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Prince William continues royal tradition with baby Prince George - working the 'this is women's work' look Prince William continues royal tradition with baby Prince George - working the 'this is women's work' look
(5 months later)
Imagine this – Prince William emerges from the plane, on the couple's royal arrival in New Zealand, and in his arms, he carries George, his baby son, an all- modern, hands on family man.Imagine this – Prince William emerges from the plane, on the couple's royal arrival in New Zealand, and in his arms, he carries George, his baby son, an all- modern, hands on family man.
A day or so later, it's not Kate who is commander-in-chief of playgroup manoeuvres, but the Windsor daddy, showing how it can be done. On such an occasion, a photo opportunity or two can do more to shift public opinion than any number of earnest reports from think tanks urging papa to jump in the playpen not for play – heaven forbid - but for serious baby maintenance, the teething, the colic, and all that stuff.A day or so later, it's not Kate who is commander-in-chief of playgroup manoeuvres, but the Windsor daddy, showing how it can be done. On such an occasion, a photo opportunity or two can do more to shift public opinion than any number of earnest reports from think tanks urging papa to jump in the playpen not for play – heaven forbid - but for serious baby maintenance, the teething, the colic, and all that stuff.
We are in the midst of a bizarre twist to the fame game. Gorgeous George wears a £70 plus pair of dungarees, not unlike his granddad wore at much the same age (for some unknown reason the offspring of aristocrats and royalty, as a sign of true toffdom, are never permitted to stray far from a highly smocked, Peter Pan collar-style wardrobe, that was first designed back in the 1940s) and we are told that half the country then gallops off to the nearest high class retailer to buy the exact same copy, not even a cut price rip off. Do they really? Why?We are in the midst of a bizarre twist to the fame game. Gorgeous George wears a £70 plus pair of dungarees, not unlike his granddad wore at much the same age (for some unknown reason the offspring of aristocrats and royalty, as a sign of true toffdom, are never permitted to stray far from a highly smocked, Peter Pan collar-style wardrobe, that was first designed back in the 1940s) and we are told that half the country then gallops off to the nearest high class retailer to buy the exact same copy, not even a cut price rip off. Do they really? Why?
Still, if copying the Windsor offspring's togs can be triggered merely by a change of outfit, think what might change if William could break with his family's tradition and continue with that early promise he displayed, strapping a newborn George into his baby seat with some panache.Still, if copying the Windsor offspring's togs can be triggered merely by a change of outfit, think what might change if William could break with his family's tradition and continue with that early promise he displayed, strapping a newborn George into his baby seat with some panache.
Traditionally, the royals, even the modern royals, seem a little absent-minded with their children, as if they forget that they are related. Only to be gently reminded when they bump into each other, from time to time, for the royal family photo. Nowadays that tends to mean arms “informally” around the shoulder. Comfortable this isn't. Certainly, the practical stuff is left to loyal retainers whom, unlike many of us, appear to be employed for life. They do all the dirty work but at a price to the parents that they may not even value. They never learn fluent baby talk, interpreting what their offspring likes, wants or hates, via the sheer slog of keeping a pre-speech child watered, fed and happy. Kate seems to have acquired the lingo; William in public at least looks as if he's semaphoring the very old hat: “This is women's stuff”.Traditionally, the royals, even the modern royals, seem a little absent-minded with their children, as if they forget that they are related. Only to be gently reminded when they bump into each other, from time to time, for the royal family photo. Nowadays that tends to mean arms “informally” around the shoulder. Comfortable this isn't. Certainly, the practical stuff is left to loyal retainers whom, unlike many of us, appear to be employed for life. They do all the dirty work but at a price to the parents that they may not even value. They never learn fluent baby talk, interpreting what their offspring likes, wants or hates, via the sheer slog of keeping a pre-speech child watered, fed and happy. Kate seems to have acquired the lingo; William in public at least looks as if he's semaphoring the very old hat: “This is women's stuff”.
Instead, as the tour unfolds in all its sartorial elegance (and I mean George not Kate), the next time he is permitted to make a public appearance, it would be a perfect opportunity for William to continue in his one man mission to convince the rest of us that there is a role for royalty in the 21st century. As a republican who hankers to be a citizen not a subject, I am unconvinced.Instead, as the tour unfolds in all its sartorial elegance (and I mean George not Kate), the next time he is permitted to make a public appearance, it would be a perfect opportunity for William to continue in his one man mission to convince the rest of us that there is a role for royalty in the 21st century. As a republican who hankers to be a citizen not a subject, I am unconvinced.
But it might make a significant difference to the landscape of fatherhood, already changing fast, if it was William who did a bit more of the lifting and carrying, the chatting to other mothers and dads, the refereeing of baby punch ups and wiping the dribble. You hope he might want to. It's time Windsor parenting was no longer semi-detached. But it might make a significant difference to the landscape of fatherhood, already changing fast, if it was William who did a bit more of the lifting and carrying, the chatting to other mothers and dads, the refereeing of baby punch ups and wiping the dribble. You hope he might want to. It's time Windsor parenting was no longer semi-detached.
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