them.
They met at a Scottish university (just by hazard of course, nothing planned at all about it, even though she was a year older...)
And they visited Scotland in May!!!!
AND, wait for it... they have Scottish Titles.
Oh come on... This really is vomit inducing stuff.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/kate-middleton/11081715/Kate-Middleton-pregnant-Could-Scottish-royal-baby-fever-keep-the-union-together.html?utm_content=buffer2c78b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Deletehttp://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/andrewlilico/100028052/scots-hear-me-britain-is-great/
ReplyDeleteWhile we are laughing at the Telegraph, get a load of this....
Here is the https://archive.today/zMITy link to save advert revenue.
DeleteThanks.
DeleteI'm having an argument over there with the author.
Anyone want to pitch in I'd be happy to see you. He's getting support from his Tory cronies, marking up his comment with likes... I'm not.
BBC Pravda in full operation now giving Better Together hours of air time any pretence of impartiality out the window.
ReplyDeleteThey appear to be able to break the law with impunity.
DeleteThere has been no balance now for a while. Derek Bateman has been tweeting about it.
I think they are saying well, what the hell, we are fighting for our survival. We will get a good reward from the government who will surely pay the fines if we get into trouble.
They show utter contempt for rational and reasonable journalism.
I'm glad that I don't pay a licence fee to keep their uhhh, journalists??? in a job.
I look forward to them being disbanded.
They weren't exactly clued up on this. Surely the pair of them could have organised conception for St Andrew's Day, confirmation of pregnancy on Burns Night and 'welcome to luxury' in late August - just in time to get the Scottish public worked up to a frenzy of loyal Jock joy. Can't these people even count back from 9?
ReplyDeleteProbably not. Royals aren't noted for academic achievement or intellectual rigour. Something to do with centuries of marrying cousins.
DeleteI am not even sure it was meant. It's just with Downing Street desperately trying to get the queen involved on their side, and her trying not to be involved, to have her grandson make this announcement just 9 days before the referendum... and get the headlines like the Telegraph have had suggesting the joy of a royal birth could keep the UK together, looks bad for the royals.
The BBC are probably resigned to + or - 50% of Scots hating them. The royals really can't deal with that.
PS: They probably have servants for counting things.
Delete